Page 88 of A Crown Without Mercy

“Who has taken us? Are we prisoners?”

Laurent gently stroked her back, doing his best to re-assure her. “I don’t know, but my father will come for us.”

Their bodies lurched when they hear the loud clanks of the locks being pulled from the door.

Riordan, Nicolai, and Kieran walked in and while Kieran and Nicolai approached Mira and Laurent, Riordan leaned against the wall and crossed his arms and legs.

They jumped to their feet, and Laurent straightened his back and, with a slight bow, he addressed them formally. “Milords.”

“Milords,” Mira said with a courtesy and a sigh of relief.It’s Nicolai, he’s come for us.

“Milords, why are we here?” Laurent asked.

“Why were the two of you traveling through the forest so late at night?” Kieran asked.

Laurent and Mira side-eyed each other but failed to speak.

“It would be best for you to answer my questions voluntarily,” Kieran warned.

“I—we were leaving,” Laurent replied.

“Why?” Nicolai asked.

“My father, he said we couldn’t see each other. I was taking Mira away.”

Kieran chuckled and looked back at Riordan and Nicolai. “It seems we have caught a couple of young lovers on the run.” He then turned back to Laurent and Mira. “Go on.”

“He didn’t say why.”

“There is a reason—yes?” Nicolai asked.

Mira looked at Laurent with pleading eyes, begging him to keep her secret. “Father said mother wants me to mate another,” he lied.

“Mate another?” Nicolai repeated.

“Yes. Someone who belongs to the court.”

Kieran stepped to the side. “Ohh, I see.”

Riordan cocked his head and pushed himself from the wall. “Did you know when you are lost in slumber, the wild one slips through your window to steal the secrets you keep?”

Mira felt the tears pooling in her eyes, realizing Nicolai was not there to save them and she looked at Laurent for reassurance.

Riordan kneeled before her and gently grasped her jaw in his hand. “Do not look at your lover to answer for you. I believe the secret you keep runs deep within your veins.”

“Milord,” Laurent began as his voice trembled. “She is not keeping a secret.”

Riordan let go of Mira’s face and stood. “Then maybe it is you who has a secret?”

“No, Milord.”

Riordan pulled his sword from the sheath that hung on his hip and lifted his chin with the tip. “Are you willing to die to keep her secret safe?”

Mira’s breathing accelerated and her body trembled uncontrollably. “Please, Milord—please don’t hurt him.”

“I suggest you speak truthfully. My brother is not very patient,” Kieran warned.

As Laurent and Mira stood silently, she heard the faint whisper of her father’s words in her head. On a cold winter’s night, the Wolf’s Bane moon will rise high into the dark night sky and part the clouds with blood blossomed blooms. Do not listen to the tales like a trembling fool, be still like the wolf or the wolf will come calling for you.She cupped her trembling hands together when she remembered what the moon looked like when night fell.It’s a full Wolf’s Bane moon tonight,she said to herself.A veil of terror consumed her when Riordan’s blade cut through the air as if in slow motion.

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