Page 8 of Twisted Souls (Twisted Souls #1)

Zara

Two days had passed since the unsettling encounter with my mother, and I hadn’t experienced another disappearance since then. I’d finally managed to catch up on much-needed rest, secluding myself in my room and instructing the maids to bring all my meals to my chambers.They brought a selection of books from the library along with the food. Despite my efforts, I hadn’t found anything that could explain what was happening to me. However, I didn’t let it discourage meandremained determined to find an explanation.

A knock on the door jolted me from my reading, breaking my concentration. I let out a frustrated groan as I reluctantly left the sanctuary of my bed. The dark blue tunic and black leggings I wore were slightly wrinkled, but they were presentable enough.

My irritation deepened as I finally reached the door and pulled it open.

Jeremy stood there, arms crossed over his chest, his jaw ticking with visible frustration. He wore a white shirt with rolled sleeves, exposing his well-defined muscles and prominent veins. He looked more relaxed without his jacket, but his golden eyes blazed as they locked with mine. “Princess,” he hissed, his voice edged with concern and a trace of annoyance. “Are you ill?”

“No,” I snapped, already reaching for the door to shut it. But Jeremy’s arm shot out, blocking my attempt.

“Then why haven’t you been down for your training lessons? You haven’t been too one—”

I cut him off. “Yes, yes, since the other day. I’m aware, thank you. And I’ve told you I have no desire to train with you,” I shot back, trying to close the door again, but his arm was firmly in the way.

“So, you’re choosing not to train at all? How wise,” he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

“If that’s all, Captain, I’d like to return to my reading,” I said, dismissing him with a wave. I abandoned my futile attempt to close the door and turned, crossing my room back to my bed. I heard him sigh heavily from the doorway, and when I finally settled back down and looked up, he had moved into the middle of the room.

“That wasn’t all,” he said, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth as he glanced around the room. His eyes wandered over my scattered belongings, pausing briefly on each item. “I want you to come back to training. It would be wise for you to know how to defend yourself,” he said, picking up a glass owl trinket from my desk on the far wall. He inspected it casually, raising an eyebrow in slight amusement.

“Please don’t break that; it was a gift,” I said, watching him intently as he carefully set the glass owl back down.

“Gift from your boyfriend?” he asked blandly, his gaze fixed on a nearby book as he continued to move around the room, picking up and examining various objects.

I bristled slightly. “Not that it’s any of your business,” I retorted, “but it’s from my friend Cynthia. She brought it back from her trip to one of the northern territories.”

His eyes finally met mine, a flicker of curiosity in his expression. “And you like owls?”

“Yes,” I replied, keeping my tone steady. Jeremy’s lips twitched, and I couldn’t help but scoff at him. “Is that amusing?”

He glanced over at me, a hint of something unreadable in his eyes. “Not at all. I’m quite fond of owls.” He placed the book he was examining on my desk and then approached my bed. Leaning against the bedpost, his gaze locked onto mine with an intensity that made me blush. “Zara,” he said, his voice low and insistent, “come back to training.”

Seeing him at the end of my bed made my heart race. Images of him shirtless surged to the forefront of my mind, and I cursed myself for thinking of that right now. I squirmed, clenching my legs together. Jeremy’s nostrils flared, and his gaze showed a hint of understanding as he watched me on the bed, his eyes darkening slightly.

Why was it that every time he was near, my body reacted like this? All flustered, all hot. It was ridiculous—like I had no control over myself at all.

“I’ll think about it,” I said, meeting his golden eyes with equal intensity.

Jeremy seemed to want to argue more on the matter, but decided to change the subject. “Your father wants me to escort you to the village today.”

There was an edge to his tone, and I straightened in bed. “Why?”

“He has a meeting with Duke Atticus, and plans on traveling with him afterward. He would be back for the ball next week, but wanted to see you before he left.” Jeremy shifted uncomfortably where he stood, and I narrowed my eyes at him.

“What else do you know, Captain?” I questioned, sensing there was something more.

He was quiet a moment and turned away, back toward the door. “I’ll be waiting outside in the hallway. If you’re not out in fifteen minutes, I will be forced to come in and carry you there myself.” The door slammed shut behind him with a heavy thud, his grunt echoing through the empty room.

I glared at him through the door. “Prick,” I mumbled and swung off the bed.

After a quick change and a somewhat futile attempt to tame my unruly hair, I headed out into the hall. It wasn’t perfect, but I didn’t have time to have a maid come and do it properly.

