Page 20 of Born of Blood and Thorns

"I wasn't sure how you took your tea, so I brought some milk and a bit of sweetener. Mind you, it's not sugar. We've been plumb out of that for quite a long time, but I learned how to create something similar a few years back." Alysha paused as I adjusted, took the tray, and stared at the bounty. I felt the emotions bubbling up inside of me. Tears threatened to spill over my eyes just as she had brought me breakfast in bed.

"Thank you." I sniffled as my stomach grumbled loudly, reminding me I'd emptied my last meal on the boots of the broody male, Lore.

Alysha's voice softened. "Are you all right?" she asked, sitting next to me.

"Yes," I mumbled as I shoveled the egg into my mouth, trying to stifle the memory of the last time my nursemaid had brought me breakfast in bed. It had been my birthday, and my world had toppled to the ground that same day.

My nursemaid had died that day, along with most of the court. She'd been the only kindness I'd known there. The closest thing to a mother I’d had. Now she was dead, and I was still here. It didn't seem fair.

"Do you remember how to get to the kitchen?" she asked after a long moment of watching me.

I nodded, not looking up from my plate. I feared I'd lose it and show more of myself than I was ready to share.

"Good. Everywhere in the castle is open, but I recommend staying out of the east wing. Only ghosts and monsters are found there."

"The dragon?" I asked, washing down the food with a scalding hot gulp of tea.

"He only comes out at night," she reassured me as she approached the door.

"Wait. I'm not a prisoner, am I?"

She turned, studying me, her lips pressing together briefly as she finally sighed. "No, of course not. I don't think you should try to leave either."

"Why not?" I asked, pushing the tray aside and preparing for a fight. In my brief conversation with Lore, he had told me he wanted me to stay; I had nowhere else to go. What if that had just been an illusion to make me feel less like a prisoner and more like a guest?

Alysha lifted her palms toward me with a grim expression before she folded her hands demurely in front of herself. "You can try but I don't think the castle will let you."

"The castle?" I stared at her as if she had gone crazy.

"Yes, you remember us mentioning a curse, right?" She paused, her face searching mine as if trying to decide how to explain it without sounding crazy.

I had news for her. This whole thing was crazy. I was beginning to believe I'd been caught, cracked my head, and was either dead or stuck in some unconscious prison within my mind. No telling what atrocities were happening to my body if that were the case. I pinched myself, wincing as I did. Alysha observed me but merely shook her head and turned.

"When you're ready, I'll be in the kitchen." She moved to the door and paused her hand on the doorknob. "I'm happy you are here, Bella. I look forward to us becoming friends," she said before disappearing into the hallway.

And with that, I was left to my own devices. Which was not a good idea for anyone.

CHAPTER 10

Bella

In frustration, I kicked the door before me as hard as possible. I'd pushed, pulled, climbed, even threw a large stone, but nothing budged the thick wood. At first, I thought the doors were locked from within, making the claim that I wasn't a prisoner a blatant lie. However, I realized an important detail after examining each outside door around the castle walls.

It was sealed, immovable.

I turned briefly to glance back at the castle, tall and imposing, yet the walls before me seemed just as tall and staggering. The layers of stone, tall and thick, were built to keep enemies out or, in my case, to keep me in. Though I knew I had sanctuary here, I liked having options—an escape route if needed. I needed to know what I was dealing with.

This wall was in my way.

It wasn't until I tried to climb over the wall that I realized the real issue. I reached the top of the wall and looked out for the briefest moments to see thorns and vines so big and thick it was its own forest. It encased the castle gate, its width making it impossible to pass through or even around. The thorns and vines were larger and denser than anything I had ever seen before.

The large thorns were sharp as daggers. I reached out to one to test it, and my hand sliced open. I lost my balance, only just grasping the stone with my other hand to keep myself from plunging to a death of impalement.

"Seriously!" I yelled into the space beyond, but it bounced off something, hitting me like an echo. I ground my teeth together as I tried to push the pain down.

I looked at the clothing Alysha had left me with a grimace. A tunic with long sleeves, simple stitching covering leggings, and boots that fit like a glove. I hadn't worn anything this fine in a long time. With a sigh, I tore the sleeve off my opposite hand to use to bandage my bleeding hand.

I stared at the vines that seemed to go on forever in a thick wall. As I stood and turned, I could see it surrounded the entire area in the same thick radius. The woods took up the mantle of protection in the near distance. As I moved along the wall, I studied how the vines clung to the castle, the door to the outside world pressed in and sealed by them.

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