I know where Dianthus took her. She took her to where this all began. The place I dragged a lifeless and bloodied Azalea to nearly a century ago.
She took her to Rubinosa Hollow.
Azalea is currently being held hostage in Dianthus’ home.
58
Azalea
There’sabittertastefilling my dry mouth as I pry my heavy eyelids open. My body aches in a way that my mind can’t remember hurting it as I peel my cheek off the stone floor. It takes a minute for me to realize I have no idea whose floor this is or where I am. Iron bars are the only thing I see in front of me, as everything else seems to be shrouded in an almost purposeful darkness. Pushing myself up on wobbly arms, I rub at my throbbing temples, trying to remember what happened.
I had told the coachman to turn around. I was heading back to the castle, to Braxton. The blurry memories slowly become clear in my mind. The carriage stopped with such force that it practically shot me into Rhoden’s lap. By the time we collected ourselves, the door was being pulled open, and I came face to face with one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever seen. Something about her seemed ethereal in a wicked sort of way. A type of beauty that was dangerously alluring. Her golden hair whipped around her from the howling wind that seemingly picked up out of nowhere.
I recall the feeling of dread that began to climb along my skin when she told me it was good to see me again, even though I was positive I had never seen her before in my life. Rhoden’s nails dug into me as she clung to me in fear. Simply thinking about the malicious smile that stretched the stranger’s lips has me shivering in the dampened cell I’m sitting in.
She had yanked me from the carriage despite my protests, and wrenched my head back before pouring a burning liquid down my throat. I can still hear Rhoden’s shrill shriek as she jumped after me, right before a lavender spark erupted from the woman’s hand and sent her careening back into the carriage. After that, everything went black, so I assume my throbbing temples and fuzzy memory have to do with whatever horrible concoction she forced down my throat, but at the memory of Rhoden’s body hitting the floor of the carriage with a dull thud my eyes shoot open and I sit upright. I rub the back of my head as if only now remembering the pain from her forceful grip as she nearly ripped my hair from my scalp.
I scan the cell desperately looking for Rhoden. When I realize I’m alone in here, I can’t decide if that’s a good or a bad thing. Taking a deep breath, I do my best to calm my worries, telling myself that it must mean Rhoden got out safely.
I feel a breeze whip through the barred window in the upper corner of the small dungeon cell I’m in, causing goosebumps to rise on my flesh. My bare flesh. Looking down, I realize the dress I had been wearing is gone, leaving me in nothing except the slightly sheer, cream slip that was underneath it. My hand flies to my neck, and I’m relieved when I realize the necklace Braxton gave me is still clasped around my neck. I let the feeling of the cool metal ground me as I try to calm my racing heart and steady my shallow breaths.
Even though I’m alone in this cell, I feel agonizingly exposed, so I quickly cross my arms over my chest before getting tomy feet. My head spins momentarily, causing me to all but fall into the bars to steady myself. The frigid metal send another chill racing through my body as it presses into my bare skin. Wrapping my fingers around the bars, I give them a firm shake, but they don’t budge in the slightest.
“You’re awake.” I turn toward the shrilling coo from the woman who imprisoned me here.
She steps into focus from across the room, carrying a tray with a loaf of bread, a wedge of cheese, and some kind of slimy meat resting on top of it. My stomach rumbles and churns at the sight of the food.
“I’m so sorry about that little sleep potion. I know it can make you devastatingly hungry.”
“Where’s Rhoden?”
“Who?”
My eyes narrow. “The woman I was traveling with.”
“Oh that little pest. I don’t know. Sleeping in the carriage if I had to guess.”
Sleeping. Relief washes through me.
“If she’s lucky though she was able to find help before she bled out.”
All the color drains from my face, and my mind doesn’t know which part of what she said to focus on first.
“Bled out?”
“What I can tell you is that I gave her a better chance than you gave poor Gravesley. You have no idea the amount of power you cost me in sending a sword straight through him. My magic worked tirelessly for hours trying to get him to stitch himself back together before it realized he was dead. He was such a good henchman to me.” My kidnapper continues, barely giving me any time to digest what she revealed to me. “Now I may be powerful, but I can’t very well go bringing people back from the dead. Still the little protection incantation I had himunder exhausted me after you took his life.” She claps her hands together and sighs. “So really, the payback I did to… what was her name Ronan?”
“Rhoden,” I correct through gritted teeth.
“Right, yes. Well, mine at least gave her a fighting chance. Granted, that’sifshe made it back to the castle in time.”
“Back to the castle?” I clarify, my voice wavering.
“Oh yes. That’s the whole point, you see. I need Braxton to know that you’re here, or else it’s all a waste of my time.”
Not bothering to direct me away from the bars, she unlocks them and opens my cell door. I try to lunge for the door, but I’m rooted to the spot.
“Oh, don’t mind the little immobilizer spell I’ve got you under while you’re in here. That’s just until I know whether I can trust you or if you’re going to be a problem like Braxton.”