We didn’t speak on our journey from my room to the castle gates, and Jeremy had walked three paces ahead of me the entire time.

He already had horses waiting for us when we arrived, and when I reached for the reins of a beautiful brown and white spotted mare, Jeremy’s hand reached out and stopped me.

“You will be riding with me, Princess. That horse is for the other guard,” Jeremy announced firmly.

My eyes widened in disbelief. “Absolutely not,” I declared. “I am perfectly capable of riding on my own.” I huffed, pushing his hand away.

Sliding my foot into the stirrup, I lifted myself off the ground and swung into the saddle. I smirked triumphantly as I settled into position, reaching for the reins. But before I could grasp them, Jeremy’s body crashed against my back.

In one fluid motion, his powerful arms encircled me, and his hands grabbed the reins. The sudden, unexpected contact left me momentarily stunned. I opened my mouth to protest, but his leg nudged against the horse's flank, and the horse galloped forward, leaving my objections trailing in its wake. Jeremy’s arm grabbed my waist, pressing me firmly against him as the horse galloped on.

“I can ride on my own!” I shouted over the pounding hooves and rushing wind.

His breath tickled my ear as he replied, “Father's orders.”

I huffed in frustration, clenching my jaw. Father’s orders , my ass. What was his deal? My father knows I’m a better rider than most of his men. This had to be some sort of test—or worse, some power move he was trying to pull.

To my right, the other horse, a pure white stallion, came into view, its rider giving me an apologetic shrug and a rueful smile. I shot a withering look at the young guard and turned my gaze forward again.

The captain’s breath tickled my ear again. “There have been rebel sightings near the castle.” His voice was stern when he said it, with no hint of humor, and my eyebrows rose at the information. Rebels? This close to the castle? They have never dared to get so close before…is that why my father and Atticus are leaving?

My mind churned with the information, piecing it together. The rebels hated my father’s taxes, which, to be fair, were steep. Many couldn’t afford to keep their homes or even hold down jobs. My father’s men were often cruel in their enforcement, and while rebellions had sparked up before, they were usually small, confined to the villages, and dealt with by the Dukes and Duchesses. But this—this was different. My father had never had to step in before. That could only mean that the rebellion was much larger than my father had let on.

We slowed as the village came into view, its thatched rooftops peeking over the crest of a hill. We merged onto a cobbled street, and the clatter of the horse’s hooves echoed softly.

Jeremy shifted behind me, making me realize I had subconsciously leaned back into him. I straightened in the saddle as Jeremy’s quiet chuckle reached my ears, and I bit back a sharp retort.

Jeremy swung off the horse and secured both mounts to the post outside the village tavern. He extended a hand to assist me, but I disregarded it, sliding off the horse with determined grace. I brushed off my dress, smoothing out a few wrinkles, before striding past him and into the tavern.

Booming laughter and lively music filled the air. Patrons were scattered throughout—drinking, talking, gambling, and dancing. It wasn’t my first time at the village tavern, and I recognized many familiar faces. Several villagers called out my name in greeting as I weaved through the crowd, my eyes scanning for my father. I found him seated in the back corner among a group of busty women and Atticus.

Atticus was one of the most intimidating dukes under my father’s command, a man whose presence alone was enough to set me on edge. It wasn’t just his undeniable handsomeness—it was the way he wielded it like a finely honed blade. He knew the power of his allure and made sure everyone else did too.

His jaw was strong and square, offset by high cheekbones that chiseled his features. A straight, perfectly proportioned nose added to the symmetry and his full lips somehow held equal parts charm and threat. His sun-kissed bronze skin carried a warmth that seemed at odds with the cold calculation behind his gaze. His eyes commanded the most attention—stormy depths of dark gray and black, their metallic sheen both haunting and hypnotic.

Framing his face, dark waves of hair tumbled to his chin in a manner that was unruly yet intentional, as though even chaos bowed to his will.

My father raised his glass of ale in my direction, a broad smile lighting up his face as he acknowledged my arrival. “My daughter, Princess Zara!”

The tavern erupted in cheers, and heat rose to my cheeks at the loud introduction.I waved awkwardly, acknowledging the room with a quick smile. Atticus’s gaze stayed fixed on my face as we approached, and I tried not to notice.

Jeremy and the other guard trailed closely behind as I continued to close the distance to my father and the Duke. Atticus was now standing next to the table, having shooed away their other companions.

