Page 11 of Cages and Crowns
“I was in the dungeons when I heard a bomb go off, no doubt ruining a part of my home.” He shakes his head. “The blast knocked the doors loose and I was able to simply walk out. I stayed in the hills, hoping to find Emery, but then I saw them publicly declare my death, saying that they beheaded me. I was shocked, because I was very much alive, so I took that as my chance, and I ran. I have been wandering for weeks, ill and hurt, until one of your men found me.” He looks up at me, his eyes narrowing for just a second.
Something is off, something is wrong. I almost want to warn Tobias, but I don’t. If he came to cause Tobias harm, I don’t know that I would stop him. I don’t think he would hurt me, plot against me, but he might be helpful in my situation.
I need to get him alone.
“I am forever grateful for your rescue, Your Grace.” Thel continues.
“We are happy to have found you.” He pauses. “But I have a stipulation for assisting you in recovering your home and your country.” Tobias leansforward, his hands clasped together, releasing mine. He takes a slow breath before looking up at Thelonious.
“Name it.”
“I want your support in my ascension to High King, ruling over the entirety of the continent.” I nearly gasp and Thel’s mouth parts slightly. My eyes widen as I stare at my husband, the man who is about to start a war pitting every kingdom on the continent of Viridiana against each other.
“Forgive me, Tobias, but I am only one king. There are nine,” he glances over at me again and his face softens. “Forgive me,eightother countries you must appeal to.” I fight the lump in my throat at his mention of Chatis. The country that once was, but is no longer. My home.His eyes narrow slightly as he turns back to Tobias. “Countries who have never bowed to anyone but themselves since the death of King Jahara nearly twenty years ago. How do you wish to achieve this? How will you convince kingdoms to give up their birthright?” Thel is firm but careful. He knows how to talk around the subject in a way that doesn’t raise suspicion, but still questions Tobias’s sanity.
The sanity I have been questioning for months.
“It’s simple.” Tobias says, leaning back in his chair and sliding his glass of whiskey off the table. He takes a slow sip, sighing after he swallows. “Follow me, or die.”
Chapter Six
The Bound
My nose is still bleeding, even after two hours. I throw another rag down and take a swig of my whiskey, savoring the taste as it burns its way down my throat.
Fucker.
He was supposed to go easy on me, we were sparring, notactuallyfighting to thedeath. Enzo never knows how to hold back. He’s been too angry, too unstable since he felt Elaenor last. He’s slowly becoming unhinged, and a lack of control is dangerous, especially right now when everything is so tense. Right now is when we should be in control. Should be methodical.Shouldhave a plan. But we aren’t and we don’t. We are going into everythingblind. Doing everything without a plan. Because we don’t know what to do. It’s been months and westilldon’t know what to do.
The windows in my room are open, letting the spring air filter in. The flowers here have been blossoming like crazy, setting off my allergies. Who knew I wouldhave an allergy to wisteria?
Wisteria is the nation’s flower, and all who need or want it, have to buy it from here. It’s a simple flower that can either fill a room with a thick floral aroma or be used to kill or decapacitate. Much like hemlock and poppy, it has many uses, and every godsforsaken inch of this country is covered in wisteria trees and pollen. It’s a wonder Rakushia’s citizens haven’t all accidentally killed themselves, although Emery always tells me the flower has to be prepared a certain way to make it toxic. I can’t imagine a country would allow their entire nation to be filled with plants that could kill anyone who it came into contact with.
Unless that person is Tobias. He probably would and he’d call it population control.
To combat my allergies, Master Lenus has been giving me a tonic made of honey and elderflower every morning, which has been helping, but now with my nose busted it just makes it worse. I can’t even take a deep breath without choking on my own blood and snot. My irritation peaks as another wave of pain shoots up my nose. I reach for the rag again as a blur of gold and white barrels into my room.
“What happened to you?” The intruder taunts as she throws herself on the bed. My chambers here in Rakushia are small compared to my room back home in Labisa. A small writing desk sits in the far corner, a single sofa in front of the fireplace, and a four-poster bed in the center of the back wall. A door by the bed leads to the small bathing chamber and dressing room. I don’t have a balcony here, which I despise. Even Scarlett got a balcony and she’s nothing but a pain in the ass. Not to mention the large room they set aside for Elaenor when she eventually arrives. A room fit for a queen, as Enzo said.
It's bullshit.
“Good morning to you, princess.” I plaster a smile on my face and turn in my chair to face her. Her golden blonde hair is shining in the sunlight, pooling around her like molten metal. Her hazel eyes are glowing in the bright light filtering through the open windows.
“Let me guess, you were an asshole to Enzo again and he finally let you have it?” She’s smiling as she takes in my bloody nose, her rosy lips splitting to show her straight teeth. Emery is one of those people who is effortlessly beautiful. Whether she is wearing a dress worth more than someone’s house, or in her fighting leathers. She is the type of woman men go to war for.
“Emery, have you nothing to do but bother me?” I feign annoyance, my free hand on my chest as I wipe at my nose.
“Oh don’t act like you don’t enjoy my company, Nithie.” She winks as she stretches out on the bed, her dress spreading around her like liquid. She knows how to tease me, make me want nothing more than her skin on mine to ease the ache settling in my limbs, but after a single night when I first moved here a year ago, she hasn’t been willing to cross that line again, regardless of how much I try.
“OhIenjoy your company, it’s you who doesn’t enjoy mine.” She giggles and sits up, propping a pillow behind her head.
“I enjoy your company just fine, Nithie, it’s your dick I’m not fond of.” I snort and throw the bloody rag back on the desk where it lands with a wet slapping sound. I glare at the cloth before turning towards Em.
“That’s a first.” I mutter.
“Well, I prefer something…more feminine.” She says slowly, cocking her head to the side.
“You can say you prefer girls; I don’t care. In fact, I would bemorethan willing to be a spectator during your enjoyment of women.” I walk over to the bed and climb up next to her. She hits me in the face with the pillow, my eyes instantly watering as she hits my already bloody nose. “Ow.”
