The Fate of Crowns: The Complete Trilogy: A YA Epic Fantasy Boxset

by Rebecca L. Garcia

  “I need to be alone.” I pulled away gently. “I need to think.”

  “It’s so lonely here,” he admitted. His carefree smile was replaced with a seriousness I’d rarely seen on Cedric.

  He’d left his family, his friends, and his trade business. He was in a land he didn’t know, all for me. Guilt overwhelmed my mind. I relented. “You know what, I could use some company. Perhaps we can strategize.”

  He smirked. “Or…”

  “Strategize.” I stared him down.

  “Fine. You’re no fun.” He poked my side.

  The truth was I just couldn’t bring myself to kiss or cuddle with him after what I just did. He pushed the door open and walked inside. I looked back, wondering if Blaise was okay. My mind shouldn’t have been with him, but it was. Bringing myself back to the present, I followed Cedric.

  ***

  Silk banners of blue and gray covered the banquet room. Glamours portrayed snow drifting to the ground but never landing. I twirled around, and my Gothic-style, midnight-blue dress swished around my knees. I reached over the table and grabbed some bread, slices of apple, and blueberry jam. Settling down at the table with my plate, I looked Lord Abor in the eyes. “I assume you have news; else you wouldn’t have called me here.”

  Cedric picked at a slice of pie next to me.

  “Yes.” Abor cleared his throat, looking between Cedric and me. “King Edgar has agreed to meet you, but not at the border.”

  “Then where?”

  “Ash court.”

  “I can’t go there!” I slammed my fist onto the table. “He will have me killed. It’s obviously a trap.”

  “He’s promised you will not be harmed, although we both know you sorcerers like to lie.”

  My mouth twisted. “Not all of us. Anyway, Edgar’s word means nothing. I won’t go.”

  Abor shrugged my response.

  He nodded in agreement. “I already sent word that we have declined his request.”

  My eyebrows pinched downward. “Good, but you didn’t even wait to ask me.”

  “Blaise gave the order. He reads all communications from Magaelor first.”

  I ground my teeth. “It’s almost like I’m not a queen.” My nose wrinkled. Cedric squeezed my hand, snapping me out of my rage.

  “However, there is another matter I wish to discuss,” Abor stated. “An odd woman has appeared at court, claiming to be your friend.”

  Cedric smirked. “But Winter doesn’t have any friends—”

  “Who?” I asked, interrupting him. “What’s her name?”

  “Morgana Emberlash. She says she is your seer. Oh—”

  I stood, sending my chair screeching back. “Where is she?” My wild eyes searched his. “Tell me now!”

  “She’s being kept in the dungeons. We must do it with all sorcerers because of the—Your Highness, please, wait!” he called as I ran from the table.

  I grabbed a guard at the door by his purple collar. “You’re coming with me.”

  Morgana’s orb-like brown eyes widened when she saw me. The guard unlocked the door and swung it open. I pulled her into my arms, tears streaming down my cheeks.

  “I came as soon as I heard. How did you get here? You know, it doesn’t matter. I’m just so glad you are!” My thoughts raced. “Are you okay? Did Edgar hurt you? I’ll kill him!”

  She patted my back, then pulled me at arm’s length. Sadness wrinkled her eyes, and her bony fingers were shaking. “Calm down. I’m okay.” She steadied her tone, although I could tell she was shaken. It was unusual for her. “I escaped. Edgar released me from the dungeons on Prince Kiros’s orders. I’ll presume I have you to thank for that.” Her bottom lip trembled. “With me no longer facing execution, Edgar put me to work. He had me making staffs nonstop.” She showed me her cut-up, bloodied fingers. “Edgar is building an army under Xenos’s nose. He’s afraid. The forest nymph escaped though, after your father died.” She smiled. “Which is good news. There are, of course, other weaker ways to predict the future, but don’t worry though.” She handed me a necklace with a small blue rune. “I had it spelled to protect you from any foresight.”

  I pulled it over my head. It hung around my neck. “You’re always ten steps ahead.”

  “We must act fast. Things are bad back home. The kingdom is more divided than ever.”

  “Our magic?”

