Coal Crown (Forging Royalty)

by Maggie Lee

  The sun comes up and peeks through the dark curtains hanging in front of Arden's windows. Or at least what I think are Arden's windows. I don't actually have a clue where we are. I only remember glimpses of the rooms I've been in other than the shower. To which, I have great memories of.

  I flip over and curl into Arden who was already wrapped around me.

  "Pssst." I whisper quietly, but close to his ear. In response he flexes his arms around me and pulls me closer.

  "Good morning," I whisper, lifting my face to pepper his face with little kisses.

  "Shhhh. We're sleeping," he whispers back before capturing my mouth.

  "You are sleeping, I have to pee." I whisper back and he laughs at me. His arms release me and I slide off of the bed to tiptoe to the bathroom. When I’m finished washing my hands, I quietly make my way out of the bathroom.

  When he doesn't move at the sound of me opening the door I decide to explore the rest of his apartment, or at least this hotel room. I do one more peek back into the room to see if he’s still peacefully sleeping before I shut the door and adventure.

  The living room has an open concept kitchen attached to it and everything is themed dark and masculine. I could see Arden living here easily with all of the dark greys and reds that warm the room. It reminds me of the colors in his forge, and all of the metals that decorate the room make me feels like he's spent time putting his essence into here.

  Or maybe he found somewhere he liked, and moved in. Either way, this place for sure matches the Arden that I've come to know. I move into the kitchen and run my hands across the cold white marble countertops. The appliances are a dark gunmetal grey and I feel at home here instantly. I love his kitchen, it is industrial enough to match the house, but has a complete comfortable feel.

  I start sifting through his fridge and find it fully stocked. Not something I expected. Maybe he has a chef, I'm not sure I can see Arden cooking after our last adventure together in the kitchen.

  I pull out enough stuff to make a light breakfast for everyone and begin cooking, just as I'm finishing mixed the eggs with the ingredients I'm adding for omelets, I see a radio in the corner of the kitchen. I quickly wipe my hands off and turn it on, a new ballad from one of my favorite musicians is playing. I hum along with what I know as I continue working on the omelets. My hips sway gentle along to the beat and the first omelet is done just as the song finishes.

  Arden clears his throat from somewhere behind me and I drop my spatula when I turn to see him.

  "Good morning," I say, picking it up off the ground and making my way to his sink.

  He comes from behind as I scrub the spatula and wraps his arms around me. I lean back into his warmth and enjoy the feeling of being home for the first time since I lost my mother.

  "You left me all alone," he whispers in my ear, kissing the side of my head. With Arden, everything feels safer and more like the life I'm supposed to be living.

  "Scared of the dark are you?" I wriggle out of his grasp and start on the second omelet.

  "Scared of everything without you." His words hit me in my soul and I flash him a smile over my shoulder before going back to cooking.

  Another song plays on the radio before an urgent message comes across distracting us from our easy conversation.

  “Today is the day of welcoming, where our royal family joins surrounding country leaders in a festival right outside the palace walls. At this very moment they’re hosting the ceremonial brunch.” I miss their next comment because the doorbell rings.

  “I’ll let them in.” Arden tells me and I finally remember to flip the now smoking egg.

  "Shit!" I mutter as I pull the smoking pan off of the stove top. I flip the burning egg into the trash and stick the pan in the sink. Spraying it with cold water.

  “I thought you were a good cook?” Kraus asks as he rounds the corner first.

  I humph back and point to the one nicely cooked egg.

  “Don’t worry about breakfast, Mac. We brought it with us anyways. We can all eat in the car, we’re going to be late for the start of the festival if you don’t get dressed quickly.”

  “They brought a surprise for you as well as breakfast,” Arden tells me, stepping out the way to reveal Alexis.

  With sheer excitement, I let out a squeak and rush to hug her. “How are you here?”

  “June brought me with her, after she got to the palace last night she had me assigned as her third maiden.” I look to June, curious about her motives.

  “I thought I could use a spare maiden while travelling and preparing for my Queenhood.” June tells me and I release Alexis to hug her.

  “Thank you.” For the first time since she got back, I see the old June showing.

  “Shut up, go get dressed. We’ve got to get going.” June tries to hide her face, but I still see the blush in her cheeks.

  Kraus hands me a garment bag and I give him a quick hug before I turn and run from the room to change. Arden opens the door as I strip and starts getting himself ready beside me. We move in tandem and it feels like we’ve been doing this together for years.

  When I’m dressed and my hair is pulled up, in a loose but efficient bun, I lay across the room waiting for Arden to finish tying his shoes. He takes his time and then dramatically throws himself back to lounge like me.

  “What are you doing?” I ask with a laugh.

  “I figured if you were taking a nap, I would join in.” He wraps his arms around me, pulling me close and he talks into my hair.

  “We can’t nap, everyone's in the living room,” I tell him, pushing away to stand up. Once I’m up right I extend me hand, but Arden takes it and pulls me back down onto his chest.

  “Fine, but we are going to take a nap later. After this silly festival.” He gives me a kiss that makes me wish later was now, and then pulls us both up.

