THE PRINCE BENEATH THE BLACK CROWN

Chapter 6: Three Days Until the Wedding

I didn't speak to Riven for the rest of the journey, not because I had nothing to say but because I had too much, my mind kept circling back to the woman's words. She is your destruction and then Riven's confession, I'm afraid of you. How could someone who was supposedly the most feared prince in the kingdoms be afraid of me?.

I stared through the carriage window as the forest slowly gave way to the open road behind us, the sun had begun to rise, morning light spilling pale gold across the horizon, I'd been awake all night, and by the time the carriage finally stopped, my whole body felt hollowed out with exhaustion.

Riven opened the door. "We're here."

I stepped outside and forgot how to breathe, the Black Palace stood in front of me, and it wasn't beautiful the way I'd always imagined a royal palace would be, It was terrifying, black towers rose into the sky, connected by enormous bridges of dark stone, silver banners bearing the D'Arcy crest hanging along the walls. The whole thing looked ancient. Almost alive.

I stared up at it. "This is your home?"

"Yes."

"You actually live here?"

"Yes."

I glanced at him, "Do you ever give longer answers?"

"No."

I rolled my eyes, and he almost smiled, Almost.

Elian stepped out behind us. "I need to speak with Riven."

"About what?"

"Your safety."

I crossed my arms, "You're both going to leave me out again."

Elian sighed, "Seren."

"No." I pointed between them, "I'm done being the only person who doesn't know what's happening."

Riven studied me for a moment, then nodded,"She deserves to know." Elian looked surprised,"Tell her," Riven said.

My brother hesitated. "The wedding isn't tomorrow."

I frowned, "What?"

Riven looked at me. "It was supposed to be."

"Then why isn't it?"

"Because your father changed the date."

"To when?"

"Three days from now."

My stomach twisted. "Why?"

"Because he wants time."

"For what?"

His face hardened, "To find you."

"He thinks I'm dead."

"He knows you're alive."

My heart sank. "How?"

"Someone informed him."

I looked at Elian,"Who?"

He didn't answer.

"Who told him?"

His expression changed. "Mira."

I froze, "My Mira?"

He nodded. "She was seen leaving the manor shortly after the attack."

I shook my head. "No."

"She disappeared."

"No."

"She knew the secret passages."

"She wouldn't betray me."

Elian looked at me, sadness in his eyes. "Seren, we don't know that."

I refused to believe him, Mira had been beside me since childhood, the only person in my family who'd never treated me like I was fragile, the one person I trusted. "She wouldn't."

Riven stepped closer,"You don't have to believe it." I looked at him,"But until we know the truth, assume everyone can betray you." The words made my chest tighten.

I followed them into the palace. Inside was even more intimidating and dark marble covering the floors, huge chandeliers hanging from the ceilings, royal guards lining every corridor. But when Riven walked past, every guard lowered their heads, not one dared look directly at him. I noticed.

"They're afraid of you."

"Yes."

"Why?"

He kept walking. "You already heard the stories."

"I don't believe them."

"Why not?"

"Because I've met you."

He stopped, and I nearly walked into him. "And what have you discovered?"

"That you're irritating."

A faint smile crossed his face, "Good."

We continued on, and a woman approached us in an elegant silver gown, a crown resting lightly on dark hair. Queen Mirelle, Riven's stepmother. Her eyes went straight to me, and then she smiled.

"Seren."

I bowed slightly. "Your Majesty."

She touched my cheek, the gesture gentle. Too gentle. "I have been waiting a very long time to meet you."

I stiffened. "You knew me?"

Her smile faltered. "Of course."

"How?"

Silence. Then Riven's voice cut through the room. "Mother."

She looked at him. "Riven." Something passed between them a warning and then she turned back to me. "You must be exhausted."

"I am."

"I've prepared rooms for you."

"I don't want a room." She blinked. "I want answers."

Her smile disappeared. Riven watched me carefully as I pressed on. "Why does everyone know about me except me?"

Queen Mirelle glanced at Riven, then at Elian. "You have your mother's eyes."

My heart stopped. "What did you say?"

She smiled, sadly. "Nothing."

"No." I stepped closer. "You knew my mother."

Her face went pale. "Seren…."

"You knew her."

"Yes."

"How?"

She looked at Riven, and he nodded. "Tell her."

The queen closed her eyes. "She was my closest friend."

I swallowed. "Then why did nobody tell me?"

"Because your mother asked us not to."

"Why?"

"She was afraid."

"Of what?"

She looked directly at me. "Of the Black Crown."

My stomach tightened, and before I could ask anything more, a bell rang through the palace. Once. Twice, a third time. Everyone in the corridor froze. Queen Mirelle's face lost all its color, and Riven's hand went to his sword.

"What is it?" I asked. Nobody answered.

A guard came running. "Your Highness!"

Riven turned. "Speak."

"The eastern tower."

"What happened?"

"The crown room has been opened."

Silence. Riven's face went unreadable. "Who opened it?"

The guard swallowed. "We don't know."

Riven looked at me, and my chest tightened. "Why are you looking at me?"

He didn't answer. The guard whispered, "The Black Crown is missing."

I felt a strange burning beneath my skin. I looked down at my hands black veins of light were spreading beneath my fingers. My breath caught. Riven saw them.

"Everyone out." The guards obeyed instantly. "Riven…"

"Now."

"What is happening?"

He grabbed my hand, and the moment his fingers touched mine, the glow vanished. I stared at him. "How did you do that?"

He didn't answer.

"Riven."

He looked at me. "The crown isn't missing."

"Then where is it?"

His expression shifted. "It's already found its way to you."

My blood ran cold. "What?"

He reached beneath his coat. The black pendant he always wore was glowing, but this time the symbol wasn't a small crown it was a complete circle of black fire.

"Three days," he whispered.

"What happens in three days?"

He looked toward the eastern tower. "The wedding." My heart began racing. "And the crown chooses its queen."

I shook my head. "No."

He stepped closer. "Seren."

"I don't want this."

"I know."

"I don't want to be a queen."

"I know."

"I don't want your crown."

"I know."

"Then stop it."

His expression softened. "I can't."

"Why?"

"Because the crown isn't choosing you because of me." He lifted my hand and a faint black mark appeared on my palm, shaped like a crown. I stared at it in horror. "It chose you before you ever met me."

I pulled my hand away. "No."

His gaze held mine. "And once the crown chooses someone…" He paused. "…the kingdom belongs to her."

A loud crash echoed from the eastern tower. We both turned. A guard came running toward us.

"Your Highness!"

"What now?"

The guard looked terrified. "Someone has entered the crown room."

"Who?"

He shook his head. "We don't know."

"Then find them."

"There is something else."

Riven's expression darkened. "What?"

The guard swallowed. "There are footprints."

"Whose?"

He looked at me. "Yours."

I froze. "That isn't possible."

His voice trembled. "They lead from the crown room…" He pointed toward me. "…straight to your bedroom."

My blood ran cold. Riven looked at me, and suddenly the palace didn't feel like a place I had entered. It felt like a place that had been waiting for me.

Then a voice whispered from somewhere deep inside the walls. My mother's voice.

"Three days, my daughter."

I couldn't breathe.

"And then he will remember who you are.”