His Vampire Heart Never Beat For Me

Chapter 3 The Stolen Crown

Jewels flashed beneath the Great Hall chandeliers. Dark court silks crowded the floor, every guest eager to celebrate the victory.

In my borrowed gown, I gave each of them the smile they expected from their Queen.

Then I saw Victoria beside the throne.

She wore the midnight silk gown delivered to my chambers the week before. Silver thread had been chosen to match my eyes.

The Starfall Ruby rested against Victoria's throat. On our bonding day, Julian had fastened it around mine and promised its fire belonged to his only Queen.

I remembered his fingers brushing the clasp.

Conversation stopped around us. Courtiers looked from Victoria in my gown and ruby to me in borrowed silk.

I walked toward the throne. "Julian. That necklace."

Victoria gasped before he could answer. Her ankle buckled, and the goblet in her hand tipped. Silver-laced wine ran over the back of her own wrist.

She screamed.

"It burns! A shadow curse!" She sagged against the throne, clutching the thin, smoking blister raised by the silver.

The first accusation came from somewhere behind me. Others followed at once.

"The Queen is a jealous witch!"

"She attacked Lady Victoria in plain sight!"

"That was silver wine," I said. "She spilled it on her own wrist."

"Enough!"

Julian reached Victoria before the hall went quiet. He stepped between us and cradled her injured hand the way he had once cradled mine.

He asked for no witnesses. The goblet by her feet might as well have been invisible.

"Your jealousy has made you reckless, Eleanor," he said for the whole court to hear. "You harmed an innocent guest in my hall. Return to your chambers. We will discuss your punishment later."

No witnesses. No hearing. He had passed sentence in front of the entire court.

I looked at the man I had married. The pain I expected was gone.

I inclined my head. "As you command, my King."

Then I walked out of the Great Hall without hurrying.

In my chambers, I opened the velvet-lined box on the vanity. The tiny leather shoe inside had softened where my thumb kept rubbing the same spot. One tear landed on it before I could close the lid.

I put the shoe in the pocket of my plain shift and opened *The Sun-Severance*.

The ancient words peeled away the magic guarding my skin from sunlight. When the last ward released me, cool air from the window stung my bare arms.

The sky had faded from indigo to a thin, bruised purple.

Dawn was close.

I gathered the healer's report, Julian's order, and the shoe, then went to the empty throne room.