Page 145 of A War of Crowns

The Crow’s eyebrow twitched, though he said nothing.

“Which means,” she concluded, “Edmund is illegitimate.”

The silence that bloomed between them was a nearly palpable thing. In that silence, Seraphina became aware of movement elsewhere in the throne room—Father Perero being led out by one of her Queensguard. Guilt weighed heavily on her at the sight. She had asked too much of him.

But her attention shifted back to the Crow when he observed, “If you support my claim to the throne of Drakmor, you will break the treaty you signed with my brother.” He searched her face in turn while warning on a breath, “Edmundwilldeclare war on you in retaliation. I saved you from one blade,kirei, but I can’t save you from all of Drakmor’s armies.”

Her silly heart fluttered at the imagery—that of the Crow standing between her and a Drakmori horde. Protecting her, as he had done the night prior.

She smothered the thought at once. By his own admission, he had been there to kill her. But he had also risked his life to save hers.

And neither of them knew why.

Still, Aldric Hargrave remained a puzzle she had yet to solve.

Offering a tight smile, Seraphina explained, “As a part of the treaty I signed with your brother, I promised to name you king after our wedding.”

“Yes,” the Crow hissed. “The King of Elmoria.”

“No.”

The man’s brow furrowed. She could nearly taste his confusion. But her godparents looked on with matching grim expressions.

Duke Percival had warned her against trying to play coy with the wording in the treaty when they'd presented their fresh terms. He had feared Edmund might notice and turn his wrath upon her.

But the young King of Drakmor had missed it entirely, too distracted by her stunt with the proposal. Just as she had hoped.

“I simply promised your brother I would name youking, Aldric,” Seraphina whispered down to him. “But I never specified what manner of king. Nowhere in the treaty does it state I will name you King of Elmoria.”

Silence reigned again as her fiancé simply stared at her. When her words finally seemed to finish soaking in, he laughed. Like a madman, he laughed.

Over his shoulder, she saw the way his Twelve Sons shifted from foot to foot and exchanged looks with one another.

She could only guess what they were all thinking in that moment.

Her eyes returned to the man in front of her, though, when he finally ceased his laughter.

On a dark rasp, he observed, “You’re a good deal more clever than my brother gives you credit for.”

Against her better judgment, she let a small smile ghost its way across her lips. “Thank you.”

“But your little plan will never work,” he swiftly added, with all the usual venom he seemed to reserve especially for her. “What? You think you can just sit there and dangle my stolen birthright in front of me and I will melt at your feet? Swear my blade to yourservice?” His lips peeled back in another snarl. “What if I die on the front?”

Seraphina arched an eyebrow and asked, “Do you have so little regard for your infamous prowess on the battlefield?”

“War is unpredictable, woman.”

She frowned. Again, she searched his features. Within that continued nearness, she finally realized his eye wasn’t simply dark—so brown as to be almost black. It was flecked with gold as well. Her Crow had a gaze made for smoldering.

But that eye was now a closed window. His mouth a shut door.

Uncertainty stirred in the pit of her stomach, creeping its way toward dread. “Is this your final answer, Aldric?” she whispered.

He rumbled without pause, “It is. Enjoy your war, kirei, but I want no part in it.” His eye skimmed down her face one last time and briefly hitched on her mouth before he abruptly pulled away. He retreated from her nearness at last, shaking all the while.

But still, his voice carried with a renewed strength when he called out to the chamber, “I hereby release you, Seraphina de la Croix, from our marital contract. You are a free woman again. You owe nothing to me and I owe nothing to you.” He flashed her a glance laced with a sudden heat when he hissed through clenched teeth, “We are even. I wanted you dead. You stabbed me. There is no blood debt between us, and I will expect you to let me and my men leave your court unimpeded.”

Surprise lanced through Seraphina’s heart, stealing her breath straight from her lungs. This couldn’t be happening. This wasn’tright. She knew in her bones—she felt in her soul—something about this was so terribly, terriblywrong.

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