Crown of Ruin

by Keary Taylor

  Cyrus’ eyes rise up to meet mine, and my heart trips over itself.

  “You remember me there with you?” I breathe.

  The dreams. The strange, strange dreams where I always found him.

  They were real. Somehow I’d traveled to him, found him in the limbo he was trapped in.

  “Oh, yes,” he confirms. The sincerity in his eyes tells me the truth of the words he speaks. “I would have stayed lost in the smoke forever if you hadn’t come for me, Logan.”

  Emotion pricks at my eyes and I reach forward, touching his face. I bite my lower lip in an attempt to keep all of the emotions inside of me.

  “Nothing could have dragged me back into this world of chaos and struggle, besides you, im yndmisht srtov.” The way Cyrus looks at me, I feel as if he’s scooped me into his hands and cradles me, safe and tender. Like my entire world only consists of Cyrus and me.

  He raises my hand and presses a kiss to the back of my knuckles.

  “And the legend of Cyrus and Sevan deepens,” Alivia says, reminding me that we’re surrounded by people.

  I blink, looking around. Everyone is staring at us. So I smile, and let the evening move on.

  But as I turn back to my meal, I continue to hold Cyrus’ hand beneath the table, unable to let go.

  It’s agony, having to be normal and interact with everyone. Because every part of my brain is occupied by Cyrus, as he leans over, pressing a kiss to my shoulder. As my hand rests on his thigh, creeping more inward and higher. He leans in and whispers in my ear, and I let my lips brush his own as I quietly tell him that I love him.

  I’m overwhelmed with love and want.

  The evening rolls on, we finish our meal, and my heart breaks out into a flutter of excitement and anticipation when Cyrus takes me by the hand, tugging me toward the doors that open up to a huge balcony.

  Where the moon was full just weeks ago with the solar eclipse, it is now a thin sliver. But the stars are out, shining incredibly bright, twinkling.

  A soft breeze pulls at my hair, and flutters the scent of pine and lemongrass our direction. Out in the distance, I can still see all those tents where I know our people are under the control of the army. But I look past them. I see the lake, glittering the reflection of the stars. I see the mountains. I see the trees. I see lazy clouds floating through the sky.

  I lean against the railing, a contented sigh slipping past my lips.

  Cyrus stands behind me, running his hands down my arms, slipping all the way down my skin until his fingers lace into mine. He presses a gentle kiss to my shoulder and I smile, leaning back into his warmth.

  Cyrus tilts his head down, brushing his lips against my ear. “I have fallen completely and irreversibly in love with you, Logan,” he says in a whisper. “From the first day I saw you, I wanted you. And every day since, I crave your presence. I love your strength and determination. I admire your commitment and your tenderness.”

  I lean into him, my cheek to his, relishing in the skin-to-skin contact.

  “I love you with every part of my heart, Logan,” Cyrus says intimately. His voice drops lower until it is a whisper.

  “Will you marry me?”

  My heart skips and my eyes fly open. I instantly twist, to get a better look at his face, to read his expression.

  But as I turn, he reaches into his pocket, and at the same time, drops down onto one knee.

  Holding my eyes with every ounce of seriousness in the world, he stares up at me. He holds out a ring.

  Emotions prick the backs of my eyes and my stomach does this complicated quiver. My hands come to my chest, trying to calm the frantic storm inside of me.

  “I told you once, even though the words were the hardest I’ve ever had to speak,” he says. “I have never, ever fallen for another. My heart has always been Sevan’s. But you came into my life Logan, and for the first time, I fell for another.” His eyes are bright. I see the truth in them. “I love you, Logan Pierce. Do you think you could ever tolerate spending the rest of forever with a man as broken and imperfect as me?”

  I bite my lower lip as moisture pools in my eyes.

  “Logan,” Cyrus breathes. “Will you marry me?”

  And I can’t hold it in any longer. The smile that splits my face could blind every Born or Royal in the world. “Yes,” I breathe as a single tear breaks free. “Yes, yes, yes.”

