Chapter Fifty-One
T he tears threatening to fall blur my vision as I hastily make my way down the corridor. The colors of the tapestries smear together and the cold marble floor appears uneven until I swipe furiously at the stubborn tears with my palms. I could walk this castle blindfolded and dizzy if I had to, but in this race for my life? I’d rather not. At least I know if I can just make it to the end of this expanse and past the kitchens, the doors closest to the stables are right there.
I’m so close. I look at my aching foot, wishing there was some way to numb the pain for just a little longer. As I look back up, just before I turn into the last hallway, a voice stops me in my tracks.
“You thought you could just scurry down to the dungeons like the mouse you are and what? Come away with my treasure? I still have big plans for that one.” Hadeon's voice sounds behind me and I turn as he motions toward the other end of the corridor in the direction of the healer’s ward. My stomach sinks. He knows where they went. I sent Thaliya with her wounded son unguarded. If they’re found, they have no chance. I’ve just sent the most important person to me and her son to their death. I can hardly focus on the threat before me knowing what I’ve done.
“You weren’t even planning to execute him, were you? He was bleeding out on that sorry excuse for a table down there. There’s no telling how long you’d have left him there to rot. There is no honor in that.” Emboldened by my conversation with Lysander, the words come out before I have time to call them back.
“Honor? You ask ‘what honor?’” Hadeon’s keen eye hones to daggers as he casually strides toward me. His movement allows me to see Killian over his shoulder in his shadow. “Who would look for honor when such great power awaits to be claimed? Who would call on honor when there’s entire realms ready for the taking?” Hadeon’s warrior frame, rusty with years of royalty but honed still nonetheless, towers over me. His questions float heavy in the air surrounding us.
I drop my gaze; my bravado sinking fast. But as my gaze lowers, Killian’s questioning look holds onto something Hadeon said, puzzling over his words. Does he not see the monster our father is? But before I can motion to him with some sort of acknowledgement, that small glint turns steely with the same resolve I’ve seen reflected in Father’s.
“You realize now, there’s only one way forward.” He grips my wrist, twisting until I’m thrown off balance. “There’s nothing left for you here. You’re going through with this marriage, and you’ll be off to Etos by sundown.”
The rage emanating from each word scalds me. His weight on my wrist forces me to take steps back until I’m pressed against the wall.
Just as Patton always drilled into my head to avoid. At all costs. Warning bells sound in my mind and I realize too late I’m no better than a cornered animal.
The first moment I’m on my own and I’m as good as dead.
Know yourself, know your path.
It’s better to go down swinging .
“No.” The word comes out almost inaudible, but firm. A growl from the cornered creature he’s pushed me to be.
“No?” His booming laugh is a painful contrast to the quiet surrounding us as if the entire castle knows to let Hadeon have his moment, and they’ll come to clean up afterward, as always.
“No.” I twist out of his grip and stumble before righting myself, but the movement throws him off balance as well, sending him backward into Killian who catches his arm and steadies him.
Hadeon rights himself, brushing off any aid from Killian and glares at me.
Unlike him, I’ve learned it’s okay to ask for help. But there’s no one around and I flounder for a moment. But I can feel the support of everyone who loves me. Everyone whose stood beside me, no matter the time, no matter the distance. And I look into myself as a tension builds inside me. Before I know it, my power drives down, into the marble floors surrounding us, causing the floor beneath us to shake and shift. Hadeon’s eyes go wide and Killian grabs onto his father’s shoulder for balance.