Crystal Crowned [ARC] Read Online Free PDF

disgracing it as he did. You know how those two were. Never anything, always something. She died defending him.” Daniel hiccupped. “The Supreme King shattered both Erion’s legs, stripped, and saddled him, then sent him back to the West. There’s no way he made it in this cold.”
    “And Craig?” Jax asked after a long pause.
    “Craig and me . . .” He was suddenly talking too fast, the words avalanching out. “Erion told us to bend knee. That we couldn’t help anyone if we died, too. Erion was better suited as a message to the West but—Victor kept us for his monsters.”
    “Monsters?” Vhalla whispered.
    “Those who displeased him went into the rooms. They were exposed to the taint . . . At first they were fine, but then, their screams, their flesh. It changed, they changed . By the Mother, their screams—their screams as they ripped open skin to make rooms for talons and wings and horns and scales and—”
    He was crying again.
    “Enough, that’s enough,” Vhalla tried to soothe.
    “Don’t touch me!” The man seemed to be on reset. Alternating between disbelief, violence, and soul crushing sadness. “I killed them. The feedings began. Blood, they need to develop a taste for blood, he said. They need fresh meat, he said.
    “Craig and I, it was us. We knew it would be one of us next. Craig told me, he gave me this chance. He offered himself to that monster knowing I would be the one to feed him to it—knowing it would give me the chance to run. He screamed for me as they ate him. He screamed for me as I ran.”
    Vhalla sat in numb horror. Struggling to find words in the wake of everything Daniel was pouring forth and splaying at their feet.
    “If he finds me, I will be food. Or he will turn me into a monster.” Daniel looked to Jax. “Don’t give me to them. Don’t give me to his revels for his blood guard, drunk on gore and control. Don’t let his court of sorcerers have me.”
    “Brother, you’re fine now,” Jax lied.
    Nothing about Daniel was fine. Nothing about their situation or the world was fine.
    “We will take you home,” Vhalla vowed. “We’re going East now.”
    This was her fault. She had helped Victor and unleashed this force. Beyond that, if she had kept Daniel closer and had been a better friend to him, maybe he would have been with them before now. Maybe Jax would have thought to get him before charging into that dark night for the Crystal Caverns. She had made so many mistakes. How many people she loved would pay for them?
    “He’ll slow us down.” Elecia couldn’t keep her thoughts to herself.
    “He needs our help.” Even Fritz was surprised at her cold assessment.
    “We need our own help.” Elecia firmly gripped her convictions. “He’s going to slow us down; he’s beyond halfway to madness. Not to mention, we endanger him as well, now that he knows we’re alive.”
    Vhalla stopped to consider this. It was the reason they had left the Charems. But the Charems were capable of being clever. Daniel was a child lost in the woods.
    “This is not up for discussion.” Daniel was their responsibility now, and Vhalla would see him home. Her mind was made up.
    “What right do you have?” Elecia snorted.
    “My right as your future Empress!” Vhalla shot back so fast the words nearly gave her whiplash.
    Everyone held their breath, and Vhalla’s heart slowed. Their future Empress.
    Aldrik didn’t say or do anything to contradict her claim.
    “Fine,” Elecia huffed. The woman seemed almost satisfied at Vhalla’s proclamation, despite being on the receiving end of her ire.
    “You’re really going to help me?” Daniel looked up at her.
    “We will.”
    “Why? Thank you. But why?” He shook his head violently. “I am worthless. I can’t—I am pathetic, less than a maggot. I killed my brother and survived off his death. I deserve to be a monster.” Daniel wailed, “Don’t let me become one!”
    “Hush, enough,” Vhalla soothed, running her hand