A Crown This Cold and Heavy (Kingdom of Lies, #3)

by Stacia Stark

“You’re sitting there, half drugged, clamped in fae iron, yet you’re actively planning my murder, aren’t you?”

“Perhaps I’m interested to see who the hybrid heir is when she’s not clamped to the side of that fae bastard.” I gave him a pitying look. “If you think he’d beat you in a fight, just say that. This is unnecessary.”

“Use your power,” I snarled. “I am. My power is telling us to fucking run.” I didn’t even have the energy to curse.

Prisca had made my father admit to being weak. And a hypocrite. At the time, I’d wanted to slap her. Now, I recognized it for the gift it was. Because I didn’t have either the time or the inclination to mourn a weak hypocrite.

“I once told you that until you faced up to the reality of your life, you would continue to be a victim to it. And my reality is this—I’m in love with you.” I hadn’t said it back. I’d felt the words deep in my soul, and I hadn’t told him. If I died here, Lorian would never know how I felt. I’m in love with you too.

Demos cursed again. I aimed a glower his way. “Perhaps you should speak a little louder. The creature might not have heard you yet.”

With my current injuries, I probably shouldn’t be using my head as a weapon. Worth it.

“I’ve lived a beautiful life, Prisca. I may have lost parts of myself while I was too young to remember it, but in exchange, I found brothers whom I’ve fought back-to-back with for decades. I found Sybella. Piperia. I would die a hundred times to keep them safe.”

“The red-haired guard has the keys to our chains and the cell,” I whispered to Cavis. “We’ll need to work together.” The look he gave me was achingly gentle. “Tell Sybella it was always her for me. From the moment I saw her. She knows it, but I want to remind her. Tell her…tell her every second of this was worth it for the time I got to have with her. And one day, when Piperia’s old enough, tell her I helped in the war against Regner. Feel free to make my part larger than it was.” His smile widened, even as his eyes glittered. “Every little girl should think her father was a hero.”

“Look after Lorian. Hold him tight and savor every moment. He’s been waiting a long time for you. And tell him and Galon and Marth and Rythos… Tell them that being their brother was the honor of my life. “

Cavis smiled. But he didn’t agree. “Promise me, Pris. You get out, and you don’t let them break you. You don’t let this break you.” I stared into those dreamy eyes, unable to deny him this. “I promise.”

The laughter turned to screams. I smiled.

I stumbled toward him, but it was too late. He was lunging, swinging his mangled hands at Eadric. Fear flickered over Eadric’s face. And despite my terror, I reveled in it.

“Dead,” I choked. “You’re dead. I’m going to kill you. But first, I’m going to kill everyone you love.”

I didn’t know why I was so determined to wield what little power I had in such a way. Why I would risk alienating the very people who could lead to my downfall. It was a compulsion I could never quite manage to suppress.

No markers, no headstones, no way to know exactly where each of Sabium’s dead queens lay. Had any of them known just how much of a monster he was? Had they attempted to protect the babies thrust upon them as I had? If they had tried, then they had failed. None of their sons were here. No, they were all lost to the sea, their throats slit, their power drained. And the women who’d come before me were buried beneath my feet. I stepped farther into the enclosed graveyard. It wasn’t difficult to imagine those queens standing next to me, invisible as they screamed their vengeance. “I’ll make him pay,” I vowed. The words settled within me, deep in my chest. I would not fail. I would do whatever it took to make sure Sabium died.

There was something incredibly undignified about being hauled around unconscious by two men.

“What happened?” No one spoke. She turned her attention back to Demos. “Please tell me you’re not poking at the unstable, murderous fae prince.” I narrowed my eyes at her. Demos just growled. “He slaughtered an entire godsdamned regiment.” Asinia turned to me. “Did you learn anything?” Valdoria snorted. Demos threw up his hands. “How am I suddenly the voice of reason here?”

“I didn’t need anything before Prisca. I wanted peace on this continent. I wanted our people to be safe. I wanted Regner dead. But I didn’t need anything for myself. I didn’t know I could have anything myself. And then I met her, and for the first time in my long life, I needed.”

Something had cracked open inside my chest—a part of me sucked into a void, now irretrievably lost. Cavis’s eyes meeting mine. No fear for himself. No, he’d been terrified for me. The rest had been fury and a hint of relief. I was haunted by death.

Had I told them I loved them? Did they know?

My muscles screamed in protest at my position, my wrists burning in the heavy chains. But each pass of the bone along the stone meant I was one moment closer to vengeance. So I lay still. And I scraped.

