Golden Crown

by M. Lynn

  She hooked her arm through Alex’s and allowed him to lead her toward their home.

  Horses had been left outside and stable lads hurried to lead them to the stables.

  Inside were faces so familiar they made her heart stop. She ran forward to greet the delegation from Gaule.

  Catrine’s wide smile greeted her. “Etta.” When Etta reached her, she pulled her into her arms. “It’s wonderful to see you, your Majesty.”

  “And you, your Majesty,” Etta said, pulling back.

  Alex greeted his mother and those who’d accompanied her. Simon was with her as well as Duchess Moreau, Duke Caron, Camille, and a few others.

  When Tyson and Amalie appeared to greet Catrine, pandemonium ensued.

  The wards surrounding Gaule had disappeared the moment her Basile power was gone. Tyson traveled back and forth frequently as Etta’s emissary to Gaule, but the rest of them were busy running their kingdoms.

  In the following days, representatives from Madra and others across the sea would arrive. Even Dracon sent someone to represent their interests. With their queen dead, they’d chosen a new ruler, and he had been reaching out to help Dracon rejoin the rest of the world.

  Trade between the kingdoms thrived, the world once again at peace. For now.

  They were entering a new era.

  Having everyone join her in Bela reminded Etta what she’d fought for. It was this, these people, this life. Her family.

  She still had moments when anger or hatred would overtake her, remnants of the magic that had controlled her so completely. But they never lasted. How could they?

  Days after the rulers and representatives of their allied kingdoms left, Etta found herself sitting with Vérité.

  Her father’s warnings rang in her head and she laughed. He’d said Vérité was dangerous, wild. But then, she had been as well. Viktor Basile had been a great many things, but he hadn’t been everything and she only now realized that was okay. He’d made mistakes, just as she had.

  She’d once thought he didn’t believe in her because he told her not to attempt to break the curse, but that wasn’t true at all. It was because he’d known La Dame. It was an impossible task.

  Not everyone is meant to attempt the impossible.

  She looked up at Vérité. And not everyone was meant to attempt it alone.

  “What are you two up to?” Alex asked, walking around the side of the house with a knowing smirk.

  “Trouble,” she answered. “Lots and lots of trouble.”

  He laughed and bent down to kiss the top of her head. He tried to pull away, but she pulled him back and breathed him in.

  Vérité nipped at him and he jumped back. “Hey,” he protested. “I thought we were moving past that.”

  Etta shrugged, trying to hide her grin. “Can’t chain a wild beast.”

  “Yeah, yeah,” he said, leaning in to kiss her again. “We all saw what happened when they tried to chain you.”

  Vérité snorted and Etta pushed Alex away before the jealous horse bit. “Go,” she said with a laugh. “Isn’t Edmund waiting for you?”

  “I’m going. I have to get some time in with him before he leaves for his new position as ambassador to Madra.” He shook his head sadly. “Be nice to her, Vérité.”

  Etta raised an eyebrow. They all knew Vérité would never harm her. Once Alex was out of sight, Etta climbed to her feet.

  “How about a ride?”

  Vérité stomped his foot.

  She didn’t bother with a saddle as she hauled herself onto his back and braided her hands through his mane. With a gentle squeeze of her calves, he took off.

  All of Bela stretched out before her. Most of it was still untamed. Thick forests. Wildflowers. Running streams.

  They crested the hill that led down into the village. Etta turned Vérité to the other side of it instead. His hooves thundered down an unused path and into the trees. She breathed in the fresh air as it whipped around her face.

  They were right. Alex may have been her heart’s mate, but Vérité owned her soul. With them, she was complete. With them, she was whole.

  For she was Persinette Basile. Daughter of a great man. Breaker of curses. Queen of Bela. No chains could hold her for she was finally free, and the free had no more battles to wage.

