Page 50 of Reign of Betrayal

Feeling refreshed and rested,the lingering scent of lavender fills the air. Sasha’s thoughtful gesture of bringing me flowers touches my heart. Rising from bed, I wash up and dress in a black tunic and deep gray pants. My lips twitch into a grin as I purposefully leave the top buttons undone, wondering if Prince Lukene would feel compelled to button them again. Brushing out my hair, I decide to leave it in its natural waves.

Breakfast is uneventful, with no sight of the royals, including Lukene and Lilyana, which strikes me as unusual.

After finishing my meal, I head toward the training yard outside. On my way out, Vanna intercepts me, her gaze dripping with malice. She strides swiftly toward me, and I brace myself.

“Prisoner?” she calls, her voice smooth and biting.

“Yes, your Highness,” I reply, the words like acid on my tongue. This woman ruined my life, and here she stands, speaking to me.

“What is it you think you’re doing with my brother?” Her voice sends a shiver down my spine, a chill of foreboding that prickles my skin.

My heart races, but I keep my voice steady. “What do you mean?”

“Don’t play dumb with me, varlet. There will never be anything between you and Prince Lukene—remember that. He would never defile himself with a prisoner from the Hollows. Don’t think I’ve forgotten you… or your worthless husband.”

Rage simmers within me, eclipsing every calm fiber I have. I honestly do not care that I no longer have a husband. He beat me, cheated on me, starved me. He was evil—just like she is. I don’t mourn his death. What does that mean for my soul? I brush the thought away; however, she is the reason I ended up in the Hollows, the reason for my rage, my vow for revenge.

Suppressing the fury roiling in my gut, I manage to speak. “And don’t think I’ve forgotten you and the role you played in my life, Princess Vanna. Trust me, I’m not interested in Prince Lukene.”

Her lips curl into a sneer. “He certainly isn’t interested in you. He might be curious about the little rat from the Drifts, but rest assured, he will never truly care for you. He’s told me as much.” She leans in, her voice dropping to a menacing whisper. “Consider this your first and only warning. Stay away from my brother, or something unfortunate may happen to your remaining friend from the Hollows.”

My blood runs cold at the threat. “My late husband, whom you gladly kept company with, was a rat from the Drifts. What does that say about you?” I spit back with a smile that holds no warmth. I turn to leave, but she seizes my bare wrist. Her expression shifts, eyes going disturbingly blank.

Lilyana appears out of nowhere, prying my wrist out of Vanna’s hands. “I was looking for you!” she says brightly. “Sorry, Vanna. She is needed outside. Kylo asked me to bring her for training.” Lilyana’s sweet smile masks the steel beneath, and Vanna blinks, her eyes returning to normal, though her gaze still sears into me.

Lilyana leads me away, and the tension clings to me like a cold, heavy rain. We reach the training yard, where Kylo is talking to a few guards. He greets us with a warm smile, but his eyes linger on Lilyana.

“Thank you, Lilyana. Reign, go practice with the bow. We’ll work on your fire magic shortly.”

Nodding, I head to the weapons table, grabbing a bow and quiver. Lilyana remains, speaking to Kylo in hushed tones. I make my way to the targets and ready my bow when Elm approaches.

“I saw you talking to Princess Vanna,” he says, concern etched on his face. “What was that about?”

I lower the bow. “She was trying to rile me up. It’s nothing.”

He studies me, his brow furrowed. “It didn’t look like nothing. What did she say?”

I pause for a second. Letting the anger fuel the fire inside me, I respond. “She said she remembers me and my husband. She warned me to stay away from Prince Lukene.”

Elm’s face darkens. “The royals must go. We need to make our move now before Vanna hurts one of us.”

I sigh, exhaling my frustration. “Elm, I think we should only go after Vanna. Lilyana saved me in the corridor. She’s done nothing to deserve this. And Luk?—”

“Reign,” Elm cuts in, his expression hard. “I know you feel something for Prince Lukene, but?—”

“It’s not like that. I don’t care for him, not in the way you think. He’s vile, and I don’t trust him. But I don’t believe he deserves to die. Vanna is our target and only her.”

“I whole-heartedly disagree.” Elm places both hands on his hips, staring at the ground. “He will retaliate for Vanna’s death. He is the captain of the guard. He is the Dark Prince, for gods and goddesses sake. He won’t hesitate to kill us.”

“Then we need to make sure we are careful about it when we poison her. I mean it Elm, just Vanna.” I never go against Elm. I always agree with his plans, but not this time, and I need to stand my ground on this.

After a moment, he nods reluctantly. “Just Vanna then…”

Now we just have to figure out how to poison her without getting caught or drawing suspicion back to us.

Being summoned to the throne room first thing in the morning is always irritating; however, something feels off about it today. Tension gnaws at my shoulders as I step inside, finding only Vanna seated on the throne.

I suppress a groan, dragging a hand down my face. She sits as though she already rules the kingdom, wearing an air of triumph. It churns my stomach. This throne should have been mine—was meant to be mine. Instead, here I am, bowing to her like a lowly subject. The resentment curdles within me, thick and bitter. Even if she hadn’t stolen the crown, I would still hate her for everything she’s done to me.

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