The Crown Read online

  DEDICATION

  For Guyden and Zuzu,

  the best little characters I ever made up.

  CONTENTS

  Dedication

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Epilogue

  Acknowledgments

  Back Ads

  About the Author

  Books by Kiera Cass

  Credits

  Copyright

  About the Publisher

  CHAPTER 1

  “I’M SORRY,” I SAID, BRACING myself for the inevitable backlash. When my Selection started, I’d pictured it ending this way—with dozens of my suitors leaving at a time, many of them unprepared for their moment in the spotlight to be over. But after the last few weeks, after learning how kind, how smart, how generous so many of them were, I found the mass elimination almost heartbreaking.

  They’d been fair with me, and now I had to be very unfair to them. The live announcement would make the elimination official, and they all had to wait until then.

  “I know it’s abrupt, but given my mother’s precarious condition, my father has asked me to take on more responsibilities, and I feel the only way to manage that is to scale down this competition.”

  “How is the queen?” Hale asked, swallowing hard.

  I sighed. “She looks . . . she looks pretty bad.”

  Dad had been hesitant to let me visit her, but I had finally worn him down. I understood his reluctance the instant I saw her, asleep, the metronome of her heartbeat keeping time on the monitor. She’d just come out of surgery, where the doctors had to harvest a vein from her leg to replace the one in her chest that had been worked to death.

  One of the doctors said they had lost her for a minute but managed to get her back. I sat beside her, holding her hand. Silly as it sounded, I had slouched in my chair, certain that would make her come to and correct my posture. It didn’t.

  “She’s alive though. And my father . . . he’s . . .”

  Raoul placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. “It’s okay, Your Highness. We all understand.”

  I let my eyes flit across the space, my gaze settling on each of my suitors for a breath as I committed their faces to memory.

  “For the record, I was terrified of you,” I confessed. There were a few chuckles around the room. “Thank you so much for taking this chance, and for being so gracious with me.”

  A guard entered, clearing his throat to announce his presence. “I’m sorry, my lady. It’s nearly time for the broadcast. The crew wanted to check, um”—he made a fumbling gesture with his hand—“hair and stuff.”

  I nodded. “Thank you. I’ll be ready in a moment.”

  After he left, I turned my attention back to the boys. “I hope you’ll forgive me for this group good-bye. I wish you all the best of luck in the future.”

  There was a chorus of murmured good-byes as I left. Once I was outside the doors of the Men’s Parlor, I took a deep breath and prepared myself for what was coming. You are Eadlyn Schreave and no one—literally, no one—is as powerful as you.

  The palace was eerily quiet without Mom and her ladies scuttling around and Ahren’s laughter filling the halls. Nothing makes you quite so aware of a person’s presence as the loss of it.

  I held myself tall as I made my way down to the studio.

  “Your Highness,” several people greeted me as I came through the doorway, curtsying and moving out of my way, all the while avoiding looking directly in my eyes. I couldn’t tell if it was out of sympathy or if they already knew.

  “Oh,” I said, glancing in the mirror. “I am a bit shiny. Could you—?”

  “Of course, Your Highness.” A girl expertly dabbed at my skin, covering me in powder.

  I straightened the high lace collar of my gown. When I’d gotten dressed this morning, black seemed appropriate, considering the overall mood in the palace, but I was second-guessing myself.

  “I look too serious,” I worried aloud. “Not respectable serious, but worried serious. This is all wrong.”

  “You look beautiful, my lady.” The makeup girl swept a fresh splash of color across my lips. “Like your mother.”

  “No, I don’t,” I lamented. “Not a stitch of her hair or skin or eyes.”

  “That’s not what I mean.” The girl, warm and round, with wisps of curls falling across her forehead, stood beside me and gazed at my reflection. “See there,” she said, pointing to my eyes. “Not the same color, but the same determination. And your lips, they have the same hopeful smile. I know you have your grandmother’s coloring, but you’re your mother’s daughter, through and through.”

  I stared at myself. I could almost see what she meant. At this most isolating moment, I felt a little less alone.

  “Thank you. That means a great deal to me.”

  “We’re all praying for her, my lady. She’s a tough one.”

  I giggled in spite of my mood. “That she is.”

  “Two minutes!” the floor director called. I walked onto the carpeted set, smoothing out my gown and touching my hair. The studio was colder than usual, even under the lights, and goose bumps prickled at my skin as I took my place behind the lone podium.

  Gavril, slightly dressed down but still very polished, gave me a sympathetic smile as he approached. “Are you sure you want to do this? I’m happy to deliver the news for you.”

  “Thank you, but I think I have to do it on my own.”

  “All right then. How’s she holding up?”

  “Okay as of an hour ago. The doctors are keeping her asleep so she can heal, but she looks so battered.” I closed my eyes for a moment, calming myself. “Sorry. This has me a bit on edge. But at least I’m managing better than Dad.”

