18. Chapter 18
Chapter eighteen
“Princess? Princess, please wake up.” There was an edge of panic to the voice, and I pried one eye open. I should be used to waking up groggy and confused, but it wasn’t getting any easier.
“Dey?” I croaked out, recognizing the face swimming in and out of focus.
His features were pinched tight in worry, and I wanted to smooth his furrowed brow. He breathed out a sigh of relief, uttering something that sounded like a solemn prayer.
“Why am I on the ground?” I asked, my voice hoarse and cracking.
I heard a derisive snort, then a male voice said something in Rivellan. I glanced over my shoulder and confirmed that yes, Sin was standing just over my shoulder, glaring down at me.
“Sin, you are not being helpful,” Dey gritted out.
My eyes focused back to Dey. “Where am I?” I asked, sitting up. Soft grass spread out beneath me with several weeping willow type trees forming a circle around us.
“Princess, please lie still. You are not finished healing,” Dey urged as I tried to climb to my feet.
I abandoned my attempt to stand, but only because things were still a little blurry. “Will someone please tell me what’s going on?”
It was all so fuzzy. There were flashes of the twins, some birds, a glittering city, then… nothing.
“I remember going to Civi Adasa with Cam and Ram, but then it’s like a black wall in my mind. My memories are just gone.”
Sin muttered something again in Rivellan, and Dey snapped back at him in kind. I had never heard Dey so angry before, it was making me nervous. The scowl on Sin’s face deepened and he moved away from us.
“Dey,” I said softly, pulling his attention back to me. “Tell me what’s going on. Why can’t I remember anything?”
“I was forced to use an extensive amount of magic to save you,” he said, caressing the side of my face. “I am sorry for the side effects.”
My brain supplied the memory of waking up in bed with him before, and the feeling of confusion that had resulted from his help that time as well. God, was that just yesterday? It felt like weeks had passed.
“Princess,” Dey continued in a pained voice. “We nearly lost you. You were in town, and there was a crowd of people who thought you were an abicario mocking their religion. The crowd became infuriated and attacked.”
I touched my head, recalling the Shen’Valla shroud that Cam and Ram used to hide my bare arms. A terrifying thought popped into my mind.
“The twins?” I gasped out. “Are they okay? If I was attacked then… Dey, please tell me they’re okay.”
“They are being punished currently,” he said gently, and I heard Sin grunt something behind him. Apparently he hadn’t gone very far.
“What? Why?” I tried getting to my feet again, but Dey held me firmly in place.
“King Verren is punishing them for putting your life in danger. Princess, when he found you in the street covered in blood and being viciously beaten. I have never seen him so enraged. If we had not been in a meeting so close by and heard the commotion…”
“I would have died.” Flashes came to me, triggered by his words. The shroud pulled from my head, the people shouting, the pain.
“You did die,” Dey said, pulling me into his arms and holding me tightly to his chest.
Sin barked something in Rivellan that sounded more pained than angry.
Dey pulled back enough to look me in the eye. “Your heart stopped twice on the ride back here. I thought… I thought we were going to lose you.”
I couldn’t bear the anguish on his face so I leaned forward, touching my forehead to his. “I’m alive. I’m okay.”
We sat there quietly until Sin growled something, and Dey dropped his arms from my shoulders.
I tried once more to stand, and this time Dey didn’t stop me. I rose shakily to my feet and looked around. The little hidden glen was quite peaceful until a sharp caw broke through my reverie, drawing my attention up to the trees where Thorell sat on a branch beside Flax and Flinx. More bird-like creatures—some barely larger than a sparrow while others would make an eagle look small—lounged on nearby limbs, regarding us warily. One of the crescia even had fur and a swishing tail similar to an otter except with wings and wickedly hooked talons. They weren’t kidding when they said each one was unique.
Dey answered my question before I could ask it. “We are at the back of the castle,” he confirmed. “This grove is a favored gathering place for many of the crescia when they are not with their Vitaean. Thorell can usually be found in that tree which is why I brought you here.”
“Why did you need Thorell?”
“He is able to hold a reserve of my power within him,” Dey replied, smiling up at the hawk-like creature. “All crescia are able to do so for their bonded. Should we find ourselves away from the Source, we have access to what you might consider a small emergency supply. I had to bring you back from the brink of death twice, Princess. I needed the extra magic from Thorell or I would have drained myself before you were healed enough.”
I looked up at the crescia. “Thanks for the help, buddy.”
He gave a squawk and bobbed his head a few times.
“Where is my father?” I asked Dey.
I needed to stop him from punishing Cam and Ram. I knew so few people here and I couldn’t let anything bad happen to them because of me.
“King Verren returned to Civi Adasa,” he replied. “He stayed here long enough to assure that you would be okay, but his healing power is his weakest ability, and he was not able to do much. Once you were stabilized he was forced to leave.”
