Crystal Storm (Falling Kingdoms #5)(88)

If there was a way, Cleo would find it. No matter what she had to do.

Quietly, just after dawn, she descended the stairs. The inn was silent, only the Damoras now in residence in a place that, just days earlier, had been filled with a strange mix of enemies and allies.

She moved toward the kitchen. The innkeeper’s wife was already up, baking bread. The scent of it made her mouth water.

“I need breakfast,” she told the woman.

“Yes, your grace,” the woman nodded. “Kindly take a seat, and I’ll bring it to you as soon as it’s ready.”

“Thank you.” Cleo moved into the dining room and was dismayed to find that she wasn’t the only one awake at this hour. Selia Damora sat at the end of the table, reading a book in the warm glow of sunrise. She looked up as Cleo approached.

“The princess has finally emerged from her chamber,” she said. “I’m glad to see you this morning.”

Cleo hesitated before she took a seat next to the woman. No reason to betray her plans to leave just yet. “It’s very early.”

“I’ve always liked to get up before the sun.”

Cleo had never shared that habit. There was a time when she’d slept in every morning until her sister poked her shoulder to tell Cleo that she’d already missed their first class, which made their tutor very cross. Cleo would reply by pulling her covers up over her head and grumbling for Emilia to leave her in peace.

Their tutors had always liked Emilia much more than her younger sister.

Cleo eyed the pitcher and glass goblets next to Selia. “What are you drinking?”

“Freshly pressed grape juice. It seems Paelsians do more with their famed fruit than simply make it into wine. Care for a glass?”

“Perhaps in a moment.”

“You’re upset this morning.” Selia nodded. “I couldn’t help but overhear part of your argument with my grandson last night. I must admit, you are justified in your anger toward him. He had no right to manipulate your friend and put him in harm’s way.”

Cleo’s eyes began to sting. “I still can’t believe it’s true. That Nic is . . . gone.”

“I know you’re grieving. But let this pain make you stronger, dear.”

Cleo’s gaze shot to the woman. “I don’t seem strong enough to you already?”

“A woman can always strive to be stronger in the face of painful emotions. If you’ve come to any realizations about love and how it can weaken us, then I commend you. It takes many women until they’re much older than you are to learn those lessons.”

“You speak as if you know my heart, but you don’t. You don’t know me, and I don’t know you.”

“Learn to take good advice when it’s freely given. Life will be much easier for you if you do.” Selia didn’t seem the least bit fazed by Cleo’s sharp tone. “I sense greatness in you, my dear. I see it in your eyes. You are determined to change the world. I saw the same expression in your mother’s eyes the one time I met her.”

Cleo felt her eyes go wide. “You met my mother?”

Selia nodded. “Elena was a commendable woman, strong and brave and smart. An uncommon combination, I hate to admit, especially among royals. Our kind do tend to be spoiled and coddled in our youth, no matter where we come from. It can lead to lazy adults who aren’t willing to do what it takes to get what we want.”

“I was spoiled and coddled,” Cleo admitted.

“Such weakness has been burned out of you by challenge and loss.”

“Yes. Burned out of me,” Cleo repeated, nodding. “That’s an accurate description of how it’s felt.”

“The fire that hollows us out is what allows us to be filled with strength and power where before there was none,” Selia said. She poured two glasses of grape juice. Cleo took one from her. “Perhaps we should toast to that fire. Without it, we would be no threat to those who might wish to stifle our potential.”

Cleo nodded. “I suppose I can drink to that.”

She raised the cup to her lips. Just as she was about to take a sip, the glass flew out of her hand and shattered against the wall.

She looked up with surprise at King Gaius, who now stood next to her. His gaze wasn’t on her, though, it was on his mother.

Cleo scrambled up to her feet, her chair skidding backward on the wooden floor. The king looked as healthy and strong as he ever had.

The bloodstone. He had it now, and it had worked its magic.

She’d been too busy feeling sorry for herself alone in her room to hear about this.

“Goodness, Gaius.” Selia also rose to her feet. “Is that any way for you to treat your son’s wife?”

“I notice you didn’t take a drink yet, Mother. Go on, quench your thirst. Don’t let me stop you from tasting your own dark magic.”

Instead of doing what he curtly suggested, Selia placed her cup down on the table. Cleo watched her, a sickening realization dawning inside her.

The grape juice had been poisoned.

Cleo pressed up against the wall, her heart pounding hard and fast.

“You look very well, Gaius,” Selia said without a glance in Cleo’s direction.

“Thanks to you, it seems I’ve recovered.”

“As I promised you would.” Her expression was tight. “Now tell me what’s wrong and why you look at me with hatred instead of love this morning.”