Page 122 of Trust In Love (Love Mark 2)

The entrance to the castle had been abandoned; everyone being called to the throne room for assistance. So Indigo and I had merely followed the clattering knights straight to where Farrow was. He’d already killed a dozen men by the time we reached him.

It was a sight to behold. I’d never seen a warrior so savage and masterful with a sword before.

But all that fury in him dropped when he found me being held hostage by the queen. Stupid Colt had run out of bullets one person too soon.

And now, here we were, trapped in the depths of hell. Indigo limped to the bars of my cell to check on me. I nodded and held up a hand, letting him know I was fine, all the while, I couldn’t seem to take my gaze away from Farrow.

Above us, the queen spoke through our grated ceiling. “You brought this upon yourself. You know that, don’t you, Farrow? All these years, I could’ve had you spared. Protected. But you made the wrong choice.”

I didn’t realize he was even conscious until he slowly pushed his torso from the ground with his forehead and knees, since his arms remained cuffed behind his back.

“You could’ve saved Sable too,” he hissed, glaring up at the queen. “But you laughed when they killed her. You laughed.” After struggling to his feet, he kicked the bars separating me from him to demonstrate his anger. Then he slammed his shoulder into them. “When I get out of here, the first person I’m coming for is you. Do you hear that, Kalendria? I will end you.”

“I’d like to see you try,” she said with the confidence of a woman who stood safely away from all threats. Then she turned away. “Goodbye, Farrow. Enjoy death.”

“We’ll see if you’re still smiling when I wrap my hands around your throat,” Farrow screamed, even though she was already gone. “You miserable blight! I won’t let you get away with this. I won’t—”

When something caught his attention inside his cell, he broke off abruptly. I followed his gaze as he noticed something on the rock wall beside him. Squinting, I leaned forward to see better as he stumbled to the wall.

The light down here was abysmal. Torchlight from above was the only source of illumination we were provided, so it took me a bit to realize a name had been scratched into the stone surface.

Sable.

Farrow gently touched it with his cheek, then he closed his eyes and rasped out a hoarse sob.

Another dry heave consumed him, shaking his shoulders. Then he fell to the floor, drew up his knees to his chest, and buried his face in them, weeping uncontrollably.

Curled into a fetal ball like that with his arms chained behind his back, he collapsed on his side and sobbed. The sound of grief was almost inhuman. It seemed to tear into him, gouging and flaying flesh and bone, desperate to reach his soul and obliterate everything he was.

My own legs gave out as his pain echoed into me. I clutched the bars and lowered myself down to the cold, dank floor. Then tears flooded my eyes and hopelessness entered my soul as I cried with my beloved.

When a warm hand touched mine, I realized Indigo had sat down with me, just on the other side of the bars and had reached through to comfort me, because he knew I was experiencing Farrow’s pain with him.

I leaned toward him and let him be there for me, all the while crying harder because Farrow had no one. He grieved alone in this pit of hell, honestly believing there was no one left alive who loved him. Closing my eyes, I rocked, wishing I could help him in some way.

But how could he want anything to do with me? It was my fault his sister was dead. If he’d just turned me in to his king like he was supposed to, none of this would’ve happened. Or if I’d swallowed my pride sooner after learning the truth, he wouldn’t have had to face all this alone. Maybe his sister would’ve made it.

The guilt swelled. I closed my eyes, rocking gently as time passed.

After a while, Farrow went quiet. Numb. His emotions were drained. I felt drained. His body seemed to shut down, unable to bear anymore. And to be honest, it was a relief. I wasn’t sure how much more I could’ve endured to feel from him.

Next to me, my bodyguard leaned closer, keeping his voice low.

“You okay?”

It took me a moment to answer. I met his gaze, ignoring the way my bones felt as if they’d been shaken to the core. “It wasn’t me who lost a sister.” Or a father.

“Still,” he said. “You just had to experience all that with him.”

I blew out a shaky breath. Yeah, I had. “He’s devastated,” I reported.

Indigo nodded. “Well, that was obvious from here without having to share the mark with him.”

I nodded.

Indy’s eyes swirled with confusion as he studied the crumpled form of Farrow across the cell, where he lay in a heap on the cold, damp stone.

“He saved me,” Indigo finally said, his brows pinching together. “There was no reason for him to talk the queen into sparing me.” Glancing at me, he shook his head. “Why would he do that?”

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