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“I wish there was a place we could take her, to keep her safe,” he mused.
I thought about it for a moment, then it dawned on me. “How about we take her to Evangeline?”
“The witch?” he asked.
“Yes,” I nodded. “I don’t know how she would feel about it, but she has already expressed her desire to help us by offering insight. Maybe she wouldn’t mind helping us in other ways as well, such as offering shelter to Lilith.”
“And you,” he added.
“Me?” I echoed.
“Of course,” he nodded gravely. “You don’t think I will let her go alone, do you?”
“Well, no, but…” I faltered. “I thought you would want to send her there with her fiancée.”
He inhaled deeply. “I doubt he would be able to protect her if the situation required it of him.”
“Then why not send guards with them?” I suggested, feeling that this would put me right in between Lilith and her future husband, exactly the opposite of what I was trying to do.
With everything that had happened, my emotions for her were the least important thing. But they were still there, still omnipresent and I was finding it increasingly difficult to deal with them, especially when I was by her side. Back in her room, I couldn’t resist embracing her, comforting her and that kiss on the forehead held all my love for her. I knew that I had crossed the line, and I would keep crossing it every time the opportunity presented itself for the simple reason that I loved her. There was no denying it. I loved a woman who was about to become someone else’s wife. I never thought I would find myself in such a ridiculous situation. I thought I knew better, but obviously, I didn’t.
“No, no,” the king shook his head. “The witch won’t trust them. It has to be you. And Lilith. Just the two of you. Luke will stay here in the castle with me. We shall spread a rumor that Lilith is stricken with grief, and that is why she refuses to leave her room. Not even the servants will know the truth. It is of the utmost importance that everyone thinks Lilith is still here, while actually she’s not. That is the only way to keep her safe.”
“I understand,” I nodded. His plan made sense. Lilith’s safety was the most important thing, especially now. “When are we to go?”
“Tonight,” he told me gravely, in a voice that wouldn’t allow any backtalk. “You will travel with horses. That will make you less conspicuous. Once you’re there, you will explain everything to the witch, and hopefully, she will agree to this plan.”
“I hope so, too,” I agreed.
“Just remember not to mention this to anyone,” the king concluded. “The only people who will know of this will be the four of us. Me, you, Lilith and Luke.”
“I understand,” I echoed.
“Go and get ready,” he urged. “I shall summon Lilith and Luke and share the plan with them.”
I bowed respectfully and left his study. My mind buzzed with thoughts of the plan we just discussed. It seemed like the safest course of action, given the grave danger that Constantine and his clans posed. Evangeline had knowledge and abilities that could protect Lilith, and her cottage would be a sanctuary for us, as no vampires would dare trespass on her property.
I knew that keeping Lilith safe was paramount, and the idea of staying hidden at the witch’s cottage offered a glimmer of hope in these dark times. But as the weight of responsibility settled on my shoulders, doubts began to creep into my mind.
Would it truly be enough to keep Lilith safe? Could we really evade Constantine’s grasp for an extended period? What if they discovered our whereabouts and launched an attack on the witch’s cottage, despite their fear of her retribution? My mind played out numerous scenarios, each one more harrowing than the last.
But I also knew that we couldn't stay idle. The danger was real, and we needed to act swiftly to protect Lilith and the kingdom. The witch was our best chance at finding information about Constantine’s plans and ensuring Lilith’s safety.
As I walked through the hallways of the castle, my thoughts kept returning to Lilith. Her grief over Cassandra’s death had brought us closer, and I felt a deep sense of responsibility to shield her from further harm. I knew I couldn’t let my emotions cloud my judgment, but it was challenging to separate my personal feelings from the mission at hand.
I went to my room and started to pack. As I carefully placed essential supplies into a bag, my thoughts drifted to the perilous road that lay ahead. I knew we couldn’t afford to be careless. Every decision we made could have dire consequences. Constantine was a cunning adversary, and I couldn’t underestimate the dangers that awaited us. The worst part was that we didn’t even know how deep his plans were and what he was ready to do to get what he wanted, which was King Theodore’s crown. There was already one casualty. I couldn’t allow there to be more.
Glancing at the moon pendant that hung around my neck, a memento of my bond with Florian, I felt a mix of gratitude and concern. The pendant was the key to gaining the witch’s trust, but it also meant that we were venturing into unknown territory, with no guarantees of safety.
Lilith’s words echoed in my mind. Her trust in me was unwavering, and I couldn’t let her down. I had to be strong for her, to protect her with everything I had. When I stumbled into this job, I had no idea that it would change everything. Yet, here I was, ready to risk everything, for a woman who would never be mine.
But that didn’t matter. What mattered was that she would be alive and well. Most importantly, she would be safe. That was enough.
I tried to focus on the rest of my stuff, of which there was very little. I made it a habit to travel light, especially for occasions such as this one. I looked around the room, wonderingif I would ever return here again. My heart clenched at the possibility of a negative answer. Fate had a strange way of arranging your life in a way you would never have expected it. This was what had happened here. I arrived, thinking it would be like any other job, thinking it would be my last job. In many ways, it was. But I never expected it to be the beginning of something like this.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Lilith
