Page 63 of Of Stars and Lightning
Arnold hummed pensively, making her stop her escape and look back his way. He crossed an ankle over a knee. “You know, I feel like I am missing something. What could it be?”
Beside him, Gina’s violet eyes sparkled with mischief. “The gift!” She signaled to the mysterious, red-draped crate by the wall, almost directly beside Sol. She took a healthy step away from it.
“The gift!” King Semmena echoed, clapping. “I suppose I should’ve unveiled it prior to your little announcement, niece. My mind wanders lately.”
Nina shifted, grabbing hold of Sawyer and Alix as King Semmena strode down from his dais and onto the floor. Smoke seemed to trail him as he walked toward Sol, toward the eyesore of a decoration.
The crowds that gathered around it parted for him.
Nina met Sol’s gaze from the other side of the room, and Sol dipped her chin, a silent request for them to come to her side.
Perhaps it was a bear. A lion, like Alix had suggested. Something Semmena could unleash, and it would take care of the problem Sol posed to him.
“Before you graced us with your very brave display of defiance, Sol Yarrow,” Semmena said, running his hand across the crimson fabric, “I was actually going to announce one more prospect.”
As the curtain slid to the ground, Sol didn’t know what to focus on first. On the fact that beneath the cloth was a cage made of steel bars and stone. Or on who resided within.
Cas.
“What the fuck.” Sawyer voiced Sol’s thoughts as she raced forward.
Sol stood frozen as her cousin ran past, trying to keep her breathing normal, willing her mind to settle. Cas lay against the far bars, his head limp against them, as if they were the only thing offering support.
Slowly, Sol walked closer.
His skin was smeared with dust and sweat, his hair pressed to his forehead and cheeks. His chest rose and fell in hollow pants, and when he met her gaze, those sterling eyes were as dim as the rusted bars around him.
“What the fuck is this?” Sawyer repeated, pulling at the bars frantically. Her palms flared. “Let him out!”
Beside Sol, Nina fell forward with a sob, pressing her face to the cage while her knees collided with the marble floors. “Cas,” she pleaded. “Cas, are you okay?”
Cas didn’t move, instead giving the Earth Caller a small, gentle smile.
“Casimir Xanthos is hereby sentenced to his participation in the Yarrow Coronation Vows as punishment for the murder of Gerson Xamthee.” Semmena rubbed his palms together, as if the motion would cleanse the filth from them. “His immediate execution would have been a mercy compared to the terror my kingsmen experienced upon his return.”
Sawyer narrowed her eyes at her father, tears pooling at the edge of her eyes. “Your kingsmen disrespected the Heiress Apparent.”
“Can you blame them for assuming she wasn’t Irene’s daughter?” Gina eyed Sol. “Not to mention, insults should not result in death.”
Fury coated Sol’s throat. She could feel it heat her face, her chest, her closed fists as she surveyed Cas, as his wrists bled beneath solid cuffs and his exposed skin flecked with bruises.
She turned to her uncle. “Release him.”
Amusement danced in the man’s eyes. He surveyed her with a calculating ferocity, then just shrugged. “He will go to the dungeons until all the prospects depart to the Gods’ Villa tomorrow. Yourself included.”
Sol remained welded to her spot, all too aware of the wandering eyes, the whispers, and the gods-awful sight of the warrior inside the cage. Again, she said, “Open the cage.”
“You don’t order the King—” Semmena held a hand up, interrupting Gina mid-chastise. But Sol didn’t look at the woman. She remained with her attention on the King, on the man she knew was going to be an absolute nightmare to remove from the throne.
Her mother’s throne.
Her family’s throne.
Seconds ticked by, but neither of them budged. Finally, the King motioned a kingsman forward. “Take him to the dungeons. His blood is making the place reek.”
The guards stepped forward, one of them holding a ring of keys.
Sol sidestepped him, outstretching her hand. “Keys.”
