Page 78 of The Crown of the Dark Prince
“And we are your allies,” Clay growled.
Ashburn only nodded solemnly. “We hope you understand the need for precautions.”
“Now what?” I rasped, my throat dry and raw.
“The monarchs wish to discuss the attack with you both. My men will help you to the throne room.”
The thought of being carried, limp and helpless, through the palace hallways made my stomach churn. I could probably float myself with magic, but one look at Clay told me he already knew what I was considering—and disapproved.
He was probably right.
Terrifying the Tennebrisians any more than we already had wasn’t the best idea.
“This isn’t over,” he muttered as the guards approached us. “You and I are going to have a very long conversation about trust when we get out of this.”
“If we get out of this,” I muttered, my voice tired.
Chapter Twenty Two
As we landed on two pillows in the otherwise empty throne room, the monarchs awaited us. Empress Rani sat rigidly on her throne, her posture so stiff she seemed carved from marble, while Emperor Kamon paced restlessly before her. His gaze flickered to us only briefly before returning to the ground, his hands clasped tightly behind his back.
Clay’s rage was palpable, radiating from him in waves. Even in his weakened state, I could sense the heat simmering beneath his skin. For a fleeting moment, I was glad that the dose of Mortal blood they had given him was muting his Godly magic. Part of me wondered if he would set the entire palace ablaze with Dragonfire if he had access to it.
The other part of me didn’t want to find out.
“I suggest you start explaining why you had an Athenian Prince and Councilwoman incarcerated,” Clay said, his voice low and razor-sharp.
Kamon stopped pacing, his eyes locking with Clay’s. Whatever Kamon saw in my prince’s burning gaze made him hesitate. I saw it there too—Clay wasn’t just a spoiled prince from a foreign court, here to gamble and drink with Prince Damon. He was a ruler, both by birth and by sheer force of will. If not in title, then in action and intention. He was already acting like theKing of Athenia. And he had no qualms asserting his authority on behalf of his nation.
I realized then how foolish I’d been to think Clay was idly following the Dragon’s commands all this time, just waiting for his time to inherit the throne. The signs of his plan had been there all along.
Clay hated his father, as a man and a ruler, and he had long before I ever showed up.
This was who Clay had always been—a man willing to do whatever it took to protect his people.
“What did you inject us with?” I demanded, breaking the heavy silence.
“It’s something we’ve been developing,” Empress Rani said, her voice cold and precise. “A dose of Mortal blood to dull your powers, infused with the icy stillness of Water Elemental magic.”
“I’m intrigued to know what other weapons you’ve been developing,” Clay hissed, his words laced with venom. “And for what purpose?”
“It’s a method of self-defense,” Kamon said, his tone clipped. “Nothing more, I assure you.”
Clay’s hand twitched, then his leg, as he fought to regain control of his body. Despite his struggle, he kept his gaze locked on the monarchs, his focus unrelenting.
Empress Rani rose from her throne and moved gracefully to a golden table near the dais. She poured a glass of water from a crystal decanter, her movements slow and deliberate, before stepping toward me.
Careful not to spill a drop, she held the glass to my lips in a silent question.
“Thank you,” I whispered hoarsely. She tilted the glass, letting the cool water trickle down my throat.
Clay watched the entire interaction with predatory intensity, his golden eyes tracking every movement. If EmpressRani had so much as twitched toward me in malice, I had no doubt Clay would have found a way to retaliate—even in his current state.
“Start talking,” Clay growled, a dangerous rumble emanating from his chest.
Emperor Kamon stopped pacing and sank heavily onto his throne, his shoulders sagging. “We don’t know much,” he admitted, his voice heavy with frustration. “Our Zion Archives are located along the shore of Lake Treyon. Early this morning, we received reports that the manor housing the archives had been ravaged, its contents raided. Admittedly, we thought the attack might have been orchestrated by Athenia, given your presence in our dominion.”
“What changed your mind?” I asked.
