“How many after Harrow?”
“Twelve.” Thirteen, if he counted Cook’s soul.
Cota snorted. “Not exactly making my job easy, now, are ya? Even fifteen would’ve been better for me. The more Dark Soul you’ve got on board, the easier I can swim through the visions.”
Elian suppressed a smile at the girl’s grousing. It didn’t fool him at all. She was angling for more money. Just as she always did.
“It’ll be like paddlin’ through treacle today, it will,” she grumbled.
“Double for today, Cota.”
Like magic–he chuckled to himself–she was back to her usual spry movement and keen glances. Siddhe glowered, and he slipped his hand behind her to give her bottom a little caress and pinch. Her jaw twitched. All was well, then.
Cota began throwing pinches of powder and herbs on the brazier, poking the lethargic coals to life. Blue smoke began dancing up from them, pulsing, swaying, bucking. In Elian’s mind, the forms became intimate, almost obscene in their motions. The hard walls of purpose and practicality melted, slithering away from his consciousness.
Ambition and desire bubbled up, drowning his thoughts. Then came indolence, indulgence, libertinage, gluttony, carrying him along on a tide that was rolling toward a shore of bright, blazing glory.
In a haze, he saw Cota kneeling motionless before the brazier. Her eyes were wide and unseeing, and her mouth hung open, a line of spittle hanging from her lips.
“Dragons in the water. Skies full of flames.” Her voice was disturbingly sonorous. “Inside out. Upside down. The map will lead you to your heart’s desire. Your heart’s desire will be the death of you. Unless you learn to desire differently. Dragons in the sky. Oceans full of flames. Treachery for truth begets treacherous truth. That which you seek is not what you want. That which you want is not what you need. Lines are drawn by men. Both men and lines do lie. Water may tame a dragon, but a dragon can burn a ship. Pursue, but with caution.”
Cota’s head fell forward. Siddhe’s snort rang in his ear. He blinked, the haze becoming nothing more than perfumed smoke, and Cota nothing more than a girl in rags.
“Well?” Siddhe demanded callously.
The girl shook her head and rubbed her eyes, but there was no cheeky smile that usually accompanied her predictions. She looked from Siddhe to him with dull, frightened eyes.
“Do we proceed?” Siddhe pressed.
“It’s always a choice, ain’t it?” Cota answered with a weak shrug.
“Tchah!”
Elian studied Cota, refusing Siddhe’s quick pull on his sleeve to stand.
“Tell me,” he said gently.
Cota slumped back on her heels and picked at the calluses on her hands. “It’s conflicted, ya see? Used to be just one thing out there you were chasin’, one thing you were wantin’. Now, there’s two of ‘em. But, I canna see if you’re chasin’ both or if one of ‘em is chasin’ you.”
“Two?” Elian’s head spun, and not from the residual effect of the drugs. There was only one Red Dragon. Nothing had ever mentioned a second one.
“Two,” the girl affirmed, nodding wearily. “Near just the same.”
For a horrifying moment, the room closed in on him. Two dragons. The Red Dragon and then... another? How could this be? It felt like a betrayal, yet he had no idea of who or what the traitor was.
Siddhe had clearly lost patience with the whole thing. She pulled him to his feet and gave the girl a scant nod before storming out the door. Numbly, Elian dug through his pocket and paid Cota double her price. He turned to leave, but was held back by a grimy little hand on his arm.
“I didna’ like to say it in front of your trout-in-trousers,” Cota whispered, a ghost of her old grin peeking through as she deftly insulted Siddhe’s mermaid heritage. “But, there was one clear thing that came through.”
He waited, hardly breathing.
“Withrae,” she said. “Go to Withrae.”
CHAPTER THREE
MORNING CAME TOO quickly, ushering Rowen out of the comfort and safety of her bed.
The night before had been sobering, reminding her that she was sent to the castle with a mission.
She was too close and too deep into the scheme to leave now.
Leesha, her personal maid from back home helped her dress for the day. She ran her hand along the silk which was nicer than anything she’d ever had at home, and every morning she loved the feel of it slipping over her skin.
But, not even that could erase the fear that left her hands shaking. She exhaled and closed her eyes. The mysterious newcomer to her dream wouldn’t fade from her thoughts, even while awake.
