Academy of Falling Kingdoms Box Set by Marisa Mills & Drake Mason

Author:Marisa Mills & Drake Mason [Mills, Marisa & Mason, Drake]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Urban Epics
Published: 2019-11-27T22:00:00+00:00

Nineteen

THE KING WAS WEARING AN embroidered black suit, with a red cravat, and silver wrist guards with lion faces on them. A long tapered sword, studded with rubies hung from his side, partially hidden behind the dark fur trim of the cloak that hung from his broad shoulders. His black boots had a golden trim.

Viviane dropped into a curtsey, and I stumbled to copy her graceful movements. Would that even help? My mind raced, as I desperately tried to find an excuse for being in these chambers.

“Your Majesty,” Viviane said, “I can explain.”

Let’s hope the roseling will be as conniving as the rest of her family, Lucian murmured.

But what excuse could Viviane possibly offer that would be good enough to appease the king? I glanced nervously at the open drawers scattered belongings on the floor behind us.

Two guards flanked him with weapons raised. The king’s personal guards were even more intimidating than the ones outside. Their uniforms were plated with engraved armor, and their beards were trimmed short in identical fashion. Long curved daggers gleamed from their palms, glowing with energy in the dim light. Battle mages, I was sure.

King Gregory raised his hand, and they halted a few feet behind him.

“Then, please, explain,” he said.

The king didn’t look at Viviane, though. His attention remained firmly fixed on me.

“We were going to look in Alexander’s room,” Viviane said hastily. “I—I’ve been courting your son, but—I don’t know if you’re aware that we’ve recently had a falling out. I suspect he’s interested in someone else, so I just wanted to look around his chambers—”

“And yet you’re here in mine,” the king replied.

“I heard the guards approach outside Alexander’s door,” Viviane said, “and I panicked.”

“And somehow you got past the guards at my door?” his eyes narrowed.

“They must have been distracted,” I said quickly. “We heard a noise in the Queen’s chambers, it sounded like a fight. And we saw a woman, with red hair. You may still be able to catch her.”

After a moment, the king nodded at the two guards, and they hurried out the door. I felt bad, but better Autumn than us.

“I’m dreadfully sorry, Your Majesty. I realize that it was an error of judgment on my part, and I shouldn’t have done it. And I convinced Wynter to help me. It really wasn’t her fault. She’s not from here; you know.”

“Yes, Dorian’s charge,” the king smiled, stroking his beard. “From Argent, wasn’t it? Well, love does make fools of us all.”

Viviane let out a nervous titter of laughter. “It won’t happen again, Your Majesty.”

King Gregory reached out with one hand, his fingers loose as if reaching for a doorknob that wasn’t there. Viviane haltingly offered her hand. The king kissed her knuckles and stroked along the underside of Viviane’s wrist. It was an elegant gesture, but something about it made my stomach lurch. He was taking this far too well.

Agreed, Lucian said. I don’t like this.

“Eleanor and Frederick are very fortunate to have such a lovely daughter,” the king said.

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