A Queen Comes to Power: An Heir Comes to Rise Book 2

by C. C. Peñaranda

  Her head tipped back.

  “Tell me, Marlowe.”

  “I will tell you everything,” she panted.

  “Always?”

  “Yes.”

  “Look at me, Marlowe,” he commanded.

  When her head dragged back up and her gaze met his once more, the lust in her eyes, on her face, demanding he sate the desire pooling right in front of him, was almost enough to make his own release surge.

  “I want you to see as much as feel just how much you matter to me.”

  The following day, Jakon strolled the dire streets of Galmire alongside Caius. They had decided to rise early, letting the fugitives and Marlowe rest in while they got up at dawn to scout the area. Mostly to be sure it was safe from the Farrowhold guards, but also with one specific destination in mind: the Dark Woods.

  The very name riddled him with fear. It was woodland that had become the foundation of many horror stories whispered among the children and adults of Farrowhold. It was also where Reuben claimed Valgard soldiers had ambushed him and then recruited him for information about their home kingdom—something Jakon had horrible reservations about after Faythe’s warning at what she obtained in the captured boy’s mind. But the Dark Woods was where the barkeep of the inn claimed most of the bodies had turned up, so they decided they would check out the threat with their own eyes to better gauge what they could be dealing with before they left the humans here.

  He was grateful for the guard’s presence, mostly for his fae advantages should they run into any real danger. He hated that he felt inferior and incapable in comparison, but Jakon was armed to the teeth and highly confident in his combat abilities. He had Faythe to thank for her constant pestering to practice swordplay relentlessly while growing up together, finding scrolls on various maneuvers and combinations as though it were a lethal dance with endless steps; a choreography to be mastered. He likely wouldn’t have an interest in the sport otherwise.

  The barkeep didn’t exaggerate. The sparse amount of bodies in the inn the night previous was an accurate representation of the town’s current population. As they walked the uneven, dusty paths, it was almost too quiet. Jakon was used to the bustling, full streets of Farrowhold, and this was a stark contrast. Only the occasional human could be found outdoors, and every face he saw was pale and hopeless. It set a deep unease in him to think of abandoning the humans who had entrusted and followed him here to a bleak, joyless town.

  But he couldn’t afford to think like that. They were safe and far out of the king’s reach. Luxury was never on offer for those on the run with their lives.

  As they passed out of the dreary town, Jakon spied the edge of the dark tree line and was instantly hit with cold fear. It was irrational to pay mind to scary stories and obscured truths about a simple woods, but as they approached, it was as if Jakon could feel the ripples of sinister darkness emanating from the timbers. Caius, on the other hand, didn’t seem at all fazed. If he knew of any gruesome tales prior to what they were headed in to find, he gave nothing away on his cool, collected face.

  Upon entering the woods, they found it truly lived up to its name. Visibility was restricted with the gray canopy and misted floor. It was eerie, prickling Jakon’s skin and setting all his senses on high alert. Why anyone would wander through of their own volition, he couldn’t comprehend. It was far from inviting and didn’t show any signs of wildlife for hunting.

  “This way.”

  Caius’s voice made him jolt as it cut through the stillness. He felt foolish for being so on edge.

  The young guard followed something Jakon hadn’t yet caught onto. He didn’t argue and figured it would be wise to trust him on this one. Caius had more than proven himself on their journey. He could have outed their location or apprehended them on more than one occasion. Jakon trusted him without trying. Perhaps he always did.

  His human ears picked up on the sound of running water just before a long river came into view. It was not nearly as pure and ethereal as the river in the Eternal Woods. In fact, everything about the Dark Woods was in blatant contrast to it.

  “Dear Gods.” The fear that seeped from Caius’s words was enough to set the emotion in him too. Jakon followed his line of sight, and the spear of ice that shot down his spine had nothing to do with chill of the winter air.

