The towering golden doors swing open. My gaze glides over the soaring white stone pillars, rising from floor to ceiling, before settling on the thrones. Two massive chairs of gilded opulence. The king sits atop one.
Younger than I expected.
His features are striking, as are his sharp, sky-blue eyes. He’s the kind that artists would immortalize in paintings of the sun gods. Golden curls frame his face, catching the light in a way that makes his sun-kissed skin glow.
The guards bow. So does Cage.
I do not.
Hands clasped in front of me, I stand my ground.
The king smiles at my defiance, seemingly amused rather than insulted.
Cage straightens, turning to face me.“Bow.”His tone is absolute, leaving no room for argument.
I like to argue.
“I do not bow before vermin,” I say plainly, locking eyes with him. A challenge. A dare.
Make me.
Cage’s jaw tightens. He moves.
Marching toward me, his hands twitching at his sides. He wants to strike me.
And I—I would welcome it. This is a perfect excuse to lay the bastard out—right now. Nora never said I couldn’t defend myself.
“Cage, enough.”
The king’s voice slices through the tension, filling the throne room. “I do not expect something raised in the woods to bow to me. No offense, Miss Le Strange.”
His words drip with amusement, but I hear the arrogance spewing beneath them.
Cage halts. His jaw is clenched so tight I half expect his teeth to crack. He exhales sharply, spinning away from me, retreating up the steps to stand beside his king.
King Tyran leans forward, propping an elbow on his throne, resting his chin against his fist. “I assume Elanora has told you why you are here?” he muses.
“The threat in the North. You want the expertise that a witch of my blood can offer in dealing with it.” My voice is monotone, betraying nothing. I refuse to let my thoughts show.
The king nods. “I am unsure of their exact plans. Strange events keep occurring. Something is not right. And so far, the signs link them to it.” He pauses, “The seer here has foreseen their involvement. Her visions only confirm what we are already discovering.”
They have a seer—here? Most interesting.
Seers are rare, but most are useless frauds. If the king puts faith in her words, she must be good. She must have proven herself.
“I believe you may understand what we have uncovered,” he continues, his boyish features hardening. “And when the time comes, I believe we will need you to win.”
My curiosity is piqued. “What exactly have you been finding?”
The king’s expression darkens. With a flick of the wrist, he dismisses his guards.
I raise a brow, watching as they stride past me. They close the heavy doors behind them.
Cage remains still, watching me like a hawk, as if expecting me to make a move. He’s prepared to strike if I so much as flinch in the king’s direction.
The king meets Cage’s gaze. A silent conversation passes between them before Cage speaks.
His voice is rough, deeper than the king’s. “We’ve found traces of some darker magic, both known and unknown. Sites where unnatural creatures have appeared. The disturbances are spreading. And something is…changing.” He exhales. “We’ve seen an increase in what we’re calling possessions though we don’t yet understand the source. It’s evolving—into what, we don’t know.”
