Page 126 of Kingdom of Briars and Roses

She didn’t answer, but her shoulders stiffened.

I swallowed hard, my footsteps heavy on the stone steps as we climbed upward. “Where does this lead?”

“To your room,” Vanya said simply. “There’s a passage behind the guest quarters. Not many know about it.”

I blinked. I’d been in that room for days and had no idea there was a hidden way in—or out.

“Why are you doing this?” I asked quietly as we reached the top of the stairs and entered a long, narrow tunnel. The air here was colder, the walls damp with condensation. “Why help me?”

Vanya stopped, turning to look at me. The flickering torchlight cast shadows across her face, and for a moment, I thought I saw something pass through her eyes—something like hope. “Because you’re different. You care in a way that no one except—” She broke off then started again, “I know what the king is like when he doesn’t get what he wants.”

Her words hung between us, a clear warning.

We resumed our trek in silence.

When we reached another small door at the end of the passage, Vanya handed me the torch and pressed her hand against the stone wall, searching for something. After a moment, there was a soft click, and the door creaked open into darkness.

“This leads to a small passageway behind your room,” she whispered. “You’ll be able to slip back in without anyone seeing.”

“You’re not coming with me?” I asked.

“I’m not on duty again until tomorrow,” she said. “The other maid will find it suspicious if I show up before then.”

Beryl.

Hels, she’d probably be wondering where I was by now. Maybe even waiting inside my room. I’d need to make sure the room was empty before slipping in.

“How did it go today?” I asked quietly. “At your appointment.” I couldn’t bring myself to say the words “donation” since that was hardly what it was.

“Fine,” Vanya said, not meeting my eyes.

“I’m sorry,” I told her. “For what you were forced to give.”

“I would’ve done so willingly if I thought it would actually help—” She broke off, her cheeks flushing. “Forgive me.”

“Don’t apologize. I know what you mean.”

Relief flooded her expression.

I hesitated. My room lay just beyond this hidden corridor, but somehow the distance felt vast. “Thank you for helping me.”

“Be careful,” she said softly, her eyes meeting mine in the dim light.

Before I could respond, she stepped back into the shadows, letting the door slide shut between us.

I stood there for a moment, listening to the quiet. The castle seemed to press down on me from all sides, heavy and cold.

Taking a breath, I turned and started down the short passage toward my room. The sound of my footsteps felt too loud, too sharp against the stone floor, but there was no one else here. No one except me—and the creeping sense that everything was closing in.

When I reached the small panel in the wall, I pushed it open quietly, stepping into the familiar space of my room. The cold air from the hidden passageway followed me, lingering like a shadow.

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Aurelia

Hours passed, and no one came. Outside my window, the sun set, and darkness overtook my room. I paced so long my feet ached. Beryl brought me dinner, but I took the tray from her at the door and sent her away, too worried to eat or even pretend everything was fine. To her credit, she didn’t push. Even she seemed to sense the tension hanging over the castle.

I considered going back through the hidden passageways to search for Rydian or Callan, but I didn’t want to make things worse for either of them if I was caught.

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