Chapter 17 Amaryllis
AMARYLLIS
Ican’t believe it. All this time, the goods were people. People. Real, live people, overflowing with grateful tears as I make my way around each one, handing them blankets and checking for any injuries.
My heart aches for them all. How I wish Kasimir had told me! Then again, could I have danced as I did if I knew who was watching me perform? The thought of bringing any pleasure to that man sickens me now. And yet, anything I’m feeling is nothing compared to what these people have been through.
The horrors are still written in the scars on their faces. And there are children here too…
Stars.
“Praise ye, miss.” A young woman, not much older than Liliana, grasps my arm.
With a tight smile, I fasten a blanket around her shoulders. The fabric isn’t heavy, but her frail bones almost buckle under the weight of it. I can’t help but wince as I steady her.
“They kept us in the dark for so long,” she mumbles to herself. “We’re forever in your debt. All of us.”
“You owe me nothing,” I insist. “Anyone would’ve done what I did.”
The young woman squeezes my arm again. “And yet you’re the only ones who came for us.”
There’s so much hope in her eyes, it makes tears pool in mine.
“Thank you, miss.” She smiles.
Dipping my head, I force down tears before searching for the next survivor. How could anyone support this? Is Father aware? He can’t be. There’s no way he’d allow practices like this to continue.
“Ruby.”
I pause my thoughts as Kasimir walks up behind me. He holds himself with his usual confidence, seemingly unfazed by all the suffering around him, but there’s also uncertainty in his eyes.
If he were my real fiancé, I’d want to reach for him. But he’s not, so I keep my hands to myself. No need for the roleplay any more.
“I should get you home,” he says gruffly.
“Already?” I glance around. “But there’s still so much to do here, and I can help!”
Kaz shakes his head. “You’ve done more than enough already, and we don’t know how the other men in the tavern will react when they discover the bodies.”
I shudder. Somehow, I’d almost forgotten about that.
“We need to get you home,” he says again, catching my elbow to guide me away. “It won’t be safe out here for much longer.” He begins to pull me down the dark street, but for once the shadows aren’t scaring me.
I shrug him off with a scowl. “If we don’t have much time then stop talking and let me help with these people!
” Hours ago, I would’ve jumped at the opportunity to leave, but now, when I’m surrounded by desperate people who actually need help, I’m not going anywhere.
“Just tell me what to do. I want to help. Please.”
Kaz’s gaze softens. He thinks for a moment, groans, then finally releases my elbow. “Fine,” he sighs. “But stay close to me as we load the wagon.”
The dawn has almost stolen the last of the stars by the time we reach the safe house.
It’s funny. In my sparkling ballet gown and pointe shoes, I look worlds apart from the rest of Kasimir’s leather-clad crew, but I still receive the same tearful goodbyes and thanks as the trafficking victims are welcomed inside.
I wish I could’ve done more to help. But soon enough, after stopping at the guildhouse to change back into my travelling gown, Kasimir’s guiding me back towards Destiny, and I vault myself up into the saddle.
Although my breath hitches as Kasimir takes his place behind me.
“It’ll be faster if we ride together,” he says, taking up the reins with one hand and wrapping the other around my waist.
I open my mouth to protest, but then he kicks the horse into motion.
My backside slides into him, his warm arms engulfing mine. “Got you,” he chuckles before steering Destiny towards the dark forest.
The journey home feels a lot less scary with Kasimir sitting so close to me. Or maybe I’m just too exhausted to care about the shadows between the trees. Nevertheless, I can’t get comfortable.
Especially considering I was in a very similar position only a few hours prior, my back sinking into his chest, those same strong forearms on my thighs.
Sucking in a breath, I search the skies, desperate for a distraction. But the twisting tree branches above remind me too much of fingers, and I shiver, returning my attention to the forest.
“Cold?” Kasimir says into my ear.
“No.” But I may as well have said nothing at all. He removes his cloak and drops it over my shoulders, holding me tighter than he did before.
“You did well tonight,” he continues, urging Destiny further through the woods. “You danced perfectly and you played the part well too. Mr Bailey didn’t suspect a thing, until it was too late, of course.” Kaz laughs, while I can’t help but shudder.
