Chapter Fifty-Six
CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX
Elara ran, sobbing, through the darkened corridors, illusions wrapped back around her, Enzo’s crown clutched against her gown.
The sound of sensual music sickened her now as she tried to shake the drowsy feeling from her mind. Her people. Her kingdom.
While she had been soaking up the Light and running around with princes, they were being killed. Left to fend for themselves. Not just her court, but her citizens too. No ruler, no protector. They had been abandoned. By her.
She clutched her stomach as she reached her room, fumbling with the doorknob as she slammed it shut behind her. Collapsing on to the bed, she thought of everyone she had left behind—everyone who had trusted her. She should have stayed. Stayed in Asteria, even if that meant being Ariete’s pet, rather than allow this fate to befall her subjects.
There was a knock on the door, and she froze. Held her breath, trying to quieten her sobs. But it came again.
She knew who it was before she even opened the door.
Wiping her eyes, still clutching his crown, she opened it.
The sight nearly ripped her heart in two. Enzo was standing before her, leaning against the door, anguish on his face. His shirt was rumpled, his curls in disarray.
‘El,’ he said, making to come in.
‘Enzo,’ she bit out firmly, blocking his path. He looked where her arm barred the door then stared at her, confused.
‘Enzo, what happened back there, it can’t happen again.’
‘El—’
‘No. Listen. Please,’ she added more softly, the walls around her heart caving in on themselves. ‘What happened in there,’ she began again, ‘should never have happened in the first place.’ She drew herself up, squaring her shoulders. ‘I’ve been selfish. Unforgivably selfish. To everyone around me. To my people, my country. Even to you.’
She swallowed down the lump in her throat.
‘El, if you heard me and my father—you know I didn’t mean any of what I said, and Asteria—’
‘I know,’ she said. ‘But the truth is still the truth. We are enemies, Enzo. Your father has just admitted to killing members of my army. He wants to take Asteria for himself, and you would be powerless to stop him.’
Enzo went to argue, but she ploughed on. ‘I have allowed my heart to lead me rather than my head. And people have died because of that. I am a queen first and I should have accepted my fate, rather than drag innocent people in by trying to change its course.’
‘Elara, fuck the—’
‘Stop.’ She stilled his lips with a shaking hand. He studied her silently, a dark look in his gaze as she felt the burn of his stare. ‘I’m sorry. I’m sorry for making out that this was anything other than a temporary alliance.’
‘Elara, what are you doing?’ The words were black, creeping into her heart. She swallowed, seeing his fist clench against the wall, his jaw twitch.
‘I’m sorry for involving you, when we both know I’m destined for a Star.’ She held his crown in front of him. ‘I think you should take this.’
Enzo looked at it, then at her, eyes glowing like embers. He pushed himself off the wall, smelling of bonfires and amber. He took the crown from her grasp. For a moment, Elara saw the urge to say something flit across his face. He brought his fist to his mouth, halting himself.
‘As you wish, princess,’ he replied at last, his voice quiet, his smile strained. He left then, leaving her sagging against her doorframe. He didn’t spare her a second glance as he walked off down the corridor.
The moment she saw him disappear around the corner, she sank to the floor, her whole body racked with grief. She didn’t know how long she stayed there, just that eventually Merissa was standing before her.
Her friend didn’t say anything, only picked Elara off the floor, shut the door and helped her change. She gently tucked her into bed, sliding in beside her. She didn’t ask why Elara was crying, didn’t assume. Just stroked Elara’s hair, before eventually falling asleep next to her.
Elara stayed awake though, watching the empty chair that Enzo had slept in every night as she had healed, knowing that nothing would be the same.