Next came the suitors from the blue clan, and soon, I stopped remembering the faces and names of all the men who dreamed of becoming the king of the dragon lands.
The bright, flickering light of a lamp cast ornate patterns on the surface of the simple wooden table. My fingers tightened around the porcelain handle of the hairbrush, and slowly, I removed the decorative pins from my hair. Tracing the lines of gemstones with my fingertips, I thought about Lord Rutherford’s words, trying to make sense of every thread of the web that was slowly tightening around me.
As my memories slowly returned, I could see things more clearly. I knew that this place, this palace, was not my home. I knew I was being held against my will, and I knew Kent. My eyes snapped wide open. Something was wrong with that name; it did not fit him at all. That was not his real name. He was not even from the blue clan. His dragon was black. I was sure of it, as sure as I was that we had once been together. While my body remembered him intimately, my feelings toward him remained a mystery.
I glanced up at my reflection in the mirror. I had not been outside for so long that the freckles on my nose and cheeks had faded, barely distinguishable in the weak light of the lamp. For some reason, I knew he loved them. I shook my head and ran the brush through my hair, working through the tangles.
Out of nowhere, I imagined him in my room, slowly picking up my hairbrush. His calloused fingers grazed theback of my hand as he traced the bristles along my long locks, just like he used to. My cheeks flushed, and I quickly, carelessly braided my hair before climbing into bed. Several drops of rain landed on the windowsill, and moments later, the heavy downpour filled every inch of the room with its sound. I sighed and pulled the blanket up over me.
A muffled sound from somewhere close by woke me. My eyes opened to see a raw, stone wall, stained with wet, moist spots. Clusters of black mold stretched all the way up to the corner. My body shook in cold discomfort, my limbs ached and the throbbing behind my eyes made me nearly blind with pain. I moaned, propping myself up. Almost immediately, my head spun and the weight of thousands of pounds landed on my shoulders. But above all, a sickly, unbearable fear had entered my mind and settled deep down into my soul. I was imprisoned, captured; lost to the whole world and alone, all alone.
A weak whimper escaped my lips. A nagging, uncomfortable sound came from outside and I inched closer to the metal door, knowing deep in my heart that I should stay away, that I should not look. But, as if pulled by multiple invisible ropes, my body moved upward. The palms of my hands landed on the surface and I looked in between the bars.
At first, all I could see was the darkness of the empty hall. Thenan almost indistinct movement disturbed the monotone shapes of the shadows. A half-naked man, gorged on the flesh of a soldier who was still moving under him. Splashes of blood covered both bodies, the wall, the floor. I realized that what I was hearing was the man struggling under the monster, and the sounds of teeth tearing off skin and flesh. My legs gave way, and I fell back on the hard stone floor. The noises stopped and a loud, piercing screech overpowered my senses. My eyes flickered toward the door, praying that whatever it was it could not get through to me. Then the rusty, old handle started to move downward, agonizingly slowly.
Click.
Click.
Click.
I screamed.
“It’s alright. You’re safe. You’re safe.” Kent whispered in my ear.
His strong arms wrapped around my shoulders and pressed my back against the hard, warmth of his chest.
“I’m here. I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”
Tears soaked my pillow as I covered my face, my shoulders shaking, my throat raw from screaming. I needed him, needed him so badly that I was ready to beg him to stay, because only his presence kept my demons at bay.
“What are you doing here?” I managed to say.
“Don’t worry about it.”
I closed my eyes and let my body relax in his arms,savoring the comfort of his touch. His closeness was exactly what I needed, and for a brief moment, I allowed myself to simply exist, without concerns or regrets, without the need to remember. Just a woman, held by a man in an endless world of pain and injustice, finding peace in his arms, if only for a couple of hours.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
TYNAN
When I climbed out of Alina’s window the next morning, just before the sun had fully risen, it was nearly time to report for training. I gritted my teeth. Becoming a soldier had never been my intention. I hated everything about it, the constant expectation to follow orders, the endless hours spent marching around the field, and the monotonous practice of simple sword sequences.
Nevertheless, I visited the washroom and cleaned up, regretting to part with the faint scent of Alina’s hair and skin. Her soft, warm body and fragrant, silky hair were all I could think about. Victor kept urging me to make a move, better yet, to kidnap her from this shithole, but I hesitated. Icould not tell her what I knew. I needed her to make the decision on her own. No matter how much I wanted to be with her, I knew that life as a refugee was all I could offer. While luxuries and comforts meant nothing to me, I could not force that way of living on her. In the end, it had to be her choice. I would never force what I wanted on her.
I straightened and moved my rapier from one shoulder to the other.
My eyes landed on the soldier who was still slightly limping. I could not help the slight smile forming on my lips when I detected the hateful looks he cast my way.
“Attention!”
I straightened, placing my sword down to my hip.
Commander Roth briskly walked in front of the formation. His watery eyes scanned the rows of men. His stare lingered on my face and I returned his gaze with indifference.
“It has come to my attention that the palace grounds are no longer safe. I reviewed several reports of instances where young citizens disappeared from their rooms at night, never to be seen again. While the authorities are working on a plan to stop these senseless crimes, I want all of you to be on high alert. Report directly to me if you notice anything unusual. Is that understood?”
“Yes, sir!”
