Page 177 of Blackheart

Celebrations were happening on the deck. Liquor and food had been served. People were singing, kissing, holding each other. The world around me was a blur compared to my grief. I tried to at least focus on conversations where Xavian and I were being thanked for our leadership, with promises from the Dark Natured that they would join the brotherhood upon arrival to Castivian.

Late into the evening, Ansel proposed a toast.

I stood with a strong pour in hand, staring out into the sea.

“To the famed bastard twins of Castivian, King Xavian Steele and Princess ElorengailWhimcastor,for their triumphant victory at the Southern Waywards!” Ansel cheered.

He’d already changed and cleaned up, his piercing blue eyes cutting through the crowd.

“And cheers to my wife, for a successful bonding to a bladebreather!” he added.

Beck stared, arms crossed from across the deck. I drank deeply. Ansel offered to grab me another.

As everyone else celebrated, I planned my revenge.

Delaina thought me to be a monster? I’d become something far more frightening—a veritable nightmare.

My revenge is inescapable.

Epilogue

“She is no princess, but a blight, hellbent on poisoning the Crown. She is darker than Saffron, crueler than the bastard who defied me. Let her name be known only for its evil. Elorengail Steele—the Dark Heir.”

—Queen Delaina Lyonaire, decree before the Church of Fate

Luna sat trembling,roped and bound to a chair in the middle of the woods, surrounded by dark blue tents.

Prince Payn sat on a chair in front of her with a tiara in his hand. The campfire cast a warm, shadowy glow on his angular face, his eyes red in stark contrast to his snow-like hair.

“You’ve saved yourself a lot of trouble answering my questions so far,” Prince Payn murmured, leaning forward in his seat. His finger traced along the tiara.

Luna kept silent.

“So let me get this straight. You managed to escape the Northern Waywards. Before that, you lived with a girl namedElora,” he paused, as if saying her name sliced open a bitterwound. “After your escape, you what? Whored around taverns thinking you wouldn’t be captured?”

Luna closed her eyes, lip quivering as she nodded. “Please don’t kill me,” she begged.

Payn rolled his eyes and stood. “You Blackhearts are so dramatic. I’m not going to kill you. I have a job for you.”

Luna perked up. “What’s the job? I’m experienced in many things,” she promised suggestively.

Payn grimaced. “Nothing like that. You’ll learn more later. For now, I have one more question. After you answer, I’ll let you change into clothes that aren’t soaked in piss. Fair?”

She nodded graciously. “Whatever you want.”

Payn cut the restraints off in a clean slice. “Come with me.”

Luna did as told and followed the blood prince through the heavily guarded camp. When he stopped, he drew back the opening of a tent.

“Tell me everything you know about my idiot brother.”

Luna gaped at the limp body lying on a table, bandages wrapping his chest. If it weren’t for his shallow breathing, she would’ve thought he was dead.

TO BE CONTINUED