  We leave the room together. That’s when I start mentally preparing myself for the moment we step outside and I’m not longer allowed to touch Arden. As everyone gets their stuff, we shuffle out and I finally get to see the outside of the apartment complex. We’re in a very modernized building with glass windows all around the outside.

  “Come on, we’re going to be late,” June whines when I stop to look around again. The view from the balcony at the edge of the parking lot is looking over the valley and expansive mountains of our kingdom. It’s almost as beautiful as the view from my grandparents’ old barn.

  We all load into one black SUV and the driver takes us to the edge of the festival, parking us near where the rest of the royal family is waiting to start the ceremony. My uncles are in attendance and surrounded by their little families. I introduce them to Arden and Kraus as we wait for my father to get here with the other countries dignitaries and leaders.

  To my surprise, we never break off into couples. Arden and Kraus stay with me, while June stands speaking to my uncle, whom she studied under. After introductions, Alexis calls for us to join her in the stands with our town’s people. I give little waves to the kids and guests around us, and soon my father’s town car pulls up and he makes his way to the stage. June comes out from behind the platform just as father comes on stage.

  “Hello people of Schrielle.” His voice is syrupy and something feels off as he continues. “Last night was our country's December Solstice, I hope everyone had a good time with their families as I did with mine at our annual ball. This morning, we welcomed four of our surrounding countries leaders and dignitaries, it is my greatest honor to welcome them to the stage now.”

  I become distracted from my father and the leaders as I see guards approaching the platform from around back. I tap Arden’s hand beside me and he takes mine in his.

  “No, look.” I pull from his grasp and point as the guards surround my uncle’s and their family.

  “What are they doing?” Arden leans a little closer to whisper to me, gaining Kraus and June’s attention in the process.

  “I’m not sure...” The guards gets cl
oser to my uncles and start herding their families away from them before taking both of my uncles like prisoners, with their hands behind their backs.

  June lets out a gasp and the feeling of everything being off increases. This isn’t going to be good. As I suspected, it gets worse from there. They pull them away and start dragging them towards the stage, where Shelley, father’s executioner and headwomen waits. I lean over Arden and take June’s hand, she knows what this means if she can see Shelley.

  “Alright now that they’ve had some time to speak, I want to start on my first resolution for the New Year. I’ve found treason within my own palace walls lately, and that's made me decide to make some changes in our kingdom.” My heart starts speeding at my father’s announcement, and panic fills my gut. Arden reaches his arm around me, prepared to fight any guards coming our way, but no one is directly moving towards us. “Today, we will have the first of many upcoming changes. I will bring back the way our ancestors delved punishments, public executions.”

  The crowd gasps and people start to move about, collecting their children, and preparing for the sight ahead. When some even start to leave, my father commands the crowd to stay seated, as we’re about to begin. His attitude is that of a showman and I’m finally sure that he’s really lost it.

  “What do we do? Can we save them?” June whispers to us, taking Kraus’s hand and shielding her eyes.

  “I don’t think there is anything we can actually do, if we stand up or make a scene, we will just be added to the list,” I whisper back.

  “Your probably already on the list.” Her voice breaks and I look away from the tears rolling down her cheeks to see my uncles finally being brought up on the stage. They both have genuine fear in their eyes, but it’s nothing compared to the cries of their children.

  “Then Kraus is to.” I whisper back, and lean into Arden. His arm comes around me and it’s the last little bit of solace I get before the sound of a sword unsheathing silences the crowd.

  “Any last words traitors?” My father's booming voice asks.

  When no one answers, I peek from behind Arden’s arm just in time to watch Shelley's first swing. Involuntarily, I let out a small cry, and Arden jerks me back against him.

  I miss the second one, but the crowd cries with me as we lose two of our country’s most influential men and my father’s last bit of sanity. Arden squeezes me tighter and my sobs grow stronger until I’m gasping for breath.

  “You’re going to have to calm yourself, just long enough for us to get out of here. Alright?” Arden whispers in my ear before pressing a kiss to my temple.

  “I can do it. One second.” I focus on breathing, as my father says something else that I can’t hear over myself.

  Before I’m ready, Arden is moving us. The only thing I can think about is June, so when I catch her out of the corner of my eye, I grab her hand. Kraus and Arden usher us away with the moving crowd and soon we’re in a car and moving.

  “Alexis!” I cry out, as I realize we left her.

  “Right here! I’m here!” she yells from the driver's seat as we take off out of the parking lot.

  “We need to change vehicles and get everyone’s ‘go bags’. Alexis do you know the way to my apartment?” Kraus asks her.

  “Alexis, can you even drive? Legally, I mean.” My voice is hoarse as I tack the question onto Kraus’s.

  “I do and I can, let’s get out of here before guards come for us for causing the crowd to uproar.” We take a sharp turn and another after that. The ride is bumpy and I can’t see where we’re going through the tears. Eventually June pulls from my grasp and curls into Kraus, but I won’t let Arden pull me in. Not yet, I’m not ready for everything to be soothed. I need to think.

  “What does she mean we started an uproar?” I whisper to Arden.

