Page 52 of Cages and Crowns
“Well, assumptions are rarely correct.” I respond softly, quoting him. His eyes widen in surprise before a ghost of a smile passes his lips. It falls quicklyand he clears his throat.
“If you are ready, the king would like to speak to you.” I turn back to the mirror. I look just as weak as I feel. I look broken. Used. And I was.
Time and time again.
But not anymore.
I force myself to look away as I nod.
Chapter Thirty-Two
The Caged
I’m quiet as I follow Nithe down the hallway and staircase I first went up. He doesn’t say anything about the slower speed I force us to walk, or the limp that’s present. He stays silent. He almost grabs my arm to guide me as we reach the bottom floor and go down another expansive hallway lined in pale wood, but he stops himself. We reach a room, a room that is familiar. I stop as I look at the wooden table and the graying man sitting at the head of it.
A sight I’ve seen before.
“I saw you. I saw all of this when Tobias was sewing the crown to my head.” My hand slowly reaches up out of habit, my fingers brushing the cold metal. The man I am assuming is the Labisian King is just staring at me. His dark eyes are set in stone, set in cruelty. His aging face is wrinkled, his brows permanently furrowed. He’s gripping a glass of amber liquid tightly in one hand, his yellow cloak almost covering every inch of his skin.
“Sit.” Is all he says, his voice loud and commanding.I do as he asks andslowly sit down in the chair in frontof me. I stare at the man from across the table just as intently as he stares at me. “You seembetterthan I thought you would be.”
“What did you expect?” I respond just as sternly.
“I expected someone broken without a shred of sanity.” He says with disdain as if the idea of me not being a mindless troll is disgusting to him. I squeeze my sweaty hands under the table, willing myself to be strong.
“Sorry to disappoint.” Nithe clears his throat loudly, covering up a snort as he sits in the chair next to me.
“There is a lot we must discuss, but first,” he holds out his hand and a man appears with a large piece of parchment. The page is bright, crisp as he looks it over, as if he is reading through it one more time. I glance to my right to see Nithe’s hands tighten into fists. Where is everyone else? Enzo, or Kassius? Why is it just us three?
“Father, must we do this now? So soon? Shouldn’t we talk first?” Nithe asks and I nearly jump. Father? Nithe is the Prince of Labisa? My eyes widen and he looks over at me, his face twisted up into a pained expression. As if what is coming next also affects him.
I was right. I guessed he had to be of noble birth, but this? This isn’t what I expected. I was told that the true heir, the Labisian King, was the one who sent those men in the woods. Does Nithe know about that? Was he in on the plan to murder me? Panic courses through my veins as everything clicks into place. As every fear and every bit of anger starts to fall into place.
“What is that?” I ask, my nails digging into my palms as they fidget on my lap. I try to hide the fury in my voice, but they can hear it. I know they can.
“This,princess, is your marriage certificate.” My eyes widen even further, and my mouth falls open as he looks up at me. I watch as he stands and makes his way over to my side of the table. The king places one of his hands on my shoulder as he leans in close, setting the certificate in front of me. I want to flinch away from his touch, but all I can do is stare.
My eyes are fixed on my signature at the bottom, Tobias’s right next tomine. The Noterran crest pressed into red wax. This truly is our marriage certificate.
“I don’t understand.” His fingers flex, digging into my skin and I shift nervously. I glance up at Nithe, whose eyes are focused on his father’s hand, his pupils darkening.
“Father Reynolds is a close personal friend of Rakushia, ofThelonious. After your marriage to Tobias, he brought this certificate to us.” Tears well up in my eyes as I push the parchment away from me.
“What are you going to do with it?” My voice wavers as I speak.
“Elaenor,” Nithe speaks up. “This is the only copy. If we burn this, your marriage is annulled. You will not be wed to Tobias anymore.” I open and close my mouth, words failing me as I process what he’s saying. I won’t have to be his wife, his property anymore?
“But why? Why are you doing this?” I ask, my voice cracking. I clear my throat and take a deep breath before speaking again. “Why do you care who I am married to?”
“Because,princess, I want you to marry my son.” His fingers flex on my skin and I close my eyes, trying to ignore the warmth soaking into my flesh.
“But,why? You tried to kill me.” I ask again. His hand slides off my shoulder, almost hesitatingly, as he makes his way back around the table.
“I don’t know what you are talking about.” He says slowly as he smirks.
“The men in the woods, that was you.” I saw slowly.
“What are you talking about?” Nithe asks.
