Page 137 of A Dagger in the Ivy

“After that, I will make my declaration, legitimizing Dante and announcing your engagement.”

I swallow, feeling as if I’m in a dream.

“Farvis, please see that Sir Holden escorts the princess to her room.” The king stares at me as if daring me to object.

I push myself to my feet, sparing Dante a longing glance. I want to go to him. I want to be enclosed in the warmth of his arms and feel his heartbeat against my skin. From the look he’s giving me, he must feel the same.

But I can’t do any of that. I can’t go near him. Not under the king’s watchful eye.

I go to the door, where Farvis is waiting to hand me over to Sir Holden.

Before I leave the room, I check over my shoulder and see Dante watching me. The storm grey of his eyes sends a shiver through me. He gives me a nod, and though we must keep our distance for now, I knowwe will find a way to be together soon.

When I tell Nadya the king’s plan, she shrieks happily and goes on and on about the thrill of a secret engagement. Though I am still stunned by the king’s decision and can’t quite wrap my head around the fact that Dante and I are being forced to wed, Nadya exudes all the hidden giddiness I’m feeling inside but won’t dare to show.

She finally settles down and goes into her room to read, while I take out some stationery. I need to get a message to my squad. I don’t think the king would approve of me letting anyone know about his plan, but I do need to alert them that the king’s guards won’t be looking for Torbin anymore. The Royal Regiment, however, will not give up. Mylo is still out there, searching for my uncle. And I need to make sure they keep me abreast of the situation.

When I finish the letter, I set down the pen.

“Celeste…”

I nearly choke as my uncle’s voice resounds in my head. Thank the gods! He’s alive!

But I don’t know where he is, and the raspy sound of his voice causes me to clutch my chest. I freeze, waiting for another word, any clue that might help me figure out where he is or if he’s all right.

“Outside…”

Outside? Outside where? The castle?

I jump to my feet. With my heartbeat in my throat, I open the adjoining door between my room and Nadya’s. She looks up at me from her book, questions in her eyes.

“What is it?” she asks, sitting up straight.

“I hear my uncle.” I swallow back the dryness in my throat, turning to fetch a cape from the wardrobe.

“Your uncle?” She runs into my room. “What? Thank the gods he’s alive! Where is he?”

“I think he’s here. Or he’s coming here. But he doesn’t sound good.”I pull the hood of the cape over my head and aim for the door. My heart is thrumming like a million horse hooves. “I need to go check.”

She stands. “Should I come?”

“No. Wait here. I’m not sure yet how freely we are allowed to roam the castle, and I don’t want the both of us to be scolded.”

“All right. Be careful.” Her hands wring together as she nods, and I make my way out into the hall.

I don’t even explain to Sir Holden where I’m going, allowing him to follow me down the corridor. I feel as if my footfalls are far too loud as I race toward the stairs. There are a few servants fulfilling their duties, but other than a slightly curious glance, they don’t pay me much mind.

The guards at the front of the castle watch me, but they remain at their stations. It helps that Sir Holden is with me. The cool, night air greets me as I step outside, my breath visible in the dim light.

I stand at the top of the stone steps, waiting for my uncle to speak again, damning the wind for being so loud. In the murky dusk, I spot the approaching silhouette of a horse galloping toward me, its hooves pounding the ground like a relentless drumbeat.

As the horse draws nearer, I recognize Mylo, his towering frame unmistakable even in the darkness. He rides with urgency, his eyes locked on the path ahead. My heart sinks when I see my uncle slumped in front of him, his usually proud posture replaced with a limp and lifeless form. The moonlight catches the blood on his clothes, and I feel a wave of fear and anger wash over me. A million questions enter my mind.

My feet carry me swiftly down the stairs to the iron gates, and I trip over my words as I ask the guards to open them for me. The iron gates groan open, and I run out to meet the horse. Mylo reins in his steed with a skilled hand, bringing it to a halt just a few feet from me. He dismounts with a fluid motion, his muscular arms gently lowering my uncle off the horse. Mylo’s face is lined with concern. “Celeste, he needs help.” His voice is strained and urgent.

I rush to my uncle’s side, my hands trembling as I touch his face. His skin is pale and clammy, his breathing shallow. He wears a blood-stained,Delasurvian uniform shirt and trousers, but no boots or jacket. His bare feet are blackened at the soles. “Uncle Kormak, what happened?”

His eyes flutter open, and he stretches out a weak hand that doesn’t reach me. “Celeste.”

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