Page 3 of A Shattered Kingdom of Steel

My cheeks rise with the memory, though I keep my mouth closed. I’d been completely unprepared for my first audience with the king. Working up quite the sweat, every ounce of my attention had been on my opponent—their fists, jabbing at me and their exposed throat, where I planned to strike next.

So when my adversary had suddenly lowered their fists and straightened their back, I took that as my golden opportunity.

The male had broken into a coughing fit, sputtering. Ceren had merely cleared her throat behind me, and the stark silence that fell over the training room told me I’d missed something very important.

When I turned around, Vorr was there, watching me with a brow arched. There was an interest sparked in his eyes, though his expression betrayed none of it.

“Good morning, trainee,” was all he’d said.

I’d dropped into a bow. “Good morning, Your Majesty.”

Bringing myself back to the present, I shake my head a little, fighting my smile.

Now, Viridian offers the trainees a polite smile. To his right, Cryssa does the same, though she looks more amused by the trainee’s reactions to them than her husband and mate.

He meets my eyes. “Excuse the interruption, Captain. May we have a word?”

I dip my head in response, fighting the smirk that almost tugs at my cheeks. “Of course, Your Majesties.”

As one of my oldest friends, Viridian and I have gotten into all sorts of mischief over the years. He, and Myrdin, heir-apparent to the Copper Court, know me better than anyone. Yet, Viridian still insists on addressing me so formally in front of the trainees or the High King’s council—a formal body made up of representatives from each of the five Courts meant to advise the High King and Queen.

Viridian dips his head to me, the tightness of his smile pinching his lips, and steps into the hall, keeping Cryssa close by his side.

“As you were,” I announce to the trainees while I cross the room, picking up my pace. I lock eyes with Sura as I pass her. She dips her head, as if to say, “I’ll take care of things here.”

Pulling the double doors closed behind me, I step into the hall and join Cryssa and Viridian. “What’s so important that you’re interrupting my training?” I ask, keeping my tone light.

Viridian’s dark brows knit together. “I—we,” he corrects himself, glancing at Cryssa, “need to ask you something.”

I lean back a little and put my hands on my hips. “All right.” When he doesn’t say anything, I cross my arms. “Let’s hear it then.”

“We’ve decided to send representatives of the crown to each of the five Courts,” he starts. His eyes dart around, looking anywhere but at me. A sign that he’s nervous.

What could he need to ask me?

“After my father’s—after what happened to my father and the curse,” Viridian continues, evening his tone, “Cryssa and I need a strong presence outside of Keuron. To ease the beginning of our reign.”

I press my lips together, my jaw tightening. The end of Vorr’s reign was wrought with tension. So much so, that he’d ordered a complete lockdown on High Keep—no one in, and no one out.

That tension only worsened when he died.

One week ago, Viridian’s father was murdered.

Here.

In the castle.

Right under our noses.

And despite the lockdown order, the perpetrator vanished, seemingly without a trace, slipping right through our fingers like a sieve catching sand.

Less than two hours after Vorr was killed, angry, desperate humans stormed High Keep. Their numbers overwhelmed us, nearly killing Cryssa in the process. She took an iron arrow for Viridian, and in sacrificing herself for him, broke the curse that had been poisoning the land, infecting miners of a mysterious sickness, and draining the earth of the precious metals that are essential to the kingdom’s prosperity.

Since then, we’ve begun searching for Vorr’s murderer. But with the chaos that ensued that night, and the damage done to High Keep, repairs and caring for our own has taken precedence. Though I want nothing more than to find Vorr’s killer and make them pay for what they’ve done, my duty is to my people and my High King. Restoring High Keep to its former glory and caring for the wounded is my priority. My thirst for justice can wait.

For now.

Still, High Keep is restless. Fear permeates the castle walls. Even I look over my shoulder, clutching the hilts of my steel short swords when I do. Our sense of safety has been stolen from us, pierced by the blade that ended the life of our last king.

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