A Crown of Cursed Hearts (Kingdom of Blighted Thorns #3)

1. Vexxion

1

VEXXION

T he king released me from the wall where he’d pinned me, masked me, and I fell to the tile floor of the throne room, biting back my groan. I hadn’t cried out when he dealt my mother the final blow, and I would not do so now.

Rising to my feet, I staggered down the aisle until I stood in the open area between the wedding guests and the dais where the monster who called himself my father stood in front of the chair where he’d pinned his new bride, Brenna. After grinding his thumb against her forehead, he reeled backward, spinning to glare at me. “What did you do?”

So much more than he knows. My cryptic laugh erupted from my throat. His collar cannot control everything.

Ivenrail stomped toward me.

When he dropped me to my knees with his magic, Fury cried out and raced toward me, thrusting herself between us.

He flung her aside, and she rose from the floor, slashing through the room, whipping him and the guests with her power. She was beauty personified. She brought quiet joy to my soul. Without her, I’d cease to exist.

He knocked her down once more, storming toward me.

As I’d hoped, he watched me while she got to her feet. A flick of my hand sent the final collar to Brenna. It wrapped around her neck, freeing her from the one Ivenrail had recently placed to control her.

Ivenrail snarled at me about his brother, Camus.

My feral smile grew wider.

His hand snapped out, his thumb hitting my forehead hard enough to fling my head backward. Pinning me with his other hand, he drained my power.

And I let him.

Come for me. Let me distract you while my love, my fury, takes you from this world forever.

Vexxion, no, Fury wailed, breaking through the walls I’d built around my mind. Please. I need you.

Wait. It will be over soon, love. Soon.

I struggled to cling to the last bit of what made me the man she loved, but with Ivenrail sucking down all of my power, I couldn’t hold on.

Before he took what little I had left, I needed to show him I was as strong as my mother.

“I give you nothing,” I cried out, my voice wrenching through the room.

“You give me whatever I ask for.” Pivoting, Ivenrail stalked back to Brenna, thrusting his thumb against her forehead. She shuddered and screamed. I wanted to help her. I had to help her. But I . . . couldn’t.

Now, I called out to Fury . With a guttural groan, I toppled onto my side, landing hard on the marble floor. Even in this, I didn’t whimper. I didn’t groan. I held everything inside just like my mother had all those years ago.

Tempest rushed over, dropping to her knees beside me.

“It’s time,” I growled. “Before she died, my mother . . . infused our family blade with her blood. I did . . . too. Today.”

No. Vexxion, no.

“Brenna’s . . . safe. I . . . removed her collar.” I found the strength to reach up, to stroke her face one last time. “I love you. Have from . . . the moment I met you. Always. Always. ”

“You knew what would happen. You knew, and you didn’t tell me.” If I kill him, you’ll die, she snarled.

Fury. My fury. I love you. Please do this for me.

Everything was slipping away. Storm clouds rushed in, enveloping my mind. The king had taken too much.

I couldn’t pin myself to this world much longer. The ether called, eager to drag me into its sweltering embrace.

All I wanted was to look at my fury one last time.

One last glance.

One last touch.

And then—

I was gone, yet I wasn’t. Moving my limbs felt like too much effort, but I could somehow . . . see.

With my family blade in her hand, my storm, my fury, lurched to her feet. Chaos erupted in the throne room, fae lords and ladies crying out and fleeing.

Ivenrail reeled away from Brenna and spun to face us with shock cratering his face. “Brenna is not the heir. She’s not the Lydel heir!”

Not quite true, but close.

He flitted to me, shaking me.

I was there—and I wasn’t.

Fury leaped onto Ivenrail. Yes, kill him. End this, please. He knocked the blade from her hand, but she drew it close again with her endless power.

Ivenrail lifted and shook what was left of my faltering carcass. “Where is the true Lydel heir? You promised to deliver her to me but you—” His head snapped around, his gaze landing on my fury.

So, he’d finally figured it out.

Releasing me, he rushed over to her and yanked up her skirt, exposing the scars on her left thigh, all that was left of her Lydel mark. I’d known who she was from the moment I felt her back at the fortress. My fated mate. Mine to love for a lifetime.

The Lydel heir—my betrothed.

Ivenrail slammed his thumb against her forehead. “Give me Lydel’s core power and with it, your throne.”

No.

I dragged myself back from whatever was trying to haul me away and cried out. I must help her.

Drask squawked and smacked his wings against Ivenrail, but he swatted the bird away.

Reyla raced toward them, her hand lifting, shooting a bolt of white lightning into Ivenrail’s face. The power blasted upward, raking across the top of his head but not stabbing within. Damn wards. He was a master.

He reeled backward, his hands slapping his hair as it crackled with smoldering magic. He pointed at her, flinging her into the Nullens standing to the side of the dais.

Do. Not. Hurt. Her .

Do something! I cried out.

Madrood rumbled over to loom behind the king, his lips peeling back and flames snapping and coiling within his red gaze. The furious beast sucked in a deep breath. Flames blasted from his mouth, churning toward Ivenrail, who flitted to the dais.

“Madrood,” Ivenrail bellowed with a mix of rage and dismay. “What are you—”

Madrood tipped his head back and shot fire at the ceiling, dragging the flames down toward the king, Kerune, and the high advisor.

Fury, my glorious, amazing mate, walked over to stand beside Madrood, her hand gently resting on his thigh.

I held on, because I had to . . . see.

Yes, little one, the furious beast of a dragon intoned in our minds.

She’d bonded with the king’s dragon, and because we were fated mates, I could speak to him as well. I’d been able to do so since the moment I met him.

Before the flames could reach him, Ivenrail flitted from the room, leaving only fear and chaos behind .

Madrood roared and sent fire to where Ivenrail had been, but it was already too late.

The time to end this would come, but it wasn’t this moment.

“Stop.” Tempest rubbed the ferocious beast’s leg.

What do you need, little one? Madrood asked. My back is yours. My will is yours. Command me. I now belong to you.

Get us out of here, she said.

Her words echoed around me.

She was safe—for now.

If only I could hold on . . .