Queen of the Exiled: Stag and Hollow Chronicles (The Stag and Hollow Chronicles Book 2) by Gem L Preston

Author:Gem L Preston [Preston, Gem L]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-09-04T16:00:00+00:00

I didn’t care what game Eliana and I were playing, skirting around each other and speaking only through our anger. I would always want her safe⁠—even if that meant being as far away from me as possible. And I would always go out of my way to protect her⁠, even if that meant destroying an elven prince.

With the knowledge that it was likely Cirdan and his father, King Morven, who had⁠—with Kanu’s help⁠—created the being of the Hollow, we left in a hurry, intent on getting some backup before we returned to Akraya. So first⁠—Tenebris.

My uncle and Boone were astonished to see me land on the palace balcony.

“What do you know?” Uncle Thuban demanded as soon as I transformed, his dark eyes wary as I dressed us.

“I need five of the best from the guards, now,” I announced, strolling past him. Boone bowed as I swept through the throne room.

“What? Why?” Thuban asked. “Dracho, wait!”

I exhaled impatiently and came to a stop, nodding to Ant, who left to gather my guards.

“Eliana is in trouble,” I told Thuban and Boone.

“The princess? I don’t understand. I thought you left to accuse her father of your father’s assassination?”

“Her father was innocent⁠—”

Thuban scoffed. “Her father’s pin was found on Eltanin’s body.”

I bared my teeth in anger. “I remember! But King Cervidae is dead. This goes much deeper than we all thought.”

A silence rang out. Boone’s eyes travelled over my face, and he frowned. Thuban remained still, no discernible emotion on his face.

I hadn’t expected any sorrow from the man, even though a good man had been murdered, but saying it aloud hurt. A man who had welcomed me into his city, and palace, without truly knowing who I was, had died. A man who had offered his help once he had found out about my father, as if it had affected him personally. Seeing Eliana deal with his loss had reminded me of my own father’s death, and Uncle Thuban’s stoicism stung. Perhaps King Cervidae’s death had upset me more than I’d realised.

“I don’t have time to waste, Uncle. I promise to tell you everything upon my return.” I turned to leave again.

“Where are you going?” he called after me.

Once again, my steps faltered. “We met with Prince Cirdan.”

“Morven?” Thuban asked, eyes wide.

I ignored him. “Before I could discover what he really wanted, I left… and I left Eliana with him. Ant and I went to the temple of the Hollow. It’s Jandar Morven. It’s been him all along.”

“How do you know?” Boone asked, taking a step towards me.

“We met with someone at the temple—a worshipper. He was there when the creature was made. There were two elves, and they sound like Jandar and Cirdan.”

Thuban started, “But we don’t know that for sure⁠—”

“I will not risk leaving her in the hands of those behind our father’s deaths!”

Thuban’s jaw clenched. “So you will put yourself at risk for that woman?” he asked, his tone low.

My magick thrummed under my skin, roiling and warming. My eyes flashed silver, a pull in my chest tugging me towards an unknown path.

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