Page 5 of Queen of the Crimson Throne (Queen of Blood and Stardust #2)

5

LUKA

Smoke was thick in the air, it clogged the crowded street, making it appear later than it was as Nico and I wove through the stalls. We had been making our way through the Stygin market for over an hour looking for a specific vendor to no avail.

The Stygin market was a well-known secret among the Blood Court. All kinds of Fae set up shop in the market. Selling both legal and illegal substances. The palace was aware of the existence of the market but left the vendors alone on the promise they did no harm. Up until the past few weeks, I had only visited the Stygin market once, on a dare from Nico when we were teens. We only made it two blocks before a vendor tried to sell us a crystal. The sight of her smiling with her black rotted gums sent us both running back to the palace without looking back. We were never eager to return after that encounter. Never had a reason to.

But here we were, back at the Stygin market in search of a witch. A witch who possessed a wide variety of ancient texts. She wasn’t a frequent vendor here, she only made an appearance every few months, which is why I found myself checking the market once a week, in search of this so-called witch Scribe.

I picked up my pace as I neared the end of the street. I didn’t have all day to wander. I looked both ways before I crossed the alley. We still had several more streets to assess, the market was packed today, making it harder than normal to move through the throngs of people.

“We’re running out of time.” I ran my hands through my hair. “We should split up.”

“Fuck if I’m letting you leave me alone out here.” Nico grimaced. “We can come back tomorrow.”

“I don’t want to come back tomorrow, I need to find this witch today,” I insisted.

“But what if she’s not even here? There’s no guarantee.”

I turned and faced my friend. “I need to at least try.”

Nico pinned me with a pitying look that made me wince as I fisted my hands at my side.

“Well, let’s keep going, brother.” I followed behind Nico as he continued down the street, even in the haze of the smoke his icy hair shone. I couldn’t lose track of him if I tried. “We should still have a couple of hours until your betrothed arrives. That’s plenty of time for us to find this little witchy and get your bride-to-be an engagement present.” I ground my teeth, he threw the words around so easily.

Bride-to-be.

Betrothed.

She and I were betrothed and I had failed her.

I was supposed to protect her. Keep her safe.

Guard her heart.

I had failed her by keeping one little secret from her.

I should have known better. I knew how much she valued honesty.

I knew how much her trust was worth. How hard I had worked to earn it.

I lost it all in the blink of an eye. With one single sentence, everything we built crumbled.

And now we were to be married. She was going to be bound to me for eternity .

Unless I could find Astria’s spellbook. Which is why I needed to find the witch Scribe. I would not fail Lennox again. I could do this one last thing for her. Free her from me.

Even if my own heart rebelled against the thought.

I could take the coward’s way out.

Marry her. Tie her to me forever.

But that’s not what she wants.

It’s not what I want either.

I want Lennox to choose me for herself because she wants to be with me. Not because someone forced her to.

So I spent these past two months doing nothing but trying to find Astria’s spellbook. If I managed to find it myself and give it to my grandfather, I hoped he’d let Lennox out of our arranged marriage.

He had to.

Which is why I had to find the witch Scribe today. It had been Luciana who turned me onto her. She heard about the ancient Scribe from another witch in her coven. According to Luciana the Scribe held the oldest collection of books in the entire Mystic Court. If anyone was going to have Astria’s spellbook it was bound to be her.

It took some inquiring on both of our ends to figure out she traveled from court to court; it just so happened she was due to arrive in the Blood Court this month.

The impending arrival of the witch Scribe couldn’t have come at a better time.

Nico nudged me, pulling me from my thoughts as he directed me towards a stall where a small, dark-skinned woman sat. Painted on the banner on the front of her booth was a moon, a sun, and three stars, the signs of each of the witch covens.

A witch, finally.

“Let’s go.” I steered Nico towards the witch.

“Hello, my lady,” Nico drawled. “We were hoping you’d be able to help us find one of your sisters. ”

The witch assessed Nico, her brows pinching and nose wrinkling. “Why should I help you, wolf?”

Nico’s brows rose. “How do you know I’m a wolf?”

“Please, I can smell it all over you. You pups stink.”

“Hey—”

“Now is not the time Nico.” I placed my arm in front of him to draw him back.

“What my friend is trying to say is we’ve been looking for the witch Scribe.”

