Chapter 36
IZADELLA
It's well after midnight when a soft tapping noise comes from behind one of the large paintings. My heart beats wildly, hoping it is Cyanna somehow. I take one of the lone candles with me as I head to the source of the sound.
“Izadella?” the soft voice of Princess Lyrora drifts in. “There’s a latch under the painting.”
I trace along the underside of the frame, searching for the lock, and the painting swings open when I hit it.
Lyrora is dressed in a thick nightgown, her guard carrying her through a narrow pathway carved into the stone, illuminated by a single oil lamp on the wall.
He steps in, gently sets her down in one of the plush red chairs.
“Thank you, Henrik.”
He smiles at his princess and leaves again.
Sitting beside her, I can’t stop myself from asking, “Have you spoken to Leon?”
Her face falls. “No, I’m so sorry. We don’t know where he is. I haven’t seen him since the night my father went missing.” She looks at the crown. “Well, died, I suppose.”
Guilt I have no reason to carry leads me to explain, “He died naturally. No harm came to him. I’m sorry for your loss.”
Lyrora only shrugs. “I care more about Erenia and Leon now. They have been more family to me than anyone I share blood with. Hopefully, she made it back to Versairen and Leon back to Kalvorn.” She reaches out for my hand.
“He liked you so much. He was practically giddy on bazaar nights. I have a jewelry box full of your pieces simply because he wanted a reason to talk to you. Even when he thought you were married and knew nothing could ever come of it, he still cherished every moment in your presence. Whatever happens, please know that. You meant everything to him.”
Her words send a flurry of grief and longing inside me. “How do you know I’m not married?”
“Your shop was raided, and not a soul ever saw you with a family. Plus, no records of you exist. I checked. Be thankful you have no family or husband. Grayden wouldn’t have let any of them live if they had been real.”
I shudder at that. “Your sibling is…evil.”
“I learned that many years ago when he killed all our other brothers to ensure he was the only one in line for the throne. He is evil in ways I can’t possibly understand. I'm so sorry for what he is about to force you to do.”
“Me too,” I whisper.
Henrik returns, holding an ancient book. We’re silent again before she takes a balled-up napkin from her gown’s pocket. It’s a white satin square with red splotches on it. Slowly she unwraps it and three strawberries lie in the middle, one slightly smashed, its bright juices staining the fabric.
“It smells like Leon,” she says. “They have popped up everywhere. Is it safe to eat?”
“Yes,” I whisper, tears forming.
She opens her mouth and bites down, eyes closing as she chews slowly. “I’ve never tasted anything so sweet.”
Henrik bends at the waist, watching as her tongue darts out over her lips. She feeds him the next bite lovingly, and he, too, lets out a noise of happiness at the taste.
So young and in love. I hope someday they can truly be together.
He holds the book out to his lover. She flips towards the middle and turns the book to me.
Inara in her glamoured human form is there on the page. Even though the painting is old, the golden ring she was wearing, the one Leon wore, is still visible.
A small passage about the crown near the bottom.
The fae crown was made for Queen Inara by Alvina Vanabalt, known as the Forger. Her Majesty is quoted speaking of Vanabalt as the greatest goldsmith and craftswoman throughout all kingdoms and a close friend to Queen Inara.
“What do you know about Inara?” I ask, tracing my ancestor’s name with my finger, bitterness growing with every letter. Alvina was the greatest goldsmith. Inara never should have asked her to create the crown in the first place.
“The family lore says that after she married King Drystan for his kingdom, she became a cunning adulterer who quickly fell into bed with Prince Kalden and conceived a child with him. They plotted to kill her husband, but Drystan got the crown he felt he deserved after he killed her. Both Kalden and the child were never seen again.”
“She never wanted his kingdom!” I’m not sure why I’m bothering to defend my ancestor’s closest friend after the pain she has caused my family.
Lyrora shakes her head. “Yes, I know. My family’s history is filled with lies. Drystan was just as evil as all the men who came after him. He was a terrible and cruel husband, and his brother actually loved Inara.”
I wonder how Leon got her ring. “Thank you for showing me this.”
“I have to go, but I wanted to be sure you know that they’ve announced Erenia’s death and his marriage to you in front of all the courtiers.
The kingdom is being unruly, people rioting and deserting their posts, protesting the war.
You have brought new crops, new bounty, and he thinks it will bring back a little peace before he can go to war with Leon for Kalvorn. ”
“Wait, you knew about Leon too?”