  “Your cousin agrees to using the magic for now, only because he doesn’t have any choice, but he calls it necromancy,” she spat. “When it’s no such thing. He’s extremely ignorant to our religion. He knows there will be an uproar if he tries to take it away, but he has banned rituals and mass prayer to the ancestors. He’s threatening the ones who live in Ash Forest, calling them murderers. He’s having new prisons built to bring new law and order. He’s in over his head and knows it. He plans on eventually transitioning lunas to using elemental magic. He has Berovians in high-ranking positions at court.”

  “That must have been the deal he made with Xenos. To turn Magaelor to their magic system.” I growled under my breath. “He is a mark on our family name, a treacherous, vile…”

  “I know.” She breathed quickly, placing her hands on mine. “Do not meet him, Winter. He will not give you the crown. He despises you. He believes this is his chance to change things. He wants a show of force against the dark fae, wanting the feral fae rounded up and killed. Blaise has refused to kill them. Instead, he’s been trying to rehabilitate them.” She looked around at the guards cautiously. “Edgar knows Xenos will dethrone him if he doesn’t do as asked to, and Berovia wants Niferum as much as they want Magaelor.”

  “Yes. They want everything,” I said grouchily. “I am certain it will be the death of them.”

  “On this, we are agreed.”

  “You were cloaked at the castle, Winter. Xenos was paranoid a seer or someone may have seen you were at his castle. As soon as you were captured, they spelled you. There is no other explanation for why I couldn’t see you. Before you were captured, you still had the rune I gave you, which protected you. But then I assumed it was taken. I couldn’t see if you were safe or had made it out of the kingdom. I hated not knowing if you were dead or alive. Then, when Edgar told me of Kiros’s kindness, I knew something was amiss. Then I saw you”—she clasped her hands together—“briefly, when you crossed the waters and had escaped. Destiny showed you to me and I knew you were alive.”

  “They tortured me,” I cried. “I asked Prince Kiros to get you out of the dungeons for treason. Now you know, I’ll assume, of the engagement.”

  “Yes. I saw the papers from Berovia. Edgar was furious when news reached court.”

  I scoffed a laugh. “At least something good came of it all then.”

  “Tell me everything, Winter, all I don’t know, and don’t miss a detail.”

  I rubbed my hands together. “First, let’s get you out of the cold.” I walked with her to the castle. A guard followed us. “Before I delve into everything, I must ask, do the people want me back? Are they unhappy with Edgar’s reign?”

  “Yes!” she exclaimed, relaxing me instantly. “They’ve been protesting outside the gates, demanding you back, but then there are others, as you had to have known there would be, who want to see Edgar stay king. Some of the lords too. Ashur has switched sides. He is Edgar’s right-hand man now.”

  “A betrayal he will pay for,” I stated, thinking of the man who had counseled my father. “Does anyone suspect me?” I lowered my voice to a whisper. “Of my father’s death?”

  “No. They’re not sure what happened, and I didn’t say anything, no matter what they did to me.” She shuddered. “The Ring of Immortalem,” she said, reminding me. “Do you still have it?”

  I shook my head. “Xenos does.”

  “I presumed. It’s okay. We can figure this all out. First, we must get you ready, make you queen. It is our only focus for now.”

  “How?”

  “We need an army.”

  “From w
here? I have you.” I counted on my fingers. “Cedric and possibly Blaise. We’ll just go storm the gates.”

  “We can get organized,” she said as we walked under the arch. “Bring people together. If Blaise allows sorcerers into the kingdom, we can build one here, those who would be loyal to you.”

  “It would invite spies. People have already made attempts at Blaise with poison, to weaken him so he could be killed with the Sword of Impervius. Blaise won’t allow more lunas at the castle.”

  A thin, watery smile curled her lips. “Winter, I saw glimpses of you both the times you’ve been at court. I’m almost certain he would do anything for you.”

  I waggled my finger. “You’re wrong, but I will ask anyway.”

  TWENTY-FIVE

  “It shouldn’t have happened.” I spoke quickly, running my finger along the spines of several books lining the shelf. I glanced at Blaise, then looked back at the shelf. The evocative smell of leather and parchment hovered around us. “Us,” I said. When I closed my eyes, I could feel the kiss still lingering against my lips from the other day. I hated how I needed him, even when I didn’t want to. I buried those feelings deeply, where no one could find them. “But I wanted to apologize for hurting you.”

