I cocked my head. “What does that green light mean?”
“It indicates that there are no servants or fae in the corridor. Nobody will see us if we exit now.”
I gaped. “Does anybody know about this lift?”
He shook his head. “No, only me, and of course, now you.”
I warmed internally again. Like his private chambers, I was once again being welcomed into his secret space, and that invitation was for me and me alone. “Does that light emit another color if someone’s about?”
He nodded. “If you get a pink light, you need to wait until it turns green.”
I cocked my head. “So if nobody but you and me know about this lift, who created it?”
“Me. I installed it when I created Bastian’s suite.”
My eyes bulged. “You? Truly?”
He laughed. “Don’t look so shocked. I’ve been told I’m quite skilled when it comes to inventing magical creations.”
I laughed with him, and his look turned entirely devious. “And as I told you, the west tower is my private residence. I’ve created many things within these walls that neither the servants nor my parents know about.”
I laughed anew, his sly demeanor making me giggle. “But how did you construct it?”
“A lot of magic. A lot of cursing. And a lot of trial and error. The first lift was a disaster. I was locked in it for six hours until I could undo the magic I’d created to seal it.”
My heart pattered faster just imagining that.
He drew me close and kissed my temple. “Don’t fear, my love. It’s fully functioning now.”
“But if only you know about it, are you sure it’ll work for me?”
“Of course, it will. I changed all of my wards and spells the day after I brought you to the palace. Well, all except for the door to Bastian’s suite. I kept that one locked.”
“The day after...” My jaw dropped. That’d been when I’d still been locked in Bastian’s chambers, when I’d been convinced Jax and I would never see each other again after I did his calling and he rid me of my collar’s suffocating hold to the best of his ability. “But we were going to part ways then.”
He nodded, and his eyes dimmed. “I know. I knew it was safest for you if we did. As the Dark Raider, you’re automatically at risk if I’m ever caught, but I couldn’t help but hope that maybe someday that would change. That our paths would cross again when I was no longer the Raider and you no longer hated me. I didn’t know if that would ever be possible, but I wanted to be prepared for it just in case.”
“I never hated you.”
“You did. When I took your sight and sound on our way into Jaggedston, I felt your fear and utter anger. It nearly undid me.”
“But that wasn’t hate. I could never hate you.”
A teasing smile lifted his lips, but it failed to reach his eyes. “Your scent spoke otherwise when I commanded Nellip to return you to your chambers and keep you there after you tried to escape.”
I sighed. “Okay, maybe in that one moment, you’re right, but that was only because you were controlling me as badly as Guardian Alleron had.”
A look of utter guilt crossed over his features.
I squeezed his hand, my eyes misting. “But I’ve fully forgiven you now.”
He leaned down and kissed me softly on the neck, then reached for the pad to open the portrait. “That’s all in the past now,” he whispered. “I will never hold you against your will again.”
The painting swung open, and he made sure my flowing gown cleared the first floor’s entrance before pressing the tab to close the painting behind us. Once it locked, it was entirely innocent-looking.
“You’re very good at keeping secrets,” I whispered.
“Yes, I am, but I’ll never keep secrets from you.” He tugged me forward, and we finally began to stride down the corridor.