  Just a few meters to their right, a body lay by the water’s edge. Still—dead. Though it didn’t seem to be far into the stages of decomposition yet.

  Jakon had only ever seen death once before—his parents’. He was so young, only nine years old, when he watched them deteriorate from a killer illness that swept the town and ultimately left him orphaned and alone. Until he met Faythe, another lonely and afraid soul he felt bonded to from the first day he laid eyes on her on the streets of Farrowhold.

  The death before him now struck him with the ghostly image of his long-passed mother and father whom he had buried deep for so long. His hands trembled at his sides, but he couldn’t peel his eyes away from the body, fighting against fully shrinking into his terrified nine-year-old self. When a hand landed on his shoulder, he snapped his eyes to meet Caius’s. The guard looked back in concern.

  “You don’t have to get any closer. I’ll check it out,” he said, no hint of mockery or irritation at his reaction, only understanding.

  Jakon took a deep breath to calm his racing heart. He smiled gratefully but shook his head. “I’m okay,” he reassured Caius.

  Caius gave a nod then stalked toward the body. Jakon followed suit, trailing a little slower as he focused on reeling in his growing panic and stopping the nightmare flashbacks that surfaced. When he got close enough to take in the full scene, he had to turn away, forcing back the vomit that rose in his throat at the horrific sight. Taking a few steady breaths, he reluctantly twisted to face it again, finding Caius crouched and examining the body intently without touching it. He covered Jakon’s view of the most gruesome part: the gaping cavity in his chest. It was a man who had died in clouded, wide-eyed terror. His eyelids were still open along with his mouth, and Jakon could almost hear the last scream that would have torn up the deceased’s throat while he stared into the eyes of his murderer.

  Jakon kept his distance, letting Caius and his fine-tuned senses deduce what he could from the body. After a moment, he finally straightened and hummed.

  “What do you notice about the forest ground—the foliage?” Caius quizzed.

  Jakon observed it but found nothing out of the ordinary.

  “Frost.” The guard answered his own question. “It’s the dead of winter. The body is pale and cold, but not enough to have been here long.”

  The detail and what it meant had Jakon whirling around, not trusting he could leave his back exposed if there was a chance the killer still lurked in the woods. He drew his sword.

  “We should go,” he said, not wanting to become the next target.

  “He’s not drained of blood either. The barkeep said they were almost always drained of blood. And his heart is torn out, but it’s still here,” Caius went on in confusion.

  Jakon couldn’t be sure if the grim detail was a relief or if it filled him with even more dread. If whatever it was killed for blood, at least it had a purpose. If it simply killed for sport, it was a far more sinister creature than he initially suspected. It meant it had a mind, a conscience, and there were very few animals that would kill so ruthlessly, so specifically, to target the heart and leave the rest. It was an unsolvable puzzle that daunted Jakon with questions he didn’t know how to answer.

  As he stared and stared through the black curtain of the forest and the ghosts of mist, every flicker of movement set him on edge. A slow chill crawled up his spine as he felt…felt as if they were being watched that very moment.

  “I don’t detect anything nearby. Whatever it is, I think it’s long since moved on.”

  Jakon wasn’t convinced despite the fae guard’s senses. Then, straight through the warped, staggered trees in front, he swore
he caught a movement that could have been mistaken for wind passing through the tree canopy. Except all he could think of were…wings. Wings, and a vibrant flicker of amethyst that pierced through the dark veil of gray and black. He blinked, and it was gone, and he couldn’t help but wonder if his mind was conjuring its own visions out of his rising fear. A painful tremor shook him to his core.

  “We should go,” he repeated, quieter than the last time in his cold apprehension.

  Chapter 31

  Tauria

  “He’s just a complete ass sometimes.”

