Chapter 28 Amaryllis
AMARYLLIS
It’s been hours since that arrow interrupted Orion’s proposal, and the entire palace is still on lockdown.
After the incident – or as Orion so poetically put it, ‘a brazen assault on an innocent prince’s life’ – Blossom and I were whisked away to a safe room while the guards searched the palace grounds for the archer.
They didn’t find him, of course, but I’m hardly surprised. There’s no doubt in my mind about who that arrow came from. The only thing I’m uncertain about is the little flutter in my chest when I realised he was here.
Blossom walks closely beside me as we head up the spiral staircase towards our bedchambers.
Ever since the arrow in the garden she’s been so quiet; almost as if it’d hit her instead of just knocking a box out of Orion’s hands.
Still, I can hardly blame her for her reaction.
If this had all happened a few weeks ago, I’d be just as afraid.
But I suppose now, after everything I’ve seen, a stray arrow and a small puddle of blood don’t bother me.
“Thank you for walking with me,” Blossom mumbles as we arrive at our hallway.
“It’s perfectly alright,” I tell her with a gentle smile.
We pause outside of her room, and she’s just about to enter when her hand freezes on the crystal doorknob.
“Actually, Ami.” She chews her lip. “Would it be alright if I sleep in your room tonight? I just… I can’t stop seeing that arrow. It came out of nowhere, and then there was so much chaos. I can hardly stand the thought of being alone.”
My heart twinges with guilt. “Of course you can.” She may be the second-eldest, but she’ll always be my baby sister – even if she rarely acts like it.
Taking her hand, I lead her over to my door, but we both gasp as we collide with a six-foot wall of fabric and steel.
“Sorry, Your Highnesses,” the guard who blocked us grunts. “I’m afraid the king has requested you all remain in your own bedchambers tonight, so we can keep an eye on you.”
“But she’ll only be one room away,” I protest.
The guard just shrugs. “King’s orders. Sorry.” He glances at Blossom, then gestures with his eyes over to her door.
Keeping hold of her hand, I lift my chin high.
“Have you forgotten what happened today?” I argue.
“What poor Blossom and I both went through?” Mostly Blossom to be honest – since as soon as the arrow hit that gaudy ring box, I’d never felt safer.
“If my sister wishes to sleep in my room, then she shall sleep in my room. I am the king’s eldest daughter and I answer only to him. ”
“I’m sorry, Your Highness.” The guard doesn’t budge. “But I can’t go against a direct order. Now please, retire to your bedchambers before I put you in them.”
My blood boils. “Are you threatening me?”
“Ami.” Blossom steps between us. There’s worry tugging at her lips, and for a moment, it looks as if she doesn’t recognise me. “It’s alright,” she says. “On second thoughts, I’ll be alright on my own.”
My brows pinch together. “Are you sure?”
“Certain.” She nods.
Fists clenched, I resist the urge to punch the smirking guard as Blossom hurries off into her bedchamber. I’ve had a lot of men tell me what to do today, and frankly, I’m not in the mood to hear anything else.
Marching over to my bedchamber, I throw the door open and slam it shut behind me. Unfortunately, I’m granted little relief inside. The servants have already been in to light the candles and lay out my nightclothes against the bedsheets, but the last thing I want to do is sleep.
My bedchamber has never felt so suffocating.
With a huff, I press my back against the door. Stars, I wish I was dancing right now.
Dance would take my mind off the heavy ring now sparkling on my finger, ease the guilt I feel for scaring Blossom. From their spot on the vanity, my violet pointe shoes twinkle in the flickering light of the candles as if to tempt me.
There’s no way I could sneak out to our dance circle. Not with guards patrolling the halls. I’d never get past them, unless…
My gaze drifts over to the window.
This is a ridiculous idea, completely foolish.
Just because a trained assassin can squeeze through that opening and scale a fifty-foot wall does not mean that I can. But I’m tired of being told what I can and can’t do – and apparently that now applies to my own voice of reason.
With a wild grin, I charge over to my dresser to search for my dance gown.
A fifty foot drop feels a lot higher when you’re staring down at it. My feet are still on the floor with just my head poking out the window, but now I’m not even sure I’ll fit through the frame. Kaz is bigger than me, but he doesn’t have hips – or at least not like mine.
Thankfully, after sliding a chair below the window, I’m able to pass through the hole, feet first. Then, lowering myself down, my hands grip the ledge.
My lavender dance gown hugs my skin, the short skirt fluttering in the breeze, while stockings and the satin ribbons of my pointe shoes cover my legs.
It’s not the most practical of climbing outfits, but it beats the floor-length gown I was wearing before.
Sucking in a breath, I use the tips of my shoes to feel around for any bumps or ledges. After a little tapping, I find a suitable place to plant my feet and slowly lower myself down. It feels like it takes hours, but eventually I make progress.
I climb down about twenty feet before my foot slips on a jagged brick and I yelp.
My face slams against the wall.
“Now this is a sight I never thought I’d see.”
I don’t have time to be grateful I’m still alive as I catch sight of Kasimir smirking up at me. Relief floods my systems, but I swallow it down.
I ran from him this morning. That was the right thing to do.
Wasn’t it?
“What are you doing, Ruby?” he calls up to me.
Steadying my breath, I continue down the wall. “What does it look like I’m doing?”
Kasimir laughs. “It looks like you have a death wish.”
“Well if someone hadn’t shot at my fiancé,” Stars, I hate that’s what Orion is to me now, “then maybe I wouldn’t have to sneak out of my room.”
