Page 25 of Essence of the Throne

I reach for the door handle, my fingers cracking it open not an inch before a voice cuts through my sanity.

“You really thought you’d get away that easily?”

I freeze, my heart lodging itself somewhere between annoyance and reserved amusement. Caspian leans against the opposite wall, a smug smirk curling his lips, his arms folded casually across his chest, clad in fitted black leather. The material molds to his frame, emphasizing his muscular build and tapering down to a narrow waist. His pants, also dark leather, sit low on his hips and hug the same thighs I was all too happy to grind against just hours ago. Despite the unfamiliarity of the leathers, as he normally wears more formal clothing, he manages to look both lethal and impossibly attractive. The outfit only amplifies the danger in his gaze as he watches me with a knowing smirk.

“Nice try, angel,” he continues, the nickname rolling off his tongue in that infuriatingly familiar way. I like it far too much. “But I knew you’d venture to sneak out without me.”

I force my face into an expression of boredom, even as an unwelcome giddiness pricks under my skin. “Go back to bed, Caspian. You do not need to be involved in this.”

“Actually, I do,” he states, pushing off the wall and closing the distance between us. “We’ve been over this—I go where you go.”

“Not this time.” My voice is sharp, colder than I intend. “This isn’t your mystery to solve.” But fuck do I want it to be right now.

“Isn’t it?” He steps closer, his proximity making it harder to think clearly. “I will not waste time arguing with you, Ariella. You’re not going into that damn forest alone—not a fucking chance.”

I draw my blade, the metal flashing in the dim light as I press it against his stomach, just above the scar I gave him. His smirk doesn’t falter; if anything, it deepens.

“This is not up for debate,” I growl, keeping my grip steady. “You’re staying here, Caspian.”

“Do it,” he purrs, and the heat of his breath slides down my abdomen. “But don’t you dare miss this time, angel, because that is the only way you will go alone.”

I hate how his words send a shiver into my spine. How they claw at my carefully constructed walls. I press the blade a fraction harder, cursing my mind as his eyes darken. There’s no fear there, only a glimmer of excited amusement—a dangerous kind of determination that mirrors my own.

“Fuck’s sake, prince,” I mutter, dropping the blade to my side and pressing my finger into the sharp metal. “Fine. But if you get yourself hurt—”

“I won’t,” he interrupts, the smile returning, softer this time. “I’ve got you to keep me alive, remember?” Fucking tease.

I roll my eyes but don’t argue. This battle is already lost, and we both know it. I pivot toward my door, my heart still hammering, and weave enough wards to keep out even the Angel. Overkill, but whatever. We navigate the empty halls of the castle before running into a sentry that follows us from the entrance, insisting that he was ordered to join our small party. I offer him a glare that he impressively doesn’t cower from and allow Caspian to take care of his father’s foolish meddling.

I adjust the straps of my bag, fingers moving with practiced efficiency as I attempt to suppress the frustration simmering under my skin. The sky above is still dark, the pre-dawn light peeking through the heavy mist that clings to Valoria like a damp, unwelcome cloak. It’s cold, but the chill doesn’t touch me—my mind is far too tangled to feel the temperature. I glance across the courtyard at Caspian, chuckling at the heated exchange he and the guard are having. His brow is furrowed, and his voice is low but forceful, carrying just enough urgency to lend credibility to his excuse.

“Medicinal herbs,” he mutters in explanation, as if anyone is supposed to believe that’s the real reason we’re venturing into the Verdantia Forest. But he has a way with words, and the guard seems to buy it, nodding reluctantly before stepping aside.

The king must have insisted on another sentry accompanying us when Caspian informed him that he would be gone for a few days. Why? I'm unsure of what Thalion said when they spoke, but thankfully, the prince seems to have more sway over most of the royal guards than his father does.

I tilt my head, watching as Caspian approaches with that same confident stride he always carries. The leather satchel slung over his shoulder looks heavy, its contents a mix of rations, herbs, and whatever else he deemed necessary for this excursion.

“Ready?” he asks, his voice a bit too casual for the situation. I can’t decide if it’s because he’s trying to convince me he’s ready or if it’s some self-soothing mantra he’s using to prepare for our journey.

I nod, peering over my shoulder at the guard who stands rigid, watching us. We don’t linger. I pull my cloak tighter, breathing easier at the comforting weight of my hidden blades within its folds. Caspian walks beside me as we move toward the northern gate, past the fountain, our footsteps echoing off the cobblestones.

The guild stands like an omen at the center of the city, its stone facade both inviting and memory-inducing. I hesitate at the threshold, the familiar creak of the heavy oak door scraping against my nerves. This place once felt like home—a sanctuary filled with promises of revenge, training, and the thrill of sparring with—

I pause to suppress the increasing demands of my lungs.

Now, every corner is shrouded with the pieces of Isaiah’s skin I watched float in the reddened water, as if the walls themselves are stained with his blood. I step up to the door slowly, each one a betrayal of the girl I used to be. Determined, loyal, ready to protect the two people in the world left that meant something to me.

What a fucking joke I am.

The heavy wooden door creaks open at my touch, releasing a faint hint of spices and smoke that wraps around me with such familiarity that I falter. Memories flood my mind—flashes of training, blood-stained leathers, and hundreds of injuries I had to let heal naturally.

“Are you waiting outside?” I blurt, stretching my fingers out over my thighs.

“No—but I would have you show me around. I’ve never been in one of the kingdom’s guilds before.”

I chuckle and wrench the door open fully—the same one I kicked off its hinges just a few weeks ago.

Fuck.Everythingreminds me of him.

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