Page 37 of The Stolen Throne

I can’t help but roll my eyes. “As I was saying, if you must know, I am going to talk to Dax.”

He snaps his fingers over his shoulder and orders, “Take her to see the prince.”

My eyes widen when two soldiers step away from their posts to stand behind Kas. “I can go by myself.”

“Do you know which way to go, Princess?” he asks, unable to hide his smirk.

Huffing out a sigh, I growl, “No.”

He gives a satisfied nod. “Off you go.”

“I hate you,” I reply as I pass him.

He snorts and turns to make his way down the hallway. “Hate you, too, Princess.”

I follow quietly behind the guards as they guide me to Dax. It’s only a few moments before we are standing in front of wooden double doors. The guards give me a bow, then return to their posts.

I knock and wait a moment before opening the door. “Dax, I was wondering—” I immediately slam the door closed with a squeal.

Dax laughs on the other side. “Come in, Little Raven. I’m done playing.”

“I think I’ll stay right here,” I reply with an edge of hysteria. I knew these men were dark. I’ve seen Ash covered in blood. On the other hand, though, I was not ready to see a man hog tied with an apple stuffed in his mouth and covered in blood.

“Come in, Eira. I feel this is a great learning moment for you.”

“I’d rather not,” I whisper.

I hear footsteps, and the door suddenly swings open. I jump back with a squeak. He holds out a hand with a dark, deceptive smile. “Come now, Little Raven. There’s nothing to fear.”

Right, nothing to fear, except for the men I keep forgetting are the villains. Taking a deep breath, I slip my hand into his, and he escorts me into the room. My eyes automatically drift to the bloody male. I jump when I hear Dax’s deep voice explain, “This is his punishment for attempting to spy on me for my father.” He shrugs as we pass the man, stepping up onto the platform where the throne sits.

He escorts me over, gesturing for me to take a seat. Doing as I’m told, I hold the book closer to my chest. He smiles as he steps away, briefly looking back down at the man. “What brought you to me, Little Raven?”

“Right.” My voice comes out high-pitched. Clearing my throat, I try again. “Right, um… I had a few questions about this book I found in the library.”

He hums as he circles the restrained man. “What questions do you have?”

Holding the book out so he can see it, I say, “First, I’m wondering why there’s an apple on the cover of a Spells and Curses book.”

Humming thoughtfully, he pulls the apple out of the man's mouth. The man begins to yell for help but is cut off when a tendril of darkness covers his mouth like a gag. Dax doesn’t seem bothered by the man as he inspects the apple in his hand. “Do you know the symbolism behind an apple?”

I shake my head, and he continues, “Knowledge, immortality, and temptation.” He points to the book in my hand. “That book holds all three.”

Arching a brow, I ask, “What do you mean?”

His eyes flick from the apple to me. “Did you know my father used apples to gain his power?”

My eyes widen in shock as I reply, “No.”

Holding the fruit up, he frowns. “He would poison them. Infect them with a curse.” I watch as the bright red apple in his hand turns to a sickening brown. “The only issue with that is you cannot just hand an apple like this to anyone and expect them to eat it.”

I watch with wide eyes as the darkness around the man's mouth disappears, and Dax shoves the rotten apple back into his mouth. He looks back at me with dark eyes as he wipes his hand on his shirt. “You have to bake it into something. That is why the cooks know so many apple recipes. It’s also the reason apples are the only fruit that will grow in this god-forsaken wasteland.”

I point at the man as Dax continues walking my way. “Did… did you just poison him?”

He shrugs. “He deserves a slow death.” Clapping his hands, he sits on the arm of the throne. Tapping the book in my hands, he says, “That book contains forbidden knowledge and words of immortality. It contains things that any power-hungry being would be tempted by.”

“Why is it in your library?” I whisper.

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