Page 46 of Tale of the Heart Queen

No matter the case, now he had to know more.

Was there more to be found under the mountain? Could he use it to conquer Ouranos? To finally take his crown?

Like the king who’d once ruled this kingdom thousands of years ago—it was time to start digging.

CHAPTER 17

LOR

ALLUVION—PRESENT DAY

The Aurora King.

Those words freeze us all in place for several tense heartbeats before Cyan’s accusing gaze turns to me.

“What have you brought to my doorstep, Heart Queen?”

“This is not my doing,” I hiss. “He must have tracked me here.”

“How were they not detected earlier?” Cyan demands of Linden. “How did they sneak up on us?”

“One moment there was nothing, and suddenly they appeared. The storm must have obscured their approach.” Her green eyes flash, and if I thought she hated me already, that’s nothing compared to the bottomless loathing she feels for me now.

“Fuck!” Cyan says before he whirls on me.

He seizes me by the arm and drags me towards the door while he shouts out a series of commands to Linden. She tosses me the dirtiest look that has ever been tossed in the history of ever before she hisses, “It’s exactly as I said. Your family brings nothing but ruin.”

I swallow my nervousness, but it does feel like she’s kind of right.

Cyan yanks on my arm and drags me down the hall.

“Stop!” I scream. “You’re giving me up to him?”

“You come into my home, lie to me, deceive me, and then rob me? I’ll be thrilled to see the back of you.”

He’s moving so fast that I stumble as we walk. Gods, he’s pissed.

“How can you do this? You know what kind of man he is.”

“I do, and that’s why I don’t want him threatening my home and my people. You are no one to me, Lor.”

It’s a fair point. I’d probably do the same thing. But I can’t let Rion have me. If I don’t return the ark to Zerra, Nadir will die. I’m almost out of time.

Magic hums under my skin, sparkling and crackling, and I flex my fingertips as Cyan continues to drag me through the palace, shouting orders at everyone we pass. The rain has eased up, the sounds of the wind and thunder no longer drowning everything out.

Activity flurries around us, and I consider my options. If I use my magic, I might kill a bunch of innocent people. Cyan included. I swore I would be more careful from now on, but he’s forcing me into a corner.

As he tows me towards the entrance, I can practically feel the distance closing between me and the Aurora King, pressing in on me like an iron noose. It’s like he’s calling to me, reeling me in like the helpless worm I am. If he gets his hands on me again, I’m so very dead. Or worse. My entire life has been a lesson in things that are so much worse.

Cyan throws open a door and hauls me onto a high balcony that overlooks the city surrounding the castle. Rain falls in a steady drip, making everything glisten in the moonlight.

In the distance, Rion’s army approaches, spreading across the horizon like a black stain. I thought I’d killed more of them, but he probably has endless resources to draw on. I’ll never be a match for him, and I knew it wouldn’t be that easy to kill him anyway.

“Cyan,” I say, pleading. “Don’t do this. I’m begging you.”

He whirls on me. “How dare you?”

He snatches the ark from my clasped hands, scraping my already bloodied fingertips, and hands it to a guard.