Chapter 39
Caspian
The dance drew to an end, but the girl in his arms was not Keira.
Caspian bowed to her politely, but his eyes were scanning the hall.
He saw no sign of her golden dress. She was probably just overwhelmed, he reassured himself.
She’d likely looked for a quiet place. Disappointment settled in his chest that she hadn’t told him she was going.
Caspian stepped away as the next song began, having little interest in joining in if she wasn’t there.
He was making his way to search for her by the cauldron of mulled wine when a hand on his shoulder stopped him.
Prince Gilbert was looking at him with a serious expression. “Where’s Keira?”
Caspian’s brow tightened. “I thought she’d stepped away.”
“You should find her-”
The urgency in his tone set Caspian on guard.
Then he heard the unmistakable sound of breaking glass. Windows shattering.
He was moving before most of the crowd had processed the noise. It had come from the East Wing corridor. Caspian pushed through the guests with little regard. Something was wrong.
He stopped at the opening of the hall. There was already a stunned gathering frozen there, watching.
Keira was standing amidst a sea of broken glass.
Her arms were blackened to the elbow and her hands curled into sharp talons like that of a raven.
There was blood on her dress, not her own.
The gleam in her eyes was savage and wild, her pupils a narrow slit like a cat.
A man had fallen onto his back before her, supporting himself with his elbows. His white shirt was torn and stained deep red. As he turned, Caspian recognized him, Royce Highgrove.
“Help me!” he cried, scurrying away from her, seemingly ignorant of the broken glass scattered over the floor. “She’s insane! She attacked me!”
“Keira!” Caspian’s voice broke her singular focus.
She looked at him and then the others. Her wild features faded until she was standing before them, with tangled hair and a bloodstained gown.
The look in her eyes as she met his was nothing short of heartbroken. She shook her head, retreating a step.
The crowd gasped as her form melted into the shape of a raven and took flight through the shattered window.
The moment she was gone, the hall descended into chaos.
Royce was blubbering on as concerned parties gathered around him, helping him to his feet.
Caspian looked him over with a cursory glance.
Despite the blood, his injuries were hardly life threatening.
The worst was a gash across his chest, a shallow flesh wound, though it would likely scar.
His mind continued to reel, trying to understand what had gone so wrong so fast. It was only moments ago that she had been laughing in his arms. It didn’t make any sense.
“Caspian.” The prince took him by the arm, claiming his attention once more. “You need to find her,” he intoned.
His wits returned to him, through the shock of it all. Before the glass shattered, Gilbert had been asking about her.
“How did you know?”
“I heard some of the young men talking about a game,” he divulged. “It seemed a rumor spread that she was a prostitute, your mistress it seems. There was a wager to see who could-”
Caspian shook as the anger spread under his skin.
Images of beating Highgrove’s face until it was swollen beyond recognition filled his mind, until he knew in his bones how wrong he had been, the pain he had caused.
He tried to force himself to take an even breath.
Despite all the blood he had spilled, he had never felt the urge to harm another person so strongly as he did now.
Malice and bloodlust were not in his nature. But if he had touched her…
“Caspian, focus,” Prince Gilbert said, tightening his grip. “I will get the situation under control here. Go and make sure she is okay.”
He took in a breath, digesting the prince’s words. Keira was the priority. He needed to- She needed- Well, he didn’t know what she needed, but he had to find her. Her well being was more important than the urge for revenge, even if it was coursing through him like molten iron.
Finally he nodded, and the prince released him, eyeing him for a moment more before he turned to stem the mania.
Caspian marched out into the inhospitable night.
He was still shaking, and not from the cold.
He couldn’t see far into the darkness. If she was heading for the forest, he might never find her.
Helplessness filled him with even more anxious energy.
He was turning on his heel when he caught a glimpse of gold high above him.
There she was on the roof, curled into her skirts.
It was only two stories up. Caspian climbed the eaves, just like he had when he was a boy in the abbey orphanage. Soon he was pulling himself onto the tiled roof.
Keira looked up at him with tear streaked cheeks.
His heart broke all over again to see her cry.
Another sob burst from her lips as he crawled over the tiles toward her.
