Crowned in Shadows.

Pain. Smoke. The sharp scent of blood in the air.

Kael's head pounded as she pushed herself upright, forcing her lungs to steady against the dust and debris in the tunnel. The explosion had been sudden-too sudden. A calculated distraction.

She scanned the wreckage with cold efficiency, taking stock.

Jorrik was already on his feet, wiping blood from a gash on his temple. Alive. Good.

Kael's daggers were still in her hands. Good.

Her target was still breathing. Unfortunate.

Riven sat slumped against a jagged stone wall, blinking through the haze of dust. His clothes were torn, his disguise barely holding-but he was still alive.

Kael's grip tightened around her dagger.

He shouldn't be.

Without hesitation, she stepped forward and pressed the blade against his throat.

Jorrik sighed. "Saw that coming."

Riven, despite his position, smirked. "Well, well. Haven't even caught my breath, and you're already trying to kill me again?"

Kael's voice was calm. Steady. Cold. "Give me one reason why I shouldn't."

Riven tilted his head slightly, amusement flickering in his blue eyes-no longer black, the illusion wearing off. "Because I'm too pretty to die?"

Kael pressed the dagger deeper. Not enough to kill-yet. "Try again."

Riven's smirk didn't falter, but it wasn't quite reaching his eyes. "You won't kill me," he murmured.

Kael's jaw tightened. "You sound confident for someone with a blade against his throat."

"I am," Riven said simply. "Because you still need me."

The War Within

Kael wanted to argue.

Wanted to say that no, she didn't need him, that he had already outlived his usefulness.

But that would be a lie.

She still had questions.

Why had the warlord recognized him? Why had he mentioned the palace? Why did Riven move like someone who had been trained in combat his whole life?

The pieces weren't fitting together yet. And Kael hated unfinished puzzles.

Slowly, she withdrew the dagger, stepping back, her face unreadable. "Start talking," she ordered. "Or I start cutting."

Riven exhaled, rubbing his neck where the blade had been. "What do you want to know?"

Kael's voice didn't waver. "Who are you really?"

Riven held her gaze for a long moment. Then, finally-

"My name is Riven Dain."

The name hit Kael like a blade to the ribs.

She knew that name.

Everyone knew that name.

Dain. The royal family's name.

A prince.

Kael's fingers curled into fists. She forced herself to breathe, to think.

It didn't matter.

It didn't change anything.

Riven being royalty had nothing to do with her. Nothing to do with-

Except it did.

Because her family had been nobles once, too.

Once. Before they were hunted down and slaughtered.

Her mind flashed back to that night-the fire, the blood, the screaming.

Her father had fought. Her mother had fought. They had been descendants of knights, warriors trained for generations.

And yet, they had been overpowered.

Why?

Who had given the order?

Her gaze snapped back to Riven.

"You lied," she said quietly.

Riven sighed. "I-"

"You lied," she repeated, colder this time.

"From the very beginning."

Riven didn't deny it.

Kael's voice was empty. "And I was stupid enough to believe you were just another outsider."

She took a slow, controlled step forward.

"You know who I am, don't you?"

Riven hesitated.

And that was all the confirmation she needed.

She unsheathed her dagger again.

Jorrik stepped between them. "Okay, let's all take a deep breath before someone gets stabbed."

Kael didn't lower her weapon.

Riven finally spoke. "I don't know everything," he admitted. "But yes. I know who you are."

Kael's grip tightened.

"And the warlords?" she pressed. "What do they want with you?"

Riven exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "It's complicated."

Kael took another step forward. "Uncomplicate it."

Riven's lips twitched slightly. "I don't think that's a real word, sweetheart."

Kael lunged.

Jorrik groaned, shoving Riven out of the way before Kael's blade could connect. "For gods' sake, stop provoking her!"

Kael turned sharply on Jorrik. "Stay out of this."

Jorrik arched an eyebrow. "Oh, sure. Let's just kill the prince and see what happens. Fantastic plan."

Kael was breathing too hard. Her control was slipping.

She needed to regain it.

Slowly, she forced her pulse to slow, forced the rage to sink deep again, where it belonged.

Finally, she turned back to Riven. "You still haven't answered my question. Why do the warlords want you?"

Riven hesitated. Then, quietly-"Because I shouldn't be alive."

Kael's stomach twisted.

Jorrik muttered, "You're going to have to explain that one, Your Highness."

Riven ran a hand over his jaw, his shoulders suddenly heavier. "I was supposed to be killed years ago. The same time as my mother."

Kael's heartbeat stumbled.

Riven's mother-the former queen-had been assassinated over a decade ago.

Everyone knew the story.

But no one had ever said what happened to the young prince.

Kael didn't blink. Didn't let herself react.

Finally, she asked, "Why are you here now?"

Riven's blue eyes flickered with something unreadable. "Because I'm looking for something. And the warlords don't want me to find it."

Kael's mind raced.

The warlords ruled the underground. They didn't involve themselves in palace politics. Not unless there was something worth hiding.

And if they wanted Riven dead, it meant he was getting too close.

Too close to what?

Kael exhaled slowly. "Then you better hope whatever you're looking for is worth dying for."

Riven smirked slightly. "Isn't everything?"

Kael turned away.

She didn't care.

She didn't.

All that mattered was getting the answers she needed.

And if Riven got himself killed before she got them-

She'd kill him herself.