Page 112 of A Dagger in the Ivy

A growl emanates from his throat, and before I can blink, Torbin turns to my vanity beside him and throws the entire piece of furniture across the room. It smashes into the floor, toppling upside down, and everything in it and on it spreads like debris.

I withdraw my dagger immediately, not caring that it is a threat against the crown prince. I hold my stance, bracing myself in case he turns his anger on me.

Torbin stares at me, his breaths heavy. His eyes dart from my face to my dagger and back again. “You will regret this decision, Your Highness.” The last word comes out like a hiss.

The door bursts open, and Sir Holden steps into the room with his sword drawn. He quickly assesses the room, taking in Torbin’s imposing form, the red of his skin and the fire behind his eyes, and me, holding a defensive stance with my dagger in my grip. Sir Holden’s gaze drifts to the upended vanity table and the scattered contents. “Your Highnesses?”

Torbin rakes back his hair and continues to stare at me.

This is no spell. Torbin truly harbors this darkness.

I lower my dagger. “Just a mishap, Sir Holden. The prince was just leaving.”

With a final, venomous glare, Torbin storms out of the room, and I feel like I can finally take a breath. Despite the weight of his threats, I remain steadfast in my resolve, determined to thwart his sinister schemes at any cost.

“Thank you, Sir Holden.” I fight to keep my voice steady. “I’d like to be alone now.”

He inclines his head. “Yes, Your Highness.”

As he shuts the door behind him, the broken vanity and the messaround it catch my eye. I don’t care about the creams and brushes and perfumes, but the container of powder Ezra gave me was in one of the drawers. I make my way over to the mess and spot the container. The ceramic pot is in pieces, and the powder is now sunken into the carpet.

Shit.

I push my hair back from my cheeks, my mind swirling and my stomach in knots. I should go directly to Ezra to get more powder, but the person whom I really want to see right now is Dante. He’s the only one who can understand how I’m feeling. Besides, I don’t have it in me to explain the entire course of events to the magister right now. I’m too pent up with fury.

When I step into the hall, Sir Holden stands sentry. He follows me as I head for Dante’s room. The king must have ordered him to keep a tight watch on me. My footfalls echo softly in the corridor. When I reach Dante’s door, Sir Holden waits to the side. I knock, but there’s no answer.

A servant passes, and I reach out to her. She gives me a curtsey.

I struggle to keep the urgency from my voice. “Excuse me, do you happen to know where Lord Stregasi might be?”

“I believe he has left the castle, Your Highness. He was seen heading for the stables.”

My heart sinks. “I see. Thank you.”

I toss and turn in my bed. It’s only dusk, but I have nowhere else to go. I’m trapped here, in my room, in this castle, while innocents out in the realm are suffering. While an evil tyrant is plaguing the world with carnivorous creatures. After I searched for Dante, I noticed the increase in the number of guards patrolling the halls. No doubt something implemented by the king in case I decide to flee.

I can’t stand the thought of seeing any of the royals, so I skip dinner and hole myself up in my room. Nadya hasn’t come around yet, and a part of me worries about her safety. When I asked Indira if she’d seen her, she only scoffed, rattling off complaints about Nadya never being whereshe’s supposed to be.

If Dante were here, I’d at least have a small spark of comfort to ease this hollow ache I feel inside. I throw my covers back, staring at my ceiling and feeling more alone than ever. The silence of my chamber presses in, my emotions threatening to overwhelm me.

I close my eyes, wishing I had my uncle’s telepathy powers. I need to tell him and my squad what Dante and I found at that campsite. But if I head for the nightfeather tower, I’m sure to be questioned, and the king will call me a traitor.

As strong as I try to be, I can’t stop the tears from forming. I wrap my arms around myself, trembling from the intensity of my turmoil.

The door to my chamber creaks open, and Nadya slips inside, her features illuminated by the flickering candlelight. “Celeste?”

I sit up, and she rushes to my side.

She looks me over, her face etched with concern. “When did you return?”

“Just today.”

Her gentle touch is a soothing balm to my wounded soul. “What’s wrong? Why are you crying?”

I take her hand. “Nadya, I can’t tell you everything right now, but just know that things aren’t as they seem. Something very big and terrible is happening out there.”

She searches my features, her brows drawn down low. “You can tell me anything, you know.”

---