Page 20

I begin to walk through the palace, fatigue weighing heavy on my limbs. I know I should report to my father and Vanna about Wemdrah, but exhaustion is relentless, tugging me toward sleep. Just before I can head to my bedchamber, Lilyana appears, practically running down the corridor toward me. As always, she embraces me without hesitation—my little sister, warm and affectionate.

“She is in the library,” she says, a teasing light dancing in her eyes.

I raise my brows, pretending to be confused. “Who?”

Lilyana’s smile widens knowingly. She walks away without elaborating, but we both know exactly who she is talking about. As soon as she’s out of sight, I pivot and head in the direction of the library.

Navigating the labyrinthine hallways, I finally reach the library’s vast expanse. The towering shelves stretch endlessly, holding countless volumes that seem to whisper the weight of history. Dimly lit by a few candles, the library sits idly in an eerie ambiance. The appeal of knowledge and secrets calls to you from every corner.

Shadows dance among the rows, creating natural cover for me to blend in. I send out my magical shadows. They skitter silently in search of her. It doesn’t take long—they know who I’m looking for. Camouflaged by my magic, I creep along the edges, observing.

Reign looks worn but far healthier than the last time I saw her. She is pulling books out and sifting through them. She stops on one and reads for a few moments before a devious smile spreads across her beautiful face. Her eyes dance with devilish delight as she skims the pages. Sasha had mentioned Reign’s love of reading, and I’d made sure her books were always replenished. Seeing her enjoy herself, even for a moment, feels oddly rewarding.

I spot another prisoner lurking at the opposite end of the bookshelf, watching Reign. I don’t like the feeling I get in the pit of my stomach. What is he doing looking at her? What does he plan to do? Now that I look at her again, I notice how flattering her attire is. I’m suddenly aware of how her tunic’s undone buttons reveal too much. If she bends over… The thought alone sets me on edge. That just won’t do.

I decide to watch him. He slowly creeps up behind her. He grips her arm, spinning her around so her back is against the thick sturdy bookshelf. He has a knife to her belly and a hand to her throat.

“I loved him! And you…” he spits out, rage darkening his eyes. “You killed him! You killed Jaime.”

“I did, Jake. And the pathetic weaklings with him. You couldn’t best me in the Hollows and you won’t now. So, take your steel and go elsewhere.” She smiles and his grip tightens on her throat. She shows no sign of struggle except her face starting to turn a particular shade of red. I want to watch, to see what she will do, but I can’t take that risk—not with her.

I step out of the shadows. I ensure my footsteps are loud and echo ominously on the hard stone floor—each step a promise of a slow and painful death if something happens to her. I have my shadows cast out around me. They rise and swirl menacingly like something from a nightmare. They both turn and look at me. Jake immediately lets her go and rights himself.

“Well, well, well. What do we have here, a tryst in the library?” I smile deviously, knowing my words will get under Reign’s skin. I look at her. “I didn’t know you were into knife play and erotic asphyxiation. I’ll have to remember that.” She scoffs loudly and I run my knuckles down the side of her face. She flinches away. Gods, she is adorable when angry.

I turn my attention to Jake. I want to strangle him with my shadows, but I need to feel his skin under my palm. I grab him by the throat, feeling his quickened pulse pump under my fingers while I slam him into the bookshelf with enough force to rattle it.

“Did your King tell you that you are not allowed to harm other contestants while in the palace?” I know my eyes will give away the rage burning inside, and if they don’t, the shadows rising behind me will.

He tries to speak, but I’m squeezing his windpipe. “I can’t understand you. Did you say something?” I ask mockingly.

“He… did…Your Highness.” He finally gets it out. His face is the color of a spring berry. I let him go, and he drops to his knees, gasping for air. “If I see you attack another contestant, especially my toy…” I gesture to Reign. “I will kill you where you stand.” He looks up at me with angst and fear in his eyes. “Remember, I am the monster in the shadows. You won’t even see me coming, but I see everything. Now, go.” I send tendrils of black shadow to dance around him as he stands and scurries off.

I turn to Reign. Her eyes are blazing with fury, and she steps back, pressing herself into the bookshelf as I approach. My gaze travels down to her partially open tunic. Without a word, I reach forward and begin buttoning it closed.

“I am not your toy!” she snaps, her voice trembling with anger.

A lopsided grin spreads across my lips as I finish buttoning her up. “Oh, Reckless, but you are so fun to play with.”

Her frustration only intensifies. “Why? Why did you interfere with Jake? I could have and would have handled him.” Her voice is sharp, cutting through the tension.

“You need to work on your thank yous. A little gratitude wouldn’t hurt.”

“Gratitude? You just made me look weak! And for a prisoner, that is an invitation for trouble. Now he?—”

I cut her off. “You aren’t a prisoner anymore, Reckless.” My fingers trace softly over the reddening marks on her neck, a bruise already forming.

She bats my hand away after a moment, staring at me. It feels like she is trying to look into my soul, but the problem is I don’t have one. I can feel her slowly slipping under my layers, one by one, and I don’t like it. I feel exposed—vulnerable. I shouldn’t have stepped in. I shouldn’t even be in here.

“I can become a prisoner again at any moment. I—” she stops talking. I can see her mulling over what to say or what not to say. “I… I heard there are gardens around here. Can you point me in the right direction? I need fresh air.” She looks upset, irritated even. I’ll leave it for now.

“I’ll take you,” I offer and gesture for her to follow.

“I don’t need you to take me.” She slides a book back onto the shelf, and I note the title, planning to have Sasha retrieve it for her later.

“Jake went the way we need to go, so I will take you. Be a good little prisoner and follow.”

She huffs loudly. “Yes, Prince .” Her tone is mocking, but I can’t help but smile.

