Page 32 of The Princess In A 'Prince' Disguise

Confusion crossed his face as he called out for Aekeira, searching every corner, even the storage area.

She was nowhere to be found.

Emeriel's heart raced, anxiety surging through his body as he left the room.Where could she be?

As he retraced his steps back toward the servants’ quarters, Emeriel’s eyes darted around, scanning his surroundings. When he reached the crossroads where various paths in the fortress met, he stopped.

Instead of heading to the servants’ quarters, his feet carried him toward the fourth wing. Without realizing it, he was following the route that led to the forbidden chambers.

But just before he reached the intersection of the Abyss land, Emeriel froze again.

What in the underworld am I doing here?The punishment for being on this side of the fortress without permission was severe.

He turned to leave, but a movement caught his eye.

Aekeira.

She stood alone, wearing regal attire that showed greatly the princess she was. It mirrored the dress she wore on that fateful first night.

Aekeira was heading toward the haunting hallway leading to the forbidden chambers.

"Keira?" he whispered, his voice resonating softly against the desolate walls.

Aekeira turned, eyes widening in surprise. "Em?"

"Oh, thank the Lights! It's really you!" Emeriel exclaimed, rushing toward her and enveloping his sister in a tight embrace. “I tried so hard to believe Grand Lord Vladya when he claimed you were alive, but it was still difficult to sleep at night, Keira. By the gods, I am overjoyed that you're alive—"

"No, you mustn't touch me!" Aekeira suddenly shouted, panic in her voice, as she pushed Emeriel away. "Do not touch me."

Hurt flashed in Emeriel's eyes. Aekeira had never pushed him away like this before. "Keira?" he whispered.

"I would not feed him your scent again," Aekeira reiterated, her voice trembling. "Please, do not touch me."

"Scent? Feed who? I do not understand," Emeriel confessed, his mind struggling to understand her words.

"You should not be here, Em. Please, go away."

"And what areyoudoing here?" Emeriel countered, casting an apprehensive glance toward the imposing metal gates. "Come on, let's leave this place," he urged, taking hold of Aekeira's hand.

"No!" Aekeira jerked her hand away. "I need to be here. But you, Emeriel, you should not. Leave."

"What? No! You do not need to be here.No sane person should be here!" Emeriel seized her hand once more, this time, his grip tightened. "Come on, Keira, please, let us go!"

"I can't, okay!?" Aekeira's voice cracked, tears falling, smearing her makeup.

She looked completely tired, as if burdened by the world. The sight pierced Emeriel's heart like a dagger.

His sister no longer tried to withdraw her hand; simply too weary to fight.

"I cannot leave, Em," she whispered tearfully. "If I do, it will be you who goes behind those closed doors."

Emeriel recoiled at the thought.

But he quickly recovered. "Fine, I will go to the forbidden chambers—"

"No, you cannot!" Aekeira stated vehemently, her eyes wide. "Not you, Em. Never you, do you hear me? I will do it."

Emeriel did not want to enter that chamber, barricaded with metal rods, and face the most terrifying beast that lurked within, either. The mere idea frightened him to the core.

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