“Down!” one guard shouts, pointing the spear in my face. “Now!”
I fall to my knees, the corners of my eyes burning.Why did I trust him?
I hear heels clicking against the gravel, and through the legs of the men I catch the emerald dress gracefully brushing against the rocks.
The guards step aside to allow the Queen to pass, her hands elegantly clasped in front of her as she gently shakes her head.
“Well, well…” She drags out her words. “You were planning on leaving already?”
My teeth clench together, my nostrils flaring with rage. “Are you going to take my head now?”
She snickers. “I’m notthatwicked.”
“Yet you make the Prince, the future King of the Realms, shift every time he needs to enter or leave this Kingdom. Sounds pretty messed up if you ask me,” I hiss, leaning forward on my knees. The gravel digs into my skin, but I could care less.
“But I didn’t ask you?” Her thin brow lifts then she nods her head to the guards for them to take me by the arms. Their metal armor digs into my flesh as they pick me off of the ground.
“You will be thrown into battle games. For the crime against Azure.” She gestures for them to take me.
“You can’t be serious!” I hiss vigorously at her as I stumble, my feet tangling while the guards pull at my arms.
“We take treason very seriously here in the Realm of Eekatia. The archives are forbidden. As if Koen knew you wanted to go…” her eyes narrow, walking up to me as the men halt for her to do so, “to find yoursister?”
Oh. He is dead. I am going to kill him.
“You have no idea what you are talking about!” I growl, spitting at her feet. “I will not participate in your stupid games.”
She leans closer, her icy eyes flashing with pure rage. “Let me tell you something.” She drops her voice to a wicked whisper. “No woman has ever joined the games.Never.Everything I do is for a reason… which means, if the games don’t kill you,the men will. You will die either way as your punishment. But to watchthe first woman ever to participate in the games, that will be a sight to see.”
She pulls away, grinning from ear to ear. What is it with these people and their damn punishments?
“I didn’t even go!” I choke out the words. “What the hell is your deal! What did I do!”
“You have done everything.All your actions have led to this moment. This isn’t the only reason we are throwing you into the games. The oracles couldn’t see you, we don’t know if you are a threat to our Kingdom which means, we need yougone.”
“Who did you see!” I screech, yanking my body with all my might. “Did you see my sister!”
“We’ll find her, don’t you worry…” She begins to walk away, looking over her shoulder once more. “But you will be long dead when we do.”
My eyes widen, burning with rage as I glare into her wicked eyes. “Are you sayingTilly is here?”
“You mean, Tileatha?” She raises her chin, looking down on me as if I am nothing more than a filthy stray. “She is here. However, she doesn’t want to be found. You do understand that?”
How the hell does she know her name?
Tears threaten to fall from my eyes, but I force them back. The knot in my throat tightens. The Queen has to be wrong.She must be wrong.
“I don’t believe you!” My voice trembles as I spit the words out. My chest hardens as my stomach twists into knots.
“She knows you are here. The oracles saw that…” She leans closer, an amusing smile tugging on her lips as if she is enjoying the torment she is putting me through. “She is perfectly fine in the Darklands.”
I yank and twist against the firm grip of the guards, my throat raw from screaming with every ounce of strength I have as Idesperately attempt to break free.How could he? How the hell did I let my guard down?
But the world abruptly vanishes into a suffocating darkness as a rough, leather bag is thrusted over my eyes. The scent of aged leather fills my nostrils as I gag, and panic surges through me as I feel the men begin to drag me away, their hands tightening around my arms. My wound burns with each tug.
But I won't stop screaming. Not even for a second with the hopes of Prince Florian hearing me. Maybe, just maybe, he will come for me.
Unless he is in on this as well.
