Page 14 of A Crown of Tears and Treason (The Curse of Silver Secrets and Cruel Shadows #1)

Chapter

Fourteen

EVIE

T wo months.

I had two months until my wedding and I apparently needed etiquette classes until then, starting next week.

The sooner, the better. The Blood Brotherhood had rules about walking from one path to the next, I could only imagine what a spectacle the wedding ceremony would be. I wanted to be prepared and know every single detail, down to the right way to place the glasses around the plates.

But my heart sang for the magic lesson.

Allie had promised we’d start tomorrow, around midday for me, when the sun was hottest, and people busied themselves in cooling gardens and around the many ponds in Phoenix Peak, beautiful and crystal. Some were filled with creatures that had too many spindly legs and danced between the rocks, others had floating flowers big enough to nap inside them.

I stayed away from the heat and especially the ponds.

Each time I got within a few feet of their pebbled edges, a sickening feeling of dread took over. Since I’d almost drowned in grandpa Constantine’s pool, back when the world felt big and exciting, I avoided anything larger than a tub. The first time I had to wash myself in the shallow creek had been an hour-long ordeal, me screaming in my mother’s arms, and her pulling my hair to stand still.

I spent my torrid afternoons in my new favorite spot in the house–the library. I opened the large windows which swiveled in the middle and sat down at the table. With the breeze flowing around me, catching the strands of hair that fell from my bun, I tucked my legs underneath me and read .

Anything and everything I wanted. No more waiting with my heart in my throat to see if the magic book would fill up with words today.

Most of them were legends, about rivers of tears that turned to blood, and wicked little creatures hiding in the jungle and only coming out to cause mayhem. Others talked about the history of the Blood Brotherhood, but so many of the old passages were written in a language I didn’t recognize.

“Goose, what do you study?” I asked him when I got to a section where I recognized Eldryan’s name and nothing else, while Goose busied himself with the potted plants outside the library door, his new favorite spot in the entire house.

Goose leaned back, head peeking from behind the door frame. “A branch of chemistry, Your Grace.”

Goose had about as many social skills as me, but he was obviously smart. “No translating old languages, then.”

He tilted his head to the side, hesitant. “Only very specific ones that you wouldn’t find in any book here. They’re only allowed within the Archives. But you have a very fine selection.”

Fine, yes. But not useful. I hadn’t found anything about masked assassins and Serpent tracking spells. I was no closer to finding my parents’ murderers than back on Sanctua Sirena. Maybe even farther.

Goose’s curious, hungry eyes caressed the book spines. He sighed wistfully, but still lingered by the door.

“Goose, you can come in and read whatever you want, whenever you want to,” I said.

His eyes widened. “Really?” He cleared his throat. “I mean–are you sure, Your Grace?”

“Very.”

“Thank you.” He took a deep breath before stepping inside. Then he sent a shy smile my way. “I didn’t want to intrude. The prince said–”

Before Goose could tell me why Zandyr was sticking his perfect nose in my business, a ring vibrated through the ancient wood holding my house upright, spidering up toward the web of beams hanging above every room. It sounded like a strangled rooster forced to play the part of an alarm.

We exchanged a surprised look.

“What was that?” I asked.

“Visitors,” Goose whispered, eyes wide, as if not quite believing it. “We have visitors. I’ll get the scones ready!”

Before I had the chance to point out Zandyr had also visited, Goose whirled out of the room, running his hands on his already perfectly pressed uniform.

I followed onto the veranda, curiosity nibbling at me. Who could possibly–

“Evie,” Kaya greeted me with a brilliant smile, already walking up the stairs, Vexa a cranky shadow behind her. “I hope I’m not interrupting.”

I closed the book I was reading with a loud smack, as Goose raced to the kitchens. “Not at all.”

“Perfect. I also hope to corrupt you with some tea and gossip.”

“Unless you want to talk about the Morgana invasion of the Second Age, I’m pretty light on the gossip…” I shifted my weight from one leg to the other, as Kaya and Vexa looked at me expectantly. One with grace, the other with a grimace. “But I have plenty of tea. We can go into the formal dining room.”

I took my meals in the library, but I had a feeling a future queen would go the more formal route. Plus, it had only one entrance, and windows too small for an assassin to squeeze through quickly.

Kaya’s smile grew. “That would be wonderful.”