  “I’m sorry too,” he admitted. “I shouldn’t have snapped. Although, I won’t apologize for kissing you.” He leaned against the doorframe lazily and drank the last of his blossomdew. “Is this the only reason why you’ve requested my presence? Or is this about Edgar requesting you go to Magaelor?”

  “No. I have it on good authority he will not abdicate under any circumstance.” My mind wandered back to Morgana’s words. “There are two things, but for now, my mind is on something else.”

  “Then what do you want?” He moved past me and sat on a red plush bench, which stood under a large portrait of Blaise’s grandfather. He had the same brooding, gray eyes. He lived centuries ago, choosing to die when Azrael took the throne.

  “I want to talk to you about the Objects of Kai, but mostly the Crown of Discieti.” I placed my hand on my hip. “I know everything. You wore it. You’re cursed. You threw it away. Am I wrong?”

  He cast his gaze downward. “Wow.” He twiddled his thumbs. “You kept that quiet. Anyway, it’s more complicated than that.”

  “I have time.” I looked through the glass and crisscrossed lead at the moon, barely visible in the purple sky. I promised Morgana we would walk down to the frozen lake to talk more, after filling her in on almost every detail since we’d been apart, but the clouds rolled in fast, bringing with it a wind that swept through the cracks around the windows. A blizzard was coming, which would force us all inside. I huddled my fur coat and licked my lips. “I need to know the full story, from you.”

  “Power ruined everything for me.” He moved his tortured stare to the window. “I was foolish and young. Just turned fourteen. The Crown of Discieti had been brought to the castle at my father’s command. He never did tell me of the curse on the Objects of Kai. I had no idea, only about the dagger.”

  “Oh, Blaise.”

  He balled his fists, tears pooling in his moonlit eyes. “It had the power of compulsion. What an allure to a young prince who eagerly wanted to be king. My father was harder on me than Lucien or Niam. Cruel, some would say. I wanted it to stop, and I finally had an object that could control him.”

  “I didn’t know.”

  “How could you or anyone? He was the most powerful man in the world. Even King Xenos feared him. He was ruthless since his queen died. He only courted my mother to produce an heir, then discarded her as if she were nothing. I believe her to be dead, even though my father said he just sent her away. He never did like loose ends.” He shuddered. “So I stole it. When I placed it on my head, I felt enormous power bequeathed to me. The euphoric rush buzzed throughout my body. I’d never felt anything so intense before.” He adjusted his silver crown, then ran his fingers down the buttons on his black shirt and stopped at one, twisting it. “But all magic, Winter, comes with a price. It started small. I suddenly didn’t care when friends left me out to go to a party in the forest or if one of the girlfriends I had was flirting with another. Before long, I couldn’t feel anything to its full extent. My emotions were numbed. Over time, I tried to feel anything meeting different girls, desperately wanting to give my heart, but it wasn’t to be. When I left the academy, I didn’t miss it. When Lucien and Niam left court, I didn’t think about them. I used to love my brothers, protect them, but after that…” He trailed off.

  “Did you use the compulsion?” I asked.

  He nodded his head. “At first, yes. It was fun for a time, until it wasn’t.” His irises swirled into a darker color. I noticed they often adjusted shades or glinted another color, depending on his emotions. It was subtle, but I could usually tell. “There was a girl at court. She was unlike the others. She was prudish and strict on herself. Too much. Like she was hiding something.” Regret spilled through his expression. “I told her to loosen up, have fun, and not worry about consequences. To give in to her desires. Three days later, she turned dark, taking having fun to a whole new level. Before I could change her back, my father recognized her becoming like the rest of the feral fae in the villages and killed her with the dagger.”

  My hand shot to my mouth. “Are all the feral fae compelled?”

  “No. They’re just more darkly inclined than most of our civilization. It happens when they allow themselves to indulge their senses too much and their desires are to hurt. I couldn’t have known her wants were so sinister. If I had…” He closed his eyes, blew out a long breath, and opened them again. “I would never have said those words to her. It’s hard for me. I feel pain deeply but not love. It’s like a barrier.” He looked over at me, teetering on the edge of words that didn’t come.

