Of Darkness and Crowns (8 page)

And when agreements come from all members of the Council, I glance at Lilly, her eyebrows furrowed. Though I can’t help but notice she looks slightly relieved. I wasn’t meant to be a ruler, this I know. But how can Empress Iana nominate Julian?

Betrayal and worse, disappointment in my leader, consumes me.

What I am meant to do is now clear.

I’m done here. I’m going after Caben.

♦
9
♦

Caben

W
HY HAVEN’T THEY SENT
their scouts yet?

This is the question that annoys me, wondering just what my Council and my sultry Nactue leader are up to.

Stuffed away in my treehouse fortress, I ponder this question and a hell of a lot more. Bale has random ideas, theories, as to why we were allowed to escape and why no one chose to pursue us. Even now that we have something of value. One: They fear us too greatly. This, above all, I’d love to believe, if I were at all naïve. Pride for my country still sways my judgment.

Two: They believe we’ll strike again, and this time, they’ll be more prepared.

This one I choose to accept as the more logical reason. Truth is, once the combined numbers of both the Perinyian army and Cavan’s protectors are set against us, we have little chance of winning. Defeating a force of that magnitude would take more power than even the dark goddess can muster, at least in her current state.

That’s why our strategic attacks on units have worked thus far. And why we’re always the first to retreat. Test their forces and retreat. Test and retreat.

Churning, churning; crushing, crushing. Relentless. Always these thoughts crippling me. Bale has been pleasantly quiet these past few hours. Probably still furious over my discovery and pouting. But still my own thoughts bully me. Beat my will into submission. And what
is
my will anymore?

The deeper I plunge into the moon goddess’s realm, the more difficult it is to be decisive as to what I—just me, no other—truly desire. Power. Yes, there’s always that. But what after? Will the lust for power ever be sated?

I shake my head instead of answering my own questions. I haven’t gone completely mad. Yet.

Madness is only the first step toward genius
.

And like an ill-timed migraine, my dark mistress returns.

“Just what is our next move, your evilness?” I barrel out a laugh. “I doubt a search party is going to be sent.” Not for this one. Only one person will make it her personal quest. I suppose I’m counting on that.

Lure the girl to us. You know what must be done
.

On cue, as if he heard the goddess himself, the Otherworlder bucks and squirms against his restraints. The chains rattle with each of his guttural moans. His pale face is a shade too white, contrasting the bruises and scrapes, the beating he took, during our invasion on the palace.

“Always an outsider, huh, Bax?” I ask, advancing toward the wall of windows overlooking the cove. “You were an outcast in your own realm, and now you’re an outcast here, again, among your own people. What, did you really think
my
country would accept you?” I chuckle. “That Kal would? That maybe she could help you establish a place among
her
people?”

With a jerk, Bax fights the shackles, his forehead wrinkled in anger over his gnarly eyebrows. I turn my back to him. “You’re a traitor on all counts. What other outcome did you expect?”

I anchor my palms on the window ledge and watch the waves crash, swallowing the shore, pulling the sand into the undertow. Down. Down. This could go very wrong. I wanted…
something
to bring Kal to my door—a taunt, a bribe, anything. But her mutant friend, who she cares for greatly, might be a step too far.

Fear is for the weak
.

I roll my eyes. Sometimes the dark goddess makes me laugh outright with her clichés. But what should I think? She’s been underground for over a century. Hardly able to keep up with the times. And she probably was the very first being to utter such phrases. Best try to keep that thought to myself. Even I know better than to mock a woman about her age.

I’ve lost my train of thought. Oh, yes, but when Bax was presented to me, chained and bound, an offering from someone who has a vested interest in seeing Bale restored, I couldn’t turn down such a perfect plan. I knew Bax would be the key to getting at Kal.

We suspected—Kal and I—back in the dungeon of the Otherworld, that there was a traitor in Cavan. Someone high up, in position to access privileged information. Bax had told Kal as much back then. Though he didn’t know exactly who it was at the time. Well, I suppose he does now.

