Page 75 of Kingdom of Flames & Flowers
He smiled as if I’d uttered a clever joke, his expression faltering when he realized I was serious. “It’s … it’s the name of our kingdom.”
Oh.
“Ess is apersonalfriend of mine. Our current king is looking a bit worse for wear. Ess would make a fine sight standing next to me with a crown, don’t you think? I thought it only kind to make you aware of each other since you both have such recently …elevatedroles.”
My stomach flipped and I savagely pushed the urge to vomit deep down. “How recent?” I managed to ask, my mouth dry.
“The queen has been very kind to notice my work and relieve me of my fireguard duties for … other pursuits,” Ess said emphatically, his eyes on fire as they devoured the queen’s form.
I was going to be sick. The queen was grooming a new king, and it was my long-lost brother.
My heart pounded in my chest and my hands shook. I had dreamed of the brother I’d never known for ages. To have him suddenly drop into my lap only to learn he was queen’s little lap dog was worse than knowing he was dead.
I stumbled down the dais only because I didn’t know what else to do. Someone called my name, but I didn’t hear it. I tried to run, but tripped on one of my ridiculous heels. It broke off, and I lurched forward, only to be caught by Leilani’s betrothed. His hands felt cold and rubbery around me.
“Oh! Princess! How wonderful—”
“Excuse me. I must be going.”
His grip around my arm tightened painfully, so much so that I knew it would bruise. I didn’t hesitate.
I drew my dagger and nicked him on his hand, just enough to encourage him to drop me.
He yelled and dropped me in shock as a thin line of black appeared on his hand. He rushed to cover it, running off as I flung off my shoes and ran out of the ballroom, putting my entire weight into the heavy oak doors. They opened, and I fell through, ignoring the fireguards and ducking around the corner.
I wiped my sweaty face, trying desperately to regain some sort of composure. The sound of quiet sobbing lifted me out of my own problems, and let me know I wasn’t alone. I seized any excuse to push my problems away.
Where was it coming from? I walked along the corridor and ended up in front of a small closet. I pulled it open, only to see Hyacinth on the floor, dress and all, curled up into a ball and sobbing.
I shut the door behind me, and darkness shrouded us.
“Hyacinth? What’s wrong? Why are you here?”
She hiccuped. “Mari … it’s awful. It’s all so awful. It’s all a lie.…”
Her breaths came in large, gulping gasps, her arms flailing out to reach for me. I grasped her hands, willing her to calm down.
“Tell me. It’s alright.”
I couldn’t see her, but I felt her shake her head vehemently back and forth. “No. NO! It will never be alright. They’reallcursed … gray skin and rotting bodies. Don’t make me go out there. Don’t make me!”
She was talking nonsense. “Where is your sister?” I asked. Perhaps I could get Heather, and she would talk some sense into Hyacinth. At the mention of her sister, though, Hyacinth only sobbed harder.
“Has something happened to her?” I tried, figuring it was one of the few things that would put Hyacinth into such a state.
“She tried to run away from him.… I heard her screaming and crying. I went to help.… He tied her up so she couldn’t run away. He gagged her so she’d stop screaming.”
I put my hands on either side of Hyacinth’s face to ground her, and she clutched tightly to me.
“Who, her betrothed?”
It had to be. It was a dumb question, but it helped her focus.
“Yes ... yes. I went to help and saw. And then … and then I ran away. Here. Hiding here. You’ll help get me out, right? I don’t want to marry one of them. They’re all like that. He said I couldn’t escape it!”
I resisted the urge to slap some sense into her, reaching deep for patience instead. “Hyacinth, listen. Tell me what you saw.”
She took several deep breaths, still clinging to me as her lifeline. “Gray skin. It was rotting off in places where their clothes rubbed it. The eyes are normal. That’s how they get away with it.…”