As I approached, Atticus dipped his head in a small bow, his voice a low rasp as he greeted me. “Zara.”

His metallic gaze caught mine, brief but intense, before flicking to Jeremy over my shoulder. A smirk ghosted across his lips as his eyes returned to me, holding my gaze for a moment too long.

“Duke Atticus,” I replied, inclining my head in return.

He straightened, his eyes moving over me, scanning me in a way that was both familiar and intentional. A deepening smirk twisted his mouth as he spun around and walked into the bustling crowd, leaving behind a trail of unsettling tension that followed him like a shadow.

“Come on, have a seat.” My father beckoned, and I slid into the seat beside him, noting the unusual flush on his face.

Jeremy lingered a few feet away, his posture tense, and I noticed the other guard was no longer with us.

“I’m sorry to have called on you like this, but with my schedule, I wanted to see you before I left,” my father said, slightly slurred.

I blinked in surprise. Was my father drunk? I shot him a cautious glance, studying his face more carefully. “What did you want to talk to me about?” I replied, keeping my tone even. I didn’t like it when he drank heavily.

My brows scrunched at that thought. I wasn’t sure why I had thought it.

“A drink for my daughter, please!” my father rang out, and a barmaid scrambled over from the corner of the room and placed a mug of ale in front of me. Before I could reach for it, Jeremy snatched the mug off the table, taking a quick sip before setting it back down.

My father beamed at Jeremy, as if his action were a grand display of loyalty, but I wasn’t amused.

I shot Jeremy a scowl, to which he responded with a smug smile that I ignored. He knew that was unnecessary. This entire village was filled with the royal guard and their families. Only the most trusted by my father resided here.

“Thank you, Jeremy,” my father said, clearly pleased. Then he turned back to me, his tone shifting. “Now, Zara, I wanted to discuss this… situation with your mother.”

My body went rigid. This could not be why he had called me here—there was no way.

“It has come to my attention that you haven’t left your room since your argument,” my father began, and I immediately glared at Jeremy, who now stood stone-faced behind me. My father laughed, loud and hearty, clearly unbothered by my anger. “Don’t blame the boy; he’s only doing his job.” He hiccupped, then took a long drink from his glass.

“Your mother just wants what’s best for you, Zara. She’s looking out for your safety, as am I.”

“My safety…” I muttered, my voice laced with frustration. “I did not do what she said I did.” My cheeks heated. I so did not want to discuss this with my father.

My father shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “Yes, well,” he began, clearly struggling with the topic, “your mother feels you need to start taking your courting more seriously. I hear you still don’t have a date for the ball next week, and I was thinking… Atticus is a nice man, young—”

I choked on the ale I had been sipping. “What?” I croaked, coughing to clear my throat. My father asked me here to set me up? With Atticus? Jeremy appeared beside me, offering a napkin, but I could barely acknowledge him as my mind reeled.

“Atticus is a handsome gentleman,” my father continued, oblivious to my distress. “A bit older, but once you get to know him—”

“I already have a date for the ball,” I blurted out, cutting him off, my words tumbling out in a panicked rush.

My father’s brow furrowed in confusion. “Really? Who?”

Panic tightened my chest as my mind raced for a name, any name. I glanced around the tavern, searching for an escape or inspiration.

“If I may interject, Your Majesty,” Jeremy’s voice rang out smoothly, and he stepped forward to face both of us.

My father nodded in his direction, an odd, knowing smirk on his lips. My brow furrowed in confusion, but my frantic eyes found Jeremy’s golden stare.

“The other day I asked the princess if she would escort me,” Jeremy said smoothly, his voice calm yet purposeful. “I thought that being new to the castle and with our recent training sessions, itwould help me get to know her and your family better. However, if you wish for her to attend with someone else or find it unsuitable for me to escort her, I would step aside without question.” He bowed deeply, his face a perfect mask of humility and respect.

I stared at him. No, not him. I didn’t want to spend an entire evening with him…but I also didn’t want to spend an evening with Atticus…ah, was there no one else? My heart sank as my father beamed, his gaze flicking between Jeremy and me with satisfaction. “Your mother will be pleased to hear it,” he said, signaling to the barmaid for another drink.

My stomach churned, and I blinked in disbelief. How had I let this happen? Why hadn’t I come up with someone—anyone—else?

“Seems I’ve called you here for no real reason after all.” My father chuckled softly, leaning in to kiss my forehead. “Sorry to have dragged you away for nothing.”

