Page 15

Chapter Seven

Samara

I popped the last piece of fruit into my mouth and savored the tartness of the coastal berry—and not being in my cell .

. . although Draven had definitely made that more bearable over the last forty-eight hours.

Vail had snuck him in several times and then waited outside in the stairwell while we’d fucked like animals.

Once Draven had sated my lust haze, he’d remove his scent from my body with his earth magic. As much as I hated the loss of it, I knew it was necessary.

Vail had come back in once we were done, and then we’d gone through different plans for how to get out of this mess.

It hadn’t been my idea to involve Vail.

I still didn’t trust him and hadn’t wanted to include him in any of our plotting, but to my surprise—and frustration—Draven had disagreed.

He’d claimed we’d be more successful including him in our plans.

I didn’t like it, but even I had to acknowledge that having someone who was able to travel around outside the dungeon and get us information improved our odds.

Especially considering none of our plans were great.

Despite being the House Harker Marshal, it was doubtful that Vail would be able to take me past the perimeter wall without someone questioning it and alerting Carmilla—and there was absolutely no way we could walk Draven out with us.

So sneaking out seemed like the best course of action.

We just couldn’t figure out how. There was one way in and out of the dungeon.

The two guards stationed at the top wouldn’t be a problem for us, but the entrance was located smack-dab in the center of the Sovereign House, and this fortress was massive.

While being escorted to this dinner, I’d made notes of how many guards were on duty and where they’d been stationed. By the time my count had reached twenty, it had become clear that we wouldn’t be escaping this way.

As skilled as Vail and Draven were at sneaking around, we all agreed it was highly unlikely that we’d make it outside the walls without being seen, and as soon as someone sounded the alarm, we would be vastly outnumbered.

Vail had also been able to provide us with the number of rangers stationed on the perimeter walls.

Which I hadn’t thanked him for—he was the reason we were in this mess—but I had acknowledged that it was useful information.

I still fully intended to punch him repeatedly in the face once we were out of here.

Such anger for a young one.

For a second, I froze, but then I forced myself to relax and strike a casual pose.

Luckily, Carmilla was deep in conversation with some of her new advisors.

They had previously served Velika, and I wasn’t familiar with either of them.

I also had no idea if Carmilla had used the crown’s magic on them or if they had voluntarily switched loyalties.

I’d tried to converse with the crown the night I’d had dinner with Carmilla, but it’d been silent until it’d slithered into my mind with the light reprimand, I can hear you perfectly fine, little queen. But silence is what I currently seek.

I’d never been scolded by an inanimate object before, so that had been a fun new experience. But apparently, it was up for chatting tonight.

As much as I wanted to dive into a bunch of questions, I bit my tongue. Maybe this would go better if I thought of it less as a Fae artifact and more as a person?

I’m essentially a prisoner. My gaze flicked to where it rested on my aunt’s dark hair. Don’t I have a right to be angry?

You do . . . as do I, the sly voice replied. You are my fate. You are mine.

I wasn’t sure what unnerved me more. That the crown could pluck all the thoughts from my mind, or that it believed I belonged to it.

You do.

Great. I now had a possessive Fae artifact in my life. Not that I’m disagreeing , I said carefully as I sipped my tea, but can you elaborate on why you think our fates are linked?

You are a descendent of the Seelie King.

What? I choked, and the tea went down wrong, causing me to sputter. The conversation died as all eyes fell on me. I ungracefully set my cup down and grabbed a cloth napkin as I tried to get my coughing under control. “Apologies,” I rasped. “Swallowed wrong.”

Carmilla looked at me with an unreadable expression. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Yes.” I nodded and tossed the napkin down. “Please continue. I believe you were discussing the Houses’ inventories of gems to power the wards?”

She studied me for another moment before turning her attention back to the advisors, who had been staring at me wide-eyed before snapping their attention back to Carmilla.

I could only imagine the rumors surrounding me right now.

The House Harker Heir locked in the dungeons and trotted out to attend various meals by her aunt, who had deposed the previous Moroi Queen.

You need to work on how you broach topics like that , I thought. Maybe ease into them a little more.

A tinge of amusement fluttered across my mind. I will make a note of that for the next time I need to inform someone of their lost royal heritage.

