Page 56 of A Rose Among Snakes

Chapter Thirty

Kezara

If I could have survived on spite alone I would have chosen that, but my body was growing weaker by the hour. My anger subsided and hunger clawed at my belly day and night, but I was afraid the food might be poisoned. It wasn’t logical since I drank the water he offered me, but the fear persisted. By day three, I could barely sit up. My entire body ached, and my head felt as if it was being squished between two boulders.

My captor made a pot of porridge and brought a bowl over to me. He reached inside the cell and slid it across the floor to where I laid.

“Look, lady,” he said, “You need to eat something. I refuse to deal with dead bodies. The King won’t be happy when I tell him to come collect your corpse, so eat.”

I didn’t move other than to stick my tongue out at him. Eating and taking my chances with his food felt like giving up, as if I was telling myself no one was coming for me, and while I knew keeping myself alive made more sense if I wanted someone to rescue me, I was stubborn.

My captor groaned but grabbed the bowl back and lifted the spoon to his mouth. Something animalistic took over my bodyand I lunged forward, reaching through the bars and seizing the hem of his untucked shirt. He stared at me with wide eyes.

“Give it to me,” I rasped. He handed the bowl through the bars, and I scrambled back against the wall. Like a feral beast, I dug in, barely containing a ravenous growl.

“Go slow, you’re not going to be able to keep it down if you eat that quickly.”

Curling my lip, I slowed my pace. I knew he was right, but I didn’t want to admit it.

“Good girl,” he said with a patronizing nod of approval. I turned my back and finished eating.

My captor went outside and stayed there all day. I had used a tiny pebble to scratch the number of days into the wooden wall. I let myself wallow, missing Leoran and the thrill that accompanied his attention. With a twist of jealousy, I wondered if he was spending time with that blonde princess and falling for her.

I even found myself missing Velian and his fierce protectiveness. I hung my head thinking of all the ways I’d thrown his kindness back in his face. I vowed I would apologize to him if given the chance.

Most of all, I missed Mihrra and her comforting presence. She made me feel seen and heard in a way no one else had before. She didn’t treat me like a child or walk on eggshells around me. Mihrra was honest, and the only true friend I’d ever had.

The door slammed open as my captor came in carrying a basket brimming with vegetables.

“What do you do out there all day?” I asked.

“Good afternoon, Your Majesty.” It was what he’d started calling me, mocking me for my dreams of marrying the prince. Dreams that would never come true.

I took a deep breath and repeated my question, my tone measured with exaggerated patience.

“None of your business.” He gave me a friendly grin knowing it would irritate me. He had shaggy blond hair, bright blue eyes, and a strong jawline with a cleft chin. Under different circumstances I would have found him attractive, but in this situation, it was only aggravating. His smug attitude did nothing to sweeten me to him, either.

“The least you could do is make conversation with me,” I said. “I’m bored.”

“That’s not my job.” He turned his attention to the vegetables in the basket, cleaning and trimming them.

“So, you’re essentially a glorified nursemaid?”

“In your case, that’s exactly what I am, because you are definitely still a child.”

Inside, I was seething, but I kept a tight rein on it. “Why can’t you tell me what you’re doing?”

“Maybe I simply relish frustrating you, have you ever thought of that?” His pleasant tone of voice told me he was enjoying this far too much.

I decided to change tactics. “Won’t you at least tell me your name? If we are going to spend such a considerable amount of time together, I believe it’s only right if we’re properly introduced.”

He turned around and gave me a sweeping bow. “Your Majesty, please forgive me. I am Enverro.”

I rolled my eyes. “Is that your real name?”

“It is, actually, but my last name will remain a secret.”

“Why? I’m sure I’m going to die here, so what does it matter?”

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