AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Was our joining a lie?”
“I almost wish it had been.”
So did I. I nodded and had no idea what to say. I’d trusted him, and he’d been lying to us from the beginning. I couldn’t forgive him. Mightneverforgive him.
“I’ll go. When this is over, and you’re safe with Lark. You’ll never have to see me again.”
“Don’t wait. Leave now.”
Gulping, he turned away and left the room. When the door swung shut behind him, I covered my face and sobbed, furious, hurt, lost, and so damn tired. I’d be all right, I just needed to wash the filth off and find the pieces of myself so I could put them back together.
With the tears drying, I washed the prison dankness off, shaved my face clean, and dressed in the fine clothes. A pale, blue-eyed, golden-haired prince stared back at me from the mirror, but he was hollow. I tried to remember how to be the Prince of Love again, but I didn’t feel the same as before. Some part of me had been torn out and tossed aside. It wasn’t all Draven—it waseverything.
I needed Razak out of my life, out of all our lives.
A knock sounded on the door. “Draven, so help me, if you do not give me time to think I will swing at you.” I yanked the door open—and found a young red-haired woman staring back. "Noemi?”
Her blue eyes shone, brittle with fear, but her voice, when she spoke, was as solid as ice. “You must gather your belongings and leave. Immediately.”
“What’s going on? Are you all right? You were arrested in War. I wasn’t sure I’d ever see you again.”
“Prince Arin, there’s no time.” She glanced behind her and wet her lips. “You must leave. Take your troupe with you.”
“My troupe?”
“Warlord Draven, Lark? They didn’t travel with you?”
“Yes, but no. I mean, I was arrested. I’ve only just been released.”
Her mouth fell open. “I… I’m sorry, I did not know. They didn’t say. Of course they didn’t… Regardless—” She smoothed her blue cloak down, sweeping away the kinks. “—there’s no time for this, you must go—”
“Noemi, do you know why I was freed?”
“No, Arin. I’m sorry. I don’t know anything. Just that, please—you must go. Take the west bridge. And hurry. The bridges will soon be cut.” She took a step back into the corridor and glanced over her shoulder a second time, clearly concerned she’d be seen. She wasn’t supposed to be here.
“What’s happening?”
“I fear something terrible.”
Others spilled from their rooms into the corridors, coats on and cases under their arms.
Draven emerged from the room next to mine. “Noemi… What’s happening? Have you seen Lark?”
“No, you’re the only ones I’ve seen. I came to you, only to you. And you must go. I’m sorry. I can’t say any more. Leave, and everything will be all right.” She backed away again, desperate to leave.
“Lark is missing,” I said, hoping to keep her here. She knew more but was afraid.
“I don’t…” She blinked.
“We can’t leave without him,” Danyal said, emerging from Draven’s room. A piece of the past flashed into my mind—a man standing beside Lark, beneath the old oak tree outside my palace. He was the man Lark had told my court’s secrets too. He worked for the Court of Pain.
Draven had told me War’s crown was here. Pain’s crown was here too, assuming Lark had found it. Justice’s crown was, of course, nearby. And my father’s crown of Love? What if that was also close? Razak had taken it long ago… But it seemed as though all the pieces had begun to fall into place. Draven’s story told of how he’d sent himself War’s crown, sent it here. What if Razak had done the same? “Noemi, tell me. Was there a package sent here, several months ago now? Sent for Razak’s attention?”
“I’m sorry, I don’t know about any packages. I have to go—”
“Wait.” I stepped into her path. “Is this because of the crowns?”
She stiffened, fighting her fear back. “Please, you must go.”
