Page 63 of Their Rejected Queen

It glistens with black rocks that have deep, craggy veins winding through them. Thorns jut out from the sides and arch upward toward the sky, many decorated with corpses.

The blood drains from my face as I eye the silver chains wrapped around it.

What the hell is that thing?

“I didn’t think you’d wind up here,” Arwan says, startling me.

I turn again, finding him at my side.

He hadn’t been there a moment ago.

He’s also wearing something different. Unlike his Monster Isle Royal garb, he’s wearing black silk that drapes over his chest, peeling open at the center to reveal rippling muscles. Black streaks run from his dark arm and reach toward his heart, fanning out in jagged patterns. I’ve never seen it that bad on him before, but he doesn’t seem to be bothered by it.

Then there’s the crown.

I can’t help but stand on my tiptoes to reach up and touch the strange decoration on his brow. Black, curved thorns shaped around his head that seem to lace into his hair. Ice invades my skin the moment I examine it, and I flinch away.

Curling my fingers, I pinch my lips before I reply. “Where are we?”

His icy blue eyes are even more ethereal here. “My home.”

A swallow works down my throat, which feels like it wants to close up. “And that thing?” I ask, pointing at the strange tower.

He turns toward it and sighs. “It was supposed to be a temporary hold. But what had once contained my magic is now a vault.” He traces the dark veins of the tower through the air. “See the material? That’s obsidian. That kind of rock is only formed under intense heat and pressure. What’s inside of it nearly killed me once before, then my magic made this place.” His hand drops as he stares at it. “It haunts my dreams, every time I close my eyes. I can’t get away from it.”

“What does all of this have to do with me?” I ask as I wrap my arms around my body.

All I want is to find my sister.

Get out of here.

Get back… where, exactly? Home? I don’t have a home.

Maybe we could retreat to one of the other kingdoms. Or even Monster City. Surely Queen Helia would take us in after everything that has happened. My own city’s king hasn’t done a very good job of protecting me.

As if summoned, a low growl rolls over the rocks, making me shiver.

“I don’t understand what’s going on,” I admit.

Arwan tilts his head as he runs his thumb across my jawline. “I know. It must be difficult coming from the Rinhold family and life in the Elite City to this. From my time in Monster Isle, I’ve seen so many dark secrets come to life in that castle. When I came across one of the Rinholds there and they told me about you, I knew I had to find you.” He grins. “It was destiny that you ran right into me on that ship, and that Godric outbid me for you. Everything is unfurling just as it’s supposed to.”

My eyes widen. “There’s a Rinhold family member at the castle on Monster Isle?”

Is he talking about my sister?

Or my brother?

He goes still, as if he wasn’t supposed to say as much. “There’s so much I can’t tell you yet, Liliana. But you’ve made it here, so I know I’m on the right track.”

None of that makes sense to me.

“Are there any tracks that leave this godsforsaken place?” I ask instead. “Because it’s creepy as hell.”

He chuckles, then offers me his dark hand. “Yes. All you have to do is trust me. I’ll take you back.”

I stare at his hand. At this point, I trust the Outcast more than I trust him.

Pausing, I turn over that term in my head. He’s not just an Outcast, like Godric calls him.