“Do you do that often then?” I ask quietly.
Behind me, his chest rumbles. “Hmm?”
“As in… Do you save people often? Are there a lot of evil groups like that in Night Alley?”
“There’s evil everywhere, Ruby,” he explains. “Even in your golden-spired palace.”
My eyes narrow. “You mean my father?”
Kaz stiffens, but before he can reply, laughter bubbles up my throat.
“What?” he presses.
“It’s just funny.” I shake my head. “He’d throw a fit if he knew of the night I’d had. And my sisters would too.” Even Dahlia, probably. Although hers would be more of an excited ‘tell me everything’ sort of fit, instead of sheer panic.
“And will you tell them, your sisters?” Kaz asks.
“No.” But then I wince, voice softening. “Of course I trust them not to tell anyone. But the moment I say anything, I’ll never hear the end of it. And of course they’d want to hear all about you. It’s bad enough when I go on dates with princes.”
Kaz’s grip on my waist tightens, sending my stomach diving into the warmth between my legs.
“And what would you tell them?” he purrs. “About me?”
A nervous laugh brushes my lips. “Well for starters you’re,” I pause, chewing my lip, “much more handsome than I was expecting.”
He chuckles. “And?”
“My sisters would probably think you’re charming too,” I add truthfully.
“What about you, though? What do you think of me?”
I shudder as the words I wanted to start with cross my lips. “I think you’re dangerous.”
“Am I?” he murmurs. “Do I scare you, Ruby?”
My breath catches. Keeping my eyes fixed on the dark trees, I nod.
“But you like it that way, don’t you?” His arm that was circling my waist drops to my thigh as I shudder. “I think you like it when I scare you… I think you want me to make you scream,” he laughs darkly.
Is he right? I really don’t know…
Before I can reply, I’m jolted forward as Kasimir pulls Destiny to a halt. Her hooves stamp into the leafy floor.
“What is it?” I whisper.
Kaz stays silent while I feel his gaze searching through the trees. Eventually, he tugs on Destiny’s reins and urges her to head in another direction.
“We’re not alone,” he tells me, his voice low.
“What?”
“Look over there.” He points at the path towards the palace. Between the trees, I can just about make out the faintest flicker of gold fabric, along with metal glinting in the dawnlight.
“My father’s guards!” I gasp. “Do you think they’re looking for me?”
Kasimir shakes his head, clicking to encourage Destiny to walk faster. “Doubt it,” he replies. “We’re not far from where I left Hugo. They’ve probably found him and are scouting the area.”
Suddenly, the early morning air feels like ice on my skin.
“It’s alright,” Kaz says, as if sensing my fear. “I know another route, but it’s along the main road so we’ll have to keep our heads down.”
Both of us remain silent as Kasimir leads Destiny down a mossy path. Until finally, we emerge from the forest as the moss gives way to a much larger paved road, each side lined with trees.
Father’s palace looms in the distance. I’ve never seen it from so far away before, but I understand now why visiting princes would describe it like watching the sunrise.
The golden domed roof of the ballroom rises up from the hill while gold spires shoot up around it like sun rays. It’s beautiful. It’s home. And yet, I can’t help but feel a gnawing sadness the closer we approach.
“When will I see you again?” The question falls out before I realise what I’ve said. “I mean when will the next job be?”
Kaz’s laughter brushes my ear. “Miss me already?”
I twist my neck to shoot him a look. “I just want to be prepared, that’s all. So when will you need me again?”
“Probably not for a while.” He shrugs.
My lips flatten. “But what about the job you were telling Meera about in the wagon? The one about that file in the whorehouse?”
There was a list of addresses, apparently, that correlates to a list of names Kasimir acquired in Mr Bailey's tavern. I only know this because Meera asked him about it on our way back from the safe house, and when he said he only had half the list, she was not happy.
After that outburst, there was not a single person in that wagon who didn’t know all about this list and exactly where they could find it.
Behind me, Kasimir sighs. “That’s guild business, Ruby. You shouldn’t concern yourself with that.”