“Where are you taking him?” “Worry for yourself, Hybrid Heir,” a heavyset blond guard sneered, the long scar down his cheek tightening with the expression. The red-haired guard laughed and locked my cell behind him, shoving the keys into his pocket. I knew Cavis wasn’t here anymore. Knew his body was just what was left. Everything that had made him him had gone. But for the first time, I felt truly alone.

“Well, this is familiar,” I mumbled. “Us on horses, fleeing for our lives. Me barely conscious, you bullying me relentlessly.”

“Thank you for coming for me.” She sniffed. But her shoulders straightened, and I hid a smile. Prickly Madinia.

Madinia let out a sound that was somewhere between a snarl and a hiss. Another fireball appeared. “Don’t you dare,” I snapped. She gaped at me. “Monster.” “Well, yes. But he’s our monster.” I slid off my horse and dropped to my knees, holding out my arms for the Drakoryx. “Did you eat all the bad men?” He stepped into my arms, butting my chin with his head like a big cat. “I did.” “Thank you.” Madinia stepped up next to me. “Next time,” she gritted out, “you may want to let me know when you’ve befriended magic-eating monsters.”

I sat on my bed, plate in my lap as I eyed the creature. Prisca had attempted to convince him to stay in the forest, and he’d argued. Argued. Because the beast could talk. In our minds.

“What are you thinking?” I asked. “I’m thinking we’re going to gather our people. Then we’ll go to the city. We’re going to find Rothnic, locate Jamic, sneak into the castle…” “And then?” “And then we’re going to burn that fucking place to the ground.”

“Are you planning to be completely unreasonable now that I’m back?” He gave a low, unamused grunt. Clearly, that was indeed what he was planning.

“Who is Eadric?” “Do you remember the man at the inn? The day you were flirting with that fae woman?” “I wasn’t—” He narrowed his eyes at me. “Not amusing.”

“If you set this inn on fire, I will be very upset,” I murmured.

I didn’t even have the energy to blush. Lorian merely grinned at me, clearly pleased with himself. As he should be.

He paused. Swallowed. “He should be here, Prisca. He should be right here. With us.” His voice was hoarse, and I nodded, just letting him talk. “The hurt will come later. When I have to—” His voice broke now. “When I have to tell Sybella he’s not coming home. That she’s all alone now. And I didn’t do what I was supposed to. I didn’t bring him back alive.”

“Do you remember the fae fire I used that time in Eryndan’s castle?” I shivered. “Yes.” “It appears that wasn’t a unique experience.”

“I took the disk from you,” he said. “You did.” “I won’t apologize.” “I didn’t think you would.”

Galon’s mouth trembled. “Delusions of grandeur, Prisca?” I scowled at him. “It’s a legitimate question.”

Galon was still studying my face. “I see the mating is hitting you hard.” I showed him my teeth. He shared a look with Rythos, and I suppressed the urge to throw them all off this roof. They’d heal.

If I could turn it to fury, and turn fury to action, perhaps one day I could look Piperia in the eye.

“Why don’t you tell me what happened between when we arrived and now? You can skip the sex if you’d like. Or not. One of us should be enjoying ourselves.”

“Is…is there anything you want to talk about? Perhaps with Demos?” Asinia shrugged. “Demos is Demos.” Uh-huh.

“Go,” I said. “Travel fast but stay safe.”

“Prickly,” he said. “I like that.” “Come closer,” I said. “And you’ll see just how prickly.”

“What do you want?” It was my turn to smile. “I want chaos.”

Demos and I had said thirty-six words to each other since we’d left Prisca and the others behind. I’d counted.

“I don’t know what you want from me, Asinia. When you figure it out, let me know.”

“In another life. That was what you said.” I gave him a mock scowl. “And then you insisted on this one instead.” His huge palm cupped my cheek, tilting my face up. “In every life, wildcat. No matter what happens, you hold on to that. It’s you and me in every life.”

“This is why you must always hold the hourglass when you use it. It’s a physical reminder that you are linked to it. When you let go, your power will unlink too. This is how children train.” I was too tired to feel embarrassed by that implication.

“I’ll run.” I’d run, then I’d circle back, and save the stubborn ass.

“You have no brothers.” Demos bared his teeth in an expression that would never be mistaken for a smile. “The brother of my sister is my brother. I’ve claimed him as such.”

“If you’re nice to me, perhaps I’ll keep the dress on later,” I breathed. He took a single step closer and leaned down, his nose brushing my throat. “I’ll be very, very nice to you, wildcat.” My knees turned weak, and he smiled against my neck. Rythos made a gagging sound. Without looking, Lorian lashed out with his fist. Even I could hear the dull thump as it made contact, and Rythos cursed.