Page 11 of Midnight Deception

His jaw tightens, and although he tries to hide it, his posture changes. Whatever he’s about to say is making him uncomfortable. “She’s happy to have the daughter of her close friend back with her.”

I notice how he avoids answering the question, and I can see what he’s not saying. The queen doesn’t believe the goddess is at work here and doesn’t give a damn. As long as it works to her advantage, she will spin whatever story she needs to in order to get everyone on her side. This doesn’t come as a surprise to me, despite the fact that I’ve only just met her.

Glancing over at Luna, I see her carefully neutral expression, and I know I’m right. As if sensing how close I am to collapsing into an exhausted, overwhelmed heap, she suddenly starts moving, gesturing to the door. “You look exhausted. We should show you to your rooms.”

Kano makes a noise of agreement, following the female, and I know I have no choice but to follow. Where else would I go? I have no idea where the sanctuary is. I don’t even know if we’re still in the same country.

We walk in silence, and I’m glad because it gives me the opportunity to try to memorise the route we take. However, I soon give up since there are so many winding corridors that I completely lose track. The events of the day are weighing heavily on me. Each step is weighted, my head pounding and my body aching. My bond is mourning the loss of the connection to my mates, and I worry about my friends who were left behind.

We climb an elegant spiral staircase, which opens up into another corridor. This is just as opulent as the other passageways here, but it’s brighter and more open. Paintings hang from the walls, and large windows grace each end of the corridor, making it feel airy. The long wall opposite the paintings has several white painted doors.

Walking up to the first door, Kano twists the doorknob and swings the door open. “These are your rooms,” he explains, gesturing for me to go in first.

Although the queen had said I was to be treated like a guest, I was still expecting my room to be a cell or a tiny box somewhere. I couldn’t have been more wrong.

My mouth drops open as I take it all in. The room is huge.

We seem to be in a reception area, complete with a fireplace, tables, chairs, and even a bookcase. Through an open doorway, I see the edge of a four-poster bed, and as I slowly walk through, I can’t quite believe my eyes. The colour scheme throughout is white and gold, with dark wood furniture.

Luxurious bedding and a mountain of pillows wait for me on the bed, and a large, fluffy rug takes up most of the remaining space. A dresser and chest of draws sit at one side of the room, their wood gleaming like they’ve been freshly polished. I spot another door opposite the bed and step into a large, modern bathroom with a huge, freestanding bath.

I could easily fit at least two people in there with me, I muse, the thought floating through my mind before I smother it. Walking out of the bathroom, I follow the low voices of the two witches and find them having a quiet discussion in the reception room.

They both look up as I enter, a guilty look flickering across Luna’s face, so I know they were talking about me. I’m not surprised. I’m not exactly their typical guest.

Clearing his throat, Kano gestures around. “The doors and windows are spelled, so no one can come in without your permission. They will also stop you from escaping, because the magic can sense your intentions. If you’re leaving your room for legitimate reasons, it will allow you out.”

Blunt but honest. I appreciate that. There’s no point in dressing up what this really is—a pretty prison. At least it looks comfortable. Looking around the room at all the little details, I wait for them to tell me this is all a joke or that I’m confined to these rooms unless escorted.

“All of this is for me?” I finally ask when neither of them says anything.

“Yes,” Luna chimes in. “Although if you agree to stay, you’ll be moved to a different part of the sanctuary, and you’ll have more space. These are just guest quarters.”

I shake my head. This room alone is bigger than my whole cabin back in the forest. There’s more space in here than I know what to do with. It’s lovely, but without the people who are important to me, it’s just a room.Do as the queen asked and get home as soon as possible, I remind myself. I have no idea what I’m going to do about Atlas. He won’t leave his people, and given how much he hates me, I doubt he’d ever want to. What would Syn and Joel say?

Silence descends over us as I get lost in my thoughts, oblivious to them watching me. Movement catches my attention, and I see Kano walking towards the doorway.

“I better return to the queen,” he says, his voice giving nothing away, but the tightness in his shoulders tells me he might not be as eager a follower as I assumed. “Luna will keep you company and tell you anything you need to know,” he continues, giving me a small, tight smile.

“Have fun with the queen,” Luna calls out. I think her comment is supposed to sound light and playful, but there’s a sour note to it that makes me look at her closely.

Something shifts across Kano’s face, but he doesn’t say anything as he nods once to me and leaves. What was that all about? Filing that bit of information away for later, I look around the room once more. I would give up all these luxuries in a heartbeat to be back with my mates and pack.

“I know this must be really hard for you.”

Luna’s voice, more specifically the sympathy in it, makes me freeze. I turn to face her, my eyes narrowed as I stare at the beautiful female. She looks like she’s never experienced a hard day in her life, every single hair on her head perfectly in place. She obviously has a position of power here, if the others’ reactions to her are anything to go by, so I’d say she’s probably had a pretty comfortable life, which only makes me angry.

“Do you?” I challenge, my voice sharp. “Do you know what it’s like to be taken from your family and mates and forced to help people who claim to want to help you?”

She seems taken aback at the force of my words. “I guess I don’t, but I’m also not your enemy,” she replies slowly, as if not sure how her comment will affect me. “Your stay here doesn’t have to be a bad one. You just need to be careful whom you trust.”

She doesn’t need to worry about that. I don’t trust anyone here.

I wrap my arms around myself, the weight of the day weighing heavily on me. Engaging in conversation is the last thing I want to be doing right now.

“I’m really tired,” I murmur, but the dismissal is clear.

Luna just continues to frown at me, and for a moment, I think she’s going to say something, her mouth opening. She seems to change her mind, though, and shakes her head. Sighing, she gives me a small smile. “Okay, I’ll leave you to rest and see you tomorrow.”

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