Chapter 6 - The Bloodline Lie
Tomas was a descendant of Queen Amara.
Not closely.
But enough that Elara carried royal ancestry.
Varro smiled.
“The crown did not choose a common child after all.”
Tomas interrupted.
“That is exactly what he wants people to believe.”
Elara touched the crown.
“Did it choose me because of blood?”
“No,” Tomas said.
Varro laughed.
“Can you prove that?”
That was Varro’s real goal.
If the kingdom believed the crown only responded to royal blood, the old system survived.
Bloodlines could be forged.
Manipulated.
Controlled.
Conscience could not.
Varro demanded the Charter.
Elara answered:
“Release Mama.”
“No.”
“Then no Charter.”
Varro stepped toward Mara and drew a knife.
Cassian shouted:
“Varro!”
The crown exploded with silver light.
Every soldier was thrown backward.
A barrier formed around Elara and Mara.
Varro smiled.
“You see? Royal blood protecting royal blood.”
Elara looked around.
Cassian.
Rowan.
The guards.
“Crown.”
The silver light pulsed.
“Protect everyone.”
The barrier expanded.
It surrounded every person in the throne room.
Even soldiers who had arrested them.
Varro’s face fell.
Elara whispered:
“Not blood.”
Then:
“Everyone.”
One by one, guards lowered their swords.
Varro backed toward the throne.
He pressed a hidden symbol.
The floor opened.
A staircase descended beneath the palace.
“The Vault,” Tomas whispered.
Varro ran down.
Elara followed.
Then Tomas saw something.
A silver fragment was missing from the crown.
During the magical blast, Varro had cut it free.
“He has a key.”
They descended.
Varro stood before an enormous black door.
He inserted the crown fragment.
The door opened.
Darkness waited inside.
Then—
May you like
something opened its eyes.
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