Shadow Kissed (Marked by Blood Book 1) by Rebecca L. Garcia

Author:Rebecca L. Garcia [Garcia, Rebecca L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-03-15T18:30:00+00:00

SIXTEEN

I stared at my star-kissed gown, billowing out at my knees, as Erianna and I prepared to leave for the royal castle. Erianna was right. I could still have the life I wanted on my terms. Only, she didn’t know that I was lying to them all to have it.

Sebastian had been more than open to believing that I was on board with their plan to sneak me into the castle under the guise of his wife-to-be and place me on the throne as queen. We’d gone over the details this morning after I explained I’d thought about it overnight and was willing to accept if only to protect my mom and hopefully Draven, if gods willing, he was still alive.

Despite my mom hiding the truth from me, I wasn’t mad, not after spending the night thinking about how she was just trying to protect me from them. She’d dedicated her life to the cause, and now it was my turn to save her.

Agreeing to become queen was more manageable than saying I’d agree to become the princess, so Sebastian wouldn’t immediately tell Sargon who I was.

However, Erianna confided in me that the king would likely arrest them all for not telling him who I was straight away, so the plot to make me queen instead worked in everyone’s favor, especially mine. It allowed me to conceal my identity while ensuring their help to find my mom, and Draven if he was there, then escape before anything irreversible could happen.

Pressing my fingers to my neck, thinking about the alternative future where I could have become one of them floated into my mind, consuming me in a blood-hazed daydream.

Erianna snapped her fingers, and I shook my head as if to scatter my thoughts. “You’ll need to make them believe it,” she said for the seventh time between this morning and sun-kissed dusk. “They’re allowing you and Sebastian to visit the castle to ask for the king’s permission.”

I rolled my eyes. “How archaic.”

“You can’t have that attitude there,” she warned, worry lines deepening around her Cupid’s bow lips. “But yes, I agree.”

“Why are they allowing you to come?”

“I’m hired by his majesty to hunt criminals in the city and bring them in for questioning, so my appearance at the royal court is hardly suspicious. I go there every so often to brush up on my combat skills.” Her fingers flexed to the dagger in her waistband, and everything fell into place. She fit the role of hunter well, with her sharp reflexes and take-no-shit attitude.

“What about Zach and Anna?”

“Zach’s welcome at court whenever he likes. He’s been a part of the king’s military for eighty years. He has special dispensation to remain in the city.” Unzipping a bag, a dress was revealed, looking as if it belonged to the night with its sheer, flowing whites running over a deep, navy blue with silver embroidery. “You’ll wear this tomorrow when you meet Sargon.”

My head spun. Tomorrow I would meet my dad for the first time and possibly see my mom for the first time in weeks.

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