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

40. Vexxion

40

VEXXION

I stepped inside a vast cavern, finding myself at the top of spiraling slopes descending on each side. They plunged away, coiling around the outer part of the cavern until they spilled out at the base.

Mosaics in patterns like those at the Claiming covered the floor far below. And in the center, a small stone spire stood, gleaming bright green in the low lights. Pabrilleen. An object small and almost delicate appearing, though it was hard to tell from up here, glowed where it rested on the top of the spire. Was that all that was left of my court’s core power?

My goal. My salvation.

My destiny.

I started down the right slope, winding my way around the outside of the room, slowly making my way to the bottom. The air hung thick with the damp scent of fresh-turned earth. Shadows danced on jagged walls, and the floor underfoot shifted beneath me. Small rocks tumbled over the side to fall, fall, until they hit and shattered like glass on the tile. Heavy silence pressed against my eardrums, making them throb.

I reached for a weapon on my side that was not there, reminding myself that I’d left them behind. None were allowed in this precious place, and I’d find no threat here. Still, I couldn’t contain my breathing, and my heart roared in my throat.

I forced myself to focus, to ground my thoughts in the steadiness of my steps until I reached the bottom and strode out onto the flat surface making up the base of the enormous cave. A worn path narrowed ahead, funneling me toward the center where the spire beckoned like a distant star. The closer I got, the more I could see the intricate designs carved into its surface—symbols of ancient power, of my ancestor’s legacy.

Whispers began to drift through the air, not from any living being but from the very walls of the cavern. Of those who’d come here before me. They spoke in voices older than memory, riddle-like phrases that twisted around inside my mind.

Worthy , one seemed to say.

Not yet, another barked.

Their voices jumbled together, coming at me at a furious pace.

He must prove he has the right to this.

He cannot do so.

It’s too late for him and for us.

For everyone.

I paused, understanding that this might be the challenge, that I might not be expected to show a force of might, but one of spirit. And though I held no weapon in my hand, I steeled myself, ready to slash through whatever trial lay ahead.

“It’s not too late,” I hissed. Never. “I’ll show you.”

Show you. Show you. My words ricochetted to the walls and bounced back, coming at me with more force than I’d sent them. I staggered against the gust they traveled on, but reminded myself I could do this. I’d survived Ivenrail. Uncle Camus. The loss of my feelings for the only woman I’d ever love.

I would not only get through this, but I would also emerge from this cavern stronger than when I arrived. If my mother could remain silent through endless torture, I could do what I must to reclaim my court’s power. Then I’d use it to destroy those who sought to steal it from me.

I continued, each deliberate step bringing me closer to the spire and the core power it protected. What was left of it, that is. What hadn’t been stolen.

Stolen . . . The word echoed around me, gouging me, and I sensed the gouging rage of those here with me. Were they angry with me for allowing part of the core to be taken? I was too young to protect it, I wanted to shout. Not strong enough to fight him.

Not strong. The words blasted across me, making me shudder.

As I got closer to the spire, the whispers grew louder, their harsh messages intertwining with the furious beat of my heart. The air thickened with almost palpable energy, compressing my skin, urging me to turn back even as it drove me forward.

A sudden movement caught my eye .

In the periphery of my vision, a shadow drifted across the cavern wall, too swift and silent to be a mere trick of the light. My breath caught, and I stopped mid-step, my eyes darting to pinpoint the source. There, nestled among the jagged rocks, a pair of eyes gleamed back at me—feral, probing, and filled with an unsettling cleverness.

I blinked as a beast with thick white hair tinged with gray, a hunched posture, and claws longer than my forearms strode into the light.

It lurched toward me and rose, expanding into a huge, pulsating mass that loomed far above me.