“But-”
“I’ll write, and I’ll visit. But I can’t come to Alventia with you. I’m sorry Cienna, I just can’t.” Maddy herself was close to tears now, and Cienna broke free from Harry’s arms to comfort her.
She didn’t know how long they held each other for, but as she watched her closest friend slip away from her, she knew that life would never be the same again. Even if she had Harry to share it with.
17 Svetlana
“I can’t do what?” Rage seethed within her as she thought over Xavier’s words.
“You can’t go after Lady Cienna,” he replied in his normal bored tone.
“Why not?” she demanded. This was not going as she planned it to. Xavier was supposed to help her get her revenge, not put stumbling blocks in her path.
“A deal.”
“And you didn’t think to ask me first?” She was surprised that she felt she could stand up to him already, but then again, he wanted her power, and to get that, he had to keep her on his side. Even if he wasn’t doing a very good job of it at the moment.
“The deal gave me something I needed. This isn’t up for debate. Do not touch Cienna.”
“Fine,” she said, and watched as he walked out of her rooms, not even bothering to say goodbye. He was a cold man, she’d known that before she’d even met him, and she’d need to get used to it if their marriage was going to work. Because it was going to work. Even if they hadn’t even broached the subject yet.
After waiting a few moments to make sure that he was gone, Svetlana made her way over to where she’d hung her stepmother’s mirror. She’d gone to get it the moment that Xavier had dismissed her to talk to that maid. At least that meant she could use it now.
She pressed her finger to the spike at the bottom of the mirror and watched as the bead of blood ran down and was absorbed by the frame.
“Show me Cienna’s downfall,” she asked the mirror. The mirror flickered through a series of images, making Svetlana smile to herself in satisfaction. “Show me again,” she demanded.
The mirror swirled and showed Cienna signing a deal with Xavier, a distraught look on her face. It was quickly followed by a tired looking Cienna sat at a spinning wheel turning straw into gold. The image changed again, this time showing Cienna and Henry at a christening, as Xavier spoke words that she couldn’t make out. Finally, it showed and older, sobbing Cienna at the bedside of a sleeping woman, who was almost the spitting image of how she looked now. It could only be her daughter, and the woman’s silent sobs gave her a great deal of pleasure.
She turned away from the mirror, a sadistic smile crossing her face. She may not be able to get her revenge on Cienna, but she could on her daughter. And she’d get it, no matter what stood in her way.
18 Epilogue: Madeline
19 years later…
* * *
Madeline looked down at the golden-haired baby who was kicking his legs and making eyes at her. He was adorable, but she still didn’t know what to make of him. She knew who his father really was, and it wasn’t the husband that had helped her through pregnancy or watched over her for years. Looking into the little boy’s eyes, tears began to fall down her cheeks as memories of her older son’s first years assailed her. It had been nine years since Xavier had taken Robin for himself as the result of a deal someone else had inadvertently broken.
Over the years, she’d tried not to blame Cienna too much for her son’s disappearance. She hadn’t really known what the deal they’d signed was. Nor could she really blame Merelda for changing the Princess’ curse, she’d only done what she thought was best for her niece. Even so, the loss of her son pained her. And now she was holding a second son, the one she shared with the man who had ruined not only her life, but the lives of Cienna and her husband too. She knew how it would end for them, and it was almost as badly as it would for her.
Madeline’s vision blurred, and she began to zone out, the tell-tale sign of an upcoming vision. She gave over to the trance, trusting her body to keep her baby safe while she was there.
A ruined castle rose before her, flames licking up the already scorched stone as eight figures stood around. She recognised four of them, she’d had visions of them before. The two blondes were her own children, while the two figures to the left were Cienna’s daughter and Xavier’s son. The four other figures were a mystery to her, but they appeared to be allies from how closely they were standing, particularly the way that the redhead’s hand rested on her son’s arm.
She watched as her blonde-haired daughter lifted a hand and let out a glowing ball of fire, sending it into the already burning castle.
“We know you’re there, Xavier,” the blonde shouted. “Your allies are gone, and your people have defected, come out and face us.”
Madeline longed to know more, to know who the others were, to know that her children were happy. But her trance was broken, and she came back to the present.
“Everything all right?” Thomas asked, and she looked up to find him leaning in the doorway, studying her and the baby.
“Sorry, just thinking about Robin.”
“I know, I miss him too. But we have this one now.”