In stilted silence, we walked past marble statues and golden masks guarding the corners, and into the room which had been mercifully emptied by the dresses now hanging in the closet upstairs.

“Your house is lovely,” Kaya said as the two of us sat down at the huge wooden table, me facing the door. No filigreed tablecloths for the Blood Brotherhood. They crafted their intricate patterns directly into the wood, and decorated them with golden hues between the small grooves.

I ran my fingers down the curved lines, marveling at the details. “It is. All of this has been…surprising.”

Kaya frowned, the first time I’d seen her show any emotion that wasn’t perfect. Behind her chair, Vexa stood as still as the statues. “Why?”

“I’m not in some dungeon or a remote tower. I’m being fed delicious food and I’m getting gifts ,” I said truthfully. “I loved yours, by the way, thank you.”

“My pleasure. I heard a rumor you loved to read.”

It was my turn to frown. “From who?”

She waved a delicate hand. “Good news travels fast in the Blood Brotherhood.”

It must’ve traveled across the continent, because the only people who knew about that were my cousins. I’d have to tell them to keep their lips shut, because information was leaking like a broken pipe around here.

A shadow loomed beyond the door. But it wasn’t Goose with the scones. Instead, one of the guards stepped forward, a wooden box clutched tightly in his hands.

“Over here is fine.” Kaya patted the table in front of me. “I hope you don’t mind–”

She was hoping a lot today, wasn’t she?

“–I asked him to bring your gift today. Too heavy for me to carry.”

The guard bowed, quickly exiting the room under Vexa’s narrowed eyes.

“Another gift?” I asked, watching the guard leave.

“It’s tradition. You can’t visit someone without bringing a token of your esteem,” Kaya said, studying me. Her smile fell. “You don’t like it.”

“No, no, it looks lovely.” It did, all dark wood and red metal edges, with a lid that had an opal mosaic on top. “I’m just surprised the guard agreed to come in. I thought the advisors told them to leave me alone.”

“Yes, well.” Kaya cleared her throat. “I told him to do it.”

“Only the advisors can command the guards,” I said cautiously.

“The advisors…” She hesitated. Vexa pursed her already thinning lips. “And me. As their daughter, I have the right to ask their help for simple tasks. Though I don’t abuse my power, obviously. And Frayden insisted on helping today–”

“I…wouldn’t have guessed you were related,” I said, gawking to the point of impoliteness. Kaya was everything her parents weren’t. Beautiful and radiating real kindness, not the sickly sweet one her mother had used in the throne room.

She laughed, but it sounded like broken crystals. “Nobody does. Unless, gods forbid, I skip dying my hair for a few days.”

Kaya looked around with a giddy, almost childish expression on her face, like she was doing something she wasn’t supposed to. Then she tilted the top of her head toward me. I leaned over and could barely see a pinkish outline right against her scalp. The rest of her hair was so perfectly black, it almost shined blue in the right light.

“You’re a redhead,” I muttered. Which made so much more sense with Banu’s long, reddish beard.

“I am.” She grinned, eyes sparkling. “It’s a gorgeous red color, too.”

“Then why do you die it?”

“I have to.” Kaya shrugged, as if trying to shake a weight off her shoulders. “They call me the Jewel of the Blood Brotherhood. I need to shine and look the part, dark hair is considered more royal.”

I looked at Kaya, perhaps finally seeing her. Behind the beautiful facade, behind the grace, was the pressure of it all.

“Your secret’s safe with me.” I offered her a small smile, which she returned. I didn’t know her life and she didn’t know mine, but we both had to live up to the fates someone else had chosen for us.

“Zandyr has great hair.” Kaya wiggled her brows at me. “Right?”

His long, straight hair was a perfect embodiment of the man himself–graceful, strong, and unflinching. “I guess.”

“He’s insanely loyal, too. He will bleed for those he loves, and blood is the most important commodity around here. And he’s funny.”

I frowned. “We’re talking about the same Zandyr, right? Tall, dark, and pissed-off?”

“Well…the fun part of him is more of a diamond you have to dig really, really deep to get to.”

Zandyr could keep his shine for himself, thanks. It wasn’t like he was interested in sharing his glimmer with me. I’d seen him twice since I’d come here, and each time had involved swinging my switchblade at him.

