Holiday Crown Read online

  “No!” I yelled, letting an arrow loose in an attempt to stop Alok as he flung the contents of the velvet pouch into my uncle’s wide-eyed face.

  My arrow found Alok’s arm, piercing his flesh. He gave a cry of pained surprise as the shaft protruded from his limb. But it was too late. Uncle Ryo fell with a heavy thud onto the dais. Alok had already sprinted for the antechamber with unnatural speed before I could aim my second arrow.

  As the flames crept toward the wood dais, my heart shot up my throat. Uncle Ryo would burn to death if we didn’t get him out of there.

  Several guards were already running to the chamber doors. They could access the dais from the antechamber. By the time they reached it, Malon and Alok would have escaped.

  I fidgeted in place, my fingers twitching and mind speeding faster than my heart. I waited until a guard ran through the antechamber and pulled Uncle Ryo to safety before spinning on my heel and running out of the throne room.

  My ears were met with shouting, guards banding into groups to hunt down Alok and Malon. I looked to the right and left, trying to decide which way to go. The castle’s halls were like a labyrinth. I knew which direction the males would have first emerged from, fleeing the dais, but that hall also connected to more leading to the family suites. They wouldn’t have to fight their way past the main doors to reach the area of the castle where Alok had already incapacitated guards.

  Father! My mind screeched. I took off running, yelling at nearby guards to join me. Our boots pounded the flagstones. It felt like I’d entered an alternative universe or had slipped into a really trippy dream. Where was my mom? She and I were the only family members left conscious . . . unless Alok had gotten to her too.

  A cold shiver ran over my balmy skin. I might be the only one left to defend the royal family against Malon and Alok. Well, me and the guards charging down the hall at my back. Captain Fraya to the rescue!

  I led the castle guards straight to the suite, where I was relieved to find everyone all accounted for and still sleeping.

  The guards did a quick search of the room with me. One cleared his throat before approaching me. “Miss Fraya, I found this on the bed.”

  My fingers shook as I took the note from him. Hastily scrawled words in red crayon were made out to me.

  Fraya,

  If you want your mother to remain safe, come to the royal suites alone.

  Everything went cold around me. It was as though my veins had turned to ice. One wrong move and they’d shatter inside me. There would be no warmth in any world without my mom. I knew exactly how Uncle Ryo felt handing over his crown to save his family.

  No price was too high when it came to my parents. Alok could have the golden crown and pretend to be king all he wanted so long as he let the rest of us go.

  I should have aimed for his black heart.

  Chapter Ten

  Fraya

  I was on my own without counsel or aid.

  I’d ordered the guards to stay and watch over my family in the suite. The moment my father or Folas woke, they were to tell them what had transpired. I couldn’t count on either of the adults to come around in time. It was now up to me to negotiate.

  Each step led me closer to the royal wing. The flagstones felt rough and cold beneath my booted soles. The flames sputtered and hissed from the torches as I breezed by.

  I had one purpose: to save my family.

  Alok and Malon stood in the hall outside the king and queen’s chamber. Well, Alok stood. Malon must have dragged a chair from one of the rooms. He slouched into a plum velvet wingback chair with Alok standing beside him. Seeing Uncle Ryo’s crown atop Alok’s head made me want to shoot Alok where he stood. Only concern for my mother stayed my hand. The earlier wound I’d inflicted wasn’t to be seen beneath an embroidered midnight jacket he must have stolen from Liri’s wardrobe. Thieving Fae making himself at home and wearing the crown without any kind of coronation.

  Again, I wondered how he’d fooled me so thoroughly.

  “Put down the bow, Fraya.” The look in Alok’s eyes was grave. He frowned and spoke without his earlier affection. Good. Perhaps my arrow had affectively communicated my newfound loathing for him.

  “I want to see my mother first.”

  Alok opened the door to Liri’s chamber. “You may look from the hallway,” he said.

  I clipped over, stopping when I had a clear view inside the chamber. My mother lay motionless on her back atop the bed. With a cry of alarm, I tried to rush in, only to be blocked by Alok.

  “You have to give me your bow and arrow.”

