Page 33 of Bros Come Before Hordes
Chapter Seven
The Day of the Coronation
Belle Harrison. Thatwas the name of the woman across the ocean who could talk to gods. Vance had somehow persuaded her to help us by explaining everything, which I was sure was hard since dragon shifters weren’t known for sharing their secrets. He’d told me she’d be here after the coronation, plus a little more about her, but I couldn’t pay attention to the details.
My thoughts were in restless chaos. My insides were so twisted up with worry that my heart felt strangled and my breaths grew shallow. We had a fae locked in our dungeon below the castle, were at war, and I had a coronation ceremony in a little less than one hour so I could be queen of a species who hated me. Not my best day ever, and it hadn’t even started yet.
It was early morning, the sun filtering through my curtains and spilling golden halo designs on my floor. I hadn’t slept at all. Instead, I’d paced my bedroom. We'd decided for me to wait until after the coronation to tell the shifters the fae had officially declared war on us. With a crown on top of my head, we thought they might be more willing to trust me, to listen to me, to do what I said. The crown was just a symbol, though, the ceremony itself a bunch of pomp and circumstance I had a feeling no one really cared about.
But we were doing it anyway. Because reasons. Also because breaking from tradition seemed really frowned upon in stovetop society.
After the ceremony, the plan was my harem, this Belle lady, and I would cross into the fae lands and kidnap Léas back. Easier said than done, I had a feeling. Beyond a single map that looked old as time itself, we had no plan, no strategy, something that didn’t sit well inside me at all. But it was hard to have a plan when you had no idea what to expect. None of us did. Not even a little bit. My harem had never been to the fae lands, and if they had, that would have been an act of war right there.
Sighing, I continued pacing. Dust motes floated around me like stars, sparkling with sunlight and the reflection off my dress hanging from the door of my closet. I scowled at it as I crossed toward it and then spun around again to rip a path through the rest of my bedroom. It was a beautiful dress, the silky fabric flowing out from the beaded top in luxurious ripples, but I didn't want to wear it. I didn't want to go to the coronation at all or be wrapped up in a war that wasn't mine.
Just wait until the coronation...
The thought of grabbing Asa and running pecked at me, like it was eating through my stubbornness to stay here. But Asa was happy here. Of course he'd be happy anywhere, but he was safe, there was no shortage of food, he had a TV in his bedroom, and three protectors he adored. And I had three protectors I adored. If I ran, I'd have to take them with me, and whether I was a queen foretold by a fake seer or not, they wouldn't be cool with just leaving.
A loud thud sounded outside my door and farther down the hallway. I stopped and stared, listening. The castle was likely bustling with activity in final preparations for the coronation.
But the ceremony wasn't in the hallway.
I crossed to the door and unlocked and opened it, then leaned out. Empty, in both directions. I closed the door and locked it again with a shake of my head.
Another thump, louder this time, followed by theclink-clinkof metal.
I threw open the door and marched out into the hallway, my silk robe fluttering across the tops of my knees.
"Hello!" I called.
The entire castle heaved and shook, flinging me hard against the hallway wall. I hit it with my hip first then my head, and slumped to the floor as pain shot through my body. It quaked again and again in quick succession, then stilled.
Someone screamed. Shrill. Terrible. And it sounded a hell of a lot like Asa.
Terror splintered down my spine. I surged to my feet and broke out into a run. "Asa!"
"Yara!"
My bare feet slapped against the carpeted floors. My blood hummed with fear, and my heart ricocheted between my ribs.
I followed the curve of the hallway and then skidded to a stop when I saw Asa. He stood rigid outside the art room door. Relief poured over me at the sight of him but chilled when I saw his ashy complexion.
"What is it?"
He pointed over my shoulder, not even daring to tear his wide eyes away to look up at me.
I turned. Across from the art room was Tavis's bedroom, the half-open door swaying slightly with a gentle breeze. I pushed it all the way open—and gasped. Where the window used to be was a jagged hole in the wall with chunks sharp as dragon teeth.
"Tavis." His name came out soundlessly. Without turning, I flapped my hand behind me until I gripped Asa's shirt in my fist. I pulled him to me, then thought better of it because I didn't know what else I would find in Tavis's room.
"Tell me... Tell me what did you see?" I asked when I could find my voice again.
"Nothing. But I heard three of them," Asa whispered.
Three of them. Oh no.
I stumbled inside. The room was small and simple for a castle, neat and clean, but empty of my favorite head of blue hair. I peered through the hole, and giant tire tracks ripped through the grass outside the castle and disappeared when they hit the road.
