Chapter 30
In the morning, Ellaryn went down to the kitchen, filled a glass with water and surrendered to the castle’s silence. It was still before sunrise; no one else was awake.
She took a sip from her glass, the cool liquid soothing her throat.
Through the kitchen window, she noticed another fire burning in the streets of Cinders. She wondered what the city would look like if Xander claimed the throne.
Not if. When.
She had to have faith in their plan, even if it was ludicrous.
A sound from down the hall startled her, but not enough to make her leave. The castle housed many people; it was likely just one of them stirring early.
Then torchlight flared to life, sudden and bright. Ellaryn squinted. She had been content in the dimness; her eyes already adjusted, the dark not quite complete.
“Forgive me, Miss Ruin,” a familiar voice called softly. “I didn’t realise you were in here.”
Andreya.
“It’s all right,” Ellaryn said, forcing a smile. “I was just leaving.” She took a few steps toward the door before Andreya spoke again.
“You don’t have to go, you know.” She said, her words careful.
Ellaryn paused, turning back to her, brows knitting.
“That is… if you don’t want to,” Andreya added. Ellaryn considered it, but didn’t answer.
“I like rising when he’s still asleep too,” Andreya went on, as if guessing her thoughts. “It’s nice to have a few moments without the castle’s chaos.”
“Chaos,” Ellaryn echoed, a forced chuckle slipping out. “That’s one word for it.”
Andreya nodded, her smile tight. “Sit. I’ll make you some tea.”
Ellaryn hesitated. She wanted to accept, but the King warned her about making connections with his staff long ago.
“It’s just tea,” Andreya said gently. “We don’t have to talk.”
That didn’t sound so bad. Ellaryn’s throat had felt dry ever since the King punished her, and a cup of tea might actually help. So despite her hesitation, she nodded her head, managed a small smile and took a seat on one of the barstools tucked beneath the kitchen island.
Andreya smiled and set the kettle on the stove, letting it heat in quiet.
Ellaryn watched her closely, memories stirring—Andreya standing here when she was younger, doing the very same thing. She wondered when it had stopped. When she’d stopped coming down here. When Andreya had stopped caring for her.
Maybe she’d seen the monster Ellaryn was becoming.
Andreya handed her a delicate china cup, filled with a warm, tan liquid, the gesture nostalgic enough to plant an unintentional smile on Ellaryn’s face. And when she took a sip, that smile stretched a little wider.
“It was your favourite when you were little,” Andreya said softly. “I hope it still is.”
“It’s just like I remember.” Ellaryn reminisced, the taste warming more than just her throat.
Andreya nodded, accepting the words, and took a seat beside her with an identical cup.
They sat together in silence, breathing deeply as the steam curled upward, heating her cheeks.
When the tea was gone, and the sun had nearly crested the wall, Ellaryn rose and turned to leave.
“He told me to stop caring for you… all those years ago,” Andreya’s voice cut through the silence, making Ellaryn stop in her tracks.
She knew exactly who ‘he’ was. The King.
“He said I was making you soft.”
When she finally turned to face her, she noticed tears brimming in the woman’s eyes.
“I’m sorry,” Andreya continued, her voice breaking. “You were just a child, and he was so cruel to you. I never should have listened to him.”
Ellaryn took a moment to absorb the apology before stepping closer, shaking her head.
“No,” she said quietly. “He would have killed you. You did what anyone would have done.”
“I know, but I—”
Ellaryn cut her off quickly, looking into her eyes.
“Trust me. I don’t need any more bodies on my hands.” She said simply. Andreya looked at her, pain and guilt etched deep into her expression, but Ellaryn kept her own emotions tightly leashed.
“It’s okay,” Ellaryn said.
Andreya forced a smile, though it didn’t reach her eyes. “It’s not.”
A tear slipped down her aged cheek.
“You’re right,” Ellaryn agreed softly. “It’s not… but it will be.”
For just an instant, Andreya’s expression shifted as she grasped the weight of her words. Ellaryn lifted a slow finger to her lips.
Andreya nodded—an unspoken promise settling between them.
Change was coming.