Eldirard sneered down at the prince. “And you are a guest who hasworn out his welcome. You will never be permitted to take my heir as a wife.”
A burn of pride bloomed in my chest. Like a wave of fear was washed away, I felt freer than I ever had within these walls.
Arion shot to his feet and pointed a finger at the king. “You will regret this choice.”
I stepped forward. “Leave, Arion. There is no place for you here any longer.”
The prince scoffed, flashing the edge of his teeth for a moment. “I think you will find you are quite mistaken very soon.”
I blamed my inattention on my reckless burst of arrogance from Eldirard’s declaration. I did not see the moment the guards shifted; I took no notice of the blades they lifted.
Not until it was too late.
A bronze short blade sliced through Eldirard’s spine until the point broke through his chest. My scream split across the throne room. Betrayed as I was by his actions, the man had been my adopted grandfather most of my life.
Before I could reach him, two guards pulled me away.
“What have you done!” I tugged against their hold. “He’s your kin. He’s your blood.”
Eldirard and King Gerard were distant relatives. This went against all elven customs. It stained the soul too fiercely.
“I did not strike the king.” Gerard opened his arms. “Nor did my heir.”
I sobbed Eldirard’s name when he fell to his knees, blood spilling over his lips. Shouts rose from beyond the doors. Palace guards had been locked out.
Gerard snapped commands for his men to subdue them while defending the palace from any hint of invading fae folk.
“Take the princess to my chambers,” Arion said.
“Queen.” A wet voice followed. Eldirard tumbled forward, but looked to me, a fading smile on his lips. “She is . . . queen.”
I shook my head, tears heating my cheeks when I watched his eyes dim. I wanted to scream, plead with him not to go, I wasn’t ready, Ineeded his guidance before he could go, I needed . . . more time to make sense of everything.
Eldirard drew in a soft breath. He never released it.
Gerard crossed the room. He pinched my chin between his fingers, peering at my brow. The same sting that came when the circlet was placed atop my head lifted under my skin.
“Damn him.” Gerard released my face with a rough shove. “No one is to see her. Take her to the prince’s chambers, chain her for all I care, but keep her contained.” He reeled on another guard. “Summon our remaining guard from the wood and someone rid this hall of all the blood.”
“They are coming for you, Gerard.” I battled in the grip of the guards. “Arion, you have been marked by a prince of nightmares and he never loses his mark.” I laughed, a little frantic, a little broken. “I am the queen of Natthaven, and you have all been marked.”
The door slammed on my shouts and I was dragged up a back stairwell to where Arion slept during his stays. It was cluttered and disorderly and smelled of sweat and smoke.
The white iron around my wrists held my affinity back, but I bit and kicked at the Ljosalfar guards until one pinned me forward on the bed.
One guard locked the window and tucked the small key into his belt, then hurried out of the room while his companion kept me suffocated on Arion’s bed. When the first guard returned, he carried a thick rope in his hands.
It took time with my resistance, and they were hesitant to strike a woman they knew was branded as a royal. Still, when one of the men grew weary with my trouble, he leveled his fist against my jaw.
Black speckles dotted my vision in a dizzy haze, allowing a sliver of time for them to bind my arms behind my back, then tether me to one of the sturdy bed posts.
When the guards stepped back, sweat was on their brows, and unease lived in their eyes. I tasted blood on my lip and licked it away when they backpedaled for the door. My mouth twisted into a wretched sort of grin.
“You won’t survive when they come for me,” I said, voice low and harsh.
They fought their composure, kept their stern façade, and without a word abandoned the room, locking the door behind them.
Alone again, I let my heart break.