As I stood from the table, I caught Jeremy’s eye briefly. His expression was unreadable, hovering between amusement and something else I couldn’t place.

“Safe travels, Father,” I whispered before turning on my heel and walking out of the tavern, my mind already spinning.

Once we stepped outside the tavern, I whirled around and shoved Jeremy backward. “I didn’t need you to save me,” I yelled, and he looked at me like I had two heads.

“You were practically begging for someone to intervene,” he said, his features hardening. “And don’t kid yourself—your father saw right through the act. He knew I was lying. Your panic was as clear as day.”

“My father was drunk, and I would have come up with something.”

Our stares locked in a heated exchange, and the young guard who had accompanied us here froze as he emerged from the tavern, his eyes wide with uncertainty.

“You’re no longer needed,” Jeremy ordered, his voice sharp. The young guard didn’t hesitate, slipping back into the tavern without a word. I turned away, storming into the village square.

“And where do you think you’re going?” Jeremy’s voice cut through the noise behind me.

“Away from you,” I shouted, not bothering to slow my pace.

I weaved through the crowded streets, my gaze flicking between familiar faces, offering polite nods to those who knew me while sidestepping the occasional stranger who didn't. The marketplace was alive with the chaotic hum of voices. Vendors called out in rhythmic chants, each vying for attention. The smell of freshly baked bread mixed with the tang of cured meats hanging from makeshift racks. Fine silks shimmered in the sunlight, catching the eye of potential buyers, while vibrant tapestries and paintings flanked the stalls like bursts of color against the dull stone structures.

I pushed forward, the sounds of the marketplace fading as I took the turn onto quieter streets. The cobblestones here were worn smooth, the air thinner, carrying the scent of damp earth and wood from nearby homes. The crowds had thinned, and with every step, the noise became a distant murmur. That’s when I heard it—footsteps. Steady. Persistent. Too familiar.

My frustration reached its breaking point, and I spun around, my feet almost tripping over the cobblestones as I came face-to-face with Jeremy, barely an inch from colliding with his chest. His hands shot out, instinctively grabbing my shoulders to steady me, but before I could speak, his voice cut through the air, sharp and edged with irritation.

“What is your problem?” Jeremy demanded, his voice sharp with frustration. “Why do you dislike me so much? You don’t even know me.” His eyes darkened, and my cheeks flushed at our nearness.

With a sharp, “Just leave me alone,” I yanked my shoulders from his grasp and resumed my determined walk toward the castle.

Jeremy’s voice followed me, laced with a dangerous edge. “Do you want me to tell your father that you’d prefer that Duke escort you to the ball instead?”

I didn’t reply and instead took off at a run, wanting to create distance between us. When I thought I was far enough away, I slowed, but Jeremy immediately stepped into my path before me, making me shriek with surprise.

“You’ll have to start trusting me at some point, Zara. I’m not your enemy,” Jeremy said, his voice steady. He wasn’t even the slightest out of breath. His blonde hair flowed freely in the breeze, and I begrudgingly noted how attractive he looked.

“Why should I trust you? You’ve given me no reason—”

“Believe it or not, Princess,” Jeremy cut in, his tone sharp yet sincere, “I don’t wake up looking for ways to make your life miserable. I’m just doing my job. I know you can take care of yourself, but back there, I was genuinely just trying to help.”

As I studied him, I heard the truth in his words. I took a step back, and he watched me carefully, his muscles tensing as if he anticipated me running away from him again.

“Fine,” I drawled. “We’ll go to the ball together.” His shoulders sagged, the tension easing from his muscles. “But I’m still not training with you,” I added defiantly, lifting my chin.

“You should.” He retorted, his golden eyes roaming over my face. “You shouldn’t be so out of breath from that run.” He arched his brow, turned, and walked away from me up the path.

“I am not out of shape…” I grumbled, and Jeremy grinned wickedly over his shoulder at me.

“Prove it,” he challenged, then took off running. I don’t know what possessed me, but I sprinted after him, determined to catch up.

Despite my best efforts, I couldn’t close the gap, and by the time we reached the castle gate, I was dripping with sweat. I collapsed onto the ground the moment I hit the entrance, gasping for breath.

Jeremy stood there, silent, not even out of breath, as he waited for me to recover. I rolled onto my stomach and shot him a withering glare. He just stared down at me, an amused glint in his eye.

“Fine,” I relented…again, and he smirked down at me with satisfaction.

“I’ll be seeing you in the morning then, Princess.”