A Kingdom of Bloodshed (A Crimson Court Series)

*¬*Chapter Thirteen*¬*

         Weeks have passed since I was sent home. The final weeks till the month was up have come and gone. Kaz hasn't announced his winner yet. There has been no word from him during all this time. I've spent my weeks training, catching up with my family and walking around my city.

I should be happy to be home. Excited that I'm free of that court and the horrid games we had to play but I'm not. I sort of miss it.

I miss Arrow. Her quirkiness. Her friendship. I miss the way I could sit outside and smell the summer air and the spice. I miss the looks Kaz and I would share or the way he'd annoy me but still manage to make me feel safe.

There are certain things that I don't miss, like Augustus being a bastard for instance, but I'm unsure how I would feel if I got invited back for the crowning ceremony. I don't know if I would be able to go.

Sighing, I flop back onto my bed and throw an arm over my head, "What am I going to do?"

"Going to do about what?" Rosemary's voice startles me. Like Arrow, she is my closest friend here within my Kingdom. She's been by my side since I was a child. Sitting up, I'm about to reply when I notice that she's got an envelope in her hands, her feet shuffling nervously upon the floor.

"Rose, what's the matter?"

"You received a letter in the mail." I blink. That's what has her acting so weird? "And? Is it anything important?" Rosemary bites her lip, chewing it anxiously. "Well, I think it's from him." I pause, not needing but wanting to ask "From who?"

"Lord Kazimir." The words are breathy. Almost as if she's afraid I'll break if I hear his name. I wasn't that close to him.

I don't care.

Reaching out for her, I say, "Let me see." She hands me the letter, then steps away; waiting. I blink, "You can go now, Rosemary." She frowns, "But-"

"I'll be fine." Sighing, she closes her mouth then turns and exits my room.

With shaking hands I rip open the envelope, pull out the cream coloured paper from inside, then unfold it to see beautiful handwriting scrawled across the paper.

It states:

My Dearest Althea,

I am writing to you today, in the hopes that you are well and that your time back home has been pleasant. As you know, the competitions are now over and it's time for me to pick a winner. As much as I wished you to be there to compete, I must accept the choices that were made. I am writing to you, in the hopes that you'll attend the ceremony; as you were a competitor, it is only right that you be here. This is your invitation to attend the Crowning Ceremony at the Kingdom of Bloodshed.
Please send word when you can.

With wishes,

Kaz.

I blink after reading the letter.

With wishes? That's how he ends the invitation? Who the hell says with wishes?! A sudden burst of anger courses through me and gripping the invitation I tear it into four large pieces before chucking it into the waste bin in my room.

Deciding to get some training in, to let off some steam, I slide my practice leathers on and make my way outside. Taking my time to decide if I'll answer and when, let alone if I'll attend the ceremony. The hot summer day doesn't help my attitude, if anything it makes it worse.

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          Swing after swing, I hit the practice dummy with all my might. Every hit lets out another puff of frustration.