A Kingdom of Bloodshed (A Crimson Court Series)

*¬*Chapter Twenty Three*¬*

       Yellow sunlight pierces into our skin. The perpetual chill from Ara long since vanished upon entering Dark Moon Grove. No one spoke when I told them the good news. No one dared ask what transpired between Anil and I. We simply thanked them for their hospitality before leaving.

Now we are deep within the grove, the trees and bushes swallowing any sort of humanity around us. Raven holds a map, her eyes trailing over the paths and turns but wrinkles her brow as we come to yet another dead end.

"Where the hell are we?" Ryder asks. Raven shakes her head, "I don't know. I keep getting turned around." Our group pauses within a small clearing, the tall grass now giving way to smooth dirt and trails. Kaz pauses next to me, he's been oddly silent the entire trip but decides to ask me, "Do you know where we're going?"

I thought being tied to the Blood Crown... that I'd know where to go. But I don't. I sigh and shake my head, "No. I'm sorry. I thought maybe it would speak to me, but so far I've heard nothing."

Ryder lets out a deep sigh, Raven shakes her head and Fin leans against the nearest tree, his pale green eyes searching my face.

"Perhaps you should take this moment of pause to reach out? Use your magic and see if you can sense it. Maybe that will help guide us towards the Crown?" Fin's words startle me. He's a male of few words but when he does speak, he's very wise.

Closing my eyes, I center myself. Letting a small amount of magic slip from the tight hold I've kept on it since the breaking. It traces along the ground, reaching towards the farthest depths of the Grove before something looks back.

Something just as ancient and old as that shadow being had been. It trails whispery fingers along my magic, tugging at it, purring as it climbs along the branch of power until I'm looking it straight in the face.

The Crown looks back at me. It whispers of its location, the magic around it just as dark as my own. Hello beautiful queen. I've been waiting for you.

A shiver cascades down my spine. My fingers twitch by my side but I cannot pull away. I cannot look back.

It stares at me. If it had a mouth, the Crown would be grinning. Come. I am this way, beautiful queen. Come find me.

"Thea?" Someone is shaking me. Tugging on my shoulders and sending my magic careening back into the prison I've locked it tightly within. The world comes back into focus. The colors, the sounds, the heat, it all hits me at once. "Thea?" Amber eyes stare deeply into my soul, concern lightening them. "I'm fine. I know where the Crown is." His fingers linger upon my cheeks before falling away. Kaz now stepping aside so that I may lead the way for them.

I've not taken more than a few steps forward when something rustles in the bushes before me. The hot air suddenly dropped and now goosebumps pebble my arms. "Shit. It just got freezing." Ryder hisses, his teeth beginning to chatter. The hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

It moves again within the bushes. Whatever it is. I turn to take an assessing glance at my group when I realize someone is missing. "Where's Fawn?" Fin darts his head to the side, eyes going round at realizing his sister is missing. "Where did she go? She was just behind me." Scoring the clearing for her, my eyes try to pick up on anything, her smell, her clothes, anything. But I cannot sense her within this place.

A deep rumble comes from behind me. Now my bones lock up. Something snaps a few feet from me. The air dropped even more. "Damn it." I rasp, my breath now plumming from me in silver puffs. "Be careful, Althea." Kaz's words have just registered when something large and imposing launches from the bushes. Vicious whinnies and deep rumble snorts enter the air, what sounds like hooves trample the dirt and the impact of the creature plowing through me has sent me flying backwards. I hit the ground with a low groan. "Thea!" His voice sounds far away and I've just pushed myself onto my elbows when I glance up.