CHAPTER EIGHTEEN ISI
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
ISI
Iwoke confined to my room, my choices, and my father’s cage. But Mae’s heavy look when she arrived with my ladies told me I wouldn’t be alone in this fight.
“You look like you wrestled a storm last night,” Lexie whispered as she fluffed the pale-yellow morning gown lying across my bed.
“I couldn’t sleep.”
My ladies murmured sympathy.
While they were busy, Lexie slipped a small piece of folded paper into my hand. I hurried into the bathing chamber, closing the door behind me and leaning against it, opening the note.
Trew’s handwriting. Your Highness, the gardens report no unusual activity this morning. Remain vigilant; strength lies in patience.
On the surface, this was a bland guard’s update. But I read the hints woven between the lines. “Remain vigilant” meant he was watching over me. “Strength lies in patience” told me that we’d endure this separation.
The words wrapped around my heart like a promise. Knowing he was here for me made it much easier to face the day ahead.
After tucking the note into the back of the linen closet, I washed and returned to my bedroom.
My ladies helped me into the gown, fussing over the laces and folds. Mae hovered near, her touch almost maternal as she smoothed my hair.
“You need proper rest, Your Highness,” she said, concern etching her brow. “Perhaps a nap this afternoon?”
“I’m fine but thank you, Mae. I have too much on my agenda today for anything like that.”
After the others finished pinning my hair into an elaborate confection on the top of my head, I turned to them with a smile.
“That will be all for now, ladies. I’ll take breakfast here.
Lexie, please ensure it’s brought to my room and that there’s plenty.
I may not have slept well, but I am hungry. ” Not truly, but she’d get the message.
Two of my ladies started toward the door while two others quickly started putting things away.
I walked into the sitting room and over to the window. The sun was struggling to poke its beams through misty clouds. It had rained last night, and speckles covered the window.
Gavelle, perched on a branch, dipped his beak my way.
“And Lexie,” I called out as the outer door opened again. “Would you ask my bodyguard, Blain, to come inside for a moment?”
“Of course, Princess.”
I heard her tell Trew that I needed him, plus a guard grumbling something I couldn’t understand.
When Trew stepped inside, his gaze sought mine. He carefully shut the door.
“We’re alone,” I whispered. “Not for long, though.”
After crafting wards, he pulled me in hard, his arms banding around me, his face pressing into my hair. He said nothing. Just held on, his chest rising and falling against mine, his grip tight enough to tell me everything words couldn’t.
When he finally loosened his hold, his hands settled on my waist, stroking the sensitive skin above my hip bones through my gown. Heat pooled low in my belly at the simple touch.
“I’ve been thinking about you all night,” he rasped. “I was worried. I wanted to hold you, make sure you were alright.”
“I am now, with you here.” I remembered how he'd cupped my face last night, demanding I look at him. He showed the same intensity now, but softer and full of longing.
His gaze dropped to my mouth, and his jaw clenched. “I want to kiss you properly. I want to show you exactly how much you mean to me. But if I start, I won’t be able to stop, and we don’t have time for what I need from you.”
The words sent fire through my veins.
I traced my fingers across his face. “You look tired.”
He shrugged. “Victor relieved me for a bit, and I slept.”
“Where?”
“With the other guards. It’s comfortable enough.”
And hopefully not for long. We had a lot to do and very little time to do it, but we’d find a way.
“I can’t stay here for much longer,” he said.
“One day, we’ll have all the time in the world.”
His hand slid up my spine, pressing me closer. “I keep thinking about the bridge. How close I came to losing you. How I stood there useless while he—”
“You weren’t useless.” I stroked his face. “You were there. That’s what mattered.”
“Not close enough.” He glided his thumb across my lower lip. “Never close enough.”
The air between us charged, electric with everything we couldn’t say and couldn’t do.
“Every night I stand outside your door,” he said. “Knowing you’re just beyond that wood. Knowing I can’t—”
I silenced him with a kiss.
He responded, his mouth claiming mine with a desperation that matched my own. His hands moved to my hair, destroying my ladies’ careful work as his fingers tangled in the pins.
“Minx,” he groaned against my lips. “We can’t—”
“I know.” But I didn’t pull away. Neither did he.
