“SeethatIam not kept waiting at the next gate.”Ishiver ran down my spine at the cold tone of his voice.Theguards exchanged quick glances, and the one on the end took off sprinting down the road.
Morepeople were visible in the inner ring, but still, the stench of fear remained.Thestreets were clean and lined with fine houses, but still, a darkness, unclean and putrid, seemed to cling to them.Afew of the nobles, dressed in fine clothes and covered in jewels, would greetAbraxas, but most still kept to themselves.Manywere followed or assisted by slaves, their metal collars cutting into white and tan and green flesh alike.
Wefinally arrived at the palace, and the gate was open, waiting for us.Ourcaravan filed into the courtyard of the keep, which was barren except for a few other carriages transporting nobility.Abraxasdismounted and strode up to the gates without a look back.Avlyn, also dressed in their dark armor, approached to help me dismount my horse.Iwas still a novice rider, and after such a long journey,Iwas happy to have them there to support my shaking legs.
“Steadynow,Princess.Wehave a long way to go.”Theygripped my forearm, our soldierly gesture, for just a moment, before leading me into the palace.
Opulencewasn’t enough to describe its interior.Koronwas the capital of the empire, but it had been the capital of theGoldenKingdomlong before that.Hadeon’sfather, who had been king, had been known for his extravagant taste.Thathad not been exaggerated.
Thewalls themselves were gilded with gold reaching dozens of feet in the air.Everyfixture and chandelier was carved in great detail by hand.Thousandsof candles and tapers lit the space, and flowers from every region were spaced in crystal vases along the walls.Noblesflitted about, their jewelry reflecting the light, and sparkling to near absurdity.
“Home, sweet home,”Ciarasaid at my side.Shestood tall, butIcould see her lip quiver.Ihad asked her, practically begged her not to come.Butshe had insisted, “Itis my duty,YourHighness.”
Igrasped her hand lightly in my own but did not speak.Ifelt her squeeze my fingers back, ever so slightly.
Abraxaswas already gone, and we were quickly swept away by two slaves who wouldn’t raise their eyes off the ground.Wewere led to a room that was unnecessarily large for justCiaraand me, and they disappeared without a word. “Isuppose it’s time to get ready.”
Thefashion of theCourtofFlamesdiffered slightly from theDragonKingdom.Thesheer dresses of home were not used here, but these dresses were no less revealing.Tonight, mine was a deep crimson, but it was cut so deep over the chest my navel was visible and a great slit ran nearly to my hip.Ihadn’t been able to bring the swordAbraxashad given me, but instead, one that had been crafted to specifically hide in the lining of my skirt.Asmall dagger was strapped to my hidden thigh.Ifelt vulnerable with so little, but it was the most we could safely conceal.
AfterIhad dressed,Ciaratried to control my hair, as always, but in an odd silence.Ididn’t want to push her, knowing the strain of being back in this place.Butas she failed with another pin,Iheard her murmur, “Youdon’t have to do this,Tori.”Ilet my surprise show on my face. “Youdon’t have to fight him.”
Herhands started shaking so badly that the pin she held dropped to the floor, the metal sending a clang through the silent room.Igrabbed her hands in mine and held them tight. “Ipromised you before,Iwon’t let any harm come to you.Nomatter the outcome for me, you will be safe,Ciara.”
Greattears streamed from her cheeks, “It’snot me—Tori, you have seen him, butIgrew up here.Ihavelivedhere.Whathe will do when he catches you…”Hershoulders heaved with sobs.
“Whenhe catches me?Goodto knowIinspire such confidence.”Ismiled at her, trying to get her to mirror me, but she only sobbed harder.Thiswas unlike her.
“Ciara, what is the matter?Hassomething happened already?”
“No, no…but,Tori—”Thedoor to my room opened, andAbraxasstepped through.Ciaraspun, and hid her face from him, busying herself with my skirts.
Abraxasfrowned, “ShouldIcome back?”
BeforeIcould speak,Ciarahad cleared the tears and redness from her eyes.Sheturned back to the king and smiled.MaybeonlyIcould see the pain laced in it.
“Noneed,YourMajesty, she is ready for you.”Shecurtsied and then quickly exited to her attached room.Iworried my lip, that great pit opening in my stomach thatIhadn’t felt in weeks.ButAbraxasplaced his hand on the small of my back and a gentle kiss on the curve of my shoulder, and my nerves calmed.
“Everythingalright?” he asked as his lips grazed my skin.
“Ihope so.Wehave no room for error tonight.”
“Areyou ready, little bird?”Helooked at me with those soft eyes, those eyesIknew no one else got to see.Iwas ready, butIwanted one more moment to be selfish.
Iwrapped my arms around his waist and pulled him into a soft embrace.Ifelt his arms wrap over my back, feeling the strength he had hidden beneath his layers of fine, dark clothes.Iinhaled deeply, trying to capture the scent of him, of vast pine forests touched by winter and the wind, where forest fires raged, but now new life also blossomed. “I’mready.”
Ipulled the black box containing the necklace out of my satchel.Ihad never let it leave my side.Isaw the box was covered in a thin layer of spider silk and smiled.Spinnerhad been quite mad thatIhad made him stay behind.Iopened the box and lifted the necklace whileAbraxascarefully pulled my hair to the side.Itwas heavy, and it wasn’t just the weight of the necklace.ButIwould carry it, no matter the cost.
Hisfingers lingered on the bare skin of my neck, andIfelt his lips land there as well, shivers running down my spine.Ispun around and grinned, “HowdoIlook?”Istuck my hip out a bit, striking a ridiculous pose.
“AsIsuspected, no one will be looking at the necklace,”Hisgaze lowered to the curve of my breasts, andIhit him playfully on the chest. “Ihave a present for you, little bird.”
Hepulled another velvet box out from inside his coat.Hecarefully opened it, and this time my jaw truly popped open.Insidewas a crown—black gold and diamonds highlighted seven more rubies, the largest was the size of a robin’s egg.Eachwas paired with a black metal spire that would pierce the air over my head.Sevenspires that very much matched the seven black dragon’s teeth on his own crown.
“Beinga bit obvious, aren’t you?”
Hisgrin turned devious, “Ihave a reputation for possessiveness to maintain.Youare mine,Princess.Theyshould all know it.”Heatcurled in my belly at his words, andIknow he felt it too.Despiteour schedule, he couldn’t resist one long, claiming kiss, whichIreturned in earnest.Buthe ended it much too soon and placed the crown on my head.
“AsIsuspected, ravishing.”Evenafter all this, his words still had my cheeks turning red.Heswept his arm behind my back, “Timeto go,Princess.”
