Chapter 71
Keira
Laughter spilled freely from her as she collided into Caspian’s chest. As the night wore on, less care had been taken in the precise movements of the dance.
With every jaunty song, every goblet of wine consumed, a festive euphoria was steadily overtaking the great hall of the keep.
Keira had stumbled through the final turn, falling clumsy and breathless into her new husband’s arms. Yet, she was sure she had never seen him smiling wider or moving more freely as the festivities carried on around them.
This could in part be attributed to the free flowing wine of course, but there was something more to it as well.
Keira wasn’t sure what she had expected after the ceremony, the binding of their fates.
She supposed she hadn’t thought it possible to love Caspian any more than she already did.
Perhaps she had been right about that. Looking into his black eyes gleaming in the candle light, Keira couldn’t say if she truly loved him any deeper than before.
It was the feeling of utter peace that spread over her as he held her tight against his chest, that she was exactly where she was meant to be, where she would always belong.
Encircled by his strong arms, she was no longer spiraling out in the winds of destiny, but tethered by the threads of fate that now bound their hearts, made them one.
Caspian’s gentle finger smoothed over her cheek, brushing aside a thick lock of her hair. His touch drew her eyes to meet his as she tried to calm her breathing and steady her balance.
“Should we turn in?” Caspian whispered, his voice as intimate as if they were already alone.
Keira sobered, looking around them.
It did seem that their wedding feast was winding to a close.
Many were still dancing and drinking, but as she scanned the crowd, the usual suspects seemed to have turned in.
Gareth and Knox, who never stayed past a few games of dice, were nowhere to be seen.
Though Rhea and Lilith were laughing together at one of the tables.
Unsurprisingly, Florian was missing. Keira wondered who he’d found to spend the evening with. Yvette was noticeably absent as well…
Keira dismissed the thought. There were more important things on her mind tonight, and the idea of exploring them alone was growing more appealing to her by the moment.
Her hands ran over Caspian’s arms, over his shoulder until she was cupping his cheek.
His eyes scanned her features for the briefest of moments before her lips met his.
The warmth of his breath spilled over her, washing down her entire body as every nerve came to life for the pleasure of his touch.
Yes, that had been different too. Keira had heard the jokes made about newlyweds, how inseparable, often unbearably doting they could be…
how affectionate too. Rhea and Lilith were certainly one of the most affectionate couples she’d ever seen, and she hadn’t even met them until years after their wedding.
She supposed she’d always assumed they were exaggerations. Now she knew better.
Keira was no stranger to desire or passion, but this was beyond anything she had ever experienced.
His every touch sent a flutter through her chest. Feeling the heat of his breath against her skin kindled a spark in her core that lingered well after he was gone, anticipating his return.
She’d become addicted to it, the bliss of reunion, hardly able to separate from him for more than a moment.
And this kiss… It was enough to make her want to ignore the fact they were currently surrounded by a hundred guests, to allow their passions to overtake them right here on the dance floor.
Caspian seemed to share a similar sentiment, deepening the kiss as his fingers twined in her hair. Keira couldn’t help but open herself to him, to the rush of pleasure kindling in her core. A low groan spread through his chest, heating her blood as she drew his scent in deep.
As much as she relished the taste of him on her lips, Keira pulled herself away. She offered him a sharp smile as she looked around them at the crowded hall.
“We should find somewhere quiet.”
Caspian made a noise of agreement, though his eyes were still locked on her mouth.
It wasn’t a surprise at all when he lowered to kiss her once more, this time pulling her waist tight against him.
He held her so surely she felt he might never let her go.
Not that she minded the nearness. No, the issue was that she wanted more…
He parted with a hot sigh, taking in a tense breath as if bracing himself.
“Come on,” Caspian said, lacing his fingers with hers.
She followed him without reservation, even as the many guests cheered and hollered after them with comments that fueled the blush in her cheeks. It wasn’t as if there was any mystery as to where they were going or for what purpose.
