Page 44 of Crown of Betrayal and Blood

The world fades away into a cloud of gray. Almost reminiscent of what happened over the Lost City. I can’t make sense of anything.

She’s dead. How can I exist in a world where my mother is dead?

“Because we need you. Your sister. Your friends.Ineed you, Lark.” Sterling presses a goblet into my hands. “Drink. It will steady you.”

I take a deep breath. Did I say that last thought out loud?

We’re in Sterling’s sitting room. I must be more shaken than I thought if we moved this far without me noticing.

In our hands, his over mine, is a glass brimming with amber liquid. The smell of alcohol stings my nose.

Yes, this is exactly what I need. Something to numb the pain of my fractured heart.

I tip the glass, my teeth chattering against it, and force myself to take a healthy swallow. The whiskey burns its way down my throat.

The door swings open to reveal the dowager queen, her mourning attire immaculate despite the chaos. “You have to calm her down before the dragons tear the palace apart trying to get to her. They must sense her emotions.”

“I’m trying. I gave her—” Sterling’s mother cuts him off by pushing him aside. I shiver at the cold air that rushes over my skin at the action.

“She’s in shock.” Stooping, the matriarch levels her brown eyes with mine. Though still dark, they’re a few shades lighter than Sterling’s. “Lark, your sister needs you. You need each other.”

Whether I’ve been in this room for minutes or hours, I don’t know. But now I force myself to pay attention to what is happening around me.

“Leesa?” I sip more of the whiskey, breathing through the burn. “Where?”

“She’s right here. She’s not doing well.” Easing the cup from my hands and passing it to Sterling, Alannah gestures to my sister.

I have to work hard to focus. When I do, I discover Leesa sitting on a couch across from me. Rhiann sits beside her, running her fingers through the loose hair cascading down my sister’s back.

Exactly how our mother comforted us when we were upset.

“Leesa.” Her name is a gasp and a lifeline. Pulling away from Sterling, I scramble over to her. My legs are nearly numb, and I stumble against the table, but I reach her all the same.

Gripping the edge of the couch, I sit on the other side of her. “Leesa, you should drink this. It will help.” Lifting her hands, I help her sip from the glass Rhiann gave her.

“She needs to try to contain her emotions so she doesn’t set the dragons off. We need to help her settle.” Queen Alannah sits in a chair opposite the couch. “Bring those blankets. These girls are shivering like leaves in the wind. The dragons should calm down now that Lark has something else to focus on.”

“Will you find who did this?” Leesa’s voice is barely audible as she cradles the glass in front of her mouth.

“I’ll find them,” Sterling vows, handing over the blankets I’d thrown aside in my haste to reach Leesa. “You ladies just need to rest. You’re safe here.”

The queen drapes one of the blankets over my shoulders. Sterling smooths the material over my back, pressing a soft kiss against my temple.

I shouldn’t need them. It’s the tail end of summer. Still plenty warm, but my teeth chatter all the same.

Scooting closer, I wrap my arms around Leesa, pulling her against my chest the way she used to hold me when we were little.

She falls into my lap, her arms digging around behind me to wrap around my waist.

She’s the only family I have left.

“We’ll take care of them.” Rhiann speaks up from the other side of the couch.

“Mother, Rhiann, thank you,” Sterling says before slipping out the door to the hall.

Before the door even closes behind him, he starts barking orders. Boots clash on the marble floors as soldiers and guards rush to obey. More voices call out.

Leesa whimpers, her arms tightening around me.

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