We walk in silence through the corridors until we pass a room where Vanna, my father, the queen, and Lilyana are gathered. Vanna’s eyes flick toward us, her expression unreadable. I keep moving until we reach the gardens.

The air is a bit chilly, especially when the wind blows. The scent of fall is in the air. I walk her over to the massive gardens.

The garden boasts of carefully trimmed hedges forming a maze. It’s a labyrinth of greenery. It twists and turns with the promise of a hidden retreat, a sanctuary of solitude amongst the flowers. At the center is a stone fountain that glistens in the sunlight, surrounded by wooden benches covered with vibrant blooming flowers.

Plants perfume the air, their scent reminding me of my late mother’s love for them. The feeling of nostalgia slams into me at the smell. I used to sit in the garden with her as a child. Now, I can barely stomach it because of the memories it evokes.

Lilyana often loses herself among the plants and serenity of these gardens. With her plant magic, she ensures that during any season, the flowers still bloom. The gardens were my mother’s sanctuary, a reflection of her passion for life and beauty. It’s nestled near a secluded part of the castle. The garden offers a quiet retreat. It’s a haven of peace amongst the craziness of our courtly lives and suffocating duties to the crown.

I walk Reign through the maze of shrubs. The wind blows strands of her hair loose. She looks so at peace in the gardens, so angelic. Her lavender eyes dance with delicate delight as she takes it all in. We reach the fountain, and she sits on a bench looking at all that mother nature has to offer. She is so fierce most of the time. Seeing this part of her almost feels intimate.

I sit on the bench next to her and she shivers. I don’t know if it is from my closeness or the wind. Immediately, I undo my black cloak and drape it over her shoulders. I half expect her to smack my hands away, but she doesn’t. Instead, she clutches it tightly around her. We continue to sit in silence. I hate being in the gardens because they make me miss my mother. But seeing Reign this at peace here is almost worth the pain in my chest—almost.

The gentle flowing sound of the fountain is subtle and calming. Looking around I can’t help but take in the garden’s allure. The flowers and lush greenery are breathtakingly beautiful, but it all pales in comparison to Reign’s radiant presence. Her very being eclipses the resplendents of our surroundings, and suddenly, looking at her quite literally takes my breath away.

Reign tips her face to the heavens as if it’s the very place she descended from. Her bewitching lips slowly suck in a deep breath, while taking away mine, as her thick lashes flutter shut. She’s completely oblivious to the fact that even nature is jealous of being dulled in her presence.

I feel so unworthy to gaze upon this goddess before me, as I feel her very essence start to unravel me. I am overwhelmed with her raw beauty and the fact that I want her. I have never wanted someone as badly as I do her at this very moment. It’s… unsettling to me. I feel so undeserving of witnessing such a sight. And suddenly, I wish I could be different. I wish my soul wasn’t black, a threat to her beautifully bright soul.

Reign seems to notice my lingering gaze on her. Turning her head, she meets my eyes. She breaks the spell I seem to be under as she says, “Both my parents had plant magic. They grew flowers, made elixirs, and poultices. Seeing this makes me feel like they are still with me.” A tiny smile forms on her lips.

So, that is how she knew how to make poultices. She continues, “My father used to take me to the lavender fields near the brook, at the edge of the Shadowed Forest when I was a child. It was one of my favorite places to visit with him. I love the smell of lavender. It always reminds me of him.” Her expression changes and her eyes look glassy. I don’t know if I should say anything. This is foreign to me. Reaching a hand out, I tuck a piece of her hair behind her ear.

“These were my mother’s gardens,” I say quietly. “I would come here with her as a child. I barely come here anymore, since she passed.” I usually don’t share things like this. It feels like vinegar on my tongue. The acidity of the truth burns. Reign reaches over and grasps my hand in a comforting way. Her very touch soothes something deep within me. She is clearly better at this than me. Her thumb rubs a few lazy strokes on the side of my hand. As much as I enjoy her touch, I am uncomfortable with the whole thing.

Clearing my throat, I stand. “I’ll show you the rest of the gardens.”

We continue walking in silence, passing through orchards and flowering bushes until we reach the back of the garden. Tall hedges form a secluded square, with guards stationed around it. I walk past, but Reign stops and stares.

“What’s in there?” she asks, gesturing toward the heavily guarded hedges near the palace.

I hesitate. It’s a well-guarded area for a reason, but I suppose it won’t hurt. I walk her over to it. One of Vanna’s personal guards, Raymon, stands in front of the entryway. He is such a bastard, and I am sure he will report this to Vanna. I am not entirely sure why he is out here unless… She has him spying on me, which is what I suspect.

He moves aside when we walk up, and I walk Reign inside. Her eyes widen at the site of the cursed rose bushes. She looks at me with disbelief written on her face. She is speechless, which is rare for her. The king has orders out for all rose bushes, cursed or uncursed, to be burned, and if anyone is found harboring them, they are executed. So, I guess she is shocked we have them on the royal grounds.

“Our blood wielders are studying them,” I explain. “They’re trying to find a cure. That’s the only reason they’re here. We’re not creating Necrums, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

“Wouldn’t surprise me if you did,” she retorts with a half-smile, then turns back to the bewitching cursed roses.

Reign reminds me of the cursed roses: beauty intertwined with danger. They both possess a captivating yet terrifying essence. There’s a haunting allure in their presence. It’s a gentle reminder of the delicate balance between power and vulnerability. Both beautiful, yet deadly. Both menacing, yet mesmerizing. Both formidable, yet delicate, in a way. I’ve always been drawn to the enigmatic allure of darkness. And in both Reign and the cursed roses, I find myself irresistibly drawn to their depths.

I am like a moth drawn to the open flame, and I have a feeling I am about to get burned.