by Elle Cross
I glance at my party. They are exhausted, travel-worn, hungry. I promised them respite here, and all I have delivered is desolation. I swipe the sweat from my brow, and my hand comes away muddy. I am just as filthy as the rest.
I fear the destruction here will send my people over the edge. That they will lose faith in me and set out on their own, a dangerous proposition under the best of circumstances.
Which these are decidedly not.
A cramp twists my guts. Hunger? Disgust? Fear?
Certainly.
“My queen.” Lyser’s strong arm wraps around my waist. His purple eyes are grave with concern. “Your safety is in jeopardy. We must return home immediately.“
“Home?” Raze spits. “There’s nothing safe waiting for your queen, you can rely on that.”
Lyser narrows his eyes. “What do you know of it, mage?”
“Look around. Acanthe is on a rampage. A royal killing spree. She’s wiping out the courts one by one. You really think returning Sitara to her throne is a safe bet?”
Lyser’s muscles tense; if there’s one thing he cannot abide, it’s someone questioning his authority in matters of my safety. I place a calming hand on his arm.
“Do you have an alternate suggestion?” I ask Raze.
“Depends.”
“On?”
“Whether you want to survive. If you do, cozying up in the comforts of court is not the way to do it. You need to hide, learn to fight, hone your power. You need to be smart. Unpredictable.”
I press my lips together. He may have a point. Although Acanthe’s end goal is unclear, it seems certain that murdering royalty is a key item on her agenda. I escaped her grasp once, it’s reasonable to assume that she will include my court on her dread march.
However.
I have entrusted my safety to Lyser’s skill and wisdom for hundreds of years, since well before I took the throne and was merely a curious princess who roamed the forests around my family’s palace. I trust his instincts wholly. Moreover, I cannot simply abandon my people to their coming doom. As queen, I have a duty to protect them. And without the resources of my court, I wouldn’t stand a chance anyway. I have no protection from the elements, no spell books, no star stones save the one I brought with me and the used one Raze forces me to carry. No food, no water, no plan. I cannot simply decide to become a survivalist and take my chances with all the other things in Inara—Acanthe aside—that might decide to kill me.
I must return home.
“Lyser is right,” I say. “We have to go back.”
“Fools.” Raze’s voice is little more than a hiss. His disdain for me and my people is clear.
“You are under no obligation to join us,” I remind him. “Feel free to chart your own course.”
His eyes narrow. “As long as I’m bound to the stone, I’m not letting you out of my sight. You wanna get rid of me? Break the spell.”
“Look around,” I command, my voice nearly a growl. “Do you see what has happened here? What is happening all around us? All of Inara is in jeopardy. I do not have time for your petty grievance. If you want to stay with my party, fine. Get in line and follow orders. Otherwise, be on your way. Whatever your choice, understand that your little predicament is not of paramount importance to anyone but yourself. I do not care about your curse. I care about my home and my people.” I turn on my heel.
“Everyone,” I say, my voice loud and calm. “It seems the Court of Ravens was less fortunate than we were. I do not believe Acanthe will return here; she got what she came for. If you can, try to find a place to rest. Someplace relatively clean. Raid the larders for any food you can. If there is water, clean yourselves and hydrate well. We will rest here overnight and set out for home tomorrow.”
Asking them to make camp among the dead, to pillage this fallen court, makes my shaky stomach even worse. But what choice do we have? Following in Acanthe’s wake is safer than setting ourselves up before her, a target waiting to be pierced.
I clasp Lyser’s hand and leave the throne room, searching for someplace private and free of death. “We need to make a plan,” I mutter. “And we must reach Prince Avan before it’s too late. We need allies, Lyser.”
He nods. “You know what this is, yes? This thing we’re facing?”
I cock my head at him, curious. “What?”
He meets my eyes, his expression grim. “War.”
Even though I know it’s true, the single word chills my blood. Goosebumps crop up along my flesh. “Inara hasn’t seen war in more than ten centuries.”
“Exactly.” He gestures at the carnage that surrounds us. “That’s why Acanthe will win. No one even knows how to put up a fight. By the time they see her coming, it’s too late.”
I set my jaw. “Not for us. We know what to do. We just have to get home and muster our troops, our weapons. Let the eastern courts know to do the same.”
He cups my cheek. “It may not be so simple. I have seen battle, Sitara. It is ugly and brutal and not for the faint of heart. Other courts may not be willing to step into the fray.”
“They won’t have a choice. Acanthe will force their hands.”
“Yes. She will. And as I said, it will be too late.”
“Then what do we do? How do we fight that which seems inevitable?”
“We do exactly what you said. Go home and prepare. But part of that preparation is accepting we might not have help. That we might not win.”
I straighten my shoulders and try to remind us both that I’m a queen. “All of Inara is counting on us Lyser. We cannot fail. It will be the end of the world if we do.”
#
We reconvene with the others later, huddling together for the evening meal. Even sour Galog partakes; without Norin, he seems as shell-shocked as the rest of us. The offering is meager: bread, broth, some wilting fruit. A sharp, tangy wine that hasn’t fully developed and never will. Still, it’s enough to fill our bellies and keep the panic at bay a while longer.
The tiniest flutter of relief moves through me. Perhaps we will find a way to survive this, after all.
Of course, such optimism is foolish.
