Page 66 of Eternal Captive

She had waited long enough that our meeting about the prince was far from my mind. I’m sure my less-than-stellar performance at the gala wasn’t any help, but I knew what this was truly about.

She was reminding me just how trapped I was here. That I wouldn’t be able to fight back against whatever plan they had concocted.

One wrong move, and I would be just like the bird in the cage. She easily killed the poor thing, but there was no telling what she would do to make my life miserable.

Fresh pain stabbed my chest and intertwined with the anger that had long since been festering just under the surface.I hate them.Ever since they came to my palace, taking over the place of my beloved mother…I just knew what their motives were.

They thought they could take over for her. They thought the people in our family would just accept them with open arms.

But they didn’t. And instead, they were haunted by the ghost of her glory, just like I was. And to them, that was a threat.Iwas a threat to their magical rags to riches, so they locked me inside a gilded cage, only to sell me off to the highest bidder when they got the chance.

Melia’s opening of the door behind me had my attention drifting, pulling me back to the real world. But the red haze stayed, clouding my vision.

“Oh dear,” she murmured. “Not another one. What ticked them off this time? Don’t they have anything better to do than kill poor birds?”

I turned to her, but had no intention of forcing a smile. The anger was too potent for that. It was like a deadly virus, destroying my insides and leaving a trail of destruction as it coursed through my veins.

“Like you don’t know?” I asked, unable to keep the venom from my voice. “Like you probably weren’t standing out there keeping guard while they did this? What, too afraid to even peek in and take a look at their mess?”

She grimaced and placed a gentle hand on my arm, as if her simple gesture wouldn’t enrage me even more. How was she still playing this game?

“I never had a choice,” she whispered. “Much like you, princess?—”

“Don’t try to get pity from me,” I growled and slapped her hand away. “Drop the act.”

“I don’t tell them everything,” she said quickly, her eyes darting around the room.To escape?The thought of her trying to run away from me only brought the monster lingering inside me closer to the front.

“And you think that’s better?” I asked with a bitter laugh and turned to her.

I wanted to end her. Wanted to get back at her for the way she tried to fool me into trusting her just so she could give it all to those fuckers.

I wastiredof people trying to control me. Tired of being the scapegoat.

I wanted to live. I wanted to be free.I don’t want to die.

“I understand, princess. The cards you’ve been dealt haven’t been easy…” Her voice trailed off. “If you just cooperate with them, they will make this much easier on you. It’s true, the prince has been trying to pull Castle family members into his, but that can only help you. Don’t you see what he’s doing is only for your benef?—”

A hard slap echoed throughout the room, accompanied by a sting against the back of my hand. The red that had clouded my vision had come on so fast, I hadn’t even been able to make out my movements until Melia was staring at me, shock abundant on her face.

“Stop talking,” I warned, taking a step closer to her with trembling hands. I looked her up and down before letting out a huff. “My benefit? You know he is using me as a scapegoat? Once Father finds out, he willkillme. And all you’ve done was help him.”

“Princess,” she murmured, her eyes filling with bloodred tears. “You’re his prized possession, the king would never?—”

“You don’t know shit about what your king will do to me. Stay out of my affairs,” I spat. Was she truly that blind? While she was working for them, she never saw what they were truly up to? I didn’t believe it. “Don’t comment on them. Don’t evenlookat me when someone else is near, god forbid you accidentally see something you feel the need to speak about.”

She took a step back and opened her mouth to speak again, but a knock on the door behind her caused her to pause.

Go away.I wanted to scream at the door. The need for blood was clawing at my insides. Ineededto make someone pay for this. Needed to make the world stop caving in.

“Announce yourself,” I growled at the door when no one spoke.

“I was sent to give blood.” Vesper’s muffled voice came from behind the closed door.

Relief shouldn’t have exploded through me like it did.

“Come in,” I said, straightening myself before sending a glare to Melia. “You’re dismissed.”

She paused before turning and heading to the door. Vesper gave her a glance and held the door open for her when she realized the handmaiden was leaving.

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