Falling for the Winged Witch (To Win a Dark Heart #3)

Chapter 1

Chapter One

LINDY

The king was dead.

Contrary to popular belief, Lindy had absolutely nothing to do with it.

Unfortunately, popular belief could not be reasoned with by facts, which was why, on the morning of King Theodor’s funeral, Lindy was waiting in her locked room for the armed guard to escort her to pay her last respects to her late husband.

She sat stiffly with her hands folded in her lap, pale against the black fabric of her funeral attire.

She much preferred lighter colors, since anything darker than the green of the forest visible outside her window made her appear wan and sickly with her flaxen hair and skin that had spent far too much time indoors.

But black was traditional for mourning, and at least if she looked ill there would be less judgment for her lack of tears.

It wasn’t that she didn’t care—she wasn’t completely heartless, no matter what the rumors said—but how was she supposed to summon grief for a man she had been married to for all of six months?

A man who had been old enough to be her grandfather?

No, there was no grief as she sat and waited for the sound of fists pounding against the heavy wooden door. Just a sort of numbness tinged with a bitter taste as she remembered the king’s final words:

“Take care of my boys.”

As if the oldest of her seven stepsons weren’t a few months older than she was and was just as capable of taking care of her. Not that Corbin ever would—Lindy had the distinct impression that the crown prince would sooner lock her in the dungeon for the rest of her life.

After all, he’d already locked her in her room.

Rather than a heavy pounding, the soft click of a key turning in the lock pulled her from her listless thoughts. She straightened in her chair as the door swung inward with a creak and her lady-in-waiting, Elise, stepped into the room.

Her splotchy cheeks and red-rimmed eyes were evidence of recent tears, adding yet another layer of guilt to the fact that Lindy could produce none. She smiled weakly. “It’s time, Your Majesty.”

Lindy’s brows lifted in surprise as she stood. “No guards this time?”

“They’re waiting outside.” Elise’s smile faltered. “I told Cor—His Royal Highness, I mean—that they were unnecessary, but he insisted.”

“I see,” Lindy sighed.

I suppose it was foolish to hope otherwise.

“I’m sorry, Your Majesty.”

She forced herself to smile reassuringly. “You have nothing to apologize for, Ellie. What your prince decides to do with his soldiers is his prerogative.”

Color bloomed on her lady-in-waiting’s cheeks. “He’s not my prince.”

“Maybe not officially yet, but anyone can tell by the way he looks at you that it won’t be long.”

Elise’s eyes dropped to the floor. “That may have been true before, but I won’t hang my hopes on wishful thinking.”

Lindy reached out, gently grabbing Elise at the elbow. “What’s happened?”

“Nothing, Your Majesty.”

“Please, Ellie; there’s no need for titles when it’s just the two of us.

” She leaned her head to the side to try to catch Elise’s eye.

“Tell me what’s wrong. Did Corbin do something?

” A surge of protectiveness ran through her, making her blood run hot and filling her with more emotion than she had felt in the previous 24 hours.

Though the majority of the court viewed her with distrust and dislike and she was happy to return the sentiment, Elise was the one exception.

She was soft-spoken and gentle, with big blue eyes and beautiful golden curls that reminded Lindy of the one person she loved most in the world—her little sister Eliza.

But more than that, it was the shadows in Elise’s eyes hidden behind pretty smiles that called to Lindy, a reflection of the darkness in her own past. She knew what kind of monsters lurked in those shadows, knew what it meant to hide the pain and fear of rejection behind the curtain of cheerful obedience.

Elise’s eyes widened and she shook her head vehemently.

“No. Nothing like that. It’s only…he said that you would likely be pushing for a political marriage for him with one of Nedra’s allies.

And I understand completely,” she added with a rush, as if anxious to get the words out.

“Once His Highness becomes king, your position here will hold little influence. Of course you would want to ensure continued support once that happens.”

Lindy blinked, and it took all the effort she had left to keep her expression at least somewhat pleasant. She laughed bitterly. “And he thinks I would want to find such support by destroying the happiness of the one friend I have here?”

Her lady-in-waiting shrugged sheepishly. “He also said that he wouldn’t be surprised if you tried to find a loophole in the law that allowed you to remarry before his coronation and establish a new royal line.”

The familiar, bitter knife of betrayal burned in her gut.

I should have known it was only a matter of time before she, too, decided to believe the worst of me. It’s probably for the best; our friendship will only continue to be a source of contention between her and the man she loves.

She dropped her hand to her side and exhaled slowly through her nose.

“I have no desire for Corbin’s throne, Ellie; I never have.

The only reason I married Theodor was because my father had no other use for me.

If I am allowed to fade into obscurity here in Cygnus rather than in Nedra, it will be enough. ”

Remorse twisted the features on Elise’s face. “I’m sorry. I should have—”

Lindy threw up a hand to interrupt her friend’s apology, choosing to reach for the sharp, cold armor of rudeness rather than allow the vulnerability that reconciliation required. “Come. We have a funeral to attend. I don’t need tardiness added to my list of transgressions.”

She swept out of the room before Elise had a chance to respond, nodding with her chin held high at the guard waiting outside her door in the wide hall. “Haldrick.”

“Your Majesty,” he responded with the curl of a sneer on his upper lip, his tone contradicting any respect her title should have held.

He was both the captain of the royal guard and a childhood friend of Crown Prince Corbin and had readily adopted any and all of her stepson’s views of her.

Haldrick’s cold eyes trailed up and down her form.

“Fully committed to the grieving widow bit, I see.”

She looked him dead in the eye, refusing to show even the slightest bit of intimidation. If he was going to believe her capable of murder, despite a shameful lack of evidence, she might as well lean into it. “I am a widow.”

And grieving because the only security I had died along with Theodor.

Haldrick raised his brows. “I notice you didn’t argue that the grief was an act.

” He leaned forward, crowding her space and filling it with the stench of his stale breath.

“Don’t get too comfortable, witch. We know what you did before to that prince in Anura, we know what you did to our king, and we know what you’ll do if you’re allowed to continue free.

It’s just a matter of time before justice is finally served.

You think being locked in your room was bad?

You’ll be begging for that by the time we’re through with you. ”

Lindy continued to meet his eyes. Elise cleared her throat quietly behind her. “Haldrick, it’s time to go. Her Majesty needs to get to the chapel before the service starts.”

The guard moved back a pace, his eyes flashing with hatred and the promise of violence. He gave a mocking bow. “After you, ladies.”

Elise threaded her arm through Lindy’s and pulled her forward, putting a few steps of distance between them and the guard. Lindy fought every urge to lean into the silent show of support.

“Don’t listen to him,” Elise whispered, soft enough that her words would not carry. “I know you would never do anything to hurt His Majesty. I know you’re innocent.”

Lindy’s jaw worked back and forth as she summoned the words that would be the final nail in the coffin of her short-lived friendship.

“I’m not, Ellie. I’m no stranger to either magic or curses.

I cursed Prince Dorian of Anura, and, if the situation were to repeat itself, I would probably do it again.

” She could see Elise’s jaw drop from the corner of her eyes, and she pulled her arm free.

“I may not have killed Theodor, but Haldrick is right: I’m a witch. How can you trust I won’t do it again?”

She quickened her steps, leaving Elise behind.

Her eyes smarted with tears, and though she longed to blink them away, she let them gather and fall as she approached the chapel doors.

It mattered little that she felt more grief over the loss of friendship with a member of the court than she did her husband’s life.

What mattered was that tears were expected, and without them, she wouldn’t survive.

And Lindy was very good at surviving.