Page 28 of Sky of Thorns

Ilayonthebed with a cool wet cloth ripped from the sheets that rests across my throbbing forehead. It pulses to the rhythm of my heartbeat and although I haven’t moved, the room spins as though it’s dancing around me. Taking steady, deep breaths, I assess my aching body. My injuries have healed, but fatigue wears at me from fasting for three days with nothing but water. At the thought of food, my stomach lets out a loud grumble and cramps painfully, causing me to curl into a ball on my side. Last night, the aroma of the warm beef and vegetable stew filled the air, making my mouth water in anticipation. The sight of the hearty chunks of meat and colorful vegetables in the bowl was tempting, but the dimmed visage of a sprinkling of dust on the vegetables reminded me to take caution. My logical side fought and eventually won against my basic animal needs. As I walk away from the table, the warmth of the stew radiates towards me, taunting me to come back for just one bite. This food is poisoned and I must remain strong.

Nimble footsteps make their way up the stairs and I close my eyes tighter. I am in no shape to argue with Alice this morning. The door slowly opens and I am ready to tell her to let me free or leave me be, but I stare in confusion as the tall figure in front of me is not Alice, but two tall guards wearing the royal crest on their chest.

A foreign sigil, one that shouldn’t even command me.

“Shifter, you are to come with us,” one male states flatly.

“Where am I going?” My voice is raspy from disuse. I heave my body up into a sitting position, the thudding of my heartbeat echoing in my ears. The room spins around me, the walls and furniture blurring into indistinguishable shapes. Black spots swarm my vision, obscuring any clear sight. A faint scent of stale air and sweat lingers in my nostrils as I struggle to keep myself upright.

“The Queen has demanded your presence,” the other guard replies, grabbing my elbow and forcing me to my feet.

“No!” I try to pull out of his grip but my strength fails me and I nearly fall to my knees. I cry out in pain as the guard wretches my arm upward, causing my shoulder to burn. The other guard supports me on the other side and together they frog-march me down the winding steps. I lose my sense of direction as we turn away from the large hall that leads to the courtroom. Out of the corner of my eye, I spot a flash of white and cream scurrying down the hall and my heart clenches in my chest.

Lemon!

I struggle against the guards’ tight grip, but they hold firm as we pass through another door and descend down a flight of winding stairs. The musty scent of damp air fills my nostrils, and the sound of our footsteps echoes off the stone walls. Only sporadic torches cast a flickering glow on the passage. They illuminate our path as we continue downward, reflecting ominous shadows on the stone walls. My heart pounds in my chest, and my palms grow slick with sweat as we descend deeper into the unknown depths of the dungeon.

At the bottom, we stop in front of a carved wooden door that appears centuries old. The door creaks as they push it open, revealing a vast room with stone walls and a low set ceiling. In the center of the room, a large stone slab sits, its rough texture visible even from a distance. The air is cool and damp, making my skin prickle with goosebumps. My eyes catch on the straps around the table and the dark stains in the stone.

“Bring her to me.” Her sweet melodic voice echoes through the room and I turn my head to see the queen reclined on a plush couch. Her golden curls hang loose, draping across her breasts like a golden waterfall. She shifts her position to better observe me, her sheer cream gown flowing around her. The fabric hugs her curves, leaving little to the imagination. From our proximity, the scent of her perfume wafts through the room, a nauseatingly strong blend of floral and musk. Her beauty is the kind that inspires poetry and art. But I know better. Underneath her seemingly gentle exterior lies a serpent waiting to strike. The guards release me before her, and it takes all my will to keep my balance as my body shakes with fatigue.

“Welcome to my little sanctuary, unicorn.” I watch as she sips from the silver goblet in her hand, then runs the tip of her tongue delicately across her lips.

“I have a name.” I grind out between clenched teeth.

“Oh, that’s right. Sybil isn’t it?” She hums in disapproval before slowly dragging her gaze from my head to my feet.

“What is it that I can do for you,your highness?“ I lay heavy sarcasm in the question and ball my hands into fists.

The queen raises her delicate brows at my tone, her lips curving into a knowing smile.

Goddess, help me, what have I just done?

I dare a glance at the guards behind me. They are the only thing standing between me and my freedom, but in my weakened state I doubt I’d be able to physically out maneuver them. The taste of bitterness fills my mouth as I bite down hard, trying to suppress the frustration that’s been building up since she stole my magic. “What is it that you want?”