  He shook his head. “I can’t imagine anyone taking this worse than him. His whole world has hung on her since they met.”

  I thought back to last night, to the wall of photos in their room, and I thumbed through all the details they’d only recently divulged about how they got together. I still couldn’t see any rhyme or reason to fighting through countless obstacles for love only to have it leave you so powerless in the end.

  “You were there, Gavril. You saw their Selection.” I swallowed, still unsure. “Does it really work? How?”

  He shrugged. “Yours is the third I’ve seen, and I can’t tell you how it works, how a lottery can bring in a soul mate. Let me say this: Your grandfather was not exactly a man I admired, but he treated his queen as if she was the most important person to walk the planet. Where he was harsh with others, he was generous with her. She got the best of him, which is more than I can say for . . . Well, he found the right woman.”

  I squinted, curious about what he was omitting. I knew Grandpa had been a strict ruler, but come to t
hink of it, that was the only way I knew him. Dad didn’t talk about him much as a husband or father, and I’d always been much more interested in hearing about Grandma.

  “And your dad? I don’t think he had a clue what he was looking for. Honestly, I don’t think your mother did either. But she was his match in every way. Everyone around them could see it long before they did.”

  “Really?” I asked. “They didn’t know?”

  He made a face. “Truthfully, it was more that she didn’t know.” He gave me a pointed look. “A family trait, it seems.”

  “Gavril, you’re one of the few people I can confess this to. It’s not that I don’t know what I’m looking for. It’s that I wasn’t ready to look.”

  “Ah. I wondered.”

  “But now I’m here.”

  “And on your own, I’m afraid. If you choose to go through with this—and after yesterday, no one would blame you if you didn’t—only you can make such an important choice.”

  I nodded. “I know. Which is why this is so scary.”

  “Ten seconds,” the floor director called.

  Gavril patted my shoulder. “I’m here in whatever way I can be, Your Highness.”

  “Thank you.”

  I squared my shoulders in front of the camera, trying to look calm as the light began glowing red.

  “Good morning, people of Illéa. I, Princess Eadlyn Schreave, am here to address some recent events that have taken place in the royal family. I shall deliver the good news first.” I tried to smile, really I did, but all I could think of was how abandoned I felt.

  “My beloved brother, Prince Ahren Schreave, has married Princess Camille de Sauveterre of France. Though the timing of their wedding was a bit of a surprise, it in no way lessens our joy for the happy couple. I hope you will join me in wishing them both the happiest of marriages.”

  I paused. You can do this, Eadlyn.

  “In sadder news, last night, my mother, America Schreave, queen of Illéa, suffered a very serious heart attack.”

  I paused. The words felt like they had created a dam in my throat, making it harder and harder to speak.

  “She is in critical condition and is under constant medical supervision. Please pr—”

  I brought my hand to my mouth. I was going to cry. I was going to lose it on national television, and on top of everything Ahren had said about how people felt about me, appearing weak was the last thing I wanted.

  I looked down. Mom needed me. Dad needed me. Maybe, in a small way, even the country needed me. I couldn’t disappoint them. Dabbing away the tears, I went on.

  “Please pray for her speedy recovery, as we all adore her and still depend on her guidance.”

  I breathed. It was the only way to get from any moment to the next. Breathe in, breathe out.

  “My mother held such great respect for the Selection, which, as you all know, led to my parents’ long and happy marriage. As such, I’ve decided to honor what I know would be her deepest wish and continue with my own Selection.

  “Due to the stress placed on our household in the last twenty-four hours, I think it wise to cut my suitors down to the Elite. My father narrowed his field to six instead of ten because of extenuating circumstances, and I have done the same. The following six gentlemen have been invited to stay on in the Selection: Sir Gunner Croft, Sir Kile Woodwork, Sir Ean Cabel, Sir Hale Garner, Sir Fox Wesley, and Sir Henri Jaakoppi.”

  These names were a strangely comforting thing, like I knew how proud they were of this moment and I could feel the glow of it, even from a distance.

  It was almost done. They knew Ahren was gone, that my mother might die, and that the Selection would carry on. Now came the news I was terrified to deliver. Thanks to Ahren, I understood exactly what my people thought of me. What kind of response would I receive?

  “With my mother in such a delicate state, my father, King Maxon Schreave, has chosen to remain by her side.” Here goes. “As such, he has named me regent until he feels fit to reclaim his title. I will make all decisions of state until further notice. It is with a heavy heart that I assume this role, but it gives me great joy to bring any peace to my parents.

  “We will have more updates on all these matters as they become available. Thank you for your time, and good day.”

  The cameras stopped rolling, and I moved just off the stage, sitting in one of the chairs that were usually reserved for my family. I felt queasy and would have sat there for hours trying to regain my composure if I thought I could get away with it, but there was too much to do. The first thing on the list was to check on Mom and Dad again, then off to work. At some point today I would have to meet with the Elite as well.

