Page 53 of Jeweler to the Blessed (Champions of Chaos #1)

Alaric’s mouth was covered with a dirty cloth. His gaze met mine in one of resignation. So many unspoken words passed between us.

Questions flooded my mind, but I dared not voice them: What happened? Why didn’t you tell me … any of this? Why did you leave?

I couldn’t believe he was here.

My gaze lingered again on his appearance.

He was definitely not a welcome guest. Not dressed in finery and turned about the dancefloor like I had just been.

Rope tied his wrists like those of a prisoner.

Ice shot down my spine, and I masked my fear.

Alaric was most definitely in trouble. I just didn’t know why.

“Why is he bound?” I asked with all the authority I could muster. “Free him. Let him retake his place if he’s been found.”

King Rodric sipped a light brown liquid from a fine glass. “I don’t think I will.”

My gaze turned to the king. “What has he done?”

The king set down his glass. “As if you don’t know.”

I had plenty of suspicions but I’d be damned if I voiced any of them.

He had left to chase after something, some history.

That’s what Father had thought. I wondered how much of that had to do with me—what I was.

I couldn’t think about that now. My anger at all he kept from me could wait.

The only thing that mattered was getting Alaric out of this.

I turned to the prince. “Please. What has he done?”

The king snorted at my supplication of his son, but I didn’t regret it. Prince Elias couldn’t help himself. He wanted to be liked, even when he stood no chance.

“Your uncle was found in the mines. He was trying to destroy the adamas source.”

Now, it was Alaric’s turn to snort. He flexed his jaw until the tie slipped enough for him to speak. “He is not a source!”

So much for claiming Alaric wasn’t guilty of what they accused.

I took a breath. This was bad. Part of me wished Hart was here, his steady presence would calm my racing heart. As quickly as I thought it, another piece of me was glad he wasn’t. I didn’t want him caught up in whatever this was with the Glanmores.

Then Uncle’s words clicked. He . The mines. Alaric was trying to free the captive. The captive … created the adamas deposits. I knew I’d been right.

“That’s enough from you,” the prince said. His gaze returned to mine. “Your uncle was arrested for treason.”

“How long?” The words were out before I could stop them. I knew it was irrelevant in the grand scheme of … everything, but I couldn’t help but feel I’d been played.

Elias attempted confusion, but it was too late. I’d already seen the flash of understanding cross his face. I held Alaric’s wrist and squeezed in a way I hoped was reassuring. This was bad. I had no idea what to do, but I would get him out.

“How long?” I pressed again, latching on to something that Elias appeared to want to hide. If nothing else, it would give me a moment to think.

“Days. We found him before we found you.” Elias’s head hung with the confession.

I knew Alaric would never miss a meeting with the king. It made more sense that Alaric thought I would have had time to find his note before being discovered by the Glanmores. It made even more sense if that note was only a precaution—if there had been a chance he wouldn’t be caught at all.

I knew that calculation of risk too well. It was the same one Hart and I had done about tonight’s task.

My rage-filled glare met Elias’s. He’d let me believe Alaric was dead. Only Alaric’s note gave me hope he was chasing down something useful—that he had a purpose in his departure.

When I thought things couldn’t get any worse, Vaddon stormed in. “Why did you bring her here, Elias? She’s a traitor, just like him.”

I wouldn’t leave Alaric’s side, but for the first time it occurred to me that not only Alaric was in trouble here. King Rodric’s words echoed in my mind: As if you don’t know.

Alaric worked around his loosed gag. “She didn’t kn?—”

“Silence.” Vaddon’s glare turned from Elias to Alaric.

My hand ran down Alaric’s back in as soothing a gesture as I could muster. My gaze bored into his as the royals and the advisor argued. I didn’t care what they thought I knew. He was my priority. How was I going to get him out of here?

“We don’t have proof she was a part of her uncle’s scheme. She deserved to know—deserved the chance to prove her loyalty,” Elias said.

“And does this look like loyalty?” Vaddon spat.