  Tauria couldn’t help the rant that flooded from her when Faythe questioned the friction between her and the prince. Her friend lay sprawled across her bed as she released all the emotion that had built inside her since the night of her argument with Nik over three weeks ago. They hadn’t addressed it since, even after their awkward encounter in the secret passageway the day they bid farewell to the King of Olmstone. It saddened her as much as it infuriated her that perhaps Nik was avoiding confrontation. She felt his absence more than she cared to admit.

  “In fact, all of the time,” she amended as she paced the space in front of the fire.

  Faythe rolled onto her stomach and propped herself up on her elbows. “I think he’s jealous.”

  Tauria gaped at the human as her cheeks heated. “Nik? No way,” she said quickly. She thought she would feel awkward for bringing the conversation up to Faythe given their short history, yet her friend showed no sign of discomfort or sadness, which relived Tauria immensely as she initially felt guilty for mentioning Nik at all. There were feelings between Faythe and Nik still, that was clear, though it was not romance she saw when she looked at the pair together. Love, but not lust. But Tauria knew she had been the same way with Nik once upon a time, and she hated the ugly pinch of jealousy in her chest at the fact.

  Faythe rolled her eyes. “I’m sure he’ll come around. He’s a stubborn prick, but he knows when he’s in the wrong.”

  It relieved her that she wasn’t alone in thinking Nik was out of line with his confrontation. She was also grateful to have a friend to confide in after all her lonely years in the castle. When she had arguments with the prince in the past, the other ladies of the court were like mosquitoes, sucking gossip and any sensitive information she shared and spreading it around like a plague. Tauria quickly learned to keep things private even when the secrets ate away her. However, with Faythe, it was like a new wave of freedom to be able to speak so openly and know the news would go no further. She never would have imagined she would confide in a human and come to consider one her closest companion.

  Faythe got to her feet. “There’s a council meeting I’m going to be late for if I don’t go,” she muttered begrudgingly.

  Tauria winced. She couldn’t imagine being used for her ability in the way Faythe was. She had to admit, a part of her resented the king for it. Reluctantly, she nodded in understanding, wanting nothing more than to be able to spend the day with her friend, if only to distract herself from a certain fae prince.

  Faythe left with a weak goodbye as neither of them were in particularly high spirits. Along with their own personal conflicts, there was the weight of the impending war between the supposed allies. Tauria was still in shock at the revelation.

  She had known Varlas since she was a child. Her father considered him a good friend, and now she questioned everything she knew about the King of Olmstone. Her heart tugged at the thought of the prince she’d spent the week getting close to. She didn’t want to believe perhaps Tarly knew of his father’s intentions and she had been a part of his ploy all along. A marriage to her would gain them even more power as they would have great control over Fenstead too when she reclaimed her throne.

  Tauria shook the thoughts. Needing to clear her head, she decided to leave her rooms for the first time that day. The hallways were quiet, and she didn’t bother to tell anyone where she was going, wanting to remain unescorted. In truth, she didn’t have a particular destination in mind and strolled through the halls with her mind elsewhere. When she came to stand in front of the great doors to the library, her heart picked up tempo. Ever since that night in the passageway with Nik and Faythe, the ward had felt a strange pull to go back and find out what called to her at the end of the unventured passage.

  She was about to push through the door when an invading voice made her whirl.

  “I hope you’re not planning to go back there alone.” Nik’s words were laced with worry more than scolding. Still, she couldn’t hold back her glare.

  “I don’t need your permission. Or protection,” she added, pushing through the doors with more force than was necessary. She didn’t need her fae senses to know he had followed her into the library.

  Tauria didn’t pause as she stormed down the rows of bookshelves toward her dark, forgotten destination. Nik didn’t speak as he followed on her tail, and it irked her more than she cared to admit.

  When she couldn’t take the silence anymore, she stopped abruptly, spinning around to face him. “Isn’t there a council meeting you should be attending?” It came out harsh with the echo of their last encounter.

  The prince frowned and halted a few paces away. “There are no meetings today.”

