My younger self would be appalled by my reactions. Standing on the balcony felt safer than being on the ground. It was obvious I needed to grow a backbone if I planned to face my fears and enter the labyrinth again. I noted possible avenues of escape while following Jessandra to dinner. No one else wandered the castle that I saw anyway. Once inside the dining room, I understood why. It seemed all the goblins helped with dinner in some shape or form. Was that a normal occurrence, or was it because it was our first dinner together?
Astaroth waited patiently for me, his attention on the wild, overgrown garden, but his keen eye never missed a beat. He didn’t comment when I joined him again; he only took leisurely steps so I could easily keep pace. When we approached the thicket of strange plants that stood as tall as trees on Earth, I looked over my shoulder. Jessandra and the little man followed ten feet behind, having their own private conversation.
“That is Mergle, my confidante.”
“That makes more sense. I thought he was your guard at first.”
Astaroth laughed. “I don’t need one.”
I quirked a brow and studied the bulbous plant next to me. “That seems a bit cocky.”
“Not cocky. Truthful. I am the strongest being here. The realm protects me when I cannot protect myself.”
Good to know. Don’t try to assassinate the king. Check.
“If I am unavailable, he or Jessandra will assist you.”
I couldn’t picture myself confiding in Mergle. He would run back and tell his king everything. I wasn’t sure I could confide in Jess either. She would spill my secrets to save herself from being further indebted to me or him. I was utterly alone here, and that was a bitter pill to swallow. I wondered how Kaiden andGina were fairing, and that pill swelled in my throat, threatening to suffocate me. Were they trying to figure out how to save me? I choked down a laugh, imagining Kaiden on the D&D forums, asking questions about goblin kings.
“The past few days have been a bit of a shock for you,” Astaroth said, misinterpreting my laugh for a sob.
“You think?” I took a deep breath to calm myself. I needed my wits about me if I were to figure out how to go home. “Forgive my outbursts,” I said as we entered the heart of the garden. It was Pinterest-worthy with hanging lights that gave the circular patio a soft, romantic glow. “I’m trying to work through it.”
The bricks under our feet resembled the design of a labyrinth. I’d seen these in parks before. Meditation circles. In the center sat a cushioned bench. Astaroth reclined on it while I paced the circle.
“All is already forgiven.”
I glanced at him in disbelief. “You’re not angry with me over dinner?”
He didn’t answer right away, as if he were deciding how to word his answer without upsetting me. “Not angry. Disappointed.”
“Disappointed,” I murmured, surveying one of the glowing lights and wondering how it worked if there was no electricity here.
“Yes. More with myself than with you.”
That was surprising. “Why is that?” I asked and approached a light.
“I wanted your arrival to be exciting and memorable. For you to feel welcomed in your new home. It didn’t happen as I had envisioned.”
His response twisted my emotions like the vines wrapped around the ornately carved wooden poles holding the orbs. On one hand, I was furious he believed I would enjoy any of thisafter all I’d been through. On the other, I felt guilty for being angry when he was attempting to make me happy instead of locking me in a room until he was ready to use me. I didn’t know how to feel, and that made me angrier. I stared into the light as it flickered.No….I squinted. Fluttered. There was something trapped inside. I didn’t remember fireflies being here.
“I didn’t take your feelings into consideration while planning. Solely set my expectations.”
A pale face pressed against the glass. My heart clenched. This tiny being was trapped in a smaller cage than I was. How long had it been in there? Was it dying? There were no holes for it to get air. Who knew how long it had been since it had eaten. Would I wake up in the morning to find it dead like the fireflies I trapped in jars as a child? My gaze darted from one orb to the next.
“And for that I will do better, Calista.”
His sorry excuse for an apology was meaningless.
“I will do everything within my power to ensure you a joyful existence.”
“Existence?” My voice rose several octaves with the one word. “As in the rest of my life?”
“Well, yes.” He shifted on the bench and draped his arm along the back. Such a casual movement for a dire conversation. His nonchalance sickened me. “That is what we discussed.”
“It absolutely is not! You said, and I quote, “A life for a life.” Not MY life. You wanted my firstborn child. But as it turns out, even that was twisted and misconstrued. You wantedyourchild.”
Astaroth watched the rapid rise and fall of my chest as I huffed and puffed and grew frustrated. If he wasn’t careful, his next words may make his house blow down by the time all of this was said and done.
