48. Princess Davina
Chapter 48
Princess Davina
“Love is whatever you can still betray.
Betrayal can only happen if you love.”
— John le Carré
A nother week has passed, and I still haven’t discovered my second power. I feel worthless and useless, to say the least. How can I help Cole get his sister back when I can’t even help myself?
I’ve been plagued by hallucinations again, more vivid and disorienting than before. I can see the worry etched into Cole’s features when he thinks I’m not looking. He’s terrified that I’ll fall into that slumber if I don’t unleash my power soon. It’s all a blur, and there’s also the uncertainty of my father’s fate gnawing at me.
I just crave the end of this nightmare. I want to live— truly live . I want to walk through the village without the dread of Lorelda discovering I’m alive and hunting me down. I want freedom , but I’m unsure if I have the strength to help Cole kill Lorelda. She’s older, stronger, and more experienced—not a foe to be underestimated. Still, I want to try. For Cole. With Cole.
We’ve talked about Aurora endlessly these past few days. She means the world to him, and that alone makes her rescue my mission too. But doubt keeps creeping back in. What if I fail?
“You want some strawberries?” Cole’s voice breaks through my thoughts, making me startle and spill my tea.
He frowns. “What’s wrong?”
I force a smile that feels more like a grimace. “Nothing.”
The crease on his forehead deepens. “If a woman says nothing , then I am certain there is definitely something wrong,” he says matter-of-factly. “You’re the loudest when you’re quiet.”
“Sorry,” I mutter. “Just lost in my thoughts.”
His eyes soften, but my stomach twists at the sight of his worry.
He must be so tired of me.
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“No,” I reply more sharply than I intended. He knows how to soothe me with his words, but I don’t want him to pamper and coddle me. I don’t want to be a liability. “I’m fine.”
He sighs, but his gaze remains gentle. “I’m proud of you, you know.”
“I haven’t done anything to be proud of. All I do is collapse, lose my grip on reality, and be a complete mess?—”
“Given the circumstances, you’re doing exceptionally well,” he says, squeezing my hand. “I’m not forcing you to help me, if that’s what this is about.”
“I know you’re not forcing me.”
“I’ve changed my mind weeks ago,” he adds. “I don’t want you near Lorelda anymore. I’ll find another way to get Aurora back.”
“What?” I burst out. “You’re shutting me out?”
“Rafe and I are going to find another way,” he says, his tone growing serious. “I don’t want you to get hurt or?—”
“You don’t believe in me. That’s the problem, isn’t it?”
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”
I fold my arms over my chest, glaring at him. “I’m serious.”
He doesn’t respond right away, as if the weight of my accusation has left him speechless.
I rise to my feet, ready to storm out, but he grabs my wrist in a vice-like grip.
“Sit down.”
Swallowing the knot in my throat, I begrudgingly lower myself back into the chair.
“If you really think I don’t believe in you, then it’s just because you don’t believe in yourself. I believe in you. If there is anything I believe in, it’s you. I know what you’re capable of. But I don’t want you to be in danger, Davina. Lorelda is unpredictable.”
“But I want to help you,” I say softly. “I don’t want to sit here and do nothing while you face her alone.”
He pulls me into his lap, cradling me as if I’m something precious and fragile.
I hate it.
“I want to save Aurora, but not if it means risking your life,” he says. “Not a chance.”
A moment of silence stretches between us, and I bury my face in his shoulder before letting out a long sigh.
“I can’t lose you,” he murmurs, tightening his hold on me as if the very thought is unbearable. “Not to her. Not to anyone.”
“But what are you going to do?” I ask, my voice muffled by his shoulder.
“I’ll figure something out.”
“But I really want to help you,” I insist.
I watch how hard he’s trying to appear calm, his clenching jaw giving him away. “I said no.”
“I’m sorry, I just?—”
“Don’t apologize. Just don’t try to persuade me.”
“I don’t want to argue with you, just know that I really want to help you.”
A playful smirk spreads across his face. “You know, I’d argue with you,” he drawls, his hands slipping under the hem of my dress and resting on my thigh. “But I’m too busy imagining ways to shut you up.”
