The King's Queen

Chapter 36

My body shot up in bed like an arrow en route to its mark. The pounding of my heart reverberated off my ribcage as I forced out shallow bursts of breath. My muscles were tense as my eyes swept across the dark room, my vision slowly adjusting to form comprehensible shapes. I drew a clammy hand across my forehead that was beaded with sweat. For the past two nights, I'd been having the same nightmare—there was a war, and the main palace of Crysauralia had been destroyed.

I was just beginning to learn about the history of the Origins, and how deep the corruption of the royal family ran. I was starting to understand the importance of the Angeles family to the Origin society. One thing I was sure of, was that I had to stop the war from happening. But before that, there was a more urgent issue—the Origins being held captive at the Origen Association. They would meet an untimely demise at the hands of the royal family soon. I had to find out the OA's location, and the date when Emperor Caden intended to carry out his plot. The only way to do that was for me to return to Crysauralia.

That was easier said than done. I fell back among the pillows with a groan. I was an Origin now. It wouldn't be a heartwarming reunion if I ended up running into Emperor Caden or his father. I couldn't count on their kindness or mercy. They lacked any shred of those qualities.

I walked out to the balcony, relishing the caress of the rising sun on my skin. Luca would not agree to me going back to Crysauralia, and Garrett would want nothing to do with it. But the fact remained. I was going to go. The question was how?

*°*

The answer to my how came a few hours later

I was lying on the ground, exhausted from the strenuous training we'd been doing all day. My chest ached with every deep breath. The previously cool room was basically a sauna now, and was engulfed in a wavy heat haze because of Luca's numerous demonstrations of his unique ability. Ezra was standing next to Rosaline, holding a vase he'd destroyed and put back together too many times to count.

They were trying to help me figure out what my unique ability was, but so far we'd had no luck. Luca kneeled on the ground beside me, smoothing down my hair with a small smile. It was as if his patience was endless.

"Sorry," I murmured.

"There's no need to apologize, my joy. I never got to spend any time with you before now, so it makes me happy that there's something we can do together."

"Well, this was a waste of time." Rosaline scowled. "Perhaps she has no unique ability."

"Don't be absurd, Rosaline." Luca dismissed the thought. "Every Origin has a unique ability. She just needs time to figure out hers."

"Regardless, her mother was a human. She has allergic reactions to blueberries—she probably still has the allergy for all we know. It's not a stretch to say she's not entirely like an Origin."

I sat up and leveled an annoyed glare at Rosaline. "You shouldn't underestimate me."

"You haven't given me a reason to do otherwise," she spat. "Only results matter, Elizabeth, and you're not producing any."

"That's enough," Luca warned as he stood up. Her attitude clearly displeased him. "It has only been a few days, and this is new to her. You will not discourage her."

"Fine," she conceded. "I'm only like this because I have the family's best interest at heart. Unlike someone here." She muttered the last part under her breath.

"Did your surname change overnight? Correct me if I'm wrong, but you aren't an Angeles," I reminded her curtly.

"It's time for your meeting with Malekh." She chose to ignore me, and turned to Luca. "We should go."