Page 80 of Cage of Darkness
He shook his head. “I can’t. I loveyou too much. You’ll be safer without me.”
It felt as if she’d hit the ground,her body writhing in pain. “How will I be safer withoutyou?”
“You need a betterpolitical match. A stronger one.”
Fren was an excellent political match,and she loved Odar. There could be no better scenario. “You’rebeing ridiculous.”
“I’m being practical!” hespat.
Fury raged through her. She stoodtall, refusing to back down. “You want me to share a bed withanother man?” Angry tears fell down her cheeks. “You want me togive myself to someone else?” Her heart hurt, as if someone hadripped it from her chest. She hated feeling weak, vulnerable, andas if everything was being taken away from her. And there wasnothing she could do to change Odar’s mind.
“No,” he replied, his facewhite. “But then, my life has never been about what I want. I needto put my kingdom first, before my own wants and desires. And thisis me doing that.” He removed the wooden ring he wore, the oneshe’d given him. He set it on the railing and turned, clutching thedoor handle, his back to her.
“That’s it?” she asked.“You’re just going to leave?” It was as if she had a handful ofsand and it kept slipping through her fingers. No matter how hardshe tried, she couldn’t hold onto it.
“I…I can’t look at youanymore.” He stormed off the balcony.
She stood there, stunned, her heartsearing in an agony she’d never experienced before.
Allek came onto the balcony. “Are youall right?”
“I thought I’d been to helland back. I was wrong. Fren is simply another form of hell, and Ican’t wait to leave here.” She turned away from him. The livelymusic inside had turned to a slow tune. Picking up the wooden ring,she closed her fingers around it, holding it tightly. “I wish to bealone for a few moments while I compose myself.”
“I’m sorry, but that’s notpossible. If you like, I can escort you back to your room where youwill be away from watchful eyes.”
It felt as if a knife had beenembedded into her heart, and a sob escaped her mouth. After allthey’d been through together, he’d left her. How could Odar be socruel?
“We can stay out here aslong as you like,” Allek said, blocking the doors so no one couldsee her.
She didn’t want to remain on thebalcony, crying like a weak, pathetic girl. “I wish to return to myroom to prepare for my departure tomorrow.” Knowing she would seeher parents again very soon provided enough hope to forgeon.
“I will do my best to stayin the shadows so no one will see you in your presentcondition.”
As they walked through the palace, herconversation with Odar replayed in her mind. He didn’t want tomarry her because he loved her too much? Was she being punished forkilling Shelene, Eliza, and Soma? Was she now doomed to a lonely,loveless life because of her sins? No, that couldn’t be the case.Her sins negated other, far worse ones. She had done what was bestfor her kingdom. Holding her head high, she put one foot in frontof the other, forcing herself to go on.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Exiting the palace, Allyssa attemptedto gracefully descend the stairs without limping or hunching over.Approximately fifty soldiers mounted on horses surrounded a lonecarriage, ready to escort her to Emperion. No one from the royalfamily was there to see her off.
“Princess Allyssa,” Allekcalled out from behind her. He hurried down the stairs, catching upto her. “I’ve just been assigned as part of the Fren envoy.” Hetook her arm, helping her down the remaining stairs.
“It will be nice to have afamiliar face on my journey.”
He smiled and opened the carriagedoor. She climbed inside, refusing to take his proffered hand forhelp.
“I’ll be traveling onhorseback alongside the carriage. If you need anything, don’thesitate to wave your hand, and I’ll see to your everyneed.”
“Who assigned you?” sheasked, taking a seat on the plush bench.
He hesitated a moment before replying,“His Highness, Prince Odar, specifically asked me to accompany youon this journey. He placed you in my care.”
She bit her bottom lip so she wouldn’tcry or scream.
“Are you ready todepart?”
“Yes, I’m ready to gohome.”
He bowed and shut the door. Someoneshouted orders and the carriage lurched forward, the soldiersriding alongside. Wasn’t Odar going to say good-bye? She glancedback at the ornate Fren palace for the last time. Movement in oneof the windows caught her attention. A man stood there, hisforehead leaning against the windowpane, his right hand wiping hischeeks. The carriage turned, cutting off her view of the palace andits inhabitants. And just like that, Odar was gone.