Dramatis personae
Acanthe: Queen of the Court of Thorns, formerly human
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Aileana: Queen of the Court of Moss
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Avan: Prince of the Court of Fog; Sitara’s ally
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Azibat: Sitara’s best friend and trusted advisor; high-ranking official in the Court of Stars
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Bariel: one of Sitara’s courtiers; member of the entourage to Thorns
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Bellinor: King of the Court of Ravens
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Bramb: King of the Court of Thorns (deceased)
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Cascade: Queen of the Court of Water
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Celester: Royal Historian for the Court of Stars; member of the entourage to Thorns
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Clove: Princess of the Court of Lies
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Drave: King of the Court of Blood
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Elzaben: member of Sitara’s Royal Guard; member of the entourage to Thorns
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Enankia: the autochthone of compulsion
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Fionana: one of Sitara’s courtiers; member of the entourage to Thorns
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Flitter: Sitara’s game warden; member of the entourage to Thorns
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Florizel: one of Sitara’s footmen; member of the entourage to Thorns
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Galog: Sitara’s chief advisor
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Gull: one of Sitara’s footmen; member of the entourage to Thorns
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Ianthe: one of Sitara’s personal attendants; member of the entourage to Thorns
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Izar: Sitara’s father (deceased); former King of the Court Stars
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Janal: one of Galog’s aides; member of the entourage to Thorns
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Julep: one of Sitara’s personal attendants; member of the entourage to Thorns
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Kalina: one of Sitara’s personal attendants; member of the entourage to Thorns
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Leven: member of Sitara’s Royal Guard; member of the entourage to Thorns
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Lietta: one of Sitara’s courtiers; member of the entourage to Thorns
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Lilibet: Queen of the Court of Dreams
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Lir: King of the Court of Water
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Lyser: Captain of the Royal Guard; Sitara’s bodyguard and lover
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Macsen: King of the Court of Nightshades
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Mag: Sitara’s only known living relative
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Malachi: King of the Court of Moss
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Maurelle: one of Sitara’s courtiers; member of the entourage to Thorns
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Mava: one of Sitara’s personal attendants; member of the entourage to Thorns
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Mellikor: former courtiers to the Court of Stars; Sitara’s ex-lover
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Myla: member of Sitara’s Royal Guard; member of the entourage to Thorns
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Nanala: one of Sitara’s courtiers; member of the entourage to Thorns
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Niamh: Queen of the Court of Ice
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Noire: Queen of the Court of Nightshades
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Norin: Galog’s personal scribe; member of the entourage to Thorns
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Oleander: King of the Court of Venom
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Ozeer: one of Galog’s aides; member of the entourage to Thorns
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Raze: a Dark Mage imprisoned a thousand years ago by the King of Thorns
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Regin: one of Sitara’s courtiers; member of the entourage to Thorns
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Ren: Sitara’s carriage driver; member of the entourage to Thorns
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Salome: Queen of the Court of Blood
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Shabina: Queen of the Court of Wasps
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Sitara: Queen of the Court of Stars; the youngest member of Inara’s royalty
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Sorel: member of Sitara’s Royal Guard; member of the entourage to Thorns
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Talon: Queen of the Court of Ravens
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Tarabai: Sitara’s mother (deceased); former Queen of Stars
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Thistle: one of Sitara’s personal attendants; member of the entourage to Thorns
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Typhin: one of Galog’s aides; member of the entourage to Thorns
A New Series from Cross & Hart
Stay tuned for Demon Blood and Other Mysterious Stains, the first book of The Darkheart Files.
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Releasing April 1, 2021.
Click Here to be notified of updates
For Adri Darkheart, life is all about simple pleasures: pedicures, shopping sprees, and having fun, all while mostly ignoring her half-demon heritage. Unfortunately, her hedonistic lifestyle doesn’t sit well with Daddy, who decides to cut her off to teach her a lesson. Without her trust fund, Adri has to rely on her unusual skills and unique perspective to make a living on her own. Her only company is her irritable, long-suffering demon babysitter-cum-bodyguard.
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Adri decides to open her own business, helping other down-on-their-luck demons. She’s still all about that Hermès bag and those Jimmy Choo pumps, but those won’t get in the way of her saving new clients and taking down old enemies as she cleans up all the nasty stains in the demon world—even if those stains ruin her designer shoes.
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Enter a new world of manicures and magic in the latest adventure from Cross & Hart.
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A Note from Vivienne Hart
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Greetings! I’m Vivienne, I have my MFA in Creative Writing, and I write all things magical and mysterious.
I’ve been writing fantastic tales since I could hold a pencil. Captivated by fairy tales from a young age, I gradually began to create my own worlds filled with fantastic creatures and monstrous beasts. Join me on dark adventures through worlds where sprites run free and goblins waltz in the snow; where faerie queens exact terrible revenge and blood-eaters find their soulmates. Gods battle witches and doors open into unexpected places.
In addition to spinning a good story, my loves include chocolate, reading good books, and taking as many bubble baths as I can. When I’m not writing, you can find me roaming around the southern U.S. with my husband and two very fluffy cats. I’m the redhead in pajamas.
Thank you for reading! I would love it if you leave a review!
For more about Vivienne, visit viviennehart.com
A Note from Elle Cross
Hi, I’m Elle Cross, a USA Today Bestselling Author and I write darkly magical tales. I live in NYC with my husband and the imaginary dog that we will one day adopt.
I have a massive makeup collection and I’m grateful that, as a freelance makeup artist, I can justify buying even more.
When I’m not playing with color or characters, I can usually be found in the nearest diner or bubble tea shop trying to take the perfect picture of my drink while my husband rolls his eyes.
(Yes, we’re that couple. And, no, I don’t post my food pics on my Instagram feed.)
I thank you so much for reading this book that I’ve co-written with Vivienne! It’s been a real treat building this world with her.
If you enjoyed it, I would appreciate a review! Even a few kind words would be amazing feedback for us!
If you’re interested in reading my standalone books, here are the links to my series!
