House Thorne's banner had a snarling wolf. House Elrean had the piercing owl of their watchful silence. House Varek had their seahorse power… The General's family looked like walking ghosts, and the Violets… goodness… Lady Nysha looked at me like she already knew what I was.
My heart thundered as I caught sight of Prince Cedric seated high on the royal dais, his golden curls glowing like light itself. He didn't look like he cared.
But my second brother did.
Prince Daemon stood, then descended swiftly from the Throne stairs. When he reached the base, he stopped right in front of me.
I wanted to shrink into nothing.
This was my blood.
My brother. We shared veins, shared lineage… but the way he looked at me with eyes as cold and blue as the South Sea you'd think I was a stranger who had wandered into the palace by accident.
He was curious, yet disgusted.
Did I stink? I tried not to sniff myself, but the thought wouldn't leave.
A cold smile touched his lips. "Who," he bellowed, "allowed this peasant into Court Castle?"
I wanted to slam my forehead into the nearest pillar.
A ripple of gasps and stifled laughter moved through the court.
I glanced sideways under my lashes, watching several nobles from the Houses try to hide their grins, but the ones from House Thorne didn't bother at all.
They chuckled freely.
Of course they did. Why did I expect anything different? The words on my tongue vanished. I couldn't breathe. A tear slid down my cheek as I turned back toward the courtiers who had brought me.
But they weren't looking at me either.
They were looking over me.
Past me. They were the Queen's loyal dogs, finally let back into Castle Court after who knows how long. Why would they acknowledge the girl they had babysat just to get through the gates?
I wouldn't be a burden to them anymore. I looked down at my legs. My bandaged legs. The Queen had invited me, hadn't she? So why wasn't she speaking?
Why did I feel like a mistake that rolled in on royal wheels?
"Speak," Daemon snapped. "Or has the cat taken both your tongue and your dignity?"
Still, I kept my head low.
I couldn't look at him or any of them as I prayed for Veldera's earth to open and swallow me whole.
"She belongs to no House!" someone yelled from the back.
My body jolted.
The voice came from behind me. From the Red House. I didn't know who it was.
"Just a cripple brought in for our amusement and pity."
Mother, please. Say something.
But Queen Isolde said nothing.
She remained seated on her high throne watching without blinking or saying a word. The only sign of life was the way her pale fingers slowly tightened against her armrest.
A shadow loomed behind me. General Loric. His merciless sword stopped just below my chin.
"You have been found wanting by Castle Court," his voice announced. "For entering the Inner Court room without an official invitation is an offense of its own. Perhaps you were working with the assassin. For that, your head shall be taken, by Her Majesty's command."
I closed my eyes.
So this was it.
Death. Maybe this was the only escape left. The only way out of this miserable life.
He raised his sword.
"She has my sigil on her wheels."
The General froze.
Even I turned. It was the Queen.
She was standing now, glaring with eyes pale as frost. "Prince Daemon," she said, stepping forward, "that is the sigil of the House Raventhorn."
What…?
General Loric's gaze snapped toward her, caught off guard. But his sword remained where it was still pressing into my throat.
"Are you being threatened, Your Majesty?" he asked quietly. His sword pressed harder, prickling my skin.
My blood trickled down my neck.
I hissed.
It hurt. It hurt so badly.
Lord Alrik spat. "Your Majesty, only the royal child—"
"She is a royal child," Queen Isolde declared.
"And unless the undead have found better disguises, that sigil was given by blood."
"Mother," Prince Daemon's jaw clenched. "Are you saying she's…"
"Enough." Queen Isolde's voice rang through the room. She began to descend the steps, her hollow gaze never leaving mine. "I know who she is," she said coldly. "And it is my decision whether she lives or dies."
My chest tightened.
General Loric instantly sheathed his sword.
"She is our sister, Daemon." A soft voice came from the side of the room. "Come here and stop being such a brat." Prince Cedric chuckled lightly.
I watched him curiously. He was my brother too. When his grey eyes met mine, he raised his hand.
I blinked. What was he doing? Was he… waving at me? I casted my gaze to the side. What a fool… to wave those royal hands at me now.
Queen Isolde turned to the Houses.
"All Lords and Ladies of the Five Houses, step forward."
They obeyed slowly.
"You will now bear witness and cast judgment on the girl who wears the Raven's sigil, who dares to enter the Black Court during the first recognition and memorial of the King."
She paused.
"For she is my firstborn daughter, and her name is Kaelynn Raventhorn. Whatever you are thinking…. it's true.
Just like that… the room erupted into chaos.
And me? I felt strangely disappointed that the sword was no longer against my throat.
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/-Unknown pov-/
"This is preposterous!" Lord Alrik whispered to his daughter, who was too busy eyeing Prince Cedric with dreamy eyes. "This cannot be true… Eris! Are you even listening to me?"
Eris snapped out of her daze. "Papa," she smiled faintly. "Look at her. Is this what you should be worried about?"
Lord Alrik looked… really looked at the young girl seated on a wheelchair with her legs wrapped in bandages.
He nearly pinched his nose to block the stench coming off her. If this girl was truly a royal child, why had he never heard of her?
"Eris, remember what I told you. This girl is going to stand in the way of that."
Eris's smile vanished. "Papa, what are you talking about? A deal is a deal. That's why I'm here with you in the first place." Then she leaned closer. "If Prince Cedric is mine, the Black Throne and Castle Court will belong to me."
Lord Alrik hid a smile.