Page 69 of Wicked Court

“Charming,” I comment, lifting the spoon to my lips despite the tremors running through me.

The soup tastes like heaven, a rich harmony of flavors that sends warmth radiating from my core outward. I swallow more than just the food; I swallow down the uncertainty that threatens to choke me.

The Cimmerian Court. The ruby Heart. Kings and Sovereigns.

What century have I fallen into?

Kaspian reads my mind, his earlier disinterest replaced by a direct, focused stare that seems to penetrate my bones. “And just like the Medieval times, they’re not exactly benevolent rulers.”

“I see,” I say simply.

If they think I’m going to cower because of their candid revelations, they’re sorely mistaken. Then again, maybe they’re counting on it.

“So, your kings are making you find my ruby because it’s valuable to them, but you guys also need it to move higher in the Court’s ranks? Or, no, that can’t be it.” I scrunch my brows over the steaming soup. “You’re not initiates. You already have all the benefits of being full-fledged members in this underground medieval society of yours. So why would they need to threaten you?”

The once casual shuffle of movements now halts, as if my words have physically restrained them.

“You can mock the Court all you want,” Cav says, his tone lowered to a terrifying level. “But you have no idea the violence they can unleash on you, your family, everyone you love.” Cav cocks his head, as studious as an owl scouting fidgeting prey on the ground. “Or, maybe you do.”

My spoon clangs into the bowl. “What is that supposed to mean?”

Cav blinks out of the strange heat coating his eyes, his pupils retracting almost voluntarily as he straightens. “We leave everything behind to become a part of the Court. We love no one. Trust none. And bow to the Sovereigns alone. That is why you are nothing but a trinket we’ve now grown bored with. You mean nothing. You are nothing. And now that I’ve gotten the necklace from you? You’re worthless.”

The chuckle that follows is a bottomless rumble that doesn’t reach Cav’s face. He leans on the table casually, but there’s nothing casual about him.

Wilder’s fist clenches on the table, a visual warning as deadly as a viper coiled and ready to strike.

But at who? Me? Cav?

Cav’s words ring in my ears, but I steady my voice. “Your attempt to demean me seems rehearsed. It’s not very creative.” My heart pounds in my chest. “Perhaps you can insult less and explain more.”

Cav peels his lips back?—

“The ruby isn’t just valuable—it’s a test,” Axe cuts in softly, immune to Cav’s obvious glare to shut up. “Find it, and we prove our loyalty, our usefulness. Fail, and we’re expendable...to be made examples of.”

The expression on Axe’s face remains unreadable, but it is clear in his body language he has become more alert when he includes Cav. “Elara endured our dungeon and survived. She deserves to know some things.”

“Mm, she is shockingly clear-eyed and logical after what we did to her,” Kaspian muses. “Can’t say I expected that.”

Cav’s lips part to spit another retort, but I cut him off. “Before any of you try to belittle me again, just remember—I gave you what you wanted.”

My unexpected challenge seems to catch him off-guard. Cav blinks but recovers quickly, his eyes narrowing at my audacity.

Yet the venom of Cav’s verbal poison remains. It feels like a leaden weight anchoring me to the chair.

He’s right, they owe me nothing, they’ve never owed me anything.

But I don’t let it erode my resolve. I don’t give them the satisfaction of seeing how much his words hurt me.

My attention turns to Wilder. Out of all of them, he’s the most likely to keep talking.

“I gave you want you wanted,” I repeat, “so please, tell me why an heirloom I never knew existed is now so important that you would hurt me for it.”

Wilder’s eyes twitch. A minute, but present, flinch.

“They may look like a bunch of self-titled monarchs playing dress-up, but the Sovereigns don’t fuck around,” he says. “When they say jump, we’re already in mid-air asking how high on the way down. And this time, the ground’s rigged with explosives.”

I absorb their words, the pieces falling into place. “So, this isn’t about gaining favor or securing a better position within the Court. It’s about not being killed off.”

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