Page 47 of The Blood Crown

Shadows swirled in every direction, swallowing up anything beyond a foot in front of them as they silently followed the Captain.

Pandemonium raged around them, guards shouting to search the halls, all sense of order broken down. Two of the deadliest warriors from their enemy kingdom were loose—their magick unfettered and their vengeance abundant.

Valea’s silvery white hair glowed like a beacon as she led their way through dimly lit corridors, narrow and hidden from the main paths throughout the mountain.

It wasn’t until they were far enough away from searching eyes that Karro whirled on her, his thick forearm pressed into her pale throat. “Who are you?” he seethed.

Ven stepped beside him, crossing his arms over his chest as Valea narrowed her carnelian eyes at the Wraith. “My half-sister,” he answered.

“Your what?” Karro swiveled toward Ven, pressing harder.

Aurelia gestured to the pale female in front of them, “Valea—Ven’s half-sister.”

She couldn’t tell if the smirk on Karro’s face was the delight of realizing they had an ally or the thrill of sizing up a new enemy as he let out a disbelieving breath.

“So you’ll let us get far enough that once you drag us right back in front of daddy, you’ll look like the hero again,” hegrowled, fangs exposed. “I remember enough to know that it was you who brought us to this Fateforsaken place.”

Sizing up a new enemy, then.

“Then you should also remember it wasmewho stopped my father’s men from killing you,” Valea spat, her white sheet of hair swaying over her shoulder as she tilted her chin to meet Karro’s eyes. “Twice.”

Karro’s expression looked far more dangerous than Aurelia had ever seen it, but unfazed, the lean female pushed into his forearm, her blade-like nose only inches from his own as Karro finally released his hold on her.

She was tall, but she was still at least a foot shorter than him, and Aurelia had to respect the fact that she wasn’t cowering from the vengeful look on the Wraith’s face.

“So you know who I am?” Karro asked with a feral smirk.

“Of course I know who you are,” she spat. “The Reluctant Prince.”

Karro’s grin only widened at the female’s insult, ruby eyes sparkling with satisfaction. “But you’ve heard of me.”

“I watched you turn your father’s advisor to ash for his disloyalty,” Aurelia said impatiently, “why should we trust you?”

“Do you think you’re the only ones who have suffered in this place?” she hissed. “Who wish to be free from this damned mountain?” She turned to Karro, venom lacing her words. “Use that thick male skull for something other than fucking and fighting, andthink—” she answered impatiently, fire burning in her bright red eyes. “What purpose would it serve for me to do any of this?”

“We don’t havetimefor fucking games,” Karro murmured, his large body still pinning her against the wall, "enlighten us."

“If I help you leave this place," she glanced between the Wraiths, "I want to come with you.”

Karro scoffed, his expression hardening as he studied her.

Unfazed, Valea carried on, her eyes meeting Ven’s over Karro’s shoulder. “Returning you to the Court of Shadow is my token of passage.”

Karro looked at Ven, their eyes carrying on some silent conversation, though he made no move to step away from his half-sister.

“The ring, then.” Ven held out a waiting hand. “As a show of good faith.”

“No,” Valea ground out. “You’ll get it when I am safely beyond these walls.”

Ven took a menacing step forward.

“I’ll die right beside you if we’re caught,” she pushed, “there will be no coming back for me—not anymore.”

Ven glanced toward Aurelia, his expression ripe with the unspoken question.

Can we trust her?

She met his stare, shoulders dropping. "She's our only option."

---