Gathering Darkness (Falling Kingdoms 3)

She’d been such a fool to think she could wear this ring without anyone ever knowing what it was, that it might be safer on her finger than hidden behind a stone in the wall of her private chambers.

But she couldn’t despair, or all would be lost. She couldn’t let on that she’d known the secret of the ring all along, had even seen an illustration of it in a very old book about the original sorceress. Cleo had torn that drawing out and burned it, so no one else would ever see it, even though it had pained her to think of how appalled Emilia would have been to know that she had destroyed even a small piece of the palace’s rare tomes. Her sister had loved books.

And Cleo had loved Emilia.

She held on to that love now and let it strengthen her in this moment of despair.

Lucia stayed silent for a while, regarding Cleo with shock and confusion. “Did you know this?” she finally asked.

Remain calm, Cleo commanded herself. Do not lose everything you’ve worked so hard to gain.

She looked down at her amethyst ring, forcing a frown. Then she raised her brow as she directly met the gaze of the other princess. “Did I know that the ring my father gave me moments before he died in my arms once belonged to a legendary sorceress? I can’t say that I did.” She turned to face the Watcher and boldly held out her hand toward him. “You truly believe this—my mother’s ring—is the same ring you speak of?”

She saw confusion on his face as well, which helped lessen her fear by a fraction. If she were to be exposed as a liar and a manipulator in her attempts to befriend Lucia, it would be the end of everything.

An irony, really, as she’d honestly come to care for Lucia, despite her horrible family.

Not her real family, she thought, remembering Magnus’s drunken confession. She’s a Damora only by name, not by birth.

“It is the ring,” Alexius said with certainty. “I can feel its power. This ring—along with your magic, princess,” he spoke to Lucia now, “can awaken the Kindred.”

Lucia spun toward him, her eyes wide. “You can’t be serious.”

Cleo had never seen a boy look more serious than Alexius did now.

o;Don’t worry.” Cleo’s smile was calm as she reached down to take Lucia’s hand. Immediately, a sense of serenity spread through her. “I won’t tell anyone else. I swear it.”

Lucia searched Cleo’s face and found only sincerity. “Good.”

Alexius now approached the two girls. “Will you introduce us?” he asked Lucia.

“Of course.” Lucia hastened to find her manners. “Alexius, this is Princess Cleiona—Cleo—my brother’s wife. Cleo, this is Alexius.”

Cleo gave him a sweet smile and extended her hand. “It’s lovely to meet you.”

“And you as well.” Alexius took Cleo’s hand and frowned down at it.

It charmed Lucia to see this, an ancient boy seemingly uncertain of how he should greet an unfamiliar princess.

“Is everything all right?” Cleo asked after a moment, when Alexius didn’t release his grasp.

His frown only deepened. “It’s just . . . your ring.” His quizzical gaze snapped up to hers.

Cleo yanked her hand away and tucked it behind her back. “I should go. I didn’t mean to bother you.”

Lucia watched the pair with confusion. “Her ring? What are you talking about?”

Alexius continued to stare at Cleo. “How did you get that? Where did you find it?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. This is my mother’s ring, passed down through generations. It’s a family heirloom.”

“Of course,” Alexius murmured, as if speaking to himself. “It’s all a matter of destiny, isn’t it? You’re here. Lucia is here. Melenia had to have known this already, I’m sure of it. But I didn’t.”

“Anyway,” Cleo interrupted, a cool smile on her lips. “I must be going. Have a lovely day.”

She turned for the door and opened it slightly, but Alexius darted in front of her to block her way. He shut the door and flipped the lock. “Not so fast, princess,” he said.

“Explain yourself right now, Alexius,” Lucia demanded, shocked by his unexpected rudeness. “What about Cleo’s ring has you acting so strangely all of a sudden?”