Page 91 of Ruby & Onyx

“I don’t have time to ask for the full story. But I hope that you’ll tell me later,” he says, and I feel an intangible tether pulling between us like it’s mending broken threads. “We must hurry. Vito, work on Radya’s cell.”

One of the blue-eyed invisibles approaches the door to my cell with a tiny metal object between his fingers. He bends down and begins fiddling with the lock.

“I’m not going anywhere until you explain what’s going on! I’ve been tricked enough times in my life. I refuse to follow any directions until somebody explains what the hell is happening.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. Would you prefer to rot here in the pits of darkness?” Amin quips.

“Now’s not the time for answers, Radya, but I promise on my life that I will tell you everything. Very soon. But if that’s going to happen, we need to get moving. Now. It’s only a matter of seconds before they realize that we’re here and the army at the border was just a distraction.” He sounds more determined than panicked, and I can’t help but admire that about him.

“Just tell me who you are. Who you really are, Bas. No tricks, no lies. Tell me that, and I will go with you.” In my bones, I know the answer. Even if I don’t understand it, I know who he is. I can feel in every part of my being that he is the piece that has always been missing. The answer to the question that I never knew how to ask. The reason that I never felt at home in Carcera or here. But I need to hear him say it.

He squares his shoulders toward me and looks deep into my eyes, smoldering and mesmerizing. “I am King Caelis Sebastian Fidelia, the one chosen by Manka, the immortal ruler of Umbra.”

Tears form behind my eyes. I don’t know how any of this is possible. I have so many questions that it feels impossible to sort through them all. And despite that, I am relieved. It’s like breathing fresh air for the first time. My heart feels lighter like it’s been released from a cage.

Liliana once mentioned that the Umbrians were liars. She told me that, if captured, the Mad King would do anything to manipulate me toward his cause. Was she right? Would I be a fool to trust him?

My heart sings in answer.

I trust him with my life.

I can only savor that moment for a second as the sound of footsteps rushing down the stairs reverberates through the dungeon. If the guards are on their way down those stairs right now, then they’ll seize Bas. And then all of us will rot down here in the darkness for eternity.

The knot growing in my stomach twists tighter at the thought. If I follow Bas, then I might have a shot of escaping. I can start a new life. All I have to do is follow Bas and then… well, I’ll figure the rest out later.

“Okay, what do we do?” I look to Bas for direction through the iron bars of my cell.

“First, Vito springs you out of your cell.” The lock pops open. Adrenaline pulses through my veins as I hear the footsteps growing closer and closer.

“Can we use magic to transport us out of here?” I ask.

“Bastards warded the whole prison. Trust me, I’ve tried everything.” Amin waits impatiently for orders. “We’ll have to make our escape the old-fashioned way.”

“He’s right.” Bas is now standing less than a foot away from me, unsheathing the sword from the strap across his back. “Vito tried to snap into the cell during the ball, but their wards are airtight.”

“Snap?” I ask, unfamiliar with the term.

“Snapping. Moving from place to place with magic,” he explains quickly but without condescension. My mind reels at the word that gives name to the horrible feeling of being tossed and turned through a void.

“They placed a tracking spell on any foreign-born magic. Even once we’re above ground, using magic would put us at risk of alerting the praecians to our location.”

I have to force my thoughts into words, pushing past every chaotic tremor. “Then, how did you get here? Undetected, and without magic, no-less?”

“We sailed here and hid in the forest, waiting for an opening. Then the ball allowed us to enter the grounds undetected, but we’ve been without magic ever since. A single mistaken flair of power could lead the praecians right to us. And when I first saw you… I nearly compromised the whole mission.” His eyes flicker with tortured restraint like the flames burning in his core could melt him right here and now.

My entire body blushes as I remember that night. Anguish pulsed around him when Eleanor announced the engagement, yet he approached me soon after with such delicacy, grace, and empathy. Little did I know the magnitude of that moment to him.

He allows me a moment to understand, to wrap my head around all of these impossible things, before moving on. Then, with tender respect, he says, “Now, Radya, do you know how to use a sword?”

“No…” Damn Olly. We never came close to using actual swords during our training.

“We can work on that later.” Bas nods first to me and then to Amin. “For now, Amin, take this sword. Guard Radya and make sure that nobody comes within ten feet of her. Kill them all if you must. Now, let’s go!” His command is guttural and fierce. I understand why the people chose him. And why they feared him.

“Wait! We have to free Guylita!” I scream as I grab Bas’ shoulder to hold him back.

“Who?” He asks, and I point toward the cell on the opposite side of Amin’s. He pauses for a moment to consider before saying, “Vito, can you do it in under ten seconds?”

Vito nods and rushes over to Guylita’s cell. He’s twisting and picking with precision until the lock clicks open with four seconds to spare. Guylita cries her thanks repeatedly as she comes over to join us.

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