Page 82 of The Crown of the Dark Prince
We were most certainly not in Tenebris any longer and the people of this country wouldn’t be as unphased by us walking the line between friendship and something... more.
“Clay.” I dug my heels in, tugging on his hand to stop him.
He turned to me, brow furrowed, as though only now realizing I’d been dragging my feet. His fingers remained tight around mine—unyielding, as if he couldn’t let go.
“Maybe you should talk to your father alone.”
The suggestion seemed to catch him off guard. His frown deepened, suspicion clouding his golden eyes.
“This is a matter for House Zion, don’t you think?” I kept my voice low but firm with unspoken meaning.We can’t share everything with him.
No one could know what I’d told Clay. Not about Hyrax. Not about the prophecy. And certainly not about my ability to cross the Veil. His father would only see it as another reason to be rid of me. It was far too dangerous.
And besides, I needed a reason to get away from Clay for a little. I had a plan, one that he would most certainly not approve of.
Finally, he exhaled sharply, his grip loosening as he stepped back. “You’re right.”
Relief washed over me—too soon.
“Promise me you’ll go to your rooms and stay there,” he said suddenly, his voice softer now, but no less serious. “Until we know whathewants, we can’t be sure you’re safe.”
Oh, my poor, worried prince. I bit back a smile, though my chest tightened at the sight of him—tired and worn, but still trying to carry the weight of the world.If only you knew.
If Hyrax had wanted to hurt me, he’d had a thousand opportunities over the past year. For all his devious games, his cryptic words, and his secrets,Hyrax had never done me harm. If this was part of the God's plan, I had to believe I could handle it.
I clasped my hands together to hide the tremor in my fingers and forced a reassuring smile.
“Don’t worry,” I teased lightly, though my voice shook just a bit. “I smell like a Dragon. I’m going straight to my rooms for a bath.”
He studied me for a beat longer than I would’ve liked, as though he could see right through me, as if he could sense my unease. Then, finally, he nodded.
“Good,” he said, though he didn’t sound convinced.
I turned quickly, hurrying down the hall before his concern could morph into suspicion. My pulse pounded in my ears as I rounded the corner, slipping into the shadows of the corridor.
I lied to him.
Again.
I didn’t have a choice, though. There was one more thing I had to do—one more secret I wasn’t ready to share.
Not yet.
Ishivered against the chill in the air, forcing myself to take a steadying breath. It was hard to tell if the cold was truly biting into my skin or if the weight of what I was about to do had my nerves on edge.
I never thought I’d stand here again—outside the palace dungeons, chewing my lip, trying to summon the courage to step inside.
It was almost painful to admit, but once again, I neededCamilla.
The woman who had spent months trying to kill me. The woman responsible for Lorelai’s death and the trauma that still haunted Iris. Of all the people in all the realms, she was quite possibly the last I wanted to speak to. But, as much as I hated it, she might also be the only one with answers.
After all, she’d been the one to unearth that damned prophecy about the daughter of Hyrax lowering the Veil.
I’d wanted to dismiss it. I'd wanted to believe I could ignore it.
I couldn’t anymore, though. I had to face the fact that the prophecy might be real if I wanted to find a way to break it.
“Can I help you, Lady Moore?”
