Chapter 34 Rose
ROSE
Iteleported into Raith’s study, which I guessed would be the most likely place to find him, but it was empty.
He wouldn’t be in his bedroom even at this late hour, so he must be in his workshop, unless he was out fighting the darkness…
or causing it. I glanced out the window, fearing I might see his large shadowy form stalking across the gardens, but to my relief he wasn’t there either.
When I stepped out of the room, cold dread ran down my spine.
All the torches were extinguished, and the hallway was pitch black for the first time since I’d lived in the castle.
I’d only been gone a few days, but something terrible must have happened in that time.
I never should have left Raith alone here.
I’d been so upset by his harsh words, and then my father’s death had kept me in Talador, but I should have returned sooner or come back to check on Raith, at least. He might have pushed me away, but I was his wife, and I should have been there for him.
I rushed through the dark castle, lighting torches with my magic along the way.
I checked Raith’s workshop, but it was as empty as his study.
As were the hallways I ran through, which were completely devoid of guards or servants and as silent as a tomb.
Shadowy tendrils reached out from the darkest corners, but retreated with each torch I lit.
With every step my dread grew, along with my worry for Raith, Oren, and everyone else in the castle.
Had they all fled in fear? Or had something much worse happened?
As I approached the entrance hall, inky darkness slithered along the ground, growing thicker the closer I got.
One doorway was completely smothered by shadow, and I had to blast it with fire in order to get through.
Soon it became impossible to light torches, as all the walls and ceilings were covered in the horrible, black muck.
Out of the corner of my eye I glimpsed shadowy beasts darting about, slipping from one dark corner to the next.
I summoned a ball of fire to protect me and light my way, but none of the creatures drew near.
Shouts outside urged me to move faster, and I clutched my skirts as I began to run toward the large doors leading to the front of the castle.
One of them was open, the heavy stone bent in half and barely hanging from the hinges, as though something—or someone—had blasted through it.
The darkness that dripped down the doorway gave me a good clue as to who.
I spotted Raith immediately when I emerged into the fresh night air.
He towered over the courtyard in his shadowy form, his wings flaring wide as his clawed hand slapped at the soldiers waving torches at him.
I gasped as he sent his own people flying, before inky ropes leaped from the ground to hold them down.
A man on a white horse yelled and raised his sword, ordering another group of soldiers forward. As his horse turned in my direction I realized it was Lord Malren, wearing golden ceremonial armor that looked more decorative than useful. What was he doing here?
As Raith swatted at Malren’s guards, I sprinted down the steps, nearly tripping over my long skirts in my haste.
I called out my husband’s name, but my voice was lost in the wind and drowned out by the yells of the soldiers as they rallied against their king.
Did they know it was him? Or did they think they were battling the true Shadow Lord?
Either way, they must realize they didn’t stand a chance against his magic. The only one who could stop him was me.
I blasted Raith back with a huge burst of fire aimed at his chest. As he staggered and the shadows reformed, I moved in front of the armed men and women, blocking them from the dark beast looming over us.
“Get back inside!” I called out to them, as I summoned a wall of fire between us and Raith. “Let me deal with this!”
“But, your majesty—” one of the soldiers protested.
“That is an order!” The longer they delayed, the more of them that would get hurt. I had to somehow bring Raith back to himself—and I couldn’t do that with these soldiers waving torches at him.
They hesitated, while Malren’s white horse drew up beside me. “My queen, it is not safe for you here! Let my people handle this.”
I was about to argue that he was the one in danger here, when Raith let out a menacing laugh and large, monstrous beasts made of shadow emerged behind him.
Lord Malren ordered his guards to intercept them, while other soldiers who could still escape ran back to the relative safety of the castle.
Many more were tied up in the thick darkness covering the ground around us, and I prayed they were still alive.
“Raith!” I cried out. “Stop this madness! These are your own people! This is your castle!”
“Yes, they are mine,” his terrifying voice said, as he reached for his cousin. “And they shall pay for what they’ve done. Starting with Malren.”
I hit his shadowy claws with fire, breaking up the darkness for a few seconds, enough time for Malren’s horse to dart away. “No! This isn’t you! Come back to me, Raith!”
Raith’s crackling lightning eyes fixed on me. “There’s no coming back now.”
He suddenly vanished, along with the shadow beasts, though he left the rest of the darkness behind.
I sighed and pinched the brow of my forehead as I gathered my wits, wondering what had changed in the last few days.
From the moment I’d realized the truth about Raith I’d known he was dangerous, but he’d never attacked the castle before.
He’d often been spotted lurking around outside of it, but had otherwise avoided coming closer…
until now. Was this my fault? Was he punishing his people and his home because I’d left?
“He won’t listen to reason.” Oren stepped out from behind a pillar, and my heart twisted at the sight of him. One of his eyes was puffy and already turning black and blue, while his left arm hung limp, like he couldn’t move it. “I fear the man we once knew is gone. Only the darkness remains.”
“I don’t believe that.” I turned toward the castle to study the damage.
Thick, tangible darkness had already covered half of it and continued to spread, smothering every doorway, window, and arch.
Soon the entire castle would be completely lost. There was no way I could stop it by myself, but I could help the soldiers Raith had attacked.
I moved across the courtyard and freed each soldier from the darkness chaining them to the ground. I was relieved to see they were all still alive—proof that Raith wasn’t as far gone as I’d worried.
Lord Malren’s horse pulled up beside me while I released the last few prisoners, and he sheathed his sword. “I knew Raith was involved in this, but I had no idea it was this bad. He must be stopped.”
Any hope I had of keeping Raith’s dual nature a secret faded with Malren’s words. He would never let Raith live this down. “I can stop him. I just need time.”
“Maybe, maybe not. It doesn’t matter either way. His days on the throne are over.” He gave me a sadistic smile. “But don’t worry, you can be my queen instead.”
Disgust filled my mouth. I’d been unable to find anything linking him to Silena’s death, but there was no doubt he was involved. “I will never be your queen. I’d rather be dead.”
“A pity. I was hoping it wouldn’t have to come to that.”
I gave him a look of pure revulsion before walking away. I climbed the great black steps again and wiped sweat off my brow while I approached Oren. “Tell me how this happened.”
The older man gazed down at the courtyard with despair.
“After you left, Raith ordered us to lock him up every night in the most secure prison cell we had and told us to drug him with moonroot to inhibit his magic. It worked for the first few nights, but with you gone he retreated into himself as he did after Silena’s death.
Tonight he turned into that creature before he could take the moonroot, and he broke free. Sun and Moon help us all.”
“This is my fault,” I said, dragging a weary hand through my hair. “But I’ll fix it, I promise.”
“Don’t blame yourself, Rose. You’ve done more to help Raith than anyone in years. Although if anyone can save him it’s you.”
“I’ll find him, and I’ll bring him back.
” I had a suspicion about where Raith had gone, remembering the thick X drawn on the map in the eastern part of the kingdom.
But even if I’d had no idea, I’d still be able to find Raith anywhere in the world.
He was my home, more than this castle or the one I’d left behind in Talador.
All I had to do was close my eyes and reach for him.