Page 58 of Cages and Crowns
Amaya?
It’s too much. And now marriage? Again?
I can’t do this. I can’t. I have no family. I guess technically Enzo and Kassius are my family, but not the one I grew up with. Not the one I miss.
I have nothing. These people are nothing. The only thing I need to do, the only thing I can do, is kill Tobias.
Tobias.
He is the only thing I can think about. Even now. The way his face looked as I fell over the cliff. He looked terrified for me. He looked like he cared.
Does he care?
I can’t tell what’s real anymore.
I—
Knocking on my door causes me to jump as I look over my shoulder. Tousled black hair and light purple eyes walk through and close the wooden door behind. He’s holding a piece of rolled parchment in his hand as he slowly makes his way to the window.
“Little witch.” He says by way of greeting.
“Did you break my lock?” He smiles in response, and I clench my fists.
I turn away from him and clamor to my feet. My hands grip the cool stone railing as I look out over the land. Grassy hills littered with all of the colors of the rainbow, but it’s the purple trees that draw my focus.
“When I first came here, I hated it. I hated how quiet it was, how many flowers there were. It felt to open.” I stay quiet, letting him speak. “My home is much like yours. Trees filling every inch of open space, cool and humid air. Butwe also have flowers and plants of all kinds, animals you wouldn’t even know about. Everything across The Divide is like that. Beautiful.” He says softly, and I can hear the smile in his voice.
“The Divide?” What is that? I turn slightly so I can face him.
“Down the center of the sea, there is an invisible border between the human lands and the lands of magic.” He gestures out past the hills, the direction I’m assuming the sea is.
“I don’t understand.” His face recoils as he looks at me. As if he’s only just now realizing how little I know. He stares for a second before his face softens and he starts to explain.
“This side of the sea was created for the humans. The other side was created for those who are of magical blood. Like you and I.” He points at me before dropping his hand, his pinky barely brushing mine where it rests on the railing.
“I don’t know anything about our world, Nithe. Not a single thing. I was sheltered growing up, barely even knowing about Rakushia and Noterra. I’ve never seen anything, been anywhere.” My throat catches and I look back out towards the hills.
“You can now.” I shake my head.
“I can’t. He’ll come for me.”
“We are going to keep you safe, Elaenor. You don’t have to be afraid here.” His hand covers mine and I pull it away, clutching the hem of my tunic, worrying the stitches.
“We arrived just a few short hours ago and all I have been, is afraid. Your father wants to force me to marry you. He wants me to take over all of Viridiana. I not only have a brother, but I have a twin. Enzo is mytwinbrother who I didn’t get to grow up with. Everything has changed. Everything. I have this suffocating need to go home, but it’s not Chatis I am craving, it’s Noterra.” I bite my lip as the admission rolls off my tongue.
“To a husband who tortured you? Are you serious?” Disgust coats hiswords like ash, and I look back up at him.
“With Tobias, I knew what to expect. I knew that at the end of the day, I’d be fine because he wouldn’t kill me. Even if he did, I would be better off for it—” His hand finds my shoulder, turning me towards him. His hand is hot, bleeding through my tunic and scorching my skin.
“Don’t. Don’t say you would be better off dead.” He snaps.
“What do you want from me Nithe? Do you want false confidence in my mental state? Do you want me to wear a crown and a wedding dress and promise to be yours forever? What do youwantfrom me? I have nothing to give!” I try to shake his hand off, but he tosses the parchment to the ground, his hands gripping onto my face. “Let go of me.” I snap, my fingers wrapping around his wrists.
“No. Listen to me. You are more than what you were made to be. You are more than what you can even imagine. Stop letting him control you—”
“He’s my husband.” My voice is weak, my shoulders shaking.
“He doesn’t have to be.”
