Page 41 of A Dagger in the Ivy (Blade Bound #1)

C Hapter

Torbin’s gaze travels up and down my body, and I hold back a shudder.

“Come, my dear. Let me escort you back to your room.” He doesn’t wait for me to respond. He simply grabs me by the arm and begins walking.

I look back at the king, but I don’t find any compassion there. And something tells me the way Torbin is handling me is something he learned from his father in the first place, so the king will have no objections.

I don’t want Torbin to take me to my room. I want to find Dante. But Torbin’s hold on me is strong, despite my fae powers. When we reach my room, Torbin doesn’t acknowledge Sir Holden, who approaches my door for his watch. He must have been informed that I’d returned to the castle and is taking his place for duty.

I do not know where anyone’s loyalties lie anymore; otherwise, I would plea for Sir Holden to step between Torbin and me. Then again, there’s no telling what Torbin would do to him if he did attempt to help me. I don’t want anything to happen to Sir Holden, so I keep my mouth shut.

My eyes, however, send him a message of caution.

Torbin pushes me into my room, and as he releases my arm, I place a hand over the red marks on my skin.

Torbin’s smug demeanor shifts as soon as the door closes behind them, his eyes narrowing as he approaches me with predatory intent. “Have you learned your lesson, Princess?”

“If you mean the lesson about how I shouldn’t trust you, then yes.”

He steps closer, his gaze boring into mine with unnerving intensity. “You have no power here, Celeste. Running to my father with accusations will do no good. I’m one step ahead of you.”

My chest is filled with fury. I glare back at him, wanting to spit in his face. It takes every ounce of control I have to not unsheathe my dagger and drive it into him.

Torbin paces, his hand resting on the hilt of his sabre. “Under normal circumstances, I can be a patient man. But waiting for you to see reason is maddening.”

“‘Reason’?” I scoff.

“To realize the opportunities that await us if we join forces.” He turns to me, searching my face. There’s a hint of a hopeful smile formed on his lips. It’s as if he genuinely believes I will decide to become an accomplice in the Shadow Tsar’s absurd scheme.

“That’s not fucking going to happen.”

Torbin’s smile falters slightly, replaced by a flicker of annoyance. “You don’t seem to fully understand the situation we’re in, Celeste. The tsar will prevail, and as a faithful follower, I will be granted power in the realms. Everything you aim to accomplish—keeping the trade routes open to Delasurvia, feeding your people, saving them—will all disappear if you hold this stand against me. You’re being given an opportunity to have a seat of honor under his rule, and as my bride, to make all of your intentions come to light.” His tone is turning icy. “With me by your side, you could have everything you’ve ever desired—power, wealth, influence. You could be unstoppable.”

My fists clench at my sides, my resolve hardening. “I want nothing to do with your twisted ambitions. The people of Dulcamar are fleeing because of that tyrant. He is using them as fucking food, feeding them to those monsters you’re creating. I will never support that.”

Torbin’s facade of charm slips further, replaced by naked hostility. “You have no choice. The Shadow Tsar’s reign is inevitable. Those people you’re trying to save are already dead. It is their fate.”

My jaw is set so hard it hurts. “I disagree.”

A growl emanates from his throat, and before I can blink, Torbin turns to my vanity beside him and throws the entire piece of furniture across the room. It smashes into the floor, toppling upside down, and everything in it and on it spreads like debris.

I withdraw my dagger immediately, not caring that it is a threat against the crown prince. I hold my stance, bracing myself in case he turns his anger on me.

Torbin stares at me, his breaths heavy. His eyes dart from my face to my dagger and back again. “You will regret this decision, Your Highness.” The last word comes out like a hiss.

The door bursts open, and Sir Holden steps into the room with his sword drawn. He quickly assesses the room, taking in Torbin’s imposing form, the red of his skin and the fire behind his eyes, and me, holding a defensive stance with my dagger in my grip. Sir Holden’s gaze drifts to the upended vanity table and the scattered contents. “Your Highnesses?”

Torbin rakes back his hair and continues to stare at me.

This is no spell. Torbin truly harbors this darkness.

I lower my dagger. “Just a mishap, Sir Holden. The prince was just leaving.”

With a final, venomous glare, Torbin storms out of the room, and I feel like I can finally take a breath. Despite the weight of his threats, I remain steadfast in my resolve, determined to thwart his sinister schemes at any cost.

“Thank you, Sir Holden.” I fight to keep my voice steady. “I’d like to be alone now.”

He inclines his head. “Yes, Your Highness.”