Maddy scowled but hid it quickly. She hated that Thomas had got over the disappearance of their son so easily, even as she loved him.
“We do,” she said, wanting to keep the peace.
“Do you have a name for him yet?” She nodded, and a relieved look crossed his face. She knew that he’d been worried about her refusal to name the baby. “Well?”
“Hansel.”
— The End —
Thank you for reading Cursed Crowns, I hope you enjoyed the prequel to the Beyond The Curse series. You can find book one, featuring Cienna and Madeline’s children, with Awakened Princess, here: http://books2read.com/awakenedprincess
Or, if you want to find out more about the events of the epilogue, you can get a second prequel to the series, Betrayed Royals, here: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/t0v3e540gg
Also by Laura Greenwood
Books in the Obscure World
Ashryn Barker Trilogy (urban fantasy, completed series)
Grimalkin Academy: Kittens Series (paranormal academy, completed series)
Grimalkin Academy: Catacombs Trilogy (paranormal academy, completed series)
City Of Blood Trilogy (urban fantasy)
Grimalkin Academy: Stakes Trilogy (paranormal academy)
The Harpy Bounty Hunter Trilogy (urban fantasy)
The Black Fan (vampire romance)
Sabre Woods Academy (paranormal academy)
Scythe Grove Academy (urban fantasy)
Carnival Of Knives (urban fantasy)
* * *
Books in the Forgotten Gods World
The Queen of Gods Trilogy (paranormal/mythology romance)
Forgotten Gods Series (paranormal/mythology romance)
* * *
The Grimm World
Grimm Academy Series (fairy tale academy)
Fate Of The Crown Duology (Arthurian academy, completed series)
Once Upon An Academy Series (fairy tale academy)
* * *
Books in the Paranormal Council Universe
The Paranormal Council Series (shifter romance)
The Fae Queen Of Winter Trilogy (paranormal/fantasy, completed series)
Thornheart Coven Series (witch romance)
Return Of The Fae Series (paranormal post-apocalyptic, completed series)
Paranormal Criminal Investigations Series (urban fantasy mystery)
MatchMater Paranormal Dating App Series (paranormal romance, completed series)
The Necromancer Council Trilogy (urban fantasy)
Standalone Stories From the Paranormal Council Universe
* * *
Other Series
The Apprentice Of Anubis (urban fantasy in an alternate world)
Beyond The Curse (dark fantasy fairy tale)
Untold Tales Series (fantasy fairy tales, c
ompleted series)
The Dragon Duels Trilogy (urban fantasy dystopia)
ME Contemporary Standalones (contemporary romance)
Standalones
Seven Wardens, co-written with Skye MacKinnon (paranormal/fantasy romance, completed series)
Tales Of Clan Robbins, co-written with L.A. Boruff (urban fantasy Western)
The Firehouse Feline, co-written with Lacey Carter Andersen & L.A. Boruff (paranormal/urban fantasy romance, completed series)
Kingdom Of Fairytales Snow White, co-written with J.A. Armitage (fantasy fairy tale, completed series)
* * *
Twin Souls Universe
Twin Souls Trilogy, co-written with Arizona Tape (paranormal romance, completed series)
Dragon Soul Series, co-written with Arizona Tape (paranormal romance, completed series)
The Renegade Dragons Trilogy, co-written with Arizona Tape (paranormal romance, completed series)
The Vampire Detective Trilogy, co-written with Arizona Tape (urban fantasy mystery, completed series)
Amethyst’s Wand Shop Mysteries Series, co-written with Arizona Tape (urban fantasy)
* * *
Mountain Shifters Universe
Valentine Pride Trilogy, co-written with L.A. Boruff (paranormal shifter romance, completed series)
Magic and Metaphysics Academy Trilogy, co-written with L.A. Boruff (paranormal academy, completed series)
Mountain Shifters Standalones, co-written with L.A. Boruff (paranormal romance)
* * *
Audiobooks: www.authorlauragreenwood.co.uk/p/audio.html
About the Author
Laura is a USA Today Bestselling Author of paranormal, fantasy, and urban fantasy romance (though she can occasionally be found writing contemporary romance). When she's not writing, she drinks a lot of tea, tries to resist French macarons, and works towards a diploma in Egyptology. She lives in the UK, where most of her books are set.
Follow the Author
Website: www.authorlauragreenwood.co.uk
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