Ember Queen by Laura Sebastian

Author:Laura Sebastian [Sebastian, Laura]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2020-02-04T00:00:00+00:00

I DON’T REMEMBER FALLING ASLEEP, BUT when I find myself in the Astrean throne room, I know I must be dreaming. Light from the waning moon filters through the stained-glass ceiling, casting the large room in an eerie, otherworldly glow.

“There you are,” Cress’s voice says, and I whirl around to see her, standing mere feet from me in a gown of ink-blue silk, with a wide neckline and gossamer bell sleeves studded with diamonds, making her look like the night sky itself. Her white hair is loose, falling just to her shoulders, still brittle and frayed at the ends. Her lips are blacker than they were when I saw her last, but when she steps closer, I realize that it isn’t all natural—she’s painted them with black lacquer.

I wonder if she’s trying to make it into some kind of style, something strange and beautiful instead of a flaw. I wonder if the court is now full of noblewomen with painted black lips, if merchants are charging absurd prices for a lacquer shade they likely made using nothing more than coal and grease.

“You’ve been forgetting about me. I haven’t seen you in days,” she accuses.

I feel the old urge to apologize, and have to hold myself back. I don’t owe her apologies. I don’t owe her anything.

“I’m dead,” I tell her with a shrug. “I have better things to do than entertain you. In fact, perhaps I should go.”

I make a move to leave, though I’m not sure where I would go or how I’d make myself wake up, but the bluff works. Cress grabs my hand roughly, her fingers hot against my skin.

“No, don’t,” she says, her desperation leaking through before she hastily adds “Please,” her voice small and childlike.

I pretend to hesitate. “Fine,” I say. “I suppose I can stay for a bit.”

She releases my hand and instead loops her arm through mine, squeezing it and smiling broadly.

“Exciting things are happening, Thora,” she says. “Very exciting things. I had to give up Prinz Søren to set them in motion, but it was a price worth paying, I suppose,” she adds with a pout.

My stomach turns as I think about Brigitta and Laius. Has she already discovered that Laius isn’t Jian? Has Brigitta broken so soon?

“What sort of things?” I ask. “It must have been something for you to give up the Prinz.”

She scoffs. “I’d hoped Prinz Søren would be useful to me, but he proved far more trouble than he was worth. I was glad to see him go. And what I got in return was far better, I assure you.”

I swallow. “And what was that?” I ask.

But instead of answering, she frowns and leans in to sniff my hair. “You smell like him. Did you know? Like driftwood and sea salt. I suppose if he’s joined you in death so soon, he didn’t survive the journey to Sta’Crivero. Pity—I think King Etristo had quite the execution planned. You’ll give him my regards, won’t you?”

“I think he’s had enough of your regards,” I tell her.

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