Page 25

I stared at the ceiling, my mind racing with plans to confront Gareth.

That weasel was likely rotting in the palace dungeons by now - a place I knew all too well from my previous life.

But I couldn’t exactly waltz down there alone.

Between the guards and Anderic’s infuriating overprotectiveness, I was about as free as a bird in a gilded cage.

Speaking of cages… My gaze drifted to Lennox, ever-vigilant at my side. A spark of an idea ignited. Why not use my—Anderic’s loyal watchguard to my advantage?

“Lennox,” I said smoothly, propping myself up on my elbows. “I’ve been cooped up in this room for days. Surely a little walk wouldn’t hurt my recovery?”

He raised an eyebrow, unmoved. “Your safety is my primary concern, Lady Ilyana.”

I sighed dramatically. “Of course, of course. But what if… we took a stroll somewhere secure? Say, the dungeons?”

Lennox’s eyes narrowed. “The dungeons are no place for a lady,” he said flatly, but his sharp gaze all but screamed, Do I look like an idiot?

I couldn’t help but smirk. No need to pretend anymore. “Come now, I’m hardly some delicate flower. Besides, I have questions for Gareth. Questions that could help your investigation.”

“Lady Ilyana, I cannot in good conscience-”

“Lennox,” I cut him off, my voice lowering.

“He has worked for my family for years. Wouldn’t I be the best candidate to wiggle information out of him?

You know as well as I do that Gareth holds vital information.

Information that could prevent further attacks.

Wouldn’t Prince Anderic want us to pursue every lead? ”

I saw the conflict warring in his eyes. Good. I pressed on, “I promise to behave. You’ll be right there to protect me. What’s the harm in a quick chat? I only want to help.”

Lennox exhaled sharply, crossing his arms. “Help?” he said flatly. “Isn’t that how you ended up like this?”

I huffed. “That’s beside the point. Will you help or not?”

Lennox’s jaw clenched. “And if I refuse?”

I shrugged, settling back against the pillows. “Then I suppose I’ll have to find my own way down there. You know how resourceful I can be.”

He muttered something that sounded suspiciously like a curse. “Fine. One visit. Brief. If Prince Anderic discovers this—”

“It’ll be our little secret,” I assured him, swinging my legs over the side of the bed. My muscles protested, but I ignored the discomfort. I had bigger fish to fry.

Not that it would stay a secret for long. I knew Lennox well enough—he wouldn’t withhold this from Anderic. If anything, he’d probably report it to him the moment I was out of earshot.

Oh well, it didn’t matter. As long as I got what I needed.

As we made our way through the winding corridors, frustration simmered beneath my skin.

I had spent so much time and effort trying to prevent my family’s downfall, only to come painfully close to losing everything—all because of Gareth.

And it wasn’t over yet. The danger still loomed, lurking in the shadows, waiting for another opportunity to strike.

The first whiff of damp stone and despair hit my nostrils as we descended the stairs to the dungeons. I wrinkled my nose, memories of my own time here threatening to surface. How many more secrets would these walls reveal before this was over?

If only Gareth had listened to me and made himself scarce.

The stench of the dungeon hit me first – a potent mixture of mildew, human misery, and something metallic that might have been blood. I’d smelled it before, the last time I found myself here. Only last time, I’d been on the other side of those bars.

Gareth’s cell was at the end of the corridor, dimly lit by a single torch. As we approached, I could make out his hunched form on the straw-covered floor.

I barely recognized him through the swollen bruises that covered his face.

One eye was completely shut, and dried blood caked the corner of his split lip.

His fine clothes – the ones he’d always taken such pride in – were torn and filthy.

Some small, vindictive part of me was pleased. Very, very pleased.

I found him tracking my movement with his good eye. The moment he noticed Lennox beside me, his expression darkened.

“Lennox,” I said, keeping my voice steady. “I need to speak with Gareth alone.”

Lennox crossed his arms, eyes narrowing. “Absolutely not.”

“Do you really think he’ll tell me anything with you hovering over us like some grim statue?” I challenged. “You’ve seen what Anderic’s interrogation methods have accomplished.” I gestured toward Gareth’s battered form.

Lennox’s jaw tightened. “I don’t trust him. And I certainly don’t trust him alone with you.”

“What exactly do you think he’ll do? Break through those bars with his bare hands?” I crossed my arms. “You can stand at the end of the corridor. Close enough to hear me scream, far enough to give us privacy.”

He studied me for a long moment before giving a curt nod. “Ten minutes,” he grumbled. “Not a second more.”

