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The hunting woods were a short horse ride from the palace. The guard’s countenance grew pallid as he led us along a familiar path. We rode the narrow road through the trees, and when we got to where he had found the body, I understood why. It was Duchess Katherina. I clamped my jaw and gripped the reins tightly as I stared at what once was of the Duchess. Her face was the only body part that hadn’t been torn open and mutilated. Naked, her breasts bore slashes, the skin of her ripped throat flapped at the light breeze, and her hands, nothing but bone and sinew, were tied together and propped up with sticks in a gesture of prayer as though pleading for mercy. Whoever it was, had cast a preservation spell on her eyes. Given her state and the stink coming off her body, those eyes should have been white with death. Should have been sunken in, eaten by wild animals… instead, they were as clear as though she was still alive, her blood still fresh. My stomach revolted. I dismounted and approached the remains. Rage simmered inside me as I removed my cloak and laid it over her, giving her some measure of dignity in death that she had been stripped of. I stood, turned, and saw the guard stumbling to a nearby bush. The guard retched and vomited. Klaus stared at the body with anger burning in his eyes. And the beast from the Forestof Shadows rose with my rage, pressing against my skin. How could anyone do such a thing to another living being? Even farmers butchered their livestock with more kindness.
“What about the Duchess manor? Was anything found there this morning?” I asked the guard.
“Nothing.” The guard replied after he recovered.
I looked at Klaus. “Have the body taken to the morgue for investigation before she’s returned to her family. Have Randell move out somewhere safe. Whoever it was might come back for him.”
Klaus nodded tersely.
“We have to find and stop whoever is behind this,” I stated, renewed determination flooding me. “Before anyone else dies.”
Testing Limits
Reilyn
The room held a balcony. I was certain it connected to another balcony because new guards appeared occasionally, and the old guards left, yet none came into my room. The balcony doors were made of glass and remained locked. I’d have had no problem escaping if not for the four guards always posted on the other side. Two looked in, while the other two faced out. I thought about keeping the curtains open and making Araki regret having guards stationed to watch through the windows. In the end, though, I was certain it would be more uncomfortable for me than for him. I didn’t know if he’d care at all. He certainly wouldn’t care.
Thus, I kept those curtains shut tight. The room had other windows that I kept open, so I could have natural light and open for air every so often when the room became too warm. Nighttime brought a distinct bite of cold, but days were still sunny and warm. Even when dark clouds formed in the distance, they never seemed to come toward the palace. A storm would give me the perfect weather to escape in, with the noise and sheets of rain covering my tracks. But it didn’t often rain on this part of the coast until early winter, and we were still in late summer. I had to admit. I was surprised that Araki hadn’t nailed the windows shut. As high as I was off the ground, I could get out. But I wouldn’t get far, not with so many guards around. They’d easily knock me off the wall. From the window, it was a fall of at least forty feet, but if they didn’t want to kill me, all they had to do was to wait until I was closer to the ground, where they’d be ready to capture me. Getting through another windowwas possible, but even at night, the area outside my room was so lit up that they’d be bound to see me climb out.
The wheels in my head turned tirelessly as I paced back and forth like a caged animal in the most luxurious room, I’d ever been in. Four guards were on the balcony that I could see. A pair of guards strolled beneath my window every five to ten minutes. Another four outside my room in the hallway. One guard was swapped out every two hours. None of them grew tired enough to use that to my advantage. Unless I could get firsthand some powerful magic, then I was stuck here. With that still, I wasn’t convinced that I could teleport out when Araki and I were bound together as we were. And for all I knew, we’d just end up in the Forest of Shadows again.
An image of Araki transforming into the beast crossed my mind, causing me to shudder. How had that happened? Had he tried to steal from the forest after all? Or was it something in him pertaining to his mysterious lineage?
I’d woken early that morning and hadn’t sat down since. My legs ached from pacing. Master Briggs knew how to put me through my paces, but I’d never gone for these many hours without a break. I grimaced as I thought of what he’d tell me if he was here.
“Tiring yourself out will do no good. You must be ready to escape at a moment’s notice. How will you do that if your body is already crying out for rest?”
