Chapter 3 The King's Prisoner

Selena's POV

The sound came again.

This time, the floor shook beneath my feet.

Several guards rushed towards the throne room doors while the priest was carried away. Nobody seemed interested in explaining what was happening.

I looked at the six kings.

"What's beneath this palace?"

"Something that should have remained asleep," Riggs answered.

Rowan turned towards him.

"Enough. Take her to the east chambers."

I stepped backwards.

"I'm not going anywhere with your guards."

Rowan approached me.

"You have already caused enough trouble for one night."

"Me? Your priest cut my hand, your altar broke, and now something is making your palace shake. How is that my fault?"

Knox gave a quiet laugh.

"She has a point."

Rowan shot him a warning look.

"Not now, Knox."

Two guards approached me again. This time, I didn't resist. I needed answers, and arguing with six powerful men wasn't going to get me anywhere.

They escorted me through a long corridor and stopped before a pair of wooden doors.

A female guard unlocked them.

"Your room."

I entered and immediately looked around.

The room was large, with a comfortable bed, a wardrobe, and a private bathroom. A balcony overlooked the palace gardens, but the doors had metal locks on the outside.

I turned towards the guard.

"Am I allowed to leave?"

"No."

"Can I speak to the kings?"

"Only when they request your presence."

She closed the door.

A lock clicked.

I stood still for several seconds before walking towards the window.

So this was my new life.

My family had traded me, six kings had marked me, and now I was locked inside a room like a criminal.

I examined the mark on my wrist.

It had stopped glowing, but the skin around it felt warm.

I tried rubbing it away.

Nothing happened.

A knock came at the door.

"Come in."

The woman who entered was carrying a tray of food.

She looked around twenty-six, with dark hair tied neatly behind her head.

"I'm Claire," she introduced herself. "I've been assigned to attend to you."

"Does that mean you're my servant or my guard?"

She placed the tray on the table.

"Both, apparently."

I almost smiled.

"At least someone here can answer a question."

Claire glanced towards the door.

"Be careful what you say. The walls in this palace have ears."

I sat down.

"Then tell me something useful. Why were the kings so frightened when the altar broke?"

She hesitated.

"Because the symbol beneath it hasn't appeared in centuries."

"The seven-pointed crown?"

Her eyes widened.

"You saw it?"

"Everyone saw it."

Claire lowered her voice.

"That symbol belongs to the Elarian bloodline. Your ancestors were once powerful enough to challenge all six kingdoms."

I stared at her.

"My family told me we were ordinary people."

"They lied."

"Why?"

"I don't know everything. But I know the kings have spent generations searching for the last surviving member of your bloodline."

My fingers tightened around the spoon.

"Then why did they accept me as a sacrifice?"

Claire looked uncomfortable.

"Perhaps they didn't know who you were until the ritual began."

Before I could ask another question, the door opened.

Rowan entered.

Claire immediately stood.

"Your Majesty."

"Leave us."

She glanced at me before walking out.

Rowan closed the door.

I remained seated.

"If you're here to threaten me again, save your time."

He ignored my comment and placed a small piece of paper on the table.

It contained a drawing of the mark on my wrist.

"Do you recognize this symbol?"

I examined it.

"It's the same mark."

"Have you ever seen it before?"

"No."

"Think carefully."

I pushed the paper away.

"I have spent the entire evening answering questions. You keep asking me about things I know nothing about. Perhaps you should start telling me what you know."

His jaw tightened.

"Your blood has created a connection between you and the six kings."

"You already told me that."

"The connection cannot be broken by ordinary means."

My stomach dropped.

"Meaning I'm stuck here?"

"For now."

I stood.

"You cannot keep me against my will."

"You are not leaving this palace."

"Then what exactly do you want from me?"

He looked at the mark on my wrist.

"Answers."

A bitter laugh escaped me.

"That's unfortunate. I don't have any."

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Then Rowan moved towards the door.

"Food will be brought to you. Do not attempt to leave this room."

He opened it.

"One more thing," I called.

He stopped.

"Did my father know what would happen?"

Rowan looked at me.

"Your father knew exactly where he was sending you."

The words settled heavily in my chest.

I nodded slowly.

"Then I hope he enjoyed the money."

Rowan left without answering.

I waited until the door closed before sitting on the edge of the bed.

I wanted to cry, but I refused to give my family another reason to consider me weak.

Instead, I examined the room again.

The balcony doors were locked. The windows were too high to climb through, and the main entrance had guards outside.

There had to be another way.

I walked towards the wardrobe and noticed a narrow opening behind it. Moving the furniture revealed a small door hidden in the wall.

My heart lifted.

I pulled the handle.

It opened.

But before I could step inside, someone caught my wrist.

I turned sharply.

Riggs stood behind me.

His eyes dropped to the hidden door.

"Where do you think you're going?"

I pulled my hand away.

"Somewhere I don't need permission to breathe."

He didn't smile.

"You shouldn't have opened that."

"Why?"

His gaze shifted towards the dark passage.

"Because that corridor leads to the place where the original Covenant was sealed."

A cold feeling settled in my stomach.

"What's down there?"

Riggs looked at my wrist.

"Your answers."

Then he looked back at me.

"And possibly your death."