Then she was in his arms, fracturing. Caspian was lost in her tears.
He’d never seen her so broken… and he didn’t know what he could possibly do or say to fix her.
So he just held the pieces of her tighter as she fell apart.
After a time, her frame relaxed into his. Her breathing grew deep and even.
“We should get you inside.”
She shook her head against his chest. “I can’t go back in there.”
“You’re freezing,” he murmured. Despite his best efforts, her bare arms were practically frozen against the frigid night.
Keira looked up at him for a long moment before she nodded. “Don’t let go.”
Caspian held her a little closer.
He heard her whisper a spell under her breath. A strange, lightness came over him, and then they were sinking.
Panic quickened in him for only a heartbeat, before he forced himself to calm.
They passed like ghosts through the roof, the beams and all, until they were in one of the second story stay rooms. It was empty at present, though clearly in use by one of the guests.
The moment their feet touched the ground, the spell ended.
With his arm still around her, Caspian led her out of the room and down the thankfully deserted hallway. When he came to her room, she shook her head.
“What is it?” he asked, looking down at her.
“Can I stay with you tonight?” Fear was clear in her eyes.
Realization dawned on him. She was worried they would come looking for her. Anger rekindled within him, that he couldn’t say her fear was unfounded. “Of course.”
His chamber was dominated by a massive bed.
It was carved with bear ornaments bathed in the flickering firelight from the hearth.
Keira wandered in as he shut the door behind them, passed the private dining table, which he had often used to dine alone.
Moonlight spilled softly through the windows.
In the daylight, they offered a wonderful view of the castle grounds just above the main doors and beyond to the pine forest and mountains as well.
He turned as she growled in frustration. She was trying to undo the ties of her dress, but her arms couldn’t reach the proper angle.
“Shall I?” Caspian asked.
Keira looked over her shoulder and paused before she nodded.
Caspian loosened the first lace and then the rest, just enough for her to wiggle free.
Once the heavy dress was loose on her frame, Caspian averted his attention.
He assumed she would want her privacy now.
He heard her moving, the rustling of fabric, and then nothing.
When finally he looked, Keira had tucked herself into his bed, back turned from him.
She must have been exhausted. He should just leave her so that she could sleep. While he was down there, he could make sure that everything was going smoothly, well as smoothly as possible.
He opened the door slowly, deep in his thoughts.
“Caspian!” Her panicked voice nearly scared the life out of him. Her eyes were wide and afraid. “You’re leaving?”
“I won’t be gone long,” Caspian said, softening, “I promise.”
Keira hesitated before she nodded, tucking herself further into his covers.
Thankfully, he left when he did. The steward was only a few paces down the hall, his face lighting with purpose the moment he laid eyes on him. Caspian was grateful to spare Keira the intrusion.
“Sir, there you are!” Lionel said. “Where have you been? One of the guests has been attacked! They are saying that it was your… lady guest.”
Caspian heard clearly enough the word he was not saying. His fists clenched at his side.
“I am going to handle the situation,” Caspian said impatiently. “It is your personal responsibility to make sure no one other than myself enters my chambers. Is that understood?”
Lionel’s eyes widened. Caspian was sure he had never given him such a direct order. To his credit, the steward nodded and took up his post without delay.
Caspian’s wrath only grew as he marched down the steps. The majority of the gathering had dissipated. The rest were now gathered in small groups whispering to one another. Caspian sought out the prince who was standing alone.
“How is she?” Gilbert asked.
Caspian huffed, unsure how to answer.
The prince nodded anyhow. “Highgrove is being tended in his rooms. It seems his wounds were only superficial.” He paused. “It also seems that he may have been the ringleader of this particular situation.”
Caspian’s brow raised. The impulse to go to his rooms that very moment and finish what Keira started came over him once more. He took in another fortifying breath. As satisfying as violence would be, there was a better way to handle all of this, a plan taking shape in his mind.
“Thank you, my friend,” Caspian said, bowing his head.
“May I ask what exactly you intend to do?” the prince asked.
“He’ll be dealt with in the morning,” was all Caspian offered.
There would be time to set everything right, but for now, Keira was waiting for him.