  I rush him as he stands, wrapping my arms around his neck, clinging tightly to him. I feel his smile physically warming me. I feel like I’m glowing. Like I could float right off of this balcony.

  Cyrus takes half a step back, taking my left hand in his. And he slides the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen onto my finger.

  A deep green emerald sits in the middle, oval shaped, and the exact same shade as Cyrus’ eyes. A gold band encircles it, two infinity shapes on either side of the main stone. Small, white diamonds are laid into the band.

  It catches the starlight beautifully.

  “It’s incredible, Cyrus,” I breathe, admiring it. I can hardly catch my breath.

  He brings his fingers to my chin, tilting my face up to his. And he kisses me. Slow. Gentle. It’s a kiss that reaches from my lips, all the way down to the furthest corner of my soul.

  It’s a kiss I’ll remember for the rest of my life.

  The first kiss I share with my fiancé.

  Not husband. Because that was when he was Sevan’s.

  Now he is mine.

  Together forever: Logan and Cyrus.

  I back away, looking into those eyes of his that match the jewel on my ring. “I love you, Cyrus. I swear I’m going to love you always, even when you’re being a presumptuous pain in the ass.” We both laugh and he looks at me tenderly from beneath his eyelashes. “Even when you’re saving me from myself. I promise I will always love you.”

  He kisses me again. I could stay here forever, connected with the man who I thought had wrecked my life when he came into it, but really, he was just breaking his way into my bitter heart.

  Gently, Cyrus takes my hand, backing me toward the doors again.

  When we step inside, every single person is facing us. Smiles are plastered on their faces, and they raise a glass in our direction.

  I feel my face blush red hot, but a smile breaks over my lips. I raise my newly-ringed hand up in front of my face. “I said yes!” I squeal like a fifteen-year-old girl.

  Everyone breaks out into cheers and clapping and congratulations.

  Cyrus looks the happiest I’ve ever seen him as I look up at him and he smiles down at me. He pulls me in tight, his hands possessive, and kisses all sense out of me.

  Chapter 27

  At three in the morning, goodbyes are said, and I go to change, and then I take one of the cars from the garage underneath the castle, and I head toward the airport with Alivia and Ian.

  “I feel like I should be staying to help you deal with everything going on,” Alivia says when we’re only ten minutes from the airport. “I know how stressful dealing with everything can be, and I had a House to help me.”

  I shake my head. “I’ll be fine. I have Dorian and Malachi. And Mina and Fredrick. And Cyrus.”

  Which isn’t exactly true, but still.

  “You need to get back to your own life,” I say. “I appreciate you coming to help me identify Lorenzo.”

  “I still think you should be careful with him,” she says, looking out into the dark night. “Something about him and what he says happened doesn’t sit right with me.”

  I nod in agreement. “I will.”

  I turn off the main road and cut down the narrow drive that leads to the small airport. We drive past hangars, most of which belong to Cyrus or the members at Court. We roll past them, and I aim the car for the jet waiting on the tarmac.

  The pilot and staff are waiting for them, standing straight and ready just to the side of the stairs.

  “Enjoy your peaceful time back in Mississippi,” I say with a smile, standing awkwardly in f
ront of them while the attendants load their luggage.

  Alivia laughs. She shakes her head, stepping forward. She wraps her arms around me in a tight embrace. “I know this might take some time to resolve. But I hope we get some more time together in the near future. I really want to get to know you better, Logan. Under circumstances that aren’t so dire.”

  I do tense up. The thought makes me nervous. But still, I do nod. “I’d like that. Someday.”

  She backs up just a bit, and places her hands on either side of my face, staring into my golden green eyes. “There’s no one in the world who can handle all of this like you can. I believe in you, Logan.”

  My throat tightens a bit at her words. But I give her an appreciative smile.

  She releases me, and Ian steps up. He offers an awkward smile, and to my surprise, he actually hugs me.

