Page 31 of Cruel Crown

When I made it up past the clearing of the forest, I saw the cobblestone castle. The Summer Palace stood at the bottom of the hill. I knew that all around were agents with snipers ready to shoot anyone who got close to our guarded secret.

When plans to build this place had come into motion, it was to be used as a safe house for the royal family. When the second war started, so soon after the first one, they went and gave the go-ahead to save the most influential families. By then, Sekten spies had already infiltrated the Soviet Union, and they’d killed everyone to protect this secret and make it their own.

When I made it to the bottom, I parked the snowmobile, took off my helmet and my mask, and I ran. I ran toward the monument in the back where the frozen pond and gazebo stood. Once there, I held on to the wooden rails with tears threatening to fall. It felt like I was at square one again. This was where I stood when I found out about my grandmother’s disappearance, then when I found out about her bones. And now I had sacrificed the only man who came even close to getting inside. I pulled out a knife from the pocket of my jacket and removed my glove, revealing the scar where Gideon had forced us to make a pact.

Gritting my teeth against the pain, I cut, feeling the cold wind sharp against my warm wound like icicles stabbing at it. Once I had reopened the old wound, I made a fist, letting the blood drip into this patch of snow once more. Tears dripped down my cheeks, and I let them because I was getting tired of being strong all the time. Perhaps it was stupid of me to let my guard down here of all places, but right now, I didn’t care.

In this spot, I vowed to bring down this place, and now with the blood of Gideon on my hands, I reminded myself of that vow.

Just as I was putting my hand back in my glove, I heard some shuffling. When I turned around, I saw no one but had a feeling I was being watched. In this place, I always was.

Wiping my tears, I walked away.

Gideon

She was crying.

It meant something.

It changedeverything.

Yet nothing at all.

Daphne

The palace was old, built in one of the most remote places. The twenty-first century and medieval times coexisted here. Most of the castle ran on solar energy, but during winter, it went dark for almost a month, leaving us in the dark ages. That’s why security cameras were nearly impossible to have in here, but that didn’t really matter when both Damian and I had a few spies.

My chambers were located in the catacombs away from prying eyes. Since the temperature was much cooler down there, I was usually left alone. On the outside, it may have been cobblestone, looking like something out of King Arthur’s time, but on the inside, it was another story.

It was extravagant, a palace fit for a king. Some of the wonders of the world were housed under this roof. Ignoring the people, I made my way down.

Some of the older operatives lived here permanently, used to the confines of these walls. The scholars had their wing here for their studies and research. Through the years, we’d done the best to get technology here. It usually ended with having to eliminate all the workers after they’d finished working here.

Wood was already burning in my room when I made it inside. Throwing my luggage to the side, I made my way over to the bathroom. I grabbed my first aid kit and fixed my hand. After that, I poured water on my face.

Something had felt off within me since leaving Colombia, and it wasn’t until this very moment that I realized I had been grieving all along. My face looked paler than usual, my eyes lifeless. Slowly but surely, I was dying on the inside.

Putting on a pair of fleece leggings and a fleece long-sleeve, I made my way to the dinner where a feast would be held to welcome us back home. Damian would give a speech, and then tomorrow, all the mind games would begin.

While people talked and even joked around, I went to the last table. As usual, I ate alone. Being alone never bothered me. I would rather be on my own than surrounded by people who wished to cause me harm. There was something so peaceful about loneliness, even if, at times, it was heartbreaking.

From across the room, I saw Damian walking in, talking to Bastian. His eyes searched everywhere until they met mine. He put a hand inside the pocket of his pants and smirked at me. My eyes cut to Bastian, aware that something was happening, and I didn’t know what. I loathed being blindsided. Ignoring them, I bent my head to cut into my food when I inhaled a smell so familiar, I almost lost my hold on gravity and fell face-first into the table.

It smelled like Chanel Allure mixed with snow and nicotine. My lower lip trembled, my body shivered, and the warm clothes I wore seemed useless. A body pressed against my back, and arms covered by a dark sleeve caged me in. A whimper left my lips, and I bit them so hard until the metallic taste of blood coated my tongue. I looked at the skeletal tattoo and the broken crown in disbelief.

Before looking behind me, I looked across the room to where Damian was. He was watching us with keen interest, Bas next to him with a blank look.

I turned my head to the side, and my eyes clashed with whiskey ones. I wasn’t sure I was missing them until the sight of them got me drunk on impact. Had you told me that I was drowning without water, I would have believed you.

“No.” I breathed the words so low, but I knew he heard them.

His jaw went hard, his eyes cold. He licked his lips, leaving a faint trace of moisture behind. “Was it hard to wash my blood off your hands, love?”

I wasn’t Petal nor babe—I was “love” just like all the other women before me, and that made my throat get tighter. Something pointy was digging into my back, and I felt it scraping to the side of me, past my ribs, until he dropped something in my lap.

“You left that in my back,” he spat at me, and without another word, he walked past me without looking back. My eyes followed him as he went to take a seat across from Francesca, who smirked at me. Bitch.

Damian chose that moment to take the podium and speak with his devoted followers.

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