Page 77 of Heart of the Raven Prince

“Mother,” Caden says, his voice icy. He steps ever-so-slightly in front of me, as though he can protect me from her.

She grins and all I can see is her face splitting open. “Come, sit by me, son.”

Nearly all the guests have taken their seats now. The last few filter in as Caden and I move slowly to the head of the table. His fingers brush the back of my hand, and I try to let the heat from his touch ground me. The closer we get to the queen, the more I am assaulted by the acid-like burn of her power. I’m so distracted by it, that I don’t notice until Caden does:

There is only one chair remaining.

He goes rigid, glancing at the one empty chair next to Arawyn. I guess I am to stand this evening. Arawyn pats the seat beside her, flashing her deep red smile at Caden, her fangs glinting in the candlelight.

“Come, come, my son.” The light in her eyes is feverish; she looks deranged. “Caden, sit so that we can start the show.”

“What show, mother?” Caden asks, his words guarded. Tension seizes me, tightening the noose around my neck. There’s movement at the far end of the room, and I glance over to see several Vessels walking up through the open end of the table. A group carries a tall pedestal and deposits it in the center of the ring before hurriedly leaving. The remaining Vessel carries a silver tray toward the queen. On the tray rests a shining gold apple.

This is the second trial.

Caden’s breath catches, and I know he’s realized it too. He keeps his face neutral, but I see his jaw clench, and note his hand twitching. Like he is resisting curling it into a fist. Arawyn narrows her eyes, her smile faltering at his continued disobedience. It’s my turn to brush my hand lightly against his, giving him whatever strength I can. He breathes deeply and begins to move slowly from me. The room is dead silent as he scrapes his chair back, before sitting down beside the queen. Arawyn beams at Caden, perfectly playing the part of a doting mother as she strokes her hand down his face.

“Mother, if this is the second trial, I have to beg for more time to train her,” he says, leaning toward her. “Don’t you want a challenge?”

He’s fighting for me.

I’m working hard to keep my nerves at bay, trying to focus on the task at hand, but all I can think about is he’s fighting for me. The only way he can. I swallow hard as resolve settles in my bones. Because I can fight for Caden, too.

“Nonsense,” Arawyn says devilishly, her eyes glinting. “What fun is a game without an element of surprise?” I hold my head up high as the Raven Queen turns her ruby gaze to mine and flicks her hand to the pedestal and commands simply, “Move.”

Caden stiffens, but I cannot see his face. Sucking in a deep breath, I turn and begin to walk slowly back down the length of the table. Red and black eyes are all trained on me, the only sound in the cavernous space is the echo of my resolute footsteps. I come to the opening in the table and turn, walking directly toward the pedestal. Caden's brows are knit together, his mouth in a firm frown. I give him a small nod, hoping he understands that I’m choosing to do this.

“Do you like how I dressed your little pet?” Arawyn’s silvery voice fills the room as I come to a halt in front of the pedestal. “I think I would like it displayed.” She points at the pedestal and says, “Up.”

Stepping up high, I climb onto the pedestal, before I am slowly standing tall on it. I’m a living spectacle directly at the center of the circle. The queen snaps her fingers at the Vessel holding the silver tray before leaning forward and propping her elbows on the table. Weaving her fingers together, she rests her chin on her hands and watches me. The Vessel turns and walks toward me. Stopping before the pedestal, she raises the silver tray high above her head. Leaning down, I grab the apple. The Vessel sets the tray down, and slowly removes the ruby earring from her ear. She’s trembling as she does it, silent tears streaking down her face.

I don’t know why she’s crying but the sight fills me with dread.

She holds the earring up high to me and I reach over and take it. My eyes train back on the queen, who is grinning wide at me, and I begin to stand again. An apple in one hand, and a ruby earring in the other. The queen lifts her chin and flicks her hand toward the silently crying Vessel. When she does the Vessel gasps, a gash appearing across her throat. She grabs at the gushing wound, wet coughs spewing up mouthfuls of blood down her chin. She falls to her knees before toppling over, convulsing for several minutes before her body stills in the growing puddle of her blood. The only person who seems even the least bit concerned is Caden. Arawyn sits back, picking up her crystal glass and swirling the blood.

“It seems you’ve trained your pet well.” She looks at me, but she speaks to Caden as she says, “Now I want to know if you’ve taught her subservience. The unquestioning loyalty of a dog.”

Do whatever I say.

That’s what her eyes are telling me as she continues to hold my gaze. After taking a long drink, she licks the blood off her fangs and says, “It’s simple, human. Follow my every command.”

Not every battle you face is going to be about strength or skill. Many of them are going to be about your presence of mind, your ability to endure purely by force of will.

I wish I could thank my father for that lesson now as I give the queen a single, slow nod.

“Mother, if you just give me more time to train—"

“If you speak again, I will have her whipped to death,” Arawyn snarls so harshly that a shiver hits my back like the ghost of a lash. Caden’s jaw ticks, but he snaps his mouth closed. I don’t look at him, I am focused only on the queen, waiting for my first command. She reaches to him and gives his cheek a sharp pat. “Good boy,” she says before turning her attention back to me. “My commands are simple, really. First, put that mark in your ear. Caden may have forgotten what you are, but I haven’t.”

I swallow, but I move my hand and slip the charm into my ear. The ruby bumps against my neck, and it feels heavier than before. She doesn’t bother with a long speech, or detailed instructions, she just sips her blood and then says, “On second thought…I hate that dress. Take it off.”

Caden grunts, but he does not say a word. Continuing to hold the apple in one hand, I reach up and begin to tug the strap off my shoulders. I shove the dress down my arms and step out of it before letting it fall off the pedestal.

“Keep going,” she purrs, her lips curling into a smile to reveal sharp fangs.

Then I am stepping out of my undergarments, kicking those off the pedestal as well. I’m trembling, but I slow my breathing and the tremors stop as I stand up straight. My cheeks burn as I acutely feel every eye in the court on my naked body. They are like red hot irons branding my skin. I push it out. I push it all out.

“Hold out your arms with the apple in the center of your hands, I’ll tell you when you can stop.” She says, smiling demurely at me.