His kisses turned deeper, more demanding. One hand slid down my side, tracing the curve of my waist, my hip. The other cradled the back of my head, holding me exactly where he wanted me.
I pressed closer, needing more, caressing the planes of his chest, feeling his heart thunder beneath my palms.
“I want to ignore whoever might come to that door,” he said against my throat. “I ache to show you exactly how much restraint I’ve been exercising.”
“Then show me.”
His hands tightened on my waist. “Don’t look at me like you’re thinking the same thing I am.”
“I am thinking the same thing.” I rose on my toes again, bringing my mouth closer to his. “This is torture.”
“Exquisite torture,” he said, his gaze dropping to my lips. “But worth the wait.”
Someone banged on the door.
We froze, breathing hard.
“I have to go,” he said. “Stay safe.”
But neither of us moved. His hands remained on my waist. Mine still pressed against his chest.
The banging came again, more insistent.
He pinched his eyes closed, his inner struggle showing in the lines on his face. When his eyes opened, he focused them on me. “We will be together again. Never think anything but that.”
He strode to the door and opened it. The head guard from last night stood in the hall, scowling at Trew.
Before he could speak, Lexie nudged the guard aside. “Out of the way, if you please. I have Her Highness’s breakfast.” She bustled inside with Kerralyn following, a tray loaded with food in her hands and a somber expression on her face.
“I’ll ensure that’s done for you, Princess.” Trew strode out into the hall without a backward glance.
I pressed a hand to my racing heart, willing my breathing to slow. His ward hummed, a reminder of his protection.
Kerralyn placed a tray on the low table in front of the sofa and turned to look my way, sympathy in her eyes.
Lexie slammed the door in the guard’s face and turned the lock. “There. Nosy man.”
We settled around the low table, the aroma of fresh tea and warm pastries cutting through the tension in the room.
“You’re alright?” Kerralyn whispered, pouring tea and placing a pastry on a linen cloth and handing it to me.
I nodded, not wanting her to worry. My friends had enough to think about already.
She served herself and Lexie, and we ate, sipping our tea.
The pastry tasted like sawdust, but I ate it and another. Food in my belly would help me face what was coming today.
As we finished, Lexie squeezed my hand. “You killed a man, and you’re still standing. You’re already a queen.”
I hushed her with a look, but warmth bloomed in my chest.
“Did you two discover anything?” I asked.
“I did some digging.” Lexie’s voice dropped. “I talked with some dungeon guards last night. Flirted a bit, played the wide-eyed new lady’s maid. They mentioned that there’s an old woman down there, that she’s been locked up for years. No one knows why.”
The woman who’d helped me escape.
“I’m going to help her,” I said softly.
“Let me know when, and I’ll distract the guards,” Lexie said. “Someone I know well and love has joined that group, by the way. He’ll…assist as he’s able.”
“Perfect.”
“I overheard some chatter in the kitchens while scrubbing pots,” Kerralyn said.
“The head cook’s a gossip when he drinks ale.
Someone asked why there were so many guards around and the cook said that the king has been like this since Amarissa left to travel to meet suitors in the north.
He said Commander Thorne might also be part of the reason, but when I asked why, the chef went silent.
He actually looked terrified. Everyone got back to work fast, and no one said anything further. ”
“I’m not sure how me traveling played a role, but Thorne left quickly for a completely different reason. Unless him rescuing Addie has made my father paranoid.”
We stared at each other with all sorts of reasons for his behavior jumbling through our minds. It wasn’t like him to be this worried. He’d always been strong. Mean, too, especially after my mother died.
I placed the cover over the now-empty platter and looked between them. “Can you both stay a bit longer? I want to take another look at that book I found in the library. In my bedroom, if you don’t mind.”
“I can stay a bit,” Kerralyn said, glancing toward the door. “The chef told me to wait in the hall for the tray.” Her lips pursed. “If he grumbles about how long I’ve been, I’ll make up a story about how you needed help with something. Frankly, he won’t say much as long as I get back to my dishes.”
“I’m your lady,” Lexie said, rising and giving me a grand curtsy. “I’m yours to command.”
We went to the bedroom, where the real work waited.