Chapter 8
Eight
MYSTERY UNSOLVED
I’d lost count of how many nights I hadn’t slept.
Early morning sunlight streaked through the heavy brocade curtains of my castle chambers. As usual, tea had been magically set up in the sitting area. Behind the privacy screen, washing implements had been prepared. By all other accounts, it could have been considered luxurious living.
Moaning, I stretched my strained back as I got up to get ready for another torturous day.
I spent most nights pacing the room. When I did lie down in bed, I only tossed and turned.
My brain was overwhelmed with confusing theories, frustrating conclusions.
For several months, I had managed to go on, successfully convinced that I wanted nothing more to do with the man who was king. I had been doing so well on my own in my clock tower. And now this.
Of course, part of me—a small irrational part—had already predicted this. How arrogant of me to assume that I would be the statistical exception, the only woman on Wünder able to resist His Majesty in all his glory?
I shook my head in an attempt to clear it, but the sight would forever be burned into my mind. The king’s expression, the way his hair fell across his forehead, those heavy-lidded eyes, the unmistakable need that darkened in the deep blue of them, the way those full lips parted when he groaned—
My insides ached.
Ah, dammit.
I wrung out my hands to regain my sensibilities.
Fine. I still wanted him.
Which was wholly ridiculous—but no matter.
I had to focus on my next steps.
All I needed was a plan. I couldn’t pretend I could eliminate or control human emotions. As a scientist, I’d once thought I was more immune to such things than the average person. But since it had come to this, I must simply process the situation and subsequently move on.
With a satisfied nod, I fixed my hair and smoothed down my clothes.
My door creaked open as though by itself.
Eyebrows furrowing, I turned to look.
Was it time for the shadows to summon me already?
Out of nothingness, a large, furry purple cat materialized, crossing the floor.
Eyes wide, I cried out, “Chez!” before I could stop myself. “Oh.” I clamped my hand over my mouth before I triggered any sort of alarm.
Chez moseyed across the floor, that usual smirk on his face as he mewled his greeting. “Ah, I thought you had left the tower in such a hurry that you had no time to pack. Except for those bags under your eyes, I see.”
Straight to veiled insults. Typical Chez.
I almost laughed in relief. “Oh, thank god. How did you get into the castle?” I darted a glance up to the door in case guards had been summoned in response, but the hallways remained silent.
Chez set about wandering my room. Hopping up onto the tea table, he sniffed at the stale scones. “My dear, you underestimate me.”
I turned wary eyes to him. “Does he know you’re here?”
“Perhaps. It’s hard to say.” He hopped across the way to curl up on the plush couch. “Either way, I am not dead yet, so he is either permitting my presence or he is wholly unaware of it.”
I followed him to the couch. “So you haven’t spoken to him?”
“No.” His tail flicked, his tone growing serious. “I regret to say, aside from your sudden disappearance, I’ve also come to confirm a rumor that has been spreading across Wünder. There is talk of His Majesty having acquired a new sorceress. She who decides which citizens live or die.”
“What?” My jaw dropped as I sank into the seat beside him. “Oh, no. That’s not—that’s absolutely not what I’ve done—what I do. This isn’t what I wanted at all. I only wanted to help.” I buried my face in my hands.
“Might I ask, how exactly are you being so helpful to him?”
“The people. I wanted to help the people,” I corrected, before clutching at my chest. “My-my heart… It seems it still holds some residual power. I am able to sense other people’s intentions.
I question the citizens, determine where their loyalties lie.
I try to make sure he doesn’t hurt the innocent. ”
“He’s using you as a pawn.”
I groaned. “I know that.”
Chez’s expression was flat. “This is dangerous, Allie.”
The words were out of my mouth before I could think the better of them. “He won’t hurt me.”
His big yellow eyes blinked, almost in mockery. “Are you sure? Remember, this man was once a career assassin who murdered an entire kingdom without breaking a sweat.”
I tried not to frown at the terrible recollection. “If he wanted to kill me, I’m certain he already would have.” I said it half to convince myself. I had no evidence one way or the other.
Moving closer, Chez’s fur brushed against my arm. I knew it was his way of comforting me. “Perhaps I can help you escape. I’m still quite familiar with this old castle. I should be able to find a way.”
For some reason, my stomach sank. “Um…”
Pausing at my hesitation, he narrowed his eyes. “Do you not want to leave?”
I clenched my fists on my lap.
Yes. No. Maybe.
My mind spun. Of course, I wanted to leave.
I didn’t want to remain a prisoner in the castle forever.
And it deeply hurt to see Rabb like this—to be around him like he was a stranger.
A monster. But at the same time, I couldn’t help the tiniest spark of hope in my chest. Something I didn’t want to admit to myself, at least out loud.
My curiosity, just as it always tended to do, was likely going to kill me. The mystery of the Wicked King was one I could not afford to let lie.
