Chapter 7 #2
Jamie gave him a sharp look, but Kole replied, “We don’t know, but even though that creature and what Timith was becoming have similarities, that doesn’t mean they’re related. They could be entirely separate incidents. Right now, we just don’t know.”
I wrapped my arms tightly around myself because I distinctly remembered the excitement the creature felt when I’d shown up in the Wood after Kole. “But that thing in Inisville recognized me. I’m sure of it. I could feel its excitement when I arrived.”
Kole took a deep breath. “I felt that too.”
“Which means, in all likelihood, that all of this is connected even if it hasn’t been proven yet.” I mulled it over more. “Do you think that creature showed up in Inisville because of me?”
Kole and Jamie shared a veiled look, and even though Jamie shot him another warning glance, Kole nodded. “I was starting to suspect that. Each creature I killed in the first few days was near your proximity.”
“Kole,” Jamie growled.
I brought a hand to my forehead. “I don’t understand any of this or why someone’s after me or why they’d send creatures to hunt me but then want to turn me into a different version of one.”
Kole stepped closer, as though he was going to touch me, but he stopped the second Jamie’s aura heightened. “We’ll get to the bottom of this, Princess Primelle. I swear to you.”
“Kole,” Jamie growled again. “That’s enough information.”
Kole cut him a scathing look. “She saw the creature herself, Jamie. She felt the block that was placed in Verin’s mind.
She already knows all of this, and if that potion was intended for her, and she wants to stay informed, she should be.
If you have a problem with that, bring it up with the Council. ”
Jamie huffed, but something in me calmed. For the first time since meeting him, Kole wasn’t hiding things from me, and he wasn’t lying. Gratitude for him swept through me, and it hit me that even though he’d betrayed me, strangely, he seemed to be on my side. At least, at the moment.
I took a slow, shaky breath. “And my aunt and uncle? Will they be informed about this too?”
“No, but they’ll be safe.” Jamie’s response left no room for argument, so I didn’t push further.
“Prim?” Kole’s blue irises met mine, and a curl of dark hair fell over his eyebrow. “We must return to the palace. King’s orders.”
“Already?”
“I’m afraid so. There and back. No delays. No stops,” he replied, loosely quoting my father’s command. “We’ve already been here for quite some time.”
“Of course.” He was right, and I realized I had best heed my father’s demand.
After all, my parents hadn’t commanded me to use my wish as they saw fit.
The least I could do was respect their desire to keep me safe behind their warded walls, and given what I’d seen of Verin’s mind being shattered by whoever was behind this, their concern wasn’t for naught.
A truly ruthless enemy was behind all of this.
I nodded. “Let me say goodbye, and we can be on our way.”
Kole mistphased us back to the palace, into the exact chambers we’d left from. The air rustled around us, then stilled. Nobody was about. The door was still closed, and the windows were still too high for me to see out of, but evening light streamed into the room.
My gown swished around me, the crimson lace beneath the deep-purple skirts making an appearance.
“Do you need to tell Opalin and—” I shook my head.
“I mean, do you need to tell my parents that we’ve returned?
” I glanced up at Kole. His hand was still curled around mine, and his thick fingers felt warm and calloused.
It reminded me of our night together in the makeshift cave, when his body heat had kept the chill away, and I’d woken in the morning pressed intimately against him.
Unsteady breaths lifted my chest, and for a moment, for the slightest second, his gaze dipped to my heaving breasts.
Nostrils flaring in a sharp inhale, he abruptly let go of me and took a step back. His attention moved to something near the wall, and at his back, his huge sword gleamed in the fairy lights. “The wards would have alerted them. They’ll know we’re here.”
“Right, the wards.” His comment explained what he and Betsee had been referring to yesterday. “Will wards as strong as those around this palace be constructed at my aunt and uncle’s?”
“They will be.”
I breathed a sigh of relief, but I didn’t have time to ask anything further because a knock came at the door, and then Betsee was bustling inside, all smiles and limbs.
“Your Highness, you’ve returned, and not a moment too soon.
King Russem and Queen Oleander have planned a private supper they’d like you to attend. ”
My eyes widened. “Supper?”
“Indeed, but it’s nothing to worry over.
It’s a private affair, not large. They would like you to reacquaint yourself with your older sisters.
