Chapter 50
Something must be keeping Adrian occupied—I haven’t seen him in days. I feel grateful but impatient at the same time. I know I need to see him more, even though everything in me wants to run away and scream when he’s nearby.
In the meantime, I’ve been quietly practicing my water magic in the confines of my room. Kezra shows up to add commentary most days, and oftentimes, it’s anything but helpful.
This afternoon, I’ve taken to the library, and for the first time in a while, I’m not reading silly tales to occupy my miserable time, but instead, I’m looking for answers.
I’m coming back to my old self again. I feel my hope growing and growing, so much so that I nearly jumped into the ocean and swam away on more than one occasion the last couple days.
It would be so much easier now that my magic has been returned to me, and with Adrian occupied, it would have been the best time to try that escape route.
Unfortunately, I know he has his men still watching me from a distance.
They creep and linger outside their barracks from the far side of the island, always watching the castle, the beach, and me…
Adrian has to be the one to willingly escort me off this island. It’s the best way. I’ll plan a better escape once I get off this small chunk of land which has become my own personal prison.
After a few quiet hours of reading, I find myself in the kitchen, hungry for dinner. We’re overdue for our food delivery, so I grab some cheese and berries and eat with my hands.
“Oh…”
I look up, registering Phaedra’s voice immediately, knowing exactly what the cause of her surprise is. I hold out my wrists, even though she clearly already saw.
“How?”
“Adrian,” I say simply.
The expression on her face is almost comical, but I don’t laugh. Nothing about this is funny. Besides, I feel bad for her. Her cuffs are still secured around her wrists. She looks like she has so many questions and she simply doesn’t know where to start.
“He uh… he trusts me. I think he may bring me back home. Eventually. Hopefully soon.”
Her brows scrunch as her confusion deepens.
I meet her gaze, trying to convey more meaning. “I want to go home,” I say. “I told him as much.”
Finally, her mouth parts with a look of understanding as she tilts her head back. I don’t dare admit more out loud, but she knows what I’ve been working toward. I can’t completely lie to her.
“Do you think maybe he could…”
“We can ask.” And we will. She deserves her freedom as well.
“Thank you,” she says, glancing at my wrists again in awe.
I offer her a soft smile before excusing myself to my room, eating the last few berries on the way.
As I plop the last one in my mouth and turn the corner to my hallway, I freeze.
“Adrian,” I say with a berry in my mouth.
“Elysande.” He smiles like he’s had a really good day, like he’s elated to see me.
“What are you—”
“Sorry to drop by your room unannounced. I’ve had a busy couple of days at the camp and I finally got a break to come see you.” He pauses and his eyes travel up and down my frame. “How have you been?”
I know exactly what he’s asking before his eyes fall to my wrists. “Good, thank you.”
“Use any magic?” he asks with a smirk. “Make your bath exactly how you like it?”
“Yeah. Pretty much that. It’s nice to have those small luxuries back.
” I don’t give a shit about my stupid bath or my comfortability here, but I’ll let him believe I’m the spoiled princess he thinks I am.
He didn’t look even slightly surprised to find me still here, so that tells me he either believes my act, or he has his people watching me and reporting on my happenings, which I’m almost certain is what he’s been doing.
He glances toward my door, then back at me as he smiles.
If he’s waiting for an invitation in, he’s not going to get it. I remain planted at the end of the hall, staring back at him from a safe distance.
“Can I… come in?”
Shit.
“I…”
“I won’t stay long. I just want to talk.”
“Um… okay.”
I tilt my head down and walk toward the door, open it, and let him in. I create a small distance away as I face him with my arms crossed.
My unease dissipates when I realize I have my magic back. I need to ease up just a little, or he could start getting suspicious of me again.
“What did you want to talk about?” I take a seat in a chair by the small vanity that I rarely use.
“I just wanted to see how you’re doing. I sent word to your father that we’ve… reconciled. I’m hoping his response will be positive.”
This makes me perk up. If he gets permission from my father to bring me home soon, that would be incredible. I just have to keep pretending a little longer…
“Thank you,” I say.
He dips his chin.
“What has kept you so busy over there these last few days?” I ask.
“Oh. A large batch of newer soldiers were sent here for training. It’s been a nightmare getting them all organized.” I hadn’t even noticed the influx of bodies over there.
“Why aren’t they training back in Ellyar?”
He hesitates, and then he tries to hide it.
“We’re growing a little, that’s all. Plus, being here puts them in a more focused environment, away from home.”
Interesting. He’s absolutely hiding things from me.
I stand, approaching him slowly. Knowing that I have to pretend to like him to get anything useful out of him is infuriating, but this is the unpleasant path I’ve chosen.
“Is that really all?” I ask innocently.
He grabs my wrists gently and pulls me the rest of the way to him, then looks down at me with an unreadable expression. “Yes.”
“Okay.”
He reaches out his hand, cupping my cheek as he stares into my eyes.
I’d rather face the complete darkness of a night in the wild than this. I hate him.
When I don’t pull away, he begins to lean in.
He’s moving painstakingly slow as I breathe in his putrid tree scent, and suddenly Meela flashes through my mind.
Not in the sad way. This feels as if I’ve channeled her ruthless spirit, giving me the gumption to trick this fucker.
I lean into that feeling as his lips meet mine, as I grab his hair, and as my other arm folds around his shoulders.
He takes this as an invitation to kiss me harder, to pull my waist, pressing me flush against him. His breathing becomes heavier as his hand travels dangerously close to my ass, and I don’t stop it.
I’m not sure what my plan is here, but I’ll let him think I enjoy this for just a little longer. Once again thinking about how sweet it will be when I can reveal that I was faking it all along helps get me through it. I hope it crushes him.
Just as he spins us around, leans me against the bed, and I begin to worry how far he’ll try to take this, the sound of the door bursting open stops us both, and I whip my head toward it.
My heart drops and the whole room blurs out of focus as I stare at the doorway, focusing on the one person standing in the doorframe.