Page 58 of Married By Treachery

Inside, the castle was like a great tomb. Candles stood everywhere, but their tiny flames could not chase away the shadow. Vines and tree roots had crept into the walls and ceiling like capillaries, cracking the stone in places. Raquel finally understood Jake’s haste. She couldn’t speak to the depravity he’d mentioned, but this castle could not physically stand much longer.

Nor could its king, apparently.

More Forest kith rushed to greet their prince, but Edom stormed on, pulling Raquel behind him, and it wasn’t until they reached a quiet corridor that Edom stopped and addressed one of his men. “Lock her in the dungeon. I need to speak with my father first.”

“Yes, Your Grace,” the man said.

“And keep your eyes open for my brother,” snarled the Bear Prince.

Rough hands grabbed her arms and shoved her on, away from the Bear Prince. They led her down a narrow stair that wound deeper and deeper into the earth, where cold seeped in and rot clung to the air.

Where bars designated the bowels of the castle.

One of the kith threw open a barred door. They shoved her inside and slammed the bars shut, and Raquel was left alone in the darkness.

20

Raquel did not know how long she sat in darkness. Time was a dream, a haze of cold and shadow, sometimes accented by the errant drip of water. She wrapped her arms around herself to keep warm, but the chill set deep in her bones.

Deep in her heart.

She’d been so certain that Jake had been following her, but now, locked in the belly of the fortress, that certainty fractured. How could he possibly rescue her now? And even if he managed to reappear, even if he managed to unlock her door and slip her out of this prison, how could they ever hope to escape?

Unless he didn’t plan to rescue her.

Unless he didn’t plan for her to leave this place alive.

He needs your blood. From your heart.

Raquel sank lower as disappointment weighed upon her shoulders, heavier and heavier, until she felt like collapsing beneath it all.

Edom was right. She was a fool.

And that foolishness had made her fail in her one objective: to save the people of Harran.

Perhaps I did save it,she thought bitterly.Not because I succeeded in killing the forest prince, but because my blood will break the curse and Canna will no longer need brides from my people.

However, this thought did not bring the joy Raquel had expected it to bring when she had set out on this mission. When she had been so ready to die for her cause.

She didn’t feel so ready to die now.

Her dreams proved a torment, a constant banner of what could be, and Raquel found herself futilely clinging to them.

Mourning them.

Grieving them.

Hushed voices eventually sounded down the hall, where a golden glow appeared, dispelling the shadows, and three figures approached. One was undoubtedly the Bear Prince. His hulking silhouette was unmistakable.

He stopped before her bars, while his two kith stood behind him, and his black eyes glittered in the torchlight.

“Have you finally come to kill me?” Raquel said, weary.

A row of teeth shone within that full beard. “Not at this time, my bride. I have need of you yet.” His voice had lost its wildness. It was softer now. More subdued.

“Get her out,” he barked, and his two kith stepped forward. One unlocked the door, and the other strode inside, grabbed her arms, and hoisted her to her feet.

She was too weary to resist, too famished to pull away. Too heartbroken to fight.

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