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“A queen?” She laughed.

His eyes were intense as he leaned closer. “Mark my words, Wren. You will become a queen of legend.”

“Such pretty words,” she whispered, tipping her head back.

She knew Arrik was going to kiss her. She knew she was going to let him. For appearances of course. Wren had a part to play.

Liar.

Shewantedhim to kiss her.

A scream rent through the air.

The music cut off.

“The prince is dead! The crown prince—the crown prince is dead!”

28

WREN

Astrid’s scream pierced the air a moment before she passed out.

Wren froze in Arrik’s arms, eyes wide.

Cathal is dead?

Pandemonium had erupted all around them in response to the announcement.

Her husband’s grip tightened on her as he observed the room. Gone was the heat from his eyes—only calculation and predatory intent left. She dug her nails into his shirt and whipped her head around to try and see what was going on.

Where was Cathal? How had he been killed?

Soren powered through the crowd toward the entrance. The courtiers parted for him, creating a human-lined corridor to the pale warrior who was covered in blood.

“Speak,” the king barked.

The eleven-warrior paled further but spoke. “The crown prince and all his men were slaughtered at the entrance to the city! An ambush was waiting for them. I barely escaped with my life to bring you the news.” The words cut through the crowd like a hot knife through butter, temporarily silencing everyone.

Soren seemed to swell in size. “You left my son to die?”

The warrior shook his head and dropped to his knees, head bowed. “He was gone before I even arrived.”

“Don’t look,” Arrik murmured, pulling Wren closer.

But she couldn’t look away.

Soren tore away the warrior’s sword and beheaded the man on the spot.

She squeezed her eyes shut and fought against the urge to vomit. The king had murdered one of his innocent men.

Men and women began to scream, even louder than before, and she opened her eyes as people began bustling into Wren and Arrik in their attempt to leave the ball. No one wanted to stay for more of Soren’s anger.

They wanted to escape before suspicion was wrought against them.

Arrik began pushing through the crowd, his hands wrapped around Wren’s forearms in an iron-tight grip as he towed her away.

“You need to leave.Now.”