Chapter 22 – Raelyn
Chapter Twenty-Two
RAELYN
This is not going to plan. This proposed marriage of convenience should have been easy to end.
He doesn’t care about me nor I about him.
I merely wanted to get out of this dreadful situation, and I thought he wanted a wife in name only so he could go about as he pleases, but his words give me pause.
“You’ve been thinking about me?”
He looks abashed. “Trust me, I feel dreadful for making you wait all week. The night I got home after our agreement, my father and brother thrust Princess Helene upon me and insisted I court her despite the fact that I could not see her as a wife, only as a sister.”
My lips turn downward. “I’m sorry. That sounds challenging.”
“No need to apologize,” he insists. “I just feel bad that it took me so long to make it back out here.”
I try to wave him off, but he grabs my hand and intertwines our fingers. I want to pull away, embarrassed at the roughness he surely feels, though his hands are far less delicate than I expected. He must train with a sword.
“Raelyn, I might be wrong, but it feels like you’re hiding something from me.” He gently squeezes my hand.
“You don’t understand,” I whisper. “There’s a scandal—if it were to get out, my family would be ruined.”
He tilts his head. “You can trust me. I swear upon Kyros.”
A bolt of heat zings through me at his words, and for some reason, I decide to trust him.
“I’m not truly an Astoria,” I whisper.
His brows rise. “What do you mean?”
“My stepmother said she has proof. Proof that I am not my father’s child, but a bastard.”
Kian sits back but does not let go of my hand as he considers my words. To my surprise, an amused laugh bursts out of him. “You are far too kind to be an Astoria; just look at the rest of your family.”
A strangled cry leaves my throat, and I reach up to wipe away a stray tear. This is not the response I expected.
“Rae, if you think I give two shits about who your parents are, you’re mistaken.”
“But surely your father would care, would he not?” I ask. “I can imagine if he had to choose between a pedigreed princess or the bastard child of Lord Astoria’s late wife, there would be no question.”
He shakes his head. “It truly doesn’t matter to me.”
“Stepmother will never agree to a match between us, even if the king does approve,” I say. “And it sounds like Father won’t be home for a good long time.”
“If ever . . .” the prince mutters under his breath.
“What did you say?”
The prince winces. “I don’t mean to worry you, but there is some concern regarding the death of your stepmother’s previous husbands . . . I worry she might be hiding things.”
My entire body freezes up. Despite knowing that he most likely is not my true father, he is all I’ve ever known. The thought that perhaps he won’t return at all turns my blood to ice.
“Do you think he’s in danger?”
“I’m honestly not sure. I can try to pry some information out of my father about where he went, if you like, but at this point, all I have to offer is speculation.”
I shake my head. “Regardless, my stepmother has made it clear that I am to end things with you or she will reveal my secret.”
Kian lets go of my hand and rises to his feet, pacing back and forth on the decorative rug. “Do you really think she would?” He ponders. “Perhaps she is merely bluffing. The news would make her look bad too.”
I wrap my arms around my middle, my stomach aching with all the surprises and information I’ve gleaned in the past hour. “Perhaps you’re right,” I admit. “But you don’t understand. She can make my life here a nightmare. She already has.”
Kian bristles as he stops in front of me, his hands clenched into fists. “I need to get you out of this house.”
I have to ask, even though I’m not sure I want the answer. “Why do you even care, Kian?”
His frame softens, and he kneels before me.
My heart starts to thud in my chest at the proximity.
“I care about the people of my kingdom,” Kian says.
“That includes you. I hate seeing how unfairly you’ve been treated here, and if there’s something I can do to help, I want to do it.
Besides, this marriage is good for both of us. We both get what we want.”
The flicker of hope that perhaps he might have been growing fond of me is quickly doused. He’s not doing this out of some unfounded sense of love or loyalty. He’s doing it because he’s a good person and it’s beneficial for him. I need to remember that.
I roll my shoulders back and let some sarcasm slip free. “Glad I can be your charity case, then.”
Kian blows out an exasperated breath. “Believe what you will, but I do want to help.”
Shrugging, my hands open in helplessness. “But how?”
Kian’s silver eyes light up before he whispers, “We elope.”
“What?” I yelp.
The butler pops his head in the door, an eyebrow raised to ask if I need help. I shake my head, and he disappears again.
A devilish grin brightens Kian’s face. “Yes, exactly.”
“Have you gone mad?” I whisper.
“If we elope, my father can’t force me to marry Princess Helene, and your stepmother won’t be able to do anything about it. If she tells your secret, it will only make her look bad for marrying into such a scandalous family.”
“Won’t an elopement be scandal enough?” I gasp.
“Don’t forget, I do have a reputation in court of being somewhat unpredictable.”
“Ha,” I scoff. “No one will believe you’ve given up all your conquests for me.”
Kian frowns. “Stop that, Rae. Do you even realize how beautiful you are? How kind, witty, and intelligent? If anything, all of court will be jealous they didn’t get to you first. You’ll have no trouble at all finding someone willing to meet your needs.”
He winks, but his words turn sour in my ears. He doesn’t know me, and I can’t even begin to grasp the idea of trying to have a secret relationship while married to the prince. I’ll just be alone. I’m used to it.
“If I agree to this elopement,” I whisper conspiratorially, “how do you propose we make it happen? Stepmother will never allow me to just waltz out the door with you.”
