I long to say more, to ask her to come and visit me. But the only way for this to work is to leave our old lives behind.
So that is what I do, turning away from my friend and this castle, traversing the damp corridors one last time, climbing the stairs leading to the outer courtyard. A breeze whips across the barren ground, tangling my hair around my face. Why didn’t I wear a bloody cloak? This is what panic gets you. I should’ve brought extra boots as well. Too late now, I suppose.
Down here, there is no starlight, and the moon doesn’t light my path.
To think of all that has happened in the last few weeks. I’ve gone from living on the streets to escaping from a castle filled with more wealth and luxury than I could’ve ever imagined. And yet I couldn’t be happier to leave it all behind.
I only hope Senan makes it out all right. If not, I’ll wait for him—forever, if I must.
“Wynn?”
I turn back toward the familiar voice to find Mari standing at the mouth of the cave, her mask pulled up to her forehead, clutching something dark to her chest.
“Yes, Mari?”
A guard in silver leathers slams down in front of me with a startlingthump. Thank heavens it’s only Bilson. He has always been kind to me. Perhaps Senan sent him with a message.
A secondthumpsounds at my back, another guard landing in front of the gates.
“You’re certain this is the one?” Bilson throws over his shoulder toward Mari, his dark brows drawn over narrowed eyes.
“I’m certain,” Mari returns, handing what is in her hand to the guard closest to the gates. He unrolls the bit of fabric, his low curse lifting into the night as he swings the bloodied dress toward me.
The same dress I wore when I killed the man who had attacked me.
How did they find it? How could Mari betray me like this? My voice trembles as I take in the woman staring blankly at me. “Why would you do this?”
“Me?” She scoffs. “Youare the reason Del is gone. Not only did you kill that guard, the prince rewarded you for it by moving you into the fucking castle to be his whore!” Her hands flex at her sides, her shoulders vibrating with rage as she spits each accusation. “Did you really think you were going to get away with it?”
Bilson withdraws his sword with a pained wince. “Wynn Caelis, you are under arrest for the murder of Officer Darius Porter.”
What am I going to do? Perhaps I could plead my case. “I can explain?—”
Unforgiving hands grip my arms. Something sharp digs into my lower back.
The man who holds me snarls in my ear, his voice as dead as his eyes, “Save your begging for the warden at the pit.”
Fifty-Two
SENAN
The handson the clock above Aeron’s mantle move at a snail’s pace. It feels as if I’ve been waiting forever for the clock to strike the hour, when in reality, it has only been twenty minutes.
My heart breaks at the thought of never seeing Rhainn or Kyffin again, but saying goodbye isn’t an option. If Allette and I are to be safe, we must make a clean break from our old lives and start anew somewhere far, far away.
It’s almost time. Only a few more?—
The door bursts open, the wood cracking off the wall, rattling the framed paintings.
An impenetrable wall of guards waits on the other side. They part, and the king steps into the room.
“What have you done, you selfish fool!” Boris catches the edge of the door and slams it with such force, theboomis sure wake those in the farthest tower.
I need to placate him until I can get out of here. Allette will understand if I’m a little late. She will wait for me.
Boris stalks forward, a vein in his forehead pulsing. “Princess Leeri came to me, claiming that she no longer holds any affection for you. Can you believe that?”
Yes, I can. Still, I say nothing.