Chapter 10 #2
There was not a doubt in my mind that Bitchmont would recognize me the second he laid eyes upon me. In hindsight, someone else probably should have accompanied Kohen into the archives. But I needed my shot at killing Beaumont. Plus, I really just wanted to see the library.
A wooden sign hung on the wall by a single nail, letting us know that we were headed in the right direction.
We crept quietly through the infirmary corridors, drawing our daggers when no one was looking.
We’d traded our swords with Kade and Sawyer, replacing them with the smaller blades.
Two men with swords, who clearly weren’t Draemornian soldiers, were bound to get questioned when parading through the castle.
Add a little Daddy’s Dirty Dungeon Doll into the mix, and it was downright unbelievable.
We took a turn in the middle of the hall, tucking ourselves in an empty corner. At the end of the corridor was a lone, solid-oak door. By the looks of the over-the-top, silver handle, that room was exactly where we needed to be.
“What’s the strategy here? We can’t just barge into his office.” Kohen scratched his head. “And he might not even be in there.”
I mulled over our options. “We could cause some commotion out here? If he’s in there, he’ll have no choice but to come out. And if he’s not, we can go in and wait for him.”
Kohen nodded, and I could see his brain working as he tried to concoct a plan. “I can flood the infirmary by harnessing a rainstorm. If I get caught, I’ll act drunk and pretend that I lost control of my powers. The healers will give me water and a magic suppressant, then send me on my way.”
“Okay. I’ll hold up around the corner and watch. If I see Beaumont leaving his study, I’ll slip in and wait for his return.” It wasn’t foolproof, but I didn’t see any options that were.
“Okay. But Seb, you’ll only get one shot. And if he brings someone back with him—”
“I can handle more than one person. I’ll finish the job then meet you at the horses.” I stepped back through the hallway, halting in the darkest area I could find. I ducked behind a pillar that still supplied me with a straight shot view of the study.
Kohen commenced back towards the infirmary ward.
“Kohen, wait,” I whisper-yelled, dragging his attention to me. “If for some reason they make you stay a while, don’t be scared to rip into that book. I know it’s killing you not knowing what smut is.”
His eyes widened, and he blinked so slowly that I thought he would come back and punch me right then and there. Instead, he was dead serious as he corrected me, “I know what smut is, Seb.”
My laugh subsided as Kohen meandered off, mumbling to himself for as far as I could hear.
Forcing my breathing to silence and slow, I waited.
Minutes passed and my thighs began to ache from the crouch I held.
When I rose to shake my legs out, I heard the chaos break loose in the infirmary.
The patter of heavy rainfall filled my ears, along with the screams of the sick and injured.
It was kind of fucked up, but it had to be done.
Thunder boomed. I was almost positive that I saw a lightning strike from the corner of my eye. Then the hallway darkened and my eyes fought to see what was happening through Kohen’s carefully crafted clouds.
A sliver of light broke through the shadows as the door to Beaumont’s study ripped open.
He barreled out the door, his eyes bulging past his prominent cheekbones. He sprinted down the hall, nearly tripping over his maroon robe when he turned the sharp corner that led to the infirmary.
I waited a few heartbeats to make sure no one followed him before making my move. I sprinted down the hall and yanked on the door handle.
Locked.
Why the fuck didn’t I think about the fucking door locking from the inside!
I’d been so caught up in Maeve, that I’d been getting sloppy. Stupid.
I called upon my power, wielding an icicle the size of a pin to try and pick the lock, but it was so narrow that it melted almost instantly.
Next I tried the tip of my blade, wedging it into the opening, praying to Caius that I would hear the click of the lock's mechanism allowing me entry. When that didn't work, I froze the entire knob with my magic then hit it with the hilt of my dagger in the hopes that it would crack.
“What the fuck,” I cursed under my breath when I failed yet again. “Did they build this thing out of solid titanium?”
A throat cleared behind me, and my breath hitched in my chest.
“Yes. They did.”
You have got to be kidding me right now.
“And to think I thought you were bright,” Beaumont snarled as I turned to meet his arrogant smirk. “Love has turned you stupid, Sebastian.”
Tell me about it.
I did not let regret get the best of me. Sure, I should have thought this through more, but there was no point dwelling on that now.
I shut any thoughts of Maeve out, locking her away in my brain's own titanium vault. The silence allowed my entire focus to attend to the situation at hand.
“So, I guess you didn’t get mutilated by my father’s castle like I had hoped.” I fiddled with the blade of my dagger, passing it effortlessly between my fingers. “Shame.”
Beaumont chuckled, pulling his own six-inch blade free from somewhere under his robe. “Just as cocky as I remember. Let’s see if this changes that.” He shouted over his shoulder, “Bring him in!”
My back bumped against the door as two Draemornian soldiers came forward. They held Kohen by the shoulders, three more guards treading closely behind.
So much for not recognizing him.
“Let him go, you sadistic fuck,” I hissed, nostrils flaring.
“Since you asked so nicely.” Beaumont turned to his soldiers, granting his men a nod.
In a swift motion, one of the men who restrained Kohen, released him. He marched for me instead. Before I could react, he had me in a head lock, squeezing my throat with his forearm.
