Page 38 of The Stygian Crown

Ariana. She must have left after their duel. Their grandmother was Queen Genevieve, the woman King Urian had married to conceive a royal heir when Namirah was his consort. When he’d eventually shunned Namirah for Genevieve, it’d set off the trail of events that led to Namirah’s curse and the beginning of the Curse Wars.

“I thought we had an understanding, sister.”

“Maybe when I was fifteen and dumb to the ways of the world. What of your obligation to the crown? It’s been years, and you’re still pining for that commoner.”

“You talk of things you don’t understand.”

“Oh, I understand perfectly, but you’re the bloody king. Act like it for once instead of foisting your responsibilities on me.”

“At least agree to meet him, Ari. I won’t force you into a marriage, but the wolves are at our heels.”

“Fine. Invite him. But prepare to be disappointed.”

Angry footsteps neared the door, and Kara quickly stepped away and began walking down the hall at a relaxed pace. The library doors swung open with a thud, and the princess stormed past Kara without slowing.

Kara waited until she disappeared around the corner, then returned to the library.

Calim sat in his usual chair by the farthest hearth, head bowed in his hands. He wore a black doublet with a golden leaf design stitched down the sleeves today. It made him look regal.

Kara cleared her throat as she approached.

Calim sat up. “Lady Grey. I didn’t expect you so soon.”

Kara curtsied. “I can return later if you wish.”

“No, no. You’re fine.”

“Have you asked me here for a report?”

Calim rose a finger to his lips and moved toward the hearth that flickered with green spellfire. Then he stepped into the flames.

Kara’s jaw dropped, her scream stuck in her throat. Calim didn’t even flinch.

He stepped out of the flames into the backside of the hearth and beckoned for her to follow. “Come. It doesn’t burn like true fire.”

Kara stepped towards the hearth and stretched a hand out over the wicked green blaze. She jerked when the spellfire licked at her skin. It emanated the warm glow of an actual fire, but the flames were icy cold to the touch.

Kara took a breath and stepped into the hearth. Cold caressed her, fluttering against her skin. It was like walking through a tiny upside down blizzard. The cold abated as soon as she stepped free of the flames. The back of the hearth was large, tall enough for her and Calim to stand without hunching. “Well. That’s something.”

Calim pointed to a small rune etched into the back wall of the hearth. It was tiny, hard to see from this angle. Kara bent to inspect it and smiled.

Unlock. But why was the king using blood runes to hide his secret passageways? Perhaps Salizar had set them up.

“We need a bit of blood to unlock it. It's a blood rune.”

Kara swiped a finger under the strip of silk on her arm, already stained a bright red from the cut that refused to clot. She probably had the demon’s drip to thank for that as well.

She traced her finger along the shallow curves of the rune, and the stone wall to the right rumbled open.

Calim sucked in a breath.

Kara tilted her head up to him. “Have you not been back here before?”

“It’s been a long time.” His dark eyes danced with the spellfire’s green gleam.

Kara stood and gestured to the shadowed doorway they’d unsealed. “After you.”

She followed Calim into a full-sized room. A cluster of older style fae lanterns floated on the ceiling, emitting a warm amber light. An enormous bedframe took up the center of the room. It was four-postered, with a full canopy, and the dark wooden bedposts were so thick with carved runes that there was hardly any bare wood remaining. The bedframe itself was stripped of mattress and bedding.

---