Page 42 of Wrath Of Suns And Shadows (The Osparia #2)

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Emelyn

T he trip had been long and grueling. Kade did his best to keep me comfortable, even with my irons, but not knowing what was in store for me had my mind spinning.

When we made it to the outer walls of the Imperial District, there was a carriage waiting for us.

Once we were seated inside, Kade took off my irons for the first time, and I had to hold back a sob of relief.

Kade hissed as he looked over my raw wrists.

He called to the driver through the small window. “Take the long way to the palace.”

“Yes, sir,” he called back.

The Imperial District of Ember was beautiful.

The streets had children running and playing, mostly fae.

I was sure all the other creatures of Osparia had run while they’d had the opportunity when the war had broken out.

Finally, when the carriage came to a halt, I knew we had made it to the entrance of the palace.

I glanced out the small round window, seeing the large metal gates with beautifully crafted designs.

They slowly opened like the mouth of a beast, readying to swallow me whole.

I wasn’t sure what awaited me, but I felt Kade’s hand slowly slip onto my lap as he placed it over mine as a silent comfort.

I didn’t understand his motives. Why did his father want me alive? Why was Kade doing this? Why couldn’t he just release me? Was he trying to protect me or destroy me? How would he keep me safe here, out of all places?

We made it up the long, narrow path that led to the palace's grand front doors.

“We will have to put on another show, Bunny. Follow my lead,” he whispered to me as he placed the irons back on my wrists. My breath shuddered, and he gripped my hand a moment before a soldier from outside opened the door and stepped aside.

Kade grabbed the chains and dragged me up to my feet, painting an expression full of smug disdain and hatred over his features.

“Open the doors,” he shouted, and the soldiers obeyed as some followed us as an escort through the doors.

We walked down a wide, long hallway before double doors opened to a large, dark room that had flames roaring down either side of it, leading to the large throne that had the emperor himself perched happily atop it.

Kade dragged me along before throwing me down at his father’s feet.

My knees stung from the impact against the solid floor.

“You should count yourself lucky, Father. If Valla didn’t kill her before she got here, she most definitely would have allowed the Peacebringer to escape.

If I hadn’t shown up, she would’ve been gone with the wind.

” Kade paced leisurely back and forth as he pleaded his case.

“I demand to keep her under my watchful eyes until you go forward with your plans. I do not trust any soldiers or Valla to keep her alive until then. I shall do whatever you please, Father. Your Majesty . . . allow me this honor,” he requested, and I peered up at Valos, the Emperor of Ember, for the first time since entering this grand room.

He stood with a satisfied grin on his face as he prowled forward like a wild beast readying to eat its prey. I lifted my chin in defiance as he began circling me. The faintest grin curved his lips as he grasped Kade by the shoulder with one hand.

“Very well, son . . . . The Peacebringer shall be under your care going forward. I shall let you in on my plans soon enough, once everything is in order. Until then, keep her alive. I think she’ll need your protection more than she realizes.

” He said the last part like a threat, and I had to stop myself from rising to my feet and fighting him right here and now.

Irons be damned.

Kade gave a slight bow of his head as his father began leaving the room.

“A celebration is in order for our victory today,” he commanded, looking over his shoulder at us while he opened the door.

“I would expect nothing less, Father,” Kade said, and the emperor left us in the large, empty black room that felt like the fate that was awaiting me.

Kade weaved us through the hallways of the palace.

He brought us to a large wooden door laced with intricate designs that matched the rest of the palace’s decor.

He opened the door for me and shoved me inside, under the watchful eyes of the soldiers posted at the end of the hall.

Swiftly, he entered and closed the door behind him, locking it before making haste to me and trying to help, but I shoved past him, and he grabbed my wrists.

“Emelyn.”

“No, do not speak to me. I am tired, and you put me here, in this position, when you could’ve just let me go!” I shouted.

“Keep your voice down. It is not that simple, Eme—”

“Don’t call me that. You are nothing to me.” My words were laced with venom, but he grinned slightly.