” Her smile stayed plastered on her face, but her gaze flickered briefly to the blue cuff on my wrist. The cuff that Kole had replaced after I’d interrogated Verin.
A cuff that supposedly contained my magic and wouldn’t allow me to hurt others.
Awareness hit me like a bolt of lightning. Perhaps that was why the cuff had been forced on me. It wasn’t to contain my magic. My parents knew it couldn’t.
But others possibly didn’t know that.
I swallowed the sharp rise of hurt that rose in my chest. Because for the first time since meeting her, a hint of fear shone in Betsee’s eyes. She’d obviously been informed of who I truly was, and she obviously hoped the cuff was keeping her safe from me.
I fiddled with the cuff and smiled brightly in hopes of putting her at ease. But despite my efforts, the lady attendant’s expression stayed wooden, and her aura bled with the underlying hint of terror.
My heart crumbled that this servant who’d been nothing but welcoming and kind to me was now looking at me with thinly veiled horror.
Behind me, Kole shifted closer, his aura potent and swamped with protectiveness. Out of nowhere, his palm met my lower back, as though he were going to guide me forward, but he didn’t move.
My breath caught at the feel of him. Heat seared through my gown’s satiny material, and he said in a deep tone that left no room for argument, “If you fear the princess, Betsee, I can assure you, your fears are for naught. You won’t meet a kinder, braver, more loving, more devoted female than the one standing before you.
You should be honored to serve her.” His last sentence was said so passionately, so vehemently.
I whipped my gaze to his, but he was staring at Betsee with such intensity that it was as though Kole believed the words he’d just uttered.
Something in my chest tightened. Magic roiled through my limbs, again seeking his, and it struck me that he’d come to my defense, and he hadn’t needed to.
There was nothing in a warrior’s duty that demanded that Kole fight my verbal battles.
Yet once again, it felt as though he was on my side. As if he’d always been on my side.
My brow furrowed, and confusion swamped me. Because Kole had still betrayed me. He’d still taken the Stone from me.
But did he have a choice?
My frown grew. Because if Kole hadn’t taken the Wishing Stone, he would have defied his king, defied the Imperial Council .
. . Swift and brutal punishment would have come to him.
And somehow, someway, the Council and my parents would have found a way to get the Stone from me regardless, and then Kole would have been hauled before the Supernatural Courts. I never would have seen him again.
My confusion morphed into contemplation. Kole was smart. He would have known all of that. If he hadn’t taken the Stone as instructed, ultimately, I never would have seen him again, and he likely would have already been charged as a criminal.
So maybe he chosen the lesser of two evils. And given the way he continued to act around me, I knew he’d taken no pleasure in hurting me.
My feelings oscillated back and forth, and I almost missed Betsee’s reply, but then her stuttering words snapped me back to their conversation.
“I’m so . . . Oh dear, oh my . . . I’m sorry. I just . . .” Betsee floundered, then lifted her hands in defeat.
Kole’s voice gentled. “It’s natural to be afraid, but you don’t need to fear her, Betsee. I give you my word on that.”
Tears sprouted in the servant’s eyes, and her chin wobbled. “Apologies, Your Highness. I meant no disrespect. I just—”
“It’s all right,” I replied and smiled reassuringly. “Truly, it is.”
Kole dropped his hand, and cool air flowed over my back where his palm had been. He retreated but still stayed close.
I smiled again at the lady’s attendant. “I only learned this morning of my lineage, and like Kole said, I can understand your fear. I grew up hearing terrifying stories of Princess Primelle as well. Your fear is warranted based upon those tales, but please, don’t be afraid of me.
” I took a step closer to her, and I was relieved that she didn’t retreat.
“I promise I will never hurt you. Never. You can be assured of that.”
She peered at me, her eyes wide, and perhaps it was something in my tone, or the way Kole had so passionately given his word that I would never harm her, but the servant dipped her chin, and her hands loosened their death grip. “Of course. I’m sorry, Your Highness.”
I clasped one of her hands, and she gasped, but all I did was squeeze her once and then let go. “No apologies needed. Thank you for listening.”
She released a shallow breath, then gave me a tentative smile. “If you would like, I can take you to where supper is being held.”
I squared my shoulders. “Thank you, Betsee. Please lead the way.”