  * * *

  The adventures in the Six Kingdoms aren’t over yet! Book four is now available. Join some familiar characters as they become embroiled in another rebellion. Click here for your copy of Glass Kingdom:

  michellelynnauthor.com/GlassKingdom

  * * *

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  What’s next?

  A hidden princess. A man with no family. A rebellion neither of them saw coming.

  * * *

  On the shores of Madra, tradition is law.

  For Princess Helena, this means wearing masks to hide from common eyes.

  For the people, it means bowing down to a king who cares little for them.

  Wanting to rid herself of the rules holding her back, Helena escapes into the city, unrecognizable without her mask.

  She only wants a taste of life outside her walls before returning to the only place she’s known, but she hadn’t counted on him. The boy who makes her forget about her brothers’ worries or her father’s wrath.

  What if Dell is the freedom she’s been searching for her entire life?

  As she begins to believe it’s possible to be both princess and normal girl, the kingdom she loves is thrown into chaos, and her once-solid family shatters, proving they’d been made of glass all along.

  * * *

  Dive into the fourth installment of the Fantasy and Fairytales series where familiar faces find themselves across the sea, embroiled in another kingdom's battle. A tale of adventure, magic, and romance, Glass Kingdom surprises at every turn.

  * * *

  Get your copy of Glass Kingdom here.

  Glass Kingdom

  One day, when trying to remember the first time she’d seen him, Helena would think of the energy sparking in the air around him.

  The unknown boy should have been no match for the broad man before him, yet the crowd cheered as if the fight would go on forever.

  Boxing was a revered sport on the coast of Madra. Not that her parents had ever allowed Helena to attend a match.

  But this wasn’t an organized fight. There was no arena surrounding them, only a circle of onlookers. Their noise had drawn the small-framed girl dressed in her brother’s clothing.

  Helena pulled the cap on her head down over her ears to further hide the ebony locks pinned underneath.

  There were two rules in Madran boxing. Never step out of bounds and never use the heel of your hand. Everything else was fair game.

  The boy with lively blue eyes ducked an oncoming punch, but didn’t move quickly enough and his opponent’s fist grazed the side of his head. He reeled back, stumbling before dropping to his knees.

  The bigger man moved to strike again, and the boy fell sideways only to receive a kick to the abdomen.

  Helena’s stomach roiled. She wanted to scream, to tell them to stop, but a hand clenched around her arm.

  “Princess,” a low voice said in her ear. “Do not say a word.”

  Fear ripped into her until the man holding her pushed back his hood, revealing a head of blonde hair and a scowl only reserved for her.

  “Let me go, Edmund.”

  “I will release you, but you aren’t to leave.” He lifted his hand, watching her for any sign she’d bolt. When she stayed, he turned his attention to the oversized man who continued to brutalize the smaller man.

  Edmund walked forward and pushed aside his cloak, revealing a sword. The attacker froze.

  “Orlo.” Edmund’s voice was calm, but Helena detected the ice in his words. “Challenging children to fights now?”

  Helena winced at the ch
ildren remark. The boy looked no younger than her eighteen years. When Edmund first arrived at their shores, she’d been smitten with him. Then she got to know the oaf, and he became just another one of her brothers.

  Orlo grunted and wiped his bloody knuckles on his pants. “This ‘kid’ needs to learn respect.”

  Edmund made a sound in the back of his throat. “You know as well as I that whatever Dell did won’t be anywhere near your punishment for fighting outside a proper match.” He jerked his head. “Go, and I won’t report this incident to the king… or the priesthood.”

  Fear sparked in Orlo’s eyes at the mention of the order. No one in Madra wanted to face the white-cloaked lawmakers and their prison cells. Orlo didn’t hesitate to run once given the chance.

  “How do you expect to keep this from father?” Helena asked. “They were in the middle of the city.” She threw a nervous look over her shoulder. “You know as well as I the priesthood has eyes everywhere.”