“The palace ladies also say he’s very handsome,” Kaya went on. “I’ve personally seen them tripping over their dresses when he walks past.”

Yes, he was very handsome, damn him. “You promised gossip, not matchmaking.”

“The matchmaking has already happened, I’m just complimenting my friend.” Kaya raised her palms, the perfect picture of innocence. “But don’t tell him, I don’t want his ego getting any bigger.”

I huffed a laugh. “I don’t think that’s possible.”

I refocused my attention on the box, opening the heavy lid slowly to reveal a generous array of strange fruits that smelled tempting. One of them was square and blood red, with skin that shined in the low light. “These look delicious.”

“They’re the customary offering before a wedding. Helps with fertility.”

I smacked the lid closed, face heating up to the same shade as that curious fruit.

Kaya laughed, some of her poise melting away. Even Vexa gave a jagged little smile, while I kept opening and closing my mouth like a fish.

“Don’t worry, nobody expects you to be popping out babies anytime soon,” Kaya said.

“Least of all Zandyr, I’d imagine,” I mumbled. The advisors hadn’t seemed too keen on the idea, either, as if it was any of their business.

“Perhaps, but not for the reasons you’re probably suspecting,” Kaya said evenly. “But if anyone asks, yes, you’ve already received the ceremonial fruit, no need for more.”

“Thanks. Again.” I sighed. “So many rules I have to follow.”

“I wish I could reveal all of them. Everything,” Kaya said as Goose brought us the tea, the dainty cups shivering on the tray in his hands. “But I don’t know what’s appropriate or not.”

“Appropriate or allowed?”

“Aren’t they the same thing?” She gave me a long, thoughtful look. “I can reveal some things about the wedding ceremony. How squeamish are you with blood? Actually, no. That’s best left between you and Zandyr. But let me tell you, the things you have to recite…”

By the time Kaya finished telling me tales about the Blood Brotherhood wedding ceremony, our tea cups were empty and cold. The event had so many steps, so much pomp. My skin pricked just thinking about it as I waved Kaya and Vexa goodbye.

Kaya looked over her shoulder and gave me a small wave, before she disappeared in the throng of guards surrounding her.

“It’s good to be seen in her company,” Goose said as he hurried to clear the table. “People like her.”

Gods help me, I was starting to like Kaya, too. She had that soft, gentle air about her that didn’t press or demand. She simply was and you wanted to bask in her existence for however long you could. Talking with her was so very different than with my parents and cousins, whose demeanors were always big and spiky, challenging and commanding. Kaya let you breathe around her, not setting you on edge with every word.

When we’d met, she’d said we’d be friends, and I was starting to believe her. I didn’t enjoy her trying to praise Zandyr every chance she got, though. She didn’t have to sell the idea of him to me, we were already stuck together.

I stared at the box, sniffing the air. Fertility fruits. My heart thudded. The Clan needed heirs eventually. How could–

The hair on my arms stood up.

My instincts, finely tuned in the mountains, screamed at me. The air was filled with warning.

In a blink, I clutched the switchblade tightly and my knees locked in an attack position.

My insides coiled as my hearing heightened, listening for any hint of an attack. The hiss of the wind flowing between the wooden beams in my fence, the water splashing in the basement kitchen, the floor creaking underneath my feet.

I turned around slowly. Cautiously.

Nothing.

No hidden presence, no blade glistening in the shadows, ready to–

There. Something was crawling.

No. Slithering .

My stomach dropped as I saw the end of a snake’s tail.

A yellow snake’s tail.

As if sensing the detection, the creature slid its head from underneath the table, body undulating menacingly. My blood froze as its razor sharp scales shined dangerously. Its angled eyes ended in horns, ready to slice.

I took a step back.

The beast hissed, revealing its cavernous mouth and monstrous fangs. They were long enough to pierce through my arm and have the tips come out the other side.

It prowled forward, its slitted pupils trained on me.

He stood between me and the door. But if I jumped on the table–

A slithery sensation pooled at the base of my neck. Before I took another breath, my body snapped upright, pulled taut, out of my control. My chin tilted toward the ceiling, so hard and fast, I saw dark spots.

My mouth hung open, but I couldn’t scream.

I was a husk, controlled by an unforeseen force.

I couldn’t move.

I couldn’t run.

The snake advanced on me, ready to strike.