Chapter 4

4

M y father.

He's alive and standing right in front of me.

What is he doing here? Why is he wearing a crown?

" Dad !" Tears spring from my eyes as I fling myself toward him, ready to throw my arms around his neck and never let go. Instead, I'm met with two razor-sharp spears angled directly at my rib cage. I stumble back so as to not impale myself on the guards' weapons as they take up a menacing position between us.

"Dad, it's me !" I cry out in disbelief. His gaze is cold and hard. Unflinching—as if I don't exist. "It's Serena ."

The unnaturally beautiful woman seated on the throne behind him rolls her eyes, looking bored as she mutters, "Good gods, Derek, one of your bastards?"

I search my dad's face. It's set in hard lines—jaw tense, brows creased. His dark beard is longer and thicker than I've ever seen. His hair falls past his ears. And on his head sits a crown that looks heavy and cold. Shining silver, spiked with dew drops of diamond and black onyx that devours the light. He has meat on his bones. He looks sturdy and strong. Healthy and whole.

My heart lurches.

It's Dad.

Power bubbles in the space around him. I can feel his presence like a pressure in the air. It's palpable. My eyes snag on his ears, where I notice a small arching point where there should be a rounded curve.

"No bastard of mine, wife." His voice is icy, showing no indication of emotion or even recognition. He barely acknowledges me.

"Ah," she denotes, dangling a lithe arm over the side of her diamond throne. "Just a common whore peddling for attention then." Her words lash out like a whip to slap me across the face. Dad says nothing.

Does he really not recognize me?

He turns and starts back toward the throne, his dark fur-lined cloak trailing behind him.

Off to the left, a female silhouette draws my attention. I notice the shimmer of her diamond and opal tiara before I lock eyes with my sister. Sam.

This can't be real. Where the fuck are we?

"Why do you insist on wasting my time with these inconsequential audiences, Captain?" Dad drones.

One of the armored guards steps forward, removing his black metal helmet. When he speaks, I recognize his as the voice in the forest—the one that stopped the other guard from rendering the killing blow on my furry defender.

But I can't look at him. I can't move. I can't pry my eyes away from my undead father standing before me in furs and a crown .

"I would not dare waste your valuable time, my King, had I not thought it a matter of great importance."

"Then, by all means, keep me in suspense no further." Dad drops into his seat and waves an impatient hand, urging the guard to continue. He clears his throat, and Dad follows his gaze to the remaining guards standing off to the side, silent and stone-faced. He dismisses them with a wave, leaving me behind in a room of familiar strangers.

"She appeared in a cloud of shadow smoke at the edge of the Bone Forest. My men and I brought her straight away. Sire, it's possible the girl may be a witch."

The woman lazing about in her seat straightens, planting her heels on the floor, gripping the throne's glittering arms with her razor-sharp nails. She leans forward, suddenly very interested in the conversation.

"A witch, you say?" Her icy eyes gleam as they peer into my own.

Her beauty is arresting. Eyes so blue they nearly burn silver, framed by hair black as night. Her silken locks are woven into an elegant golden crown inset with diamonds and rubies, leaving her strange ears to peek through. She studies me carefully from head to toe, her knuckles turning white from her vice-like grip on the throne. "Derek."

He inclines his head, eyeing me warily as he rises to his feet again.

"She's human," he says suspiciously. "Shadow smoke. You're sure of this?"

The captain nods.

"Was she alone?"

"She was found with an OrCat ."

"A familiar?"

"Kill it," the queen snaps. Dad shoots her a piercing look .

"These are my lands. You know the law. No harm shall come to a familiar on Aegean soil."

"Even that which belongs to a common whore witch?" She scowls with distaste.

"Your Majesty, the creature attacked one of my men. It was shot in defense before I could intervene," the captain says from beside me. My father's eyes snap to him as he inches closer.

"Tell me you did not kill the OrCat , Captain." His words are clipped and quiet, making his rage seem all the more terrifying. "Where is it now?"

"Left in the forest. The shot was only meant to incapacitate while we delivered the girl."

"Pray to the gods it still lives. Send out a search party and have it brought to me. Alive . Do you understand?"

"Yes, sire." The captain bows low.

Dad tosses a careless nod in my direction. "Have her put in a holding cell until Gnorr can examine her. Bind her with blood ore."

"She needs to be questioned," the severe woman behind him protests.

"And she will be." The sharpness of his tone leaves no further room for debate. Tossing the guard a curt nod, he turns his back and starts toward the empty throne where my sister waits, silent and unaffected. I don't dare call out to her—plead with her to see me, hear me, help me. Her imperious gaze remains fixed on the man beside me.

Before I can protest, my arms are yanked forward. The bindings are replaced by two heavy shackles the color of rust, the color of…oh my god.

I'm going to throw up. It's dried blood.

Nausea roils inside of me as I'm gripped around the arm by a rough, callused hand and dragged into a corridor to the right, away from my dad and sister. Away from the only familiar faces in this place. I'm towed down what feels like a million stairs before we reach another passageway.

"Please," I entreat the guard hauling me forward. When he doesn't answer, I dig my heels into the ground and rear back with all my might. Resisting against his grasp is futile. With his impressive height and strength, he lifts my arm higher, forcing me onto my tiptoes where I have to fight to keep my feet beneath me.

"Look, I'm not a witch, I swear. I don't even know where I am or how I got here. I just want to go home. I opened that stupid book and—" My foot catches a snag in the floor causing me to lurch forward. The guard jerks me upright. "Jesus H. Christ!" I squeal.

"Hold your tongue, witch. I'll not have you hauling hexes on me, blood ore or not."

"I told you I'm not a witch! My name is Serena Avery. That was my father in there. You have to take me back. I need to speak with him."

"The king is your father, is he?" His eyes remain fixed straight ahead as he gibes, "And Queen Ilspeth is my mother."

The two guards trailing us let out a chuckle. I preen my head to scowl at them. They have matching faces and the same flowing auburn hair. Twins.

We reach a dark, dimly lit cell with iron bars. Inside sits a plain wooden chair with leather straps secured to the armrests. One of the twin guards steps forward and unlocks the cell, holding it open.

"Just tell me where I am. Please. I don't belong here," I entreat my captor once more. He looks at me for the first time, and I gasp.

"You're right, you belong in here."

With a sharp shove, he retracts his grip, and I careen face-first into the uneven stone ground. The hard surface connects with my cheekbone. Shaking fingers lift to my face. They are tinged red when I pull them away.

"See to it that she settles in. I'll be back," he says to the twin guards before disappearing down the hall.

Tears pool in my unblinking eyes. The salt stings the cut on my cheek as they fall.

" Jack ," I croak after him.