Crown of Blood and Ruin: A dark fairy tale romance (The Broken Kingdoms Book 3)

To rule in times of peace was vastly preferable to ruling in a hovel of a refuge in the center of a bloody war.

To have my family at my side was even more appreciated. In the first days as king and queen we dealt with naming our court and our advisors. Tor and Halvar were the clear choices for the positions they’d held in Ruskig. The Crown’s top advisor and the First Knight.

But revered positions belonged to others. Those who’d stood with us from the beginning.

“Mattis Virke,” Elise said at the edge of the dais in the great hall. “For your service to the crown of Etta, we invite you to serve as a counselor to the king and queen on the royal council.”

Mattis bowed his head, hand over his heart.

She turned to Siv. “Siverie Tjӓnare, for your service to the crown of Etta, we invite you to serve as a counselor to the king and queen on the royal council.”

Siv grinned and mimicked Mattis as she lowered to one knee, hand over her heart.

Stieg accepted a position beside Halvar as a strategist with our knights. Frey and Axel would be regents in the townships. They’d oversee the integration of Night Folk once again. Perhaps their most difficult task would be dealing with spoiled Timoran folk who had difficulties adjusting to the new way of things.

Sol smirked at me when he and Herja stood before the throne.

I grinned. “It must be bothersome to see me placed above you, Brother.”

“Not at all. I will always be taller.”

I laughed and went to them. “We need you both beside us. You will not let my head get too big, and you will always be loyal to Elise.”

Sol accepted a role as the head of court politics and the inner workings of the kingdom, while Herja would be the sounding voice with Halvar over battle and our border defenses. Our parents watched it all with quiet guidance. They would be honored but wanted nothing more than to serve as voices of reason, or confidence. More than once my father assured me he had full faith I would not destroy the kingdom.

When it was Ari’s turn, he looked much like he did when he wore the crown. Strong, unbending, with a touch of slyness.

“Ari Sekundӓr. For your service to the crown of Etta, for your leadership, I hope you will accept the position of our ambassador.” I stepped closer to him, unblinking. “Ari, we need to reach out to neighboring kingdoms. There is still war against those with Fate’s magic. We have seen it with our Alver friends, with the storyteller girl. But magic has power now, we can help change their fates, like we’ve changed ours.”

Ari’s jaw pulsed. “Where would you have me go first, My King?”

A smile curved over my mouth. “To the homeland of the fae. As we once spoke of, to the South. See how it is ruled, learn what troubles they have, and make us more allies. I’ve no doubt your endless need to talk will find a way to convince them to let you in.”

He slammed his fist over his chest with a grin that suggested he would very much like to shove me as he had sometimes in Ruskig.

But everyone was watching.

“Consider it done, My King.”

I gave him a nod and looked to the back where a table with ale and food was set. “Have it be known, our friendship and loyalty extends to the Alvers of the East. Your sacrifices here will not be forgotten.”

Niklas jolted his head up from a plate of sweet breads, mouth full. He held up a drinking horn with muffled sound. The Nightrender kept to the corner, but he hadn’t donned his dark hood since the battle ended, nor had his shadows returned. He did not speak to many people, but I would always be grateful to them. The Nightrender in particular had taken to Gunnar, he’d been working with my nephew on his magic, helping him tame the sick that came from too much use.

For that, we would all be grateful.

Next came those Ravens in our prisons. A captain was brought before us two weeks after taking the throne. He stood in ragged clothes, dirty, gaunt, and in chains.

Elise lifted her chin. The way the man winced. I suspected he knew her.

I sat in the high-backed throne and gestured for her to go on. These were once her people, she ought to have the final say.

“For serving the false king,” she began, “tell your men they will not be put to death.” A rumble of voices rippled through the hall, silenced when I held up a hand. Elise cleared her throat. “Not yet. As a queen of Etta with Timoran blood, it is my duty to see our kingdom united. But the pain and torture you inflicted upon my family cannot go unpunished or untried.”

“What would that punishment be?”

“Address my wife properly,” I said through a sneer. “Majesty, My Queen, Goddess—whatever you wish, but you will address her as she deserves, Raven.”

I thought he might argue, might be snide. Hells, I almost hoped for it. A desire to slaughter them all lived deep inside. But Elise was right, we needed to heal the divide. Beginning with our enemies.

Instead, the captain lowered his gaze, and said, “What is the punishment, Your Majesty?”

“For one turn you and your men will endure what the Night Prince, what the Sun Prince, what the Ferus court endured at the hands of Timoran. You will be caged, sent to labor in the quarries. You will feel hunger, cold, pain. You will know what they suffered. But unlike Timoran, we will offer mercy. At the end of a turn, you will return before us where you will be welcomed into Etta, or if you are deemed disloyal, you will be executed.”