  “I might still be just a little bitter, about a lot of things,” he says. “But I guess I just forget what responsibility and stress does to a person. You’re not so bad, Logan.”

  I huff a laugh. “Thanks, I guess. You’re not too terrible, either.”

  He releases me, and I offer a little wave as they both walk up the stairs to enter the jet.

  Alivia looks over her shoulder one last time, and I smile at the woman who looks just like me. The woman who carried me for nine months. The woman whose name I didn’t even know for twenty years.

  But a woman who’s been through a lot, and came out as an incredibly kind person. Someone who is a good leader.

  Someone I now respect.

  The pilot follows them inside, and then the door closes.

  I don’t know when I’ll ever see Alivia again. But even if I never get to see her again, I’m happy with the time we got. It wasn’t sweet and tender. But it was real and raw.

  I feel the air warming as the sun rounds the globe, heading our way, but still an hour and a half off. Standing on the tarmac, I wrap my arms around myself and watch the jet taxi out onto the runway.

  Through the dark, I hear the engines roar. The jet slowly inches forward, and gains speed with each second. And then it lifts off, bound on a journey halfway around the world.

  It’s weird, but I feel a small sense of relief as I climb into the car, alone, like having Alivia and Ian here was this weight in the back of my brain, constantly putting pressure on me.

  Now I can just focus on the problems at hand.

  Alone, I point the car back in the direction of Roter Himmel.

  Traffic heading through this canyon is nonexistent. There is nothing through it besides Roter Himmel. So when I see taillights up ahead, two sets of them, my brows furrow. For ten minutes, I follow them through the dark and winding canyon, wondering if maybe they have a cabin off a side road up here somewhere.

  But they never turn off anywhere. Straight and sure they drive toward my home, sending my heartbeat racing.

  When we’re only one mile from the crest of the canyon, where the view opens up to the valley, I know I can’t wait any longer.

  They’ll see Roter Himmel in just minutes.

  I lay my foot on the gas, switching to the opposite lane. I rocket down the road, driving side by side with the first car, and then surpassing it. And then I pull up alongside the front car.

  Pressing a little harder on the gas, risking the sharp turns and curves of the road, I shoot ahead of the front car.

  Recklessly, I angle my car across both lanes and instantly slow the car. I watch over my shoulder, making sure the cars behind me slow.

  They do, but the nose of the front car only misses me by inches when I slam to a stop.

  Looking down the road again, I barely see a break in the trees. Out across the way, I see mountains, and just barely in the dark, I see a spire—the castle, and one single light glowing dimly.

  I get out of the car, slamming the door closed behind me.

  But not before I slipped two stakes up my pant legs.

  The window rolls down on the driver’s side of the front car. And I slow as I walk up to her. Because even in this dark, nearly nonexistent light, I can see her eyes.

  Golden jade, just like mine.

  “Is something wrong?” she asks with a thick Italian accent. “Do I have a taillight out?”

  Don’t let her eyes distract you, I internally hiss at myself.

  I straighten my shoulders, stopping beside her car. “I wanted to ask where you’re headed.”

  I take a deep breath as I lean down, looking into the car. There are four others inside with her. They’re all vampires. I can smell it.

  “We’re in the area, going to visit family,” she says with a wary smile.

  “And where does this family live?” I continue interrogating the woman.

  “Do you treat all Royals who come to visit Roter Himmel with this much wariness?”

  Holy shit. There it is.

  No more beating around the bush.

  “If you were Royals, I would think you would have heard the news by now,” I say. I place my hands on the ledge of her window, staring her down with no fear. “Roter Himmel is on lockdown. No visitors in, no residents out.”

  I see something flash across her face, but it’s difficult to identify. Relief. Fear. Surprise. “Well, that explains why we haven’t been able to reach him.” There’s grit in her voice. It’s angry, frustrated. But I can tell she’s trying hard to control it. “We’ve traveled a long way to see our father. He asked us to come visit him. It was not easy to coordinate a visit involving this many family members.”

