Going to my bureau, I shuffled through the shirts, searching for something to make a blindfold with. When I found one, I ripped the sleeve off. “You're going to have to trust me.”
“What?” She gripped the blanket tighter.
Her long wavy dark hair had frizzed along the edges of her face. Red splotches covered her cheeks and nose. She was definitely pretty for a human, even with the birthmark over her right eye. It didn't diminish her beauty at all. In fact, I found it quite charming.
“I'd rather you not know how to secretly enter my chambers.If you want to return to your room, then you need to wear this blindfold.”
She nodded, then quickly scooted off the bed to grab her robe and slip it back on, along with her slippers.
I walked around the side of the bed and motioned with my finger for her to turn around. She did, and I wrapped the blindfold around her eyes and tightened it. Once I was sure she couldn’t see, I grabbed her hand.
She flinched.
“I will not hurt you,” I said. “I hope after tonight you can finally trust those words.”
Her head tilted in my direction. Though I couldn't see her eyes, I knew she was probably terrified.
“The way is a little twisty. I just want to make sure you don't fall.”
“Oh.” Her hand shook, but she didn’t let go.
I pushed the panel to the secret hallway. The wall swung open, and I dragged my bride into the darkness.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Kane
Deirdre gripped my hand,her other out in front of her, searching the shadows.
This was a dangerous move to bring her back to her chambers. Not only couldn't I order guards to stand outside her door for protection, but I would have to lie to the priests and her handmaiden about the events of tonight, something I did not find enjoyable.
And if the truth was ever discovered? The repercussions would be disastrous. Not even I could ignore my court’s tradition, no matter how fickle it seemed.
Here I was risking my character and kingdom for a human who wanted me dead.
If my father were still alive, he’d laugh, then send me on a sojourn to purge out my weakness.
If I wanted any future where this arrangement with Deirdre worked, I had to take the risk. This idea to finally take my human bride had been a game at first, a brief enjoyment out of aboring few decades, but all that changed the moment the black unicorn blessed her, not just blessed her, butbonded. Something that had never been heard of, at least not in the past few centuries.
Not even I could deny that maybe there was a bit of truth to the child of prophecy.
Deirdre stumbled and I quickly turned, grabbing her waist to steady her.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
“Do I really need to wear this?” She dug into my chest with her free hand before quickly removing it.
“I promised I wouldn’t hurt you. My word may mean nothing to you, but it means everything to me.”
“I know.” Her voice lowered, and I wondered if she really believed that about me.
Even when we had fought, I had not hurt her physically, emotionally… well, there was a lot of damage.
“We're almost there,” I said, holding her hand tight within mine, a warmth that seemed to intensify with each step we took.
Turning down the steps, we headed to the western hall of the royal wing. There were secret passageways all throughout the castle. Some the servants knew of, some the guards did, and ones only my pixies knew about. There were no torches or lights to guide the path in this area, not that I needed any. I knew these halls better than any fae, outside of my pixies, of course.
I didn't give Deirdre my mother's chambers or any of my sisters’. There were plenty of royal rooms in Caste Castle and I had found one that hadn’t been used for decades but had a pleasant view of the gardens. Something I thought my little thorn might enjoy.