“I’m sure I’ll win you over eventually, Bunny.” He was so sure of himself, and I wanted to throw something at him.

A chair.

Myself.

Gods, this fucking prince. I was tired of the whiplash.

“What do you want out of this? Why am I here? Why do you want to protect me but still deliver me to my end?”

“I cannot tell you . . . not yet.”

“I’m so sick of your riddles, Prince.”

“Then stop asking me about my motives and have some semblance of trust in the things I’ve already told you. My actions.”

I scoffed. “Trust? You? My enemy, who delivered me to the very place I’ve been trying to avoid from the moment I found out what I was? Never.” I seethed the last word, clenching my fists at my side. Kade pinched the brow of his nose as if my fight were giving him a headache.

“I told you I have my reasons. Now, leave it alone, Emelyn.” He spoke sternly, and I didn’t have the energy to argue anymore with the irons around my wrists draining what little strength I had left.

“Fine,” I murmured as I moved to the bathing chamber and shut the door behind me.

I heard noises from the bedroom. The door opened.

There was an exchange of some sort between two men before it closed again.

I began trying to undress but quickly realized that I wouldn’t be able to get completely out of all of my clothes with the chains draped between my wrists.

I blew out a breath. I didn’t want Kade to be anywhere near me right now.

“Bunny,” he murmured, and I rolled my eyes at his nickname for me no matter how well it fit the situation. I was the prey, after all.

“Come in,” I said, and he opened the door. Taking the quick steps toward me, he held a small box that looked like it could be for some sort of jewelry. He motioned for me to place my hands out in front of me.

“What?”

“These just arrived,” he said, opening the box, and I saw two bracelets inside it.

They looked like wrist gauntlets. But I knew what they were, and I could feel my body wanting to run from them.

They were beautifully decorated cuffs of iron.

A cage without bars or chains. But bars or not, it was still a cage.

“There is no bright side to these, and I will keep them off of you when I get the chance, but right now, I’m going to have to put them on. ”

The only bright side I could find was that they weren’t connected with a chain, so I could move more freely.

Kade undid the chains I was in and slowly put on one cuff at a time before clicking them into place.

On my wrist, at the top, there was a small keyhole, and I realized there wasn’t a way to get them off like normal jewelry, not like I was expecting there to be.

These were nothing but a fancy way to keep me weak.

“Is there a reason your father doesn’t want to parade me around in chains?” I asked, and Kade’s lip curled in disgust.

“Because he wants to parade you around as his trophy instead.” He growled in frustration, but my brows furrowed in confusion.

“What do you mean?” I asked, and he cleared his throat.

“Enjoy your bath. It’s been a long journey. We’ll talk more after.” He walked out the door without another word.

I stayed in the bath far too long because of the simple fact that Kade was waiting on the other side of the door.

Once the water was completely cold, I stood, drying myself off before wrapping myself in a towel.

I opened the door to find Kade dressed in fine clothes.

A woman stood there, a seamstress I presumed.

She hurried me to a large full-body mirror sitting in the corner of the room.

“What is happening?” I asked.

“My father has requested your appearance at dinner tonight. He is planning a ball regarding your capture.”

“ How lovely of him,” I spat. And Kade shook his head, looking at me with a seriousness on his face I hadn’t ever seen. He rushed toward me.

“Leave us,” he commanded the seamstress, and she quickly made haste out of the room.

“Emelyn . . . you can hate me all you want. Whatever helps you sleep better, but when we go out there tonight, do not disrespect him. You are to be on your best behavior. I can only keep you safe if you fucking listen to me.” His voice was pleading—desperate as he gripped my shoulders on either side and backed me into the wall.

His eyes volleyed between mine. “Please . . . ,” he added.

“I promise I will keep you safe, but I can’t do that if you don’t do as I tell you.

We are in the lion’s den, except this time I’m not the predator you should be worried about. ”