AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter Fifty-Three
Zaina
Remy is playing a dangerous game, but I haven’t quite deciphered to what end.
Still, this is our best chance at getting Aika out, even if I do get the feeling he doesn’t trust me any more than I trust him.
What I can’t quite figure out is why he cares enough to risk this when he was willing to walk away from my sister before.
I mull that over as I slip through the back entrance of the dungeon. The solitary guard that was stationed there was easy enough to take out without too much of a struggle, but I don’t envy the headache he’ll have when he wakes up.
I sneak down the damp halls and past the sleeping prisoners until I find the right cell block.
Another guard is walking down the middle of the hall, checking on each cell as he goes. I creep up behind him and press the chloroform kerchief to his mouth just like the last one, easing him against the wall when his body goes limp.
Removing his keys as quietly as I can, I stalk down to the seventh cell on the right and brace myself for Aika’s reaction to seeing me. Alive.
Her eyes lock on to mine, emotions flitting through them faster than I can identify.
“Bloody hell.” She lets out a huff of air, shaking her head. “I knew you weren’t dead.”
I’m not sure what I was expecting her to say, but it certainly wasn’t that. Part of me is grateful that she seems like the same Aika I’ve always known. Another part wants to yell at her.
Of course, she’d posture when I had to sneak down here to drag her out of the sands-blasted dungeons.
I slide the hood off of my cloak and sort through the keys for the one that matches her lock.
“You really couldn’t manage to stay out of trouble in the handful of months I was gone?” If she wants to play it this way, then I will.For now.
Aika snorts and throws herself back onto the disgusting mattress, as if she’s quite at home in the rat-infested dungeons.
“Well, since you were busyplaying deadand driving our dear mother mad with grief, I’ve been a little busy.”
Thereit is, the anger I’ve been expecting.
“So I see,” I reply with a sigh.
When I find the correct key, I unlock the obnoxiously squeaky door to usher her out. As I step closer, I register the bruises on her face and knuckles and undoubtedly the rest of her body, judging by the way she winces as she stands.
I clear my throat and meet her eye again.
“Dare I even ask how you landed yourself in a dungeon?”
Instead of telling me what really happened, why she outed herself, she rolls her eyes and shrugs me off.
“Could you possibly save your highhanded attitude forafterwe escape the castle?” Her features are neutral, but there is an edge to her voice.
“Would you rather I leave you here, then?”
“Nope.” She pushes past me, with all of the confidence of someone who hasn’t been arrested for mass murder. “I’m far too busy to relax in these royal suites, but thank you.”
“Indeed,” I say, shaking my head.
Then, she says something that sucks all of the air from the room.
“Speaking of being busy... I do hope you plan to stop by and visit our brother now that you’re back. Maybe the sight of you returned from the dead will finally do the tosser in.”
I freeze. My heart. My lungs. Everything stops as I wait for her to laugh, to tell me she was joking.