  Something twists in my stomach. A little warning bell sounds in the back of my brain.

  I know the answer to the question I’m about to ask.

  “And who is your father?”

  She stares back at me with the same eyes as my own. “Lorenzo St. Claire.”

  Looking in the car again, I see the same yellow-green eyes staring back at me from the other four people in the car. And something tells me that the others in the car behind this one will be the same.

  Shit.

  Shit.

  I don’t know what this means.

  I force myself to wear a poker face. It has to be a good one. But no matter what, I can’t hide my eyes.

  “I’m afraid that the lockdown hasn’t been lifted,” I say. “So I cannot allow you into the city yet. But there is a nice little inn about twenty miles back. You can stay there until all of this is over, on my bill.”

  The woman’s eyes narrow, and there’s just the faintest hint of red that ignites in them. But she keeps it under control. Good, for her safety. “And under what authority do you command us to stay outside of the city of our father?”

  My eyes narrow. “That of the crown.”

  There’s a faint little smirk that ignites in her eyes at that. “From what I hear, the King is dead. It seems to me the crown no longer has any authority if he is dead.”

  My hand darts forward and I feel my eyes light brilliant red. “It is under the authority of the crown of Queen Sevan, my crown, backed by King Cyrus, who is alive and well and will end any who dare trespass while we sort out Court business.”

  She stares at me with wide eyes and the others in the car hiss. One of the back doors opens and a man gets out.

  I shove the woman back against her seat. I stalk around the car, coming nose to nose with the man. “As Royals, I know that you know what happens when you go against the crown.” He backs up one step as I stand as tall as I can, channeling every ounce of rage and authority in me into my burning eyes. “The King and I will be happy to speak to you all, but not until the time is right. Not on Roter Himmel soil. So you either turn these cars around, go back to the inn, or I will have an army chasing you down in exactly one minute, and they will tear you limb from limb and will crucify your remaining trunk on the trees that guard the city. Do you understand?”

  The man backs up one more step, and I do actually see fear creeping into his eyes.

  With a wary look, he nods.

  I
turn to the others, glaring darkly at them all. “Go to the inn. I will be there soon to speak to you. But I warn you, if any of you steps one foot inside the borders of Roter Himmel, you won’t survive, and the process won’t be quick.”

  The woman in the driver’s seat glares at me with hatred, but also fear. I stare her down, wishing I could crush her, until she gives me what I want. A nod.

  The man gets back in the car. It’s apparent the people in the car at the rear could hear us, because it backs up and flips around. And then they both head back down the road.

  I stand on the road, watching their taillights head back in the direction we came from.

  A terrified sigh quivers its way out of my lungs.

  This is bad. This means something.

  I don’t believe for one second that Lorenzo just asked his other undisclosed Royal children out in the world to come visit him, and so conveniently soon after word of Cyrus’ “death” began to spread around the globe.

  I don’t trust an inch of it.

  I fish my phone out of my pocket and hit a name, holding it to my ear.

  “Malachi,” I bark the second he answers. “There’s been some developments. I need twenty Court members you’re certain we can trust. I know we haven’t finished vetting like I want to, but there isn’t time right now. I need twenty bodies at the mouth of the canyon. Now.”

  With an affirmative noise from him, I hang up.

  I pace the road, looking every direction, straining my ears. Listening for any signs that the group of Lorenzo’s descendants tries to sneak through the woods and into the city borders.

  Six minutes later, I hear darting feet down the road in the city, and then just seconds later, a herd of blurs stops at my side.

  “I do not have time to explain everything that has been going on,” I say, standing before the twenty men and women my grandsons deemed trustworthy. “You’ll be given all the answers in time, but for now, your Queen needs your help.”

  I explain what just happened, in small detail. I do name names, that of Lorenzo, and telling them they can identify his children by their eyes, the same of the man each of them already knows.