Chapter 23 #2
I touched his silky hair and tugged it, the same way I had done in my dreams. We fell back together onto the bed.
It was still so surreal that two people could have a whole life together without actually living it.
I could almost sense the smells of wild flowers and the feeling of the moist air on my skin.
The taste of wine on his lips, when I kissed him back in Darragh.
“Something tells me that I would not have gotten far,” I said, enjoying his hands sliding down my hips.
The rain was picking up outside while we laid face to face on my bed, touching, teasing each other, exchanging lazy kisses and quiet confessions.
The quiet, tender moments turned into something else when he placed my leg on top of his and carefully pushed inside of me.
We moved slowly, never breaking the kiss, while his hands slid down my back, my thighs where our bodies connected.
His name was on my lips once again as I descended into the sweetest oblivion.
“Sorry . . . I can’t seem to get enough of you,” he said, stroking my back, when both of us were too spent to do anything, but snuggle up together.
“I don’t mind.”
“You need to sleep. We have a difficult flight ahead of us.”
“Where are we going?”
“Back to Darragh for now. Then we’ll work on getting through The Fall.”
“Together?”
“I’m never letting you out of my sight.”
I smiled and my eyes closed.
The sun was shining through the partially drawn curtains, the window was open.
The fresh breeze brushed against my skin, but something did not feel right, and the light whisper of a nagging feeling that something was amiss, made me open my eyes at last. When I looked at the other side of the bed, I saw nothing but the crumpled sheets.
I bit my lip, fighting the momentarily anxiety.
I moved my head, noticing that the muscles in my body felt stiff and overworked.
Where was Tynan? I pulled the blanket over my shoulders and sat up.
When my eyes landed on the blank, emotionless face of Corliss, my heart nearly stopped.
The woman stood by the side of my bed in her light grey dress that covered the very top of her neck.
Her hands were clenched in front of her stomach, and her lips were tightly pressed.
I shifted my gaze and saw Sally standing beside her with swollen lips and messy hair, eyes full of tears as she quietly sobbed, not daring to lift her eyes.
“I see you feel better,” Corliss said in a deceptively calm voice.
“Yes, thank you,” I responded.
“It came to my attention that you have stopped taking your medicine.”
My lips parted, my gaze flickered back to Sally who only bowed her head lower.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” the maid repeated.
“What did you do with it?” Corliss asked.
“I don’t know what you're talking about.” I tightened the blanket around my chest painfully aware of my nakedness.
“Sally, help her get dressed,” Corliss commanded, and the poor girl lurched to the closet, eager to do anything to be forgiven.
Corliss was still watching the maid, as she brought a gown over and helped me get into my undergarments.
“Who is he?” Corliss asked.
I pressed my lips together, unwilling to say anything. She had no right to demand answers from me. I did not belong to her. Not after the bond between me and Tynan had snapped in place.
I recalled almost everything that happened before my confinement in the capital.
I knew that they brought me to Talman by force, that they waited to move me.
I remembered that they had first locked me inside the Devil’s Cave.
But in my new reality, Tynan never rescued me, and for some unknown reason, they wanted me in the capital.
I ignored her question, and her nostrils flared wide.
In one step she was by the edge of the bed.
I did not react fast enough, and she slapped me hard across my face.
The next moment, my cheek was on the mattress, my vision went blurry, my ears were ringing, and I could feel the salty taste of copper in my mouth.
“Do you think you are special because you have royal blood in you? It’s all just a big lie. You are not needed. No one would notice if you simply disappeared from the palace.”
“Why did you bring me here then?” I asked.
She paused looking at me, as if unsure if she wanted to answer.
“Because some members of the council are superstitious fools who believe in old wives tales.” She hissed, getting closer to me.
“Should I do the hair, milady?” Sally asked in a weak voice.
“Shut your damn mouth!” Corliss snapped, and the girl lowered her head, too stunned to move.
“Escort her to the queen’s apartments.” Corliss ordered the sentries.
Without ceremony, two men stepped to either side of me, and grabbed both of my arms.
“You too, Sally.” Corliss added.
“No, please, please spare me. I have a family.”
“Shut up!”
While I was dragged up the stairs, the strands of my loose hair fell to my face and my skirt tangled around my ankles. I tripped and was steadied by rough hands that bruised my arms.
Sally kept begging Corliss to let her go as her voice broke and bounced off the stone walls.
Black shadows danced in the halls, as we moved to the upper levels that did not appear to look as refined and regal with its uncured rock and lack of furniture.
The cold, paralyzing grip of fear got a hold of my heart, and squeezed.