Page 131 of Crown of Slumber

With that, she turned on her heel and strode into the castle. Aurelia screamed as the soldiers dragged her away. I struggled against the men holding me, desperate to get to her, to free her, but there were too many guardsmen. It was useless.

I cried out for her once more, my throat burning, but her screams drowned me out. They echoed around me, even long after she disappeared from view.

My mind wasnumb and unfeeling. Cold and empty. I knew nothing but darkness. My insides were hollow as I allowed the soldiers to escort me to my rooms. They would stand guard outside my door, no doubt, ensuring I wouldn’t sneak off to the dungeons to free Aurelia.

What was the point? The moment she was free, she would burn me to a crisp. And it would mean nothing, because our bargain was fulfilled. She had to remain here. Once a bargain’s terms were met, it could not be undone.

She was trapped here. The dragon within her now belonged to the Midnight Court.

As long as my mother still lived, it would remain that way. Aurelia was bound to serve the sovereign of the Midnight Court. And Mother would never let her go.

A sickening dread filled my chest. How had I not seen this coming? How had I not realized how cruel and vicious Mother could be? I had known her to be brutal, yes, but she was mymother.I believed her love for me to be stronger than all else.

I’d been wrong. She didn’t give a damn about me or my happiness. She had just chained up the woman I loved with a gleeful look on her face.

I sat on the edge of my bed, staring into nothingness, my gaze fixed on the stone wall in front of me. On the outside, I felt nothing. My expression was blank, my eyes open but unseeing. Inside me, a riot of emotions and grief welled up, threateningto burst.

I had to do something. I couldn’t just sit here and let Aurelia rot in the dungeon.

But I would need to be smart about this. Fighting Mother would do no good. I had to make her believe I was on her side, that I could be trusted.

After thinking over the words I would say, I rose from my bed and strode to my door. When I threw it open, sure enough, a pair of guards turned to face me.

“I wish to see my mother,” I said, my voice cold and detached.

“Your Highness, we’ve been instructed to keep you to your rooms.”

“Am I to be a prisoner in my own home?” I demanded. “Take me to see her. She can tell me to my face that I’m confined to my quarters.” I pushed as much authority as I could muster in my tone.

When they continued to stare at me, unmoved, I layered my magic into my voice and said, “Take me to the queen.”

The guards stiffened, then nodded and said in unison, “Yes, Your Highness.”

They led me down the hall, and we descended the winding staircase until we reached the second floor. I trailed after the guards, my mind elsewhere as they led me to the throne room.

When the doors opened, I found Mother poring over a stack of scrolls on a long, narrow table in front of the dais. She glanced up at me, her eyes narrowing into slits as she appraised me.

“What is this?” she demanded. “Your orders were clear. I’ll have your heads.”

“Don’t blame them, Mother,” I said, my voice barbed. “I coerced them. I need to speak with you.”

Mother sighed and waved a hand at the guards, who left, shutting the doors behind them. “I’m quite busy. We have much to prepare for, if we are to utilize the Dragonfire of our two newest weapons.”

I resisted the urge to flinch at her words. She eyed me, as if waiting for that exact reaction. But I kept my cool, indifferent mask in place.

“Why are you here, Fennick?” Mother asked, crossing her arms and facing me, her expression rigid and unyielding. Not a drop ofaffection or remorse. It was as if she had no feelings at all. No emotion.

Did she even love me?

I pushed the thought from my mind, focusing instead on my plan. But first, I had to test the strength of my magic. I poured only a few drops of power into my voice, so as not to alarm her, as I said, “You need to stop this, Mother.” The air rippled from the energy behind my words.

Mother went completely still, her expression going slack. Then, her nostrils flared, and rage burned in her eyes. “You dare try to use your power on me, boy? That has never worked on me before, and it certainly won’t work on me now. Get out.”

Dammit.I stepped toward her. “We need to provide comfortable accommodations for the princess.” I couldn’t bring myself to say her name.

Mother huffed a laugh, turning back to her scrolls. “I don’t think so.”

“It was part of the bargain,” I said loudly, and she faced me once more, her eyes sparking with irritation. “I vowed to give the most comfortable life our kingdom can offer. Unless you want the fae magic to claim my life, you will do this.”

---