“Ready for your jewelry, Mistress?”
Rowen nodded to Leesha.
Life in Withrae Castle was a show, and even Princess Noemie’s ladies-in-waiting needed to be in costume.
She dressed in a long-sleeved gown over her undergarments and chemise. She slipped her feet into leather slippers and stood before her mirror. She looked tired. That much couldn’t be denied. A long night of tossing and turning would make for a miserable morning.
“Where did Lady Brea go?” Rowen asked, noticing how Brea’s bed was neatly made and empty.
“Macana summoned her earlier,” Leesha said, keeping her brown eyes fixed on applying cream to Rowen’s cheeks.
“Right,” Rowen said. “I suppose I will see her at breakfast.
She walked over to their tiny window and looked out to the lake behind the castle. Memories of swimming in her own pond came to her. Days where she could do as she pleased were few and far between. But swimming had once been a favorite pastime. She and her younger sister would swim and pretend to be mermaids, saying that one day they’d both see and talk to a real one.
Sighing, Rowen turned away from the chill of the morning air. Mermaids. How ridiculous.
She wasn’t any closer to her dreams but teetering on the verge of a bitter death. Her sister Ophelia was a full-blooded Dragon shifter and thus had been married off to a nobleman from a neighboring village at the age of fifteen. Rowen feared the opportunity to reunite might never present itself.
Not if her stepfather had anything to do with it.
“My lady,” Leesha called as she fastened Rowen’s opal necklace around her neck. “Are you feeling well?” She reached for a cloth. “Your nose is bleeding?”
Rowen took the cloth and turned away from the girl. She dabbed at her nose and handed it back. “I’m fine,” she lied. She could never reveal the side-effects she sometimes suffered from using magic. Even if Leesha was her subordinate.
The castle was abuzz with activity and noise now that all the servants were awake and off to their posts. Rowen kept her head down as she navigated her way from her room to the dining room where the other ladies-in-waiting took their meals.
A quick breakfast was all she was afforded before she was expected to join the princess for whatever tasks and errands she may have. Withrae Castle would host a birthday feast for Prince Rickard the next evening, and the castle was in preparation for the elaborate festivities.
Relief washed over her as she saw that Brea had returned from her morning with Macana. Inside the small, elaborately furnished room was a sitting area for the girls and a dining table where they could eat when the princess dined with the royal family. The princess’ portrait hung on the wall above the fireplace, in between two large windows that were opened to let in the breeze and sunlight.
Sausage awaited, with eggs, gravy, grapes and fresh bread. There was a tiered tray of sweet cakes and rolls in the center of the table, as well as wedges of orange jellies.
Her stomach grumbled as she lowered herself into the cushioned chair beside Brea at the circular table draped with an ivory cloth encrusted with golden embellishments. The warm fire at her back was soothing. It kept out the chill of the castle that seemed to seep into their bones no matter the season.
“Sleep well?” Macana, the chaperone to the ladies-in-waiting asked between
sips of tea as a servant girl ladled potatoes onto her plate. Her indigo eyes stared at Rowen as if she knew her secret. “You look tired. Both of you.”
Clearing her throat, Rowen glanced at Brea who looked away and took a bite of sausage.
Rowen noticed the bags under Brea’s eyes and felt bad for waking her up for nothing the night before.
“Very well, ma’am,” Rowen replied and busied herself with scooping thick gravy with her fried potatoes. “How did you sleep?”
“Don’t lie to me, little miss. I know you two ladies were up chattering all night. Don’t think I don’t know what goes on around here. I see and know all. Do not forget it.”
With a snicker, Brea looked up from her meal.
Rowen kept a blank look on her face. “No, ma’am. Never.”
Macana lifted a crimson brow. Her white face was stiff as porcelain from creams crafted from the palace glamourist. One would never be able to tell that Macana was in her late fifties, when her skin was frozen to mimic that of a woman in her early thirties.
“I can’t tell if you’re a good liar or if you tell the truth. You’re quite a challenge to read, Lady Rowen. In this business, that may work in your favor.”
A small smile came to Rowen’s lips. “Thank you, ma’am.”
She did hate lying to Macana. It was her job to look out for all the ladies-in-waiting. She was kind to them all, and wise. Though she was like a mother, Rowen still didn’t trust anyone.