  I shoved the bow and arrow at Alok then rammed past him, throwing in an elbow for good measure. Hurrying to the bedside, relief filled me when I noticed the gentle rise and fall of Mom’s chest.

  “I would never hurt her,” Alok said defensively.

  “That’s not what your note said.” I whipped around and glared at him.

  Alok’s face darkened. “I instructed you not to bring guards so she wouldn’t be harmed in any crossfire. Aerith always treated me kindly. Plus, she’s your mother. I mean it when I say I would never hurt her.”

  “No. You’d just knock her out and threaten her entire family,” I said. “What would have happened if my uncle refused to hand over his crown?” I sneered up at his head. “Would you have made good on your threat to kill Lark and me?”

  “You—never.”

  “What about Lark?” I yelled, fury surging through my veins and burning up my earlier chills.

  Malon slunk into the room with a jeering grin and leaned against the wall. I felt revolted by the creepy look he cast over us. “What is this? A lover’s quarrel or a siege? Get on with the negotiations, Nephew.”

  Alok lifted his nose and looked down at Malon. “Do not forget I freed you. I am in charge. I am king.”

  “That crown doesn’t make you king,” I spat.

  Alok turned his head to me. His movements were deliberate, careful, not used to the weight of a crown. “You’re right,” he said. “Once Ryo awakens, I need him to oversee my coronation. For that, he will need proper motivation. It would be easier for you to carry one of the twins to me. I’ll let you decide whether to bring me Reed or Ronin. Afterward, we will deposit Aerith at the outer doors of the royal wing. You can arrange for guards to help carry your family to a carriage and leave the castle. Once I am crowned, Ryo and his son will be allowed to leave as well.”

  It wasn’t his inability to lie so much as the sincerity of his tone that caused a deep ache to enter my chest. Alok had made his choice. Whether or not he wanted us safe didn’t change the fact that he’d gone against my family. The scoundrel thought he could kick my uncles and cousins out of their rightful home. I could only imagine what Liri would do to Alok. Would he cut open his throat as he had Alok’s father? I’d made Mom tell me all the family history, especially the bits she’d been part of. Did Alok know my mom had witnessed his father’s death?

  I glanced at her sleeping form on the bed, watching her for several heartbeats before returning my attention to Alok. “You know Liri won’t let you get away with this, right?”

  “As long as Malon remains at Dahlquist, the portal access points will remain dormant.” There wasn’t a trace of concern in Alok’s tone.

  Liri could still portal to Faerie and try to sneak in through the gates, though I imagined Alok would keep a sharp eye on who came and went.

  “I’m sorry, Fraya, but it is time for you to get one of your cousins and bring him back to me. Do not bring anyone else with you.”

  “Or what? You’ll hurt my mother?” I put my hands on my hips. I wanted to force the bastard to say the words. Break his promise the way he’d destroyed my trust.

  “He won’t, but I will.” Malon detached himself from the wall and prowled toward the bedside, but not before I got between the sickly bastard and my mother.

  “Stay away from her,” I snarled.

  Malon’s cracked lips curled over yellowed teeth. “You’r
e lucky my nephew wants between your legs, pet, otherwise we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”

  “Do not speak to her that way,” Alok snapped.

  Malon scoffed and shook his head. “Never get involved with an elf, Nephew. It always ends badly.”

  “It didn’t for Ryo or Lyklor,” Alok argued.

  Malon laughed cruelly. “They’re sharing a crown and a female. They might as well cut off their balls while they’re at it. Like I said, it always ends badly.” His yellowed teeth grinned manically.

  I walked several steps toward Alok. “Do you really expect me to leave my mother while he’s here?” I demanded.

  The dark pretender winced beneath his stolen crown. Alok’s eyes stuck to mine like he was probing for something. Irises the darkest brown seared me. He seemed frozen, his chest barely rising as though he didn’t breathe. My heart, on the other hand, was all over the place. If he cared about me at all, he wouldn’t allow Malon anywhere near my mother.

  “Make him leave the room first,” I said. I’d been prepared to plead with Alok if that’s what it took, but the voice that rose out of me now came out as a command.

