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Further down the dark space, two hands were hanging through the cell bars. I looked back into the cell I had stopped at, but whoever it was had dropped their head again. I frowned, hesitant to leave the person here, but I knew I had to.
Releasing the cell bars, I turned and made my way to where Maeteo was waiting. His hands hung limp against the cell bars as he rested his body weight against them, and as I drew closer to him, the full extent of his injuries came into view.
His eyes were purple with bruises, and dried blood crusted along the bridge of his nose. His jaw was swollen on both sides, and a gash stretched from his temple to his cheek bone. His hair was matted with blood and stuck tohis forehead with sweat. I took a step back at the sight of him, his injuries making my stomach turn uneasily.
“I know, I look gorgeous.” He smirked, wincing quickly after as the motion pulled on his injuries. I glared at him, anger boiling in my blood.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, my voice dripping venom. He stared at me, his eyes taking in every inch of my face.
“Saving you, obviously.”
I rolled my eyes, the anger I felt only getting stronger the more he spoke.
“I do not need saving.” I grit out through my teeth, glaring at him. “I told you not to follow me, General.”
His face hardened when I used his title rather than his name, and he pulled his arms back through the bars, standing to his full height.
“You were a fool to think I would let my Queen go into enemy lands alone.”
“I am not alone!”
“Oh, forgive me, Gracie is wonderfully well practiced in combat, isn’t she?”
“Enough,” I spat, pointing a finger at him through the bars. He took a step back, his shoulders dropping slightly. “You were told tostay away.”
Maeteo just stared at me, as though he had nothing to say to defend himself. I pulled my hand back from between the cell bars and smoothed out the creases in the skirt of my dress before clasping my hands together in front of me. Maeteo watched the motion closely.
Chains dragged across the floor from the only other occupied cell in the dungeons, and I looked over my shoulder to see the dark figure in there moving slightly closer to the cell door. I could still not make out their face. It was as though someone had placed a black fog over their features, and I frowned as I stared at them for a minute too long.
Sucking in a deep breath, I turned my attention back to Maeteo. He was staring at me, still, his eyes sad under the blackening purple bruises.
“Did you come alone?” I asked, hoping with all my might that he would say yes.
“No,” he said softly, and my heart sank. “The twins are here, too.”
“Oh, Maeteo,” I groaned, “Why?”
“To bring you home.”
My heart broke in my chest at his words, and I lifted a hand up to rub at my face, a headache forming behind my eyelids. Letting my hand drop again, I reached throughthe cell bars and placed it on Maeteo’s unmarked cheek, he let his head drop to the side, pressing into the palm of my hand and closing his eyes tight.
“I’ll send a healer down to tend to your wounds.” I said softly, and Maeteo nodded his head, opening his eyes to stare at me again. “I… I’ll see what I can do about getting you out of here, but I cannot make any promises.”
“I expect nothing, Princess.”
15
Cyrus
Kira shifted uncomfortably in the chair next to me, and I placed a hand on her arm, urging her to sit at peace without having to say anything.
Cirro droned on from across the table, his recounting of the last few months’ taxes and incomes from the city center making my ears feel like they were bleeding. Cirro did not have the most melodic of voices, and the monotonous tone of him reminded me of an old history teacher I had as a teenager. I had fallen asleepduring his classes, too.
Looking to the side, Kira shuffled again, clasping, and unclasping her hands on her lap, and I fought the urge to roll my eyes at her. Ever since the arrival of her friend two nights prior, she had been unsettled; fidgeting and lost in her own thoughts. Regardless of how much I did not want to, I knew just by looking at her face that she was taking none of what Cirro was saying in. And, as much as I loathed to admit it, she was the only thing getting in the way of me taking the throne, so I needed her a lot more relaxed than she currently is.
I cleared my throat, slapping my hands on the arms of my chair and standing from my seat. Kira jumped beside me, and I smirked at her before turning my attention to Cirro.
“That’s enough, now. Thank you, Cirro.” I said, my voice carrying around the silently stunned room.
