Page 98 of Where Darkness Falls

My fists are clenched so tightly, my palms are tingling with the effort to not unleash my abilities on every person near that chamber.

I shouldn’t have left her, but I couldn’t defy his direct order, even though I wanted to. If I’d tried, it would’ve just placed a larger target on her back. If there is even the smallest hope she’ll be able to escape, once she fulfills whatever he requests of her, I won’t be the one to rob her of that freedom.

She, Laisren, and Riordan follow closely behind me, her gaze doesn’t leave the ground. Her trembling hands are tightly gripping the elaborate gown, as the veins in her neck pop. Riordan attempts speaking with her, but she either doesn’t respond or only uses small grunts as acknowledgement. We exchange worried glances, wondering what the malevolent king did to our Rosey.

My Rosey.

I open the door leading to her chamber, to which she enters without a word. Unsure what to do, I watch as she grabs a slim gold dress from the armoire.

“Rosey?” I call out.

She doesn’t reply as she closes herself within the bathing chamber.

As we wait, it feels like an eternity before she re-emerges. Her hair is still twisted back halfway, but without the floral wreath woven throughout it. The golden dress hugs her body, accentuating her curves. Her chin quivers as her swollen, vacant eyes peer at the three of us.

I slowly step toward her. “Rosey?”

She flinches at the sound of my voice, quickly moving around us.

Without hesitation, she strides over to the large glass doors leading out to the balcony. Once she’s outside, she closes the doors, locking us away from her. We stand there in silence, watching the soft gray glow of the mist mix in perfect contrast to the bright gold of her dress, giving her a glowing appearance.

“One of us should speak with her,” Laisren says. “She might need to debrief after the hellish encounter she just faced.”

“I agree,” Riordan replies. “She didn’t even laugh at the story about my smelly feet in the barracks, so something must be bothering her.”

Laisren sighs, biting the inside of his cheek. “Maybe she just found that story disgusting,” he quips.

“Are you joking?” Riordan jests, feigning offense. “That one always delights the ladies. How could it not?”

“I can assure you they’re laughing out of embarrassment for you—not because they find it amusing,” I retort.

Riordan chortles.

“Will you two keep watch outside of her chamber?” I ask. “I’ll go and speak with her.”

My commanders wince.

“Are you sure that’s such a good idea, given your dislike for her?” Riordan asks.

I sigh, looking for any sign of Domhnall in the corridor. Once I’m sure he isn’t lurking, I close the door, allowing my shadows to create a soundproof dome around us. If I’d been thinking clearly, I would’ve done this with Maeva, but I was careless.

“Emyr?” Laisren asks.

I never use these domes unless it’s for information that’s of the utmost secrecy.

“I don’t have any other choice but to be vile toward her,” I sigh. “Domhnall overheard a conversation with her this morning and threatened to tell my father of my… attachment to her. I told him he’s insane to suggest such a thing.”

“Is that why you behaved so spitefully about her dress?” Laisren asks.

I nod curtly.

I’m still internally kicking myself for that.

“Ahh,” Riordan says. “Now it makes sense why you have been acting like an arse. You’re trying to protect her.”

“Yes, and I suggest that you both do the same. I fear what he or Domhnall will do if they believe we care for her,” I warn. “It wouldn’t be the first time that he’s harmed someone that he saw as a threat.”

“Of course,” Laisren snarls. “He wouldn’t want to lose his wraiths of Zulgalros.”

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