Even I was somewhat shocked to discover the Councilor waltzing up to my legion of Otherworlders like she had nothing to fear, Bax in tow. Making a bargain with the moon goddess, through me, to have her place in a new society when Bale ascends. It was ballsier than anything I’d have done in her place. Maybe.

I figured it was a setup. A military unit waiting in the tree line, ready to pounce, as soon as I let my guard down. Wouldn’t they have noticed one of their advisors missing? And right after an attack—wouldn’t that have looked strange? It had to be a trap.

But here we are, Kal’s mutant confidant in our company, a chess piece ready to be played. I wish, not for the first time, that my thoughts were my own. I’d like to go over this strategy thoroughly before I make my move, without Bale feeding her lines into my head.

Once Kal knows we’ve taken Bax hostage, she’ll come for him. She may have been skirting the idea of hunting me down before this, but she’ll make it her personal mission now. The only question is, will she come alone or be able to convince others to join her?

Glancing back at Bax, his dreaded hair, the silver rings in his face, I decide not. Neither Council—Cavan or Perinya—will go out of their way to save him. Even if he did prove himself an ally to them, he’s still considered the enemy. A liability, probably. And my new collaborator assured me no one will vote for a rescue mission for one Otherworlder.

The Councilor claimed she wanted Kal out of the way, the relic and its shard that much closer to being seized, and this was her proof to Bale of her servitude. Who knows if it’s the truth—if there’s another plot at hand. I grow weary of trying to sort it all out.

Only one thing is clear: Kal will be here shortly.

I wanted this. I wanted her in my grasp, but I also wanted more time to toy with her first. Bale considers this my ultimate weakness—that I would sabotage everything for a human girl. That’s her slight against me, her insult.
Human. You stink of humanity
. I think the goddess of madness fails to realize just how badly her new world will stink of human filth.

There’s no fear of her ending all of humanity, though. She still needs worshipers.

Shaking my head, I turn my attention from the ocean to the knock at the door. “Enter.”

The office door swings wide and Lake walks in, his thick boots loud on the wood floor, his sinewy arms shuffling books and rolled parchment. I’m surprised he was able to unearth anything of relevance here. I don’t remember requesting material on the goddesses when I constructed my treehouse, but lately, many insignificant details are becoming difficult to recall.

I grip the metal emblem in my pocket tightly, once, my eyelids shutting. Center my thoughts. Circling my temple with my free hand, I motion to the center table with my elbow, instructing Lake to set down the books and documents. I’m running out of patience when it comes to sharing occupancy in my head—there’s only room for one here, and the increasing headaches are proof enough of that.

“You were able to gather what I wanted?” Seating myself in my leather chair, I reach for the nearest tome. The engraving reads:
Legends of a Dying World
. Now this does sound like something I’d have stashed in my den. Brushing up on my literature before taking the throne, having to instruct my Council on goddess lore and myths.

I very much wanted it all to be myth back then. I was ready to move my kingdom away from an outdated religion that maintained pain and suffering as the way of life. Once my father removed my mentally unstable mother to a ward—in the name of the Goddess Rae, of course—I was through. Tired of doing despicable acts in the name of the goddesses. Always the perfect excuse.

“My Liege,” Lake says, bowing. “I’ve found several more, but these looked the most promising…for your…”

“Study,” I offer. “My new friend and I have tons of exciting research to conduct. Right, Bax?” I angle my head just enough to watch Bax’s pale chin lift in curious attention. “Well done, Lake.”

Lake hesitates, unsure of what to do with my praise. I don’t give it often. Never.

“Leave,” I instruct him. “Don’t let it go to your gnarly little head.”

Finally, Lake bows again and says, “Yes, My Liege.”