I sank onto the thick carpet, pressing the heels of my feet together. I drew them close to my body and leaned over them, stretching my inner thighs and hips. If my muscles could talk, they would have sighed in relief. Thinking of Master Briggs only made my heart sink. I’d been here for two days now. My targetright here. He came to my room often enough. I had many opportunities to fulfil my mission… but I was meant to do more than kill him. I was supposed to take the crown. I was supposed to be the queen leading this kingdom out of chaos. The kingdom needed me. Any baron or lord who stepped in after Araki’s death would either be as bloodthirsty as him or die quickly. Civil war would most assuredly break out.
No, I couldn’t die. Nevertheless, I felt like a failure. Shame gutted me. Master Briggs must be heavily disappointed in me. I hoped some part of him was worried, too. That when I returned to the Nightshade, he would reassure me that I did the best I could. It was hard to convince myself of the latter.
No one in the Nightshade failed their mission and became a prisoner. Everyone either succeeded in the mission or died trying. That was how it worked. I had no right sitting here, having failed the most important mission.
I haven’t failed yet,I told myself sharply.I just haven’t succeeded yet. I can’t kill him if I’m dead. I just have to bide my time. He wants to destroy the Nightshade. It’s up to me to protect our noble work.
A knock came at the door and startled me from the wallowing thoughts. I sprang out of my stretch. Araki often dropped by my room unexpectedly. I smoothed down the clean clothing I’d been given. A grey dress. The wardrobe was full of simple garb. I rounded the small table in the centre of the room. Araki always knocked on the door before unlocking the door. He never entered without my permission. It was frustrating how endearing I found that action. I didn’t want to find anything about the usurperendearing.
As if he hadn’t locked me up in here.
As if I wasn’t a prisoner.
With an aggravated sigh, I made my way to the door. I’d braided my hair earlier that day, pushed it over my shoulder, and hung it straight down my back. Squaring my shoulders, I tested the door. Locked. Disappointment hit me hard. I immediately cast the emotion aside. Why should I care that this wasn’t Araki? I shouldn’t be craving his presence at all. Araki was my enemy, and no amount of conversation could change that. He was a wicked man who I must kill. The disappointment was only because I wasn’t able to convince him to remove the spell so I could kill him. Priestess Opaline had once told me that lies were dangerous, but the most dangerous ones were the ones you told yourself.
The knock came again.
I took a deep breath. If I didn’t face the truth, I would only cause myself more confusion. It would only mean I would have a more difficult time figuring out this mission. I couldn’t afford to waste energy convincing myself of something untrue. I wanted Araki to be at the door because I craved his company. He was the only person since the ball that I had had any interaction with other than Klaus. I hadn’t seen his general since being locked up. It was only natural that I wanted company. Araki’s good looks only complicated the matter. As did his actions in the Forest of Shadows.
All the same, he wanted to destroy the Nightshade. He might be getting under my skin and making me question how wicked a man he truly was, but I wasn’t about to betray my coven to him. Never.
The knock came again, but the guard didn’t call out. None of them did. I would have thought their tongues were cut out ifI hadn’t heard them talk to Araki whenever he came. I retreated to the table and sat, folding my hands over my lap in plain sight. “Enter,” I called.
The door swung open. A guard whose face I hadn’t seen before stalked in. Another guard entered behind him, a loaded crossbow in hand. He pointed the weapon at me as the first guard headed for the table. He carried a covered silver tray. The scent of roasted meat and vegetables made my stomach rumble. The guard set the tray on the table and returned to the hallway. Moving quickly, he brought in a jug of water that he used to fill the pitcher on the vanity dresser.
“What is your name?” I asked, tired of the silence. The guard twitched but ignored me. I pulled the tray of food toward me. When I took off the cover, I saw, as usual, a metal plate filled with food already cut into bite-size pieces. No silverware. A mug of tea had come with today’s meal. I sniffed it. It smelled of berries and roses.
“Is Araki planning to see me today?” I asked as I set the cover aside.
The guard with the bow remained impassive. The one carrying the jug of water froze. He barked. “You have no right to say the King’s name, assassin.”
