Page 25 of Midnight Crown (Marked by Blood 2)

I clicked my tongue. “She knows more about this than anyone in this room.” I paused. “Except for my father,” I added, hoping not to offend him more.

Sargon exhaled slowly, drumming his fingers against the wood. The crown in his red waves slipped forward as his shoulders slunk. “Ravena, you will lead a team.”

Kalon stepped forward, his bony fingers clasped in front of his long, gray robe. “Brother, you cannot be serious. She is a traitor.”

He slammed his fist down, jolting several papers to the ground. “She is my wife!” he shouted, and the room fell silent. “I will hear no more objections. The king will come, and the new prince and princess will host them.” He gestured vaguely to Sebastian and me. “Your queen will lead the forces and discuss shipments of weaponry to be brought over from Baldoria. Niall, you will ensure Penelope stays out of the king’s way when he arrives.”

She gave him a look, but he ignored her, glaring directly at Kalon instead. Their physical appearance was alike in almost every way, but the way they moved and spoke couldn’t be more different. My father was more like me than I realized, reacting out of emotion, wearing everything he felt on his face. Whereas Kalon remained calm and unshaken, no matter what was said. He was utterly unreadable, even to me. Sargon twisted his wedding ring around his finger. “Brother, you will ensure the ceremony tonight goes off without a hitch. Everything must be perfect.”

Kalon bowed, glancing at me for less than a second before leaving the room. Niall left too, and Penelope followed shortly after. Sebastian didn’t meet my gaze as we left after. Once outside, I turned to touch him, but he sped away before I got the chance to speak a word.

NINE

Olivia

Erianna was a vision in red as she stood at my door, wingless, broken behind her bloodshot eyes. “I had to come,” she said quickly, glancing behind her. “Before the wedding.”

I ushered her inside. “Erianna.” I could barely get her name out when my voice cracked. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t,” she pleaded, then sat on the edge of my bed, placing her hands gently on her lap. Her red pants and low-cut top were far more modern than anything anyone else here wore.

I peered at her back, spotting the top of the scar from where her wings had been cut off. “I’ve wanted to see you. To see how you are.”

“I will survive,” she said simply, her tone colder than I expected. “I am here about Sebastian. He has not been himself, and with the wedding happening tonight, I supposed I should tell you.”

“Erianna—” I softened my voice and stood in front of her. “I will protect him.”

“It is not him who needs protecting.”

“Then who?”

Her brows furrowed. “Do you know how Hamza died?”

It slowly dawned on me that my suspicions had been right before. “Sebastian.”

“He took it further than I’d ever thought possible. I have seen many things in my immortal life, but seeing how he left Hamza made even me nauseous.”

Pricks of cold crept up my back and arms, snaking a shiver from the nape of my neck down to the base of my spine. “Are you certain it was him?”

“Yes.” She looked down at the ground. “Then he killed two guards. Innocents.”

I laughed at the absurdity of her words. “No.” I shook my head. “He wouldn’t.”

“I would have said the same thing a week ago, but he’s changed. I’m afraid of how far he will go. I do not want him to lose himself. He’s always regarded his morality highly, for a vampire anyway, and the idea of becoming mortal, I am presuming, kept him from straying too far from his morals. But now, he has nothing to lose. I’m hoping you can…” she trailed off. “I don’t know.”

My chest ached, feeling heavier by the minute. “I can’t save him,” I admitted, the truth stinging my mouth. “I chose him so he wouldn’t die.”

“I know.”

“I wanted to save you, too.”

She didn’t respond. The sun set lower in the sky, casting red into the room, soaking the bed in an eerie hue.

“Erianna,” I intoned. “I know I have a lot to make up for. Even if none of you will tell me to my face.”

She almost smiled. “Zach might.”

“That’s true, but I haven’t seen him.”

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