Page 98 of The Nightmare Queen

“I’d choose your words very carefully, father.” I warn.

He tilts his head, mirth flitting through his eyes. “Or what? You’ll kill me? Can’t do that, or you’ll leave Vellar without it’s sovereigns. Your poor mother’s already dead, and if you kill me you’ll make yourself an enemy of the crown. Abdicating your throne immediately.”

I lower my sword but don’t sheathe it. “Your attacked your own city. Why?”

The man smiles, his sharp blue stare sends a shiver of unease down my spine. “Did I?” He steps around the desk, placing himself directly in front of me. His arms fold across his chest as he sits on the lip of it. “See, the way I see it. The wayVellarwill see it, is that you brought in an enemy of our kingdom. That you brought in Obsids, which not only resulted in your mother’s death, but then the city was attacked! The very queen you claimed was here to help us leaves this court with your mother’s blood coating her skin, her army waiting outside the gates, and a dragon burning our fields.” Bile rises in my throat as he twists the manner of events. As his words warp the horrors we all just came from, while he stayed up here, protected. “It’s a shame. Really. The way they’ll see it is, the Nightmare Queen’s claws dug into our poor unsuspecting and useless prince, manipulation at its best. Some may even sayyouorchestrated all of this as a way to usurp the throne before it was your time.”

“But none of that is true!” Will argues.

My father’s face twists in irritation, “it is true if theirKingsays it is true Will,” a greasy smile spreads across his face, “speaking of traitor queens, I see she isn’t with you. I do hope she stays where you left her. The people will demand she pay for her crimes against our peaceful kingdom. And I am nothing, if not agreeable.”

My heart stops at his suggestion. I grab him by his collar, leaning closely into his face. “If anyone will have a reckoning for the events and losses we suffered today, it will beyou, father.”

My feet can’t seem to carry me fast enough as we head back towards my rooms. I tear the doors open to find a charred spot but no Ezra.Racing to my bedroom door I pull hard on the handles. The bed is empty. Only a rumpled, bloody, and dirty spot remains where her unconscious body should be.

No. No. No. No. No. NO! This cannot be happening. This cannot be fucking happening.She was just here. We left her for a second, just a second. I push at the seal.“Come on, Nightmare.”I push again.“Come on, come on, come on.”Will and Bennett come in behind me, swearing under their breath. “She can’t just begone.”I say, my voice cracking. I keep pushing at the seal but it’s blocked, it feels unnatural.

Alarms begin to sound loudly through the court, and Will tugs at my arm. “They’re going to come looking for us we have to go.” He says, his voice rising in panic. I don’t budge from my spot, just staring at the place her body should still be. “Rorin come on. We have to go.”

“We can’t just leave her!” I argue.

“Rorin. We don’t where she is. We have to go!” With a hard tug they both manage to pry me out of the room. The three of us run through the halls, dodging any passageways that are busy with soldiers, sentries, or guards.

We snagged, Felix, Millie, and Max on the way to the portal and with a clumsy shove we all stumble into the room. “Well—” Bennett grunts moving things to blockade thedoor, “now what?”

Convenient, I think as I look around and see no portal attendant. Guards voices begin raising outside, their armored footsteps getting closer. "Obsidian." Felix answers and the seven of us link arms and throwing ourselves into the portal just as the doors break open. With a distorted look, I see my father’s furious face before all things around me fade as the magic pulls us in.

We tumble out of it haphazardly, as their attendant rushes to close it off. Eveera’s council are all already waiting in the room, their eyes wide with panic. They allow us a few minutes to gain our bearings before they motion for us to follow them.

The familiar darkness of her court gnaws at the fear I have for where she is and who she’s with. A very hopeful sliver of irrational thinking, wishes that Ezra was dumb enough to bring her back here, but those hopes are dashed the moment we enter the council room to where only Marjorie stands.

Staff makes room for our group to sit, leaving most of the council without a seat.

The room stays quiet until Felix takes his place at the head of the table next to the old woman who opens her mouth to speak. “You came back,withouther.”

“Axel Mecham and Orem Abrams died in combat defending their family and their Queen.” Felix states, taking some of the heat off of me for a minute as I try to figure out what to say. Gasps ripple through the room along with Max’s choked sob at the mention of his brother while I shove down my emotions, “Hadar and Vellar have officially declared war on Obsidian. Claiming the attack and events of this day are at the hands of the Obsids.” Arguments erupt from the council members in the room, silencing only when Felix raises his hand. “Upon our return to the Valen Court, Commander Ezra Wake - head of Queen Eveera’s personaldetail - who had abandoned his duties, reappeared after the battle. The prince believes that he hasstolenthe Queen.” More gasps echo through the room. Felix motions me towards him. I getting up cautiously, taking a place next to the two of them. “As you all have just been made aware, with her missing, it is of utmost importance we find her in this grave time of vulnerability.” He pauses waiting for any interruptions before continuing. “As you also know, this means we’ll need an acting regent until she is brought back safely.” He turns to look at me, a hand resting on my shoulder while Marjorie’s withered fingers wrap around my left forearm, facing it out and exposing the rune there.

“A blood seal was performed between Prince Rorin and Queen Eveera before they left to fight for Vellar under Obsidian’s banner. Now, the fates are clear. They are bound not only by blood but by magic. Magic gifted to us by the ley lines flowing through the earth. I have touched the strings that tie their fates, interwoven together as stated by magic and prophecy.” She announces.Prophecy? What prophecy?I wonder looking at Felix, alarmed. “Prince Rorin will be named regent in the stead of Queen Eveera until she is found.”

Resounding arguments of “you can’t be serious” and “the kingdom will never accept him as regent -wewill never accept him.” fill the council room. I can't help but agree while my head feels like it’s about to explode.

Marjorie silences them, “it is written both in prophecy, the precedence of ancient tradition, and now in blood. You’re being informed, that is all. There will be no discussion.” She waves them out of the room dismissing the whole council. Not even Alina, who likes to argue with her queen, speaks any further.

Once it’s just the group of us who came back from Vellar and Marjorie, I whirl on her. “You left out two very important details, woman. The prophecy and the part where I become your king.” Marjorie looks to meas if I have just said something wholly ignorant. From there she huffs in annoyance while pulling a scroll from her pocket. She clears her throat, projecting it loudly for the room:

"When the light burns out the dark,

the Queen painted in blood and shadows shall rise.

Lying in wait-

The man loyal to no Wield who answers only to peril,

lay waste to all in his path.

Deals made in blood that binds.

A battle of Kings and Queens to tip the scales,

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