His answer wounded me like a dagger to the chest. I had only known my father a handful of days, but his apathy for my near death experience still caused my heart to clench.
Dey must have seen my pained expression because he quickly added, “He very much wanted to stay until you woke. King Verren was most distraught over what happened, but we did not know how long you would be unconscious. He has responsibilities that cannot be ignored you see.”
“He’ll always be a king first and a father second, huh?” I understood, but it still hurt more than it should have. I always imagined that any parent would put their child first before anything else, but I guess family only counted for so much when that parent ruled a kingdom.
“Please do not look so sad, Princess.”
“It’s fine,” I said, dismissively. Just because I shared some genetics with the king didn’t mean he owed me anything. It only made my decision to leave in a few weeks that much easier. “He stayed long enough to make sure his savior would survive, then he went back to work. I get it,” I said, trying so hard to sound indifferent even though the bite to my words revealed otherwise.
Dey opened his mouth to protest, but I stopped him.
“Seriously, I’m fine. I just want to go see Cam and Ram.” He winced, and nausea bloomed in the pit of my stomach. “Where are they?”
“They’re in the dungeons,” Sin said angrily, coming up behind Dey. “You dragged them into the city, and now they’re suffering for it. I hope you had fun on your little adventure because I lost my two best generals so you could go shopping.”
My blood boiled at his accusation. “Yeah? Well if you had been training me the way you were supposed to, then I wouldn’t have been with them. So maybe it’s your fault.”
He reeled back as if I had slapped him, and I felt a small ounce of satisfaction.
I turned back to to Dey. “Can you please take me to them?”
“No, he can’t,” Sin cut in before Dey could speak for himself. “They’re being held in the Sonaria. It’s a room made from the only mineral on this planet that can block a Vitaeans access to the Source.”
I shook my head. “Why put them there?”
“It’s so they can’t heal their wounds,” he spat out. “King Verren had them beaten for endangering you.” He dropped his voice low enough that Dey couldn’t hear and added, “That’s what happens here, Rain. Good males suffer because of you. Because you know nothing of this world.” Then he pushed past me, knocking me to the side with his broad shoulder.
“Come, Princess,” Dey said, leading me out of the glen. “You need rest. The wounds you suffered were many, and your body will need more time to fully heal.”
Dey escorted me back to my room and helped me into bed before pulling the thick drapes shut to block out the suns.
The bed dipped when he laid down next to me on his side, propping his head underneath one arm. He tugged on the hair tie that held my braid in place, and I started to object when he tucked it into his pocket—it was the only one I had. The feeling of his hands running through my hair silenced any protests, though. His eyes never flickered from his task as he carefully loosened each section before fanning the strands out behind me on the pillow.
“Your hair is so beautiful, Rain,” he murmured quietly.
A small slice of sunlight cut through the gap in the curtains, casting a golden glow upon his face. He was perfection made human, not a single freckle, mole, or scar tarnished his smooth skin.
His hand slid out of my hair and dropped down to caress my neck. He lowered his face, meeting my gaze, and the space between us was so small it would be nothing to close the gap and feel his mouth on mine.
There was desire in his eyes alongside a silent challenge. He wouldn’t do it, wouldn’t make the first step. It would have to be me.
But I had more important things to do.
The decision must have shown on my face because he gave me a small smile and said, “Rest, Princess.” He ran a hand across my cheek and stood to leave.
“Dey?” I called after him, and he paused at the door to look back at me. “I was just curious… What is the Rivellan word for 'now?'”
He frowned. “Why do you wish to know?”
I did my best to summon a blush to my cheeks. It wasn’t really something I did often, but I pasted on my best coy smile that hopefully portrayed innocently sexy. “It just seems like a word that might be good to know. For the future.”
Apparently it worked, because his frown smoothed into a grin. “Cotio,” he said. “Roughly translated it means 'at once.' Any Rivellan would know what you meant should you choose to use it.”
“Thanks,” I said, leaning back against the pillow and shutting my eyes.
“You are most welcome,” he whispered, closing the door behind him.
I counted to a hundred in my head in case he lingered outside my room then jumped out of bed. I cracked the door open ever so slowly and peered out into the hall. After confirming it was empty, I crept toward the staircase.
I had myself some twins to rescue.
It took me less than ten minutes to find my mark. The guard who stood in front of a closed door at the bottom of the staircase appeared no older than twenty-one. Even from my hiding spot at the top of the stairs I could tell he was perfect. His back was stiff, his hand was on the sword at his side, and his eyes never stopped scanning his surroundings—all signs of a soldier who took his guard duty far too seriously. He had to be new. All the older soldiers had a slight air of relaxation about them when they thought no one was watching, as if they trusted their instincts to kick in should the need arise. This guy? He was wound so tight that all I had to do was nudge, and he would crack under the pressure.
I pushed my shoulders back into my best regal posture and stomped down the stairs.
