Chapter 6 The Attack
The Attack
Reena was waiting outside my room, her mouth parting when she saw me running straight at her. She quickly threw the doors open, allowing me to storm into my chambers.
I clawed at my neck, gasping for air. “Reena, get this damn dress off me right now!”
I barely registered her clicking the door shut and rushing after me.
My heart was beating so damn fast.
I gripped my chest as that old familiar tightness coiled within it like a venomous serpent. The feeling overpowered me, and my knees cracked against the marble floors.
“My Queen!” Reena yelled, dropping behind me.
“Get it off. Get it off!” I roared, barely registered my lady-in-waiting’s trembling fingers against my back.
She worked to undo the many buttons lining the back of my dress, but she wasn’t moving fast enough.
The tightness in my chest constricted harder.
I couldn’t breathe.
I could’t breathe.
Just like that, I was no longer kneeling on the floor of my palace rooms—I was trapped within four tan walls.
The sound of chalk grating against stone made me shiver, but this was my only way of keeping track of time—of how many days I’ve been locked away in this godforsaken tower.
As I finished dragging the charcoal down the wall, I shuffled back and counted the tallies.
I stood there for what felt like an eternity, but I had nowhere else to be.
As I approached the final row of markings, tears blurred my vision.
2,191.
The pain racing through me wasn’t only physical, but mental.
I groaned loudly as my past slammed down on my chest like a thousand bricks.
“What happened to her?” Landon’s stern voice tore through the room as the doors burst open.
It sounded like he drew near, but I couldn’t see anything besides the black spots flooding my vision. My panic was so severe, so consuming—I knew I was a moment away from passing out.
“I don’t know! She sounds like she can’t breathe properly. I’m trying to get this dress off her as fast as I can.” Reena’s fingers brushed a bare part of my skin, yet she still had so many buttons to unfasten . . . too many.
Right as I was about to succumb to the darkness, her fingers flew from my back and the sound of tearing fabric split through the room. A chill licked up my back, causing me to glance over my shoulder.
Kneeling on the floor behind me was my bodyguard, a wild look shining in his bright eyes. I glanced down at my exposed back, at one of my favorite gowns now torn straight down the center. Golden buttons still rolled along the black marble floor.
I inhaled deeply, letting my head droop with relief.
A shudder coursed down my spine, and I remained kneeling, for my bones felt far too heavy to stand.
I was greedily sucking down air and doing my best to calm the panic nestled inside me when a warm hand fell against my bare back.
I jolted at the unexpected touch, swiftly glaring over my shoulder.
“It’s only me, Seera.” Landon’s eyes pinched with concern from where he knelt behind me.
He never left my side.
My bodyguard tenderly extended his hand toward me. “Let’s get you off this cold floor, and Reena can help you change. I’ll be right outside to rejoin you whenever you are ready.”
A small nod was the only reply I could force out as I placed my hand in his. Another shiver ran through me when our hands locked, and the warmth radiating off Landon chased away the chill settling deep within me.
He brushed a stray piece of hair from my face, dipping his head so we were at eye level. “I don’t need to come back in if you don’t want me to.”
My gaze speared into his. “I want you to.”
He smiled softly. “Then I will return when you are ready. Call me, and I will always come to your aid, my Queen.”
He looked me over once more before assuming his position right outside my door.
“May I, Your Majesty?” Reena pattered toward me cautiously.
She gestured to the scrapes of fabric hanging off me, and I nodded, reaching out to hold onto her arm as she helped me climb out of what remained of my ruined dress.
She moved quickly, discarding the gown and replacing it with one of my satin black robes.
I barely had any energy left to tie the sash at my waist while she helped me remove my heels.
“I will draw you a warm bath,” she said, disappearing into my bathing chambers, but I couldn’t stop staring at the floor, at the buttons, at my quaking hands.
What just happened?
Tucking my hands into the pockets of my robe, I tried to rid myself of the heavy chill lingering in my bones, but I failed as shivers continued to rake down my body.
I was still shaking when heat slowly trickled along my arms. My snakes slithered up them, their sharp gazes examining my face.
Dante’s scarlet eyes flickered with concern—an emotion he never felt toward me before.
Ember curled around my neck, and the weight of her body settling against my chest had me closing my eyes.
Their comforting embrace soothed any lingering panic creeping through me, but nothing could rid me of the memories that tormented me mere moments ago.
My mother.
The tower.
The isolation.
The loneliness.
My eyes flew open as I felt warm liquid splash across my face.
I swiped it away, marveling at the water coating my fingertips.
More liquid ran down my cheeks, and my gaze shot to the ceiling in search of any leaks from the storm that tore through the queendom today.
Yet, the wooden black ceiling was perfectly intact, the golden serpent design untouched.
My bare feet slapped against the floor as I ran to my vanity mirror.
Glassy eyes stared back at me, perfect teardrops of water leaking from them.
Impossible.
I gathered the liquid from my skin, staring down at it like it was a monster.
Brushing my wet hand against my robe, I squeezed my eyes shut as my mind raced at how this was feasible.
The bargain I made with the Serpent King stripped me of various emotions, such as happiness, joy, and love, but I also made him agree to take away the feelings which frequently cursed me as a mortal: anxiety, panic, fear, and even the ability to cry.
I stared back at my reflection, horror slicing through my veins like a sharp knife.
“Your bath is prepared, Your Majesty.” Reena appeared in the reflection of the mirror, but she stilled upon seeing my disheveled appearance. “Seera, is everything okay?”
She sounded genuinely worried about me, but I didn’t deserve such concern from my lady-in-waiting—especially since I was a monster who reveled in the bitter scent of her fear.
I swiped the last of my tears away, looking down at the water once more as it soaked into the pads of my fingertips.
My eyes locked back onto Reena’s through the reflection, her mouth parting as it dawned on her that I was crying.
Reena hadn’t seen me cry once in the ten years of her being in my service.
In fact, no one had—not since before the bargain.
“You may not speak a word about what you witnessed tonight to anyone. Do you understand?” My tone was as menacing as the beasts lurking in the Pit, making my lady-in-waiting promptly nod at me.
“I will not breathe a word about it to another soul, you have my word.”
“Then you are dismissed for the night. Tell Landon he can re-enter in half an hour’s time.” I waved my hand toward the door.
Reena nodded, and I watched as she fled from my chambers.
The moment the door shut behind her, I collapsed onto the ebony bench.
Gripping the sides of my vanity, I stared into the mirror, my stomach sinking as I realized I couldn’t avoid the inevitable any longer.
As much as I dreaded returning to my homelands, I’d rather visit Ashivire a million times over than ever set foot in Morotis again.
But if anyone knew why my forbidden emotions broke free this evening, it would be the man I bargained them away to in the first place . . .
After nearly eighty years, it was time to pay the Serpent King a visit.