Coldbloods (Hotbloods #2)

“Very well. A tragic accident, nothing more?” the queen mused.

“Nothing more, Your Highness. A silly mistake that cost a coldblood’s life,” Kalvin replied, a glimmer of hope in his eyes.

“Two lives,” she corrected, a cold smile on her face.

Kalvin frowned. “Two, Your…?”

The words died on his lips as a guard stepped up behind him. Queen Gianne flicked her wrist, and before my brain could even comprehend what was happening, the guard brought his crackling spearhead down, skewering Kalvin in one fell swoop. The sharp edges of the spear pushed straight through his spine and out through his ribcage. He gasped once in surprise, and then he was gone, his eyes fogging over.

As the guard removed the pike, using his boot as leverage to haul the weapon back out, Kalvin’s body slumped forward on the ground, his limbs splayed out at unnatural angles. I willed him to get back up, to take another breath, but it was too late. Kalvin had given his life for the rebel cause, and that was all there was to it. No fanfare, no ceremony, no high honor, just a body crumpled on the ground, his blood pooling out around him.

“Everyone may leave! The celebration is finished!” Queen Gianne boomed, turning around. Her attendants lifted her skirts as she sashayed across the hall and out into a connecting corridor. The party was over.

I couldn’t peel my eyes away from the sight of Kalvin, even as I felt the hot pressure of tears building behind them. I felt numb, the only thought running through my head being that he hadn’t deserved to die like this.

He may have been vulgar, but he had proven himself to be braver than every single one of us.

In Vysanthe, it seemed, bravery wasn’t rewarded.





Chapter Twenty-Five





Slowly, the revelers began to make their way out of the exits, their mood somber. A few cast glances back at the dead body on the floor, but none of them wore any mask of sympathy on their faces. They didn’t know Kalvin—didn’t know what he had given up, or why; they must have thought he was a miscreant who had wronged the queen.

As the crowd dispersed, leaving the crew of the Asterope in silent horror, one figure began to approach us. Jareth Idrax was making a beeline for Navan, who was rising to his feet, his eyes set on the crumpled figure of Kalvin.

“Navan?” Jareth said softly, resting his hand on his son’s shoulder.

Navan flinched, turning. “Father,” he returned flatly.

“I’m sorry for your loss. A terrible thing he did, but in days gone by, the queen would not have delivered such a harsh sentence,” Jareth said, his tone unexpectedly empathic. “I’m sorry you were put in this position, so close to being blamed for his actions. The queen is… unsettled, to say the least.”

My suspicions had been right. The queen was on edge, her mood and manner disturbed by word of rebels, and the threat to her throne. Even so, I was still reeling from what she had done. A long prison sentence might have been better, but then, I didn’t know the judicial system here. Did they even have prisons? By the sound of what Jareth was saying, they didn’t simply kill people on sight, without some sort of mercy. Vysanthe was full of surprises.

“She killed a man without trial, Father—I’d say she’s a little more than unsettled,” Navan shot back. “How can we trust a queen like her, if she can’t control her impulses?” he added, lowering his voice so only Jareth and I could hear his treasonous talk.

“I’ll forgive you for saying that, this once—you are evidently shaken, but you should not speak of her that way again,” Jareth reprimanded. “Hopefully, with you as her advisor, alongside me, we will be able to guide her toward a more peaceful way of being… In truth, I’ve never seen her this bad. Even after I started intercepting the letters from her sister, her mood has continued to darken. It will be up to us to see her through this bout of paranoia.”

For the first time, he looked at me. It was a real stare, instead of the cursory glance I’d been given before. Confusion furrowed Jareth’s forehead.

“I think, perhaps, you should rid yourself of this servant,” he remarked, waving a hand toward me. “The queen doesn’t like it—she doesn’t appreciate the presence of outsiders, given the current climate. It would be best for everyone if you took her back to where she came from, or simply dropped her somewhere nearby, so we can get on with things as a family,” he stated.

I could feel Navan’s hackles rise at the dismissal of me. But what could he do? He was on Vysanthean soil, and as long as he was here, his parents would continue to try to bend him to their will. I could see it on Jareth’s face, how he longed to have his son beside him, advising the queen—a true family business.

“She’s not going anywhere, Father,” Navan said. “She is my servant, and I’ve grown used to having her around. She’s useful.”

Before Jareth could respond, another figure approached. My eyes went wide at the sight of her. I had never seen a woman more beautiful. She was tall and slender, with raven-black hair that curled around her striking face in long, elegant tendrils. She had the same ashen gray skin as the other coldbloods, but it suited her far better than any female coldblood I had yet seen. Her eyes were the color of burnished copper, bordering on red, her black lashes full and fluttery. Bitten-red lips turned upward in a polite smile, lighting up her stunning face. I was speechless.

This was Seraphina. I was sure of it.

“Excellent timing, Seraphina!” Jareth remarked, confirming my thoughts. I had a feeling he’d planned the whole thing. “We were just about to discuss possible dates for your unity ceremony, now that we’ve coaxed him back into the fold.” He chuckled, putting an arm around Navan’s shoulder. Navan stiffened immediately.

“Lucky I arrived when I did, then,” Seraphina replied, her voice sweet and kind. Although she smiled at Jareth’s words, the good humor didn’t reach her unusual eyes. So, Navan was right—Seraphina wasn’t into this marriage, either. I could see it all over her face, and it brought me a much-needed dose of relief. “It’s wonderful to see you again, Navan. How were your travels?” she asked, directing her attention to Navan. It was a friendly, platonic exchange. She was keeping her distance.

“Interesting, but I’m back in one piece,” Navan replied.

“I’m sorry about your friend,” she said softly, looking toward the body on the floor, which had yet to be taken away.

Navan nodded. “Me too.”

“And who is this beautiful creature?” she asked, looking warmly at me.

A small smile crept onto Navan’s lips, but he quickly suppressed it. “This is Riley,” he said simply.

She flashed him a knowing glance, before moving to take my hands in hers. Clasping them tightly, she gave me a huge smile, her copper eyes gleaming in admiration. “You are the most exquisite thing in this room,” she gushed, “though don’t tell Queen Gianne I said so.”