Macana shook her head. “Just as well. We have a busy day ahead of us. If you two chose to stay up all night, you’ll be sorry for it.”
Rowen ate heartily, yet left a bit of food on her plate as was customary for women of her rank.
“All right, ladies. You two are to join Princess Noemie for her dressing tomorrow. But, right now, I have an errand in the city,” Macana said. “Rowen, you will join me.”
Brea’s eyes brightened. “Can I come as well?”
Macana cleared her throat. She seemed to mull over the idea before replying. “I suppose that would be fine.”
“Brilliant,” Brea exclaimed with a clap of her hands.
“What is the errand?” Rowen asked, just as excited as Brea, but her curiosity muted every other emotion she felt.
Tilting her head, Macana’s dark eyes met hers. “Always the inquisitive one, aren’t you?”
Rowen blushed and chewed the inside of her cheek. Macana never looked at her that way before. “Is it a secret, then?”
“That’s it, Lady Rowen. It is a secret,” Macana replied, standing from her seat to her full height which made her tower over nearly every woman in the palace. “We all have those, don’t we?”
Rowen tensed at the way Macana looked at her when she said those last words.
Secrets.
Rowen didn’t like those, especially when an unfulfilled prophecy loomed over her head.
She rubbed her neck as she and Brea left the dining room.
At least she still had hers.
For now.
About the Author
K.N. Lee is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. When she is not writing twisted tales, fantasy novels, and dark poetry, she does a great deal of traveling and spending time with her family. Wannabe rockstar, foreign language enthusiast, and anime geek, K.N. Lee also enjoys gaming and sketching. She is a winner of the Elevate Lifestyle Top 30 Under 30 "Future Leaders of Charlotte" award for her success as a writer, business owner, and for community service.
She is signed with Captive Quill Press and Patchwork Press and represented by Hershman Rights Management.
K.N. Lee loves hearing from fans and readers. Connect with her!
www.knlee.com
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More Great Reads by K.N. Lee
The Dragon-Born Saga:
Half-Blood Dragon
Magic-Born Dragon
Queen of the Dragons
War of the Dragons
The Chronicles of Koa Series:
Netherworld
Dark Prophet
Blood Princess
The Eura Chronicles:
Rise of the Flame
Night of the Storm
Dawn of the Forgotten (Coming Soon)
Prophecy of the Seer (Coming Soon)
THE GRAND ELITE CASTER TRILOGY:
Silenced
Summoned (Coming Soon)
Sacrificed (Coming Soon)
Awakened (Coming Soon)
THE FALLEN GODS TRILOGY:
Goddess of War
Goddess of Ruin (Coming Soon)
STANDALONE NOVELLAS:
The Scarlett Legacy
Liquid Lust
Spell Slinger
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Did you love The Red Queen? Then you should read Academia of the Beast by K.N. Lee!
What if the beauty was the mortal enemy of the beast?Raised in fear of her power.
Sold and betrayed by her lover.
Allyn escaped the hunters once before. As a witch, she risks capture every day. Now, she lives in the slums of the opulent kingdom of Elastria, where the Winter Winds are brutal,and force everyone into their homes for the entire season. When one of her best friends receives an invitation to the end of season Winter Ball, Allyn would rather sulk about her boyfriend leaving her instead of partying at the most exclusive club in the kingdom.
A chance encounter with the crown prince of Elastria sparks hope for a brighter future, one where she might find true love. All hopes are dashed when she's tricked by her ex-boyfriend and turned in for the bounty on her head.
Now, a prisoner in an eerie castle where the servants are...peculiar, the walls whisper, and the prince's mysterious twin brother struggles with the decision to keep or kill the witch he's hunted and once lost, Allyn struggles with the desire to tame the beast within the prince, or escape to freedom.
The curse of the castle is strong. But, the magic hiding inside Allyn might be more powerful than she or the prince realized.
Discover an enchanted world of witches and a cursed prince in this dark modern retelling of Beauty and the Beast by New York Times bestselling author, K.N. Lee.
**WARNING: Contains explicit adult situations and dark imagery not suitable for children**
Read more at K.N. Lee’s site.
K.N. Lee, The Red Queen: Wonderland University Book One
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