Page 15 of Cages and Crowns
“My gods.” I whisper. I can feel my throat close as a lump forms.
“It was Viktor, he whipped her. Scarlett was asleep beside her bed, watching over her and holding her hand. I didn’t mean to scare her, but I did. She remembered me though, she remembered who I was. I asked her what happened, and she told me. I guess Elaenor begged to leave, begged to go to the lake for a few moments just to feel the water on her toes. The Delaquar was one of her favorite places to go with Sybil.” He sighs and rolls his lips. “Viktor whipped her for even asking to leave the walls. I sat with her for a few moments, ran my fingers through her frizzy curls. She was medicated, so she never woke while I was there. Scarlett told me she’d take care of her. Even at such a young age, she was strong enough to defend her, to protect her as best she can. Scarlett may not be okay right now, but she’s strong. She’ll get there.” I ignore his comments about Scarlett and focus on Elaenor. How could a father whip his child into pieces?
“I don’t understand how someone could do that to their child.”
“She isn’t his child, Enzo. Despite the fact that he raised her. She has been in captivity for almost nineteen years. She has never known freedom.” He explains.
“She still won’t, not here. Not with Davenport in control.” I scoff and lean back. I hate the king, almost as much as I hate Tobias.
“Enzo,” he warns.
“You know it’s true. He is either going to force her to marry Nithe or he’ll marry her himself.”
“We don’t know what’s going to happen. All we need to worry about is bringing her to safety.”
“This isn’t safety, father. This is just another cage decorated with crowns and expensive clothing.” I spit, venom coating my voice.
“She will be safe here. I’m not going to let anything happen to her, not again. I never should have let her get on that carriage to begin with.” He tries to reason, but anger seeps through my skin like sweat. Everything that has to do with her—it just makes me angry. Feral even.
“You always said we couldn't intervene.”
“We can’t, it upsets the balance of life, but I can still be regretful of my lack of involvement–” His voice cuts out asthe ground rumbles, and a deafening boom breaks up the otherwise silent palace. Rubble and dust fall from the ceiling as everything shakes.My fingers dig into the arms of the settee I am occupying as my widened eyes meet my fathers.
Nithe stumbles in, his face red, and his breathing labored.
“The palace, it’s been bombed.”
Chapter Eight
The Caged
Tobias’s grip is firm as he drags me back to our rooms. The meeting with Thelonious didn’t go as well as he’d expected. While he pledged his loyalty, he isn’t entirely convinced the other eight kingdoms would bow to him, and I’m not either.He’s going to have to kill them all. There is no way any of them will willingly name Tobias High King when the last High King died 20 years ago.
My heels are clicking against the marble loudly as I half run to keep up with his pace. If I slow down even a little, the collar around my neck pokes into my skin. Laris is standing with the door open to our chambers and shuts it as soon as we cross the threshold.
“Tobias.” I whisper as he drags me to the couch. His fingersflex once before loosening. He releases my upper arm and I release the breath I had been holding.
“This will work, Ela. It will work.” He’s pacing and I take the chance to sit down on the couch, careful not to jostle the steel pressed to my throat.My back cramps as I relax into the cushions, finally releasing the stiff postureI was forced to carry.
“I know.” I whisper softly. He’s muttering to himself while he paces. “Can you take the collar off now?” I ask. His eyes soften as he looks at me and nods. He pulls the key out of his pocket and quickly unlocks the metal clasp. I groan as the spikes pull free from my skin; the pressure being replaced with a burn. I reach up and grasp my crown, pulling it free from my black hair and set it on the table in front of me.
“Think of what this could mean, Ela.”
“What?”
“If I am High King, that would make you a High Queen. We could rule the entire continent together. Viridiana would be ours. All of it.” His eyes are wide, filled with excitement. He collapses on the couch next to me, his hands harshly grabbing my face. His lips are merely a breath from mine. “This will work.” I nod, unsure of what to say, and he releases me.
“What happens next?” I ask. He sighs and props his feet up on the table. As he opens his mouth to speak, the door to our chambers opens and Davel walks in. My eyes narrow and he smirks at me quickly before Tobias can see.
“It’s done.” He says. Tobias nods without looking at him.
“I am not entirely convinced Thel is on our side. I need to control him.” I tear my eyes from Davel to look back at Tobias.
“How so?”
“He cares for you, get close to him.” My lips part in shock.
“How?” I repeat.
