She rose from her throne and sauntered to a set of double doors directly behind her chair. Her guards stepped aside to let her pass as she disappeared through the doorway to her private chambers.
Just like that? She was leaving? Frustration burned through me. I was tempted to unleash my power again, make these courtiers see me as something to be feared rather than entertainment. But that's exactly what Ari would do—use fear and violence to control people. I wouldn't become a monster like him.
Meanwhile, other guards approached Ari and me, clearly intending to escort us in the opposite direction—back across the great hall toward the main entrance. Maybe if I pretended to be docile, they would let their guard down, just enough for me to use my shadows to escape.
Once we went through the double doors, the guards escorted us down a long corridor lined with elaborate tapestries. Some depicted mythical creatures I recognized—harpies, unicorns, centaurs. One showed a beast I'd never seen before: a creature with a lion's head and a dragon's body. I wondered if such things actually existed in this realm.
If I did escape, I hoped I wouldn't face one. I wasn't sure my shadows could defeat it.
About halfway down the luxurious corridor, a guard opened a door for me. “Don’t think of using your powers. If anything happens to me and I don’t come through the portal with thequeen and her army, Enzo dies. Do you understand me?” Ari asked.
I fought back tears. “Yes.”
“Good. Servants will come to attend you. Don't think of escaping—there will be a guard outside your door."
I walked past him into the massive bedroom. The door shut behind me with a soft click.
Finally alone. The silence felt almost foreign after the throne room's oppressive attention. I had a moment of peace to think about my next moves—though with my shadows bound, those options were painfully few.
It looked like something from a medieval castle—all dark wood and rich fabrics that spoke of old-world luxury. A four-poster bed dominated the center of the room, its carved mahogany frame reaching nearly to the vaulted ceiling. Heavy burgundy curtains with gold trim hung from each post, tied back with silk cords to reveal crisp white linens beneath.
Tall windows lined one wall, their diamond-paned glass offering a view of manicured gardens below. Thick tapestries covered the stone walls, depicting hunting scenes and pastoral landscapes in jewel tones. A massive stone fireplace took up most of the far wall, its mantel carved with intricate roses and thorns that seemed to writhe in the flickering light from the hearth.
Persian rugs covered the cold stone floor, their deep blues and golds complementing the room's rich color scheme. An ornate writing desk sat near the windows, complete with an inkwell and quill, while a velvet-upholstered chair beckoned from beside the fireplace. Even the door I'd entered through was a work of art—heavy oak studded with iron and carved with symbols I didn't recognize.
Despite its beauty, the room felt like a gilded cage. Luxurious, yes, but still a prison.
A large oval mirror stood against one wall, and I flinched when I caught sight of my reflection. No wonder the queen had looked at me with such disgust. I looked like I'd crawled out of a chimney. My hair hung in greasy tangles around my face, dark circles shadowed my eyes, and dirt wasn't just smeared on my arms and legs—it streaked across my cheeks and forehead like war paint.
The door opened with a whisper of hinges. I whirled around. A single girl slipped inside, her gray servant’s dress too thin for the chill that lingered in the stone room. She moved with quiet precision, head bowed. Her black hair, braided smooth as midnight and gleaming in the dim light, hung neatly down her back.
“I am Brynn. I have been ordered to attend you.” When she glanced up, my breath caught.
Her skin was pale, almost luminous, and her lips were a startling, natural red—like a drop of blood on snow. Beautiful, haunting…wrong for this place.
She flicked her gaze over me, taking in every detail, before she lowered her head again.
“Oh my.” Her voice was soft, careful. “The guards weren’t exaggerating. You truly are…a sight. And you were presented to the queen looking like this?”
My spine stiffened, heat prickling my skin. “Didn't really have a choice.” I crossed my arms defensively. "Ari the Dark Demon dragged me here."
Her head tilted slightly, though her expression didn’t change. “Ari the Dark Demon?” she repeated, her tone neutral.
“You’ve never heard of him?”
She gave the smallest shake of her head. “No. Should I have?”
I bit back a laugh that Ari’s reputation hadn’t made it down to the servants. He wasn’t as popular or fearless as he thought he was. “I’m not sure.”
Something about the pause before her answer nagged at me, but before I could press, she dipped into a small curtsy, retreating toward the door.
“I will prepare your bath,” she said, voice steady and calm, though her hands clenched tightly in her skirts as if to hide their trembling. She opened the door and gestured for me to go inside.
The bathroom was even more luxurious than the bedroom, if that was possible. A massive clawfoot tub dominated the center of the space, its porcelain surface gleaming white against the black-and-gold marble floor. The tub was easily large enough for me to stretch out completely, with ornate brass fixtures that had been polished to a mirror shine.
To one side stood a walk-in shower that could easily accommodate five people. Its walls were lined with the same veined marble as the floor, and a wide bench ran along one side, upholstered in what looked like waterproof velvet. Multiple shower heads jutted from the walls at different heights, promising a rainfall experience from every angle.
The double vanity stretched along the far wall, its dark wood matching the bedroom furniture. Twin sinks were carved from single pieces of marble, their golden fixtures catching the light from an elaborate crystal chandelier overhead. Thick, plush towels in deep burgundy hung from racks, and an array of perfumes and oils sat arranged on silver trays.
