Page 136 of Hidden Kingdoms

We came to a stop in front of yetanotherdark wooden door. Rubies now replaced the golden studs, and the handle looked to be a chunk of onyx. There were other similar doors further along the hall.

“There are no guards?” I frowned with uncertainty, the complete lack of people somewhat disconcerting.

“You don’t need them here. The entrance will only allow a handful of people through, and I can say with certainty that they will not kill you. The list is very small, very exclusive, and now you’re on it, you lucky thing.”

“How?” It didn’t slip past my sluggish mind she only guaranteed I wouldn’t die.

“I told you.” She lifted up her pinkie finger and circled it. “Powerful people.”

“Who else stays here?” My eyes wandered down the hall to the other doors.

“Right now, only Kaius and Bastian.” I whipped my head back to her, knowing that this was somewhere I wasn’t meant to be intruding on and completely ignoring the ache that flooded my pussy at the thought of Kaius’ room being so close.

It also made sense why she didn’t try and claim I was completely safe from harm. With Bastian being so close, he wouldn’t kill me until he got whatever it was he needed me for.

“I bet Bastian is furious.” The idea made me practically giddily, which was ridiculous. I shouldn’t be actively looking for ways to piss him off.

But I can’t deny I enjoy it.

My gaze snapped back to Alouette as she spoke. “Orders are orders.”

“Whose orders?”

“Go catch up on your beauty sleep. You need it.” She started off down the hall leaving me to stare at the door, the rubies glittering like blood in the light from the flames blazing either side.

“Wait!” I shouted before she could turn the corner, and she turned to look at me, eyebrows raised.

“The nails?”

“Go to sleep, Elodie.”

“What about the snuggling?” I called to her, unsure I wanted to go in there alone, but she just cackled as she walked out of sight.

I was too tired to continue standing in the hall staring at the door. I needed food and a bed, and I had the feeling Iwasgoing to like whatever was on the other side. Sucking in a breath, I braced myself, reaching for the onyx handle and sending out a prayer to the palace pleading with it not to strike me down where I stood. Freezing with my hand wrapped around the cold gem, I waited to be vapourised or turned into a puddle of goo. Whennothing happened, I sighed in relief, twisting the handle with a soft click.

Darkness enveloped the inside, the only light coming from low flames that crackled in a fireplace on the far side of the room dousing the space in a comforting warmth. Stepping over the threshold, I let the door close behind me. As I did, the sconces around the room flickered to life, flames staying low and leaving most of the room in shadow.

The room was more than double the size of my previous one—probably more than that once I could see better. Illuminated by the fire, I counted three black doors, one thrown wide. Moving further into the room, the heat seeped into me as the heaviness of my mind urged me to find a bed before I even considered doing anything else.

That wouldn’t be hard as through the open door I could see a four-poster bed—big enough that it could easily sleep multiple people. I was desperate to sink into it, but hunger had begun to gnaw at my stomach, and I knew I needed to eat, unsure of when I had last had anything.

As my body grumbled, I walked to the large, black marble table that took up a huge amount of space where dinner sat on a tray in the centre. Curls of pasta in a red sauce sat in a bowl next to what looked like garlic bread, and I groaned in appreciation as I tore off a bite. Eyes closed, I slumped down on a chair, inhaling the rest. While my body no longer ached after my time in the pool, my brain definitely did and everything I went through weighed heavy on my already strained mind.

Stomach no longer painfully empty, I left the rest of the food. Eager to fall into sleep more than I wanted to eat. Ready to dive into what I was sure was the biggest bed I’d ever slept in, I noticed something else on the table.

What I’d thought had been a napkin, was some sort of wrapping. Picking up the square bundle cautiously, the blackfabric both soft and rough, I held it in my hands. Turning it over, I pulled at the folds that kept it in place until it fell away, revealing a small, well-loved, brown book with scuffed corners. Black letters stamped across the front read,One Hundred Tales of the Fae of Old.

My breath caught as I gazed down at the cover. It wasn’t the one I had lost, but it didn’t matter. Slowly, I opened it, the spine creaking loud in the silence of the room. The pages had started to yellow with age, and there was a handwritten inscription scrawled in neat letters on the cover page:

To our son.

May all your adventures bring you the joy you bring us.

Swallowing down the emotions that stuck in my throat, I noticed below the message was a drawing obviously done by a child; two boys standing together holding swords that were comically too big for them.

Today had been the longest day I think I had ever lived through, and holding the book to my chest like it was a precious relic, I headed to the bed.

Running my fingers over the silky grey brocade that covered it, I groaned in relief and threw myself fully clothed onto the covers, breathing in the fresh sheets as the duvet moulded to my body. I slid what could be the only possession I now had left, under the pillow, fingers grazing its binding and wanting nothing more than to let sleep take me.

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