Page 77

Was she really this monstrous? This man’s torture hadn’t been enough for her. She wanted more. Needed it. Maybe her mother had been right. She was a monster.

Yet, Areanel could not see it as a bad thing. The man, whether he had been there or not, claimed to be responsible for her son’s death.

Sweet, innocent Resmundur who’d deserved better. If she were a monster for avenging him, then so be it.

Scrubbing at the blood that coated her hands, Areanel spent a long time in the adjoining washroom trying to clean the blood from the serrated blade. Scrub. Scrub. Scrub. Going through the motions was easy enough. It quietened her mind. Hiding her from her racing thoughts. Giving her hands something to do as she sorted through what to do next.

The splatters of red on her clothes wouldn’t come out. She would have to change once she got back to the palace above.

Throwing the cloth into the sink so that water splashed, she pulled the plug, draining the rose-hued water. Her head bowed between her shoulders for a minute; arms bracketing the sink, she steadied her racing heart.

Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale.

Just breathe, she reminded herself. All she had to do was breathe.

When she finally mustered the courage to exit, Ryyen had already removed the unrecognisable prisoner (or what was left of him) and returned him to the Sentinels that guarded the entrance to The Pit.

Areanel could not bring herself to look at Ryyen. How would they look at her? Did they think she was a monster? She wouldn’t blame them if they did. After everything Ryyen had faced, how could they not?

The curve at the front of her boot was suddenly interesting. Solely focusing on the way her boot hit the ground, Areanel stepped around Ryyen and out into the hall.

Clang. The iron door slammed behind her, latch sliding into place with a familiar click.

And still, she could not look. Instead, her gaze caught on the Sentinels hauling the limp, almost-corpse man between them down the hall. The prisoner couldn’t even lift himself upright, too exhausted and delirious to know where he was or where he was being taken.

His feet dragged along the floor, skin scraping, but Areanel was sure he couldn’t even feel it. Not after what she had done.

A pillar of black took up her sight, blocking her view of her victim. Ryyen stood in front of her, but Areanel could still not face her friend and averted her gaze.

Ryyen’s hands slipped from behind their back and reached out before them. Twisting their hands, Ryyen used their fingers to create words until the familiar, rapid, and easy gestures formed a sentence. ‘The king has summoned you,’ Ryyen signed.

It was normal for Ryyen to retreat into their shell—especially after a long and messy interrogation like the one they had just conducted. Areanel did not blame them—she had no doubt it had reminded them of their own past abuse. Trauma, she was aware, they still trudged day by gruelling day.

She had lost control. Allowed anger and hate to cloud her judgment until it had taken over. She should have asked Ryyen to leave. No. Commanded it! She hated that she’d made Ryyen feel like that—remember something so horrific.

A thud—that had Areanel’s spine straightening in an instant—ricocheted from the end of the hall.

‘I’m sorry,’ Areanel said, her eyes set on Ryyen’s hands.

Their fingers worked, twisting and turning to form another sentence. ‘You gave me a choice, Rea. I chose to stay.’

And she had; Areanel had tried to get Ryyen to leave before she began, but Ryyen was stubborn, loyal to a fault. They understood Areanel needed someone there with her: to pull her back from the edge of insanity she so often toed.

With a tight-lipped smile, Areanel gave Ryyen a small nod of appreciation, still unable to say anything more.

Chapter 30

Areanel

Areanel counted two Soldazt standing outside the king’s study. Heaving in a steadying breath, she moved past them with a single glance at Ryyen, who waited at the far end of the hall near the stairs—in case they needed a fast exit should things turn sour.

Head held high, Areanel strode forward. The Soldazt didn’t speak as they synchronously opened the doors for her, and her eyes rattled as she rolled them.

On silent feet, Areanel entered.

Making her way before her father’s desk, Areanel gave a sideways glance to the other Soldazt present and counted three in the office with her; one behind her father’s seat and the other two, who moved into position by the door she just entered, barring her only exit.

If she needed to make a quick escape, she’d have to go through them and the two in the hall.