  Dark gaze still on me, Alok’s shoulders began to relax. I could see him beginning to relent when Malon snarled and lunged for me, dagger in hand. I blinked, wondering if I’d imagined the weapon. It was as though it had appeared from thin air. Bony fingers grabbed me around the waist and held the blade at my throat.

  “Let her go!” Alok yelled.

  Ignoring him, Malon hissed in my ear. “You don’t give the orders, Elf!”

  Alok took a step toward us then halted when Malon pressed the blade to my skin. Alok’s nostrils flared, fury sparking in his eyes. While the two males faced off, I stomped on Malon’s foot. He gasped and jerked, nicking me with his blade. I pushed his arm away and flung myself out of his grip.

  Spinning around, I saw Lark crawl out from beneath the bed and rise from the floor, holding a sword. My cousin rushed Malon and shoved his blade all the way through the horrid Fae with a magnificent bellow. The tip of the sword burst through Malon’s chest, dripping blood.

  Malon’s scream died with him. His head slumped forward. With unnatural strength, Lark held him skewered to his sword. My cousin’s cheeks blazed red, and fire seemed to dance in his eyes. He looked like a deity sent down by Sky Mother to vanquish our enemies.

  I stared in awe.

  Alok took one last look at us before making a run for it.

  “He’s getting away!” I cried as Alok zipped out the door.

  Lark blinked several times, seeming to come out of a trance. Malon crashed to the floor, along with Lark’s sword. While my cousin put a booted foot to Malon’s back and pulled out his sword, I raced after Alok.

  Ahead of me, in the hall, he ran with my bow and arrow in one hand while his other held the crown to his head.

  I sprinted forward, fueled by rage and adrenaline.

  Alok ripped open the door to the corridor. It closed behind him, forcing me to slow down and open it. Starlight seemed to shiver over the surface of the lake below. Moonlight touched the blue streaks in Alok’s raven hair.

  At the end of the corridor, the air rippled into a circle that widened with each pound of my boots on the flagstones. My heart lurched up my neck. Malon was dead. Alok could open a portal and escape.

  Jetting across the dark, open hall, I pushed myself to my limit, no air left in my lungs when I reached for Alok, grasping hold of his arm. He was already slipping through the portal. I had to let go or risk being sucked away with him. It was too late to stop him, but at the last second, I was able to snatch Uncle Ryo’s crown from his head.

  As Alok disappeared and the portal spun closed, I was left standing in the moonlight, gripping the golden crown.

  Footsteps ran out to join me.

  “Fraya, are you okay?” Lark called frantically before reaching my side.

  I turned slowly, looking at my cousin holding his bloody sword and at my shaking hands gripping the crown.

  “I’m fine,” I said, steadying my breath. “You woke up.” I could have jumped for joy when I saw him in the royal bedchamber. Everything had happened too quickly to process until now. My mind reeled. My heart thundered from the stress of it all. Part of me wanted to collapse against the wall and weep tears of relief.

  Lark pressed his free hand to his forehead. “Alok blindsided me after I left the attic. He blew some kind of powder at me, and I fell asleep in an instant. I woke up in the ballroom and started looking around. I had a feeling the fool might check out the royal suite since he confessed who he was and his intentions to become the king of Dahlquist before knocking me out.” Lark sneered at the spot where Alok had portaled. “The guards stationed around the south wing were all asleep, so I figured I’d been correct. I snuck in, expecting to confront Alok. But the hall was deserted. I found Aunt Aerith on the bed. I was just deciding on a plan when I heard voices in the hall. I hid under the bed and overheard Alok tell Malon he was waiting for you. So, I waited too.”

  “Thank goodness you were there,” I said, carefully avoiding Lark’s sword as I gave him a hug.

  When we separated, Lark frowned. “Is everyone else okay?”

  “Asleep, but fine,” I said.

  Working out the timeline together, we figured Lark had been knocked out several hours before everyone else. That meant we still had a little while to wait before the rest of our family woke up. We used the time to inform the castle staff and standing guards of what had transpired. Kaylin and Peridot exclaimed their relief. Everyone bowed when my cousin spoke. I supposed that until Uncle Ryo woke up, Lark was acting king.

  “Want this?” I asked, holding up the crown.

