Page 56 of Thorns of Deceit: The Beast Within

Arye’s laugh rang out, clear and genuine, his eyes sparkling like molten silver. It sent a warmth spreading through Skylar’s chest, a feeling she quickly tried to squash. They dismounted, leading their horses to a nearby tree where they could rest and graze.

Noire nudged Skylar’s shoulder, his soft nose tickling her neck. She chuckled, giving his neck an affectionate pat. “Alright, alright. You did well, boy.” The horse nickered softly, seeming to preen under her praise.

Blanche, not to be outdone, trotted over to Noire. The two horses greeted each other with gentle whinnies, touching noses briefly before settling down to graze side by side. Skylar couldn’t help but smile at the sight.

If only human relationships could be so simple.

For a long moment, they stood in silence, gazing out over the sprawling city below. From up here, it all looked so small, so fragile. The palace, usually so imposing, seemed like a child’s toy. The city streets appeared as a maze of tiny lines, the people reduced to mere specks moving about their daily lives. All her worries faded into insignificance, becoming distant now, up here with Arye.

“If you could have anything,” Arye’s voice was soft, almost hesitant. “What would it be?”

Skylar turned to him, startled by the question. Arye’s eyes were intense, searching her face as if he could divine the truth from her expression alone.

“I’m not sure,” she admitted.

“All of this could be yours.” Arye gestured to the palace, his arm sweeping wide to encompass the entire kingdom. “Anything you desire, anything you wish for. I’ll make it happen.”

The weight of his words hung heavy in the air between them. The offer was tempting, more so than she cared to admit. But his treasonous plans weighed heavily on her.

She longed to see Regalclaw under his rule, to help him fulfill all his dreams, to see him like today. Happy. And she yearned to stay by his side, in whatever capacity she could, even from a far distance.

It was impossible, no, egotistic, to tell him all this. Instead, a wry smile tugged at her lips as she settled on a response.

“Well, some water would be nice, actually.”

Arye blinked, momentarily taken aback. Then he threw his head back and laughed, the sound rich and genuine. “Water? I offer you the world, and all you want is a drink?”

He shook his head, still chuckling as he reached into his saddlebag. “You never cease to amaze me, Sky. Here I am, ready to move heaven and earth for you, and you ask for the simplest thing imaginable.”

As he handed her the water skin, their fingers brushed. Skylar felt a jolt of electricity at the contact, her eyes meeting Arye’s.

“Thank you,” she said softly, hoping he knew she didn’t mean just for the refreshment.

Arye’s smile softened, understanding passing between them. “Always,” he replied, his voice low and intimate.

As Skylar raised the water skin to her lips, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she’d just crossed a line—one that would shape the fate of Regalclaw itself. The cool liquid soothed her parched throat. But it did nothing to quench the fire burning in her heart, the longing for something she knew she could never fully have.

Gazing over the kingdom spread before them, Skylar felt the last of her reservations crumble. Her path, her very existence, was inexorably bound to Arye’s. She would follow him beyond the edge of the world, even if it meant unleashing the beast that clawed at her insides. Darkness, desire, ruthlessness—they coursed through her, as vital as her heartbeat, as ingrained as her sense of duty and honor.

A surge of determination coursed through Skylar’s veins. She wanted to stand by Arye’s side, come what may. If that meant burning everything they knew to the ground, so be it. From the ashes, they would build a new Regalclaw.

Stronger. Better. Theirs.

24

Princess Quince’s voice cut through the opulent palace halls. “Duke Anathemark, come here at once.”

Skylar subtly adjusted her high collar, ensuring it was in place before turning, her face a mask of polite neutrality. The Princess stood before her, resplendent in a gown of deep emerald that set off her auburn hair to perfection. The scent of her cloying perfume assaulted Skylar’s senses, a sickly-sweet floral concoction that seemed designed to suffocate.

“Your Highness,” Skylar replied, bowing slightly. The motion caused a twinge where her bindings were particularly tight today. “How may I be of service?”

Princess Quince’s lips curved into a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “I couldn’t help but notice how close you and Prince Arye seem to be. It’s quite touching, really.”

Skylar’s guard went up immediately. She could sense the venom behind the Princess’s words, coiled and ready to strike. The air between them crackled with tension, drawing the attention of nearby courtiers. Silken gowns rustled as nobles shifted to better observe the brewing confrontation.

“His Highness and I have known each other since childhood,” Skylar replied cautiously, keeping her tone measured.

“Ah, childhood friends.” Princess Quince’s tone dripped with false sweetness. She leaned closer, her breath hot on Skylar’s face. “Tell me, do you have any other friends? Or why do you cling to him like a desperate fly?”

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