Elara's POV
Lord Verin's fingers brushed the silver collar, inches from my neck.
The door burst open.
Stop! A servant girl rushed in, her arms full of linens. Lord Verin, sir the king demands to see the prisoner immediately!
Lord Verin's hand froze. The king is in no condition to
He's threatening to execute the guards who restrained him, the girl said breathlessly. He says if the Source isn't brought to him within the hour, heads will roll. His words, sir.
Lord Verin's jaw clenched. He slowly lowered the collar, fury burning in his eyes. Fine. But this isn't over, girl.
He stormed out.
I collapsed against the wall, shaking. The servant girl set down her linens and looked at me with sharp, intelligent eyes.
You have approximately three minutes before someone realizes I lied, she whispered. Can you walk?
Who are you?
Someone who's going to save your life. Now move.
She pulled me to my feet and half-carried me out of the room. We ducked into a storage closet just as guards thundered past.
My name is Mira, she said quietly. And we need to talk. Fast.
Mira led me through hidden servant passages I didn't know existed. Finally, we stopped in a tiny room filled with cleaning supplies.
How did you know about Lord Verin? I asked.
I know everything that happens in this palace. Mira's eyes were hard. I've been watching you since the Selection. We all have.
We?
The resistance. She studied my face carefully. We're working to destroy the monarchy and free the kingdom. For weeks, we thought you were just another victim. Another girl who'd die like the others. She paused. But then you did something impossible. You refused the crown's command in the War Council.
My breath caught. How do you know about that?
I was there. Serving wine. Pretending to be invisible. A small smile crossed her face. Servants see everything, and nobles see nothing. It's useful.
If you want to destroy the monarchy, why are you helping me?
Mira's expression darkened. Five years ago, the crown forced King Cassius to burn my village. I watched my whole family die in the flames. My parents. My little brother. Everyone I loved.
Pain twisted in my chest. I'm so sorry.
I spent years hating him, Mira continued. Planning revenge. But the more I studied the crown's magic, the more I understood he's not the real enemy. The crown is. It's been controlling kings for centuries, forcing them to do terrible things. She looked at me intently. You and the king are both prisoners. And yesterday, you proved something we'd only hoped was possible.
What?
That the bond can be broken. Mira pulled a small vial from her pocket. Silver liquid swirled inside. This potion will weaken the crown's control for a few hours. Long enough for you to escape.
How?
There's a banquet in three days. Nobles from across the kingdom will attend. Security will be chaos everyone watching everyone else. We can get you and the king out during the confusion.
Hope flared in my chest. You'd really help us?
We'd help you destroy the crown, Mira corrected. What you do with the king after is your choice. But that cursed thing needs to be broken before it kills anyone else.
I thought about what Cassius had told me. The Oracle of Ash. The way to destroy the crown's magic forever.
There's someone we need to find, I said. The Oracle of Ash, in the Blackwood Forest. She might know how to break the bond completely.
Mira's eyes widened. The Oracle? She's real?
The king thinks so.
Then we'll get you there. Mira pressed the vial into my hand. Hide this. The night of the banquet, give it to the king. It'll give you both a window to run.
Footsteps echoed in the corridor outside.
I have to go, Mira whispered. Trust no one except me. Lord Verin has spies everywhere.
She slipped out, leaving me alone with the vial clutched in my fist.
They dragged me back to my tower room an hour later. I hid the vial under my mattress, my heart racing with dangerous hope.
That night, I couldn't sleep. I kept thinking about Mira's family. About all the people the crown had forced Cassius to kill.
About how we might actually have a chance to stop it.
A soft knock made me jump.
The door opened a crack. King Cassius slipped inside, his face pale and exhausted. The crown sat dark and heavy on his head.
Are you hurt? He asked immediately.
Lord Verin tried to put a silencing collar on me. A servant helped me escape.
Something flickered in his eyes. Mira?
I nodded. You know her?
She's been leaving me notes for months. Information about the crown's magic. Warnings about Lord Verin's plans. He sat heavily on the floor. I didn't know if I could trust her, but she's never been wrong.
She lost her family because of the crown, I said quietly. Five years ago. The village burning.
Pain crossed his face. I remember. I fought so hard that day, trying to stop it. But the crown... He closed his eyes. I heard them screaming.
I reached out and took his hand without thinking. We're going to end this. Mira's helping us escape in three days, during the banquet.
The banquet. He opened his eyes. That's brilliant. Lord Verin will be distracted by all the visiting nobles. Hope lit his face. We could actually make it to the forest.
We will, I said firmly.
He squeezed my hand. Thank you. For not giving up on me.
Thank you for fighting the crown. Even when it seemed impossible.
We sat in silence for a moment, two prisoners planning their escape.
Then Cassius went rigid.
No, he gasped. Not again
Black flooded his eyes. He stood jerkily and grabbed my arm, his grip bruising.
You will not leave this tower, he said in that terrible flat voice. Guards will be posted at your door. If you try to escape, they have orders to kill you.
He released me and walked to the door like a puppet on strings.
But just before he left, his hand trembled. He reached into his pocket and dropped something on the floor.
A key.
The door slammed shut. I heard guards taking position outside.
I picked up the key with shaking hands. It was labeled in tiny letters: SERVANT PASSAGES.
Even under the crown's control, Cassius was still fighting.
Still helping me.
But as I clutched the key, I heard voices in the hallway. Lord Verin's voice, cold and clear:
Increase the guards. The girl is more dangerous than we thought. And bring me the servant named Mira. I have questions about her sudden interest in the prisoner.
My blood turned to ice.
They knew about Mira.
And I had no way to warn her.