Page 46 of Bound By Wishes

“Yes,” she answered breathlessly, still clinging to me.

Her body trembled against mine, and I wasn’t sure if it was from her near accident or my closeness. The delicate tremors sent a shiver through me, making the darkness around us feel even more intimate and charged with unspoken tension.

My blood was starting to heat at her proximity, and I knew I needed to put some distance between us before I fell prey to another one of my whims. The temptation was great, but I couldn't afford to lose control again. Gently, I released her and attempted to step back, but she clung to me like I was her lifeline.

"Sayyida, you can let go now," I groaned, wincing as her grip tightened around me.

“I’m not budging until I can see,” she argued. Her slender arms around my waist tightened, and her nails dug into my back. The sharp sensation sent a jolt through me, a blend of pain and desire that made it even harder to pull away.

My magic crackled through the air, igniting all the torches that lined the descent into the dungeon. Flames burst to life one by one, forming a warm, flickeringlight that chased away the darkness. The sudden illumination revealed the rough, damp stone walls and the treacherous steps beneath our feet.

Caleena’s tight hold on me loosened, and she stepped back, creating space between us. Cool air rushed in, filling the void where our bodies had been pressed together. “Why didn’t you do that to start with?” she asked, throwing her hands on her hips.

“I was trying to be as inconspicuous as possible.” I said, ignoring her griping as I continued down to the dungeon, but I kept my pace slow just in case she slipped again.

Once at the bottom, my gaze swept around. I hadn't been down here in years, but it was just like I remembered as a child. The cells were small, barely big enough for a grown man to walk two paces without running into the rusty iron bars. Each cell had a single crude bed of molded straw and a bucket for the most basic of needs. The floors were uneven, and small pools of water collected in the crevices, creating a breeding ground for insects and vermin.

Caleena eased closer to me, her gaze bouncing from wall to wall before focusing on the deeper recesses of the dungeon, where the most dangerous prisoners were often kept. The cells were almost pitch black, but I could make out the outline of chains hanging from the walls, their iron links rusty. Other torture devices, equally menacing, hung in the shadows, their cruel forms partially hidden but unmistakable in their purpose. What would Caleena think of me if she found out that I had put this dungeon to good use during my reign as king?

“I don’t see the crate,” Caleena whispered beside me.

I grabbed her hand, and she resisted only for a secondbefore allowing me to pull her forward. “Razoul wouldn’t leave it in plain sight.”

We continued deeper into the dungeon. Caleena’s grip on my hand tightened, and I smiled despite the grim surroundings. The narrow halls finally opened up to the central circular room in the dungeon. Torches created a golden halo around the space. In the center of the room was a rickety wooden table, its surface scarred and weathered by years of use.

A collection of instruments lay on the table, their twisted forms gleaming in the torchlight—hooks, knives, and iron tongs, each one a reminder of the cruelty that had taken place here.

Caleena pulled her hand from mine and wrapped her arms around her middle. “Now what?” she asked, her voice trembling.

I walked over to one of the torches without answering her and pulled it down. The latch clicked, and a hidden door that only Razoul, my father, and I knew existed swung open. The sound of the mechanism echoed through the chamber, and a gust of stale air rushed out.

Caleena's eyes widened as the hidden passage revealed itself. She surprised me yet again by glancing into the room with a smile on her face that made her eyes sparkle with mischief. "I love secret passageways," she whispered, her eyes gleaming with excitement as her fingers traced the door frame.

I chuckled at her enthusiasm. "Maybe someday, I will show you the rest," I said, stepping through the door.

The passage beyond was narrow and dark, the walls lined with ancient carvings and cobwebs that glistened inthe dim torchlight. I held it high, illuminating our path as we went deeper underground.

I stopped once I no longer heard the soft echo of Caleena’s footsteps. Turning back, I saw her standing a few steps behind, her hands splayed along the wall as she delicately traced the symbols carved into the stone. My heart lurched in my chest. I had worked so hard turning her into a princess, I’d nearly forgotten that she was an archaeologist. If I wasn’t careful, she might decipher something best left hidden about my family and our past.

“Fascinating, isn’t it?” I said, trying to keep my tone light and casual. “These carvings are some of the oldest in the dungeon.”

Caleena’s eyes flicked to mine, a hint of suspicion in their depths. “What does this symbol mean?” she asked, her fingers continuing to trace the intricate lines.

I held the torchlight higher to see which one she was asking about. “You're the archaeologist. Why are you asking me?”

“It’s your history, isn’t it?” she asked, slowly lowering her hands back to her sides. “I’ve never seen that symbol before.”

I forced a smile, stepping closer to her. “Yes, it is, but I wasn’t a very good pupil when it came to our history lessons,” I explained. It wasn’t a lie. I couldn’t lie to her even if I wanted to. It just wasn’t the whole truth.

She hesitated for a moment, her gaze lingering on the carvings before a smile curved her lips. “Why am I not surprised?”

“Let’s keep moving. I have no intention of being down here all night,” I grumbled, walking off without her, hopingthat was the end to her probing questions about the symbols on the walls.

As we continued down the passage, unease prickled beneath my skin. Caleena’s keen mind and curiosity were both assets and a hindrance. One misstep, one question too many, and she’d unearth truths better left forgotten. I had to stay one step ahead of her, keeping the shadows of my family’s past and our connection to the Nightshade buried. She couldn’t learn the role we played, the darkness we courted, or the price it demanded.

Thankfully, we continued on in silence. The only sounds were the soft hiss of hidden currents of air and the occasional drip of water echoing through the narrow corridor. Caleena’s gaze remained glued to the walls, studying each symbol as we passed. I carefully unleashed my magic, sending it into the darkness before us, using it to wipe away anything ahead of us that I didn’t want her to see.

Finally, we reached another door, this one more detailed than the hidden entrance. It was adorned with intricate metalwork and empty spaces where symbols used to be before I removed them. I paused, taking a deep breath before reaching out to open it.

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