Once Upon a Crown (The Twisted Crown Trilogy #3)

Chapter 1

Elara

The forest beckoned me towards it.

Hands on the windowsill, I stared at the vast emerald landscape of broadleaved trees from my bedroom in the Palace of Levernia.

“Come,” the forest whispered. “Come back where you belong.”

Dark clouds clustered in the sky, casting Everness in a blanket of grey. The mountain ranges in the distance had yet to be tipped with snow but winter was here, and it wouldn’t be long before the fields of green became a bleak map of brown hues, drenched in mud and fallen leaves.

“Which crown will it be today, Your Majesty?” Anesta, my lady-in-waiting, jerked me from my thoughts.

I turned to face the cabinet that housed some of my jewellery.

There was a vast selection to choose from, pieces that had been in the royal family for many generations, including the crown I’d inherited from Lance.

According to Rhen, that specific crown had been around since Evrin’s time, the first king of Everness.

It was almost strange to think that an object with so much history had become an accessory that I wore most days.

That I was somehow part of something greater, a long line of kings and queens of this kingdom.

“Today’s council meeting is very important,” I reminded myself more than her.

“Which do you think would be most appropriate?” The truth was, even after all these months of being queen, I still hadn’t the slightest idea what was fashionable and which colours complemented each other.

I didn’t have the time or the interest to keep up with these sorts of things.

Which was one of the many reasons I was grateful to have Anesta.

If I wanted to present myself as a strong leader to my people, then it was important that I looked the part.

When our group arrived in Norrandale from Argon, Cordelia and Anesta had stayed in the harbour and taken the ship back to Everness, wanting to bring my sister, Eloisa, home.

I could not have been more relieved when they arrived here unharmed.

Especially after what happened with Jack, and Cai’s family.

Every time I relived Thatcher driving his sword through Jack, shivers ran down my spine.

Not to mention the fact that he’d murdered Cai’s mother and grandmother.

We’d been living with a monster that whole time, unknowing, believing we could trust him.

It was sobering to realise, once again, that you could know someone your entire life and still know nothing about them.

“I think this one will go well with your dress, Your Majesty.” Anesta held up a delicate crown of silver leaves, garnished with small green jewels.

“Good.” I pulled the window shut so hard it made the glass rattle.

“We’d better hurry up.” I took it from her and stepped in front of the mirror before placing the crown atop my head.

“I can’t afford to be late today.” Turning from side to side, I looked at the reflection in the mirror.

My dress was light blue with long sleeves and hints of green in the patterns and stitching, and while it was beautiful, there were dark circles under my eyes, and I could no longer see any colour in my cheeks.

The lack of sun these days did nothing for my pale complexion.

I suppressed a frown when a knock sounded on my bedroom door.

“Come in.”

Rhen, the captain of my guard, stepped inside the room, his eyes landing on me. “Don’t tell me I’m late.” His gaze lingered for a moment before he cleared his throat.

“No, Your Majesty. There are still a few minutes left to spare.”

“Well, we’d better get a move on, then. It takes twice as long to reach the other side of the palace with these shoes.” I wished I was joking. “Thanks for the help, Anesta.”

“Of course, Your Majesty,” she replied, but she wasn’t looking at me.

Her eyes were on Rhen, in his dashing guard’s uniform.

Anesta wasn’t the only person at court whose gaze tended to linger on Rhen.

His strong facial features and dark eyes often made him the subject of whispers and giggles shared by the female servants.

Rhen held the door open for me, and we left the room. I lifted the hems of my dress, keeping my hands from clenching into fists. Without meaning to, I let out a loud breath.

“Are you all right, Your Majesty?”

“Just glad I haven’t had breakfast yet.” My stomach was in a knot at the thought of walking into that council room.

“Everything will be fine,” Rhen tried to reassure me. Something that had become a major part of his duties.

“Since when do you lie?” I gave him a side glance.

“I’m not lying.”

“Cai’s kingdom has been taken from him. His family was murdered by his best friend.

I have yet to solidify my claim to the throne without a husband or an heir, and it’s just a matter of time before Aries comes for Everness.

” Not even to mention what would happen if he discovered the mines with the Myrgonite stones.

The thought of it all really made me feel sick now.

“Which is exactly why this council meeting is taking place. We need to come up with a plan,” Rhen replied.

I just didn’t know if I had any plans left in me. I was all out of ideas.

We hurried through the palace, and I readjusted my crown. Then I picked invisible pieces of lint from the sleeve of my dress, each step bringing me closer to a meeting I’d rather not attend.

“Stop fidgeting,” Rhen whispered. I could see two guards standing at the council-room doors. “You’re the queen, remember?”

Yes, but for how long? I didn’t say it out loud.

Rhen was right — the best thing I could do was keep my head up and act like I could still have them all executed if I wanted to.

Technically I could, but that would only create more chaos than it was worth.

And I didn’t exactly feel like overseeing any hangings.

We stopped in front of the council-room doors, and I avoided eye contact with the guards. They were everywhere these days. But even the increased security didn’t put me at ease. I took another deep breath.

“Are you ready?”

No. “Ready as I’ll ever be.”

Rhen stepped inside the room and announced me.

The guards opened both doors, allowing me to make an entrance, and the council stood up from the central table as I entered.

My older brother was at the opposite end of the table from where I would be sitting.

In some strange way, it brought me a little comfort to know Lance was there.

At the very least I could trust he wanted to keep me on the throne.

Next to him were the dukes of Dalloway and Wells, as well as Brimsey.

I’d taken a liking to him from the moment we’d met.

He was a sweet man but serious when it mattered.

His spectacles always sat very low on his nose, looking like they would fall off at any second.

As far as I knew, I could trust all of them.

Levington had also been brought to my side.

There were a few trays of sandwiches and desserts on the table, and Levington had already filled his plate more than was appropriate.

The grand dukes of Brett and Creston were less eager to have me there.

They did little to hide their disapproval of my reign.

On Lance’s right stood Lady Gwen, her hands fisted at her side.

I’d asked her to join us today because it was her brother, after all, who had played a big part in this.

Not that I believed her to be connected to Thatcher’s treachery in any way.

She looked just as traumatised as the rest of us.

But she was the only person, beside Cai, who knew Thatcher very well.

She could give us some insight into what he might do next.

Alastor was there too. No one verbally confirmed it, but we all knew he’d taken Jack’s place as Cai’s new right-hand man, the head of his guard.

It was a daunting task, and I admired him for stepping up to the role.

Then again, he probably didn’t have any more of a choice than the rest of us here, all forced into our new circumstances.

I took my seat at the head of the table and everyone else in the council room sat down.

“Good morning, gentlemen.” I nodded towards them. “Lady Gwen.” She hid behind a smile, but I could tell she was just as uncomfortable as I was.

“Your Majesty.” There were a few murmurs of greeting.

The only person not present in the room, and perhaps the one I wanted there more than anyone else, was Cai. He hadn’t left his rooms much since we’d arrived in Everness. He didn’t attend meetings or dinners or really talk to anyone at all.

But he’d been deeper through hell than any of us.

His family had been killed. His best friend betrayed him.

His throne had been taken, and his enemy was invading his kingdom.

I was trying to give him all the space he needed.

But I was worried. This couldn’t go on for ever.

I wasn’t willing to give up and let Aries win. Not without a fight.

“What’s the latest news?” I asked no one in particular. Everyone seemed to have spies just about everywhere these days, something I’d grown to appreciate to an extent in the past few weeks.