Page 18

THE FOLLOWING MORNING

I walk out of the billiard room down the corridor, and my eyes light up when I spot Ivy coming toward me.

I am about to run to her when I realize the king has come around the corner and is next to her.

He has a hold of her hand. Ivy, also noticing me, smiles and moves toward me before freezing, yet my gaze is on the possessive way he grips her hand as if he is afraid she will run off. Ivy pauses and I frown.

However, the king looks down at her and says something while I wait to see if she is allowed to come to see me.

He glances down at her before bringing her hand to his lips.

My eyes widen. Why is he being affectionate toward her?

My breath lodges in my throat as worry courses through me for her.

Surely, he isn’t forcing her to be his sex slave.

The thought horrifies me. I know it happens, but she is my Ivy.

I don’t know if I can live with knowing she is suffering like that.

The guards don’t even bat an eyelash at his outrageous affections toward her as if they expect it, yet whatever he says has her rushing over to me. Her body crashes against mine as she embraces me, and I squeeze her tight. It feels as if it has been ages since I last saw her.

Upon colliding against her, a sob bursts from my lips as I smother her in my hug. The relief I feel upon realizing she is okay, or as okay as she could be given her situation, is as if a weight has lifted. Ivy squeezes tight, proving she missed me just as much as I missed her.

Pulling away, I see tears streaking down her face and I wipe her tears, and she wipes mine. “I was so worried when I didn’t see you for a few days; I thought they got rid of you,” I murmur, remembering to keep my voice out of earshot.

I don’t want to see her punished for my words, and I also don’t want to be reprimanded. Holding her at arm’s length, I glance over at her, looking for fresh lash marks or bruises, but I find none. She appears to be okay.

“Where is your uniform?” I ask her, noticing she isn’t wearing the usual staff uniform all the servants wear.

“I have to go with the king somewhere. He told me to wear this,” she says, and my brows furrow.

Wait, where is he taking her again? I glance over at the king to find him talking to his guards and Clarice.

Panic makes me worry she has done something wrong.

Is he shunning her from the castle or selling her?

I feel my stomach pool with dread at the possibilities.

“You’re leaving the castle?” I ask, unable to hide the panicked sound in my voice. Ivy glances over her shoulder at the king then looks back at me, and nods.

“But you’re coming back, right?” I ask. I feel the blood run from my face as I glance down at her clothes again.

If he is getting rid of her, I want to go with her.

I don’t want to remain here without her.

We have a pact, and Ivy is all I have left, I refuse to go on without her.

I can’t. She is the only reason I didn’t kill myself.

The goddess knows how I tried to end it. If it weren’t for her, I would have.

“Yes, I will bring her back, Abbie,” the king says, pulling me from my thoughts, and I quickly straighten just as Mrs. Daley taught us, making sure not to meet his gaze. I give a little curtsey, not wanting to be whipped for disrespect, and turn my neck in submission.

“It’s time to leave,” the king says, placing his hand on her hip. My eyes dart to his hand before shifting to Ivy, wondering if she is okay when he suddenly pulls her away from me and toward the guards at the end of the hall.

“I love you,” I blurt out, she needs to know I love her, and the king stops when she looks back at me. Ivy lets his hand go and rushes back to me, her arms wrapping tightly around my neck, and I fight back the tears. She pecks my cheek, and I squeeze her extra tight, not wanting to let her go.

“I love you, too,” she whispers to me. I don’t care if I’ll get scolded for it or even whipped.

I hold on just that a little bit longer.

I need that last hug in case it turns out to be my last one from her.

If she doesn’t return, I will follow and give up and find a way to end myself to be with her.

“So much, more than my life,” I whisper in her ear, and my voice cracks as my throat becomes clogged with emotion.

“More than my life,” she whispers back, letting me go.

The king watches us curiously, and it is hard for me not to demand where he is taking her as she walks back over to him.

My lip quivers as I pray to the moon goddess to return her to me.

Moments later, I see Gannon walk past and before I can stop myself, I grip his wrist. He stops and looks down at me briefly then watches the king and Ivy leave out the doors.

“He won’t hurt her, will he?” I ask him, looking up at him to realize I still have a hold of his wrist. I jerk my hand back. “Sorry,” I murmur, dropping my gaze. It is clear he is busy and going with them, and I am obstructing him.

Gannon sighs, gripping my chin and tilting my face up, and my face heats, knowing we are drawing the attention of the guards in the hall.

“What are you talking about?” he whispers.

“The king, where is he taking her? Is he selling her?” I ask him, and Gannon seems taken aback by my words.

“No, of course not. I won’t let him hurt her, Abbie; I promise she will be back, we are going to the Landeena Kingdom, remember?” I suck in a breath and nod.

“I will be back in a few days. You still have the key to my room?” I nod, and he brushes his thumb along my jaw.

“She’ll be fine, and I left a present for you on my bed,” he says, shocking me with stepping closer.

He hugs me quickly and kisses my forehead before walking off, leaving me stunned as he leaves.