Page 28 of A Court of Ash and Midnight
Chapter Thirteen
I’m in myfirst class of the day when I receive the summons.
Two guards enter the apothecary classroom and tell me, in front of nearly two dozen other students, that I’m to follow them to the Commander’s office. Those professors from the night before had worked fast.
I keep my face expressionless as I walk past all those beautiful fae eyes locked intently on mine. I will not give them the satisfaction of seeing any kind of reaction. After all, I’m happy to be leaving, aren’t I? I’ve been nothing more than a glorified prisoner for weeks now, being tested repeatedly to no avail. I should be relieved to be getting out of here.
But as I follow the guards out of the room and through the hallways, the ball of lead in my stomach grows heavier and heavier.
By the time we reach the doorway to the Commander’s suite, I feel like I might throw up. I won’t, however, give him thesatisfaction, either. I grit my teeth and dig my fingernails into my palms as I walk past the guards into the room.
“Sit down,” booms the Commander as I stop in front of him at his massive desk. It’s not a courtesy; it’s a command.
My jaw is clenched so tightly it feels like a muscle might pop.
The Commander wastes no time in launching into his interrogation. “A number of professors have come to me with concerns that you are a spy. Which, of course, I suspected myself from the very beginning.”
He stares at me long enough that I realize he’s expecting some kind of rebuttal.
“Oh, was that a question?”
Fury flashes in his eyes. “Well, if you have no defense, then I will take your silence as a confession of guilt.”
“I never asked to be kept here,” I growl. “I told you the truth of how I arrived outside the gates, and you have chosen not to believe me since day one.”
“Because your story makes no sense!”
“I couldn’t agree more. And I’d like answers, too, but I don’t have them. If you want me to leave, I will happily be on my way.”
The Commander leans back in his chair, clearly not expecting my acquiescence. “Here’s the problem with that suggestion. If I release you, you’ll go share all of the information you’ve learned here this last fortnight with whoever is employing you.”
I don’t try to hide the anger in my eyes. I’m not going to be bullied by this fae, Commander of the Guardians or not. “I’m not really sure what you think the solution is, then.”
“The solution, Embyr, is this.” The Commander leans forward again, his massive shoulders and impressive bulk looming over me even with the desk between us. “I’ll send you off to one of our prisons, where I can be certain that you won’t be sharing any information with anyone ever again.”
My game of bravado crumbles, and the Commander smiles as he sees the horror wash over my face.
“I thought that might get a reaction out of you. How about you tell me who you’re working for. I could consider shortening the term of your imprisonment.”
The blood in my veins pulses so fast, I feel lightheaded for a moment. Shortening my imprisonment? That’s my best option here? Except I have nothing to confess to.
This fae can lock me away, and there’s nothing I can do about it.
“Professor Julian will never agree to this,” I say shakily, though it’s a weak argument and we both know it.
Silence falls between us as the Commander’s smile deepens. “Who says Julian will even know? Who says I don’t tell him I released you and you went off to live a happy life with your fellow humans?”
“I. Am. Not. A. Spy.” I grind out each word, a mix of fear and rage rushing through my body.
“I don’t believe you.” He shrugs and stands, gesturing for his guards. “A month in solitary at the prison will loosen your tongue.”
A scream rises from my throat as they stride toward me, grabbing me roughly and hauling me toward the door. “No! I’m not a spy!”
I kick and flail, but the fae holding me are vastly stronger. Against humans I would have a chance, but not against Guardians. Another scream rips out of me, but this time it’s cut short as the Commander walks up behind us, making a strange gesture with his fingers. My voice dies in my throat, and I feel like I’m choking. A hum of magic surrounds me, and the acrid smell of a spell.
They drag me down the hall soundlessly, except for the scuffing of my boots against stone as I struggle. I’d known theCommander disliked me, but this? Aren’t Guardians supposed to have honor? There is nothing honorable about throwing an innocent person in prison without any kind of proof or trial. Hot, rageful tears course down my cheeks. I’d never asked for this. None of it.
I’m taken down a narrow, back staircase. We don’t pass a soul along the way. No one can hear me. No one will know what really happened. I’m going to rot in a prison for the rest of my days, just because I wandered too close to the gates of Shadow’s Keep. Not as if that had been my choice.
