Page 3 of Queen of the Crimson Throne (Queen of Blood and Stardust #2)

3

LENNOX

I pulled my cloak tighter around me as Odin approached the black gates of the palace. Guards dressed in all black held them open on either side as our convoy passed through. A red circle was embroidered on each of their lapels, with lines zagging across the circle in thick red thread, forming two V’s that resembled fangs, the seal of the Blood Court.

The Blood Court —after two weeks of grueling travel, we had finally made it to Cel Nox, the capital city, this afternoon.

There were no Vanir to track, no duties to attend to, no corners to hide in while we traveled. For two weeks, I had maintained my mask of High Queen as I traveled with a group of six Star Court guards.

All I had while traveling was time to think.

Time to think about what I would face while I was here. What I could no longer avoid.

Who I could no longer avoid.

It had been six weeks since I held a blade to his throat and demanded him to leave.

For six weeks I had agonized over every decision I had made that led me here. To arrive in the Blood Court to announce my engagement to the Prince.

To the male who had stolen my heart only to destroy it in the end.

He sent letters, of course, he sent letters. They arrived each week like clockwork. I read the first lines of the initial letter before throwing it into the hearth. I blinked back the tears in my eyes as I watched the parchment burn. The rest of the letters that arrived went straight into the flames. I couldn’t read his words of remorse. If I was going to survive this arranged marriage, I had to shut myself off from those emotions.

The stones of the Blood Palace were painted black, and even the windows appeared black and clouded, giving the entire palace an eerie feeling. One tower stood taller than the rest at the center of the dwelling. I wondered who got the honor of occupying the tallest peak.

King Arlo most likely. The tallest peak to keep a watchful eye on his city.

To watch me arrive.

There was a chill in the late fall air, but that’s not why a tremor wracked my body as I passed through the obsidian doors into the palace. I was in the home of vampires.

The Court of vampires.

The City of vampires.

The home of the vampire who had a hand in shattering my heart. The vampire who—I shook my head, banishing the thought.

A little while longer . I had to hold myself together a little while longer.

“Your Majesty!” The males voice boomed across the grand foyer, my guards drew in closer, as the male made his way toward me with a broad smile on his face. “Welcome to Cel Nox. What a pleasure it is to be hosting you.” He bowed deeply.

I smiled tightly. “Thank you for having me. And you are?” The male’s onyx hair fell past his shoulders, making his pale face appear even more elongated. His downturned eyes matched the shade of his hair.

“My apologies, Your Majesty. I’m Warren, I’m the head of the palace; King Arlo has sent me to welcome you.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Warren.”

My eyes scanned over the faces of the vampires lining the grand hall. The foyer was larger than the one in my own home, it extended far wider with large archways made of a deep black stone on either side that matched the dark color of the walls. The room looked out into a courtyard of sorts, through several rectangular windows trimmed in black.

I hoped in a sea of unfamiliar faces, there might be at least one familiar face, but there wasn’t.

Why would he be here anyway? I had been so terrible to him the last time I saw him. I had ordered him to leave. Why would he be here to greet me? I was technically his betrothed, I figured he’d be here to welcome me for appearance’s sake at least.

“Please follow me,” Warren directed as he walked. “I’m sure you’re itching to freshen up after your travel, I can show you to your rooms after I take you to meet King Arlo.”

My feet stilled, refusing to move. “Is everything alright, Your Majesty?” A line formed between Warren’s brows. The King , the king wanted to meet me now?

“I would like to freshen up before seeing King Arlo.”

“I’m afraid that’s not possible, Your Majesty. King Arlo has requested you be brought to him immediately upon your arrival.” A knot formed in my stomach. I was already apprehensive about meeting the infamous Blood King, but I didn’t expect this—him insisting on seeing me immediately after I arrived. I needed time to prepare.

I needed a moment alone.

I steeled my shoulders. We might be in the Blood Court, but I hadn’t forgotten who I was even if they had.

“You can tell the king I am thankful for the warm reception, but I am the High Queen, if I would like to have a hot bath before seeing him, I will have a hot bath before seeing him. If he has a problem with my wishes you should remind him where he falls in the order of things.”

Warren scratched behind his ear. “Of course, Your Majesty. Let me show you to your room. I will let King Arlo know you will see him when you are ready.”

“Thank you. Please tell him I appreciate his patience.”

Warren smiled tightly. “Of course, Your Majesty.”

He turned and I continued following him through the throng of vampires, keeping my back straight and shoulders back as I ignored the stares of the vampires, my boots clacking on the deep mahogany floors.

Once we were out of the view I let myself relax slightly, letting out the breath I had been holding as we ascended the staircase carved into the side of the building.

Warren led me to my room, stopping outside the door to rattle off instructions I tuned out, my eyes fixed on the black doorknob.

So close. I was so close.

Finally, he left me.

The minute the door to my bedchamber closed I let out a sigh of relief.

Alone.

I was finally alone.

Some while later a knock sounded on my door. I hoped it wasn’t my ladies maid, Krissa, again. Twice I had sent her away since I had arrived. Stars bless the girl for trying, but I didn’t want her assistance right now. I didn’t need her to draw my bathwater or brush my hair. I had grown up accustomed to the company of ladies maids growing up, but I hadn’t had one of my own in years, I preferred it that way.

I trudged across my room to the closed door, swinging it open with force, prepared to give Krissa a piece of my mind this time for failing to stay away until I called upon her.

But when I opened the door it wasn’t the female standing there. It was a dark-haired winged male.

“Declan,” I stammered. “What are you doing here?”

The harpy’s golden eyes narrowed. “I live here, or did you forget?”

“I mean here, at my door.”

His voice softened slightly. “I’m here to escort you to see King Alro.”

I moved to shut the door, but he was quicker, blocking it with one of his massive arms.

“Fuck,” I murmured as I continued my attempt to push the door shut, throwing my entire body against the door.

“I figured you wouldn’t be agreeable. That’s precisely why I volunteered to come get you. ”

I gave up, the harpy was practically a brick wall. I left Declan in the doorway, turning my back to him, and crossed the room towards the sitting room, taking a seat in one of the oversized chairs.

“It’s not that I don’t want to go see the king, it’s—I’m not ready yet.”

“Well, let me prepare you.” He tucked in his wings and sat on the couch across from me. “King Arlo has been waiting for the moment he finally gets to meet you. All he wants to do is meet you, to have a conversation. You have nothing to be worried about.”

“I’m not worried.”

Declan cocked his head and raised a single dark brow. “Even if you were, I’d be right outside the door the entire time,” he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “That’s why I wasn’t there to greet you when you arrived. I was waiting with Arlo for your arrival.”

I said nothing, opting instead to toy with a loose string on one of the decorative pillows .

“Luka and Nico were meant to greet you in the grand hall.” My hand stilled on the thread. “You arrived sooner than we anticipated, Luka was out when you arrived, but he was going to be here. He wanted to be here. He should be back soon.”

Why was he telling me this? Why did he care? This wasn’t the Declan I was used to, I was certain this might have been the most Declan had ever spoken to me directly. Before everything had transpired that day in Alethens, we had become friends—kind of. We were friendly at least. I assumed when things dissolved between Luka and I, it meant I lost Declan and Nico as well. I didn’t expect this—this felt like he was looking out for me.

“Fine.” I stood, running my hands over my crimson dress. “Take me to see the King.”