THE PRINCE BENEATH THE BLACK CROWN

Chapter 9: His First Warning

I had imagined many things about Prince Riven D'Arcy. A monster. A tyrant. A cold-blooded prince who enjoyed watching people tremble before him. But I had never imagined him standing in my father's courtyard at dawn, looking at me as though he already knew something about my life that I didn't.

The servants had barely finished preparing breakfast when I was told he wanted to speak with me. Alone. I almost laughed when I heard that after everything that had happened, the last thing I wanted was to be alone with the most feared man in the kingdom. Yet my feet carried me toward the west garden anyway.

Riven stood beneath an ancient tree, no crown, and for some reason that made him look more dangerous, not less. His dark coat was perfectly fitted, his silver eyes fixed on the fountain in front of him. I stopped several feet away.

"You wanted to see me?"

He turned. "Yes."

"Then speak."

His gaze moved over my face. "You're angry."

"I've been angry for three days."

"At me?"

"At everyone."

"That includes me."

"You're part of everyone."

Something almost like amusement crossed his face almost, then it vanished. "You shouldn't marry me."

I blinked. "What?"

He stepped closer. "You heard me."

"You're the one who came here to marry me."

"I know."

"You knew this arrangement existed."

"Yes."

"And now you're telling me I shouldn't do it?"

"Yes."

I stared at him. "Are you trying to make me hate you?"

"No."

"Because you're doing an excellent job."

He looked away. "I need you to understand something before the wedding."

"What?"

"When you enter my palace, nothing will be what it appears to be."

A cold feeling settled in my stomach. "What does that mean?"

"It means you cannot trust everyone who smiles at you."

I folded my arms. "That sounds like advice people give when they want you to distrust everyone except them."

His eyes came back to mine. "Don't trust me either."

That silenced me. "What?"

"Don't trust me blindly."

I studied with him. "You're warning me against yourself?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because I have secrets."

"So does everyone."

"Mine can get you killed."

The wind moved through the trees, and for the first time I saw something beneath his calm fear. Not for himself. For me.

"What kind of secrets?"

"I can't tell you yet."

"Then why warn me?"

"Because I may not get another chance."

My heart beat faster. "What are you talking about?"

He stepped closer. "Listen carefully, Seren." His voice dropped. "When you arrive at the Black Palace, there will be people who tell you they love me." I said nothing. "Some will tell you they hate me." He paused. "Some will claim they want to protect you." His eyes hardened. "Don't believe any of them until they prove it."

"And you?"

"Especially me."

I swallowed. "Why?"

"Because the palace has survived for generations by hiding the truth."

"What truth?"

He didn't answer.

"Riven."

He looked toward the palace gates. "You'll meet my father."

"King Aldric."

"Yes."

"You're telling me not to trust the king?"

"I'm telling you not to trust anyone simply because they wear a crown."

I frowned. "What about the queen?"

His expression shifted. "Queen Mirelle is kind." The answer came too fast.

"You hesitated."

"I didn't."

"You did." He looked at me for a long moment, then sighed. "Just be careful around her."

My heart sank. "Why?"

"Because kindness doesn't always mean innocence."

I remembered the letter my mother had left. Do not trust the king. I hadn't told Riven about that part yet I needed to know how much he already knew.

"What about Vespera?"

His expression went completely still. "You know her?"

"Everyone knows her."

"That isn't what I asked."

He looked away. "She was once important to my family."

"How important?"

"Important enough that you should never be alone with her."

A strange jealousy stirred in me, and I hated that it did. "You seem very concerned about her."

"I'm concerned about what she knows."

"What does she know?"

He didn't answer. Instead he stepped closer. "Seren."

"What?"

"If Vespera tells you something about me, don't believe her."

I narrowed my eyes. "And if she tells me something about you that's true?"

His jaw tightened. "Then believe it."

That wasn't the answer I expected. "You're confusing me."

"I know."

"Are you always this impossible?"

"Yes."

Despite myself, I almost smiled. Then I noticed a faint scar running along his neck, disappearing beneath his collar. I pointed toward it. "What happened there?"

His hand went to it immediately. "Nothing."

"That doesn't look like nothing."

"It was a long time ago."

"Who did it?"

He didn't answer, and I stepped closer. "Riven."

His eyes met mine. "Someone I trusted." The words came quiet, painful, and something in me softened despite everything.

"You trusted them?"

"Yes."

"And they betrayed you?"

"Yes."

"What happened?"

"They tried to kill me."

"Did they fail?"

His mouth curved into a humorless smile. "Obviously."

I looked away, feeling an unexpected pang of sympathy for him. Then he said something that killed it instantly.

"You're making the same mistake."

"What mistake?"

"Trusting too quickly."

I stiffened. "I don't trust you."

"You do."

"I don't."

"You're standing here alone with me."

"Because you asked me to come."

"You came." I opened my mouth and nothing came out. He was right, and I hated that he was right.

He walked past me, then stopped. "There is one more thing."

"What?"

"When we reach the palace, there will be a corridor on the northern side."

"Okay."

"Don't enter it."

"Why?"

"Because no one who enters that corridor is allowed to speak about what they see."

My skin prickled. "What is inside?"

He glanced back at me. "Something that has been waiting for you."

My breath caught. "For me?"

"Yes."

"What is it?"

He started walking again. "That's what you must never find out alone."

I followed him. "Riven! Wait."

He stopped and turned.

"You said if I marry you, I could die."

"Yes."

"Who wants me dead?"

His eyes darkened. "I don't know."

"You don't know?"

"I know there are people who don't want you to reach the palace."

"Why?"

"Because your arrival changes things."

"What things?"

He hesitated, then said, "The balance of power."

"You make me sound like a weapon."

His expression softened. "Maybe that's what they're afraid you'll become."

A chill passed through me. Before I could ask anything else, the sound of hooves echoed beyond the courtyard, and Riven turned sharply. A messenger raced through the gates, jumped from his horse, and hurried toward us.

"Your Highness!"

His expression changed. "What happened?"

The messenger glanced at me, and Riven caught it. "Speak."

"The palace sent word."

"What word?"

He swallowed. "The wedding has been moved."

My heart stopped. "Moved to when?"

He looked at me. "Tonight."

Silence. I stared at Riven. "You knew?"

"No."

"Then why do you look like you expected this?"

His eyes hardened. "Because I was afraid they'd do exactly this."

The messenger went on. "There is one more message."

"What?"

"The king says the ceremony must begin before sunset."

Riven's face turned cold. "Why?"

The messenger lowered his voice. "Because there was an attempt on Lady Seren's life last night."

My blood ran cold. "What?"

Riven looked at me, and his warning suddenly made sense. Someone had searched my room. Someone had been watching me. And now the wedding has been moved to tonight.

He stepped closer, his voice barely a whisper. "Seren, when we reach the palace, trust no one."

I looked into his silver eyes. "Not even you?"

He held my gaze. "Especially not me."

Then he turned toward the waiting carriage, and for the first time I understood something terrifying. Riven wasn't trying to frighten me away from his palace. He was trying to prepare me for whatever was waiting for me inside it.