Page 114 of A Kingdom of Lies

“Sent?” Seraphine laughed. “We have always been here. We are everywhere. Hidden amongst crowds, placed among the realm for when we are required to act. Aldrick just didn’t suspect anything because of theMariflorawe’ve been ingesting for how ever long. It doesn’t stop him entering our head, but it keeps us in control. We just played along.”

“Answer his fucking question,” Duncan growled. Even with the iron cuff strangling his throat, I could sense the power that dwelled within him.

Seraphine looked directly at me, a glint of pleading in her stare, perhaps created from the trunk of coins she saw when she looked at me, but I hoped for something more genuine.

Then she replied with words that sliced through the tense room. “A friend sent us. Not Doran Oakstorm, but someone who wishes to see you alive by dawn.”

CHAPTER 40

We ran, feet pounding through corridors and endless connected rooms each as barren and lifeless as the next. Mixed with the sound of our heavy footfalls were clattering steel and the occasional screech of gryvern that still tore through the castle in search of us.

There was no room for trust as we moved with haste, surrounded by the party of armed assassins. This fate would’ve been far better than being left to the Hand’s plans or the desperation of Doran and his twisted creatures that filled the skies beyond the castle.

A small part of me felt guilty that we had left the human king behind, crying on the floor. Elinor had tried to take him with us, but he refused, pushing her and demanding to be left behind. It seemed my boon did not cover the human king’s survival as Seraphine and her fellow companions did not waste any time retreating, not with the threat of Aldrick awakening and regaining control of our freewill. He had the power, infused with his undeniable connection with the demon God, to overwhelm all our minds and take over.

Run. I screamed at myself, filling my head with that single word as we navigated through the castle.

Duncan held my hand from the moment we left. His grip was certain, full of unwavering strength. He didn’t let me go –wouldn’tlet me go. Duncan’s legs were longer than mine, far more powerful and faster; he had to slow himself down a few times to stop from pulling me over.

Seraphine knew where she was going. All we could do was follow instinctively as we raced towards her promise of afriend. I wondered about her twin sister. Had she been part of the Children of the Asp too? Perhaps her life was the price Seraphine had to pay to see me delivered to the highest bidder.

Our party came to a sudden stop when the breeze of nightly air cut through the stuffy, stone walls of the castle. We’d flown down a narrow corridor that ended in an open doorway. Two, maybe three figures stood waiting for us, shapes outlined against the night behind them. If it was not for Seraphine’s continuous running, I would’ve believed them to be enemies, yet another barrier stopping our escape. We rushed towards the open door, only slowing our run as we reached the figures.

“They wait for you at the shore, Seraphine,” one said the moment we reached them. They spoke to her only, caring little for our party. Duncan stood before me, hiding me from view behind his back. “You told us you would have one. Not four.”

“Plans change,” Seraphine replied, voice light and full of twisted pleasure. “We accommodate.”

“But the bounty doesn’t cover–”

“Send a report only when you hear that the Hand has crawled his way out of the predicament I’ve left him in,” Seraphine interrupted. “Monitor his movements and keep me informed. Be wary. He will be furious as a result of our betrayal and will likely see all those around him as traitors. Keep your distance. Continue ingesting your stores of Mariflora. Strike for information only when the time is right.”

They nodded in agreement, their silence telling me all I needed to know about the hierarchy of the group.

I noticed as other beings peeled from the balcony of sorts that we had come to. Duncan did too as his hand tightened in mine.

Wind ripped around the towering walls and the heavy scent of salt itched my nose; as I breathed in, I could taste it, thick and undeniable. The swollen moon’s reflection rippled across the expanse of darkness below us; even the winds could not hide the lullaby of water rushing over rock and stone.

“The path down to the coastline is old and worn, tread carefully but move quickly.” Seraphine’s command was meant for all of us. “If we don’t get you far from Lockinge now, there will not be another chance again. Go. With haste.”

We continued running, feet clattering down the steep set of steps that seemed to have been carved into the castle’s outer wall. Light was sparse which made it feel as though each footstep down was another closer to our final fall. Seraphine led the way, each of us following behind, wind ripping at our faces.

I felt pure relief when the world seemed to settle, and our feet touched down on solid, flat ground. Cold sprays of water splashed across our skin. Our feet crunched over stones, slick and wet from the swell of the dark ocean before us.

When I spoke, my voice felt shattered, as though I spoke through shards of glass embedded in my throat. “I’m frightened.”

Duncan wrapped his arm around me, body damp from the ocean’s spray. “Rightly so, but I’m not leaving your side this time. I won’t let you out of my sight ever again.”

I pressed my forehead into the mounds of his chest, feeling his hard muscle push back against my face. “If I could have done this all again, I would never have come. I put you in danger and I’ll never forgive myself.”

“My actions are my own,” Duncan replied, large hand taking the back of my head and rubbing it in calming circles. “I wished to meet the Hand as much as you, yet it would seem that hope was all in vain.”

Seraphine busied herself, shouting towards our crew as she waded into the body of rocking dark water. A boat, small and weak, clattered into the pebble shore. I was certain the rough sea could have broken it into pieces of useless wood if the weather was any wilder. It was incredible to believe that this small vessel was our only hope of leaving this city.

“He told you their names,” I whispered, lips pressed to his skin. Duncan tasted of salt and copper. “Tell me that it was worth it at least. Give me a reason to cling onto some feeling that this was worth something.”

Duncan stilled, his hand ceasing its circles as it paused upon my head. My face moved, rippling as he took a hulking breath inward. “I don’t believe I’m ready to face the truth the Hand has revealed to me. Not yet.”

I pulled back, glaring up through the darkness at Duncan’s stern, glassy-eyed expression. “When you are ready, I will be here to help piece it together with you.”

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