Queen of Hearts: The Crown (Queen of Hearts Saga #1)(6)

“My sister,” she whispered, with a hint of pleading. The crowd inhaled. Dinah met the girl’s blue eyes with a furious scowl, and raised her head to the King of Hearts.

“Thank you, Father. I shall welcome her gladly into our . . . family.” She choked on her last word. She grabbed the girl’s warm hand in her cold one and gave a hard squeeze. The hall erupted in music and cheers as everyone bowed before the two girls and their father. The King saw that the moment he had been waiting for had arrived.

“I invite you all to join us for a celebratory dinner feast in the Dining Hall!” he announced.

The crowd quickly began dispersing, hungry for the piles of tarts and steaming meat that no doubt awaited them. Dinah took a step backward toward the stairs, happy to be released, fearful that her father would see her cry.

“Not you,” growled the King, yanking her back, his hand clasped hard around her arm. Dinah let out a whimper.

“What was that?” he hissed. “Why aren’t you happy to meet your new sister?”

Dinah spun around to face him, the tears that she had been holding spilled out over her nose and chin. “What about my mother? I thought . . . I thought . . . ,” she whispered.

The King’s face lit up with fury and, muttering angrily, he dragged her away from the eyes of the crowd, back behind the throne so large it concealed both of them. He grabbed her chin in his hands and held it close, the scent of wine washing over her face from his hot breath. “I never want you to mention your mother again, not in front of Vittiore. Davianna’s name will not be spoken in these halls.”

Dinah gave a sharp cry. The King’s face was growing red.

“STOP IT! STOP CRYING! You need to be glad today, you ungrateful wretch! You have a sister. Be happy.”

He was shaking her violently now, and she felt her knees begin to buckle. Suddenly, a long, thin hand curled over the King’s shoulder.

“Your Majesty, allow me to deal with her. Princess Dinah has no doubt had an emotional day. I’m sure this is quite a shock for her.”

Cheshire, the King’s advisor, slithered into view. His face was long and flexible, as if he had no underlying bone structure. He had thick black hair, black eyes, and pale lips, almost the same shade as his skin; but you never saw them, for they were always curled back in a smile, bearing his enormous white teeth. Even when Cheshire was smiling and friendly, he looked dangerous. Lean and sinewy, he towered over the King, radiating malice. Today he was dressed as he always was, in a plum-colored velvet vest and breeches over brown hunting boots. A white sash with each Card symbol draped from his left shoulder to the floor, denoting his authority over all the Cards. There was no one above Cheshire, but the King.

Dinah stared up at Cheshire with confusion. He was never her ally; rather, he was a man who constantly whispered twisted secrets in her father’s ear. The rumors of his extracurricular activities ran rampant in the castle. Some said he spent time in a secret laboratory in the Black Towers, making new species of birds and concocting poisons. Some said he could change forms, and wandered the castle all night disguised as a house cat. Dinah had always passed that off as commoner silliness, but now she wasn’t so sure. There was a compelling strangeness about him, something that drew her toward his silky promises. Still, she hated him, and always had. She blamed him for her father’s hatred of her.

Cheshire’s voice was gentle as he released the King’s fingers from Dinah’s shoulders. “I’ll take her back to her quarters. Perhaps Princess Dinah isn’t feeling up to feast today.”

The King walked away from her without a second glance and curled his arm protectively around Vittiore. She stared back at Dinah with empty, sad eyes.

“Yes, Cheshire. That sounds good. Take her away. Get her out of my sight.”

The King of Hearts emerged from behind the throne and began introducing Vittiore to his many lords and ladies clustered at the base of the stairs. Dinah felt hollowed out, a bowl scraped bare, and so she allowed her father’s devious advisor to lead her down a few stairs behind the throne and out a secret door usually used for the King to take his privy leave. They walked halfway down the stone hallway when Cheshire stopped. Turning toward her with a dangerous smile, he pulled back an elaborate wall tapestry near the privy. Dust showered down on them both, but once it cleared, it revealed a door the same shade as the stone around it. Cheshire held a finger to his lips and with an outstretched hand, pushed the door open to reveal a passageway carved into the castle walls.

Dinah was too numb to be impressed, although normally she would have been fascinated. There were many secret ways through Wonderland Palace, and she loved discovering them one at a time. Mostly her days were filled with mind-numbing croquet, etiquette, history, and dancing lessons, but once in a while she was able to slip away from Harris’s watchful eye and explore the palace with Wardley.

With a frown, she granted Cheshire a raised whisper as she wiped a stray tear away from her eye. “Where does it go?” asked Dinah.

He was silent.

“Where does it go?” she asked again, annoyed.

He simply nodded his head in the direction of the tunnel. Dinah ducked under the door, her heart hammering equally with dread and curiosity. After a few swift turns down mud-caked stairs, they ended up in a damp stone passage lit by glowing pink lanterns. The twists seemed endless. Cheshire talked quietly as they walked, the high lilt of his voice echoing off the walls.