I didn’t have to look to know he gestured to my place on the floor at my uncle’ s side.

“Enough about Alaric,” the prince said. “He is a traitor to Kavios. We’re here to speak about Emberline.”

I tensed.

“Her talents and her beauty.”

Vaddon groaned.

“She is wasted without magic,” Elias continued.

“You can’t be serious.” It was Vaddon’s turn to be surprised. “Rodric. She’s as much a traitor as Alaric.”

Rodric waved a hand dismissively.

The prince came to my other side, and gooseflesh covered every inch of my skin. He glanced at the king as if to ensure his mind was unchanged by Vaddon’s outburst. Whatever he was about to say, I was positive I wouldn’t like it.

“I told you I had a surprise for you,” Elias said. “Father has decided to include a fifth Blessed with this year’s celebration. Someone who has served Kavios and this family beyond the call of duty.”

No. My body tensed as if I’d been slapped. I had seen five chairs at the foot of the dais in the ballroom. There were only four Selected. I hadn’t even considered what the extra one was for.

Alaric’s words echoed my internal thoughts. “No, Ember. You can’t.”

His words were like a knife in my gut. Like a wound I knew was there but couldn’t yet identify.

Elias rested a hand on my shoulder, drawing my attention from Alaric. “You, Emberline. You are to be Blessed.”

My vision tunneled. Elias kept speaking flowery words, but they sounded like a soft hum in my head. This couldn’t be right. I couldn’t be Blessed. My gaze met Uncle’s. The horror in his eyes reflected my inner thoughts. I only hoped I wasn’ t as transparent.

Elias took my hand, lifting me from the floor. “I knew you’d be excited. I’ll announce it now. We should return.”

“I’m so sorry, Ember.” Alaric’s words pulled me back. “I never meant for any of this …”

Vaddon seemed unable to take more. In two quick strides, he crossed the room and kicked Alaric to the floor.

Alaric’s gasp as the breath left him had me ready to vomit. Saliva coated my tongue. None of this could be real.

I looked to the king. It was his Blessing, after all. “What will happen to him?”

“That’s entirely up to you, Emberline. My son is convinced your value outweighs your uncle’s crimes.”

“Highn—” Vaddon started to protest.

The king held up his hand. “If the scales are balanced, Order is preserved.”

Prince Elias pressed his hand to my lower back. “He would remain a prisoner, Emberline. He couldn’t return to life in the city, but you could see him.”

I hated the entitlement of his touch as much as I needed it—needed him to value me the way he did to save Alaric.

Much like when I’d decided to become Jeweler to the Blessed, my choice was no choice at all. I would do anything to keep Alaric safe.

“It would be an honor,” I said.

A moan slipped from Alaric’s lips. “No.”

Vaddon kicked him again, and I winced, feeling the pain as if it were my own.

Alaric’s blood splattered my dress. Prince Elias looked me up and down as I stood. “Maybe we shouldn’t announce it tonight. It will be all the more of a surprise when you arrive tomorrow with the gems, and the audience realizes there is one for you as well.”

He didn’t even acknowledge that he’d given me less than a day to make another ring. It wasn’t the kind of detail the prince would care about.

I nodded, unable to find words.

The prince guided me from the room. “Let’s go find that guard of yours.”

In a daze, I followed. My heart broke as the door shut with Alaric behind it. I told myself he’d be alright. So long as I became Blessed and did what they asked, Alaric would live.

Fury built within me. I’d been so close to doing something for myself—making a decision I could live with for how my future played out. That went out the window now that the Glanmores had Alaric. I wouldn’t even consider what they’d do to him if I ran. It was no longer an option.

Even as the fight left me, rebellion raged inside me. At least I would accomplish what Alaric could not. I’d remain with the Glanmores. Stay Jeweler to the Blessed. Become Blessed myself. But they couldn’t blame me if the source of adamas disappeared.

Then, at least in this new cage I willingly entered, I wouldn’t endlessly funnel power to the Blessed.