  “That’s why you’ve been looking for the Objects of Kai, to break the curse, right?”

  He nodded. “I always wanted to, but it wasn’t at the forefront of my mind. I kept track of them but never sought them out. Until this year.”

  “What changed?”

  “I found my motivation.”

  My eyebrows pinched downward. “What motivation?”

  “I think we both know the answer to that.”

  I swallowed thickly. “Uh… so the, um.” Warmth flushed my face. “The mer king, Aqugar.” I spluttered, regrouping my thoughts. “He wants the same thing. He’s cursed too. It’s how I found out about you. He spoke with me, said I was the best chance at finding the objects or something.”

  His eyes shone brightly. “He has the crown then, as I’d guessed. I’d thrown it into the ocean, believing it would rid me of the curse.” He scoffed. “A short-lived dream.”

  “I will bring them together, I promise.” I sat beside him, easing backward.

  His eyes regarded me. He reached across and brushed a lock of my hair, tucking it behind my ear. “You don’t need to do anything.”

  “Aqugar said I’m the one he foresees finding them. As you know well by now, they are powerful divinators. I doubt he is wrong.”

  “I will find them,” he promised. “You have a lot on your shoulders as it is, although the sentiment is not lost on me.”

  I clasped my fingers together. “I’ll still help regardless.”

  “I know.”

  “Also, I had something else to ask you.” I placed my hand on his, feeling a buzz between us.

  His gaze flitted to mine, softening at the corners. “What is it?”

  “I need to build an army. I don’t know where to start, but I do know I need a place to begin.”

  His expression dropped. “If you’re thinking of building one here, I can’t. Not with the attempts to weaken me. To kill me. They have the sword. One luna could slip through disguised to be on your side with the sword, and it will all be over for me.”

  “I highly doubt Edgar will let the sword out of his sight, seeing as it’s the only weapon he has against you. Also, even if it is brought into
the kingdom, it means we could take it from them and be one step closer to uniting the Objects of Kai.” I smiled. “I know it’s a lot to ask, but I have no choice but to press the matter. I can’t go on like this. I’m supposed to be queen.” My hands started to shake. “I need this. I’ve had a hard time recently. When I said you didn’t need to hide your darkness, it’s because I understand it. I feel it. I’ve made bad decisions that have hurt people. I carry so much weight in my chest, sometimes I feel as if I may die.”

  “I didn’t know you were feeling so awful.” He looked up. “I was told you were kept prisoner. It must have been hard, I know.”

  “Prisoner.” My shoulders slumped forward. “They tortured me. Badly. Every day…” I sniffled. Sobs escaped through my lips as my chest caved forward. “I was covered in blisters, sores, insect bites, stings, and a snake bite from a redthorn viper. My skin was burned to the point where I couldn’t move. I was starved. I could literally place my fingers under my ribs, Blaise. I barely slept, and they gave me just enough water to keep me alive. Sometimes when I close my eyes, I feel like I’m back there,” I admitted. “Some days I don’t want to carry on. I feel too broken. Too much has happened to me for me to be a good queen, or anything else, to anyone. I keep it all in here.” I pointed at my forehead. “But I want to scream, loudly, into the sky until my voice runs dry.” My chest heaved as I cried into my hands, tears running down my fingers and palms.

  He pulled me into him, running his hand through my hair, and kissed my head. “I didn’t know it was that bad. I didn’t. I’m sorry, so sorry.”

  When I looked up, his pained gaze landed on mine.

  “I’ll kill them for it.”

  I wiped my nose and eyes with the back of my sleeve. “I will too. Revenge is one of the few things keeping me going.” I inhaled sharply. “It was Xenos mainly. Kiros is just a fool, led by his father. I healed quickly, thanks to a paste made from unicorn horns and its blood, which nourished me. They put it in my tea. It’s sickening. They’ve been killing them. Cedric and I saw one in the Forest of Tranquillium. They’re liars, pretending to be above us. They’re simply better at hiding their misdeeds.” My thoughts raced as I moved away from the topic of my torture, a place I didn’t like to linger in for too long.