Page 1 of The Crown of Nyx

1

Ivy

The ballroom descended into chaos.

There was nothing left to hold back those loyal to Nyx and Queen Greer, not as Dante’s words rang out around the room as a call for war.

Death to the Queens. Long live the true king.

Blood pooled on the dais, dripping down the marble steps as a golden glow enveloped Greer’s body. I watched as her long life came to an end, a wave of fury mixed with shame and guilt rushing through me.

Why couldn’t I have just stopped him?I should have been able to stop him before it came to any of this, and now…

Now, it was too late.

Lightning crackled across my skin, fire burning in my veins. Dante spread his arms intriumph, smiling. The roars of shifters as they took animal form echoed through the ballroom, rumbling like the thunder that signalled a storm. There were cries from other creatures, either in despair or victory. But none of that could break through the buzz of magic ringing in my ears.

If it weren’t for Hawk and Orion, I would have collapsed from the pressure building in my body. It was everything: Greer’s power flooded me, Nyx’s magic unlocking, the different strands of my bonds with their affinities appearing. Too overwhelming, too much.

My mouth opened slightly, my canines elongating before snapping into my jaw. Tears burned my eyes as flashes of something dark and twisted played across my vision. My knees locked, skin rippling, bones aching.

“We need to get her out of here,” Hawk muttered, removing his hand from my wrist to stand in front of me. “Before she explodes.”

I wanted to tell him it was too late, that the power in me begged for release. I wanted to let it out.

The male standing on the dais was responsible for every terrible thing that’d happened to me since I found out about my destiny.

He was the reason my mother was dead, taken from my sisters.

He was the reason why my sisters and best friend were in hiding, taken fromme.

Now, he had my mates, and I would not let him take them, too.

“People of Nyx, your Queen is dead. She will no longer weaken us with her monopoly over power. Now, we can rise. Take what we are owed.” His eyes scanned the crowd, like he was searching for someone. Now, I understood why Hawk was covering me. “Bringme the Daughter of Nyx, and you all shall thrive in our new world.”

Over my dead body.

I allowed the power to ripple over my skin, lightning dancing across my fingertips. The new flood of power tasted like lavender on my tongue; relaxing and familiar, comforting even as it built in my chest. I couldn’t even find it within me to fear it like I had all those months ago. Not when it was my only chance of finding my mates—of saving everyone in this room.

“Move.”

Orion’s arm tightened around me. Through the bond, he begged me to stand down. Hawk’s dark eyes found mine, angry and frustrated. He shook his head, but I pushed past him. Heart racing with adrenaline and magic, I finally let my power explode.

And it was fucking glorious.

Lightning struck out from my hands, colliding with the wards surrounding the ballroom. Shouts sounded around me; bodies fell to the floor, and those glowing blue eyes swivelled to meet mine.

“There you are.” Dante’s grin turned dark as he cocked his head. “You know I have them, don’t you?”

“You know I’m not stupid, don’t you?” I mimicked, narrowing my eyes. His jaw ticked, eyes darkening. “You want me, Dante? Come and get me. Without your little minions doing the work for you. Unless you’re too much of a coward for that.”

The response from the crowd was exactly what I wanted. Some enjoyed the idea of a fight. They were a people who enjoyed the process of proving power. If Dante wanted to be King, then he could prove it.

I just needed time.

I wove another layer of protection over my own mind to keep his tricks out. As I did, tingles of awareness shot down my spine. The hairs of my arms prickled, and the magic I’d expelled collided with something it knew. Something it needed.

They’re close,I told Orion.I can feel them.

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