Page 46 of Reign of Betrayal

“What is Prince Lukene like?” I know I shouldn’t pry but I have to know. I need to know what others think of him and how he treats them. Sasha stops braiding my hair for a second, as if she is thinking of what she should and should not say.

“Well, he is a mystery to me. He keeps to himself usually, or you can find him with Captain Kylo or Captain James. He has never seriously courted anyone but has bedded a few ladies in court, if that is what you are asking.” A small, closed lip smile graces Sasha’s beautiful face as she continues to fix my hair. My cheeks heat. Looking in the mirror in front of us, I see my face turning red.

“I didn’t mean that!” I exclaim, my face growing hotter. “I was just wondering how he treated the servants here.” I feel the flush creeping down my face and further onto my chest.

“He is very respectable to me… if that is all you are asking.” Her smirk widens. I sigh and rub a hand down my face as she finishes my hair. “He hasn’t been here for days. I heard he had business in another kingdom and should be back soon. Now, hurry. We need to get to breakfast.”

“Before we go… Please tell me my friend Elm came back with us?”

“He did. He is safe and probably about to head to breakfast with the rest of you. Lilyana checked on him a few times.”

With that I stand and follow her out of the room.

* * *

I takemy place in my seat at the table. Lilyana isn’t here yet. I look down the long table and see an empty seat where Larah used to sit and my heart hurts immediately. My intake of breath actually hurts. I look a bit further down and see Elm. He smiles slightly and makes our hand gesture and kisses it. I return it. It’s just the two of us now. I need to keep my emotions locked up. Now is not the time to break down. Now is the time to concentrate and win the trials.

While I am occupied, looking at Elm, I hear a loud squeal. I turn to find the culprit of the noise and see Lilyana heading my way. She is moving swiftly to get to me, her long brown hair flowing behind her as she runs to me. She hugs me fiercely, then holds me at arm’s length to assess me for any serious injuries, her big, loving hazel eyes scanning me.

“I am glad you made it out alive! I knew you would,” she exclaims, her smile faltering with a flicker of sadness. “I am sorry about Larah.”

Her words land like a knife to my heart, reopening wounds that haven’t even begun to heal. I clench my jaw, forcing down the grief that bubbles dangerously close to the surface.

“That healing potion they gave you made you all sleep forever! I came to see you a few times hoping you would wake,” she says it as if my sleeping annoyed her, but she giggles.

Once we returned to the palace, the healer gave us an elixir that was supposed to heal us and make us drowsy; however, I find that sleeping for four days is a bit more than drowsy.

When the King and Vanna walk in, everyone rises. “Be seated and eat. I am sure you are all starving,” the king exclaims. “Take today to rest, then tomorrow we will begin training again. Congratulations to the eight of you that survived.”

I look around the table at the other prisoners. There really are only eight of us left. I wonder if the other trials will kill us all.

I am talking to Lilyana when Cora takes her seat next to Prince Lukene’s empty one. I know it is stupid and irresponsible, but I was hoping to see Prince Lukene’s smug face and dimples. I wanted to hear what smart-ass comments he has to make. I don’t even like him. I am not sure why I hoped to see him at breakfast, even though Sasha said he was out visiting another kingdom. Maybe I do like him. Maybe… maybe I like his flirtatious yet cold mannerisms. Maybe I like to be haunted by his green gaze that seems to always linger on me. Maybe…

Cora makes an obnoxious huff, causing Lilyana and me to glare at her. “What a shame you survived. Let’s see if you make it through the next trials.” I see her look at my wrist where my prison number is tattooed into my skin, the place Lukene caressed. I know she saw the whole thing. If looks could kill, I’d be dead right now.

I’m unsure how to respond. I open my mouth to retort, but Lilyana beats me to it, her tone deceptively sweet. “I’d like to see you last a day in the Shadowed Forest, Cora. You’d wilt without someone to cater to your every whim.” She smiles innocently, adding, “Gods forbid you break a nail.”

Cora’s face darkens with rage, and she throws her napkin onto her plate with a grunt before storming out. Tension trails behind her like a storm cloud.

“She is a true nuisance. She is just upset because Luke doesn’t pay her any attention anymore, and she is taking it out on you.”

“I don’t know why she would take it out on me,” I exclaim.

“Mhm.” Her smile widens.

“Besides, what she says are just words. She irritates me, but you don’t have to defend me. I truly don’t care what she thinks of me.”

“Oh, but it’s so much fun getting under her skin.” She giggles, then pops a piece of fruit into her mouth.

“Can you show me to the library after breakfast? I would like to grab some books, lounge around, and read today.”

“Of course. Hurry and eat, then I’ll show you.”

Quickly, I inhale my food as Lilyana does the same. We get up from the table and head out of the room.

She links her thin arm in mine when we get into the hallway. We head down many corridors, and I have no idea how I will get back to my bedchamber.

Finally, we are in front of a large set of thick, robust wooden double doors.

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