“What need do you have from a witch Scribe?”

So she wasn’t the Scribe. “I’m looking for a book.”

The crease between her brows deepened. “What kind of ancient witch volume could a vampire be in need of?”

“That”—I picked up one of the crystals on the table—“is none of your concern.”

Time felt like it stretched on forever as she considered my words. I shifted from one foot to another as I tossed the cool crystal in my hands. I needed to get back to the palace before Lennox arrived.

“There is a price for the information you want,” the witch said finally.

“Name it, whatever it is, I’ll pay it.”

“Luka— you can’t be serious. This is a witch we’re talking about,” Nico argued.

The witch threw Nico a glance before breaking out into a sinister smile. “Your friend is right, you are reckless for saying you will jump into a bargain with a witch without knowing what it consists of. What if it’s your soul I ask in return?”

“I don’t care what the price is. I will pay it.”

Nico mumbled a string of incoherent curses. The female’s face softened. “You must love someone very much to go to such lengths for them.” She was right. But I couldn’t admit it out loud. The last time I had tried I found myself on the wrong side of a dagger .

I rubbed at my neck, the phantom sting of the metal sinking into my skin.

“Because you are seeking answers out of love, all I ask is a favor from you. To be redeemed at any time.”

“Deal.”

I itched at the skin on my forearm as Nico and I crossed the front yard to the palace. The spot where the witch had sliced a dagger across my arm was already healing, but I could still feel the remnants of magic from our deal lingering beneath my skin.

I knew I was reckless to tie myself to a witch, but it was worth it for the information she gave me. The witch Scribe should be arriving in a couple of weeks.

Another witch, the half witch I had tied myself to, was due to arrive in a few hours, giving me enough time to wash the stench of the Stygin market off me before she arrived .

The grand foyer was eerily quiet when we entered. I had expected everyone to be preparing for Lennox’s arrival, but no one was to be found.

“Warren!” My voice echoed in the empty space. It took a moment before the vampire’s voice rang out in response and he appeared, peeking his head around one of the dark arches, “Yes, Your Highness?”

“Where is everyone? Why are they not preparing for the High Queen’s arrival?”

Warren’s brow furrowed. “She’s already arrived, Your Highness. Her convoy arrived at the gates early this afternoon.”

“Fuck.” I had missed it, I had missed her arrival. “Where’s the high queen now?”

“I believe she finished her meeting with your grandfather and should be heading back to her room.”

“Astria’s tits,” Nico swore. “That’s a meeting I would have liked to see.”

I swallowed. This is exactly what I had wanted to avoid.

Lennox was strong, she could hold her own with my grandfather, I had no doubt, but I still would have liked to have been by her side—given her a heads up as to what to expect from him. Why did my grandfather ask to meet with her without me?

I’d think about that more later.

I had more important things to worry about.

I rushed up the stairs towards my bedchamber, taking the steps two at a time, the scent of citrus and lilacs invading my nostrils as I approached the top of the stairs.

She had been here. My stomach knotted. I had thought about this moment for weeks. What I would say to her when I saw her. What I’d do.

But now—all of that went out the window. All I wanted was to lay my eyes on her.

A flash of honey-colored hair snagged at the corner of my periphery as I rounded the corner into the hallway.

She stood facing away from me. Her hand resting on the doorknob. Her gown was made of the color a crimson so deep it reminded me of blood. It hugged every dip and curve of her luscious body. The body I had explored every inch of with my hands and mouth and had been dreaming about for months. As she shifted, her gown revealed a slit up the side and the gleam of metal hid there. My mouth dried.

“Lennox.” The words came out a sigh—a plea almost.

Turn around. Look at me .

I watched as her shoulders lifted before she turned towards my voice.

Her luscious lips parted in a perfect o as those emerald eyes met mine.

Fuck, I had missed those eyes. My body relaxed as her lips tilted upward .

I took a step towards her. I needed to touch her. I needed to feel her—to know she was truly here and happy to see me and this wasn’t all a figment of my imagination.

“Lennox.” I sighed.

I saw the moment she remembered—when the shock of seeing me wore off.

She clamped her lips together, her gaze turned icy before she turned back around—reaching for the door handle.

“Lennox wait!”

But I was too late. The door slammed shut in my face.