CHAPTER 39
Arenn wasn’t there when I woke up the following evening, nor was he present when a faery servant briefly unlocked the door to deliver a tray of breakfast. The food looked delicious, and I couldn’t hide the rumbling in my stomach as the servant lifted the silver plate coverings. But still, I couldn’t bring myself to eat – not when all I could think about was Lukas. Was he trapped here too? Were they at least feeding him? Or was he locked away, hidden deep in a cell somewhere, being tortured by a wicked faery prince?
I shivered, the smell of the food suddenly making me feel queasy.
Yesterday, or shortly after whenever Arenn had left me in his chambers – it was so hard to tell the time in a windowless underground palace – half a dozen faery servants had filtered into the room. They’d helped me prepare for bed and replaced the travelling gown I was wearing with a shimmering nightdress. The fabric was so thin I could see the outline of my fingers when I dipped them beneath the skirt. I wasn’t sure if Arenn had joined me in bed after that since I fell asleep so quickly, but if he had, I hoped he’d been gentlemanly enough to at least keep his eyes, and his hands, to himself.
An hour or so after breakfast had been delivered, I heard the door unlock again. The same servants hurried into the room, this time with a floor-length faery gown in their pastel-coloured arms. Not wanting to spend any longer in my almost translucent nightgown, I allowed them to lace me into it. Though I probably should’ve taken a closer look at the gown first. The midnight blue fabric was barely opaque and the skirt was more of a thin panel that exposed the sides of my legs up to my hips. The neckline was also scandalous, swooping low as it barely covered my chest, leaving far too little to the imagination. Even for a faery, this outfit would be improper, and I dreaded to think why Arenn had chosen for me to wear this – of all the gowns in the kingdom.
Just as the faery servants were finishing threading tiny blue flowers into the curls of my hair, the door swung open. The sound made me stiffen, but I recognised the sound of his heavy boot steps long before my glare caught him in the vanity mirror.
“You shine brighter than the caverns today, dear human,” Arenn announced, shooing the servants away with a few flicks of his wrists. “How did you sleep?”
I didn’t answer, choosing instead to remain silent as I sat rigidly on the small stool by his vanity station. He might control where I go and how I dress, but he did not control my words.
The prince sauntered closer, clearly not bothered by my lack of response. His hands brushed my exposed arms in slow, sweeping motions as he stood behind me, admiring the servants’ work.
“You really do look exquisite,” he murmured while continuing to stroke my arms. “But something is missing… hidden away behind your pretty hair.”
Forcing down a shiver, I felt his fingers hook around my hair, sweeping it away from my neck and resting it all on one shoulder.
“There.” He smiled, stooping until his face was beside mine in the mirror. “Now everyone can see that you belong to me.”
A deep wave of shame hit me as I noticed just what he was referring to. Marring the side of my neck, blooming softly on my skin, was a small rosebud-sized bruise. It didn’t hurt, but clearly that was not Arenn’s intention when he put it there two sleeps ago. It was a visible reminder of my biggest mistake yet, second only to agreeing to marry him. Just looking at it made me feel ill.
I’d never let him kiss me like that again.
“Don’t look so displeased,” Arenn said, drawing back from the mirror. “You’ll be delighted to hear I have a surprise for you.” A devious smile pulled at his lips. “He’s waiting in the royal dining hall.”
My heart fluttered for the briefest moment before immediately sinking in my chest.
Lukas.
I whipped around to face the faery prince.
“What have you done?” My lower lip trembled both with rage and fear. So many horrible, awful visions flooded my mind. “If you’ve killed him, I swear, Arenn, I’ll never forgive you!”
“Relax, Princess.” He grinned. “Your precious prince is alive and well. My new sister is taking very, very good care of him.” He laughed lazily. “In fact, she’s arranged for us all to have lunch together in the dining hall. We’ll leave as soon as you’re ready.” His slender fingers swiped the bottom of my chin, tilting my face up to meet his gaze. “Do take your time, though. I want you to look your best when he sees you. I want him to know exactly what he’s missing, and what I now possess.” He smiled, then planted a cold kiss against my lips.
The scandalous gown, the love bite on my neck – it all made sense now. I was merely a trophy. A toy for a jealous prince to show off and prove to the world that he had won. I almost refused. If it weren’t for the chance of seeing Lukas again, I never would’ve gone.
But I had to see him again, even if it was for one last time.
“I’m ready,” I said flatly.
I could hear his screams long before the guards had even opened the huge doors that led to the royal dining room. Each roar of pain shattered my heart over and over again, while Arenn only chuckled.
“Sounds like it’s playtime! I hope she saves a piece for me.” He grinned hungrily, as though we were about to feast our eyes on a slice of vanilla cake rather than a tortured human prince.
It made me feel ill.
When the guards finally heaved the giant wooden doors apart, my gaze found him immediately. His limp body was sprawled across a long dark quartz dining table, surrounded by at least a dozen chairs. Every few seconds, he was tossed up into the air and then slammed down again by invisible hands. Each impact, another cry, followed by the awful sounds of bones breaking.
“STOP!” I screamed, racing towards him. There were other guests there too, sitting around the table, but I barely even spared them a glance. In that moment, it was only the two of us, and all I could focus on was how lifeless he looked and how his once-perfect skin was covered with layers upon layers of fresh bruises. Were it not for the yelps of pain, I’d be searching for a heartbeat.
“Lukas?” I pleaded, holding either side of his face. “Lukas, can you hear me? Please answer me.”
My own tears hit his cheeks as he struggled to form a reply. “Naria?” he wheezed in a strained voice. “You shouldn’t be here.” He coughed, wincing at the movement.
