55. Princess Esemeray
PRINCESS ESEMERAY
Esemeray’s pulse beat violently in her throat. She didn’t trust Izara. One look in those emerald eyes, and Esemeray could feel her shadows wanting to come out and play.
And then she heard those dark, sinful voices plaguing her mind.“Esemeray, Esemeray, Esemeray.” She took a deep breath, pretending like she didn’t hear them, but not for long. Obsidian fog seeped from her fingers, spilling to the floor and crept toward Izara.
No, no, no. Not now. Her tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth. She closed her eyes, and spoke to the voices through her mind, praying it would work,“Go back to where you came from…now!”
“She speaks to us,” the voices said, the shadows disappearing as quickly as they came. “As you wish.”
Esemeray’s hands shook uncontrollably. What’s inside of me?
Izara walked closer to Esemeray, and sneered, “What are you?”
Did she see the shadows?
Esemeray held her stare, her breaths coming in faster. “What are you?”
“I asked first,” Izara bit out, her tone cold and full of disgust.
“She’s my cousin,” Riggs cut in, angling himself in front of Esemeray. “We should head back to your father’s study.”
“It’s my grandfather’s study,” Izara corrected, crinkling her nose. “But of course, baby.”
Esemeray’s chest burned. She tried her hardest to keep her features neutral, but the sullen look overtaking her face won.
She didn’t know what to think of this. The room.
The heavy smell of incense and spices. The glass case, full of wooden, odd sculptures.
The bed. All of it. Why is Riggs allowing this?
Or perhaps he wasn’t at all. Perhaps Izara forced him down here.
Esemeray needed to remain calm herself before the shadows reacted again.
“Does anyone live down here?” Killian questioned, lightening the tension. “Or is it just yours and Oliver’s playroom?”
Esemeray’s brows rose to her hairline, certain she’d misread Killian’s implication. Riggs stifled a laugh, but Killian didn’t find it funny, not as he towered over Izara with a clenched jaw.
Izara scoffed, adjusting the crown on her head. “We should head back.”
“Right.” Killian searched her face, his lip curling back. “Why are we still standing here then?”
Izara scoffed, pushing past Esemeray, ascending the stairs, and snickered, “Again, this area is not for guests, but because I’m marrying Riggs, it will be our little secret.” She disappeared into the lights above.
Esemeray crossed her arms over her chest, biting her tongue from what she truly wished to call her. Bitch.
“Things are not right here. We need to go,” Killian ordered. “Now.”
Riggs shook his head. “All of this would be for nothing. I need to access the library. We are so close to discovering the truth.”
Killian went silent for a moment, his brows bunching as if considering.
Riggs said with a long, long sigh, brushing Esemeray’s shoulder, “Em, I am sorry about her.”
“You should go…” Esemeray stepped out of his touch in fear she’d lose control. “Before she notices you’re not behind her.”
“She’s right.” Killian said, “Just be safe, I don’t trust anyone here. After the library, we leave. Got it.”
Riggs nodded, his features softening. “Em?—”
“Are you coming, Rigsby?” Izara called out from above, her voice chilling Esemeray to the bone.
Riggs grimaced. He didn’t leave—not yet. “I’m not leaving until I know you’re okay.”
Esemeray blinked. “I am not upset.” She motioned toward the stairs. “Go.”
“Okay…” Riggs shifted on his feet, planting a kiss on Esemeray’s cheek before ascending the stairs.
Killian waited for Riggs to reach the top level before he looked at Esemeray and declared, “I know who killed the servant.”