Page 25 of Of Vows and War: Special Edition
I was strong. I was more than a pawn. I had lived.
My door burst open then, the two of them rushing in. I grabbed a towel to shield myself, but otherwise remained silent.
I had visited other realms, seen another world. I had conquered and could do so again.
“My flower, are you well?” Mia bent down beside the tub, a tear falling down her cheek. She could star in plays with that talent.
“You have been poisoning me for two centuries, I do not think I will ever be well again. I am surprised my body even functioned without it for as long as it did.” Curling further into myself, I thought of ways I might escape. But if I did, then what would that mean for the world? Mia would simply come after me again. There was no stopping her. Killing her was the only option now.
“Honestly, you know we would never do such a thing. Getting out of your chambers might help. How about I send up Maybel and Tish, then you and I can take a walk through the gardens?” The queen did not wait for my answer before she pressed a kiss to the top of my head and grabbed Xavier by the arm, dragging him. So fast I nearly missed it, she yanked on the golden pulley that would ring in Maybel’s chambers and left.
I did not want to see her, but better the handmaiden than the royals. Whatever they aimed to get out of this farce would do little for them. I would not break.
I knew what was real.
Maybel showed up only minutes later, a thin gold gown draped over her arm. Gods, end me now. If only I had remembered what Sterling said their names were.
Sterling!
Despite my desire not to wear the wretched color, I ripped the dress from Maybel’s hands. I needed to see Sterling, to check on him and possibly free him. But I would not have long before Mia came back.
“Your Highness, you cannot just snatch the clothes from my hands like that!” Maybel shouted, chiding me. Did she know the truth? Was she lying to me as well? Could it have been her who had done the poisoning for the royals over the last two centuries? Even if she were not aiding them in their plans, she had still forced me to dress for my wedding. Had helped prepare me for my slaughter.
Solely for my affection for her as a youngling, I chose not to snap her neck then and there. Instead, I willed my magic into her mind and forced her to sleep. The act was like swimming in sludge, my whole body growing fatigued with the small show of magic. Whatever doses they were giving me now must have been larger than before.
How had they done it? When I was asleep? I knew it was probably in the food and water, but if they dosed me as I slept then I would need to be vigilant. No matter, sleep and food and water had been kept from me before.
Hastily, I dressed, cringing as I donned the gilded undergarments and slid the golden fabric up my body. But Sterling was more important than my feelings—than my comfort. So I sucked in heaving breaths, wiped the tears from my eyes, stepped into slippers, and walked out of my chambers.
Soft clicks echoed off the barren gold walls as I made my way to where I knew the dungeons awaited. How strange, the hollowness of this place. Never had I thought too deeply on whythey had left everything bare, but now, as I rushed through the halls and tried to ignore the way my skin crawled, I did. Why had they not adorned the walls with art or any sort of decoration? What was it that made them wish for the palace to be so horribly empty?
Like their hearts.
Attempting to understand them was futile. They were not worth the energy. That was what I said to myself as I pressed on, ducking around corners when staff or counsel members walked past. The palace was bustling with fae, as if something important was about to occur.
But I was not as careful as I should have been.
A particularly lively group of staff came teeming around a corner far quicker than others had. With one floor left, I was determined to not be spotted, so I dove for the nearest door, opening it and locking myself in.
Pressing my ear to the golden wood, I listened for any sign that they passed, but it was what was behind me that quickly drew my focus.
“Asher?” A small gasp slipped from between my lips at the sound of Raven’s voice. The daughter of the Royal Single had not changed since the last time I had seen her. She was about sixty years my junior, but far more fierce than I had been at her age and a notorious gossip.
Ultimately, I was fucked.
“Hey, Raven. Sorry, I did not realize you were in here,” I admitted, reaching for the handle. The small sitting room was lit with candles. Raven sat on a sofa as she read a book, even the spine of which was gold. She wore a stunning blue gown, the soft tones of a vibrant sky highlighting her dark hair and eyes well. Her look of astonishment had my hackles rising. “Really, it is my fault. I will just go find something else to do.”
“You sound odd.” Raven stood then, tossing the book onto the sofa as she assessed me.
“What do you mean?”
“You are talking strangely,” she added.
“Oh.” Clearing my throat, I straightened, rubbing my sweaty hands on the stifling dress. Breathe. Just breathe. “Well, I am feeling a bit sick. Plus, there is a lot going on and I have so much to do. In fact, I better get going before Mia—Queen Mia—finds me slacking off.”
Before I could so much as turn to face the door, Raven spoke again. “No, I mean you are speaking differently than you used to. Before you were attacked. You used to be so…proper.Even with those of us who knew you personally.” Her head tilted slightly to the side, and I nearly lost it.
An image of Bellamy sarcastically cocking his head as he teased me flashed across my mind, and I thought the world might cave in. Everything became blurry, the air around me too thick to choke down. Bellamy, my loving and wicked and perfect Bellamy.