“Not what I meant,” I gasped through gritted teeth, grasping at the man's arms to try and pull myself free. I would have managed to do so, but another soldier came to assist him, greatly limiting my range of motion.
“I wouldn’t struggle, if I were you. You’re going to want to preserve your energy for what I have planned for you,” Beaumont purred, stepping so close to my face that I could smell his breath. “Is it just the two of you? Or is my precious Maeve here with you?”
“Maeve is dead,” Kohen gurgled from behind, saliva flying from his lips as he struggled against the man holding him.
“Lying isn't going to get you anywhere. I know why you gentlemen are here. If she were really dead, you wouldn’t bother with little old me anymore.”
“How can you be so sure?” I growled, thrashing my body against the men confining me. “You didn't see her after the castle fell. She was hardly even breathing.”
“Was? Are you implying that she is breathing now?” Beaumont chuckled deeply, splaying a palm over his abdomen. “Watch your word choice, Hawthorne.”
Godsdamnit. Stupid. Sloppy and stupid.
“I am not implying anything.”
Completely ignoring me, Beaumont continued to ramble, his voice containing a grating ring to it that made me want to kill him even more. “You boys have a choice here. Are you ready to hear it?” He did not await an answer before instructing the guards to drag us into his study.
The click of the lock, that didn’t dare budge for me, taunted me before the door slammed behind us.
Beaumont sat in a plush, oversized chair behind his desk.
My attention roamed his office while I had a brief moment, taking note of the numerous battle plans lining the walls, along with a crystalline bookcase stationed at the rear of the room.
My eyes squinted to roam the display, reading various book titles to myself.
The Entire History of the Prilarean Empire.
Enchanted Beings and the Sorcery Behind Them.
Swords, Shields, and Soldiers.
A Detailed Guide to the Gods and Their Gems.
And another that looked oddly familiar…
Impossible.
“Here's the deal. One of you is going to stay with me, and the other one is going home.” Beaumont paused to cackle.
“Oh, right, I forgot. Your home has been destroyed. Well, one of you can go back to your kingdom of ruins, but the other will have the pleasure of staying in Draemor. Now talk amongst yourselves and decide who gets to stay.”
“What?” I was unabashedly taken aback. Why would he let one of us leave?
Cyprian sighed, shaking his head. He had grown an auburn stubble since I’d seen him last, and the overall rundown appearance of his face made me question if he was truly in as good of health as he claimed. Nonetheless, he was still breathing. Unfortunately.
“I should have known you would want more of an explanation,” Beaumont muttered under his breath, “just like your damn father.
One of you will stay here as an insurance policy, while the other returns to wherever the hell you are staying, and brings Maeve back to Draemor.
Once she's here, we will do a trade. A life for a life.”
I burst out in actual laughter, receiving a dark scowl from the king in response. “You really think if she were alive, that we would just hand Maeve over to you? Fuck, have you not learned anything over the past year? You really don’t know when to give up, do you?”
He ignored me entirely. “I’ll be sending one of my men back with you to ensure that you follow through. Now, who is staying here with me?”
“Neither of us are staying here. Maeve is dead,” I deadpanned, nearly choking on the horrific words as they left my lips. Despite knowing they weren't true, saying the phrase out loud destroyed a piece of me.
“If that is true, then why did you come here?” Beaumont folded his fists upon a stack of open books on his desk.
“Just wanted to see with my own eyes that you were actually gone. And I was curious who replaced you, since you don't have a wife, or any offspring. Or anyone that cares about you, for that matter,” I provoked the man.
“I don’t have a wife yet, but maybe I will soon. Remember, your sweet Maeve considered my offer. I’m sure if I have one of you as a little incentive, it will be enough of a push to get her to cave.”
“She would never, if she were still here,” Kohen spurted from behind me, undoubtedly catching the almost unrecognizable crack in my voice the last time I claimed her as gone.
“Then bring me her ashes. Or her skull, if you didn't have the heart to burn her yet.” Beaumont sneered, flashing his sharp, white teeth. “Dig her rotting corpse out of the dirt if you have to. I don't care. Alive or dead. Bring. Her. To. Me.”
Gods, I wanted to vomit.
“One of you stays, and if you do not decide in the next thirty seconds, I will choose for you.” His boot rhythmically tapped under the desk while he waited.
Considering our current situation, we weren’t in a position to try and barter. I got us into this mess, and I’d be damned if I let Kohen take the fall for my fuck up.
“I’ll stay,” I volunteered, not even giving him a chance to try and offer himself instead. “Now let him go.”
“Seb…” Kohen growled in a tone lower than I’d ever heard from him. His eyebrows deepened more by the second when my vision found his tightened jaw.
I gave him a singular nod. “I’ll be fine. Go. Don’t come back for me if it risks your lives.” Do not come back here with her. Promise me, I mouthed the last part, and he nodded once back.
Alarm risked invading me, but I had faith that Kohen would do the honorable thing and keep Maeve safe.
I had faith that all of our friends would keep her safe.
That they’d protect her life over mine and they wouldn't bring her back here.
That much I was sure of. At least that is what I assured myself.
I needed to believe that was the truth—that they would do everything in their power to ensure her protection.
Because her on the other hand…She could be reckless.