As he shuts the door behind him, the broken vanity and the mess around it catch my eye. I don’t care about the creams and brushes and perfumes, but the container of powder Ezra gave me was in one of the drawers. I make my way over to the mess and spot the container. The ceramic pot is in pieces, and the powder is now sunken into the carpet.

Shit.

I push my hair back from my cheeks, my mind swirling and my stomach in knots. I should go directly to Ezra to get more powder, but the person whom I really want to see right now is Dante. He’s the only one who can understand how I’m feeling. Besides, I don’t have it in me to explain the entire course of events to the magister right now. I’m too pent up with fury.

When I step into the hall, Sir Holden stands sentry. He follows me as I head for Dante’s room. The king must have ordered him to keep a tight watch on me. My footfalls echo softly in the corridor. When I reach Dante’s door, Sir Holden waits to the side. I knock, but there’s no answer.

A servant passes, and I reach out to her. She gives me a curtsey.

I struggle to keep the urgency from my voice. “Excuse me, do you happen to know where Lord Stregasi might be?”

“I believe he has left the castle, Your Highness. He was seen heading for the stables.”

My heart sinks. “I see. Thank you.”

I toss and turn in my bed. It’s only dusk, but I have nowhere else to go. I’m trapped here, in my room, in this castle, while innocents out in the realm are suffering. While an evil tyrant is plaguing the world with carnivorous creatures. After I searched for Dante, I noticed the increase in the number of guards patrolling the halls. No doubt something implemented by the king in case I decide to flee.

I can’t stand the thought of seeing any of the royals, so I skip dinner and hole myself up in my room. Nadya hasn’t come around yet, and a part of me worries about her safety. When I asked Indira if she’d seen her, she only scoffed, rattling off complaints about Nadya never being where she’s supposed to be.

If Dante were here, I’d at least have a small spark of comfort to ease this hollow ache I feel inside. I throw my covers back, staring at my ceiling and feeling more alone than ever. The silence of my chamber presses in, my emotions threatening to overwhelm me.

I close my eyes, wishing I had my uncle’s telepathy powers. I need to tell him and my squad what Dante and I found at that campsite. But if I head for the nightfeather tower, I’m sure to be questioned, and the king will call me a traitor.

As strong as I try to be, I can’t stop the tears from forming. I wrap my arms around myself, trembling from the intensity of my turmoil.

The door to my chamber creaks open, and Nadya slips inside, her features illuminated by the flickering candlelight. “Celeste?”

I sit up, and she rushes to my side.

She looks me over, her face etched with concern. “When did you return?”

“Just today.”

Her gentle touch is a soothing balm to my wounded soul. “What’s wrong? Why are you crying?”

I take her hand. “Nadya, I can’t tell you everything right now, but just know that things aren’t as they seem. Something very big and terrible is happening out there.”

She searches my features, her brows drawn down low. “You can tell me anything, you know.”

“It’s not safe. If someone were to question you…” My heart cinches at the thought of the king’s guards torturing her for information and then claiming us both traitors. “Please, you need to trust me.”

She blinks in evident confusion. “Okay.”

“I promise you when the time is safe, I will tell you everything. But right now, we have to be careful. You have to be careful.”

She nods, but her expression is still clouded with confusion.

I stand and start to remove clothes from my dresser.

“Where are you going?” She gets to her feet, wringing her hands.

“It’s probably better if you don’t know.” I pull on a pair of trousers, then tear off my nightdress. “But I need you to cover for me.”

“Of course. How long will you be gone?”

“I can’t be gone too long, or there will be trouble.” I pull a blouse over my chemise.

“I’ll sleep in your bed until you return. If they check, they’ll think I’m you.” She makes sense. She’s almost never in her own room, so her empty bed wouldn’t alarm anyone. And it probably wouldn’t occur to anyone that she’d be in mine.

“Nadya,” I begin, my voice trembling with urgency as I pull away slightly to meet her gaze, “I need you to promise me something.”

Her brow furrows in concern, her eyes searching mine for answers. “Of course, Celeste. Anything.”

I take a deep breath, steeling myself for what I’m about to say. “If I’m delayed getting back and you have to leave my room, please be careful. You can’t trust Torbin. He’s not who he seems to be. Please, promise me you’ll be careful around him.”

Nadya’s expression darkens, a flicker of unease crossing her features. “What do you mean?”

“He’s dangerous. Remember, he killed Lord Alistair.”

She swallows hard. “I thought he said that was an accident.”

I hesitate, grappling with the guilt of leaving her behind. “I can’t explain it all now. But just… keep your distance from him, okay? For your own safety.”

“I’m tougher than I look, you know?”

“Nadya, please! Promise me.”

She nods solemnly, her eyes reflecting the seriousness of my warning. “I promise.”