THE PRINCE BENEATH THE BLACK CROWN

Chapter 5:The Stranger at the Window

I should have been terrified of the man whose hand I was holding. Instead, I found myself trusting him. That frightened me more. Riven's fingers were warm around mine as he led me through the underground passage, Elian close behind us, glancing over his shoulder again and again.

"Where are we going?" I whispered.

"Out of the palace."

"We're underneath my family's manor."

"No." He glanced at me, "We're underneath the old royal palace."

I stopped walking. "What?"

He replied,"The Valora estate was built over the ruins of the first royal palace."

I stared at the stone walls. That explained the ancient chamber, the throne, the symbol. But it raised another question. "Why would my family build their home here?"

His expression darkened. "They didn't."

My stomach tightened. "What do you mean?"

"The royal family gave this land to your ancestors."

"Why?"

"Because your ancestors were supposed to guard what was beneath it."

I looked at Elian. He lowered his head. "You knew this too?"

"I knew part of it."

"Everyone knows everything except me." My voice cracked.

Elian reached for my shoulder. "Seren…."

I stepped away,"Don't."

He stopped. "I need answers."

"You'll get them."

"When?"

"When you're safe."

"I've been hearing that my entire life."

Riven kept walking, and I followed. The passage narrowed until we reached an iron door, he pressed his palm against it, a faint black light spreading beneath his hand, and the door opened. Cold night air rushed over my face and we'd come out into a forest. I looked behind us, the entrance had vanished into the stone.

"How?"

"Magic."

I frowned, "That's convenient."

He almost smiled, "You'll get used to it."

"I don't think I want to."

"You will."

Elian suddenly grabbed my arm, "Someone's coming."

Riven's whole body went rigid, "Where?"

"East."

A branch snapped, then another, and Riven drew his sword, "Stay behind me."

A figure stepped between the trees, I recognized the black uniform immediately as a royal soldier and relief washed through me. "It's one of my father's guards."

Riven didn't lower his sword. "That's the problem."

The soldier stopped and slowly removed his helmet, His eyes were completely black. I gasped.

"Ashmarked," Elian whispered.

The soldier smiled,"Princess Seren."

I stepped back. "How does he know me?"

He raised his hand, black smoke curling around his fingers, and Riven moved in front of me. The soldier laughed. "You can't protect her forever, Prince."

Riven's expression turned deadly. "Watch me."

The soldier attacked, and Riven met him halfway, their weapons colliding, Elian pulled me behind a tree.

"Stay here."

"No."

"Seren!"

"I can help."

"You don't know how."

"I need to learn."

Before he could answer, Riven was thrown against a tree. "Riven!" The soldier turned toward me, his black eyes widening. "You're awake."

I froze. "What?"

He smiled. "So it is true."

"What is true?"

"You don't remember."

Riven attacked him from behind, and the soldier dissolved into smoke. Riven stumbled, and I ran to him. "Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine." He looked at the spot where the soldier had vanished. "He wasn't supposed to know you're awake."

"Who is he?"

"Someone who shouldn't exist anymore."

"That doesn't answer my question."

"No."

I crossed my arms. "You're becoming very annoying." He stared at me, and then, unexpectedly, he laughed quietly, briefly, but real. I'd never imagined Riven D'Arcy could laugh. Elian stared at him too.

"What?"

His smile disappeared. "Nothing."

We continued through the forest, and after several minutes reached a small clearing where a black carriage waited beneath the trees, two horses standing beside it. I stopped. "Where did that come from?"

"It's mine."

"Of course it is."

He opened the carriage door. "Get inside."

I hesitated. "Where are we going?"

"To the Black Palace."

My stomach dropped. "Your home?"

"Yes."

"I thought you said my family wanted to send me there."

"They did."

"Then why should I go willingly?"

"Because if you stay here, your father will find you."

That was enough. I climbed in, Elian followed, and Riven entered last, The carriage began moving, and for several minutes no one spoke. I stared through the window at the dark forest sliding past everything I'd known disappearing behind me. My family. My home. My childhood. Even the person I'd thought I was.

I touched the hidden letter beneath my dress, There was still one thing I hadn't told Riven, The second message, your father is. I didn't know what to do with it, but I knew one thing for certain, I couldn't trust my father. Not anymore.

The carriage suddenly stopped. Riven looked up. "What happened?"

The driver didn't answer. Elian reached for his sword, and Riven opened the door. "Stay here." He stepped outside, and I heard him speak to the driver, then nothing. I waited. One minute. Two. Three.

"Riven?"

No answer. I opened the door. The road was empty. The driver was gone. The horses were gone. Riven was gone. My heart slammed against my ribs.

"Elian?"

He wasn't there either. I was alone, the forest pressing in around me. Then I saw a figure standing between the trees, tall and still, watching me. I reached for the dagger Elian had given me.

"Who's there?"

The figure stepped forward as a woman in a silver cloak, her long pale hair moving in the wind. I didn't recognize her. But she knew me.

"Seren Valora."

I tightened my grip on the dagger. "Who are you?"

She smiled. "My name doesn't matter yet."

"Then why are you here?"

"To warn you."

"About what?"

Her eyes moved toward the empty road. "About the man you are about to marry."

My stomach tightened. "Riven?"

She nodded. "He isn't what you think."

"I already know that."

"No." Her smile disappeared. "You don't." She stepped closer. "Riven D'Arcy isn't the Prince of Ruin."

I frowned. "Then what is he?"

Her expression turned almost pitying. "The Prince of Ruin is what happens when he loses control."

A chill ran through me. "What are you talking about?"

"You think the stories are exaggerated."

"They probably are."

"They aren't." She looked directly into my eyes. "Riven has killed entire armies without touching a weapon."

My fingers tightened around the dagger. "Why?"

"Because something inside him feeds on fear."

I swallowed. "And what does that have to do with me?"

She hesitated, then whispered, "Everything."

A sound came from behind me. I spun around. Riven stood several feet away, his face unreadable. The woman stepped back.

"Leave her alone."

His voice was dangerously calm. She smiled. "You know I can't."

He drew his sword. "Then you'll die."

She laughed softly. "You still don't understand, do you?" Her gaze shifted to me. "She isn't your salvation, Riven." He froze. "She is your destruction."

She vanished into the darkness. I stared at the place where she'd disappeared. Riven slowly lowered his sword.

"What did she mean?"

He didn't answer.

"Riven."

Nothing. I stepped closer. "What does she know about me?"

His eyes met mine, and for the first time I saw something close to fear in them. Not fear of the woman. Fear of me. "I was hoping you would never have to find out."

My heart pounded. "Find out what?"

He looked toward the dark trees, then back at me. "That's the reason I was ordered to marry you…" He paused. "…wasn't because your family wanted to protect you."

"Then why?"

His voice dropped to a whisper. "Because I'm the only person alive who can keep your power from killing everyone around you."

I stared at him. "My power?"

He nodded. "And if you lose control…" He looked at the darkness around us. "…you won't be the one they should fear."

I waited for him to finish. He didn't.

"Then who?"

He looked straight into my eyes. "Me."

The carriage reappeared behind him, Elian inside, pale and shaken. Riven opened the door. "Get in."

I didn't move. "Are you afraid of me?"

He didn't answer.

"Riven."

Finally he said, "Yes."

My heart sank. But then he stepped closer. "And that's exactly why I need you to trust me."

I stared at him, and for the first time I understood something terrifying. The stories had never really been about Riven being a monster. They'd been a warning about what happened when someone like me met someone like him.