A Court so Cruel and Lovely

Chapter Twelve

I spent the majority of the next day having my hair braided, my face painted, and being changed into my gown. The gown looked better on me than it had when it was laid out over the couch. I stashed a few of my knives in the hidden pockets. Two were sheathed in the garters on my thighs, and one was sheathed in between my breasts. I wore black thigh-high boots.

I looked at myself in the mirror. The front two strands of my hair had been braided into a crown-like shape. The rest of my hair was curled and fell to my waist. My violet eyes were rimmed with kohl and my cheekbones shone from the silver dust the servants had applied.

I no longer looked like the weeping girl who first arrived here, confused and grieving. I didn't look like the girl who drank and numbed herself to get over her mother's death either. I looked powerful, regal.
I looked like a princess, a queen.

***

I rode with Jude's family to the coronation.

"Damn," Vivi said. "That is one hell of a dress."

"You don't look bad either," I said, shooting her a grin.

Her gown was made of a silver fabric that changed colors in a certain light. Fake butterflies had been sewn to the gown. They bunched at her waist then spread up towards her shoulder, giving the effect of butterflies taking flight.

Jude looked at me. "I'm jealous. Your gown is so pretty."

"Thank you," I smiled.

"Come, let's not be late," Madoc said.

We climbed into the carriage, where someone had packed food. It was a smart idea, I was fairly certain none of us had remembered to eat. I ate my fill, which wasn't much but I was too nervous to eat anything else. That sense of foreboding had only increased. Something bad was going to happen.

I looked at Madoc for a moment. Across my lap was my sword, Starseeker. Thorne had sent it when he'd sent my clothes. I kept it close for my own sake.

Oriana had been very nervous about keeping it with me during the coronation but she didn't stop me.
The carriage rolled to a stop outside the palace. One by one, we all climbed out.

"Should we greet the king? One last time?" Jude asked.

Madoc shook his head. "Just be by the dais by the time the bell rings for the start of the coronation ceremony."

Jude nodded. I followed her, Vivi, and Taryn inside. We walked through the crowds, me and Jude stopped when we saw the Roach.

"What are you doing here?" Jude asked.

"Same as you," he responded. "I came to watch Dain get crowned High King."

Vivi walked over to us. "There you are. Oriana needs to get you two a leash like Oak's."

I shook my head but followed her through the crowds. Jude was swept off by Locke. I watched them warily. I wasn't fond of Locke and unlike Jude, I knew he was secretly seeing Taryn. In fact, he was soon to be betrothed to Taryn.

Locke had started a relationship with Taryn a couple months before he started flirting with Jude. I remember Cardan coming to me after finding out Locke was sleeping with Nicasia and I listened and comforted him. Not even a month or so later, Cardan told me Locke left Nicasia for one of or both the mortal twins.

Now, I realized Locke would never be happy with just one person. He ruins things, Nicasia said. I was watching him ruin Taryn and Jude's relationship and I wasn't sure what to do about it. I supposed I could have told Jude the truth but I didn't want to hurt her.

What would you know about love?, that cruel voice said. You've been in love with your best friend for 43 years and never said anything to him.

I ignored the voice. It spoke true, of course. I had been in love with Azriel and I still was. I'd accepted a long time ago that I would never get to say those words to him. I walked over to the table laden with drinks. I poured myself a glass of faerie wine and drained it to the dregs.

When I looked back at where Jude had been dancing with Locke, it seemed they had switched partners and Cardan was walking away. Jude, however, stayed in the same spot. When my eyes followed hers, I saw Taryn tucking a strand of Locke's hair behind his ear.

My heart dropped for Jude's sake. A bell began to ring, signaling the start of the coronation. I took my spot on the dais, with the other princesses and Balekin. Cardan was nowhere to be seen - not surprising.

Right before Dain was crowned, Balekin objected. My hand went to Starseeker at my side. Balekin went on a spiel about how he wanted the crown and if Dain didn't give it to him then he'd regret it. When Dain refused, Balekin killed Elowyn - a mere flick of his wrist. Then he killed Dain's mother, Taniot. I froze in horror and in shock. Things only got worse, however.

Madoc stepped onto the dais and at first, I thought he might stop Balekin. Instead, Madoc took his sword and ran in through Dain's chest. Bone cracked and blood gushed out. I struggled to stay on my feet. I'd seen bloodshed before but not this much.

When Eldred refused to crown Balekin, Balekin killed him, too. Caelia stepped forward to crown Balekin, in hopes that it would stop the bloodshed, but a bolt hit her square in the chest. She looked down as if surprised. The Ghost dropped down from the rafters and ran, guards chasing him.

He killed her, I thought. He actually killed her. Rhyia picked up Caelia's dropped knife.

"Sister, you cannot think to harm me," Balekin said.

"It is enough," Rhyia said. She took the blade and pressed it between the spot where her throat meets her jaw and slit her own throat. She gurgled on her own blood and dropped dead.

I backed away from Balekin.

"I will not crown you. Kin slayer," I snarled.

"You will or you will die too," he snarled back and lunged.

I became smoke and shadow. I winnowed to somewhere that was safe or relatively safe.

Somehow, I ended up in the Spring Court. In front of the High Lord and his emissary.