Page 3 of Cage of Destiny
A hand slid over Allyssa’s mouth,startling her awake.
“Allyssa?” a familiar voicewhispered.
“Mother?” She flew uprightand wrapped her arms around Rema, holding onto her as if her lifedepended on it. “What are you doing here?” This had to be somecruel dream.
“I had to see you with myown eyes,” Rema said, her voice cracking. “I needed to make sureyou were really alive.”
Allyssa breathed in the familiar smellof her mother, not wanting to let go.
“Shh,” Rema saidsoothingly. “It’s okay. I’m here.” She ran her hand over Allyssa’shair, comforting her. “I love you so much,” she continued. “I can’timagine what you’ve been through.” She tightened her hold on herdaughter. “Do you want to talk about it? Or do you need moretime?”
Allyssa wanted to tell her mothereverything, but she didn’t know where to begin. She curled herfingers inward, ashamed about what had been done to her. Instead oftalking about Russek or Fren, she said, “I have a twin brother?”Leaning back, she looked at her mother through tearyeyes.
“You do. I’m sorry I liedto you about him.” She wiped Allyssa’s tears away. “He’s a lot likeyou.” She kissed her forehead. “I can’t believe you’rehere.”
“What areyoudoing here? Is Fatherwith you?” Her parents must still be residing at the castle inEmperor’s City instead of Lakeside.
“I’m alone.”
Allyssa looked at her mother again,this time taking note of the dark cloak, plain shoes, and lack ofjewelry. “You left the castle by yourself?”
Rema smiled ruefully. “You don’t thinkyou’re the only one who sneaks out of the castle at night, doyou?”
Allyssa sat there, stunned. Her mothernot only knew about her nightly escapades, but she had also beensneaking out of the castle?
“I can’t stay much longer,”Rema whispered. “Did Neco tell you that you don’t have to comeback?”
Allyssa wanted to tell her mother thatshe couldn’t imagine a life away from her family and friends, fromall she knew. But that wasn’t entirely true. She could very easilypicture a quiet life without the confines of the crown and all itentailed—including marrying for political reasons instead oflove.
“I almost forgot.” Remareached into the folds of her cloak and removed a sealed letter.“This arrived for you. I don’t know who delivered or sentit.”
Allyssa took it, setting it on the bednext to her. “I’m sorry.”
“Whatever for?” Remaasked.
“For not securing thealliance with Fren. For messing everything up.” If she hadn’t snuckout of the castle with Grevik in the first place, maybe none ofthis would have happened.
Rema wrapped her arms around herdaughter. “Oh, honey, none of this is your fault.”
Allyssa couldn’t stopcrying. Being here in Emperion, in her mother’s arms, was too much.She washome.
“As for Odar, he doesn’tdeserve you.”
How could Allyssa explain to hermother that her heart felt shattered? That she was tired of beinglied to, tired of having the fate of Emperion on her shoulders, andshe was afraid she would never find another man sheloved.
“It’ll be all right,” Remasaid. “I promise.”
Leaning against her mother, Allyssathought about Kerdan. The one person who never lied or played gameswith her. The man she thought was her enemy but instead, turned outto be her friend. He’d helped her when he didn’t have to. And thenafter her heartbreak in Fren, he found her and proposed, saying heneeded her strength and support to stop Jana and reclaim thethrone. She still didn’t know how she felt on the matter. Maybe shehadn’t allowed herself to really think about it because she wasn’tready to consider it yet.
“Please promise me you willuse this time to heal. If you decide to walk away from the crown,I’ll understand. I don’t want you to feel pressured. The choice isyours, and I’ll support whatever you decide.” Rema kissed her cheekand stood.
Allyssa wasn’t ready for her mother toleave.
“Everything will work outthe way it should. You will accomplish remarkable things and make adifference in this world. Whether that be as an empress or acommoner, I don’t know. But your destiny awaits. When you’re ready,you will fulfill it.” Rema leaned down, hugging her daughter onelast time. Then she readjusted her hood, concealing her face, andsilently crept out of the dark room.
It was hard to watch her mother leave.Hard to think about her destiny when still caged by herpast.
She lay down, crunching somethingunderneath her back. Reaching for it, she felt the envelope hermother had given her. She broke the seal and pulled out theletter.