The guard's eyes landed on mine as I approached, and he dropped into the signature knee bend they were so fond of giving me.
“Princepa,” he said solemnly, his face cast to the ground.
“Soldier,” I barked, yanking him to his feet. I hated being rude, but my tone and actions had to be spot on if this was going to work.
He struggled to regain his balance as he gave me a wide-eyed look, and I made a mental note to apologize later.
“You will take me immediately to the Sonaria,” I growled into his face, doing my best imitation of Sin.
His eyes darted around frantically as if someone might show up to save him.
I snapped my fingers in his face. “Do you know who I am, soldier? Princepa.”
He blurted out something in Rivellan, panic rising in his eyes.
Perfect. He was right where I wanted him.
I leaned in close and snarled, “Sonaria! Cotio!” Each word was punctuated with a jab to his chest.
He gave one last distressed look down the hall, then gestured for me to follow him. Once his back was turned, I sighed in relief that it had worked.
I traipsed after him, and eventually we arrived at what I thought was the lowest floor of the castle until he unlocked a concealed door to another stairwell. We must have gone down five flights of stairs before we hit the bottom and another long hall stretched out. The cool air this far underground was stale and felt… wrong somehow, like thin shards of my bones were peeling off to burrow into the surrounding muscles. The sooner I got Cam and Ram out of here the better.
He stopped halfway down the hall in front of an intimidating metal door barred with a thick latch. I touched it tentatively, and the wriggling feeling under my skin intensified.
I tried to lift the bar, but it wouldn’t budge. I stepped back and glared at the guard, pointing to the door. “Cotio!”
He kept glancing around, and I could see a bead of sweat forming on his temple.
I didn’t come this far to give up, though. I grabbed hold of his tunic and shoved him toward the door. I activated the fullest level of my bitch mode and hissed out, “Cotio,” the promise of death lacing my words.
Reluctantly, he lifted the latch.
Once it was up, I pushed past him and yanked on the handle of the door. It was heavy, shit it was heavy, but I managed to pull it open.
Pure darkness filled the cell, and I could barely see anything with only the small hint of light from the hallway.
“Cam? Ram?” I called out tentatively. A figure shifted in the gloom catching my eye. The brothers shuffled forward, and a distressed cry escaped me.
They hadn’t been beaten. They had been tortured. Dozens of ragged gashes oozed blood as they crisscrossed the entirety of their shirtless chest and arms. Bits of rock were embedded across their faces, pushed so deep into the skin that they formed small craters. One of them had a right arm that was twisted at an unnatural angle, and it hung limply at his side. The other hobbled forward on what was clearly a broken knee judging by the excessive swelling visible even in the low lighting. They were dirty and bloody and there was only a vacant expression where the joy in their eyes normally lived.
What really broke my heart, though, was their hair. Their beautiful locs had been burned off, the scorch marks on their scalps still raised and angry.
I rushed forward and slung an arm around each of them, knowing I couldn’t hold their weight for long. My body writhed under the onslaught of wrongness in the cell. God, how long had they been trapped in here, forced to endure that sickening sensation?
I managed to get them through the doorway and about ten steps down the hall before I collapsed under the heaviness of their massive bodies.
One of the brothers heaved himself up and clambered to his feet. The swelling in his knee was receding, and the sight of his healing abilities kicking in sent a wave of relief coursing through me.
“Can you walk yet?” I asked from my position on the cold dungeon floor.
“I think so,” the standing brother said, his voice thick and gravelly.
“We will be better once we get further from the Sonaria,” the other brother said, climbing slowly to his feet then casting down a hand to help me up. “It is still siphoning our magic even from out here.”
Moving as quickly as we could despite my weakness and their injuries, we made it up the stairs and back into the castle proper. Slowly, the gashes across their bodies sealed up, and the ugly red welts on their heads faded into smooth brown skin again.
I ran my hand over the scalp of the nearest brother. “How will I tell you apart now,” I asked, choking back a sob. Sin was a nasty jerk, but he had been right. This was my fault. I wasn’t in the city five minutes before I let the disguise falter and they paid the price.
“Do not be sad, Princess,” the one I was touching said. “Wounds heal. Hair grows. We have suffered worse before and would do it again in a heartbeat if it brought you happiness.”
“Besides, you can still tell us apart,” the other brother added, snapping his finger to pull a spark of flame from the nearest torch. He ran his finger across his left eyebrow, burning a tiny line through the center of it like a scar.
“Stop it, Ram,” I said angrily, pulling his hand away from his face before he got any more crazy ideas. “You need to stop burning off your hair for me.”
He laughed and gave me a hug. Cam joined in, and I savored the comfort of the two brothers holding me, knowing they were safe again. It was a strange feeling, the affection I had for these twins I met only days ago.
I never knew what it was like to actually have friends, but as a huge smile broke out across my face, I realized that just maybe I was starting to get an idea.