Page 134 of Crown of Slumber

Had she captured them? Killed them?

Oh gods.

“All right then.” I forced my tone to remain steady, even as chaos and panic erupted in my chest.

The guard led me up several sets of stairs until we emerged into a narrow passageway. I was gasping for breath, my legs screaming in pain. I was weak, sleep-deprived, and starving. Not to mention the power of shifting into my dragon form had completely drained me.

I still couldn’t believe it. I had this entiredragonliving within me.

And yet here I was, powerless to stop Sonara from enslaving me and Mal.

We reached the main hall, and the guard led me up another set of stairs, taking me through the corridor where my bedchambers had been. I frowned in confusion. The queen was meeting me here?

The guard took me past the bedchamber where I’d woken up only yesterday after the ogre attack—gods, that felt like an entire lifetime ago. We reached the chamber at the very end, and the guard stood back, jerking his head toward the door in silent command.

Steeling myself, I opened the door.

The room was small. Much smaller than my previous bedchamber, though I was certain that was intentional. Only a small, narrow bed took up one end, though it was decorated elaborately, with plush silver pillows and lavender drapes. Matching lavender curtains covered a wide, floor-to-ceiling window that boasted a view of the glittering stars and crescent moon.

On the opposite end of the room was an empty fireplace, a pair of bookshelves, and a large spinning wheel. Frowning at the latter, I made my way into the room, only to find Queen Sonara sitting in the armchair facing the empty fireplace. Her gaze was also fixed on the spinning wheel, her dark eyes full of contemplation as I entered the room.

“What is this?” I bit out, not bothering with propriety or manners. Neither would do me any good with this viper.

Sonara rose from her feet, sweeping her arms in a wide, grand gesture. “These are your new accommodations.”

I snorted. “I don’t believe you.”

“Believe what you will,” she said, sweeping toward me, her sparkling violet gown trailing behind her. “Fennick has made it clear the terms of your bargain demand better sleeping arrangements. So, I have provided this suite for you.”

Fennick has made it clear…My stomach soured. So, instead of coming to the dungeons to speak to me himself, he was making arrangements with his mother, letting her do the talking.

What a coward.

I was right. There was no love between us at all. It had all been a ruse to bring me here.

“No, thank you,” I said in a hollow voice. “I would prefer the dungeons.”

The queen laughed, though there was no joy in the sound. “Don’t be impossible about this, my dear. You cannot tell me you prefer to sleep in that filthy vermin-filled hole, do you?”

“It serves as a reminder of what I am,” I said, lifting my chin. “A prisoner. A slave. Not even the most ornate of bedchambers will change that fact.”

“You are right.” The queen’s smile turned serpentine, and the look she gave me made my insides wriggle with discomfort. It was the knowing look of an opponent who had just won the game. “But these accommodations come with something else. A gift, if you will.”

I gave her a wary look. “And what is that?”

“Freedom for your family.”

I straightened, my chest tightening. “What do you mean?” My voice was laced with panic.

“I know a sleeping curse has befallen your people.” Sonara moved toward the spinning wheel, running a long finger against the mahogany finish of the drive wheel. Her hand stopped at the front of the device where a long, thin needle protruded from where the bobbin was usually kept.

I shifted my weight but said nothing. I couldn’t confirm this information. Instead, I watched the queen, waiting.

“I imagine you would want to free them from this curse,” she went on, turning to face me with a wide smile. “Is that so?”

I swallowed hard, choosing my next words carefully. “Should this be true and somethinghasbefallen my people, then yes, I would be… interested in seeking an opportunity to free them.”

She hummed a soft laugh at that. “Clever wording, my dear. But there is no need for that. You see, it was I who arranged the sleeping curse.”

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