Page 26 of Blood of Two Crowns

I willed an apple into my hand, and Ceres’ soft muzzle greedily gobbled it from my palm. Not even a full second passed before the thud of a hoof against a stall door sounded behind me. A grin twisted my lips, easing my tension, as I turned to find Chihiro tossing his black mane indignantly in the stall across from Ceres. “Don’t worry. I brought snacks for you, too, ‘Hiro.”

My heart flapped jubilant wings at the musical sound of clinking teeth as I shook the sculpted bronze box. For nearly a century, I’d hidden my little treasure trove of fangs, molars, and incisors that had previously belonged to the males who had violated Mareina.Before,she’d grown into the fearsome warrior she was now. It felt surreal that the time to gift it to her had finally arrived.

I finished collecting a few of my things and the tools required to create the wedding ring that I had always dreamed of making for her—one forged by my beast.

My heart pounded alongside Ceres’ racing hoofbeats as joy like I’d never known filled my chest to bursting.

And how bizarre that joy could be stolen from me in a few mere heartbeats.

So consumed by my euphoria, I only vaguely noticed that the normally busy street of my home was oddly empty. A golden aura appeared in the distance, steadily growing in size as an unfamiliar power cascaded over me like a pounding waterfall.

My joy cut off like a guillotine on its victim’s head as a broad frame with golden eyes manifested. The male’s mouth was a sinister flash of grinning white. “My, my… Your resemblance to him is stunning. How old are you?”

What?

My beast growled low as drakonati fire licked up the palms of my hands. Before I could even wield it, a sting like that of a wasp hit the back of my neck. I drew my hand to the small wound, and my fingers grazed against a metal dart. My vision was already tunnelling by the time I yanked it free.

My body went cold and numb as it slackened and sagged before sliding off the side of Ceres. I couldn’t even brace myself for impact before I hit the ground. The sound of bone cracked loud in my ears upon impact. Struggling to maintain consciousness, the only thread of thought keeping me awake was that of Mareina. Relief suffused me as I remembered that she was safe in her realm, Avernus.

I willed my eyes to stay open as the male in front of me fully took form and strode towards me, dressed entirely in black. He knelt inches away from my face and brushed his fingers against Mareina’s claiming marks on my neck. The touch radiated so much power, the hairs on my body rose and stretched towards him as if called forth to someone orsomethingfamiliar.

“Now, all we have to do is wait.”

Chapter

Thirteen

MAREINA

Based on the look on Nakoa’s face, you’d think that I’d informed him that he’d lost a piece of cutlery, and not hissoulbound—despite the bond between us burning so badly I was surprised I wasn’t spitting bile. Guilt knotted my stomach, and my heart broke further at our reality. While I fucking loved Malekai more than life itself, the soul-deep need for Nakoa was undeniable.

“I will still rule beside you in Atratus, but I have responsibilities here as well that require my presence.”

Nakoa’s black gaze gave nothing away as it remained locked on mine. “Congratulations, Mareina.”

The restrained pain in his words was enough to crush my chest.

“Thank you,” I managed weakly.

“When can I anticipate you joining me in Atratus?”

“When do you need me?”

Nakoa’s hands fisted at his sides. “As soon as possible. I am only waiting to have you beside me to have Zurie pronounce me King so that we may schedule a dual coronation as soon as possible. The longer we wait, the longer my people remain enslaved. I would also request that your consort accompany you.He is my general, after all, and I have every intention of keeping him in my employ. I do hope he hasn’t planned on abandoning his duties.”

My wariness returned, eyes narrowing. “If you think to manipulate me through him, I can promise you I will not hesitate to give you many more reasons to loathe me.”

A corner of Nakoa’s mouth tilted up in a joyless grin. “That’s the last thing I want, Mareina.”

Tension coiled tight between our silence. Unable to bear it, my eyes landed upon Rumiel. Outside of his long black hair boasting a single streak of white, the greatest difference in their appearance lay mostly in Nakoa’s more rugged and scarred appearance. Outside of the mass of muscle that I couldn’t help but notice, what with him being fucking shirtless and all, he appeared to not have a single scar or blemish.

Rumiel’s powerful yet quiet and inquisitive magic explored mine as if he were searching for something. Just as I opened my mouth to speak, I felt the visceral touch of someone brushing their fingers against the new claiming mark on my neck. A powerful shudder ran through my entire body as panic so intense swelled in my chest that I found it hard to breathe.

“Something’s wrong.”

Without any further thought, I found myself barrelling past them and out of the house. The moment I was past the threshold, my wings spread wide, giving powerful beats before launching me towards the entrance to my father’s temple.

Fuck, how did Ifoldbefore?

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