His fingers linger, a gentle yet deliberate pressure that makes it difficult to focus on anything other than his touch.
“I’m serious, Cole. I need you to listen to me, not to distract me with—” I hesitate, glancing at his hands. “That.”
“Alright,” he says softly, his tone shifting to match my seriousness. “I’m listening. What is it that you need?”
“Let me help.”
“I’m afraid you just want to help me to do me a favor, and I don’t?—”
“No,” I cut him off. “Yes, I want to help you to do you a favor, but it’s not just for your sake. I also want to do it for myself, and for everyone else who suffers because of her.”
For a moment, I think he might argue. But then he sighs, a sound of resignation and acceptance. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I should have asked you what you wanted from the beginning.”
“So…”
“Fine,” he says, giving in. “I just need a well-thought-out plan.”
I wrap my arms around his neck, pulling him closer as a grin spreads across my face. My eyes trace the sharp lines of his high cheekbones and the way his brown, tousled hair falls messily into place, somehow making him even more alluring.
It seems impossible for someone to be this handsome.
Every detail draws me in deeper—the slight curve of his smile, the faint stubble along his jaw.
“God, you’re so pretty,” I breathe, the words slipping out before I can stop myself. I shift in his lap until I’m straddling him, earning myself a soft groan.
“If you keep moving like that, I might not be able to keep my hands to myself.”
“Are you saying you’re easily distracted? I thought you had better self-control than that, Your Highness.” I shift my weight, pressing in just enough to make my point. “Seems like your self-control isn’t quite as impressive as I thought.”
He lets out a low, rumbling chuckle, his warm breath sending tingles along my neck. “You know what’s truly impressive? Your ability to both frustrate and turn me on.”
My fingers drift over the smooth fabric of his black shirt, teasingly working on a few buttons, each one revealing a little more of the tanned skin beneath.
His gaze holds a heat that matches the fluttering excitement in my chest. “If you keep that up,” he says, his voice low and husky, “I’m starting to think you’ve got some devious plans in mind.”
“And what if I have?”
His fingers tighten ever so slightly on my thighs, sending a shiver through me. “Then you’d have to deal with the consequences.”
The promise in his tone makes my heart race.
I swallow at the feel of him hard beneath me and lean in closer, my breath mingling with his. “What kind of consequences are we talking about?” I raise a brow. “The kind that’ll make me question how I ever lived without them?”
A slow, almost predatory smile tugs at the corner of his lips. He leans in, his breath warm and tantalizing against my ear. “I think we’re talking about the kind of consequences that’ll leave us both craving more.”
I let my fingers drift beneath his shirt, tracing a slow path from his sculpted chest down to the waistband of his boxer briefs. He shivers slightly, his grip on my thighs tightening as he responds to my touch.
“Oh, I can feel how much you’re craving this.” I let my fingers linger just enough to tease. “But can you say the same about me?”
A soft laugh escapes him. “I can definitely say the same about you. It’s written all over your face.” His hand slides up my back, pulling me closer as he adds, “But craving is one thing. Giving in is another. So tell me, are you done teasing? Because I’m more than ready to show you exactly how much I want you.”
“Teasing? I prefer to think of it as—” I trail off as he tugs on my hair, tilting my head while his tongue glides over my throat.
My head falls back in pure pleasure, granting him better access.
Am I hallucinating again?
My breath hitches as he skims his fingertips up my torso until they rest on the curve of my breast.
I don’t know what possesses me—maybe it’s the mix of desire and surrender—but I start grinding on him, needing to feel every inch of him pressed against me.
His fingers trace a path up my thighs, deliberately slow and teasing. “If I slipped my hand under your dress right now,” he murmurs, “how wet would you be for me?”
I struggle to find my voice as the intensity of his touch clouds my thoughts. “Why don’t you find out?”
“I bet you’re soaked,” he says before two fingers brush against my underwear.
I shudder, slowly rocking my hips and probably getting his hand wet as I’m rubbing against him.