I was already here. It would be illogical not to try to uncover the darkness that shrouded his aura.
What if the king was indeed under an evil spell?
Perhaps he had been cursed once again to become a ruthless killer against his will.
Perhaps he needed help to break it. And until I found a conclusive answer, I knew I wasn’t going to be able to leave.
Besides, I had initiated this bargain, and my chances of completing my invention hinged solely on being able to cross the river to find the Mad Hatter.
Chez studied my face. He didn’t need me to respond. He didn’t need to ask again. “I couldn’t bring the mirror,” he piped up instead. “What should I tell the Duchess?”
I fidgeted with the fabric of my dress. “Tell her not to worry. I can take care of myself.”
The cat tilted his head left and right as he stretched. “Well, we figured that.” He got up to pounce onto my bed, pawing at the coverlet. “Isn’t it odd though how His Majesty’s hair has changed too? It’s like you swapped.”
My nose twitched.
Of course, that’s what it was.
I was hesitant to acknowledge it before. I was more than happy to believe there was nothing connecting us any longer.
Gauging my non-response as dismissal, Chez hopped off the bed. He turned to me with a suggestion. “It might still be prudent to come up with an escape plan, just in case. This is Wünder. You never know when things will go sideways.”
“I suppose you have some ideas?”
He scratched his chin. “I do seem to recall the Red Queen mentioning a particular passageway through the hedge mazes behind the castle. I believe it leads to the forest outside the grounds. I highly doubt that His Majesty was given an overview of the features of the castle upon their abrupt handover.”
“No doubt.” I let out a sigh, looking out the windows. “I don’t know, Chez. Everything is different now. The rose gardens are gone. What makes you think the hedge maze is still there?”
“Either way, I can check it out.”
The door creaked open once again. The air chilled ever so slightly.
The shadows were here again. It was time. Dark wisps of fog rolled along the floor, curling around my ankles.
Straightening up, I pursed my lips. “I have to go interrogate more prisoners right now.” I met his gaze. “Whatever you do, make sure you don’t get caught. The king’s shadows are everywhere in the castle, and his puppet soldiers guard every inch of the outside.”
His mewl was high-pitched as if in offense. “My dear, I’ll remind you not to underestimate my skills once again.”
I put my hand up. “Oh, and before I forget, could you possibly check in on Tulgey Woods to make sure the new machine is working well and that everyone’s okay?”
Chez rolled his eyes. “Allie, for the last time, those loopy creatures existed well enough before you arrived. I assure you they will survive even after you’re long gone.
” He waved one paw, his body turning translucent before his fuzzy form disappeared altogether with a soft pop, leaving an echo of farewell. “Later, Allie.”
I took a deep breath. The everyday foreboding that had been pressing on me lightened somewhat.
Knowing Chez and the Duchess were on my side, looking out for me, was a welcome reassurance.
Even if I didn’t know what was going to happen next, I was more at ease.
I wasn’t alone. I would get through this.
Fixing my expression to nonchalance, I walked into the hall and let myself be led by the shadows across the castle. Covering my yawn with my hand, I entered the great hall.
His Majesty sat on the black throne, his gaze off to one side, thumb perpetually twirling the jade ring on his forefinger. Even when I almost stumbled over the hem of my dress, he didn’t turn to look.
Once again, the thrilling sight of this powerful man chasing his pleasure before me flashed hot in my mind. Dangerous. Beautiful. Absolutely ill-advised.
Since our close encounter at the library, I hadn’t seen him outside of interrogations again. The following sleepless nights, when I’d wandered through the castle, it seemed more shadows had been accompanying me.
Perhaps to ensure there were no more accidental late-night meetings between us. Perhaps for some other reason.
In any case, His Majesty never spoke of our one-time frustration-charged late-night chess match. It was as though that small moment had never happened. A memory swallowed within the darkness of the shadowy castle.
For a brief moment, those steel-blue eyes met my gaze.
Against all good sense, I kept hoping to see something in them. Anything. A hint of the man he used to be. The man I knew.
I wished I’d listened to that voice of common sense nagging in the back of my mind. Until quite recently, it had always been the loudest. I wished I could stop hoping. I wished I would prioritize my own safety, my own well-being.
But moreover, I wished I had learned something sooner.
It was a hell of a thing. That once you opened up your heart to someone, it was incredibly difficult to keep them out again.
Even if Chez didn’t believe me, I was going to keep believing.
The king was not going to hurt me.
I endeavored to keep my expression neutral as I moved closer to take my usual position by the line of guards to the left.
For now, I was going to have to be satisfied with making sure I could keep at least some citizens of Wünder safe from his tyranny.
The massive doors to the hall creaked open again. With a clatter and clanking of boots and swords, two more guards marched through before standing at the ready.
Not looking weary at having to go through this tedious exercise over and over again, His Majesty raised his hand. “Bring in the next group of prisoners.”