A Crown of Madness (The Fallen Fae Series Book 2) by A.K. Koonce & Rebecca Grey

Author:A.K. Koonce & Rebecca Grey [Koonce, A.K.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-01-03T16:00:00+00:00

Wires in the top I’ve been strapped into poke into the flesh on either side of my chest. The corseted back has been pulled so tight that I can only take the smallest of breaths. And when I do breathe, my breasts threaten to topple out of the neckline. Two small sleeves that look more like cupcakes drape off my shoulders.

“You look lovely in blue,” the woman who helped me into this monstrosity coos.

My mouth shapes into a grimace. “Isn’t this a bit scandalous for a princess to wear?” Though I don’t feel like a princess at all, it’s my birthright, and they’ve nestled a silver crown with black tips onto my crown of braids.

The servant balks. “This is the height of fashion here in our court.”

Soft fabric hangs over my hips. I run my hands over it, twisting in front of the mirror. Even my back is exposed above the corset. This is nothing like what would be allowed in the Court of Darkness.

“Breathtaking,” a deep voice says from the doorway.

My eyes snap up to the warm brown-skinned prince with the copper-gold hair that watches me in the mirror. A wide smile shows off his sparkling, white teeth. Honey-yellow eyes trace the shape of my body. I steel my spine, a motion I’d practiced while in the Dark Palace that comes back to me almost naturally.

“Prince Dalziel.” I dip my chin. The long diamond earrings dangling from my ears brush against my collarbones.

“Princess. Violence. Starling.” Each word is accompanied by the staccato of his steps into the room. Messy strands of hair fall over his forehead as he tips his head, his teeth digging into his lip as he holds back a smile. “You’ve lost weight since the last time I saw you.” He hums. “It suits you.”

When I look back at the mirror, all I see is jutting bones and pale, dull skin shadowed with ill health. Still, I try and force a smile as if what he’d just said was a compliment.

“I’m pleased that you find my appearance so . . .”

“Appealing. Satisfying. Seductive. Inviting.” With one lifted brow, the servant quickly scuttles from the room. He’s walking so close to me now, I can smell his cologne. A sweet but musky scent that stings like pepper in my nose.

“Yes.” I’m thankful that I’d been offered silk slippers instead of torturous heels as I turn and walk around the prince toward the door. I clasp my hands in front of me, bouncing on the balls of my feet. “Shall we?”

His smile only widens. “Eager too. I think I may like you, Princess.”

“We will see about that,” I whisper under my breath.

The door is open to the hall, a castle I have yet to explore, not that I really want to. As I expect him to, Prince Dalziel offers me his arm. The sleeves of his billowy cerulean shirt have been rolled to reveal his forearms. I wrap my arm around his, my fingers gingerly settling against his warm skin.

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