Page 30 of Forgotten Fate

With my heart pumping furiously, I turned my head against the stage to look at him, but he had already pivoted away from me so I couldn’t see his expression again. Maybe it had just been a trick of the lighting.

My lips parted to say something—although I couldn’t be sure what specifically. But I didn’t have the opportunity to think of anything to say at all.

“I’ll have one of the guards go find you something more appropriate to wear,” he told me. “You can’t go back to the castle like that.”

“I could go back as a mouse,” I offered. “The same way I came in.”

He shook his head. “No.”

For a moment, he looked lost, perplexed, as if he didn’t know what to do with himself. “No… I’ll have them find something for you and bring you back.”

He glanced at me and offered me a weak smile. “You really should go back to the castle, Mirielle. It’s the safest place for you.”

“Okay,” I agreed.

“Just wait here.”

I struggled and managed to sit up as he pushed the curtain aside. Still euphoric, I waited for him to return so we could head back together, but when the curtain parted again, Calliver appeared.

Shocked, I hastily moved to cover myself the best way I could, but the guard barely looked at me as he set down a simple white sundress and pair of flip-flops by the entrance and backed away, his eyes completely averted.

“The car is out front—where you came in. You’re expected there.”

He also didn’t wait for my response, but I called out to him before he could vanish like Zen had.

“Is Z—is the king there already?”

“No.”

The curtain closed, and I stared at the burgundy velvet for a long moment, waiting for someone to return, but in the end, I realized I was being waited on. I hurried to squeeze out of the now twisted dress that rolled around my stomach, squeezing me at the waist. I couldn’t understand how I’d managed to put it on in the first place. It was a relief to get it off entirely and wear something more free-flowing. I idly wondered where they’d found the sundress, but I was beginning to see that the king could get his hands on anything he wanted.

Including me.

The notion didn’t displease me.

Running a hand through my tangled hair, I slid on the sandals and hurried out into the hall, Calliver following behind me in step. His nearness surprised me, but also gave me a semblance of comfort. If Calliver was there, Zen had to be nearby, too.

But when I made my way through the busy club, the place much fuller now than when I’d first entered, I caught sight of the king at one of the many bars, a tumbler in hand with his back to the crowds. The sight of him made me pause to change directions, but Calliver steered me back toward the door by the arm.

“But the king!” I protested, pointing toward Zen. “He’s right there. We can’t leave without him.”

Without stopping, Calliver continued to march me out toward the door.

“The king is not your concern,” the guard growled unpleasantly. “Your instructions are to return to the castle and remain in the suite the king has assigned you. Just as you should have done in the first place.”

“But—”

“This way, please.”

His tone left no room for argument, and I didn’t want to make a scene in public, but I didn’t have a good feeling about the way Zen and I had just parted.

Is he mad at me for sneaking out? He didn’t seem mad a few minutes ago.

I snuck a last look at him over my shoulder, but I was already being escorted out of the club, unable to get a read on Zen’s face.

I would see lots more of Zen in the upcoming days—outside of the club. I could wait until tomorrow to speak with him and clear the air between us, if it needed clearing at all.

Chapter10

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