He chuckles softly. “Just as I thought.”
A heavy ache throbs between my legs, and I pause for a moment to steady my breathing, gripping his shoulders for support.
“Keep going,” he orders, gripping my hips possessively and moving me back and forth until I’m grinding harder than before. “Make a mess all over my lap.”
I bite back a moan, scraping my nails down his skull. He lets out a low rumble of approval against my neck, and a whimper rises in my throat before he leans in, his lips brushing against mine just enough to tease.
A sharp knock on the door startles me, and I jump to my feet. “Who’s that?” I ask, almost out of breath.
Cole stiffens slightly. For a moment, he’s quiet, his gaze fixed on the door as if he’s thinking.
“Ah,” he finally says, casually popping a strawberry into his mouth. “Probably Nora.”
“Oh.”
The mood from only seconds ago is entirely gone now, as if a bucket of ice water has been dumped over me while I was peacefully sleeping. “So, um?—”
“Don’t you want to open the door?”
“It’s almost midnight,” I say with a frown.
“And?” His eyes flick towards the door, then back to me, avoiding my gaze. “Go have fun. I’m going to read one of your romance novels for educational purposes.”
I hesitate for a moment, then reluctantly make my way to the door. My brows furrow in confusion when I see no one standing behind the glass door. I turn the knob, hesitating before pulling the door open.
Glimpsing around, I try to shake off the feeling of dread that’s settling in the pit of my stomach.
What if something happened to her?
“Nora?” I call out, stepping outside into the darkness.
Silence.
Curiosity pushes me forward, and then I hear a strained voice filled with panic and pain, cutting through the stillness like a knife.
Stepping out onto the stairwell, I scan the yard, searching desperately for the source of the sound. My eyes lock onto a figure—a man—just ten feet away, frantically beckoning to me.
“Help me! Please! I need help!” he shouts, his voice raw with agony. “Someone help me!”
My breath catches in my throat at the sight of blood staining his clothes. Without a second thought, I rush to him.
“What happened?”
He leans over, panting heavily, his hands braced on his knees. “Someone is hunting me,” he gasps out, each word laced with terror.
I stare at him, my mind racing, unsure of what to do. What the hell am I supposed to do? Instinctively, I grab his arm, trying to usher him towards the palace, hoping Cole will know how to handle this.
As he walks beside me, something in his eyes shifts, a flicker of something dark and unsettling flashing in their depths. But before I can react, I feel a strong arm wrap around me from behind, yanking me back with a force that knocks the breath out of me. Panic surges through me as the realization hits—I’ve walked straight into a trap.
The man who cried for help tightens his grip, dragging me towards the forest. I thrash and struggle, my heart pounding in my ears, adrenaline flooding my veins. Desperation fuels my movements as I claw at his hands, trying to break free.
His strength is overwhelming, and he tosses me to the ground, hovering over me as his demeanor shifts from helpless to menacing.
“Got you,” he sneers, his voice devoid of the previous agony.
It hits me like a punch to the gut— I’ve really been lured into this.
“Why are you doing this?” I gasp, trying to stand and grab my dagger, but struggle when his grip forces me back down.
His strength is overpowering, and my mind races, searching for a way out.
A cruel smile twists his features. “Lorelda is waiting for you.”
Ice-cold fear shoots through my veins at the mention of that name. Desperation claws at my throat as I try to summon my power, needing to push him away from me.
Energy surges through me, and with a cry, I unleash it. He’s thrown off me, crashing into the ground with a pained groan.
“Cole!” I cry out in desperation. “Cole!”
My heart races as I scramble to my feet, glancing around for any sign of Cole. The man is already recovering, his eyes fixed on me as he rises to his feet, brushing off the dirt.
Ignoring the burning in my muscles, I turn and run into the forest, my steps frantic. The trees seem to close in around me, their gnarled branches like skeletal fingers reaching for my soul.
I can hear the man’s footsteps behind me, heavy and relentless. “Come back!” he shouts. “You can’t escape!”
I need to find a place to hide, to buy myself some time, but my options for hiding are slim. The trees are all decayed, leaving only those damn skeletal branches and rotting foliage.
