Page 28 of The Crown of Nyx

My stomach bottomed out. “What do you want to do with her?”

Part of me didn’t want to know. But the other part trusted that my mate had a plan; that she didn’t intend on being needlessly cruel to the soldier. There was still a chance that many of the creatures under Dante’s rule weren’t there willingly. I’d felt his attempt at entering my mind at the ball, and I believed that might be the case for much of his army. Not all, but definitely some.

“I want to question her,” Maeve explained, tugging me into the shadows of the deck while my other mates moved to help with our departure. “I want—needto readher memories. See if there is a way to break through whatever barriers Dante has on his soldiers. He has taken great precautions to make sure vampires like me cannot see into the memories of his people. I want to know why.”

A shiver rolled over my skin, disgust churning in my gut.

“He intended on recruiting you,” Orion said, cocking his head as he joined us. “And when he realised he could not, he found a way to stop you.”

My stomach bottomed out as I glanced back at Maeve. She eyed the Fae critically, though she didn’t appear all too surprised by that revelation. It made me wonder just how many Dante tried to sway to his side.

From the corner of my eye, I spotted Adrian and Rowan. Two who definitely would have been on Dante’s radar. All the parties, the temptations and influence Dante used to have over my mate, and somehow, Adrian broke free of his older brother, never even realising it.

Orion folded his arms over his chest, leaning back against a wall. “He—the false king, Dante—had a list. Certain creatures he wanted on his side. Specific abilities he believed would help him.”

“How knowledgeable are you about this?” Maeve asked questioningly, though it wasn’t an accusation. She didn’t appear to distrust him in the same ways as before.

The Fae male glanced at her warily before sighing. “I know enough. Like some of the names on that list.” His eyes found mine briefly, but flickered away. I turned to find him staring at someone else. “Your half-Fae mate, Hawk Nash, was on it.”

I didn’t thinkit was possible to get any more anxious about Dante’s plans. But learning that Hawk was someone he wanted to recruit and had somehow used one of Hawk’s own team members in the attack on the palace, definitely didn’t help.

The ship rocked gently as we approached the Titan’s Channel, a stretch of ocean known for its dangerous water and demons of the deep. Fuck, I wish they hadn’t told me about them.Demons of the deep. Even the name made me shudder. My knowledge about the Underworld and those who resided there was minimal for several reasons, and part of me regretted not spending more time paying attention in those lessons.

“The chances of us being followed is high, my Queen,” Captain Meira said, stepping up to the railing beside me. “You should rest in the cabin. You’ll be much safer there.”

I pressed my lips together and looked up at the dark sky stretching out above us. My protection bubble remained strong around the ship, and with a few added charms, we were as hidden as possible.

“I think I’m too riled up for rest,” I replied honestly, offering the captain a tentative smile. “But thanks.”

The witch eyed me for a long moment before sighing, resting her hands on the railing and pressing her body weight into it. “Is it terrible that I think all of this is…insane?” she asked quietly. “It is so hard to believe that aprince, the son of Queen Greer, could do something like this.”

I ran a hand through my hair as I tried to come up with a Queenly response. But how the hell was I supposed to reply to a comment like that? She was right—it was worse than insane. I couldn’t even imagine what was going through Dante’s head for him to even plan all of it.

“I really don’t know,” I said after a long moment, exhaling softly as I leaned into the railing. “But I know that he not only betrayed her, but his entire family. All of us. I can’t imagine what’s happening to them all right now.”

And there was that guilt again over leaving again. Was I abandoning everyone and going on a fool’s quest? Was there even a chance the crown of Nyx would help in the upcoming war? When we’d escaped the palace, I’d been so certain the crown was where we needed to go. But as I watched the darkened ocean and the stars reflected upon its calm surface, I couldn’t help but question it. This would be my first true act as Queen, and if I chose wrong, then it could all be for nothing.

Should I have stayed? Fought him with everything I had in Avalon?

Leaving is the only thing we could have done, Adrian said through the bond, his response sending a shiver down my spine.We don’t know what resources he has. And that is what makes him dangerous.

I released a shuddering breath, his presence brushing over me as he appeared on the deck. “Do you mind if my mate and I have a moment?” he asked the captain, joining us at the railing.

Captain Meira bowed her head. Without a word, she pushed away from us and moved towards another section of the ship. As soon as she was gone, her magical signature nothing but a whisper in the wind, I turned to my prince.

He wasn’t looking at me; instead, he gazed out over the water with his jaw clenched, hands gripping the railing with so much force I thought the wood might splinter. A soft breeze swept over us, ruffling his golden hair.

“I’m sorry,” I said, voice low. “I am so sorry.”

Adrian’s throat bobbed. “You have nothing to be sorry about, Ivy.”

“I do, though. I could have done more.” I shook my head and forced myself to turn from him. “I could have stopped him.”

“Not even my mother could stop him. Not my father or any of her mates. If they couldn’t do anything, why do you think you could have?” There was anger in his tone, though I wasn’t sure if it was directed at me or the situation. “My mother could have lived, you know. A knife to the abdomen wouldn’t have killed her under normal circumstances.”

The magic would have saved her, was what he didn’t say.I glanced down at the water crashing against the side of the ship and sighed. “You think she knew?”

“She’s probably known since your powers awoke that she would be dying soon. Maybe even Sable knew. That’s why my mother didn’t fight back. Why she let you take what remained of her magic. If she lived, you wouldn’t have had the power to stand against Dante. She knew you would need to be at full strength for this war.”

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