Epilogue Aria
Water dripped from the ceiling, falling onto the cold stone floor in a steady rhythm. The sound had been her only entertainment for far longer than she cared to admit.
Two weeks in this shit hole was not what she had planned for. But she would find a way to get out. She couldn’t fail now; not after the most important part of her plan worked. But there was still something else she needed to do.
Kill the queen.
Luckily Colette held up her end of the deal and was exactly where she said she would be—fucking the king in the horse stables. It was just the amount of trauma to ignite the shadows inside of Esemeray and cause that damn necklace to turn dormant. But it had not been enough to fully awaken them?—
She had to think deeper, more traumatic?—
Even if it pained her to do it. It had to be done.
Gods bless Mr. Pebbles’s soul.
Aria dropped her head against the stone behind her.
Not everyone was easy to manipulate, but at least Colette was.
Aria held the one thing Colette wanted over her head.
Captain Tristen Rutherford.
Too bad the captain wants me.
Aria smirked, staring at endless rows of empty cages. She was the only one down in this hellhole. Someone to talk to would be nice.
She sighed, guilt pulling her into another spiral.
Just one more thing to do, and back to Levaruin.
Her stomach twisted. She longed to see Torin, however, she could do without facing Maximus, her coven leader.
Insufferable bastard.
At least her back up plan worked out in her favor. Her brother, Conwell was supposed to show up at the masquerade ball, and escort Esemeray through the tunnels—but he never showed up.
That little shit.
He failed yet again.
When she saw him, she’d strangle that twerp.
Aria kicked herself off the wall, her eye lingering on a spot across from her. The same one she looked at every day. Claw marks marred the wall as if there were a beast down here at one point.
She liked looking at it—it soothed her.
A small reminder—we are all beasts trapped in a cage.
Aria huffed, her gaze falling to the floor. I hope Esemeray understands why I had to do what I did eight years ago…
The main dungeon door rattled open, shaking the walls.
Aria straightened her spine and rested her forehead along the cold metal bars, putting on a fake smile. Finally the guards are here to deliver me dinner. She was starving and needed to relieve herself.
Aria’s voice echoed as she called out, “It’s about damn time.”
“Shut your mouth, Creswell,” one of the heavier guards growled as his group passed by. Her eyes grew wide at the sight of the unconscious man they were hauling in, his feet dragging along the floor.
Chills spread down her spine from the energy seeping from him. Slowly, she tip-toed away. There was something off with him. Something dark.
Aria chimed, “Oh yay, I got a cell mate.”
“I said, shut your fucking mouth, Creswell!” the guard roared, baring his rotten teeth. She backed up another step as they threw the dark-haired male on the floor across from her cell, tossing a cloth over his body.
The lock echoed in her skull as the guards turned the key and walked off, not bothering to say another word.
Aria muttered, “So much for dinner.”
Ignoring her growling stomach, she inched closer, assessing the handsome figure.
His golden, muscular chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm, his eyelids fluttering as if they would open at any second.
Her eyes trailed the dark serpent inked around his neck, her breath catching in her chest. A tattoo with ink made from magic itself.
Who is he?