Page 111 of Reign of Betrayal

“Why would you care if Maduri is taken over? I am genuinely curious.”

“Maduri is neutral territory. All are welcome, but none can stay. There are beasts and god-blessed guards that protect its people and the temple.” He stops his pacing, giving me his undivided attention. “No one has ruled it for centuries. My father has always favored the idea of keeping neutral territory as a retreat from courtly chaos, and I will ensure it stays that way.” His emotions run too high. It’s foolish to show them to someone like me. “If taken over, who knows what will happen to its people, to the temple?” He cocks his head, assessing me, as if he can see my darker impulses. “Let’s be honest. Your reputation as the formidable Dark Prince is known in all kingdoms.”

“Do you believe me to be wicked?” I tilt my head, grinning. Once, I believed myself truly wicked. However, since Reign entered my life, I see things differently. I no longer believe everything is black and white, good or evil. I feel muddled in the gray. I’ve done terrible things, but I’ve also done some good. Reign makes me want to be a better man.

“I don’t know you well enough to understand your true nature. However, you seem to care for your cousin. You want to ensure I’ll take care of her. I can assure you that if I take her as my wife, I will.” He sighs and rubs his hand down his face. “I can see that I could learn to love Lavender. Loving her would be easy. Man to man, I give you my word that she would be happy.” I believe his words. I feel their truth. He would make her happy. Her life would be simple. Guilt drops into the pit of my stomach.

“That’s all I ask—for you to protect her like the precious goddess she is. Love her like she is the last thing on this continent, like your heart would shatter without her, like breathing would be impossible if she’s not by your side.” He squints his eyes at me, taking in my words and mulling them over. He rubs his chin. “Like a precious beautiful bloom, she needs love, attention, and protection,” I add.

“You need to leave tomorrow at first light. Send a messenger if your king agrees to the terms.” He bows. “I need to tend to my father. Safe travels.”

Leaving the throne room, I head to Reign’s bedchamber, a storm brewing in my stomach. Filled with such turmoil, I don’t know what to do. Do I push for the treaty, saving my kingdom and giving up Reign? Or do I rage war by not talking my father into the treaty, and possibly keeping Reign? Does Reign even want me? She would be better with him, happier with him. Her life would be simpler, easier with him.

I knock on her door and wait for a response. There is none. Entering, I hear the shower running, so I sit and wait. Every possible scenario runs through my head, and for once in my life, I don’t know the answer. I can’t see the path ahead. I silently pray to my mother, something I haven’t done since childhood.

Taking my mother’s necklace in hand, I bring it to my lips as I shut my eyes. ‘Mother, I am lost, and I can’t find my way. Guide me—I am blindly stumbling into the darkness and don’t see my path. Guide my feet when my eyes do not see. Comfort my heart when I fear. Hold my hand when I falter. Lift me up when I fumble. I will gladly endure a tumultuous path if my pain means I will find Reign happy at the end of whichever path I am led.’

The washroom door opens, and Reign exits, wearing night pants and a long-sleeve tunic, drying her long hair with a towel. She startles when she sees me. “Prince Lukene,” she says breathlessly. “What did Prince Elliot want?”

“He wants us to leave tomorrow. His father is dying, and he needs to prepare. He gave me a list of demands that I am to present to my father and Vanna.” Panic washes over her face.

“Am I to kill him then?” I notice her slight tremble as she makes her way to her bed and sits down.

“As much as I’d like you to kill him, no, Reckless. You are not to kill him.” I continue to sit in the chair, taking in everything that is her. I feel complete in her presence.

“So, he rejected me? He doesn’t want me?” Her bottom lip is pinched between her fingers again, as she rolls it anxiously.

“Quite the opposite. He is smitten with you… Do you want him to pick you? Do you want to stay here with him?” My heart flutters in my chest in anticipation of her answer.

“What if I wanted to stay with him? To be with him?” I should do the right thing. I should allow her to be with him if possible. But I’m the Dark Prince, and she is mine.

“I’d never allow it. You’re mine, Reckless. Mine and mine alone,” I say with certainty and a grin.

She stands abruptly, horror etched on her face. “I am no one’s! I am not a piece of property to be owned. When I was in the Hollows, they made sure to make me feel like property. I will never feel that small again, Prince.”

“Yet, you are still mine. My heart calls to yours as yours calls to mine.” I stand and walk over to her, her chest rising and falling rapidly. “You feel it too, the pull to me, like an invisible tether tying your soul to mine. You felt relieved when I told you we were leaving tomorrow.” I search her beautiful eyes. “Do you want to know why you were relieved, Reckless?” I pause, giving her a second to answer, but she remains silent. “Because you love me. Deep down inside, you have hope that we can be together now.”

She stares at me, gulping loud she replies. “You are delusional, Prince. You brought me here to give me away.” She brings her hand up to her hip. “I think deep down inside you wanted him to reject me becauseyouhad hope.”

“When it comes to you, I am always hopeful.”

“What will we do when we get back to the palace? You think your wonderful father and good-hearted sister, Vanna, will just welcome me now that I have failed? I will be executed!”

“No one will touch you, Reign. No one.” I reach out and cup her face with one hand, and to my surprise, she doesn’t shove me away. “I will figure something out.” She sighs, closing her eyes as she leans into my hand briefly before backing away from it.

She sighs, walking over to her washroom door. She opens it. “Again, that is the problem with lies. I don’t know if I can trust you.” Without another word, she retreats into the room, shutting the door.

The wind howls fiercely,and the freezing rain pelts us relentlessly. We have been flying for a few hours, and glancing back at Reign, I see her body shivering violently. We need to find shelter and warm up. Since we’re close to Maduri, I steer us in that direction.

We land and rush into the house, soaked to the bone. I immediately light a fire, the flames crackling to life. I pull out a pair of dry clothes for each of us and hang our damp garments to dry by the hearth.

Unfortunately, there’s no hot water, so we’ll have to warm ourselves by the fire. Reign’s teeth chatter so loudly that I swear she could be heard all the way to the temple. Then it strikes me—the hot springs in the cave aren’t far from here.

“There’s a hot spring a bit from here in a shallow cave. Come. We’ll head there. It should warm you faster than this fire will.”

“You want me to go back out there?” She glances out the window, where the sky looms dark gray and gloomy, rain pouring in buckets.

“It’s not too far a hike. Come.” I extend my hand and offer her a reassuring smile. She huffs but ultimately takes my hand, allowing me to lead her out of the house and toward the cave.

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