Page 47 of Tale of the Heart Queen

“Keep that safe,” he orders. “And don’t let her near it.”

The guard nods as he gives me a suspicious look. Great. This is just fucking great.

Rion’s army marches closer, passing through the gates and down the wide boulevard bisecting the city. Screams echo from below as people cower in the safety of their homes. Alluvion’s soldiers also move through the streets, trying to maintain order, but Rion’s army ignores everyone, and I understand why. He didn’t come here to level the ocean kingdom; he came only for me. But I also have no doubt he’ll destroy everyone here if that’s what it takes.

I jerk against Cyan’s hold again and find myself surrounded by soldiers, including Linden. Anemone has also appeared, and she passes a quizzical look between me and her king.

“What’s going on?” she asks.

“This thief tried to steal the ark,” Cyan says. “Ate our food, slept in our beds, and then just walked into my throne room and took it.”

Anemone’s eyebrows draw together, and the look on her face makes guilt burn at the base of my neck. She looks so . . . disappointed in me.

“How did you know where to find it?” she asks.

Cyan pauses and looks over at me as if he’s just remembered what I said earlier. “She claims Coral spoke to her,” he says, squeezing my arm so tight I wince. “I’ll throw you off this balcony if you don’t explain yourself.”

I grimace and then say, “Sometimes, the Artefacts talk to me.”

“Liar!” he hisses. “The Artefacts speak only with the ascended.”

“No, they talk to me,” I say. “I swear to you.”

“How did you get to Coral?” Anemone queries, and I glare at her. Does she have to ask so many damn questions?

“Bain was with her,” Cyan says. “You tricked him.”

“Uh . . . maybe?”

Cyan shakes his head. “You took advantage of a confused man to steal from me? How are you not ashamed of yourself?”

“I had no choice,” I say, feeling as tall as a bug. “Zerra has my mate, and she won’t give him back without the ark.”

Something passes behind Anemone’s expression as she exchanges a loaded look with Cyan.

“Why should we give a fuck about that?” Linden demands, still my best friend.

“Because Rion won’t stop with me,” I say. “He’s up to something bigger. Something that will hurt you too. If he gets his hands on me, then he’s one step closer to that goal.”

Cyan glares at me. “What is he up to?”

“I don’t know,” I say, deciding now is the moment to add in a few more details I’ve kept to myself. I’ve got little else to lose at this point. I tell him about Nostraza and my magic, explaining the horrors Rion visited upon me and my siblings.

When I’m done stumbling through my hasty explanation, Cyan seems to consider my words as he looks at Anemone. They appear to be having some kind of silent conversation that I can’t interpret. The hold on my arm loosens a fraction.

“She’s lying,” Linden says. “The Heart Queen would say anything to save her own neck.”

Cyan’s hand squeezes tighter again, and my shoulders sag. I want to kick her in the shins right now.

“I’m not lying,” I say. “Look at my face. He did that. He left that scar on me with his magic.”

“You could have gotten that anywhere,” Linden says.

She’s right. And what reason have I given any of them to believe me? All I’ve done is lie since they let me in here. My inability to trust anyone is becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy.

At the sound of a horn, we all turn to watch as Rion’s army draws near.

When they reach the round plaza surrounding the palace, they spill into it like ink staining a clean white canvas. Rion sits on his horse at the front, all imperious arrogance in black armor with a sword strapped to his back. He looks like the Lord of the Underworld himself, come to drag me to the pits of hell. I remember with a jolt that this is Nadir’s heritage. That the first king of The Aurora is his great-great-great-great-however-many-greats-this-goes-back grandfather. Goosebumps erupt over my skin.