Page 55 of House of Gilded Nightmares

Xinius does not answer. “The ritual will begin in a quarter-hour. Prepare yourself.” He strides away from us, disappearing into the palace.

Zyren turns to me. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” I answer stonily, pulling my arm from his grasp.

I’ve barely had time to recover from the onslaught of Xinius’s magical inspection when a footman approaches from within the palace.

“Follow me,” he says. “We’re about to open the gates, and you must stay behind the boundary.”

I am about to ask him what boundary he speaks of, but the guards start lining up to create a semi-circle around the door to the palace and the site of the ceremony at the top of the steps. Zyren walks behind me as we make our way back to the palace doors. My servants lead me into the high-ceiling room beyond. As soon as we are safely within, I hear the gates open, and people swell inside in a cacophony of footsteps and excited voices.

There is quite the crowd gathered inside as well, from guards to palace staff to robed figures dressed similarly to Xinius, who must be royal sorcerers also. I still feel raw from the magical probing I’d endured, and the press of bodies and echo of voices makes me lightheaded. My heart beats rapidly, my blood pumping too fast through my veins.

And then, in the sea of faces, I see the king approaching. He’s wearing a cloak even more luxurious and voluminous than the one he’d worn the night before. Instead of a simple coronet upon his brow, he wears a heavy crown inlaid with blue jewels. His matching eyes dart through the crowd and land on mine. When he reaches me, he makes a gesture that causes the ladies-in-waiting to scatter like mice. Even Zyren takes a step back as if to retreat, but the king calls him forward.

“Stay, Zyren. I wish to speak to you both.”

He strides into the corner of the room, and we follow.

“The ceremony will begin soon,” the king says when we’re standing apart from the crowd. “The ritual that will bind our lines together once again, as has been done for centuries upon centuries for the good of Valaron.” His eyes catch on mine, piercing me like a spear. “It is a noble thing we do for our people. A sacrifice for the good of all, don’t you agree?”

He’s clearly expecting an answer, so I nod my head. His gaze pivots to Zyren.

“And there is nothing more honorable than the role of a blood guardian. It is the most sacred of duties in Valaron.”

“Indeed,” Zyren responds.

The king is silent for several long moments, his gaze moving between us. “You are both liars and traitors. Did you not think I would know what you’ve done?”

Chapter Twenty-Two

My heart goes still as I stare into the king’s sapphire eyes. His face remains neutral, his voice low so that no one watching from across the room would suspect a thing. But his words are laced with venom as he continues.

“Even if my warriors hadn’t told me they found you without boots on, clothing disheveled, I could sense what lay between you the moment you entered my throne room.” The king’s eyes brighten feverishly. “Within sight of Selaye, you two lay together like heathens in the woods. You dishonor this court and this crown.”

My cheeks turn red as if engulfed in flame. I wish I could sink beneath the floor of the palace. But I deserve his anger, and I won’t shrink from it.

“My king,” Zyren says, his voice a low rumble. “Sarielle is not to blame. Do not fault her for my disgrace.”

Even in this, my guardian defends me. I open my mouth to argue, but the king cuts us both off.

“Do not address me with formalities now, brother,” he hisses. “Is that how you justified it to yourself? Since you no longer consider yourself a member of the royal family, you have no brother to betray? Well, I am your brother, the only one left. It is treasonous enough that you call yourself a guardian when you took advantage of your ward…but to claim your own brother’s betrothed? You disgust me.”

“I am truly sorry,” Zyren says, bowing his head. “It was never my intent to dishonor you.”

“You have dishonored the entire Lyonian line,” the king snaps. “And you have defiled my bride.”

His last words are too much. I feel a surge of anger spike through my core.

“I have not been defiled,” I growl. “I willingly came here to save Valaron and Aureon both. Our bloodlines together protect our people, and thus, this is a marriage of equals. A marriage of necessity and duty. My body does not belong to you, and thus your attempts to shame me are greatly misplaced.”

The king’s eyes widen in shock and his jaw rolls. “How dare you speak to me that way.”

“I will treat you with the same respect you show me.” I cross my arms over my chest and square my shoulders. “Now, your highness, are you ready to save Valaron, or do you want to waste more precious time while the Obsidian Moon completes its cycle?”

A moment of silence, and then the king takes a step closer, his eyes locked onto mine. “We will wed. But we are not equals, and we never will be. You are the last of your line, while my bloodline thrives. Every single person who lives within these palace gates is loyal to me and me alone. And until you bear me an heir, to ensure your bloodline continues—several heirs, to be safe—you will stay within the walls of this palace. Under my rule, obeying my every command, because you will have no choice. Just because I need your blood does not mean you have power here. And because of your betrayal—the betrayal of you both—I will ensure that every day you are reminded of your dishonor.”

The king rakes his gaze from mine and turns to Zyren. “You may have had her first, but I will have her every day and every night from this day forth. And as her guardian, you will have to stand outside our room and listen, knowing I am planting my seed inside her each time.” He smiles a truly terrible smile. “We must save Valaron, as you said, and that means many heirs. It is our duty, whether we wish it or not.”

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