Once I have my privacy—dark goddess excluded—I flip open the leather-covered book and scroll through the table of contents. I’m not exactly sure what I’m looking for…but I’ll know it when I
feel
it.

Banish this inane theory, Prince. It’s wasting our time.

And my finger stops. I look down. “Why, thank you, my dark lovely.” I figure using the goddess as my guide, like a homing device, is as good an approach as any to locate what I need. I hear her angered hiss in my head and laugh before reading the chapter heading aloud. “Chaos Philosophy. Legends of the Moon.”

Cracking my knuckles, I make a show of settling in for my research, even though the only one who could appreciate my spectacle is blindfolded and gagged. With a playful shrug, I turn to the chapter and begin reading to myself—and Bale. Though I’m sure she’s well aware of her own legend.

Whatever it is you’re seeking, just ask, princeling. It would be much quicker
.

A chuckle slips from my mouth. “Yes. I’m sure you’d do well to leave out all the good parts,” I say to the goddess. “Listen up, Bax. Even though I’m positive you’re just as informed as the moon goddess.” Peeking over at my hostage, I nod once. “Ah.”

I scoop up the book and move toward one of the windows. Placing my palm to the cool pane to signal the tint, I dim the room, shading the morning light. Then I head back toward Bax and kneel next to his shacked ankles. I reach out and remove the blindfold and rip the tape from his mouth.

A gruff shout rends the den, and Bax stretches his neck and flexes his jaw. “I don’t know who’s stupider.” His black pupils slit. “You or that deranged, rejected deity.”

Despite his obvious disdain for me, I smile. He’s absolutely right about Bale.

You go too far
…

“Quiet.”

Bax’s eyes narrow.

I jerk mine toward the upper corner of my head, indicating that I was talking to the deranged deity. “She really dislikes blasphemy. So for the time being, let’s limit our number of insults to Her
oh
holy darkness.”

Propping the book on my knee, I lean in closer to the riled Otherworlder. “Before you sing Kal’s praises, issuing threats of how she’s coming to rip me limb from limb,” I say, angling the page so Bax can better see it. “Let’s have a discussion, you and me. Oh, and I darkened the room for you so you could remove your lenses if you wish.” I smile wide. “See how accommodating I can be?”

He snarls. “Break out your torture devices, Prince of Pain. I’ll not give you what you want.” My insides flare at the use of my Cage name, and Bax grins. “I won’t betray Kaliope.”

My eyebrows raise. “And yet, you just have.” His faint smile disappears. “How did you know I was seeking anything on the Nactue leader? Why would this”—I tap the page on Bale—“have anything to do with Kal?”

Bax turns his face toward the window. Silent.

I sigh. “Really. Are we going to have to get all primitive here? I was happy to leave that in the Otherworld, and simply hoping to have a civilized conversation.” I thumb to the next page and hold it up. “Look here, mongrel. It says Bale was stripped of her powers.”

Bax guffaws. “I thought that was obvious.”

I shrug, inching the book higher. “They lay dormant…most of them. It’s obvious that not
all
her powers were stripped. However, there must be some truth in this.” I point to the text. “I do understand physics, some. You can’t simply extinguish energy—
power
. It has to go
somewhere
. So, where did the goddesses put all that power that they took from their sister?”

He doesn’t respond, and my anger mounts, pulsing in rhythm with my aching temples. I gently set the book aside and ball my fist. Then land a hard punch to the side of Bax’s face.

When his attention snaps to me, I yank the chain around his neck, bringing his face level with mine. “I think we both know what I’m getting at. You’re smarter than the rest of your lowlife brethren.” I release the chain with a flick of my fingers. “I respected you for that. Don’t lose the only thing keeping you alive.”

Bax’s top lip twitches as a low growl builds in his throat. “It would be an honor, My Liege.”

I can’t help it, I laugh. Sitting back on my hands, I take in the Otherworlder. “It’s not the Goddess Alyah’s blessed mercury that swims though Kal’s veins at all, is it?”