  Tauria straightened, and her eyebrows creased together to mirror his expression as the prince and the ward stood in equal confusion. “Faythe said…” She didn’t have to finish her sentence as realization dawned on both their faces. She twisted to stare down the dark stretch of passage toward the forgotten alcove as if she would find the human standing there.

  Nik swore and passed Tauria in a few quick strides. She followed closely behind, her heart already thundering at the thought of Faythe walking into danger alone.

  As much as Tauria admired Faythe for her bravery, she also thought it was a miracle the human was still alive with her reckless impulses sometimes. If there was anything of threatening origin down that second passage, she doubted Faythe’s mind ability would be of much use. It was easy to forget her fragile mortality when the human lived as if death could never touch her.

  She let Nik lead the way as they both bustled through the dark. Neither of them stopped to swipe a torch—with their fae eyesight, they didn’t need one to maneuver through. They didn’t pause to contemplate when they came to the junction and hastily took the route they were yet to venture down.

  It rattled Tauria’s reserves that not even the prince was aware of such a passage existing within the castle walls. It was both incredulous and unsurprising that Faythe was the one to come across such a place. If danger didn’t find her, the human had a sure way of seeking it out for herself.

  They came to a descending stairway and halted. Nik cast her a glance as they both stood deathly still, straining their senses to pick up on any hint of threat. The prince looked back at her and opened his mouth to speak.

  “Don’t you dare ask me to stay behind,” she cut in before he could voice the suggestion on his face.

  At her firm look, Nik reluctantly backed down, though she could see he was struggling to accept it. Without a word, he turned to begin the eerie descent into the unknown void below. Tauria kept close behind.

  Straight ahead, they came across a thick steel door, already open. It was then Tauria picked up on Faythe’s scent. There was no mistaking she was down here now as it was all over the door in front of them. Nik would have sensed it too, and even in the dark, she saw him stiffen and his strides become wider.

  Halfway through the hallway past the door, Nik halted, and Tauria nearly went careening into his back. Then she felt it. A gods-awful pull. Except not in beckoning like she felt before. This…it felt as if it drained her with its tug.

  “What in the rutting damn is that?” she said in careful horror.

  Nik shook his head. “It can’t be what I think it is.”

  At his tone, Tauria trembled where she stood. The prince pressed forward again, slower this time as he took each step with extra caution. They
came to another steel door that was also ajar. Before they could slip through, they heard a shift from beyond it.

  Tauria was about to leap back in fright until the scent hit her stronger than before. She sagged with relief. Nik too loosened his shoulders and eagerly entered the next passage. They spotted Faythe immediately through the metal bars of the cell she was crouched inside. She had her back to them, examining something on the ground, her weak hearing yet to pick up on their presence.

  Gods, it was a miracle she’d managed to stay alive without something or someone getting a hold of her if it was this easy to sneak up on a human.

  Tauria was too distracted to speak. Everything inside her screamed to run from this place as the glistening, iridescent black walls of the lone cell suffocated her even from her position outside of it.

  “This place…” Nik trailed off.

  Faythe shot to her feet and whirled to see them, halfway to drawing her sword until she took in the two fae. Her expression was bewildered until it fell into an irritated frown at the fright.

  “Did you two follow me?” she accused.

  Tauria responded with her own allegation. “You lied to me.” She couldn’t help but feel a little hurt she didn’t trust her enough to tell her where she really planned to go that afternoon.

  Faythe’s face fell in apology. “I didn’t want to put you at risk until I knew what was down here.”

  Tauria wanted to laugh at the absurdity, yet she refrained from pointing out Faythe’s mortality and weak senses made her far more fragile than she. Even if she wanted to argue, she was too distracted by the sickening feeling that settled, and her head, which started to form a dull ache.

  One look at the prince’s blanched face told her he too was feeling the negative effects of the long forgotten underground dungeon. It reeked of death and radiated evil. Nik scanned every inch of the cell in horror and disbelief. Then he muttered one world that made everything in her recoil.