Page 3 of A Crown of Tears and Treason
Nobodyreallyknew what went on inside the Clans who controlled all magic in Malhaven. Each had their own specific powers, which they used to defend their lands, people, andinterests as fiercely as lionesses protected their cubs. Even a novice like me knew some of the civilians thought the Protectorate Clan called on the ocean gods to power our special protective spells.
As if gods ever listened. None of them had bothered with my pleas so far.
“If that's what you’re afraid of, we can protect you,” Allie whispered. “You’re part of the Protectorate First Family. Nobody can touch you.”
I huffed a sad laugh. More promises I didn’t dare believe.
Yes, they could. They had and they would do it again.
Fabrian’ assassins had found our shabby cabin in the mountains and had murdered my parents.
Nobody evensuspected. For now. They would all curse the murderers’ names one day, this I swore.
Allie’s hand hovered over my own for the briefest moment.
Cautious. Unused to having me around after sixteen years of worrying I’d died.
These moments hurt the most.
Neither I nor my cousins knew how to act like the tight-knit First Family we were supposed to be. They were too worried they might damage me if their hugs lasted too long or scare me if they pressed an issue too strongly. That they could break me, physically or emotionally, with one wrong move or word.
Did I look that powerless to them?
In some ways, I was powerless. But fewer questions helped me keep up the appearance of the perfect little bride besotted with her savior.
“Grandpa Constantine would havehatedthis.” She finally grabbed my hand, like she used to do when we were four, right before we dove into grandpa Constantine’s pool.
I squeezed back, thankful for this small contact. A few beats of silence passed as we looked over the quickly-filling garden.
“Say the word and Fabrian vanishes,” Allie’s deadly voice cut the stillness.
I yanked on her hand, eyes slashing to the guard.
“Don’t worry, I cast a protective silencing spell.” Allie flicked the fingers of her free hand, small blue tendrils lighting between them. “He thinks I’m telling you about your “wifely duties” on the wedding night.”
The thought of Fabrian touching a single hair on my head made me gag.
I stared in awe at the simple show of magic, hungry for even a fraction of that power. My parents had forbidden me from practicing. I couldn’t light a candle with a snap to save my life, let alone cast a protective silencing spell.
I was so ashamed because of it. Who had ever heard of a Protectorate First Family member that wasn’t an excellent spellcaster? My ancestors were probably rolling in their graves.
“Well? We can take care of him, Evie,” Allie went on. “We’d do his Clan and all of Malhaven a favor, too.”
I loved my cousins, I did. But they hadn’t been able to find me. Fabrian had. I believed his threats of revenge more than my cousins’ promises of safety.
Marrying Fabrian would keep my cousins alive and safe–and get me closer to finding the identities of my parents’ assassins. For my family, I would do anything.
Even though I was dying inside. My entire body recoiled at the sight of Fabrian–and this talk of murder wasn’t helping.
“Enough,” I said in that imperious tone grandpa Constantine had taught me. Right now, he would have been proud of me. My cousin looked at me with surprise. “This is my wedding. I am marrying Fabrian. That. Is.Final.”
An ugly silence fell between us. Allie’s hand slowly slipped away from mine.
“Hate me if you must.” Allie took a deep, centering breath. “But you’re making a big mistake.”
It took all my strength to not throw myself into her arms.
“It’s my mistake to make,” I said, unshed tears strangling my voice.
