Page 39 of Her Dark Promise

I took another bite of the cake and ignored her as I sat straight up at the sight before me. I must have been truly distracted byCirce to not have heard the commotion because a blonde-haired male was being hauled over to me with his hands tied behind his back and a blade to his throat. His nose was bleeding, and I could see discoloration peppering his skin that would soon turn into bruises.

“Callum, what is this?” I stood, alert.

“Your grace, forgive the intrusion, but I found him staring up at the castle as I was out gathering berries for tonight’s dinner.” The blonde one was squirming in Callum’s arms, still not looking at me. “Bow to her majesty!”

Callum whipped him around and pushed him to his knees. Our eyes met. I stared at the boy for longer than necessary, studied him just as hard as he seemed to be studying me. His eyes were a bright blue, brighter than the sky on the sunniest day from what I could remember. So bright that they were almost transparent.

His eyes widened in amazement,no, recognition. “It’s you.”

I was taken aback by his comment. “I have never seen you in my entire existence. Who are you?” I demanded.

“How do you look exactly the same?” He was speaking more to himself than to me.

“Show a little respect when speaking to her.” The blade bit into his skin and blood trickled down as he stilled.

“Please. Help her,” he said desperately.

Now he had my attention.

“Stop.” Callum stilled but didn’t let go of the boy. I descended the stairs and walked up to them. “What are you talking about?”

I needed answers because nothing this boy said was making any sense. The only thing I did know about him, something I could perceive quite rapidly, was that he was harmless. He wasn’t here to hurt anyone. No, he needed me. But for what?

I had to look down as Callum had him on his knees, but his head still came up to right under Callum’s chest.

The boy was panting and didn’t say anything for a moment, collecting his thoughts.

“I need you to save my sister, your, erm, majesty.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose in raw annoyance. “Who is your sister, and why would I have anything to do with that?”

“I know that you save the children who are sacrificed in the Reaping, and I need you to save my sister.”

I took another good look at him, and a shudder ran through me. I knew exactly who this boy was, but I needed confirmation.

“Is your sister’s name, Joséphine?”

“How did you know that?”

I chastised myself until I remembered that his father said no one would be coming to look for him if he didn’t return. That was the entire reason I decided to keep him here and not allow him to leave.

Was it all for nothing? Did I now have two of them to consider?

Though he had yet to ask about his brother. Was he even aware that Bastian was here? Were there others?

I tried not to let the panic break my voice. “Callum, did you see anyone else?”

“No, your grace, just him.”

We would see about that. I reached out both of my hands and dove into his mind. I could faintly hear him screaming, but I didn’t have any time to waste. I couldn’t take my time like I did with his brother.

I quickly went through his memories of the last twenty-four hours to see if he had rallied anyone together to come join this little escapade of his. I was thrown into the middle of a room as he hurriedly ran around, throwing varying possessions into his satchel. A few weapons, a couple of apples, cheese and bread, and a leather-bound book with a quill and ink. A strange combination.

“Please, don’t weave me.”

The boy and I both straightened and turned. A little girl around the age of five was standing in the now open doorway in a pink nightgown with white lace that stopped at her ankles. Her brown hair cascaded down her back and pieces were tied back in white ribbons to match the lace. Her eyes were filled with tears.

The boy gripped his satchel tightly against his shoulder and walked over to Joséphine, kneeling in front of her. “I have to leave.”

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