A Crown Of Shadows And Secrets - Sloane Murphy Page 0,87

considering your latest arrangement, she'll find somewhere suitable for you all,” Caleb tells me as we reach the other side of the bridge, and the dark ornate wooden doors to the palace shimmer as we pass through them as if they react to Caleb’s very presence and allow us entry.

I blink at the changes from the outside, in here, the walls and ceiling are all white, the curved ceilings making dozens of arches, the many pillars are stone men holding up the room, and I just hope it’s for decoration only rather than actual people trapped inside stone to hold up the walls of the palace. The room branches off into three directions, a hall each to the left and right of us, and one leading into what I'm assuming is the heart of the palace.

“There you are! She's driving me nuts with her fussing.” A guy appears in the room, literally pops into existence before us and heads for us, before sweeping me off my feet in a hug. “It's good to see you again Mara.”

“Dude, she has no idea who you are.” Caleb laughs, moving himself between me and my guys who look like they're about ready to tear the man's arms from his body. “Mara, you should tell your guys to stand down. Bryce will literally tear them to shreds with a thought.”

I pull back from the guy who still has his arms around me and notice him eying the guys behind me, he almost looks protective of me.

“Mara, these guys are with you?” Bryce asks, looking down at me, his face completely different now he looks at me. His eyes are warm and welcome.

“Yeah, they're mine,” I tell him as he releases me from his grasp. “This is Levi, Creek, Kain, and Roman.” I tell Caleb and Bryce.

“Of course she collected her own harem. Morgan is going to kill herself laughing.” Bryce says, his eyes crinkling with laughter. “Come on, let’s get to the throne room. You know how impatient she gets.”

“Actually I have no idea,” I shrug and he laughs.

“You really don't remember me, us?” He asks and I shake my head.

“I had a memory of Caleb when we first entered the Shadow Realm, but before then, I've never had a memory from my life as Amantara. Not once in my existence as a Hunter as far as I can recall,” I tell him.

“Interesting. I'm sure we'll have plenty of time to catch up when we find out why you're here. Come on.” Bryce snaps his fingers and darkness wraps around us again.

It clears and I find us all in a huge hall, at the far end, raised on a Dias, a huge white throne, framed in gold with four smaller ones around it, two to each side. Upon the center throne is a petite woman with long dark hair that falls in waves down to her waist, dressed in a flowing black dress, that looks almost Grecian, a gold belt at her waist, and a slit in the skirt revealing her leg and the beautiful gold stilettos on her feet. Beside her, in two of the smaller thrones, sit two men who look beautifully menacing.

“You found her!” She squeals and jumps from the throne, two men at her back as she hurries across the room coming straight for me.

“Morgan, she doesn't remember us,” Bryce says softly.

“Oh nonsense, we'll get that fixed right up,” she says waving him off as she reaches me and hugs me. Who would've thought the Queen of the Shadow Realm would be so... nice?

“I've missed you so much, Mara! It has been far too long since I saw your beautiful face! You've not changed one bit in all these years!” She squeezes me tightly before pulling back from me. “I see you brought some friends,” she purrs winking at me as she takes in the guys, and one the men behind her huffs.

“Oh now then Malik, you know I only have eyes for you four, but a girl can appreciate!” She laughs. “Mara, introduce me please.” She flutters her lashes and I can't help but laugh. I can see why we were friends so many years ago.

Levi steps forward, his wings unfurling, and she chuckles as they appear. “I am Leviathan, your majesty,” he says with a bow. “This is Creek Winchester, Hunter, Roman Knight, Lycan, and Kain Michaels, Dracul.”

“Oh none of that your majesty nonsense, any friend of Mara's is a friend of mine. Call me Morgan. You've obviously