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But the mark is fading, and soon–way too soon–he will be.
Tears sting my eyes and I squeeze them shut. My lip trembles and I pinch it between my teeth, bringing a pillow up to cover my face. I cry, letting everything out at once. The pain in my chest, the thought of what I might have to do, the loss of Loric and Asmo and Meg. I cry until I'm numb from the inside out, until my heartbeat is the only thing keeping me alive. And I don't dare to move an inch until there aren't any tears left to shed.
My dragon is nowhere. Whether that's to give me space to grieve or because she knows we might not have a choice but to agree to King Everand’s offer because Mira’s life depends on it. And if Mira’s does, it won't be long before the king goes after Loric and the others. As his queen I might be able to convince him otherwise.
I went from my life being meaningless, to no one knowing I exist, to being the queen’s daughter, Asmo’s daughter, to people depending on me for their hearts to keep beating and I don't know what to do with any of it.
Meg set me up to fail.
She kept this secret. She and Asmo both did, and now I have no idea how to rule a kingdom, how to change King Everand's mind, how to save my friends or the man I love.
Fuck that wishing well.
I wished for happiness, to be with Loric, in a place where we could exist in peace.
Now I have nothing. No mate, no crown. I'm not remotely happy. I simply exist to look pretty next to a ruthless king’s side.
I'm shaken awake, rough hands curling around my shoulders. Violent.
“Wake the fuck up, Calamity!” I dare to open my eyes, meeting a sea of violet. “Gods, woman. For someone with nightmares you sure sleep like the goddamn dead.Get up!”
Brenn.
My eyes snap open and he jumps back, tucking his extremities close like he fears he’ll lose them.
“What did you find?” I rub my eyes, scrambling out of bed. I take my fingers through my hair trying to hurry to get ready in case we have to leave now.
“She came back…” There's a definitive pause in his voice that makes me freeze. I drop everything and turn to him.
“What is it?” I hold my breath, hoping the king hasn't finished the job.
“Loric came with her. Jesper too. He came back for you.”
My heart beats so fast it bruises ribs as my eyes round…He's here.
“Where are they?” I force the question from my life, terrified to know the answer but needing it all the same.
“The dungeon. The king announced their execution first thing this morning.” His eyes won't meet mine, but I can see the dark circles beneath them, how tired, how scared he is.
I feel it too. My chest collapses in on itself, denying me air as I process what he's said.
He came back for me… and now he'll die because of it.
“What do we do?” I ask, the words spilling out of me so fast I'm not sure they make sense. “If I accept the king's offer, he might–”
“No. I told them and they made it clear… they don't want you to.”
“Then what do we do?” I ask again, the nerves clawing up my throat as I close the distance between us. “How do we save them?”
I'm going to be sick.
Brenn shakes his head. “I… I don't know. We can break them out but I barely got down there to talk to them through a wall. I don't know how we’ll actually get them out. I've never been locked down there.”
“That sounds like suicide,” I scoff, folding my arms over my chest and taking a seat on the bed. My knees are too weak to stand.
“I have to either accept King Everand's offer or shift. If I prove myself, maybe it'll be enough to dethrone him publicly.” I meet Brenn's eyes. “He said he'd only vacate if I had proof and if I prove it at the execution, before it happens, then everyone will see it. There will be witnesses. The throne is supposed to belong to the furies. Furies maintain balance. Yes?”
Brenn nods once, tucking his chin. “Yes, but we’ve tried everything.”
