Page 48 of Reign of Betrayal

“I’ll take you,” I offer and gesture for her to follow.

“I don’t need you to take me.” She slides a book back onto the shelf, and I note the title, planning to have Sasha retrieve it for her later.

“Jake went the way we need to go, so Iwilltake you. Be a good little prisoner and follow.”

She huffs loudly. “Yes,Prince.” Her tone is mocking, but I can’t help but smile.

We walk in silence through the corridors until we pass a room where Vanna, my father, the queen, and Lilyana are gathered. Vanna’s eyes flick toward us, her expression unreadable. I keep moving until we reach the gardens.

The air is a bit chilly, especially when the wind blows. The scent of fall is in the air. I walk her over to the massive gardens.

The garden boasts of carefully trimmed hedges forming a maze. It’s a labyrinth of greenery. It twists and turns with the promise of a hidden retreat, a sanctuary of solitude amongst the flowers. At the center is a stone fountain that glistens in the sunlight, surrounded by wooden benches covered with vibrant blooming flowers.

Plants perfume the air, their scent reminding me of my late mother’s love for them. The feeling of nostalgia slams into me at the smell. I used to sit in the garden with her as a child. Now, I can barely stomach it because of the memories it evokes.

Lilyana often loses herself among the plants and serenity of these gardens. With her plant magic, she ensures that during any season, the flowers still bloom. The gardens were my mother’s sanctuary, a reflection of her passion for life and beauty. It’s nestled near a secluded part of the castle. The garden offers a quiet retreat. It’s a haven of peace amongst the craziness of our courtly lives and suffocating duties to the crown.

I walk Reign through the maze of shrubs. The wind blows strands of her hair loose. She looks so at peace in the gardens, so angelic. Her lavender eyes dance with delicate delight as she takes it all in. We reach the fountain, and she sits on a bench looking at all that mother nature has to offer. She is so fierce most of the time. Seeing this part of her almost feels intimate.

I sit on the bench next to her and she shivers. I don’t know if it is from my closeness or the wind. Immediately, I undo my black cloak and drape it over her shoulders. I half expect her to smack my hands away, but she doesn’t. Instead, she clutches it tightly around her. We continue to sit in silence. I hate being in the gardens because they make me miss my mother. But seeing Reign this at peace here is almost worth the pain in my chest—almost.

The gentle flowing sound of the fountain is subtle and calming. Looking around I can’t help but take in the garden’s allure. The flowers and lush greenery are breathtakingly beautiful, but it all pales in comparison to Reign’s radiant presence. Her very being eclipses the resplendents of our surroundings, and suddenly, looking at her quite literally takes my breath away.

Reign tips her face to the heavens as if it’s the very place she descended from. Her bewitching lips slowly suck in a deep breath, while taking away mine, as her thick lashes flutter shut. She’s completely oblivious to the fact that even nature is jealous of being dulled in her presence.

I feel so unworthy to gaze upon this goddess before me, as I feel her very essence start to unravel me. I am overwhelmed with her raw beauty and the fact that I want her. I have never wanted someone as badly as I do her at this very moment. It’s… unsettling to me. I feel so undeserving of witnessing such a sight. And suddenly, I wish I could be different. I wish my soul wasn’t black, a threat to her beautifully bright soul.

Reign seems to notice my lingering gaze on her. Turning her head, she meets my eyes. She breaks the spell I seem to be under as she says, “Both my parents had plant magic. They grew flowers, made elixirs, and poultices. Seeing this makes me feel like they are still with me.” A tiny smile forms on her lips.

So, that is how she knew how to make poultices. She continues, “My father used to take me to the lavender fields near the brook, at the edge of the Shadowed Forest when I was a child. It was one of my favorite places to visit with him. I love the smell of lavender. It always reminds me of him.” Her expression changes and her eyes look glassy. I don’t know if I should say anything. This is foreign to me. Reaching a hand out, I tuck a piece of her hair behind her ear.

“These were my mother’s gardens,” I say quietly. “I would come here with her as a child. I barely come here anymore, since she passed.” I usually don’t share things like this. It feels like vinegar on my tongue. The acidity of the truth burns. Reign reaches over and grasps my hand in a comforting way. Her very touch soothes something deep within me. She is clearly better at this than me. Her thumb rubs a few lazy strokes on the side of my hand. As much as I enjoy her touch, I am uncomfortable with the whole thing.

Clearing my throat, I stand. “I’ll show you the rest of the gardens.”

We continue walking in silence, passing through orchards and flowering bushes until we reach the back of the garden. Tall hedges form a secluded square, with guards stationed around it. I walk past, but Reign stops and stares.

“What’s in there?” she asks, gesturing toward the heavily guarded hedges near the palace.

I hesitate. It’s a well-guarded area for a reason, but I suppose it won’t hurt. I walk her over to it. One of Vanna’s personal guards, Raymon, stands in front of the entryway. He is such a bastard, and I am sure he will report this to Vanna. I am not entirely sure why he is out here unless… She has him spying on me, which is what I suspect.

He moves aside when we walk up, and I walk Reign inside. Her eyes widen at the site of the cursed rose bushes. She looks at me with disbelief written on her face. She is speechless, which is rare for her. The king has orders out for all rose bushes, cursed or uncursed, to be burned, and if anyone is found harboring them, they are executed. So, I guess she is shocked we have them on the royal grounds.

“Our blood wielders are studying them,” I explain. “They’re trying to find a cure. That’s the only reason they’re here. We’re not creating Necrums, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

“Wouldn’t surprise me if you did,” she retorts with a half-smile, then turns back to the bewitching cursed roses.

Reign reminds me of the cursed roses: beauty intertwined with danger. They both possess a captivating yet terrifying essence. There’s a haunting allure in their presence. It’s a gentle reminder of the delicate balance between power and vulnerability. Both beautiful, yet deadly. Both menacing, yet mesmerizing. Both formidable, yet delicate, in a way. I’ve always been drawn to the enigmatic allure of darkness. And in both Reign and the cursed roses, I find myself irresistibly drawn to their depths.

I am like a moth drawn to the open flame, and I have a feeling I am about to get burned.

The cursed roses I haven’t seen since childhood bloom before me, fragrantly sweet and beautifully dangerous. Their allure is undeniable, yet the threat they pose hangs heavily in the air. How did these roses become cursed, and why have they not been eradicated yet? Keeping them so close to the palace seems reckless, almost as if inviting disaster. The ridiculous notion that they might be used to create Necrums crosses my mind, and I shake my head to dispel the thought.

“I think I will head back to my room for a bit. I am still a little tired,” I say as I attempt to remove Prince Lukene’s cloak.

“Keep it on until we get inside. It’s brisk out,” he commands in his usual authoritative princely voice.

I nod in compliance. I should refuse just to be contrary, but the fall wind is chilly today and his cloak is warm. It smells like him—leather, wood, and citrus. He smells comforting—like coming home after you’ve been gone for a while.

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