Page 58 of Shadows of the Crown

“That was your second mistake, prince.”

I return to Isaiah’s cooling body, my hands trembling as I step into the bloody water to pick him up. I cannot look at him as we walk through the castle gates, back to our home.

Tears continue to fall, but their meaning shifts. They began shedding for the harrowing murder of the only person I had left…the kindest, most reliable person to have ever graced either realm.

Now they shed because there is simply nowhere else for the rage to go.

I lost focus of my plan, and Isaiah paid the price. He was supposed to win the competition and find a life outside the one we were forced into as children. He may not have admitted it, but I know he only stayed at the guild this long because I refused to leave. He never understood why…and now he never will.

I let Caspian ease his way under my skin when I understood why being with him was impossible. Yet I foolishly convinced my logic otherwise.

I barely comprehend the screams of Valorian’s as I stalk through the main streets. I’m used to people fearing and running from me—they’re lucky I’ve a job to do, because I’d have no reservations about using any of them as an outlet.

Why should I? These are the same people who laughed as my father was whipped before their eyes…and now they scream because it’s me—and not the king—showcasing a dead body.

I’m certain some are running to report this to the king himself.

Good. He will hear my screams this time.

My limbs threaten to give out as I ascend the steps to Isaiah’s and my home. I kick the door in, unfazed by the clink of metal pieces dropping to the tile.

I stop just past the entrance and fix my eyes on the back wall next to the hallway that leads to Isaiah’s room. “Marek!” I scream, my lungs burning from the effort. Several of the students to my left jump, spinning to face me.

“Oh, look who it—” Isolde trips over someone on the floor as she rushes over with a few of the others. “By the Angel…is that…” She slaps a hand over her mouth, holding in what someone in the distance cannot.

Why are you at the fucking guild if you’re going to vomit over a dead body?

“Marek!” A sharp pain laces my throat as my voice cracks. He rushes up the stairs with Velora and Jaxon directly behind him.

“What is it?” His hurried steps falter when his eyes find me and slide to my best friend. His lips thin as he steps forward, blinking several times.

He searches my face when his feet stop in front of me. “Ari…” he whispers imperceptibly.

“Don’t.” He knows why I ended up at the guild. How much Isaiah means to me. I look between his down-turned eyes, willing him to understand. “Give him a proper death,” I demand hoarsely, holding Isaiah out to him, even thoughI never wish to let go.

He hesitates, breathing unevenly as he reaches out to gather the unnaturally cool body. My tongue presses roughly to the roof of my mouth—a warning, I realize. I need to leave.

I spin on my heel and walk around the crooked door, pausing when Marek speaks. “And you? What will you do?”

I look over my shoulder, raising a brow in a way that says,“the king’s head is mine.”He nods, and my chest somehow hurts more when he mouths his next words instead of allowing me to interpret them from his expression.

I’m sorry.

My throat burns, but I lift my chin and cherish the last look I will ever have of Isaiah Cheral before turning to descend the steps.

Two fingers tap firmly against my blade. The king just killed the one thing he could hold over my head…now he can watch his kingdom burn.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Ariella

Pain. I ignore the slice across my palm as I continue to twirl my blade, walking mindlessly through Valoria. I’ve paced this block a dozen times, unable to convince myself to just go in.

The sun disappeared nearly an hour ago, so there isn’t much time before I need to be within the castle’s walls once more. My fist clenches around the blade and hot blood seeps down my fingers, the droplets splattering lightly at my feet.

“Get it the fuck over with, Ariella—we have a king to kill.” I swallow thickly and halt in the dark street, pivoting left to face the one place I’d never wanted to come back to.

Until now.

---