  “Everyone was frozen, watching the spectacle. Once we stood to move, the crowd got hysterical and the chaos started. Our driver wasn’t in the car, so we left him behind.”

  “Where are we going now? After Kraus’s apartment, what's our plan?” My voice is desperate, whatever his answer is, it won’t take back what just happened. We can run, but eventually we’re going to have to face all of this.

  “We’re going to find your brother.”

  The End.

  What’s next?

  Good news, the second book is already underway! Unfortunately, I don’t have much to share with you yet. So, how about a brief excerpt from another series I should have out before the end of the year? Eh, Why not.

  Scroll on my friend, to meet Axton and Oaklyn.

  Soulsphere.

  Preface.

  My breathing is labored, but I try to stay as quiet as possible while getting enough air to not pass out. It isn’t working, so I take a deep breath in and hold it. Hoping to satisfy my burning lungs long enough for the footsteps passing the corner I’m hiding in to go far away.

  Sadly, my one breath doesn’t go unnoticed because the walking stops. The need for air goes away when panic seizes me.

  What can I do? Run?

  No, I’ve done that and It’s got me nowhere but hiding in this damn corner. I don’t know who these people are, or what they want, but I should have listened to my gut. I could tell they were following me earlier and I ignored it, look where that's got me.

  When I left work at the vet's office earlier, I was excited about being off early enough to have time to do my hair.

  At least I’ll look presentable in the autopsy report.

  Steps come closer, louder with each drop and I’m almost sure my heart has completely stopped. The drumming I heard through my ears before is completely gone and everything around me is crystal clear.

  The man in the staircase is coming, I have nowhere to go. By hiding I have cornered myself.

  Just on the other side of the wall, when the steps couldn’t get any closer, they stop. Any second he will lean forward and realize the wall has a cut in.

  My chest chooses now to feel like a bomb is going off inside and I’m forced to let my breath out in a huff. Before he can lean around and find me, I dart. With all of my strength, I run. I run as hard as I can until I round another corner and hit a chest so hard we stumble together and onto the ground.

  “I’m sorry!” I shout, as I push off of them and start running before I’m even standing up straight.

  Arms wrap around me, in an attempt to gather attention to my kidnapping, I let out a scream before my mouth is covered and the world around me blacks out.

  Chapter One.

  I look around in the dark and fear makes my heart race, how did I get here? What brought me to this point in my life that I’m alone in an unknown dark room?

  I rub my eyes and try to adjust to just how dark it really is, the light coming through the windows is nonexistent and I can barely make out square figures around the room. Desks! I’m at the college. Oh no.

  I can’t believe I passed out in here. How did I even...

  “Shite!” I exclaim remembering just how I got dragged into this empty classroom, or better yet, just who dragged me in here.

  If I thought my heart was racing before, now it’s a Bugatti Veyron going full speed on a test track.

  “She’s awake, give me a second.”

  My attention jerks to the deep voice on the other side of the room and I see the owner of the voice lean into the room a little bit through the only door out of here.

  “Are you alright?” Did he just ask if I was alright? Obviously I’m not. Even if he can’t feel my pulse, he has to understand that no one in this situation would be ‘alright’. However, I do feel marginally better thanks to the fact that the person who just spoke, isn’t the one who dragged me in here. However, on the other hand, he was the scariest motherfucker in the room. So maybe, I shouldn’t let my guard down just yet.

  I try to speak up and voice my concerns, but only a squeak comes out.

  “I’ll take that as a yes. I’m going to send them away for a few minutes, the
n I’ll be right back. Just, stay there.” He starts to open the door more so he can slid out, but turns back at the last second, “Please.”

  Please what, stay? Well, it’s not like I have another way out of this room, other than the chest high windows that only the higher level floor classrooms of this building has. Weirdly, I’m not really feeling like a good base jump from the second story right now, so I guess he’s in luck, I’ll stay put.

  My mind spins a little reminding me how I got down here. Everyone was surrounding me, I had just asked for a badge? Why did I want to see a badge?

  “Seriously Hux, She’s fine. I can feel it.” I hear muffled speaking that I can’t quite understand before he answers back in a gruff voice, “I don’t know how I know, I just do. Let me find out if I’m right.”

  A softer voice answers him and I can make out a few words that are voicing concerns about me and whatever situation is going on outside of the room. I recognize the voice, but a face I don't really know comes to mind. Are they Agents? They have to be.

  His voice softens a little, “Everlee, I know. Trust me. I really do,” His voice breaks off and softens considerably more than I thought possible. “Please, just go scan the perimeter and move the vehicle closer. When she’s ready to go, I want to go.”

  The door opens with an airy swoosh as he pushes into the room. I get a better look at him and I instantly remember his face, it would be hard to forget. His hand reaches to the light switch and my arms fling up to cover my eyes. When I don't hear the click of the switch flipping, I slowly start to pull back my arms so I can adjust to the light if he did turn it on, but I find myself still surrounded by darkness.

  “I’m glad you’re awake. How’s your head?” My eyes drift back to him and he just stands at the entrance with his hand over the light switch.

  “Are you going to turn the light on?”