I didn’t stop.
“Stay,” another voice, painfully familiar, vibrant and melodic pierced my heart, and I immediately turned back.
Alina was standing in the place that just moments ago was occupied by another. The coils of her vibrant red hair with copper undertones, just touched by the soft breeze, brushed her cheek, and when she raised her eyes, my heart skipped a beat.
“Please,” she whispered.
“What happened?”
“I ...” She lowered her head and when she looked back up, her eyes showed depths of emotions I could not read. “I need you. Please...”
I jolted awake, sitting up on my bed. My chest was rising and falling fast. I must have slept for over an hour all together.
“What’s the matter? Did you have a bad dream?” Someone sneered.
“Have you seen his scars?” someone else whispered loudly as I put on my flying suit.
I rarely had dreams, not since I was a child. It was an unwelcome intrusion into my regular routine, but also, I could not shake off the feeling that Alina needed me.
“Where do you think you’re going?” One of the soldiers laughed.
“Go back to sleep. Or I’ll make you sleep,” I said, and everything went quiet.
I stood for a moment, watching the less-than-intimidating opponents life had thrown my way. Not one of them dared to respond.
“That’s what I thought.” I sneered before leaving the room.
I entered the stairway and paused. There was no way I could just walk into her room, even if Mayer was the one guarding the door tonight.
I headed for the closest window and approached the first wooden frame of heavy set glass. I unfastened the lock and climbed out. I stood on the carved sill for a moment, breathing in the slightly damp night air before launching into the chilly breeze. The surge of, not yet forgotten, power burst from beneath my skin, and my body shifted into its true form. I made a wide circle, coming closer to the eastern wall. Quickly finding her unsecured window, I landed on the dragon tail carved in stone and transformed back.
Inside the room was dark, but I could detect movement from the bed. Alina was restless on top of the covers. Her shoulders jerked back, and her hands clenched the blanket. She whimpered as her head moved from side to side.
“No! No!” she mumbled, trying to catch her breath.
I watched her for a long moment, before climbing onto the bed and wrapping my arms around her.
“Alina!” I shook her shoulder, but she would not wake up.
“No!” She struggled against me, but my grip remained firm.
“I’m here. I’m here.” I brushed her long hair off her face and placed a kiss on her forehead.
Slowly, she relaxed and took a deep breath. I held her throughout the night, staying awake, guarding her while she slept peacefully in my arms.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
ALINA
My insides were still burning as I cleared my throat and picked up a glass from the polished silver tray that was stationed on a table close to the wall and adorned with fresh cut flowers from the garden. I took a large sip and almost choked, sparkling wine immediately went up my nose, making me cough more.
Shortly after I woke up, Sally stood in front of me with the vile concoction. I did not want to make her suspicious, I had to drink the medicine. She did not move about the room and would not stop talking about the garden party I was expected to attend. Not finding a way out of it, I took the poison. Then she prepared a bath and placed a beautiful cream colored dress on my freshly made bed and only afterall that was done, did she finally leave. I sprung to my feet and rushed to the washroom. It was disgusting, but I had to empty my stomach. Then I splashed myself with water, and rinsed my mouth more than a dozen times.
The poison was gradually leaving my body, and I could finally think straight. Parts of memories started coming back to me. I knew that Railand was never my home. I was born in a castle in the middle of wild fields and I had an older brother. Every day some new details came back, but not all of my past memories were peaceful. Along with some bitter sweet moments, I started remembering something else. Dark shadows and screams in the night. The suffocating feeling of being trapped. The horror of knowing someone beside you was taking their last breath, tortured and murdered. And yet, deep down, a twisted sense of relief that it was not your turn.
I had recalled so much, but it was still not enough.
I glanced at the tall figure of my guard standing by the palace’s gates. His hand was resting on the hilt of his sword, but for some reason I was sure that it was not his weapon of choice. A row of knives with polished, black steel handles adorned his belt, safely nestled in the skillfully crafted leather. I could close my eyes and almost see him, effortlessly throwing the meticulously sharpened blades and never missing the target.
