Page 3 of The Cursed Crown

Rissa swallowed a sigh and slid out of the shadows.

She fixed her attention on Rydekar, projecting a confidence she had no reason to feel, and he stared back at her, violet eyes taking in every inch of her. The plainest of her dresses, one that had seen better days—it was tattered at the hem and dusty in places. Rissa grimaced as she looked down. She would have preferred to appear in a better light, but she hadn’t expected visitors when she’d awoken that afternoon. His gaze slid to the bark and feathers, the thorns, and her locks of hair, loosely tied at her waist so that it didn’t get in her way.

She knew he must find her wanting. She needed a brush, a bath, a petticoat void of spiderwebs. She’d long forgotten to care, and she refused to start now. Never mind the blush heating her skin.

Rydekar saw it all. His mouth stretched into a smile that didn’t thaw the chill in his eyes.

“Serissa.” Her name sounded peculiar in his mouth. Unfamiliar. More sensual than it had ever been. “All grown up, I see.”

Oh, screw him.

Two Sides

Serissa Braer—heir of Mab, rightful queen of all seelie folk—stood before him for the first time in nigh on a century, at long last.

She was a mess. A mess, a waste of time, and a waste of resources.

Rydekar had been taught to hide under a mask of cultivated indifference before he took reading lessons. Detachment was his nature. He’d never been so close to losing it. He wanted to scream at her. Shake her until she gained some sense.

Her kingdom, her birthright, was being attacked, falling to pieces, and she was picking flowers in the woods.

Hehatedher. He didn’t know her at all, but he hated everything she represented.

That didn’t change the fact that he needed her.

“I see you’re tired of sending underlings for me to play with,” Serissa said lightly.

Rydekar managed a humorless chuckle. He had dispatched several trackers on her trail. Few had returned, and none had been sound of mind. “They tell me you’re a tricky beast to hunt. I thought I’d give it a try. I rather like a chase.”

And he had found the ride quite refreshing, given the mess he’d left behind. He would have enjoyed it far more if he could have impaled her at the end of a spear instead of playing nice with her.

“What do you want, Bane?”

Bane. She wasn’t addressing him as King, Highness, or anything honorific. Rydekar was lord in the south, on unseelie territory. The Darker Woods were on seelie land, and answered to no one. His dominion ended at the border of her woods, as she was quick to remind him.

The brat.

Still, he was glad that she cut the pleasantries short. “What does any king want?”

“A beating heart for dinner? Entertainment? No, I know.” Her gaze took him in from the tips of his bloodred boots to his eyes in one sweeping glance. Then she grimaced. “Better clothes. Well, I don’t share my tailor. Find your own.”

He was in no mood to be teased. “Power, Serissa. I want the power to protect my realm.” As she should.

“It’sRissa.” Her eyes narrowed in annoyance. “And you’ve comehereto seek it?” She gestured around her, to the peaceful meadow shrouded in mist.

Didn’t she see it? Didn’t she realize who she was, what she was? All he saw was power when he took her in. Squandered power, thrown out like ashes in the wind.

“Rissa. I like it.” He did. Serissa was the formal name, fit for a queen. Rissa felt smaller, weaker, younger. It was perfect for her. “Come closer, then, Rissa dear,” he beckoned, endeavoring to be charming.

He didn’t truly aim to seduce her, but if she was weak enough to fall at his feet, all the better.

Perhaps she was stupid and malleable. That would be convenient.

She didn’t budge.

“I’d rather not shout royal business for all to hear.” Rydekar could have joined her, but he’d much rather set a precedent and have her come to him.

“I’m quite content right here, Bane.”

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