He lifted a brow. “It will be hard to know who lies, Your Majesty.”

“No. Not when we have friends who can taste them.”

I lifted my eyes to Junius. She stood beside Elise, grinning a vicious sort. Niklas stared at his wife with lust and desire. He’d made it clear they’d return for the Raven trials the moment Elise asked.

The captain was led away, and Elise returned to her place by my side. I took hold of her hand, smiling. The court was arranged. Our new rule could begin.

Weeks after the battle, we stood at the shore of Ruskig. Walls were destroyed, and the open fjord expanded out to the ocean dividing us away from the distant kingdoms.

At the far edge of the water, the Falkyns loaded their ships with gifts from a king and queen, new weapons, new trade. They were self-proclaimed smugglers, and the look on Niklas’s face when he saw the haul caused me to want to dig out more simply to see him grin with a bit of wickedness, as if schemes ran wild in his head.

I walked with Elise next to the edge of the water where the darkest of the ships bobbed in the gentle tide.

The Nightrender stood between us, staring at the Guild of Kryv as they prepared for the journey home.

I held out my hand. He hesitated for a moment before clasping my forearm.

“You’re welcome here, Nightrender,” I told him. “You have an ally with a crown should you ever need it.”

“Good,” he said. “You have a guild of thieves should you ever need it.”

“Nightrender!” Gunnar shoved through the crowds of folk bidding the Alvers farewell. My nephew had a pack strung over one shoulder, a bow and quiver across the other. “I’m coming with you.”

The Nightrender lifted a brow. “You should stay here. Your family is restored.”

“It is not,” Gunnar snapped. “Not until my daj is found. You know him. You pretend you do not hear me when I speak of him, but you know him. Help me find him. Please.”

Herja caught up, Laila clutching her hand behind her. My sister’s breaths were heavy, tears in her eyes. “He insists, Valen. Tell me I’m a terrible mother because . . . it feels as if this is needed. How can a mother send her son to face such a burden?”

“Maj,” Gunnar answered instead. “It is needed. I can find him. My blood is from the East. My magic folk are there.” He faced the Nightrender again. “You are feared there, Niklas told me. Your name is whispered like a terror. You can help me find him.”

“You don’t know what you’re asking, boy.” The Nightrender’s voice was a warning.

“I do. I’ve thought of nothing else. Take me with your guild. I’ll be loyal to you.”

“My guild is family for reasons you don’t know.”

“Lynx told me you all were once in captivity for your magic.” Gunnar pointed to the thick, meaty Kryv ten paces away. Funny enough, the gargantuan man shrunk under the Nightrender’s glare. “I was born in captivity. I am an Alver, you’ve taught me, helped me. I will do anything you ask, but help me once more until I find my father.”

“You are practically a prince,” said the Nightrender. “You would leave that life for a life underground with rats and Alvers who hunt Alvers?”

Gunnar swallowed with effort. “Yes. I was taught by my mother, and now my uncles, we do not stop fighting for our family.”

A swell of pride filled my chest for the boy. Herja wiped at her eyes. Her reluctance was potent, but like her, I wondered if this was exactly what needed to be done to find Hagen Strom.

“We’ll pay you,” Elise said, breaking the silence. “You work for coin, so as his family, we will compensate you to find Hagen.”

The Nightrender’s eyes danced between us. He shook his head. “I won’t take it, the coin. Not for Hagen.” He stepped next to Gunnar, their chests nearly butting. “You’re right. I know your father. I’ve known him since I could barely take a step. You want to know if he is a truly honorable man? Or did he put on a grand show when he was here?”

Herja’s jaw tightened, but Gunnar scoffed. “I don’t need to wonder. I know he is honorable.”

The Nightrender narrowed his gaze for several breaths. With a heavy sigh he shook his head. “Hagen Strom protected me as a boy.”

Herja covered her mouth. It was all I needed to know of my sister’s lover to agree with Elise. Whatever it took, we would not stop until he was found again.

“He was like a wise, older brother. One who looked out for us stupid littles who knew nothing of the risks facing unique Alvers like me and . . .” He didn’t finish the thought, simply shook his head and altered course. “My mesmer is valued, hunted. Hagen made sure no one knew I had a drop until . . . fate had different plans.”

Oh, the secrets this man kept. He gave up little, and I had few doubts he did it to protect himself . . . or others.

“Did he ever speak of us?” Herja asked.

The Nightrender rubbed the side of his face. “I never heard of his family, but it would be dangerous to bring attention to any of you. The east exploits folk with power such as you, princess. No doubt, though, the game he was forced to play was due to his unauthorized protection of Alvers like me. What I’m telling you is I do not need to find House Strom. I know exactly where they are. If Hagen is not there, then he finally crossed too many lines against those in power. Are you willing to risk an outcome you don’t want?”

