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Richard grinned, before leaning close to her to whisper in her ear. The close contact wasn’t wanted and yet Wren found that her feet were frozen to the soft dewy ground.
“The lake outside of the castle. My brother was explicitly told not to let you anywhere near it for two days, the first being last night. Apparently, should you find yourself there you could return home. That’s all I know.”
Breathing suddenly seemed like the only thing she was capable of. The lake. The lake she had come through last night. Of course, that would be her way home, but only for one more day.
“There are always guards outside my door unless your brother is there,” Wren said, considering the possibilities and finding none.
Richard brought a curved finger below his mouth as if thinking. “We could drug him, but I suspect Sophie would catch on quick enough.”
Wren gave an impatient groan. There was a way out and it was slipping through her fingers.
“Ah! I’ve got it! Shortly after nightfall I’ll come to you. Just be ready.” He seemed entirely proud of himself.
Raised voices carried over the garden and Wren twisted towards the sound.
“Do not say a word about this to anyone. You can’t trust any of them. Do you understand?” He whispered furiously, as if time were being snatched away.
The words wouldn’t come, but Wren nodded nonetheless. Home. She was going home.
“It’s been a pleasure, Wren. I’ll see you tonight,” Richard crooned, stepping around her just in time for her jailers to return. Prince Malaki wore black from head to toe that clung to his narrow form. His shoulder length hair was freshly combed and half was tied up in a small knot. He had none of last night’s color in his cheeks and looked decidedly pale without it. Sophie was huffing behind him, cheeks rosy from effort. Her medium length blond hair was pulled into a thick braid that she threw over her shoulder as she came to a stop behind the eldest prince with a look of contrition.
Blue eyes flashed from Wren to Richard and for a moment Wren could have sworn he knew their plan. That her chance of escape had gone as quickly as it had come.
“Brother. What is the meaning of this?” said Prince Malaki’s cold voice.
“Oh, Kai, do not be so dull. I was just getting to know Wren.” Richard put his arm around Wren’s shoulders as he said the words.
Wren saw Prince Malaki’s body stiffen as he stared at his brother. “Richard.” The word held all the warning and rage that radiated from the older prince.
Seeing his words upset his brother, Richard moved to pass by him. “I am afraid I must be leaving as it were. Father has requested my presence this morning, I only wished to meet the lady everyone is making such a fuss over.” Turning towards Wren and Sophie, he smiled. “I will see you later this evening, Lady Wren.” As Richard attempted to move past him, the older prince clad all in black grabbed his arm.
“Now, now Kai. We are all friends here, but I am sure father would be interested to also learn of this.” With obvious hesitancy the older prince let go of his brother who smiled and left leisurely.
“Sophie.” The word from the dark prince was both a demand and a plea. Sophie nodded and led Wren back towards the hallway they had come from. Her heart beat wildly in her chest. The relationship between the two men was strained, but it didn’t matter. She was going home. They reached her room and Sophie quickly ushered her in and gestured for her to settle back into the chair where she had eaten her breakfast. The uneaten food and now cool tea still sat in front of her. Wren raised her eyes from the unappealing array of food and was surprised to find Prince Malaki at the door, seething with rage.
“What did you say to him?” His cold eyes locked on her as he said the words that were clipped with barely restrained anger.
Sophie looked at him in shock and looked to say something, but Wren found her own temper filling her. “I don’t see how that is any of your business.”
“What did you say to him?” He repeated the question, each word was deliberate and deathly quiet.
There should have been more time granted to her to figure out the factions and dynamics of this strange world, but then again she never should have been there to begin with. One prince treated her with disdain and anger while the other offered her a chance home. There was little question in her mind of which she was prepared to follow.
Wren straightened in her chair, meeting his cerulean eyes that flamed with untamed wrath. She would not be intimidated. “As I said. I don’t see how that is any of your business and you can storm around this whole gods forsaken castle and I still won’t be inclined to discuss it with you.”
His eyes widened for a fraction before he let out a long slow breath. Perhaps that wasn’t the best method after all. In hindsight it didn’t seem wise to antagonize her jailer when freedom was just out of reach.
The prince pinched the bridge of his nose and blew out a long breath. There was a small curling satisfaction at the knowledge she had irritated him. He deserved all of that and more. Coming to some sort of resolution, Prince Malaki took two long strides to where she was sitting and took the seat opposite her, leaning forward. There was no kindness in his narrow face or hint of compassion for the precarious position he had placed her in.
“Let me explain a few things to you. My brother does not have good intentions. Whatever he said to you—whatever he promised you is nothing more than beautifully wrapped poison. I can’t protect you against him if you don’t tell me what he said.” The words were clipped as if he were speaking to an errant child. It made her blood boil.
Wren leaned forward, mimicking his position. “I don’t see why I should believe a word you say to me. You have been nothing but unpleasant. Why would I ever believe that you mean to protect me?”
The prince’s fists clenched where they rested on the table and she could see her words had found their target. “Because you are my godsdamn wife whether I wish it or not.”
A pregnant silence filled the room as Wren stared at the man before her. There was no hint of jest on his ever-serious face. Laughter bubbled up in her and soon she was clutching her stomach as cascading humor fell over her. She hadn’t had many expectations for this conversation, but announcing that she was married had not once crossed her mind. They were mad. All of them in this desolate place except maybe Sophie. But when she tried to seek aid from Sophie, she was pale as if she would throw up right there enough that Wren would have to question her sanity as well. The sight of her was enough to take the misplaced humor from her. Gathering her breath she steeled herself.
“You all are mad. I would never marry you.” A strange feeling of panic began clawing at her insides where the humor had once been.