She seems surprised. “That he is the King of Kalvorn? Yes, he told Erenia and me. It seems everything has gone wrong, but I’m very glad he was able to trust you with his true identity.”
Her words sting like a slap in the face. “I've been with Leon in the fae realm for the last month—”
Delight shines on her face and she interrupts, “Oh, he must have loved that!”
“—but he didn’t trust me, at least not when it mattered. I was the last to know. He only graced me with the knowledge he was not who he said he was minutes before I was taken.”
The pain in my chest is a reminder of that moment.
“Oh.” Her eyes are so genuine. “I’m sorry to hear that, but I’m sure he had his reasons. Time with you was all he wanted.”
“Yeah,” I say flatly. “That and the crown.”
“Izadella, does he know you have it?” Conflicting emotions dance over her beautiful face.
“He does. He was there the night I was forced to put it on. I thought he loved me, but it seems he wanted the crown more.” It's bitter even to my own ears.
She purses her lips. “It sounds like the two of you have much to discuss when you’re reunited.”
I know of only one solution to every problem: ending the war, ensuring Grayden does not harm Cyanna or the children in her care, stopping my forced marriage, and ensuring the reign of terror on the Adreanian people ends.
Grayden cannot live.
The guard moves towards his princess to return her to her rooms, but I grab her arm. “I desperately need your help. Tomorrow, ask Grayden why I can’t simply make him a new crown, a magic one. My ancestor created this one. I need to get to my forge. It will look suspicious if I offer it.”
Lyrora and her guard look at each other, unsure.
“Please. Grayden can’t be ruler anymore or he’s going to get everyone killed.
I’ll grow every food imaginable for you, and this kingdom will overflow with prosperity, but I need to get out of here.
If I am back in the Merawood Forest, I’ll have access to magic again and he will have to take off my collar if I am to make him anything. Then I can strike.”
“Can you make a new one?” Apprehension coats her words. “One seems to have caused more than enough trouble.”
I laugh without humor. “I can’t make anything right now, but I have ideas.”
Pour melted gold over his head, use a sword I have on my desk, strangle him with vines. Countless ways I can make him pay, but I need magic. I need him to believe me and take me home.
She bites her lip but nods. “All right, if you are sure, but please be careful. He will know if it’s a trap.”
“Then we need to be very convincing that it’s not. If I can end your brother’s life, are you prepared to rule?”
Lyrora gapes at me. “Women cannot be rulers here. I would need to marry.”
Her guard stiffens beside her, a flash of agony distorting his handsome face, but he is quick to hide it. When she looks up at him with wide blue eyes, her own longing is mirrored back.
She needs to see herself as the ruler she was born to be. “Do not let men tell you that you cannot have what is freely given to them.”
“But—”
“You could be the new queen of Adreania. Lead it with compassion and kindness. Be everything your brother never was and so much more. You actually care about your people in a way he could never fathom. I'm sure you'll have an ally with Kalvorn when Leon returns.”
“You have the crown. You are our ruler; it’s our law. Loyal to whoever—”
“Yes, yes, I know, but I don’t want to be a ruler. I want to go back to being a jewelry maker.” My voice cracks a bit. “I want to go home. If I could take the crown off and give it to you, I would, believe me. If I knew how to remove it, I’m sure Zilas would have stolen it by now.”
“No, no, Leon isn’t like that!” She opens her mouth to argue again with me, but I wave my hand.
“It’s not important. The only thing that matters is that you are prepared for whatever tomorrow brings.”
Lyrora nods slowly. “Well, I suppose I’m the only heir left. I cannot say my father prepared me for anything other than to be a bride for some foreign noble, but yes.” She straightens her back. “If you manage to kill my brother, I will take over the throne.”
Her guard’s chest puffs up with pride.
“Where I’m from, the fae realm, we’ve only ever had women rulers. My closest friend, Nueena, is about to take her mother’s place as Realm Keeper. If I survive this, I will introduce you to her. She has been preparing her whole life, so she will have plenty of advice.”
“I would like that.” Lyrora’s hopeful smile fades. “Just be prepared for what will come should you fail.”
It’s a punch to the gut. There are countless ways this could all go wrong.
She and her guard depart, leaving me alone again. Once the painting is locked behind them, I lie in Grayden’s wife’s bed and think of all the ways I can kill him. My violent imagination grows more and more unrealistic with every idea, but the rage within me sings at each thought.
I just need my forge.