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ChapterTwenty-One
After less than twenty-four hours of being an unofficial queen, Vori wanted nothing more than to find the amethysts and hide with Perry until the goblin glass opened again.She’d hurl those jewels at Baba Yaga, kill whatever beastie the crone wanted, and be done with the awful blood vows.Instead, she and Perry waited outside the vault for the crown jewels while the guards did an unnecessary security check.
“There isn’t anywhere for a threat to hide.”She pointed out the obvious.The stone room had been hacked out of the castle’s mountain centuries ago.It had no doors except for the barred one where the guards would keep watch.The place was cool and damp with the faint smell of metal and mold.
“Let them do their jobs.”Perry shoved weapons off the end of a wooden bench and sat down, ignoring the clang of heavy metal against stone.“Two dead royals in two days on their watch—they’re going to be jumpy.”He stretched his long legs in front of him as the guards cleared out.“You have half an hour until the next round of royal meetings—complaints from landowners, subjects bearing gifts, requests for new laws.And while there’s a ton of bling in here, you won’t find the amethysts you need.Your staff has already searched it.”
“The king’s stone was massive.It should be an easy find.”Her frustration bled through each word.
“Except Petra had time to hide it anywhere in the realm after she murdered the king while you and I were locked away.”
“Instead of using lawyer logic right now, let’s pretend something will go right at least once with these damn stones.”She rolled her injured shoulder, slowing with each click and creak.At least she’d gotten out of the sling.A few more days and she’d be good to go.Supernatural healing powers rocked.
“Why are we hiding in the vault?”
She slipped a lock pick set from her sleeve.“I need to de-stress.”
“By breaking into jewelry cases that you already own?”
“Not helping with my stress level.”She didn’t need another reminder of her obligation to stay or of his failure to say he would do the same.“Maybe they missed a hidden compartment or a secret stash.”Sliding the torque wrench into the keyhole, she twisted the pick until it caught.Sparkling diamonds and rubies spilled over the dark velvet inside, but no amethysts and no false bottom.“Not in this one.”
“Of course not.This place is better inventoried than the kitchens we toured this morning with every jar labeled.”
“Every empty jar,” she grumbled.The realm wouldn’t survive many more years of famine.
Perry picked up a jewel-encrusted scepter, tossed it from one hand to another.“Where else would they keep jewels?”
“Planning a heist?Stealing from goblins isn’t smart.We do the thieving, not the other way around.”She wiggled a tool into another keyhole.“The jeweler’s workshop.The royal suites.”
“All of which have already been checked, but we’ll look again.We’ll search until we find the amethysts.Or you can tell Baba Yaga that her pet psycho Petra got in the way of completion, a definite mitigating complication in your bargain.”
“Maybe you should argue my case to Baba Yaga.She doesn’t seem the type to settle.”
“Not like your subjects who are ready to do anything you tell them?”
“I’mnottheir queen.”She jammed the lock pick too far, missing the pins—an amateur mistake.“I don’t know how many times I can tell people that.They can keep their crown.”
“Too late.You’re the only one strong enough to sustain the realm.Unless you want a serial killer or her traumatized sister who can’t handle a ruling position to give it a try.”
“Why not abolish the monarchy?Establish a democracy?”
“In a realm sustained by royal blood?Good luck with that.The best you can hope for is an advisory council.”
She opened another box full of gold coins.Fail.“My father killed most of his advisers.Artanya killed the rest.I don’t think anyone will volunteer.”
“But you’ll need help if today’s sessions are any indication.”
“IfI was to be queen, and that’s not happening, I would have you as my sole counsel.”Stay.Help rebuild this realm.She couldn’t bring herself to plead.Not if he didn’t want her without a crown.“You’d be the only one I’d trust.”
“Thanks for that massive ego boost, but there are good people in Kradnovtl.You just have to find the right ones.”
Vori turned away to hide her reaction.She’d thoughthecould be the right one.Of course he wasn’t going to commit to staying with her.Sure, their marriage had been a temporary business arrangement and the whole thing had gone sideways, but yet another rejection from him stung.“I’m already losingeverythingI have in the human world—my adopted family, my career, my entire life—if I stay here.”
“And the realm will die if you leave.”
She slammed an open jewel box closed with a loud crack.“I wanted this to be a quick trip—a literal jump in and jump out—to satisfy the blood vow.”
He made a sound that was half laugh, half snort.Damn him and his long, lanky self for looking so fresh after hours of court arguments.
