Page 136 of Somber Prince

Your Highness?

I tripped over my feet. For a moment, I believed the guard was talking to Rha. That the prince got free somehow.

As I whipped around, however, Princess Alzali approached the guards. Her slim, sleek figure was draped into a full-body shroud, complete with a hood that was drawn low over her eyes and a scarf that covered the lower part of her face. The thin, dense fabric of the black shroud hugged her body like melted tar, glistening with gold in its folds. She wore the circlet of her crown over the hood, so there was no mistaking who she was.

Her orange eyes narrowed at me from the shadow of her hood.

“What is she doing here?”

The guard with the pastry in his belt satchel fidgeted, adjusting his uniform.

“She escaped the sarai, Your Highness. I was just about to call for the Joy Vessel Keepers…”

The princess had been Rha’s executioner. She was the one who’d cut his tendrils off. He didn’t trust her. I had no reason to count on her leniency, either. But she had the authority over the guards.

Desperation urged me to step forward. “I need to see Prince Rha, Your Highness. Please allow me to speak with him. Just for a minute.”

“She says she wants to say goodbye,” the guard offered reluctantly.

The princess tilted her head. The focus in her eyes sharpened with a long, assessing look.

“Of course,” she said, and I stilled, afraid to hope. “You’re Cousin Rha’s favorite little treat, aren’t you? I’m sure he’d appreciate seeing you. Come.” She grabbed my arm, heading toward the stairs. “I’ll take you up there myself.”

“Um…” The guard cleared his throat, looking uneasy. “No one is allowed up there, Your Highness. Queen Abeille’s order.”

“Surely, we can’t refuse the Joy Vessel’s plea to say goodbye to her beloved master,” Alzali purred. “Besides, I need to make sure the prince’s restraints are locked properly.” She moved aside her shroud, revealing a key attached to her belt.

The golden key rested against her hip. It was hanging by a hook, not a keyring, for practical reasons, I assumed. It was easier to remove it from a hook. Much easier than from a keyring.

The key must be a sign of added authority, because at the sight of it, the guard nodded and stepped aside, letting us pass.

I preferred to speak with Rha in private, but just a moment ago, I didn’t believe I’d see him at all. I couldn’t miss this chance. Silently, I followed Alzali up the stairs.

The rising sun pleasantly stroked my bare arms with warmth as we ascended the stairs. Despite the strong wind, I would’ve enjoyed this morning had my mind not been so preoccupied with worries and with the thoughts of that key that glistened in the sunshine so close to me.

Tripping over a step, I bumped into the princess and gripped her shroud for balance.

“I’m so sorry,” I muttered, sliding my hand down her side and quickly swiping the key off her belt. I had no idea if I’d have a chance to use it. But I had to try. “I haven’t eaten well, feeling a bit lightheaded.” I gave her a meek smile.

“Poor thing,” she hissed, yanking me up and away from her. “It’ll be over soon.”

She shoved me forward, ahead of her, and I ran up to the top of the platform.

Rha was on his knees. The chains stretched from the manacles around his wrists to the pillars on each side of him. They held his arms spread wide, not allowing him to sit down or lie on the platform.

He squinted against the sunlight. “Dawn?”

“Rha, baby…” I dropped to my knees in front of him.

Thick, black smoke streamed from the wounds on his arms. It trickled down to the ground, pooling in a black puddle on the stark white platform. When I lifted the top layer of his long skirt to pull it over his head for protection from the sun, the smoke seeped through the fabric on his back. It trickled between my fingers, leaving a layer of fine, black soot on my skin.

“It hurts?” I whispered, holding back tears.

“It does. But you make it better.” Incredibly, his lips stretched into a smile, one that reflected with warmth in his eyes. It was my emotions that had taught him to smile like that, with all his heart. Shadow fae couldn’t do it on their own.

“Rha.” I cupped his face and pressed my forehead to his. My chest was full of the wildest mix of emotions. Love, compassion, fear, and longing grew inside me so strong, I feared I’d burst or melt into another puddle at his knees.

“Why are you here, my treasure?” The relief at seeing me gave way to concern in his voice.

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