  Lark drew his lips back as though I’d just offered him a mud pie and suggested he feast upon it. “Pass,” he said. “It’s hard enough being a prince.”

  Smiling my understanding, I handed the crown to Peridot and asked her to put it with Uncle Ryo in the throne room’s antechamber where we’d been told Dahlquist’s true holiday king had been laid over a settee to sleep off the effects of the faerie dust.

  I didn’t know if Alok had knocked out my mother or father first, so Lark and I split up. We didn’t want anyone to wake up and go into a panic. Lark stayed with his brothers, my father, Folas, and Gayla while I sat on the bed beside my sleeping mother. First, I had a couple guards remove Malon’s body and the bloodstained rug from the chamber.

  Then I waited.

  The joy that jolted through me when my mother stirred was like no other.

  Parents worried about their children, sure. But kids worried too. My family meant more to me than all the worlds.

  Lashes fluttered over blue eyes. My mom jerked up, grasping at the covers.

  “Everything’s fine now,” I said before throwing my arms around her.

  “Oh, dear, dear, dear,” Lulu said, pacing the parlor where we’d all gathered after everyone was awake. “I had no idea who he really was. I am so sorry.” She hugged her arms around her middle, her lower lip trembling.

  Magnolia went to her side and rubbed her back while murmuring gentle words for only Lulu’s ears.

  I felt bad for Lulu. She’d given Alok her love and trust. It wasn’t her fault she’d been tricked.

  My stomach tightened. In the hours of silence, waiting for my mother to wake, I’d had too much time to replay past kisses and shared affections between Alok and me. Nothing could have prepared me for his betrayal. He’d hidden his intentions well, made me believe that we had something special.

  I hated him, and yet it still hurt.

  For once, the twins were subdued, watching and listening to everyone around them. They sat side by side on the sofa with Peridot and Kaylin fussing over them. Being coddled was clearly one step too much, because soon they were squirming away from their childhood nannies.

  “You did well, Son,” Uncle Ryo said proudly. “You and Fraya.”

  Lark shrugged, but there was no hiding
his pleased grin.

  My mother inched in closer to me, offering a warm smile. “Are you sure you’re okay?” she asked softly.

  “Fine,” I answered on cue, glad I wasn’t forced to tell the truth all the time the way Fae were. “Just exhausted.”

  Mom nodded. “We can return home or remain here until Mel and Lyklor return.”

  “Don’t leave us!” Ronin yelped, leaping onto the sofa. The little scamp climbed up the back and jumped over. Reed, naturally, followed his lead. Running toward us, they hollered, “Aunt Aerith! Uncle Jhaeros! Don’t leave us! Don’t leave us!”

  “Boys, pipe down!” Uncle Ryo snapped in a rare show of sharp discipline.

  The twins stopped in their tracks and shared matching frowns with quivering chins. Ronin’s tears seemed to jump over to Reed and catch in his eyes.

  I looked at Mom and raised my brows. With a sigh, she crouched to the ground and said, “Of course we’ll stay.” Smiles lighting up their faces, the twins ran to her and held still long enough for her to hug them.

  “That still means going back to bed,” Uncle Ryo said sternly.

  “But, Dad . . .” Reed began before Uncle Ryo’s glare cut him off.

  “Can we sleep with Lark?” Ronin asked.

  “It’s okay with me,” Lark said.

  “Can I sleep with Fraya?” Gayla asked her dad.

  Folas hadn’t said much since waking. From the clench of his jaw, you’d think the castle was still under siege. “You’re sleeping in my room tonight,” he said.

  Unlike the twins, Gayla didn’t attempt to argue.

  Sidling up to me, my mom whispered, “Would you like to share a room with your father and me, just for tonight?”

  I screwed up my face. Ugh. Not a chance. “Mom,” I groaned.

  She smiled. “Or we could stay up and play a game of campaigne.”

  “All I want is a bath followed by bed.”

  Gem perked up at that. “We can draw you a bath, Miss Fraya.”

  “I can manage it myself, thanks,” I said quickly. The trouble with having castle staff prepare baths was I never knew if they’d try to enter the water with me and scrub me down.