A mark of a broken sovereignty.
A mark of someone torn between two identities.
A mark of a king who’d splintered himself in two.
A mark that belonged to Torren, and whoever he really was beneath all the masks.
My breath caught.
Zeke was the first to speak, voice barely a whisper. “Reverie… what’s going on?”
Oren swore under his breath, shadows twitching like startled birds. “It’s a crown… and it’s fractured.”
Nathan leaned closer, eyes narrowing. “This is Torren, isn’t it?”
Jet’s jaw clenched. “He’s part of this Faction?”
My heart slammed against my ribs. Because even though I should have been terrified—furious—betrayed…
The crack in that crown pulsed in time with my heartbeat.
“Claim me,” it whispered.“Remember.”
My voice came out barely audible. “He didn’t want this.Ididn’t want this. I don’t think he had any idea it would happen.”
Zane cursed softly. “We need to talk to the fucker.”
Zeke’s voice darkened, Frynn taking over, “Starting with what he’s hiding.”
Oren’s eyes locked onto mine. Steady. Unwavering. “I think youdidwant it, baby. Somewhere deep down. But there are questions that need answering. The first being why the crown on your chest looks like it’s begging you to fix the missing piece.”
The cracked crown was still throbbing against my skin when the memory of last night hit me like a blow to the ribs.
His mouth on mine. Hard. Desperate. That first brutal press of lips turning into teeth and tongue, the kind of kiss that rewired the bones in my spine.
Torren hadn’t kissed me like a man giving in to temptation. He’d kissed me like a man breaking.
And then—He’d torn himself away and stumbled back as if he’d scorched his hands on my body and whispered something jagged—something that sounded like “I shouldn’t”—and then bolted down the tunnels, as if the shadows of hell itself were dragging him.
That image hit the present with a clarity that took my breath away.
No.
Not an image.
Aconnection.
The cracked crown throbbed once more.
Jet’s head snapped up. “Reverie? What is it?”
I swallowed hard. “Last night… when he kissed me.” My voice shook. “He ran like he was terrified. And I—” I pressed a hand to the crown. “I think he’s doing it again.”
Zeke’s brow shot up. “Torren kissed you, then ran?”
Zane let out a sharp, low whistle. “Well, that explains why his mark decided to wake up pissed. It’s attached to the dumbass that ran from the best fucking thing that ever happened to him.”
Nathan leaned in, eyes darkening. “I know this is rich coming from me, but did he force you?”
