She startled at my command.
“No, sorry—It’s just… I want to see my family first. I need to go to the cottage.”
She nodded. “Alright. I can leave you to change and then show you a way out of the palace unnoticed.” She stepped toward the door, but before she reached it, she spun back to me and asked, “You’re not angry about what I told you I did?”
I lifted my legs over the side of the bed, and when my bare feet hit the ground, tears pricked at my eyes. Larkspur seemed to hold her breath, awaiting my judgment.
“Why would I be angry? I have you tothank.When you unbound me from Caym, I’d been falling to him. Surviving another year, or even another day, may not have been possible.”
With shoulders slackened in relief, she stared at me. “I thought I’d doomed you.”
I waved away the concern. “I’ve lost too much time to blubber over what could have gone wrong. Let us start fresh.”
She offered me a reluctant smile and a nod. “Yes, King Mattock. Let’s get you to Angeline and Leo’s.”
After the door clicked closed, I could hear her whisper-shouting behind it. “Sources, it worked. It worked!”
I rose and nearly toppled over. Catching myself on the bedpost, I waited until my balance returned. Tears slid down my cheeks and fell to the hardwood floor.
Ithadworked.
I was awake.
Chapter 32
Larkspur
After recovering from my shock, I threw my fists up and did a little jig in the hallway, kicking the air.
I couldn’t wait to tell Dritan tonight—the look on his face would be priceless. His father—awake at last.
“I hope you aren’t celebrating on my account.” A deep voice carried from the King’s bedchamber door. I straightened and pivoted on my heels to face him. He stood there with crossed arms, dressed in thick wool and boots, smirking like he’d caught me stealing sweets from a jar.
“No, I—”
His chuckle made my cheeks heat.
Sources,he was a giant when not lying down; now I knew where Dritan had gotten his height. Despite his size, King Mattock wasn’t an ounce intimidating. I wondered how he’d fared as a Constable all those years ago. To my relief, his demeanor seemed nothing but kind—he’d forgiven me so easily.
Mama had told me bits and pieces about him through the years. How he’d taught her to use a bow, how he’d helped her conceal her ailments. He’d been her dearest friend.
“I am excited,” I explained. “The people I love all miss you. And selfishly, this time I was right. And I love being right.”
“Fair enough, Princess.” He huffed another laugh. “Let’s go before a maid sees us and I’m swooped away to handle matters in Helos. I have a couple of stops to make.”
“Right, come this way.” I headed down the hall, passing framed paintings of Wymark royalty that hung atop the blue floral wallpaper. I reached behind a plant stand in an alcove where my grandfather’s portrait hung. Emmerick eyed the painting with a subtle look of disgust that he couldn’t conceal from me.
Finding a groove in the frame, I pulled. A door to one of the many passages within the walls opened easily. I knew every way in and out of the palace by heart.
He stepped through after me, needing to squeeze through the narrow entry. I turned right and began walking into the dark stone tunnel.
“If we go left and out the east side, is there still a row of lilac bushes beside the staff quarters?”
I balked. “Yes. They’re Mama’s favorite. She’d have someone’s head for removing them.”
He smirked, though it looked more sad than amused.
“Then, I advise we go left,” he said. “Better cover, and once we’re past the wall, it’ll put us right into the woods, where we can skirt any major guard posts.”
