Starkeeper of the Fractured Crown

The scent of green apples surrounded me as I stepped into the castle.

I breathed in through my nose and out through my mouth as I headed for the room I had been taken to the previous times before.

The servants and knights glanced my way, but no one stopped me, and when I finally reached the door, I was really starting to question the actual security ofTerigard.

I took another settling breath before I finally pushed open the door to the dining room and found the High King, Evanora, and the prince sitting at the table eating away like the perfect little family they were.

All three of them looked up, Evanora smiling, Raphael shocked, and Raymond wearing an unreadable expression, silver eyes darkening at the very sight of me.

“Well,” Evanora smiled, dabbing her painted lips. “Kyra, welcome. Don’t you look like a vision today.”

So, we weren’t pretending that we didn’t know each other’s name anymore? Fine. I could handle that.

I turned to Raphael, keeping my expression neutral, but allowing my tone to hold a bit of ice to it. “I expected more from the great High King than the murder of three people with a threat painted in blood.”

“I asked you nicely,” Raphael began, setting his silverware down. “I informed you that it would be willing or unwilling. When we went to collect, we found your house in ashes, no bodies to be found. What else were we supposed to do?”

I lifted and dropped my hands. “You had no interest in your ‘other son’ until you realized how badly you fucked up on that one,” I gestured to Raymond. “Why would I give up on my family just because you gave up on yours?”

“Perhaps we should hear her out,” Raymond said, shocking me.

Raphael ignored him. “That is not how you should be addressing your High King.”

I lifted my chin. “Being a High King would implythat you actually have some say in how this place is run. From what I can tell, Evanora is the one with all the power and you’re just a bitch wearing a collar. Mark is mine, and you will not take him from me. Hunt me down to the ends of the world if you want, Mark will remain with safe.”

Raphael’s eyes narrowed to slits.

Raymond was looking at me as if he cared.

“I have a question,” Evanora stated evenly. “It’s not a big deal, I just expect an honest answer, Kyra.”

I turned to her. “What?” I snapped.

“How did you survive my magic?”

I froze. Gods-dammit. How is it that the great and all-mighty Trick Michael didn’t bring that upbeforeI stormed in here? “I guess you’re just not as strong as you think you are,” I responded coldly. He certainly didn’t forget. It must have been another one of his games. I just didn’t know why.

Her smile was cold, evil. “Or perhaps you have your own precious secret, hmm? Perhaps you are harboring your very own magic-user.”

I narrowed my eyes, challenging her. “We’re discussing magic? Okay, I have a better topic of discussion then. How about we discuss the absolute hypocrisy bred within these very walls? Or how about we discuss your greed and obsession with vengeance?”

Evanora chuckled and lifted her hand, whispering a few words under her breath, and a moment later, a swirl of gray magic began drifting around her fingers. “If you are harboring someone, that’s behavior that will need to be corrected. We can’t have people like you breaking thelaw now, can we? It sets a bad example for the sheep.”

I nodded. “And here I thought that a witch running the Human Court was what was actually setting the bad example. Or maybe it’s just the fact that our High King shows no empathy when he hangs people from the crosses with their guts falling from their stomachs, ribs broken, warning the world of another war. I’m sure the children will learn great things from that.”

She tilted her head to one side. “So, you’re interested in the war then?”

Warning grew in my stomach as she stood.

“Go on, Kyra, speak up. It’s not polite to ignore those above you.”

Without responding, I turned back to Raphael. “Mark would not be a good High King,” I told him. “I didn’t raise him in hatred and blood. I raised him with a good heart and a good conscious. You can’t weaponize that. You can’t turn him into your little doll. Raymond seems capable enough of listening to you to ensure his place under the crown is a good one. You don’t need my brother.”

“It seems to me that you’re assuming how I want to run this world,” Evanora stated sweetly as she made her way towards me.

Raphael’s eyes flicked to the witch and back. It seemed he was done speaking for the day.

Fine. “You’ve been doing it the same way for the last 1,200 years. My understanding is that this war is meant to be your last before you attempt full control. Once all of the powerhouses are dead, there will be no one left to challenge you. Why would you need Mark forthat? If you’re going to take the crown above all crowns, why put Mark under this one?”