Page 48 of In The Dark
There’s currently too much going on in my head, happening at a pace I can’t keep up with. My chest tightens as my thoughts settle on what’s been revealed, a sense of overwhelm quick to follow. Both realms seem to pull me in, and I hate the fact that I feel at odds with it—that I don’t know what direction to go in.
My eyes close on an inhale, and I breathe in the crisp mountain air. Yet I find myself stuck onmymemories.
Or the ones I don’t have, at least.
What relationships do I have that are real? What hasn’t been stolen from me? And who can I trust? It’s becoming harder to see past the blurred lines.
A sinking feeling settles in my stomach, something close tothe loss of air in my lungs. As if I’m drowning in a depthless lake with no bottom in sight and no way to push up. Especially now with the thought of me being a princess to a realm I know nothing of. That thought alone causes a shudder to run through me.
Finally riding into Alvonia, we’re only a few minutes from the castle when Ezra and Ren ride up on either side of me. The sun shines bright as midday settles across the mountains, leaving us to shrug off our cloaks. Ezra lays it across his lap, rolling his sleeves up his well-muscled forearms.
“The king sent a message,” Ren says. “He wants us to meet in the throne room after our arrival to update him on the mission as soon as we get in.”
“And he sent word toyou?” My brows knit.
If he did, it would be by a leaf message, and I didn’t notice it. Realizing this turns my stomach to stone. It’s hard to believe the king would communicate through Ren and not through the original person sent to kill our target—me. Or even Ezra since he was placed in command.
Ren was only supposed to accompany us to stay updated on the mission, and the fact that he’s in communication with the king at all raises my suspicion. Realization prickles my skin—Ivy was keeping an eye on the wrong person for messages. I glance at him to my right, eyes narrowing.
“Does that bother you?” Ren smirks, resting his forearm on the pommel of his saddle.
“Why would that bother me?” I purr, fluttering my lashes with a smirk—cold sarcasm.
He chuckles to himself. Black hair ruffles in the breeze as he scans the road in front of us, watching a few mothers cross the street with their children being tugged behind them. The wind carries his scent of cedar and leather, forcing my nose to scrunch. Why does he smell good?
“Oh, I don’t know. You seem to have this thought aboutyourself that you’re more important than you are,” he mocks, giving me a noticeable once-over with a disgusted sneer on his face.
A tight smile lines my mouth as I ignore him, too exhausted to care. I blink and give him a hardened, flat stare.
“We need to stop.”Rydian appears in my mind, but I don’t startle this time. The tingle between my eyes has begun to feel normal.“We need to meet up with Ivy at the Painted Bird and create a plan for the next few days.”
“No. I’m not stopping, and we already have a plan. I’ll see you in a few days,”I say, gripping the Veil coin.
A low growl reverberates across my mind. Hearing him growl in frustration would have normally sent a chill down my spine but right now, I don’t really care.
The outskirts of Alvonia come into view, oak trees and the castle alive in the distance. Hitting the gravel path at a quick pace with a kick from my boot, I feel Rydian’s connection fade, realizing that he must have not followed me out of the city. I’m slightly reprieved, hoping he decides to use the Painted Bird for himself—let off some steam.
The thought immediately sends an unwelcome pang through my chest. I clench my fists at the thought of him enjoying someone else’s company. The mere idea of him touching someone has me biting my tongue.
It’s none of my business, I remind myself, forcing my hands to loosen on the reins.It’s not like I care. Not really.
We travel at a quick canter, eager to arrive at the castle, but I can’t help the way my stomach tightens in knots at the thought of our upcoming approach.
Being at the castle with King Elion sets me on edge. If they were to find out that I know something is going on behind closed doors, they would either kill me or take my memories again.
But I still have my doubts.
It’s something I need to see for myself to believe, but at this moment, I don’t think the king will kill me. Not if he’s spent his time wiping my memories. I must be an important part of his revenge against Aurelia if he’s using me to kill off the Shadovar.
We finally slow the horses at the edge of the castle, making our way inside the gates as we ride further toward the throne room.
A headache forms, and I rub my temples, my wrist aching with the movement. My emotions seemed to have caused my body to throw itself into a turmoil, leaving me to take a deep breath. I soothe the inside of my wrist, hoping to ease the pain, but I catch Ren staring at me.
“What?” I say a little too harshly. He quickly flicks his gaze away, not saying a word as he trots ahead on the path. Wise choice.
Finally arriving outside the throne room, I dismount, following Ezra and Ren inside. The musk from the stone corridor fills my nose as we enter, reminding me of a damp cave. Light streams in from the windows, the massive floor shining in beams from the afternoon sun.
We arrive just below the dais where King Elion sits, Theron to his right. The king’s white hair is slicked back, arms resting on either side of him as he strokes the throne. He doesn’t look angry, but he doesn’t look happy either. Almost annoyed.