“We meet later tonight in the gardens,” he says. “When everyone is asleep, we leave. I will find a priestess to marry us at first light.”
A flutter of excitement fills me. Is this it? Will I finally make my escape?
“Okay . . .” I say hesitantly.
“Now, there is something I need from you.”
I quirk a brow. “What could I possibly have to offer you?”
“Has your Father ever mentioned the lost god Kyros to you?”
The sudden change of subject throws me for a loop. My forehead crinkles as I ponder. “Not directly,” I reply.
“What do you mean?” Kian asks.
“Well, one time, there were a few notes on his desk mentioning the gods, and I heard him muttering something once about repercussions when he didn’t realize I was around.”
Kian leans in, his interest clearly piqued. “Do you happen to know if he kept any of those notes?”
What an odd question. I think back and shake my head. “They were mostly just scribbles on a map, but I never saw them again after that one time. I’m sorry.”
Kian deflates. “No worries. I thought he might have information I’ve been looking for, but it sounds like he doesn’t.”
“It’s a shame he’s gone and I can’t ask him for you.”
“That’s all right, Rae. Don’t trouble yourself with it.”
A memory pops unbidden into my head. The evening I caught the masked man in Father’s office weeks ago.
Is there something of importance hidden there?
Something to do with the lost god? I’m about to say something but pause.
While I’ve trusted the prince with the secret of my scandalous parentage, I’m still only getting to know him.
“I’m sorry if that’s not the answer you were looking for,” I say.
“It’s fine,” he reiterates. “All right then, as far as tonight, I’ll meet you in the garden when the clock strikes twelve. Will that work for you?”
I nod, almost unwilling to believe this is happening. I’m getting out.
As soon as Kian leaves, Stepmother swoops into the parlor and starts interrogating me. I lie through my teeth—what else is there to do?
“Erika made it sound like he wasn’t interested in her,” she accuses.
“Can you blame him?”
She smacks me in the face with impressive force before I can even blink. “You will hold your tongue, girl.”
In complete shock, I back away from her, my hand pressed against my sore cheek.
“You had better get back to work immediately,” she screams at me. “You’ve already wasted enough time today.”
Hating myself for cowering, I scurry away as quickly as I can, practically running to the laundry. At least the mindless work will keep me distracted. Just knowing my escape is close will get me through the day—I couldn’t hide my smile if I wanted to.
When I finally collapse onto my bed, it’s half past eleven.
I curse under my breath. There is hardly enough time to gather my things before I need to meet the prince.
Filled with a sudden burst of energy, I jump up and start moving.
Knowing I can only take what I can carry, I fill a small satchel with a few of my most prized possessions.
I’m slightly self-conscious about running off with the prince without bathing first, so I splash some tepid water on my face and try to tame my unruly hair into a low bun.
I already ruined my nicest dress doing chores today, so I pull the next least offensive option out of my small wardrobe.
I have to admit, this is not how I saw myself getting bound; an elopement was never something I could have imagined.
At the very least, I expected to wear a pretty gown and have my father present.
He’s not even your father, a small voice whispers, but does that matter? He has always been there for me, and he was very protective. Though, now that I think of it, sometimes, he’d get a sad and faraway look in his eyes when he looked at me.
Blowing out a breath, I return to my chest of belongings and pull out one more item—the blade I stole from the masked man.
I’m not completely sure why I’ve held on to it, but it is a beautiful piece of weaponry, its balance impeccable.
I carefully strap it to my thigh underneath my gown, using one of the sheaths I nicked from Father’s small armory. I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.
The gong of the clock striking midnight chimes distantly through the walls of the manor. I’m running out of time.
With a final glance around the room, I oh-so-quietly open my door, only to be met with the haughty glare of my stepmother.
No. No, no, no.
“Going somewhere?” she sneers.
“I was just going to get some water from the kitchen,” I stammer.
She takes an ominous step closer, eyeing my satchel, and I back away, remembering the sting of her slap.
“You’re a terrible liar, Raelyn. Did you really think I wouldn’t find out? Did you truly think no one was listening to your little plan with the prince?”
My heart sinks in my chest. We’d been foolish to speak so plainly with the door wide open. Trying to find my courage, I puff out my chest. “Well, if you’re already aware, then you know there is nothing you can do to stop us.”
A hideous laugh leaves her lips. “That’s where you’re wrong, Raelyn. The prince might not care about your status as a bastard, but the king surely will. He will be more than happy to reward me when I inform him of your little scheme.”
“Have you?”
“Have I what?” Stepmother asks.
“Have you already informed the king of our plan?”
Her lips turn up. “Of course not. I play my cards when they are most advantageous to me.”
Good, so the prince is likely waiting for me already.
I make a mad dash for the door, hoping to skirt past her, until I’m wrenched back by my hair. A scream erupts out of me as she cackles. “Not so fast, girl.”
She’s surprisingly strong, her grip on my hair excruciating.
I reach back and claw at the hand holding me, digging my nails in as deep as I can.
She grunts and throws me to the floor before examining my handiwork.
She winces, and I look down at my fingers smeared with blood. At least I got her good.
“You’ve made a big mistake, Raelyn. I hope you ate a large dinner, because it will be a while before you eat again.”
Her eyes glint in the darkness, and she slams my door shut. The clang of a key turning in the lock echoes through the room.