Page 111 of Beneath the Flames
Rhydian opened his mouth, but no words came out.
Dread perched on my shoulders as I started to wonder if Carrow was somehow telling the truth.That Rhydian wasn’t who I thought he was, and that he truly was capable of the terrible things Carrow claimed.
I looked over my shoulder at the Prince of Nefaroth, narrowing my eyes.“You’re lying.”
Carrow smirked and shook his head, pointing at Rhydian.“Ask him about the bea—”
And then golden light smothered the room.
I fell back onto the floor, covering my eyes at the sudden brightness.Peeking through my fingers, I saw that it encircled Carrow, ripping and cutting at him before violet light snuffed it out.
Rhydian stood there panting, that display of magic looking like it had cost everything he had, though it greatly paled in comparison to Carrow’s magic.
“Something you don’t want her to know,Rhyd?”Carrow spat the nickname like a curse.“Just tell her about the lovely beast that’s been locked up since the curse was laid.It’s not that hard.”
Rhydian was still breathing hard.“Get.Out,” he spit throughclenched teeth.“Now.”
Carrow tsked.“Poor Rhydian,” he mocked.“Once she finds out, you’ll be nothing.You’ll have nothing.And you will finally die like you should have all those years ago.”
Violet light flared once more and then darkness descended.When my eyes finally adjusted, the Prince of Nefaroth was gone.
***
It had been at least an hour, and Rhydian hadn’t spoken a word.He stalked up and down hallways of the castle, me following him, hoping he’d explain.Thus far, he’d only offered angry huffs and frustrated grunts.
“Why won’t you talk to me?”I finally asked.
Rhydian stopped in his tracks and spun toward me.“What do you want me to say, Maren?”The anger in his voice caught me off guard, and I flinched back.At my reaction, the fury in his eyes softened.
He let out a breath, putting more space between us.“It doesn’t matter anyway.The third task will never be completed.The curse will remain intact.”
“Why didn’t you tell me about this?”
“Because, at first, I didn’t care if you lived or died.I just needed you to break the curse.But now…I can’t stomach the thought of losing you.”
The defeat in his voice was heartbreaking.
“Please explain it to me, Rhydian.I don’t understand.”
He groaned, running ragged fingers through his hair.“It was the queens’ final failsafe.If the curse were ever broken, a timer of sorts would begin on the human’s life.”Eyes full of anguish met mine.“Once it reaches the end, you will die.”
The familiar despair that I often felt at home on the farm wrapped its cold, gnarled hands around my heart and squeezed.Was all of this for nothing?I had risked my life to free Rhydian under the pretense that he would then send me home once his magic was freed.
“You were never going to send me home.Were you?”
He opened his mouth, taking a step toward me.“You’ve endured enough pain.If your life had to end, I wanted you to think it was for something worthwhile.”
“And that something would be you?”I couldn’t keep the anger from my voice.I had finally accepted the thought of never returning home, never seeing my family again to stay with him.
But it was all a lie.
“Maren, I—”
I flinched away as he stepped toward me, his eyes widening.
“Please…” he pleaded, starting to pace the room.“I’ve been trying to figure out a way to get you home in spite of the curse, I swear.This world needs your light, not my darkness.”
“Why are you so sure you’re a monster?”I asked, wishing for once he would just open up to me.That he would stop hiding so many secrets and let me see the real Rhydian.
