Queen of Dawn and Forgotten Dreams

Prologue

The place smelled like hell itself. Brimstone and spoiled bodies.

I shouldn’t have expected anything less.

Only the most depraved reside here. The exiled.

Banished from proper society because of their viciousness.

Left to spend eternity paying the price of their poor decisions.

As much as I’d like to deny it, I probably belong here. I’m not innocent.

The chilling memory of Draven’s haunting face, frozen with betrayal, returns every night, a ghastly reminder of my actions in the Shadows.

If my heart hadn’t already been a block of ice, the disappointment in his eyes would have shattered it.

He may never forgive me, and I will have to live with that.

But knowing he’s safe eases some of the crushing guilt.

Safe from the monster I’m about to meet.

And safe from me. At least, for the time being.

The journey to this desolate land was long and arduous, but it doesn’t take me long to find who I am looking for.

Within a day of wandering through rickety taverns and a lone brothel, I picked up his trail.

My seductive charm works well on most of his cronies when I start poking around, and when it doesn’t, brutal threats do.

I haven’t risked everything to be turned away.

I smooth my dress and blow out a breath as I saunter up the sandy path to the sad excuse of a dwelling.

It’s a far cry from the Silverveil residence he once possessed.

I laugh to myself as I stand at the threshold in this barren wasteland of corruption.

Then I stride into a dome-shaped house made of mud and beast shit.

It’s dim inside, the orange flame of a lantern bathing the single-room home in a haunting glow. The low light casts flickering shadows on the walls and my eyes trail to a dais constructed from two boulders, stacked in a way that has me questioning how it isn’t crushing the figure sitting on it.

My eyes narrow at the male sitting on the faux throne and I stifle a laugh at how he seems ideally suited to govern this wretched land.

I recognize him, though we’ve never met. The likeness is unmistakable, and I shudder as I approach.

I halt before the seated male, plastering a scheming smile on my face as I dip my head.

My teeth draw blood inside my cheek at the respectful gesture the male certainly doesn’t deserve.

But I’m an expert at my craft. My fluency in deceit ensures there is no way I can falter in my plan.

I have crossed high water only to arrive in hell for this.

For this one moment. I need to make it count.

“Your Majesty.” My voice drips out like liquid velvet. “I have some information I think you might be interested in.” I lift my gaze to him through heavy lashes. “About your son.” My lips curl into a seductive grin. Males are all the same. Easily influenced by a pretty face and the promise of power.

His cold eyes glare down at me. His mouth twitches, and just like that, he offers me his hand. A single handshake sets the plan in motion, hurtling us into a trajectory I have no way of halting. Only time can reveal its worth.