“It’s alright.” I spoke softly, breathing through relieved sobs while stroking his cheek. “I followed you into the woods to help. I’ll heal you, I’ll—”
“Arenn, could you please control your beloved? She’s interrupting our entertainment.” A frustrated woman’s voice made me flinch. Glancing up, I noticed Seraphina – or Lyssi, as I’d recently discovered – sitting at the head of the table. She wore a deep red faery gown with a plunging neckline. The typical pale blue hood was nowhere to be seen, so her faery features were on full display, and her sharp eyes glared daggers at Arenn who hadn’t yet left the doorway.
“You’ve injured him so badly, he’s barely conscious,” Arenn complained, crossing his arms across his chest. “That wasn’t part of the deal, Lyssi.”
She stiffened at the sound of her name. “It’s Lyssandra,” she corrected. “Lyssi died eighteen years ago, thanks to that scum.” She jabbed her finger across the dining table, and it was only then that I realised just how many people there were.
Sitting on either side of Lyssandra were the Faery King and Queen, both looking equally uncomfortable. The Queen fidgeted nervously with her wine goblet, and even the King was sitting far too rigidly in his seat. Next to Queen Amabel was Erissa. Her gown was dirty, and she’d been stripped of any jewels, but still, she didn’t seem too concerned with the situation. She watched Lukas with a bored expression, twirling her fork in circles on her empty silver plate. Opposite her was Ikelos. His entire body was so thin and frail, he could barely keep upright in his seat. The cream tunic he wore had been ruined by thick streaks of mud, as if he’d been dragged straight from his bedchamber and then all the way through the forest to get here. And his eyes, though heavy with cobwebs, darted around anxiously as Lyssandra aimed her slender finger directly at him.
“You’re the real reason for all of this, aren’t you, Ikelos?” she hissed viciously. “Actually, don’t answer that. I’ve already decided if I hear another word from you, I’ll cut out your tongue!” She laughed, her high pitched cackle sending a visible ripple of fear through the guests around the table – everyone except for Erissa who was still absentmindedly twirling her fork.
“A deal was a deal though, brother. You’ll get your moment.” Lyssandra pushed up from her seat, letting it scrape loudly across the marble floor. She marched over to where Ikelos was hunched, placing one hand on his forehead and the other on Lukas’s chest. A breath of silence passed before she scrunched up her face and began muttering foreign words. Then, Ikelos groaned in pain while Lukas gasped, arching his back and writhing.
“What are you doing?” I demanded. “Stop it! You’re hurting them!”
She ignored me, continuing to mutter the strange phrases. Tears clouded my vision. This couldn’t be the end. There had to be a way to stop this. I was debating smashing a plate against Lyssandra’s head when I noticed the strangest thing – the red and purple blemishes on Lukas’s skin were beginning to fade.
My mouth fell open. Any scrapes sealed themselves, and his skin returned to a healthy glow. Even the dark circles under his lashes were fading, too.
“You’re healing him?” I breathed.
“Not healing, just transferring some of Ikelos’s lifeforce,” Lyssandra grumbled. “It’s not as if he’ll have much use for it later anyway.” She then stepped back, swaying a little as Lukas’s eyes snapped open. He sat bolt upright on the table, gasping for breath, and immediately I reached for him.
“Lukas?” I panicked. “How do you feel? Please tell me you’re alright.”
He struggled to catch his breath as he turned to face me. “Naria, I-I thought you were a dream.”
My hands cupped his jaw again, and for a few small moments, there was peace – until I noticed his gaze catch on something else as his entire body stiffened.
“You!” he snarled, glaring at Lyssandra. “You’re a traitor! You betrayed us.” Twisting away from her, he grabbed my shoulders urgently. “You need to get out of here now, Naria. That woman, that… thing, whatever she is, she’s insane.”
Suddenly, I was yanked away when another, much colder hand clamped down on my wrist.
“And she’s also the least of your problems now, princeling,” Arenn threatened, forcing me close to his chest. I tried to break free, but his grip was too strong. “If you touch my betrothed again, I won’t hesitate to kill you.”
Lukas was speechless. But only for a few heartbeats. “Betrothed?” he echoed, as if he hadn’t quite heard him correctly.
Tears made rivers in my cheeks while I quietly mouthed the words, “I’m sorry.”
“Yes, little princeling,” Arenn purred, running his fingers down my exposed arms. “Now you know you should’ve married her when you had the chance.” He gripped my cheeks, nuzzling his face into my hair. “I’m so looking forward to our wedding night. Although, now she’s here, it’ll be hard to wait. She smells so… sweet.”
“Don’t you dare touch her!” Lukas roared, slamming his fist down onto the table. He leapt at Arenn. And was barely inches away when suddenly he was forced backwards, landing roughly in the chair beside Ikelos. Desperately, he fought against the invisible chains, but they were too strong. No amount of thrashing let him move even a little from the chair he was pinned to.
“There’ll be no fighting at the dinner table, boys,” Lyssandra chided, waggling her finger as though they were just two misbehaving children. “And you,” she shot a glare at Arenn, “stop causing trouble and sit down. Don’t make me use magic on my own family.”
“Of course, dear sister.” Arenn smiled sweetly, leading me over to a chair opposite Lukas. I went to reach for the chair, but he smoothly sat down first and pulled me into his lap instead. “You can sit right here, fiancée.” The faery prince’s arm curled around my waist before I even had a chance to push myself away.
“Now we’re all seated, we should eat!” Lyssandra announced with an excited grin, clapping her hands together as though this was a perfectly normal family dinner.
While the servants poured in with plates of steaming food, I risked a glance at Lukas. His steel eyes were fixed on Arenn, with a burning rage like I’d never seen before.