Chapter 12
Twelve
Marian isn’t in my room when I return. None of my ladies are. It’s a welcome reprieve from all the people I interacted with all night.
After our fourth dance, Caiden introduced me to so many people that I can’t remember a single name. It was an endless barrage of shallow compliments and invitations that I smiled through while my betrothed kept me so close I was nearly pressed against him all night.
Being alone, without anyone touching me, is exactly what I need. Even if it is short-lived. I know Marian will return soon enough to help me out of my gown.
I fall to my knees in the middle of my room. Tilting my head back, I close my eyes and breathe. It’s the first time I’ve been alone in days, and the silence is stunning.
Something rumbles, and my eyes snap open. I look around the room, then I hear the sound again. Quickly, I jump to my feet and race to my bathroom. Lee is closing the secret door behind him.
“What are you doing here?” I hiss. “You can’t be here. They were chasing down rebels who broke in tonight. And by the way, they’re letting them in so they can kill them off one by one.”
“Them, huh? Not us? Have you so quickly joined the aristocracy?”
“This isn’t a joke, Lee. You can’t send anyone else in here.”
“Last I checked, the way the rebellion is run isn’t your decision,” he says. “You made that clear when you told me you were leaving.”
“Yet, here I am, deeper than any other member,” I point out.
He grins. “Yes, that’s true.”
“The emperor’s alive,” I blurt.
“What? You saw him?”
“I did. And he looks terrible. They said he hasn’t returned to the temple to replenish his magic in a while.
I think maybe that’s how he stays immortal.
And right now, he might be vulnerable. Can you get someone close enough to him to take him down?
Before Darkfall. That’s when they give new people magic.
That must be when he’ll refill whatever magic he uses. ”
As much as I’d like to be the one who ends the emperor, this opportunity is too good to waste. Someone with more skills should do it so we don’t miss out.
“Darkfall. That doesn’t give us much time. We were hoping for more.” His brows knit and his jaw tenses.
“More time? No. It has to be as soon as possible. We can’t wait. And you should know that the prince has magic unlike anything I’ve ever seen. He can wield shadows that are corporeal and use elemental magic. Fire. Probably other types as well. He’s powerful, Lee.”
“That’s impossible.”
“I’ve seen it.” I shudder at the memory of those shadows squeezing me.
“That changes things. It’s going to make him harder to kill.”
“I can do it.”
“That’s not why you’re here.”
“It has to be me. I’m the only one who can get close enough.”
Lee takes a step toward me. “How close, Taylan? Are you already in his bed?”
“That’s none of your business,” I snap.
“It is if I think you might be compromised,” he says.
“Are you kidding me right now? You think I would support them?” I move closer to him, my voice getting louder with each word. “After everything they’ve done to my family? After everything they’ve done to our city? Our people?”
He grabs my wrist, then presses against my stomach, covering most of my scar with his large hand. “Remember where you came from and the price you’ve already paid.”
I set my hand on top of his. How could I ever forget the night I got that scar?
He releases my wrist then reaches for my face. “I don’t know what I’d do if anything happened to you.” He leans down. “I can’t lose you.”
“I’m not yours anymore, Lee.”
“But you could be.” He tilts my chin up and closes his eyes.
I turn so his lips touch my cheek instead of my mouth before backing away. “I can’t.”
He sighs as he runs a hand through his hair. “Alright. I get it. You’re not ready.”
“I’m never going to be ready. You made your choice, and I made mine.”
“Right. Old habits die hard, I guess.” He turns and starts toward the secret door.
“Lee? Where does that tunnel lead?” I ask.
“The City of the Dead,” he says.
A chill runs down my spine. The City of the Dead is a series of crumbling tunnels and chambers filled with the bodies of the deceased.
Catacombs from the time before the king.
I spent a lot of time down there the first few years we lived in the city.
It is one of the only places you can hide from the Night Legion.
For some reason, their magic doesn’t work there.
“Oh, Lee?”
“Yeah?”
“We really do need to make all this happen before Darkfall. I don’t know how much longer I can fool them.” At least, not without compromising myself. The way Caiden spoke to me tonight, the way he touched me…
“Alright. Before Darkfall. Find out where the emperor sleeps. Then, hang your ruby, and I’ll come back to relay the final details.” He presses his palm to the wall and pushes. The secret panel slides to the side behind the rest of the wall, revealing a dark tunnel.
There’s a knock at my door, and my eyes widen. “Hurry. Go.” Without looking back, I rush to my bedroom, then open the main door. Caiden is waiting outside. Two legionnaires stand on each side of him. He’s holding a black rose in his hand.
“Your Highness,” I say, giving a little nod. “It’s rather late.”
“I know. But I realized I never greeted you properly when you arrived.” He hands me the flower.
It’s an odd gesture, but I take the flower.
“Walk with me?”
“Now?” It’s nearly midnight, but I’m still in my gown.
“I won’t keep you too long.” He extends his hand.
“Alright. One minute.” I rush into my room and set the flower down on the small table in front of the couch, then return to where Caiden is waiting for me.
I walk alongside him, and I notice that none of the legionnaires are following us. “Should I be worried?”
“I’m just taking you for a stroll in the gardens.”
“Without anyone to watch over me?” I point out.
“There wasn’t anyone there when we had dinner or when we practiced dancing.”
“They were right outside the door. And you have warned me about how my life serves only your ambitions.”
“‘Ambitions’ is a strange way to put it,” he says.
“How else do you describe your goals of obtaining a disposable army and use them to gain more territory?” I ask.
He makes an amused sound. “You have been listening to me.”
“Of course, I’m listening. Even your father said as much at dinner.” I’m getting annoyed by how much he underestimates me, but then again, it’s better if he does.
