Page 1 of Cage of Destiny
ChapterOne
Allyssa stood in the middle of thecramped space. She couldn’t believe this was her twin brother’sroom. A neatly made bed took up one corner, a desk across from it,and a single dresser stood in the middle of the remaining wall.Simple. Utilitarian. Her chest tightened. Her brother had grown upin this small house while she lived in the opulence of the castlewith their mother and father.
Going over to his desk—Savenek’sdesk—she sat on the chair. He’d sat in this very place. Running ahand over the wood surface, she felt the grains, hoping, wishing,she could find a piece of her brother. What type of person was he?Did they look alike? Three quills lay in the upper right-handcorner, all lined up and parallel to one another. A stack of paperswas piled on the left side, not a single piece out ofplace.
Blasted.He was a neat, orderly bloke. What would he thinkof her messy bedchamber? Twisting around, she scanned his roomagain. It smelled of smoked wood—unfamiliar yet comforting at thesame time. On top of his dresser were a handful of carvedfigurines. Allyssa went over to take a closer look. They werehorses. She wiped her tears away. Savenek had carved each of theseanimals in such intricate detail. Did he love horses as much astheir mother did? She clutched one of them, holding onto ittightly. He’d made this with his own hands.
“Allyssa?” Neco said as hecame into the room.
She turned to face her father’s bestfriend. “I want to meet him.” She couldn’t believe her twin brotherwas alive. How could her parents have kept this vital informationfrom her for so long?
“I know. But for now, youwill remain here with Nathenek. I’m going to report to your parentsand let them know you’re safe.” He placed his hands on hershoulders. “Stay here until I return. Use this time to heal andthink about your mother’s proposition.”
“You’re going to leave mewith a stranger?” She wanted a familiar face, not a man she had noconnection to. Not after everything that had happened. Her bodyshuddered. So much pain. She clutched the figurine, trying to staygrounded in the present. Maybe her sleep wouldn’t be plagued withnightmares tonight.
“Nathenek is not a strangerto your family. He is close with your mother and was instrumentalin restoring her to the throne. He killed Hamen and kept Rema safe.She trusts him so much she placed her only son in his care.” Hiseyes bore into hers as if trying to make her understand the truthin what he said.
Allyssa rubbed her face. “I miss myparents.” She needed them right now.
“I know. They miss youtoo.” He kissed the top of her head. “I must go. You’ll be safehere.” He ducked out of the room.
She heard Neco say something toNathenek, then the front door opened and closed. Silence fellthroughout the house. And, once again, she was alone in anunfamiliar place. Going over to Savenek’s bed, she sat down and ranher hand over the rough wool fabric, trying to imagine what herbrother was like. Since his room was impeccable, did that mean hewas a serious sort of fellow? Had he grown up knowing his identity?Or had he been kept in the dark as well? Would he resent Allyssafor being the one their parents chose to raise?
“What’s he like?” sheasked, fidgeting with the figurine. She couldn’t see Nathenek, butknew he was in the adjacent room.
He stepped to the doorway, casuallyleaning against the frame, his arms folded across his chest. Histanned, sun-weathered skin made it difficult to pinpoint his age.His shaggy blond hair hung loose, no gray visible. He appeared tobe older than her parents. If she had to guess, she’d say he was inhis late forties. “Savenek is taller than you. His hair and skinare a little lighter than yours.”
“Do we lookalike?”
“There’s a definitesimilarity, and I can tell you are siblings.” He unfolded his arms.“I’ll leave you alone to settle in. Supper will be ready in twentyminutes.”
While she was mildly curious what herbrother looked like, she was more interested in him as a person.What did he do in his free time? Did he go to school? Was he kind?She wanted the details of his life growing up withNathenek.
She stood and went to the dresser,setting the figurine down and opening the top drawer. It was abloody mess. Clothes had been shoved inside, and some of themdidn’t smell very clean. She burst out laughing. Now this she couldunderstand. A room that appeared to be neat and tidy on thesurface, while being a crazy disaster underneath. There were layersto her brother, and she couldn’t wait to discover them.
“Everything okay?” Nathenekasked, coming into the room with a chunk of cheese in one hand anda knife in the other.
“Yes. I was justlaughing.”
“Oh. I thought maybe youwere crying. For so long, it has been Savenek and me. I haven’tlived with a woman in years.”
“You don’t need to worryabout me. I’m pretty self-sufficient.” If he constantly checked onand fussed about her, she would go stark raving mad.
He absently nodded. “I wasn’t suregiven your upbringing.”
She raised her eyebrows. Was heimplying he expected a soft princess who would faint at theslightest turmoil? If that were the case, she would have diedbefore she stepped foot in Russek. “I am my mother’s daughter.” IfNathenek truly knew Rema as well as Neco had implied, he wouldn’tquestion her upbringing.
A grin spread across his face. “Inthat case, not only should we get along just fine, but we mighteven have a few adventures before you return home.”
“Who said I’m going back?”After all, her mother had given her a choice. Walk away from thecrown and live a peaceful, simple life… or return once she washealed and take her rightful place as the futureempress.
Nathenek chuckled and walked away. “Asyou pointed out,” he called over his shoulder, “you are yourmother’s daughter. And she never backs down from her duties to herkingdom.” A moment later, he mumbled so softly she had to strain tolisten. “And if you’re anything like your brother, you won’t backdown from a challenge. I’m going to have my hands full withyou.”
***
Tossing and turning, Allyssa couldn’tsleep. Every time she closed her eyes, she was back in the dungeonwith the interrogator. Or she was in Soma’s bedchamber next to hislifeless body. After throwing the covers off, she slid her legsover the side of the bed and shoved her feet into her boots. Thesun had started to rise, casting a soft glow to the surroundingland. She crept outside, not wanting to wake Nathenek.
Unable to focus on anything aroundher, she sat on the dirt, staring off into the distance, not reallyseeing anything. She wrapped her arms around her legs, holding ontothem, rocking back and forth. Images continuously assaulted her.Her fingernails being ripped out. Blood everywhere. And Soma. Shenever thought she could viciously kill someone like that. But she’dshoved that dagger into him, twisting it. And then, when he laysuffering on the floor, she’d chopped off his fingers, reveling inthe pain it caused him. Even though she killed him, he stillhaunted her. Allyssa heard his mocking laugh in the dark corners ofa room, or behind her when she was alone. She would never be freefrom him.