“More than enough,” I replied sweetly.

As Lennox’s footsteps echoed down the corridor, Gareth struggled to his feet. Each movement seemed to cause him pain, yet there was something deliberate in the way he approached the bars.

“I knew you’d come,” he wheezed, clutching his side. He shuffled closer to the bars, his good eye gleaming with something that made my skin crawl.

My face twisted into an ugly sneer, eyes narrowing to slits. “What do you want in return?” I hissed, praying he wouldn’t ask for the one thing I feared.

Gareth’s laugh quickly turned into a wet, hacking cough. Blood speckled his lips as he grinned. “Now that’s the Lady Ilyana I know.”

“Cut the nonsense,” I snapped, my patience already wearing thin. “Tell me what you want in exchange for keeping your mouth shut about my father’s involvement.”

“Straight to the point,” Gareth mocked, wiping blood from his chin. “Not even a ‘hello, how are you doing?’ So much for working for your father all these years.”

“Those years you spent plotting behind his back,” I corrected. “Now tell me what you want before I leave you to rot.”

Every second wasted was a second closer to Lennox’s return.

Gareth’s expression turned serious. “I want out of here. You’re going to ensure my freedom.”

I sighed. Of course, that’s what he wanted. Why had I prayed for anything else? “And how exactly am I supposed to accomplish that?”

“You’re clever. You’ll figure it out.” His tone shifted, becoming deadly serious. “You have four days, Lady Ilyana. Four days, or I tell your precious prince everything about your father’s dealings with the Red Cross.”

Something snapped inside me. Before I could think, my hand shot between the bars, fingers wrapping around his throat. “Don’t you dare threaten me,” I snarled, yanking him forward until his face smashed against the cold iron.

His good eye widened in shock, but I tightened my grip.

“Listen carefully,” I whispered, my voice trembling with rage. “I will provide you with funds to disappear from Aetheria forever. That’s more than you deserve. But if you deceive me again, I will personally ensure they find pieces of you under Lake Calista. Do we understand each other?”

I released him abruptly. A flicker of satisfaction coursed through me as he collapsed to the ground, gasping and clutching his throat.

“Four days,” he wheezed, looking up at me with disgust and a hint of fear in his swollen eyes. “And Lady Ilyana? He’s coming for all of you. Red isn’t working alone.”

With that ominous warning, we emerged from the dank corridors of the dungeon; the cloying stench of mildew and despair clung to my skin like an unwelcome embrace. Lennox’s questioning gaze bore into me as we walked, clearly searching for any sign of distress.

I looked like a wilted flower. All gloomy and sad.

“My lady,” he ventured cautiously, “did you… manage to learn anything new from Gareth?”

I looked up at him from my slightly hunched posture, feeling dead inside. All my anger and bravado had drained away the moment I left the prison. “Nothing of use, I’m afraid,” I said in a flat voice. “The man’s as stubborn as a mule.”

Lennox’s expression softened, a hint of sympathy creeping into his usually stern demeanor.

“Don’t be too hard on yourself. Even seasoned interrogators like Prince Anderic and myself have struggled to get every ounce of information out of him.

It was unfair to expect results from someone like you… vastly inexperienced.”

I didn’t say anything. Let him come to a comfortable conclusion on his own.

At least he wouldn’t suspect what really happened there. If only he knew the thoughts currently swirling through my mind – escape routes, bribes, and the distinct possibility of shoving Gareth off a cliff once this was all over.

We fell into an uncomfortable silence as we made our way back through the winding palace corridors. My mind raced, plotting and scheming. How the hell was I supposed to orchestrate a prison break in four days? And without alerting Anderic or his annoyingly observant guard dog?

As we rounded a corner, a familiar voice rang out, shattering my internal panic.

“Ilyana! There you are!”

I looked up to see Rosalind striding towards us, her riding boots clicking against the polished floor. Her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes sparkled with enthusiasm.

“I’ve been looking everywhere for you,” she exclaimed, waving her hand.

I raised an eyebrow at Rosalind, taking in her flushed face and the distinct scent of horse and fresh air that clung to her. Her hair was windswept in a way that somehow looked elegant rather than messy. Of course.

“Well, someone’s in an unusually good mood,” I remarked. “Where have you been off to?”

Rosalind’s eyes sparkled with mischief as she gestured dramatically at her outfit. “Can’t you tell?” Her leather riding breeches and fitted jacket were splattered with mud at the hem. “Or has your recent brush with death affected your powers of observation?”