The Court of Truth (Heir Academy Book 5) by KC KEAN

Author:KC KEAN [KEAN, KC]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-12-11T00:00:00+00:00

29

ADRIANNA

The carriage ride takes hours. Literal hours and hours. I ask a million times about why we can’t just use our speed to get us there faster, but apparently that’s not how you are supposed to travel as a monarch.

It’s ridiculous.

Raiden’s hand has been plastered to my thigh the entire journey while he glares at Janie. As much as Arlo wanted our late addition to travel in the remaining carriage, I refused to allow her to travel alone, so after a few minutes of Raiden and Arlo grumbling between themselves, I got my way.

She’s slept most of the way, splayed out on the cushion bench across from me.

My stomach grumbles, reminding me that I haven’t eaten because of the internal chaos I’m managing, but Raiden has promised we’re getting close. We better be, otherwise my ass is going to get hangry on top of everything else, and I really don’t think he wants that.

Reciting the expectations of me when we arrive, I let my eyelids fall closed. The rocking of the carriage is enough to tempt me with sleep, but I quickly startle awake when I hear Raiden grunt.

“Fuck.”

He’s staring out of the carriage door window, brows furrowed as he clutches the cover that doubles as a curtain. I place my hand on his, which still rests on my thigh, and his face whips to mine.

My gut twists, knowing what’s coming without him even speaking. “It’s bad, isn’t it.”

He nods in confirmation, his fingers twitching on the fabric for a beat, like he’s considering whether to show me or not, relenting a moment later when he reveals the carnage that awaits.

Shuffling closer as the carriage slows to a crawl, Raiden tugs me into his lap, holding the curtain open for me to see.

My heart stutters at the disaster that greets me, emotion lodging in my throat as I blink, willing the scene to disappear, but it only seems to grow sharper, harsher.

Rubble lies across the path; wood, stone, brick, and metal crumbled together in a pile of destruction, leaving nothing but ruin to hint at what once lay here. Civilians sift through the upturned mess, searching, pleading, praying as smoke still billows in the air.

It’s been over twenty-four hours and the turbulence of Clementine’s attack still remains.

“Fuck.” I grunt, my throat raw as I shake my head in disbelief.

“This is bad, Queenie.”

I turn at the sound of Janie’s voice to find her peering out the other window, her face pale as she dissects the carnage.

“Queenie?” Raiden asks, challenging the nickname that tumbled from her lips, and she turns to him with a smirk.

“It’s fitting. Besides, if you think I’m going to go around addressing her as Queen Adrianna or Your Majesty, you can fuck right off. I’m here as a friend, not a member of her staff or subject of her kingdom.”

Raiden glares, searching for a retort of his own, but I shake my head, silently pleading with him to drop it, and he seems to take it well, grumbling under his breath instead as I turn my attention back out the window.

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