Page 100 of Uncrowned

Blood repays the kingdom’s cost.

Blood of many, blood of one,

Together, the false crown is done.”

The chant repeated, changing, echoing, and growing louder as it filled the stone space. As the guards wrestled the woman down, I peered up out of my own large hood, soaking in the scene around me. Even though Penelope had never been part of a ceremony, I still wanted her here. Maybe she would be horrified—maybe like with everything else, she’d surprise me. I believed she could step into the role as my queen. I could feel her with me as if she were suddenly here.

“Blood remembers what was lost,

Blood repays the kingdom’s cost.

Blood of many, blood of one,

Together, forever, until we’ve won.”

The Masters didn’t need a speech—they needed results.

I withdrew the antique dagger that used to belong to Vaughn Edward Ambrose Masterson the second. The silver reflected in the light, and the rubies looked black, giving glimpse to the deep crimson for only a moment before I lowered.

Dragging the tip of the blade from wrist to elbow, I watched blood began to bubble up and run into the shallow, indented crest around and underneath her.

“Oh, God, please! No! Please!”

I licked my lips, taking my time as I headed for her other arm. Masters were already removing their own daggers, slicing their palms and adding their blood to the crest as well. The carved channels darkened in color as blood began to fill them. It made my heart race, making the night feel… right.

“Please. Please!

I met brown eyes as I lowered. Her round stare widened over the seconds, jerking away from me when I didn’t budge. She wouldn’t understand why she had to die. I did. We all did.

Turning, I pushed the tip of the knife in just past the cuff, watching her skin split as I cut towards the other elbow as well. The blonde thrashed, trying to get free from the pain, but with as secured as she was, she didn’t move.

“Blood remembers what was lost,

Blood repays the kingdom’s cost.

Blood of many, blood of one,

Clear the path—the Crown is won.”

Won.

It would be.

Time.

All I needed was evidence and a miracle.

I refused to fail.

I couldn’t.

A shriek carried around the long room as I pierced her inner thigh, slowly dragging the knife towards her ankle. Masters continued to change places, adding to the shallow pool of blood that was beginning to collect. The blonde was beginning to hyperventilate through the sobs. It was more common than not during the rituals. It didn’t move me, but it did tell me that she wouldn’t be conscious much longer. It had me finishing one leg and moving to the next.

She fought the pain but didn’t last past her knee. The blonde’s head rolled, and I finished the incision, standing. I waited for the last of the Masters while I stood tall in the center. The chant continued. The words were a vibration of rebirth. It fed the desire in each of us. Not all lost their title, but they’d lost lands. They lost family members. And we wanted what was owed to us. We wanted some piece of what was ours.

I headed towards the top of the crest, lowering over the head of the slave. I placed my blade flat against her neck, slicing over the surface. Brown eyes shot open, and the girl’s lips parted in shock as she tried continually gasping.

The crest was outlined, filling even more as Masters crowded around, letting their own blood pour into the beast below.