Page 118 of Cages and Crowns
“You said I’d be safe.”
“What?”
“You promised I would be safe in this palace. You said I didn’t have to be scared. You’ve been telling me that for weeks!” I struggle and he sets me down.
“How was I supposed to know?” He snaps, running his hands through his hair.
“Where were you?” I yell back.
“He was with me.” Emery says from behind. I feel the anger boiling inside me as I turn, lifting my hands. Arms wrap around me, keeping me immobile.
“Don’t do what I think you are going to do.” Enzo says slowly.
“I am so tired of everything. Of all of you!” I scream as I struggle.
“This is what I said would happen.” Kassius’s voice pipes up. And Enzo whirls around, taking me with him.
“You aren’t helping!” He yells at his father.
“Let me go.” I spit.
“Elaenor, it isn’t what you think. We were in the council room—”
“I don’t care!” I scream, feeling the shadows creep along my skin. I can feel them begging to be let out. Begging—wait. What are you doing? This isn’t you. This isn’t—
Chapter Fifty-Eight
The Protector
The shadows fade from her skin as I pull them into my own body. I can feel their power—dark and ancient. Calling for me to release them. Calling for me to explode.
This is what she’s been feeling. This is why she’s volatile.
Her body falls limp in my arms, and I bend down to scoop up her legs, holding her to my chest. Blood is pouring from a wound on Nithe’s head, his eyes red and tired.
“Get yourself cleaned up.” I say as I push past him, headed for her room. Nobody speaks. Not even Emery who seemed to disappear once she realized she wasn’t going to be eviscerated by our deranged queen. I set her body down on her bed, stepping over a body. Her breathing is slow, even. Her skin isn’t as pale, her cheeks red and flushed. Even her freckles have deepened.
She looks healthier. Her belly is swollen, stretching the cottonof the shirt she’s wearing. I reach forward, my hand resting on the small bump. I push inward until I feel the thumping of his heart. It’s even, strong. I push further until I dig into his little mind, until I feel what he feels.
Warmth.
He feels so warm. I can feel his attachment to Elaenor, the love he already holds for his mother. I can even feel a little bit of light in his soul, but all of that is overshadowed by darkness.
I can see the color of his blood, black as night. I can see his veins pulsing beneath his unformed skin, black. I can see his eyes from where they sit half-made in his skull.
Black.
I can also feel what he isn’t.
He isn’t human.
Chapter Fifty-Nine
TheCaged
There is sweat beading on my forehead as the cramping in my abdomen grows in intensity. My eyes open to the darkness of the room. It’s hot, sweltering. The windows are open, but the lack of wind is just making me feel stagnant. I groan as I force myself up, my hair plastered to my neck with sweat. I glance over at Nithe passed out next to me. He’s sweating just as much as I am. He has kicked the blankets off, leaving him just in his undershorts.
What happened? I remember feeling this pressure, this need to scream. Almost as much as I needed to that very first day. But this was different, this was darkness begging for destruction.
