Page 97 of A Crown of Tears and Treason
The group of guards split down the middle to reveal the glistening sight that was Kaya. She floated in the middle of the crowd, a dream of silk and jewels that lit up the gruesome gathering. Her worried gaze brightened as she spotted Ryker, who sighed as she rushed our way.
Well, at least she attempted to rush. Her arms were burdened by the billowy sleeves and she struggled to lift her long skirt, even with Vexa’s help.
Kaya looked ready to attend a ball, not help out the injured, but each person she passed looked at her with small, open smiles.
“What happened?” she asked. “How could they come from the northern side, isn’t that–Oh! Hi, Evie!”
I widened my eyes. “Don’t say that out loud.”
Kaya’s perfect brows furrowed. “Why? It isn’t your real name. I mean, it is, but–”
“Everyone here is wounded because Zandyr came after me and the Serpents retaliated.”
Ryker scoffed. “You think very highly of yourself.”
“That’s rich coming from someone who introduced himself asCommander,” I hissed.
“The Dragon planned on killing Fabrian before he knew you still existed,” he grumbled.
“These people don’t know that. And they hate me after what happened at the temple,” I said.
“Evie,” Kaya whispered and laid a gentle hand on my shoulder. “If anyone here truly thought you were responsible for what happened, do you think they’d trust you more if you stayed in your house, ignoring their problems? Or here, helping to treat the wounded?”
Adara pursed her lips in annoyance, as if she hadn’t suggested the same thing minutes ago.
I wanted to help, I did. Kaya was right. But still, I hesitated. All those accusing gazes on me…
“Trust me,” Kaya said. “I’ve been raised to make people love me. You will bethequeen. Your people need to see you, feel that you’re on their side.”
You show them you’re the best damn queen they ever had, grandpa Constantine’s voice resounded in my mind.
Show. I needed to show them.
With a trembling hand, I untied my coat. As it fell around me in a pool of gray wool, the chaos around us turned into a hush. The vials on my uniform glistened as hundreds of pairs of questioning eyes turned to me. They felt like a million little pricks all over my skin.
Crowds and attention still made me want to melt into a puddle. But I had to get used to it.
To this.
The scrutiny.
The curiosity.
Thestares.
“It’s good that you’re wearing our Elite uniform,” Kaya whispered.
Shoulders straight, I turned. Nobody moved. They just keptlooking.
Kaya placed a warm hand on my shoulder again.
“So good of you to come and help the warriors,” she said, loud enough for the entire Capital to hear.
Silence.
I stood still, even as my insides quaked. There was hostility in the gazes aimed at me; whether for me personally or the Protectorate Clan I came from, I couldn’t tell. But I was the only First Family member here. I had to bear all the animosity from the past centuries.
Maybe if Zandyr had been standing by my side, they would have looked away out of respect for him, if nothing else.