I spot a massive tree trunk ahead, its bark scarred and splintered. I sprint toward it, my breath coming in ragged gasps, and press my back against the trunk.
The man’s footsteps are closer now, each thud echoing louder in my ears. I crouch low, trying to steady my breathing, my eyes scanning the surroundings for any sign of Cole.
Did he even hear me?
The sound of footsteps slows, and I hear the man’s voice again, closer this time. “You can’t hide forever,” he taunts. “Lorelda will have you, one way or another.”
The mention of Lorelda sends another wave of terror through me, but I force myself to stay calm. Grabbing my dagger, I peer around the edge, watching as the man’s silhouette moves into view, scanning the forest.
He stops a few feet from my hiding spot, his gaze sweeping the clearing, searching for me.
I hold my breath.
I need to think .
I can feel my power humming beneath my skin, a reminder that I have the strength to fight back.
Then, in the distance, I hear it—a faint rustling, different from the man’s footsteps.
Hope flares in my chest.
It’s Cole. It has to be.
Gathering my courage, I prepare to make a move. The man is close, too close, but if I can just create a distraction, I might be able to slip away. Scanning the ground, I spot a small rock half-buried in the dirt. With a trembling hand, I pick it up and throw it as hard as I can in the opposite direction. It crashes to the ground, and the man’s head snaps towards the noise.
Seizing the opportunity, I run. “Over here!” I yell. “Cole, I’m here!” Relief floods me as our eyes meet, Cole’s figure emerging from the shadows.
He looks at the man with an unreadable expression, then turns his gaze to me. “Are you hurt?” he asks, his tone oddly calm.
For a moment, I’m confused by his calm demeanor.
“No, I’m fine,” I rasp, sliding the dagger back into its strap on my thigh. “Just—he pushed me to the ground, but I’m not hurt. He mentioned Lorelda, I—I think he’s working for her to—” My words are cut off by the sound of the man’s footsteps drawing closer.
Cole lunges, slamming into him and sending him crashing to the ground. The man grunts, his hands flailing as he tries to defend himself, but Cole’s grip is unrelenting. He hovers over him, one of his boots pressing into the man’s groin, causing him to curse.
“Apologize to her for putting your filthy hands on her.”
The man’s response is a spit at Cole’s feet, his fingers clawing at Cole’s leg. And that’s when an unbearable surge of rage floods over me, so intense it makes my head spin.
A sudden, agonized cry pierces the air.
I wince, looking down in horror to see the man’s arms reddening. Horrifying gasps escape him as big red bubbles form on his flesh, swelling and bursting with a sickening sizzle. Panic grips me, but I’m unable to tear my eyes away.
His screams grow louder and more desperate, as a small flame erupts from his skin, licking hungrily at his clothes.
Cole steps away from him, looking satisfied as the faint smell of burning flesh fills the air.
I gasp and freeze.
The flame extinguishes, and the realization threatens to overwhelm me.
It was me. I did this.
“No,” Cole says, desperation in his tone. “Don’t stop! You need to end it, Davina. Let him burn . ”
It takes a moment for his words to register. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“Do it,” he orders, his tone so bitter it would have hurt less if he slapped me.
This must be a hallucination.
This has got to be a hallucination.
Anger immobilizes me. “Are you out of your mind? I won’t kill someone again!” I pace back and forth, tugging at my hair. “Am I hallucinating?”
“No, you aren’t. You need to do it. Now .”
No .
I run.
I run and run and?—
Collide with Rafe. Tears spring to my eyes, and I grit my teeth to hold them back. He sees my panic and holds me, and I can’t help but let them fall. I cry in his arms, realizing what I just did almost ended up in someone’s death again.
And Cole asked me to do it.
“Davina!” Cole screams, his voice slicing through the chaos in my head. “ Do it. ”
I feel like my mind is splitting apart.
I want to scream.
To lash out.
To run far away from this madness.
His footsteps echo as he approaches, his eyes wild. “Don’t you understand? This is necessary.”