She laughs, setting the goblet on a table beside her before pushing to stand. “Men always think that power is only a step away from them. Kill a king and take his place. Start a war and kill your enemies. Marry the daughter of a rich Lord and you’ll be her master. Sacrifice the unthinkable to a God and he will grant you gifts.” She curls a strand of her hair with a finger, her gaze so unfaltering it makes me want to hide. “What they fail to realize, however, is that there is no point in gaining power if you don’t have the time to fully use it to your advantage.” Her plush lips curl upwards, revealing a wicked smile that sends chills down my spine. The sharp glint in her eyes glimmers with hunger, making me feel like prey. The room is silent, except for the faint sound of our breathing and the rustle of fabric as she moves closer.

“I searched for hundreds of years for a unicorn shifter. I wanted your parents, really.” I gasp at the mention of my mother and father and remember Aramis mentioning that Shadowvale believed my parents aided the rebellion. But with the recent discovery that the Queen does not act with the intention of stopping the attacks, I fear her need for my parents had a darker motivation. “Two unicorns would have meant not only double the power at my disposal but also the potential to breed an unlimited supply of magic to help me turn the clock on time over and over again.” She swipes her hand angrily across a nearby table, knocking glass and metal to shatter on the stone floor. The heat of her gaze burns as she turns back towards me and growls. “But no, they had to go all noble to the end, sacrificing themselves in order to protect you from my sights.”

My breath catches in my throat and an old pain I had carefully managed to suppress deep within my heart comes rushing back. My body begins to shake, and I desperately look around for something to steady myself on. This cannot be real.

Sheis the person responsible for ambushing andmurderingmy parents? And they sacrificed themselves to protect me?

The shock must be evident on my face because she laughs and grabs a hold of my chin. I lift my arms to fend her off, but the crawling sensation of her magic pins them back against my sides and seals my lips closed.

“Not so fast. You areminenow, pet. Thanks to you, I will witness kings and queens die, kingdoms crumble, and I will take it all. I don’t care if I have to drain every single shifter on this continent to do so. Starting with you.“ I try to scream but my windpipes constrict even further.” Lifting her hand to my forehead, I feel the tug against my power, but nothing happens. I watch as Tricella's face contorts with concentration and I feel scrape of her magic grapple inside but fail once more. Only the flicker of my magic dances like a silver flame in my core, evading her.

“Something wrong,your majesty?“ The corners of my lips curl up in satisfaction as I hold on tight to the tiny flame of magic inside of me. The resulting slap stinging my cheek, no doubt leaving a red welt, is absolutely worth the defiance.

“Where is your magic? Why has it not replenished?” She seethes, the knuckles of her hands turning bone white as she grips the front of my dress. Small creases form at the corner of her eyes before an unfamiliar voice has me peering over her shoulder behind her.

“Perhaps she cannot recover as quickly, locked up so far away from the elements. She is a mere creature, after all. Theythriveon the earth and in the sunshine.“ The man’s voice has a soothing quality, and I am pulled by its rhythmic deep lilt. He moves with the grace of a dancer to my side and runs a finger down my ribs, visible through the thin fabric. The touch instantly clears my senses and I struggle against the magical hold on my body.

“Perhaps you’re right, Kieran.” The seer. Laying down on the lodge chair, she sighs and drapes her forearm across her eyes. “Give her what she requires to regain her strength. I want her at her full potential the next time she’s brought to me. Now, leave me.”

“As you wish, your highness.” He bows low at the waist in her direction, short dark hair falling into his face. I observe in fascination as he gradually rises to his feet, the luxurious silk of his mage’s robes pulled tight against his muscular back. The rustle of the fabric echoes softly in the stillness of the room, and the subtle scent of sandalwood wafts through the air. As he stands, his movements are graceful, yet purposeful, as if he is summoning some great power within himself. The air around him seems to hum with energy, crackling with a palpable electricity. Are all mages built like immortal warriors? For surely this male is a scholar, not a guard.

“And Kieran? Make sure that insolent stepson of mine is out of the way, then have the guards bring in some of the shifter prisoners from the dungeon. He’s starting to get too nosy, and…go find me a refreshment. I need one, now.” Queen Tricella sits up and turns towards us. She lifts her hands and the constriction around me releases. I wobble unsteadily on my feet as black spots dance in my vision. I want to run and flee, but my trembling weak muscles refuse to take that first step.

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