“Shall we?” Shade offered me his hand not holding the newly lit torch, and I took it with enthusiasm.
There was a lightness to my steps as we made our way down the path. The walls were solid earth propped up every few feet or so by thick timber beams, the air stale and slightly damp. The tunnel moved down on a steep slope before leveling out. Rather than a straight line, it turned and curved, making me think it was taking us an obscure way out of the castle and even Prallues itself.
We turned the next corner to reach—a dead end.
Shade lifted the torch higher, illuminating the area ahead of us. All hope and excitement that had filled me moments ago snuffed out as quickly as someone blowing out a candle.
It was blocked, the wall half collapsed.
No.
I fell to my knees, the devastation too heavy to stay upright.
The scent of purloe intensified as Shade’s smoke tendrils edged toward the blockage. They curled through the rubble of rock and dirt, then pulled back, and Shade turned to face me, the expression on his face grim.
“We can’t get through.” His words reflected the pain striking through my chest.
All these weeks of searching, trying to find an escape, was for nothing. We couldn’t escape.
I should have known better than to get my hopes up.
Shade helped me to my feet, and I leaned against him as he led me back the way we came. My body resorted to muscle memory, my mind too busy battling with the truth of my situation.
Not only did I have to marry the king tomorrow, but he would expect consummation. He demanded an heir, and if his reactionto my refusal of his proposal was any indication, it wouldn’t be gentle.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the reason for Queen Jade’s death was the king himself.
I didn’t even realize we reached the entrance to the tunnel until Shade was closing the stone door behind us, all the hope and determination driving me these past weeks locked within it.
The sound of Pierce calling my name echoed through the hidden pergola, and together, we hurried back toward the fountain. Shade’s tendrils of smoke pulled the vines back in place to hide the entrance we discovered just in time for Pierce to stalk into view.
“Where have you been? I’ve been searching everywhere.” His words were rough and wild, and if I wasn’t mistaken, that was panic in his eyes.
“We’ve been right here,” I choked out, the emotion in my voice making it unrecognizable.
His eyes narrowed, then his gaze trailed down my dress, which was now covered in dirt. He didn’t mention my distressed state and instead said, “It’s late, we need to go back to the castle before the sun gets too high.”
I nodded once, and we followed Pierce into the garden, the sun baring down on us once we were clear of the large trees. I could make a wish, ask Shade to take me away from this place, away from the king and his demands.
Away from my future as Queen Consort.
Guilt was an acidic river in my stomach, and I swayed on my feet. I couldn’t abandon Eleanor.
Rumbling sounded in the distance, and when my eyes moved to the sky, it was to find dark clouds looming. A storm approached at a rapid pace, hiding the sun. It seemed even the Gods wanted me to meet this fate.
By the time we made it back to my suite, the storm had well and truly arrived, rain pelting against the windows and echoing through the room.
I moved toward them and sat before the stained-glass window to watch the water run down the panes. I stayed that way for several hours. Shade tried to talk to me a few times but in the end decided to give me space as I came to terms with my situation. Wista arrived to prepare a bath and provide food, which sat untouched on the large table, nerves having taken permanent residence in my stomach. Thankfully, the king canceled our daily meal, so I wouldn’t have to face him today.
Instead, I returned to my place in front of the window, the rain splashing against it a perfect reflection of my mood. Droplets ran down the glass, making it look like Goddess Ammoraelis was crying, like she, too, mourned the loss of my free will to choose my husband.Fitting.
I had long ago come to terms with the fact my life would never be my own, that I would be a slave to my obligations to keep Eleanor safe, but how cruel could the Gods be to fate me into a forced marriage with such a vile man.
It had been foolish to hope that one day, far into the future, after Eleanor took her place, I would be able to live my own life. Something simple and quiet, with a job I enjoyed, not that I knew what that would be.
Perhaps I would have met a man who didn’t care about my past, someone I could love wholeheartedly, open up to and truly be myself, who would see all my flaws and love me for them. We would live in a small village, quiet and away from any chance of war or violence.
That dream didn’t hold the appeal it once had; there was something else I wanted. Something I craved more than the nameless, faceless man in my fantasies. No, I wanted the personwho had shown me nothing but devotion and fidelity. Someone I could never have, even if I wanted it with my entire being.