  Edmund walked toward the boy who must have been Dell and bent down. “Your father and his dogs will hear of this alright. But you don’t understand this city, Len. There isn’t a single person who will turn Orlo or Dell over for questioning.” He placed two fingers against the boy’s neck. “Well, he’s alive, so there’s that at least.” Blowing the hair out of his face, he straightened and glanced around at the gathering crowd. “Don’t you have better things to do?”

  He shook his head as they scattered and then turned to Helena. “You and I will have words once Dell is tended to.” He hefted Dell onto his shoulder as if he weighed nothing. “Come.”

  She ran to keep up with Edmund’s long strides. He led her through the crowded city as if he’d lived there his entire life. In reality, he’d only been in Madra for the past two years, serving as the ambassador from Bela. There were rumors winding their way through the palace about Edmund and his relationship to the queen and king of Bela. Some said they were close, others spoke of imprisonments. Each story ended with Edmund requesting an assignment far from the kingdom he’d fought a war to save.

  Helena wasn’t complaining though. She had four brothers, but none understood her as much as Edmund.

  “Edmund,” she started. She needed to explain her presence in the city. It was forbidden by the laws and traditions of Madra for a princess to leave the walls of the palace unaccompanied and unmasked.

  “Not here.” He turned into a narrow alley running between two pale-brick buildings, leading to a busy street.

  Curious Madran eyes followed them, but Edmund was well known, and most feared to be in his presence. Those stories from the palace? They also spoke of his magic. Something Helena had never seen and had trouble believing existed.

  Two years ago, Madran troops were sent to aid the Belaen queen in her war against La Dame. Persinette Basile took her kingdom back and those Madran troops who fought by her side came home with the most marvelous tales of magic. The minstrels, fascinated with their tall tales of magic and spells, turned the soldiers’ stories of the Belaen queen into epic songs.

  Even the mercenaries who’d fought with Dracon against the royal Madran forces had their share of tales for anyone brave enough to approach them.

  Belaens. Draconians. They were all feared for what they could do. Madran mercenaries were feared for who they were. Righteous bastards with loyalty to no crown. They pledged allegiance to one thing: gold. Was this Dell one of them? One of those causing trouble in the streets of Madra?

  The priesthood worked to expel all mercenaries from the city, but occasionally a few would appear in the taverns or among the seedier shops on the outskirts of the city. Helena scanned her surroundings as Edmund led her between those shops.

  Edmund ducked into a doorway at the end of the square and ushered Helena in before closing the heavy wooden door, shutting out all sunlight.

  Small candles along one wall gave the only hint of light. If it weren’t for the tendrils of cinnamon floating through the air, Helena would have suspected he’d led her into a tomb.

  Edmund lifted a hand and the flames on the candles grew larger.

  “Did you do that?” Her eyes rounded, fear gripping her chest as she took a step back.

  Edmund ignored her. “Mari,” he called, charging toward an open door. “Mari, we need you and Corban.”

  A middle-aged woman with deep lines in her face appeared in the doorway, took one look at Dell, and pointed to a bed on the far wall.

  Edmund set him down as a young boy skipped into the room. He froze when he saw them.

  Mari’s warm eyes gazed at the child. “We need you, Corban.”

  Corban shook his head and glanced at Helena.

  Edmund stepped forward. “It’s okay. He’s a friend.”

  It took Helena a moment to realize he meant her. She was still disguised in her brother’s clothes. These people couldn’t find out who she was no matter how much Edmund trusted them.

  She only nodded, deciding that speaking would give her away.

  Corban sighed.

  Mari ran a hand over the top of the boy’s head. “He’s worried. Magic might not be outlawed in Madra as it once was in Gaule, but the fear still exists within the city. If word got out… we don’t know what would happen to him.”

  Helena wanted to ask what Mari meant, but couldn’t find the right words. Edmund seemed to sense the question and mouthed ‘later’ before crouching in front of Corban. “How many times have I come to you, Corban?”

  The boy shrugged.