  As I went to exit the studio, I stopped short because my path was blocked by a row of gentlemen. The first face I saw was Hale’s. His expression lit up as he held out a flower. “For you.”

  I looked down the line and saw they all had flowers in their hands, some with roots still noticeably attached. All I could assume was that they had heard their names on the announcement, rushed from the Men’s Parlor to the garden, and come down here.

  “You idiots,” I sighed. “Thank you.”

  I took Hale’s flower and hugged him. “I know I said something every day,” he whispered, “but let me know if you need me to up it to two, okay?”

  I held him a little tighter. “Thanks.”

  Ean was next, and though we’d only ever touched during those staged photos of our date, I found myself unable to refrain from embracing him.

  “I get the feeling you were coerced into this,” I murmured.

  “I took mine from a vase in the hallway. Don’t tell the staff on me.”

  I patted his back, and he did the same to me.

  “She’ll be okay,” he promised. “You all will.”

  Kile had pricked his finger on a thorn and held his bleeding hand awkwardly away from my clothes as we hugged, which made me laugh and was perfect.

  “For smiles,” Henri said as I added his flower to my messy bouquet.

  “Good, good,” I replied, and he laughed at me.

  Even Erik had gotten me a flower. I smirked a bit as I took it.

  “This is a dandelion,” I told him.

  He shrugged. “I know. Some see a weed; some see a flower. Perspective.”

  I wrapped my arms around him, and I could feel him looking at the others as I held him, seeming uncomfortable to be getting the same treatment as they had.

  Gunner swallowed, not able to say much, but held me gently before I moved on.

  Fox had three flowers in his hand. “I couldn’t pick.”

  I smiled. “They’re all beautiful. Thanks.”

  Fox’s embrace was tight, like he needed the support more than the others did. I held on to him as I looked back at my Elite.

  No, this whole process made no sense, but I could see how it happened, how your heart could get swept up in the endeavor. And that was my hope now: that somehow duty and love would overlap, and I’d find myself happy in the middle of it all.

  CHAPTER 2

  MOM’S HANDS FELT SO SOFT, almost papery in a way. The feeling made me think of how water smoothed out the edges of a stone. I smiled, thinking she must have been a very rough stone once upon a time.

  “Did you ever used to get it wrong?” I asked. “Say the wrong words, do the wrong things?”

  I waited for an answer, receiving nothing but the hum of equipment and the beat of the monitor.

  “Well, you and Dad used to fight, so you must have been wrong sometimes.”

  I held her hand tighter, trying to warm it in mine.

  “I made all the announcements. Now everyone knows about Ahren getting married and that you’re a little . . . indisposed at the moment. I cut the boys down to six. I know that’s a big cut, but Dad said it was okay and that he did that when it was his turn, so no one can get upset.” I sighed. “Regardless, I have a feeling people will still find a way to get upset with me.”

  I b
linked back tears, worried she’d sense how scared I was. The doctors believed that the shock of Ahren’s departure was the catalyst for her current condition, though I couldn’t help but wonder if I’d contributed to her stress daily, like drops of poison so small someone didn’t realize they’d ingested something dangerous until it had overtaken them.

  “Anyway, I’m off to run my first advisory board meeting as soon as Dad gets back. He says it shouldn’t be too difficult. Honestly, I feel like General Leger had the toughest job of anyone today, trying to get Dad to go eat, because he fought so hard to stay here with you. The general was insistent, though, and Dad finally caved. I’m glad he’s here. General Leger, I mean. It’s kind of like having a backup parent.”

  I held her hand a little tighter and leaned in, whispering. “Please don’t make me need a backup parent, though, okay? I still need you. The boys still need you. And Dad . . . he looks like he might fall apart if you leave. So when it’s time to wake up, you’ve gotta come back, all right?”

  I waited for her mouth to twitch or her fingers to move, anything to show that she could hear me. Nothing.

  Just then Dad tore through the door with General Leger on his heels. I wiped at my cheeks, hoping no one would notice.

  “See,” General Leger said. “She’s stable. The doctors would come running if anything changed.”

  “All the same, I prefer to be here,” Dad said firmly.

  “Dad, you were hardly gone ten minutes. Did you even eat?”

  “I ate. Tell her, Aspen.”

  General Leger sighed. “We’ll call it eating.”

  Dad shot him a look that would have been threatening to some but only made the general smile. “I’ll see if I can sneak some food in so you won’t have to leave.”

  Dad nodded. “Look out for my girl.”

  “Of course.” General Leger winked at me, and I stood up and followed him from the room, looking back at Mom just to check.

  Still asleep.

  In the hallway, he held out an arm for me. “You ready, my not-quite queen?”

  I took it and smiled. “No. Let’s go.”

  As we made our way to the boardroom, I nearly asked General Leger if he would take me for another lap around the floor. The day felt so overwhelming already that I wasn’t sure I could do this.