He takes us down a narrow staircase that leads to a plain hallway lined with wood doors. One of the doors opens, and a servant steps into the hall. Her eyes widen when she sees us, and she quickly retreats back into the room.
Caiden doesn’t seem to notice that the woman was terrified of him.
Of us.
Because the servants don’t know that I’m more like them. But am I anymore? I’m wearing a dress that would have fed my family for months, and I’ve had full meals and warm blankets. I’m playing a role, but it already feels like I’m not the same person I was.
When we reach the end of the hall, Caiden opens a door that leads outside.
We’re at the back of the castle in an area I haven’t seen before.
A path extends before us, lined with tiny sparkling lights.
On each side are gray stone sculptures of women wearing floral headdresses in sheer flowing dresses.
It’s exquisite artistry. They look so real, I half expect the sculptures to move.
They look out of place compared to the other art I’ve seen here.
Further along, the statues are replaced by hedges, similar to the ones that enclose the castle.
These are only a foot or so taller than me, though.
Not as towering and ominous as the ones at the border.
I pause and look at the thick glossy leaves.
In the faint light, I can tell they’re a very dark green.
Not completely black as I initially thought.
“This way. I want to show you my mother’s garden,” Caiden says.
It feels like a different world as we walk between the hedges. I glance over my shoulder and note that we’re fairly isolated. You’d have to be at exactly the correct angle to see us.
We reach an iron gate, and Caiden pushes it open.
Behind it is a garden, walled in by more hedges.
Rows and rows of flowers fill the space.
Stone benches and animal statues are scattered around.
It’s probably meant to be joyous and serene.
But in the dim flickering light, the dark plants and weatherworn creatures look dangerous.
“This was where she spent most of her time,” Caiden says. “She loved this garden.”
“It’s beautiful,” I say, because how can I tell him this place is horrifying?
I lean down and inspect the flowers. I think I see roses, marigolds, sage, and lavender. But they’re all so dark they appear black. As I lean closer, I grow more sure there’s no color in any of them.
“I’ve never seen flowers like this,” I say.
He crouches next to me. “Something about her magic made everything she touched change. All the plants she grew lost their color. I remember her having other people plant them for her, but as soon as she went near them, the color faded into this.”
My heart aches for her. I never appreciated color so much until I got here.
I can’t imagine not having it in my life.
A rabbit sculpture stares up at me from between the leaves of a lavender bush.
The plant smells like it should, which is strange when the darkness of the leaves and flowers makes it almost appear dead.
“Did she do that with other living things?” I ask. “Animals or people?”
“No. Just plants. Her magic was unique.”
“How is it that all the legionnaires end up with the same shadow magic but others get such different kinds?” I ask.
“It’s up to the gods. You can request, but ultimately, we don’t choose.” He stands, then offers his hand to me.
I accept it numbly and let him guide me to standing. “So the gods gave you fire and shadows?”
He smirks. “Among other things.”
My brow furrows. “Like what?”
“Maybe I’ll show you someday,” he says. “Perhaps after you gain your own magic.”
“What?” It feels like I’ve been slapped in the face. “I don’t have any magic.”
“Not yet. But after you go to the temple at Darkfall, you will.” Caiden steps over a vine that’s snaked its way across the path and continues deeper into the garden. “Or you’ll be dead.”
I follow his lead, avoiding the twisting black tendrils that stretch across the walkway. “I don’t want magic.”
“I didn’t ask you if you wanted it.”
“Why would I need it?” I press.
“Every empress must enter the temple and be judged by the gods. My mother did.”
“I thought your mother only went in because she was desperate. I thought women weren’t allowed.”
He chuckles. “Who told you that?”
“One of my ladies,” I admit.
“Well, nice to know the rumor mill is still going strong. No, my mother went in because she was strong. And she had to prove she was worthy of my father.”
“So you want me to prove I’m worthy even though you’ve told me the whole reason I’m here is because you need me? You obviously don’t think I’m worthy of you.”
“You’re starting to change my mind,” he says. “Besides, there must be at least part of you that’s curious. Everyone has imagined what their life might be like with magic. I know you’re not exempt.”
“Do I want to drain the color from everything I touch?” I shake my head. “No. I don’t want that.”
“That wasn’t all she could do.”
“Whatever else she could do, it didn’t keep her alive.” I feel guilty as soon as the words leave my mouth.
His expression darkens. “This isn’t a choice. At Darkfall, you’ll go into the temple.”
I clench my jaw. I won’t be here by Darkfall. “Fine.”
“Fine?” The anger on his face dissolves. “Since when do you go along with what I say so easily?”
“Maybe I am a little curious.”
He lifts my chin with his index finger. “I like curious women.”
My stomach churns, and I fight against the urge to slap his hand away. I’m so focused on keeping my expression neutral that when he lowers his face to mine I back away. “Sorry. I’m not ready for that yet.”
“Well, that is disappointing.”
“Give me a little more time. It’s an adjustment being here and being with you.” I swallow hard, hoping I came across as homesick rather than cold.
“I’ll escort you back to your room, Princess.” His tone is flat, devoid of emotion, but at least not angry.
I’ll take what I can get.
We walk to the castle in silence. Each step feels like I’m trudging through mud.
How am I going to do this? How am I going to fake this if he starts expecting me to do more?
Then I remember that he’s not worried that I might kill him in his sleep. The absolute perfect time to stab him. If anything, I should encourage him. Taking him into my bed would get me closer but I’m not sure I can bring myself to do it.
When I agreed to this, I made peace with death. I thought I’d get close to a selfish, cold prince who had a whole corral of lovers to distract him from me. I did not account for a prince who might actually fall for me.