Holiday Crown by Nikki Jefford

Author:Nikki Jefford [Jefford, Nikki]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fantasy Romance
Publisher: Nikki Jefford
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Boots pounded behind us as Ryo led an army of two dozen guards to the throne room doors. Three of the sentinels were females, all armed with swords. I wanted to run straight back to the suites to warn Jhaeros and Folas, but Ryo insisted we’d find Malon in the throne room.

He stopped in front of the large doors and waited as two guards threw them open. Six more of Ryo’s sentinels ran into the throne room first.

“Your Majesty, he’s here . . . on the dais!” one of the males yelled.

Heart pounding against my chest, I followed Ryo in with the rest of the guards.

Malon said nothing as we stormed in. He sat slouched on the throne, looking as sickly as his glamour had. Without so much as a weapon, he didn’t appear to be any threat, but just the fact that he was loose from his cage was enough to put my senses on full alert.

I scanned every dark corner of the room. Too much blood had already been spilled in here when Albedo tried to take the crown. Chills wafted over me, goose bumps rising on my arms. I nocked an arrow in my bow and held it up, trained on Malon, ready to let it loose if he tried anything.

“Hello, Brother,” Malon said evenly, as though too tired to muster a sneer.

Blade at his side, Ryo stopped several paces from the dais. “Who let you out?”

Malon chuckled, which led to coughing. Once he got hold of himself, he grinned through the gloom. “You’ll find out soon enough.”

“Indeed, I will,” Ryo said, puffing out his chest. “You can wait in your cell while we track down your accomplice.”

“I’m staying right here.” Steel entered Malon’s voice, sending an icy wave of uncertainty crashing over me.

Ryo laughed. “How do you figure that? You have no weapon, and you’re outnumbered. I doubt you could fight a toddler in your condition.”

Malon’s teeth gleamed when he smiled. “I don’t need a weapon. I have your son, Lark, and your niece.” He looked briefly in my direction before returning to Ryo.

I had to hold back a scream. Not Fraya! Not my baby girl.

Malon leaned forward, his cruel gaze shooting down at Ryo. “If anything happens to me, my accomplice will stick a dagger in Lark’s heart. Then again, maybe you don’t care. I hear the golden prince isn’t even yours. Sharing a female—an elf—you really are a lost cause, Brother.” This time Malon did manage to sneer.

Taking a step forward, Ryo snarled up at the blackguard. “What is it you want?”

Malon leapt to his feet, giving us all a start. “I want my brother Albedo back, you cretin! Dahlquist was his birthright. Since he’s no longer alive to claim his rightful title, I will ensure that his son does.”

All mouths gaped open.

“Son? What son? Albedo wasn’t mated long enough to father a child,” Ryo said.

Malon grinned. “He was virile enough to impregnate his mate with twins in one night.”

Albedo’s widow had twins? Pitberries! What were the odds? Only an Elmray could cause this much aggravation.

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