Was that sarcasm? Did the Fae seriously make a sentient artifact . . . and give it a dry sense of humor?

The Fae did nothing of the sort. I am this magnificent all on my own.

Well, they definitely passed on their arrogance.

You do realize I can hear all of your thoughts, right? I remember the Seelie royals being smarter.

Can you explain why you believe I’m related to the Seelie King? My stomach churned, and I fought to keep the tea I’d swallowed from coming back up. Draven was the Seelie King’s son, and we’d?—

Flashbacks of the things we’d been up to the last few days played through my mind. Oh god.

Is there a reason why you just threw a bunch of smutty images at me? the crown asked, sounding puzzled. You seemed to be enjoying yourself quite thoroughly in them, so I’m not really understanding why you suddenly feel like you’re going to spew your tea all over the table.

I’ve had —some of the best fucking of my life—r elations with the son of the Seelie King, who you just said I was related to. So, yes. I’m feeling a little freaked out right now.

Dread coiled in my gut. This couldn’t be happening. What were were going to d?—

That man is not the son of the Seelie King.

Draven isn’t Erendriel’s son? How was that possible? Draven seemed so sure . . .

He is.

I inhaled a deep breath, trying to not let the tension strangle me—or drive me to reach across the table and rip the crown off Carmilla’s head.

You should actually do that. I’m meant to be sitting on your head. People should be bowing to us.

What the fuck?

One of the advisor’s glanced at me. Whoops. Must have whispered that part out loud. I gave her a polite smile and took another sip of tea. She stared at me a long moment before returning her attention back to Carmilla.

Can you please explain what you mean about Draven not being the Seelie King’s son ? My smile was so tight on my face, it was causing my jaw to ache. He is Erendriel’s son—and Erendriel is the Seelie King.

Erendriel is an imposter. Rage flashed through me, and it wasn’t mine. Your paternal grandfather was the true Seelie King. Erendriel betrayed him and has been lying ever since.

What. In. The. Actual. Fuck.

Did my father know he was the son of the Seelie King? He had to, right? The thoughts fired rapidly in my mind. At the very least, he had to know he was half Fae. Did my mother know?

Your thoughts are very loud. And confusing, the crown grumbled. I only knew your father as a youngling. I do not know if he was aware of his true lineage.

For a second, it felt like everything in my mind went still. You met my father?

Before I was split apart and half of me locked away, yes. He was young. I’m not good with human ages, but all he did was cry. I mostly tuned him out and was happy when he was given to the bloodthirsty woman. Although your grandfather was sad for a long time afterwards.

My grandfather . . . the Seelie King. He’d sent my father away. I wondered if the bloodthirsty woman was Moroi, perhaps my grandmother. My father had never spoken about his parents, and he’d died when I’d barely been a teenager. I’d never had the chance to ask.

And now I never would. The crown might be able to give me a lot of answers, but it had admitted to not knowing my father well. It seemed those secrets had been taken to the grave.

I let the melancholy of a truth I’d never know drift through my mind before fading away. There was no point in dwelling on the secrets of the dead when the living hold just as many.

Who locked you away? I asked. It had to have been referring to the room beneath Lake Malov where we’d found it.

I . . . don’t know. When I’m split into two parts, I’m weakened. Whoever did it knew what they were doing because they tore me apart before I knew what was happening. Even though I’ve been made whole once more, there are large gaps in my memory.

I’m so sorry. That sounds terrible. Sure, the crown was capable of tearing the free will away from people . . . but it was also kind of nice. A nice monster crown.

You cannot leave me behind. This woman . . . she has already made me do terrible things. I’m trying to resist, but I’m technically bound to whoever’s head I rest upon, and fighting is exhausting.

The pieces clicked together. That’s why you couldn’t talk to me the other day? You were tired?

Yes.

Guilt nipped at me, but I didn’t want to lie. There was no point anyway since the crown could read my mind like an open book.

I have no intention of leaving you in the hands of my aunt for long, but I cannot promise that I will take you with me , I said honestly. Escaping from here is my priority.

I am your priority. Its words were tinged with a desperate rage.

Not right now, I told it gently. There are so many people depending on me. I can’t let them down.