Gunnar’s fists clenched at his sides. “I’m willing to risk anything for him. He risked everything for us.”

“You will be a Kryv. You do not go against us, or I swear to you, I will kill you with your deepest fears.”

“If I betrayed you, I would welcome death, Nightrender,” Gunnar said.

Silence hung between us for endless moments. At long last, the Nightrender faced me. “He is your nephew, King. Does he sail with us?”

I chuckled. “I am king, but I am not brave enough to command or forbid my sister’s child anything. Have you seen how she handles a knife?”

The Nightrender smiled. A real, true smile. It was almost unnerving. He glanced at Herja. “Well, does he go with us?”

Herja clutched Gunnar’s hand.

“Please, Maj,” he whispered. “I can do this.”

My sister rested a hand against the side of his face before looking back to the Nightrender. “You will care for him? Keep him safe?”

“I will teach him to be an Alver. You have my word on that. But he will also learn to be a thief, a criminal, and likely a killer. Only if you wish him to survive, that is.”

Herja winced but took Gunnar’s hand. “If this is where you feel fate is leading you, I will not stand in your way. But I will tear the world apart if you find yourself in trouble.”

He chuckled and hugged her tightly. “I will do the same if Uncle Valen and Elise ruin this place over the next months, and you find yourself trapped again.”

I shoved the boy, laughing, then wrapped him in my arms. Elise went next, begging him to teach the Nightrender to smile more than once a month.

I had hope they’d find Hagen. We’d conquered the impossible here. They would conquer another impossible task. Still, I could not help but wonder if my nephew had placed himself in a coming storm perhaps the Nightrender did not even realize was building.

I wanted to press, wanted to know why Calista believed a battle would begin for this man once ours ended. What did he know that we didn’t?

When Herja and Laila left us to walk Gunnar to the Kryv’s ship, the Nightrender turned back to me and Elise. “Since I will play nursemaid to your nephew, and you already know it anyway, I suppose you both may call me Kase.”

Elise’s mouth parted, then she narrowed her gaze at me. “He told you his given name? When?”

“Blame Niklas, Queen.” Kase glanced over to the Falkyns. “He has a remarkably big mouth.”

She huffed. “Was that so hard?”

His smile faded. “My name should not be known. Especially not in the east.”

“Why?”

Kase stared at the distant glow of sunlight over setting behind the cliffs. “You told me when I first came here that I didn’t understand what it is to love another as you love your king. I do. I know what it means to care for another in such a way. I loved enough to let it go.”

Elise’s brow furrowed. “You are not able to be with your lover?”

“No. Truth told, we were never even lovers.” Kase smirked. “She does not even know I’m alive.”

“You ought to tell her.” Elise took my hand. “Life can end quickly, Kase. Better to live it beside those we love.”

He stared back to the horizon. “If we go searching for Hagen Strom, no doubt she will cross my path again. Unfortunately for her.” He took a few steps toward the water, a signal that the conversation was over. “It has been educational, and lucrative, fighting with you.”

He took a step toward the shore, but paused, a wicked smirk on his lips. “Queen, don’t you find it interesting how much choice played a part in you taking the throne? You chose him.” He gestured at me. “The land chose you. Choice—a gift all people should have, wouldn’t you say?”

Elise’s lips parted, but she had no time to speak before his eyes returned to the glossy black and the Nightrender topped his head with his hood. “Enjoy your crown. Until we meet again.”

“What was that about?” I asked when he’d boarded his longship.

Elise shook her head. “I think I need to tell you a tale of four queens. Hells, that man is not what I expected.”

I laughed and curled an arm around her shoulders. “A man with secrets. I have a feeling if his fight is coming, he will need to learn how to release some of those secrets.”

“Yes. Look what lies and deception brought you.”

I pressed a kiss to her forehead. “A perfect wife and a throne?”

She pinched my waist. “War is what I was going for, but yes, when you put it that way, the lies of Legion Grey changed my life.”

“I’d never take them back.”

We waved until the Alver ships were distant spots on the sea. Night came quickly, but Elise and I remained at the shore. I held her close. Kissed her lips. To think back on the moments when I planned to seduce and deceive the Timoran Kvinna, only to discover she stole my heart at nearly her first word brought a smile to my lips.

I would die for her, no mistake.

But I planned to live for her now. Every day, every breath, I would not forget for whom my heart beat.

She rested her head on my shoulder. We stayed at the shore until the moon rose high, breathing in the clean air. No smoke. No blood.

Nothing but light faced us at dawn.