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Chapter15
Tap. Tap. Drip.
The steady droplets of water dripping toward the back of my cell created a lullaby that somehow both frightened and calmed me.
Tap. Tap. Drip.
I dazed in and out of sleep until I awoke to an eerie chorus of trickles that sent a shiver down my spine.
No more.
I may not know how to get out of here, but I’d be damned if I missed an opportunity because I was curled up like I was a helpless child. I’d been training for a few months, and I refused to let that go to waste.
Instead of a lullaby, I turned the steady companion of water into a beat to move my body to. I ran from one side of the cell to the other, did pushups, sit-ups, wall squats—anything I could think of to keep my blood flowing.
The more I moved and pushed myself, the sharper I felt, both physically and mentally. Noah knew I was here, and though I wasn’t sure why he hadn’t busted me out yet given his authority, I had to trust that he’d be doing what he could on his end. Regardless of my status as a feeder, I knew there was something there between us, even if it was only friendship. He wouldn’t leave me to rot here.
Until he could figure out a way to break me out, I’d keep doing this. Moving. Thinking.
The royal guard was clearly behind the spy situation at the palace, but how? Wouldn’t there have to be a vetting process? How long had a traitor been in the Unseelie lands? And how many of them were in on it?
And if I did get out, how long would I be safe if I suspected the royal guard and opened my mouth? The spy was still at large as far as I knew. And with war being declared, anyone unloyal to Noah and the Unseelie would cause more than just a few minor issues. Their deceit could change the fate of the war itself.
An echo outside my cell halted my pushups and I jumped to my feet, staying still to hear what made the noise. Perhaps Noah had succeeded and we could figure out our next move.
The darkness didn’t lessen, and whatever was thudding toward me hadn’t bothered to create any more light.
I heard muffled whimpers and the door to my cell flew open.
I could make out two guards practically carrying a limp figure. They heaved the body in and chuckled as they locked us in together.
I knelt to peer at the body.
Obviously, it wasn’t Noah.
“Are you all right?” I touched the shoulder of a fragile-looking woman whose shadowed face looked slightly familiar. I knew I’d seen her around the castle before. I just didn’t know her name.
“I’m Cora. I’m Prince Noah’s feeder,” I said, hoping she’d come to enough to tell me what was going on in the palace.
She nodded, slowly at first and then more enthusiastically. “Yes,” she said. “Yes, I recognize you. Aleita,” she said as she pressed her hand to her chest.
“Are you injured?” I asked.
She put her hands on the cell floor and steadied herself, rising to her feet of her own accord. I followed, matching her movements slowly so I didn’t startle her.
She placed her hands at her waist and brushed downward a few times before answering. “No, I’m not hurt. Just jostled around a little here and there.” She smoothed her hair down and took a step toward me. “Are you?”
I gave a small smile, as reassuring as I could manage. “No, I’m fine.” My bruising was not important, after all it wasn’t hindering my abilities to stay focused while in here, so it couldn’t be that bad. Honestly, there was barely any pain after Noah had worked his fae magic on me.
“The guards have lost their minds,” Aleita said in a whisper.
“What’s happening?”
She shrugged. “All I know is that the interrogations must be going terribly wrong. Most people aren’t coming back anymore after being questioned.”
Probably because the guards are terrible liars and people are starting to get suspicious, I thought. I didn’t know Aleita and before I said anything out loud, I needed to trust those around me. And since that was unlikely, my thoughts would be my own.
Aleita glanced back a few times, each time acting as though there was more she wanted to say, but was too scared to.
