Page 96 of Enchanted Kisses
“You look a lot like a girl,” aDeath Sentry, “I met recently.”
“Then you’ve met my sister, Bianca.” She left the closet and laid the dresses on the bed.
Sister?What kind of sick joke was Dagan playing? I followed her into the room. “If you’re her sister, then what are you doing here, waiting on me?” For Bianca to be engaged to a prince, wouldn’t she have to be royalty or something?
She whirled to me, a hand at her hip. “Let’s get something straight. Ivolunteeredto help situate you because I wanted to meet the half-breed who knocked my bitch sister from her high horse. Don’t mistake my curiosity for kindness or friendship.”
Stunned, it took me a moment to connect the dots. Dagan had his hands in everything, and even though I didn’t want to trust him, he was proving to be, well, trustworthy.
“Don’t get too excited,” I said, devising a plan. “With me here, it won’t be long before she’s back on that high horse, riding off into the sunset.”
Briella gave a brisk fluff to the magenta dress.
I took it as a sign to continue, desperate to find a way out of here, a way back to Caiden. “Bianca told me she’s playing to win. Now, there’s nothing stopping her.” I slumped down on the bed. “She’s probably with Caiden, right now, weaseling her way back into his arms.” The thought made me want to hurl. “You know she’s living with him at the manor.”
Red-faced, Briella stomped and screeched like a two-year-old. I worried she’d claw at the pretty dresses. I hadn’t planned to push her over the edge; instead, I’d seen an out and thought I’d go for it.
“Are you okay?” I asked, faking concern.
“I hate her.” Her eyes blazed. “She gets everything. I’m the baby. I’m supposed to be the favored one. The king asked for me to be Caiden’s intended, not Bianca. She’s too old for him. But it’d be a cold day in Hell before she ever allowed me to have better than her.”
I resisted the urge to pursue this dirty gossip. Even though I was dying to know more about Bianca, I had to keep up my charade. “What about Dagan? Isn’t he available?”
“Ha!” She tossed her glossy black locks over her shoulder. “He’ll never vow to anyone. Caiden was different. He had light in him. It made him stronger. I think it’s why his father held him in higher esteem than—” She stopped, as if she’d said too much. Her eyes found mine. “Bianca is living at the manor?Themanor? The one where the Queen of Life held her court?”
“Yeah,” I whispered, the sadness in my voice real. “She probably moved her stuff into the room she said would be a ‘great honeymoon suite’ the moment Dagan took me. Could be lying in bed with Caiden right now.”
My heart filled with emptiness and something occurred to me. Every word I’d just said flowed easily from my mouth, meaning they had to be true—or else wouldn’t they have cut off as a lie?
I ran for the bathroom, barreled through the door, and slammed it closed. My body shook as I slid to the floor.
I can’t lie. And if I can’t lie, I speak the truth.
Did that mean Caiden was lying in bed with Bianca in my room at the manor? Had I traded my freedom for a prince who was darker than I’d thought? Could this all have been a ploy to get me here?
It was all too confusing; I couldn’t wrap my head around it. I wanted to be home, with my dad alive and my life back to the way it was. Before Caiden returned, before I knew sentries existed, before everything.
My only chance at freedom was either Dagan or Raysa. If she could free me, I believed she would. But her hands were full and breaking someone out of this place was probably impossible. As for Dagan…I didn’t know what he was up to. Why would he send Briella?
I lowered my head to my knees and cried until my eyes dried.
A knock on the door pulled me from my stupor. How long had I been huddled on the floor?
I lifted my head, seeing the bathroom for the first time. Mirrors covered every wall, and every other surface was made of frosted glass. I doubted the place even had hot water.
Knock. Knock.The taps were light, making me think it was Briella. I moved from the door and faced the window above the tub. I didn’t want her to see my pain.
“Come in,” I said.
“Lily?”
I turned at the sound of Caiden’s voice.
I wasn’t sure how, but he stood in the doorway. I smiled, relief and joy filling me. I wanted to go to him, to feel his arms around me, but I couldn’t. I didn’t know how he was here, or if I could trust him.
I hated all of this.
I forced myself to stay in place. “What are you doing here?”
