Page 115 of Forged in Cursed Flames (Crown and Crest 2)

“What happened?” I demand.

Looking troubled, Henrik turns to me. “The king arrived.”

“He’s here? In Revalane?” I say, aghast. “Why?”

Lawrence paces back and forth. “He said he came to negotiate with Augmirian, just in case our mission to sneak Camellia out of the palace wasn’t a success.”

“Augmirian and Camellia announced their nuptial status tonight as well,” Audra says. “It’s true—they’re married.”

My eyes fly back to Lawrence. “How did your father take the news?”

He scrubs his hands over his face, and then he pushes them through his coppery hair, disheveling it. “Not well.”

“His Majesty and Augmirian have agreed to meet tomorrow to discuss the situation,” Henrik says.

“King Algernon can’t annul the wedding?” I ask.

Lawrence shakes his head. “Both parties would have to be willing, and neither are.”

“Where is the king now?” Pranmore asks, finally joining us.

His eyes are bleary, and he covers a yawn as if just waking up. I can’t help but wonder if he didn’t bore himself to sleep with his own poetry.

“At the palace,” Lawrence growls. “I tried to convince him to stay here, but Camellia got all teary-eyed and made a scene.”

“Your brothers are with King Algernon,” Henrik says to me, “along with seven other knights. I’ve informed them of the situation so they can be vigilant in their watch.”

“They’re here?”

“They traveled with the king.”

I don’t like that one bit. Things are bound to get messy before this is over, and I would rather they weren’t in the middle of it.

“Did you find out why Camellia so desperately wants Algernon here?” I ask Henrik.

He shakes his head. “I planned to speak with her tonight, but she said we’d meet tomorrow instead.”

I look at Lawrence. He moves through the foyer—back and forth, back and forth. He looks like a caged leopard desperate to hunt.

“You don’t think…” I pause, hating to bring it up. “Do you think your father is safe?”

Lady Ellaine says, “I’ve spoken with Commander Corinsten. His men will keep an extra watch on the king’s corridor, along with the courtyard below his window. And I’ll send Lyredon as well.”

“My father’s greatest threat is his own daughter,” Lawrence growls. “How do we protect him from her?”

We fall silent, acknowledging the dire situation. Audra looks at her mother, her eyes dropping to the pendant Lady Ellaine mindlessly fidgets with. “Why don’t you take that off?”

Lady Ellaine looks down. “I know it’s from Camellia, but it’s harmless and rather pretty. I’ll keep it for now.”

Audra steps forward as if she’s going to remove it herself. “You have plenty of other pretty—”

“No!” Lady Ellaine snarls, turning away from her daughter to protect the necklace. The move is so out of character for the cultured elf, the rest of us stare at her, shocked.

Looking horrified, Audra holds up her hands and takes a step back. “All right,” she says softly, shooting Lawrence a fearful look. “Keep it on for now.”

“Camellia gave it to you?” Pranmore asks in a tone that’s light and conversational, hiding his apparent concern.

Audra twists her hands at her waist. “She gave one to all the high-ranking noblewomen of the dukedom.”

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