Or at least that’s what she thought. Yet, instead of going up the grand staircase toward his rooms, or hers for that matter, Caspian led her through the doorway past the dais.
This way led to a sitting room and his private chambers behind the throne.
Beyond that were the kitchens and servant passages…
She supposed he could be leading her to the courtyard where they had shared their vows, but it would be much too cold out there to do half of what she wanted.
“Caspian,” Keira relented to her curiosity at last as they came to a quiet hall.
“Trust me.” Caspian looked over his shoulder with a grin.
Keira’s brow raised. It wasn’t like him to keep secrets, but clearly he had something planned.
Intrigue drew her onward down the hall until Caspian stopped before a tapestry.
The design was of a spring of water. All manner of animals surrounded it, offering an array of colors against the pale blues and whites.
She watched as Caspian pulled back the heavy cloth like a curtain, revealing the wood paneled wall beneath.
His hand smoothed over the surface until he reached the edge of the panel.
With the slightest force he pressed, releasing a hidden mechanism with a click.
The wall parted, opening to a stone passage beyond.
Keira stared between the revelation and Caspian’s bemused expression.
“What is this?” she asked, peering deeper within where a torch was mounted on the wall, lit expectantly.
“Hardly want to ruin the surprise now,” Caspian said, tugging her ear playfully before offering his hand once again.
She arched a brow before allowing him to lead her onward into the stone passage.
Caspian closed the secret door behind them with a handle secured to the inside.
Of course she trusted him with her life, her heart, everything, but it was not enough to keep a jolt of anxiety from shooting down her spine as she heard the latch click once more into place.
Keira choked it down with an even breath.
They could still see perfectly well by the light of the torch, and it was clear now that more were lit further down the passage as it led down under the keep.
She was being ridiculous. They were miles away from Deepgate.
Caspian was here with her. She pulled herself closer to him, breathed in his smell over the damp of the stone walls.
Wherever he was taking her was perfectly safe.
Yet no matter how much she knew this to be true, she could not stem the panic that was brewing within her, strengthening as every step drew them deeper underground.
Her foot slipped off an uneven stair. Keira caught herself at once, but not before letting out an abrupt cry of alarm. The sound taunted her, echoing down the narrow stone wall until it almost seemed it had been made by a stranger.
She froze, gripping Caspian’s arm tight by the meager torchlight as her own voice called back at her.
Her yelp of surprise warped in her ears into screams of rage and terror.
It came back to her so vividly, the memories of being dragged down the ever spiraling steps of that wretched prison, fighting to see the sun, fearing she never would again.
“What is it?” Caspian asked, lifting her chin to meet his eyes. His brow was knotted with concern as he stepped a little closer, as if to reassure himself that she was safe as well.
Keira shook her head. She didn’t want to ruin this night, not with such awful memories, but hadn’t she learned that no good comes of ignoring the past?
It refuses to be buried for long. “When I was gone… Where they took me-” The words died on her lips.
As much as she wanted to share her burden with him, she couldn’t, not yet.
“We can go back upstairs right now,” Caspian said. There was no reluctance or disappointment in his voice.
She considered it for a moment, tempted.
But something stopped her from accepting his offer.
Not that she believed it would hurt his feelings to ruin his plans.
She knew him well enough to know that her comfort meant more to him than that.
Keira simply could not bow down to the fear, to let it win this ground from her, to govern her choices.
One breath in. She trusted Caspian more than anything.
One breath out. The past was in the past.
This was another place, another time. She had survived Deepgate and its horrors.
She had made it back here, to the man she loved, to the life she had dreamed of, fought for.
There would be time to process what had happened, the scars she could feel inside her even now.
She couldn’t ignore the past, but she also couldn’t be ruled by it.
“I trust you,” Keira whispered surely.
“You don’t have to prove anything to me,” Caspian sighed. “If you’re not ready-”
Keira shook her head. “I want to.”