I went straight to the kitchen. On the table were two glasses and two gritty plates with silverware carefully placed next to them. Suddenly, I detected a dark shape out of the corner of my eye. I halted, clenching my blade.
Two feet, in thick leather boots, dangled in the air. Hanging from a wooden bar that was close to the ceiling were two bodies. A man and a woman. The woman wore a long, flowy dress and a pair of shoes with thin straps around the ankles. She had worn the same dress in her wedding picture. I swallowed. They never made it out.
With difficulty, I looked away. I could not help them, they were already gone, but Victor and I were still here, fighting for our lives. I stepped to the pantry and looked through every cupboard, every drawer. Plates, bowls, cups, glasses, silverware, but nothing we could eat. I glanced back at the couple.
Is that what happened to them? Did they barricade themselves in the apartment but ran out of food? Why didn’t they leave?
Stupefied, I just stared at the tiny flowers on the wallpaper. The colors that used to be vibrant and bright had turned pale and faded. The next moment, I was back in the hall.
It doesn’t matter. It doesn’t affect you. Just let it go.
I exhaled and moved to the hall that led to four more doors. A familiar stench hit my nostrils, bringing with it a multitude of unpleasant associations.
Crawlers!
Almost at once a low guttural growl broke the silence. My heart raced, even though I had heard the sound thousands of times before. Still, it chilled the blood in my veins. The noise was coming from one of the rooms further down the hall. I raised my sword and moved toward it. The hall was crammed with furniture and very dark. At last, I came upon a carefully barricaded door. It appeared that someone tried to make sure that the monster could not get out.
Why couldn’t they kill it?
That was the only question that kept circling in my mind as I stepped around the heavy table and removed the wooden beams that secured the handle.
Through the tiny crack, as fast as lightning, a face appeared on the other side of the door and my heart stopped. Sallow, decaying skin, short, matted hair, torn shirt, and large, light eyes. The eyes of a child.
CHAPTER TWELVE
ALINA
The movements, sounds, smells of tobacco and sweat, splashes of light on the grass and the pale blue sky above overwhelmed my senses.
“Milady . . .”
“Milady!”
I could hear voices from all around me. Some clan warriors wanted to extend their personal congratulations, others wanted to proclaim their loyalty and determination to follow me to the capital. My speech shook all the clans to their core, even if I could not be sure that the road I was showing them was the correct one. I just knew in my own heart that the council had to be stopped.
As if in slow motion, I watched the tall stature of my husband as he walked toward me through the crowd. His impressive figure in black leather and a look of quiet authority drew me in, and I could no longer look at anyone else. The night before felt soendlessly long, but since the meeting had ended, my body was on the verge of shutting down. Tynan did not say a word, he just took my hand, physically removing me from the clan elders that surrounded me. The warmth of his touch was all I so desperately wanted as he led me back to the castle through the crowd.
“Milady, that was absolutely . . . I have no words . . . You were incredible . . .” Sage was struggling to catch up with Tynan’s stride.
“Thank you for your help,” I said and caught Tynan glaring at the old man.
I wondered how much he knew about the last couple of days and what I did while he was recovering. I knew we had to talk, but that was also something I would not mind postponing indefinitely.
What would he say when he finally learns that I forced him into marriage? Did Sage already tell him?
I glanced at his strong back and then at his beautifully outlined forearm as my gaze trailed down to our intertwined fingers. The truth was, I barely had any rest for days. I was hungry, and I was tired, so tired that I was starting to fall apart mentally and physically.
“May you be blessed with sons in good health and great honor!” one of the clan elders shouted as we were passing by, and I meditated on the fact that Tynan simply nodded without giving him any response.
When we approached the staircase carved in the naturally set stone, a group of servants stopped and bowed. I switched my eyes to Tynan, who walked with a noticeable stiffness. I couldclearly see that he avoided moving his right arm and looked as cheerful as the darkest cloud.
As we stepped into the spacious room, passed the main hall and went up numerous staircases, I kept trying to guess what was on Tynan’s mind, but it was simply impossible. Sage, who walked right behind us, would not stop dissecting my speech and praising me in various ways. Finally, Tynan stopped before the entrance to our bedroom. He opened the door for me and immediately closed it right in Sage’s face.
“As milady’s adviser, I have a right to—” The latter protested.
“Thank you, Sage. We’ll talk later!” I raised my voice, watching Tynan walk toward the side table and unstrap his belt. The heavy sword he was carrying dropped on the carpet with a dull thump.
“Let me know if you need anything, milady.” The sound of footsteps came from down the hall, followed by Sage’s voice.