Kaz is silent after that. Moonlight lights the way while I continue climbing down the wall, my fingers stinging with each new brick I grip. I won’t be able to last for much longer. My forearms are already shaking.
“Need some help?” Kaz asks after a few minutes of pain.
“No.” Carefully, I lower one foot onto another brick. But just as I move my other leg, my hands slip out of their holds and I plummet backwards.
I scream. Red hair whips past my face.
“Got you!” I hear moments before I land roughly in a pair of warm arms. Darkness engulfs me. Heart racing, I’m held tightly against Kasimir’s warm chest until finally, I come to my senses and scramble out of his hold.
Kaz places me down onto the grass with a chuckle. “You’re welcome,” he laughs. My chest heaves under my bodice as he looms over me.
“Thank you,” I say, backing against the wall. “I’ll be on my way now.” I glance towards the hedges hiding my dance circle and step towards them, but his arm blocks my path, making me gasp.
“Not so fast, Princess.” He lifts his other arm, pressing his hands against the wall and trapping me in place. “You and I need to talk first.”
“I have nothing to say to you.” I do, actually. I have many things to say to him including: ‘Why did you shoot Orion?’, ‘Why didn’t you kill him?’, and most of all ‘Why, even though you’re a monster, do I keep wishing you’d save me from my prince?’.
Kasimir’s lips twitch into a smile. “You ran from me this morning,” he starts, voice dark.
“I did.” My stomach dips.
“Why?”
I shudder as he draws closer, but I keep my chin high. “Why did you come after me?”
His gaze drops to my lips, eyeing them hungrily. “Because I can’t stay away.”
My breath catches. He’s so close all I can see is him surrounded by a black sea of stars. Night swims around him, and I so desperately want to drown in that darkness. But the heavy ring on my finger pulls me back to the present, so instead I say, “You know I’ll be married soon.”
Kaz pauses, our lips mere inches apart. “But do you want to be?”
“It doesn’t matter what I want.” I scowl. “My father’s already made it clear that I’m to marry Orion. And he won’t listen to anything I have to say on the matter. I don’t have a choice.”
“But what if you did?” he offers, cupping my cheek. “You can come home with me. I’ll keep you safe.”
“I can’t just run away,” I scoff, pushing his hand away. “Father will send guards after me. I’m a princess. He won’t stop till he’s searched the entire kingdom, and when he finds me, he’ll kill you.”
“I’d like to see anyone try to take you from me.” His hand slams against the wall with such force that I jump.
“And what about my sisters?” I swallow, trying to ignore the way my heart flutters. “I can’t just abandon them here. What if Father gives Blossom to Orion instead? They’d be lost without me. There’d be no one to protect them.”
“Then I’ll kill Orion. I would’ve done it already had your sister not gotten in the way.”
Confusion tugs at my features. What? How did one of my sisters get in the way? And who… But then I just shake my head. Focus on what’s important, Ami.
“You can’t kill every suitor who walks into this palace,” I reply, my voice tired.
Kasimir just watches me with darkened eyes. “I’ll kill anyone who’s a threat to you, Ruby. And I mean that. No one touches what’s mine.”
His words make my thighs shake, but I force down any traitorous feelings.
“I’m not yours. Now please, let me go.” My fists clench. “I came out here to dance and if I don’t get to my dance circle soon, then I might be the one killing somebody.”
Kaz raises an eyebrow, his lips pulling into a smirk. “And how might you go about doing that, Princess?” He draws closer, dropping his gaze to my bodice. “You got a tiny dagger in here that I don’t know about?” His hand leaves the wall to gently trace his knuckles between my breasts as I shudder.
“Stop that,” I whisper.
His chest makes a low grumbling sound. Leaning forward, he hovers his lips by my ear.
“What about in here?” he continues, lowering his hand to my knees. I gasp as his fingers slowly push up my tulle skirt, brushing the outside of my thigh.
Warmth pools between my legs. When he reaches my hips, I almost instinctively stroke his shoulders before I catch myself.
Furious, I use both hands to shove him aside.
“Are you deaf? When a lady says stop, you stop,” I growl, marching past him.
Kaz tilts his head.
“And don’t come after me this time,” I say over my shoulder, but before I go any further I’m yanked back by a hand on my wrist. “Stop! Let go of me!” I hiss, squirming in his hold.
“Ruby, wait.” Kaz’s voice catches me off guard. It’s softer than I was expecting, and when I glance up at him, there’s a hint of shyness in his expression. Like he’s… embarrassed?
My anger melts into confusion. “What’s wrong?”
“I…” He looks away, struggling. “It doesn’t matter. You should go. I’m sorry if I scared you.”
Curiosity gets the better of me. Without thinking, I grab his arm. “Tell me.”
Kaz winces, then drags a hand through his hair. “I didn’t just come here to see you. I mean, I did, but I wanted to show you something too.”
“Show me what?” I ask.
“It’s not here,” he stutters, “it’s uh…” He clears his throat. “I’ll show you. It’s this way.”
He steps forward, offering me his arm.
“Is this just some elaborate scheme to kidnap me?” I half-joke while taking his arm.
Kaz chuckles, the tips of his ears glowing red. “No, but you’ll probably never look at me the same way again after seeing this, so if you’d rather be kidnapped,” he tosses me a grin, “I’m happy to throw you over my shoulder instead.”
With a laugh I roll my eyes. But still, I let him lead me deeper into the palace grounds, leaving my dance circle far behind us.