With clenched fists, I stare at him, seeing not just fury but also desperation. I glance at Rafe, silently pleading for help, but the shock that hits me is almost as powerful as the realization that his expression mirrors Cole’s—he wants exactly the same thing.
I’m utterly stunned.
I break away from Rafe, glaring at Cole. “You promised me you wouldn’t let it happen again. You promised me!”
I can barely think over the roar of blood in my ears, my body trembling as I sprint toward the palace. The oppressive weight of Cole’s demandpushes me forward, and I burst into the yard, nearly colliding with Juliet.
Her eyes widen as she takes in my frantic state. “Davina, what’s happening?” She reaches out to pull me inside, but it’s cut short by the cold voice of Cole.
I glance over my shoulder, and my heart sinks as I see him storming toward me. Rafe strides closely beside him, a look of determination etched on both their faces.
“Rafe,” he says, his tone leaving no room for argument. “Help me with this.”
My pulse quickens as the implications of his words settle in.
Cole’s hand closes around my arm with a firm grip.
“Let go of me,” I snap, my voice hoarse. “You promised me. You liar—” I struggle against their hold, my limbs flailing wildly as I try to break free.
Juliet’s normally bright face has paled, her lips parted in shock. “Cole, please! What are you doing?”
They lift me off the ground, my heart threatening to beat out of my chest.
“Rafe!” Juliet yells. “Let go of her!”
“No,” Cole says firmly. “She’s going to finish this. It has to be done.”
Rafe’s eyes dart to mine, a flicker of regret crossing his features.
“Rafe, please,” I plead, my voice breaking. Despite my frantic efforts to escape, they start dragging me towards the forest, Juliet’s voice fading behind me.
Rafe’s gaze softens, but he doesn’t relent.
“Please,” I cry out again. “I don’t want this! I can’t do this!”
He shakes his head apologetically. “I’m sorry,” he says quietly. “But it has to be done.”
As we near the forest, I watch the man who threatened me, lying on the ground and looking like he’s in a trance.
They force me into a standing position, holding me in place.
I point a shaking finger at Cole. “You, of all people, should know I won’t do it!”
“Please, you need to?—”
“I said no .”
Rafe huffs out a frustrated breath. “Then it was all for nothing.”
His words sink into my mind, stirring confusion. “What do you mean? What was all for nothing?”
Cole shakes his head, throwing a scathing look at Rafe.
“What was all for nothing, Rafe?” I demand, my voice rising in desperation. “What do you mean by that?”
Cole avoids my gaze, his jaw clenched tightly.
“What—”
“Burn him. Now .”
“You’re going to tell me what’s going on!”
“I…” Cole paces around, tugging on his hair. “ Damn it . I’ve manipulated him. He isn’t working for Lorelda. I wanted him to trigger your power.”
His words hit me like a knife to the heart.
I can practically feel my soul shattering into pieces.
Betrayal wraps around my chest, squeezing tighter with every beat of my frantic heart. “You—that—he could’ve killed me.”
“No—I wanted him to scare you, not kill you. It worked, and you unleashed your power. Now you need to use it.”
I step back, the anger and hurt boiling over, making my vision blur. “This was all a ploy ?” The weight of betrayal crashes down on me, nearly overwhelming. “I can’t believe I ever trusted you,” I spit, turning on my heel.
He reaches out, his hand grasping for my arm in an attempt to stop me. “Wait?—”
“Don’t you dare touch me!” I scream, yanking my arm out of his grip. He lets go, his face etched with frustration as I sprint away from him.
Juliet stands frozen in the courtyard, her expression a mix of shock and helplessness as I storm past her and bolt inside the palace.
My legs move on their own, fueled by a storm of anger and heartbreak. I barely register her concerned call as I rush upstairs. My only focus is reaching the library and locking the door behind me since my damn room can’t be locked.
Gasping for breath, I push through the heavy oak door and slam it shut behind me. My hands shake violently as I fumble with the latch, struggling to lock it.
My heart stops as I hear the heavy thud of footsteps approaching rapidly from behind.