“Am I not part of your guild?” I raise an eyebrow. “I work for you, don’t I?”
When he doesn’t reply I continue, “You said you were going to have to hire a young woman to sneak into the brothel and get it for you. But you don’t need to do that, because I can get it for you instead.”
Kaz’s arm around my waist tightens enough to make me gasp. “Absolutely not.”
“What? Why? Meera said it was important and that without that list then the leftover members will just make another trafficking guild. This will all happen again!”
“I said no, Ruby,” he growls.
But his anger only fuels mine. “Why not? I don’t want any more people to suffer like those poor people did. If there’s a way to stop them, then I want to help!”
Kasimir sighs. “That job is dangerous and I will not have you putting yourself at risk for a bit of parchment.”
“So you’ll have some other girl put her life at risk then?” I scoff. “How is that fair on her?”
“Well first of all, she wouldn’t be a princess—”
“That shouldn’t matter.” I snarl. Then, with an exhale, my tone softens, “I want to help. Please. Surely how I did last night with Mr Bailey shows that I’m capable?”
“You thought he was just an innocent tavern owner,” Kaz reminds me.
My eyes narrow, but before I can argue, my ears catch on a distant rumbling sound. Like wheels rolling over stones, or a dozen galloping horses. It grows louder and louder, until Kasimir notices it too.
“Do you hear that?” he whispers as he pulls Destiny to a halt.
“I do.” I nod. “It sounds like a—”
“Carriage!”
Kasimir yanks Destiny’s reins to the left, but we’re not quick enough. Half a dozen horses charge up behind us, followed by a huge gilded carriage.
Destiny rears, tossing us both from the saddle. Our backs hit the dirt hard, me landing with a thud and Kasimir slamming down beside me. Both of us gasp for air.
Metres away, the carriage screeches to a stop.
“Forgive me!” someone yelps.
Wincing, I turn my head to see the finely-dressed driver flapping his hands as he scrambles down from his seat.
“I’m so sorry!” he babbles, the feather in his hat quaking. “It’s so late, and I’ve been driving all night. I wasn’t—”
“What in the devil is going on out there?” another man calls from the carriage.
“Are you alright?” Kasimir asks me. He’s pushed himself up and wastes no time helping me to my feet while I slap the dust from my skirts.
“I’m fine,” I lie. Every movement makes my bones ache, and I’m certain I’ll be a rainbow of bruises by tomorrow, but at least we’re both alive. “How about you?” I ask, reaching for his arm.
“I’ll be alright. But we should go before that idiot tries to kill us again.” He scowls at the panicking driver, who’s now scurried off to the carriage to no doubt be scolded by whoever’s inside.
I nod, then limp towards Destiny, holding back a groan with every painful step. Kaz rushes to help me, but we barely make it a few steps before a booming voice cuts through the morning air.
“You dare interrupt my journey?”
Flinching, I turn towards the voice. A tall man, finely dressed in ivory silks threaded with gold, stands by the glittering carriage.
His wavy hair is similar to Father’s, golden like the sun, while his skin is much closer to porcelain.
Although there’s nothing delicate about features, or the iron-coloured crown that sits on his head.
Furious, he marches over to us, and Kasimir quickly pushes me behind him. But then the man’s pale eyes catch on me, and he freezes.
After a few confused blinks, he sweeps his gaze towards Kasimir, before returning it swiftly to me, his scowl softening.
“Princess Amaryllis?” he asks, tilting his head.
My lips part. “Yes?”
“You know this guy?” Kaz hisses.
I shake my head.
“You look just like your portrait.” The man marches closer, his blue eyes wide. “They certainly did not exaggerate your beauty.”
I swallow uncomfortably. Without the furious scowl, he could almost be considered handsome.
“You must forgive me,” he continues, bowing deeply before rising and taking my bruised hand.
“I’m assuming your father has informed you of my arrival.
My name is Orion.” He presses a kiss to my fingers, and I sense Kasimir stiffen beside me.
“Prince Orion.” He smirks. “And also… your soon-to-be husband.”