Wasn’t he just like the rest of them? He certainly hadn’t interfered when his father had yanked her around or placed his hands inappropriately on her body . . . but he also hadn’t joined in on the degrading comments and gestures either. Did the cost of her freedom come at a price? Would he seek her out to claim it? A plethora of questions hammered at her mind, and Adalia felt an overwhelming desire to seek the answers.
The door to her room flew open and her brother entered with a concerned Shiloh right behind him.
“What is it? Are you okay?” Nikolas dropped to his knees beside her bed.
Adalia smiled weakly. “Hello to you too.”
“I’m sorry. I rushed here as soon as I saw Shiloh.”
“I’m fine. Stop fretting so much. It will give you creases on that pretty forehead of yours.” Adalia brushed his chestnut hair from his face.
“We thought you were gone Ada, I was gathering a team, and we were coming for you, I promise.” Nikolas’s eyes were filled with pain as he wrapped his sister in an embrace.
“It’s okay, I’m okay now. And I’m glad you didn’t come for me. There was no point endangering your lives as well,” she answered as she stroked his hair.
Nikolas was her only sibling, and they’d always been close. He was at least five inches taller than her, about six feet, with the body of a well-trained warrior. Many female Lightners would bat their eyes at him no matter where he went in Lucius. His hair was alighter shade of brown than Adalia’s and, in the sun, it threw a hint of red. They shared the same honey soaked skin, but Nikolas sported more almond-coloured freckles across his body than Adalia did. Nikolas’s good-looks and emerald green eyes garnered much attention, but no more so than his wings. They were massive and towered over his head as he walked. The deep, scarlet red feathers were unlike any other in all of Lucius.
“Tell us everything,” Shiloh said as she sat on Adalia’s bed.
Nikolas rose and retrieved a wooden chair from Adalia’s desk and placed it beside her.
And so she did. Every detail about what had happened over the past few days.
“They are all so horrid to one another. There is no happiness, no joy, no life,” Adalia continued.
“So, how did you get out? How did you get back across the Veil?” Shiloh questioned.
Adalia fiddled with her hands. “The prince took me from the cell under the cover of night and walked me through to The Grey.”
“The prince?” Nikolas asked with a sullen look on his face.
Shiloh’s brow furrowed. “TheOscuro prince?”
“Yes, the prince set me free.” Adalia locked eyes with her brother. “And before you ask, I do not know why.”
Nikolas rose and ran a hand through his hair as he paced the floor of her room. “We have to retaliate. They have to know what the consequences are for harming a Lightner.”
“No Nik, I don’t want revenge. I’m okay and safe now. Let it be.”
Shiloh shook her head. “This should never have happened, Ada. It’s a miracle you are home.”
“Shiloh is right. We will need to tighten up the patrols and station more guards at the Gates for all The Grey. This can not happen again. It’s a miracle that anyone made it out of that place.” Nikolas folded his arms across his broad chest.
“I agree, but for now I would like to sleep in my bed, where I know that when I wake, no one will hit, beat, or force me to serve wine to a bunch of Thorns and their horrid king.” Adalia sighed.
“I will never let one of them lay a hand on you ever again, Ada.” Nikolas stood by her bed and squeezed her hand.
“I know you won’t. Now get out of here and let me sleep,” she said, offering a smile.
Her brother and Shiloh left with the promise of being nearby should she wake and need something.
Adalia nestled into her blankets, heavy and warm, and drifted off to dreams of nighttime, and its breathtakingly gentle embrace.
“I am so happy to see you safe within these borders, Adalia. I am immensely sorry for what you went through to get back here.” The King of Lucius sat on a throne of solid gold. The room was large enough to hold thousands. Its walls consisted of floor to ceiling windows that looked out upon the Kingdom. The floor, made of sapphire blue glass, glittered as the sun cast its rays across it. It was Adalia’s favourite room in the entire palace.
It had taken her three days to heal to where she could dress herself and move around with minimal pain. The king had wanted to see her as soon as she was able.
“I am so thankful to be home, Your Highness.” She dropped to one knee and knelt before him.
