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I watch as Vippera smiles widely at the sight of Rory being hauled off. I so badly wish to smack it off of her face. Somehow she hasn’t yet detected what Rory is capable of, but perhaps she’s been too focused on securing her place by my side on the throne.
I force myself to turn away, unable to stand the sight of Rory in pain. Only when she is tossed into a nearby cell do I hear a singular sob cry out. It hurts more than a dagger in the back.
It’s then that it hits me. My feelings for this human go far beyond the surface level. Hell, I knew I liked her for more than her body, but I never felt something like this before. It’s far more powerful than I ever thought, even stronger than the urge to protect her.
Vippera directs her glare at me. I return the gesture, standing tall. She scoffs, shaking her head as she storms off, her father following close behind. They leave in the direction of the guest wing.
I stall behind, waiting for another minute before making my own exit, turning in the opposite direction that Vippera takes. I turn a corner, where I’m greeted by my servant, an anxious look written across his face mixed with woe and guilt.
“Zalith, I’m so sorry,” he pleads, throwing his hands together. “I took her back to her room as directed and told her to stay put. I… I…”
I lay a hand on his shoulder.
“You did your best, Slyth, so do not apologize. Vippera has her own dastardly ways of finding out information.”
“So what now, sir? Are you going to go ahead with the marriage arrangements?” he asks.
“Over my dead body,” I growl, the anger-inducing face of Vippera flashing in my mind. “Rory is still alive, tossed away in a cell. I need to go after her, Slyth. I cannot just leave her to rot away while I go cruising into some life I’d rather not live.”
“Sir, I don’t mean to question you… But are you sure that’s the best idea?”
“What other choice do I have?” I ask, my voice full of longing.
Slyth crosses his brows at me, drawing himself up.
“It’s not the wisest move with all this activity tonight… But I’ll stand with you.”
A relenting expression comes over his face. Perhaps he sees just how much Rory means to me and how much I need him right now. I nod at him.
“Thank you, Slyth. I knew I could count on you.”
“However,” he continues. “If we’re going to do this, it’s best that we wait until the palace is quieter.”
A number of hours pass as the sky becomes shrouded in a deeper shade of darkness. The corridors are silent save for the occasional patrol as Slyth and I sneak back down to the cell area.
Down here it is even darker than the night. Vippera has presumably ordered for all sconces to be put out, leaving Rory in pitch-black nothingness. Slyth and I carry torches as we dread the depths of the palace.
I hear the pained cries coming from down the hallway, the sounds of which stabs at my heart with a million shards of broken glass. Taking a deep breath, I turn to Slyth, my breath dancing in the cold air as I speak.
“Keep an eye out for anyone coming down here, I’m going to retrieve Rory.”
“Will do.”
I tiptoe closer to the cell, my torch revealing a curled-up Rory sitting in the corner, her head bobbing up and down buried in her arms.
“Rory!” I call out, opening the cell door. She looks up, her cheeks flushed red with tear stains as she hurls a rock toward me.
“Stay the hell away from me!” she yells. “You traitor!”
“Rory, I can explain everything, I swear!”
She rises to her feet, her sadness suddenly replaced with rage. There is fury on her face, her skin as red as fire itself. I raise my hands as a sign I come in peace.
“I can –”
“I don’t want to hear any more of your bullshit!” she screams. “You’ve betrayed me! All I was to you was a mere tool, a means to get you out of your marriage. Well, you can go fuck yourself.”
I say nothing. Her voice reduces to a whimper.
