Page 103 of The Blood Crown

Chapter 52

The icy wind tore at Aurelia's face, tears freezing against her skin as they left the Crystal City. But she refused to bow her head in shame. And Ven—Fate bless him—did not do her the dishonor of consoling her while the Triarchy still watched.

The silver cloaks of the Allokin sentries snapped in the breeze as they crossed the bridge. Not a farewell—but to make sure they weren’t a threat.

It was only a moment before Ven’s shadows wrapped around them, buffering her from the worst of the chill as their boots hit the hard, snow-covered ground outside the black gates of Ravenstone.

Back in the safety of their home, amongst their own people, he crushed her to his chest, and she let the tears fall freely.

“Fucking cowards,” he murmured against her hair.

“Can you blame them?” she asked, angrily wiping at her face. “Iam the cause of this.Iam the one bringing destruction in my wake—”

“And where were you three hundred years ago when the King of the Void swept over every kingdom?” He cut off her words,fingers tangling in the chestnut waves of her hair as he pulled her into him once more. “You did not control his actions then, just as you do not control them now. A threat against one of us is a threat against all," he said darky. "The Allokin seem to have forgotten that, but the Blood Folk remember.”

“They won’t even send reinforcements?” Nira asked, fury blazing behind her ancient eyes.

Ven gave a single shake of his head as Karro softly swore from where he paced at the edge of the room.

“The Lords of the Western Ridge haven’t deigned to send a response either, so we should assume they won’t be coming,” Ven added.

“I’d be happy to handle them for you, Your Grace,” Seth uttered quietly.

A chill snaked down Aurelia’s spine at the deadly calm in those few words. How,exactly, the Wraith would handle the rebellion . . . she could only imagine.

“They’ll reap the consequences of their inaction when this is over,” Ven responded, and something nearing disappointment flashed across Seth’s expression.

Nira crossed lean arms over her chest, standing before the roaring fire in the council room, her sheet of black hair turning red and indigo. “Five hundred against thousands,” she murmured, gazing into the flames.

“I personally like those odds.” Karro grinned at Aurelia, but all she could muster in return was a weak smile.

“War will be on every kingdom’s doorstep if we do not cut off his grip in this world before he can regain his power.” Seth said from where he stood at the edge of the room, idly twirling a black-bladed knife between his fingers.

“The scouts I’ve sent out haven’t been able to find his host.” Nira stepped forward, her gaze falling on the open space etched between the borders. “But there must have been thousands when we found you in the Shades.”

“It’s impossible to say how many demons he will have in his thrall by the time he comes,” Ven murmured.

“He is not the only threat we need to consider,” Nira added, sharing a meaningful look with Ven.

“Thankfully my father didn’t realize what kind of power you possessed while we were in his grasp.” He splayed his hands on the moonstone table, lifting his eyes to Aurelia. “But I think we should assume he knows now—or will soon.”

“And Valea?” Nira asked, her tone carefully even.

Aurelia had noted how all of them were distant, if tolerant, of the Nostari princess. The most telling sign—the fact that she wasn’t in the room with them.

They didn’t trust her—not yet. And Valea seemed well-aware of it, choosing to remain in whatever underground chambers she had claimed for herself.

The female hadn’t been banned from any place in the fortress outright, but she was cunning enough to know not to push her luck too much, too soon. If she ever explored the mountain keep, she did so in the safety of night, with fewer watchful eyes upon her.

“I don’t know where her loyalties lie,” Ven considered. Spoken like a true leader—objective and logical.

Karro’s pacing stopped abruptly at the comment. “She nearly died saving me—Maloch’s blade had been meant for me, and she threw herself in front of it!” Indignation blazed behind his eyes as he took a step toward Ven. “And she dug herself into deep enough shit helping all of us escape that if she’d been caught, the Nostari would not have been merciful—king’s daughter or not,” he added.

“And she was also the one who brought us to my father.” Ven countered, the two males staring down their noses at each other, eyes clashing. “We cannot afford any weaknesses within our own walls if we are to defend against an army ten times our number.”

“She gave us a chance at escape,” Aurelia broke in. “She could have let Karro die and continued to stand at your father’s side, but she chose to fight her own people to free us.”

Karro's eyes slid to hers, gratitude softening his expression as he offered her an imperceptible dip of his chin.

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