Chapter 848

Mostly, I let my mind wander, thinking of better things. Of my family at home, and how pleasant it is to sit around a lovely fire with them, joking and laughing. Of Jackson, and how honestly I wouldn't mind rubbing his feet if it made him feel nice after a long day. How he would insist on returning the favor.

I don't have to fake the smile that comes to my mouth at the thought of his big powerful hands anywhere on my body.

My focus returns, though, at a very particular change in the tone and timbre of Gabriel's voice what must be...two hours into a dinner at which I've been fed absolutely nothing.

"The problem with that," Gabriel says, sounding smug as he brushes my hands away and begins to tug on one of his boots. "Is that the future of Atalaxia will not be heading in that direction. Not at all."

"Pardon?" Gabriel's cousin - the Crown Prince - says, turning to him with a sneer. "Gabriel, you over-step. I appreciate your input, of course, but you will never have the power to delegate such decisions."

"Oh, I wouldn't be so sure," Gabriel says with a sigh, his eyes latching onto mine as he smirks and pulls on his second boot. I go a bit rigid with surprise - he hasn't looked at me at all this entire dinner, except to give me instructions on how to massage his feet.

What...what is happening?

"You grow tiresome, Gabriel," the King murmurs, taking a long sip of his red wine and looking out over his courtiers. "With your plans for this nation and your spur- of-the-moment plans, like banquets such as this which seem to have...no point. We are all allied with Darkness, but you forget your duty to our people and traditions in your vehement dedication to the God. There must be a balance."

I watch very carefully as servants begin to file into the room, trays in their hands, starting to deliver deserts to the table. I watch carefully as the silver domes are removed from the trays, revealinging to each courtier a single cup filled to the brim with red liquid.

Is it...is it wine? Or some kind of liquid desert?

"Oh, everything as a point," Gabriel sighs, sitting back in his chair as the servants come to our table last, delivering three trays with those same red drinks.noveldrama

"What on earth is this?" the Crown Prince murmurs, leaning forward to sniff at it.

"Try it, it's delicious," Gabriel says with a satisfied smile. "Everyone should have a sip of such ambrosia before they die."

The Crown Prince frowns, reaching for his glass.

As he does, the servant behind him - a tall man, too well-built for a server - draws a stiletto blade from his sleeve.

I gasp, skittering back a little even as one of my hands reaches out for the prince.

But there's nothing I can do as the servant draws the blade raw across the Crown Prince's throat.

The Prince's eyes go wide as blood spills down his front, his hand falling away from the cup, as he gasps and slumps forward.

Screams erupt in the room,

everyone leaping to their feet. I just

stare in horror as the heir to the

Atalaxian Throne gasps for breath,

his face desperate as his father

screams his name, for him.

"Come, Luna," Gabriel says, completely calm and he bends down and reaches for me, his hand wrapping firm around my arm. "Time

for us to go."

I shift my gaze up to his devious face as Gabriel pulls me to my feet. There's no

horror there at his cousin's murder - only cold pleasure.

"You," I whisper, shaking my head slightly.

"Come," he snarls, yanking me. "It is dangerous here. We go."

Before anyone can protest or react, the new Crown Prince of Atalaxia hauls me out of the banquet chamber, I stumble after him, shocked as I realize at last the true danger of this man. I spare a glance for the Moon Valley delegation, desperately afraid that they're going tébe next, but to my relieft see that guards are already on them, leading them quickly from the room even as the nobility panic and scream their shock and protest.

Clearly, this has been very carefully coordinated. And I'm fairly sure I know by whom.