  Edmund smiled fondly. “A lot. You and I are bonded by magic. Mari too. In this city that’s very rare. You can trust me. I won’t lead you into danger.”

  Corban nodded. “I trust you.”

  Edmund smiled and straightened before gripping Corban’s shoulder and guiding him to the bed.

  Dell murmured something unintelligible as the young boy placed his palms against the unconscious man’s chest.

  Nothing happened.

  Helena looked to Edmund, but he focused on Dell’s face.

  As she glanced back to Dell, the bruises receded and Helena sucked in a breath. Dell’s cut lip stitched itself back together. Helena stumbled back until her butt hit the wall.

  Every scratch, every blemish faded away, leaving unmarked bronze skin. Crimson blood still streaked through his jaw length, sun-bleached hair.

  He was older than she’d thought him to be during the fight. Dell.

  She shook her head vigorously. “This isn’t possible.”

  Mari, who had yet to speak a word to Helena, watched her out of the corner of her eye. The princess pulled her cap down further under the scrutinizing gaze. She knew, didn’t she?

  Did she know?

  Panic clawed at her throat.

  Edmund crossed toward her and dropped his voice. “We have a lot to talk about.”

  “Aw, Edmund.” A rich voice called from the bed. “Not going to stay to make sure Corban’s mojo is still working?”

  Edmund rounded on him. “Five. The number of times I’ve had to bring you here in the last three months. Do you have a death wish, Dell?”

  Dell’s vibrant eyes darkened. “Those weren’t all my fault and you know it.”

  “Darn it, Dell.” Edmund pulled at the ends of his hair. “If you die…”

  Helena didn’t know what they were talking about, but curiosity had her moving closer.

  “I’m not going to die,” Dell said simply.

  “The illegal fights. Stealing. Do you even have a head on those shoulders?”

  An angry flush rose in the young man’s face as if he was about to explode. Helena grabbed Edmund’s arm. “Edmund, leave him be.”

  Dell’s anger snapped away in an instant as his eyes fixed on Helena, seeing her for the first time. “Who do we have here?” He sat up to peer closer. “You don’t think you’re fooling anyone in that getup, do you, miss?”

  Helena ripped the hat from her head. Her dark curls spilled out, and she turned to Edmund. “Am I that obvious?�
�

  Edmund bit the inside of his cheek to keep from smiling. “Only to scoundrels and deceivers themselves, my dear.” His eyes flicked to each person in the room. “Mari, Corban, I am once again in your debt. I’ll pay for this idiot’s care. Don’t let him return home for a few days. The news of the fight will have spread and we must prevent questions should the king hear.”

  He turned to Dell with a scowl. “The next time I see you in an illegal boxing match, I’m leaving you in the bloody dirt. Fool. Orlo should have gutted you.”

  Dell flashed a smile that spoke of no cares. “But then who would you yell at every day?”

  Edmund grunted.

  “You’d miss this pretty face. Go on, Edmund. Admit it. You care about me.”

  Edmund’s stern facade cracked, and a laugh slipped through. “Okay, Dell. We’re leaving.”

  “Have fun!” He waggled his eyebrows.

  They stepped into the front room and Edmund pointed to her hat. “Don’t listen to Dell. Put that back on. It’s better no one knows you’re a woman and puts any of the pieces together.”

  “Did he think we were—”

  “Yep.”

  She turned. “Shouldn’t we tell him that’s not—”

  “Helena.” His stern voice stopped her. “Dell will not speak of anything that happened here. It doesn’t matter what he thinks. But you and I need to have a discussion.”

  As soon as he pulled her onto the street, all sound ceased. A cart passed by, but the wheels made no rumble. Helena turned around to stare wide-eyed at Edmund.

  He sighed. “You already know I’m Belaen. Every person with Belaen blood carries magic. Mine is the ability to shift the winds. I’m pushing them away from us. We cannot hear anything. At the same time, I’m pushing a stream of air toward us to trap our own words.”