Page 86 of A Crown of Darkness

CHAPTER 49

WREN

A wall of obsidian enclosed Wren, holding her like a statue. Not the magic Leander had tried to use to control her now but the raw power of the Nox.

She had thought they had reached some kind of compromise, this power and herself. Had it all been a lie? With the prospect of the blood of Sidon spilled on her behalf no matter what the outcome, and the possible destruction of the Aurum, the Nox clamped down on her as if made of iron.

Once it had been a choice, that sacrifice, that was what it had said in the caves. It had accepted Finn’s body and his love. But with Leander’s abuses, it wanted blood. Madness had taken it, and with it the desire for vengeance returned. The blood of Sidon had always betrayed the Nox in the end. And now it wanted to spill it. All of it. Every last drop.

That blood was far too close.

The Nox sank claws deep into Wren’s heart, anchoring her in place and holding her there even as she tried to pull herself free. But her efforts were to no avail.

Finn moved in a fluid and lethal dance, he and Leander joined in a way that defined both their lives and all theirinteractions. The princes of Sidon always killed each other. It was an integral part of their line.

It didn’t have to be like that. She and Finn had discovered that. It could have been a sacrifice of desire and love instead. But once more they had chosen blood. Leander had chosen to kill for her. Every one of them, except for Finn, had chosen blood. They had chosen death.

Sidon had trapped the Nox and used her and forced her to do unspeakable things. And ever since then, his descendants had done the same. They had sacrificed their own to call her, to force her to comply. They had used her own desperate need for revenge against her.

They had chosen this, the Nox reasoned, as much as it could reason anymore. They had the option for love and passion and they chose to kill. They chose blood. Every single time.

And now madness had taken over, the Nox demanded it. She thrived on it. This was her vengeance and she hungered for the splatter of their blood. Once there had been a choice, but no longer. Blood was all that would satiate her now.

‘Don’t you see what they’re doing?’ Wren tried to ask the goddess, but her voice was small and unheard. ‘It’s the same cycle again. They’re still using you. Leander is using you. It’s a trap.’

But the Nox no longer listened to reason. She had been enslaved and used, made savage in service of a crown she hated, she had been broken by Elodie and scattered, banished to a lifeless endless place. Now she was back she was clinging to Wren and would not give an inch in case it all happened again. For all her power, she was terrified.

The two men danced through shadows and dark-flame, illuminated by otherlight. It ran across their skin and blazed in their eyes. The passion of the Nox and the Aurum reflected in them, robbing them of humanity. The more Finn relied on itsstrength, the more the Aurum ate away at what he truly was. The man in him was fading before Wren’s eyes. He was becoming living fire and there was nothing she could do.

‘Please, you have to make them stop.’

Blood of Sidon would be spilled here, in the chamber of the Aurum. It didn’t even matter which one of the brothers it belonged to. Finn was preferable because that would hurt the Aurum itself but really…

The Nox didn’t actually seem to care.

Wren had to stop them. Somehow, she had to put a halt to this.

‘Wren? Princess?’ The voice shook, wavering as the boy crawled towards her across the shining floor. Distracted by the battle, his guards had forgotten him. She turned her gaze on him and saw him quail. ‘Goddess? What…what can I do?’

As he reached her side, he reached up and took her hand. His fingers were so cold, shaking, and yet still he took her hand. Something like clarity shimmered just within reach.

‘Laurence…’ she said and her voice sounded as if it was made of broken glass, even to her ears. He really was innocent. And so very broken. Leander had manipulated him, made him kill the mother he adored, and he was still trying to help. He was blood of Sidon as well, through his mother and her line, but like Finn, he was different.

No one else came near her. No one else dared.

She had promised Hestia she would protect him and she was doing an abysmal job of that. She wouldn’t be surprised if Hestia came back from beyond the grave to punish her.

Beyond them the sound of Finn and Leander’s battle changed tempo, the clash of their blades married with grunts and gasps. Finn had driven Leander back towards one of the great stones, but at the last minute the king of Ilanthus twistedaway and caught Finn a glancing blow in the side. Wren’s heart lurched and the Nox snarled.

Whoever wins I will make him ours, mindless and devoted. I will smother the light that remains. They will crawl…

It was so loud now, as if the goddess was hanging over her shoulder, snarling into her ear.

‘Help me, Laurence,’ Wren whispered.

He looked up at her. ‘How?’

‘Take off the crown.’

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