Page 31 of Cage of Darkness
He stood, pulling her to her feet. “Iwould have been disappointed if you hadn’t tried.” He resumedwalking, dragging her alongside him.
They climbed several flights of stairsand traveled along hallway after hallway, not passing anotherperson. Did anyone actually live or work here?
“My room is on the topfloor of the northern tower. The royal family resides in theeastern tower, while the people who remain at court live in thesouth wing.”
“Why aren’t you with yourfamily?” A question more to fill the silence than for curiosity’ssake. Each step led her closer to her fate. What did Kerdan plan todo with her? She shivered, bile rising in the back of her throat,unable to even think of what lay ahead. One thing she knew forcertain was that under no circumstance would she allow him toviolate her body.
He lowered his voice. “Besides theking, the rest of them aren’t my family.” He stopped before a largearched door, unlocking it. “And Soma has already tried toassassinate me once.” He led her inside the dark room, the doorslamming shut.
She froze, unable to see her own handin front of her face. There was a shuffling sound, and then graylight burst into the room as Kerdan tied the curtains back, dustmotes floating in the air. He lumbered over to the empty fireplace,knelt, and placed several logs inside, lighting the kindling. Thefire gradually took, removing the dreary feel from theroom.
Dark wood paneling covered the wallsand ceiling. A four-post bed was centered on one wall, a desk andchair along another. Situated before the hearth were two chairs anda couch. A door, presumably to a dressing closet, was to the right.A few worn rugs were strewn throughout, softening the cold, stoneflooring. No books, no paintings, no weapons.
Kerdan stood and turned to face her,his hands on his hips. Still dressed in his armor, he seemed out ofplace in the rather ordinary bedchamber. “You need to bathe.” Hisrough voice reverberated in the room.
Allyssa gulped. “I’ll kill myselfbefore I let you touch me.”
He raised his eyebrows. “I have neverforced myself on a woman before. I am a prince and captain for myfather’s army. I can have anyone I want.”
“Except me.”
Kerdan folded his arms, studying her.“Who said I wanted you that way?”
She didn’t know how to respond. Whatother reason could there possibly be?
“You’ve been in the dungeonfor weeks. You’re filthy and you smell.” He pointed to one of theempty walls. “I have a bathing room through there.” He pressedbetween two of the wood panels, and a hidden door swung open. Hestepped inside. A moment later, a soft glow came from the room. “Idon’t have any maids who tend to me here,” he called out. “Soyou’re on your own.” He exited the bathing room and gestured forher to enter.
She didn’t move. When he took a steptoward her, she stiffened, and he retreated a step. “I brought youhere to ensure your safety,” he said gently. “I don’t trust mystepmother and fear she may order your death without my father’spermission.”
“Why do you care?” Her mindreeled with possibilities, each too far-fetched to befeasible.
“I hate my stepmother.Since she wants you dead, I want you alive.”
So now not only was she trapped in thepolitical turmoil between Emperion and Russek, but she was alsocaught in this family’s discord. Allyssa started pacing, and theprince’s eyes narrowed infinitesimally. There was more to thesituation than he let on. “What aren’t you telling me?”
A true smile lit up his harsh face.“I’ve been traveling for days. If you’re not going to wash up, Iam.”
She went to bite her thumbnail beforeremembering it wasn’t there. Clasping her hands together, she said,“Are you offering me use of your bathing room, alone, no hiddenagenda?”
“I have a very clearagenda—you wash the stench off so you no longer stink up mybedchamber.”
“Fine.” She gracefullywalked past Kerdan and strode into the bathing room. Maybe if shebehaved like a princess, he would treat her like one. She pushedthe door closed, only then realizing her entire body was shaking.Somehow, she was out of the dungeon, alive, and in Kerdan’sbedchamber. There still might be a way to survive thiscatastrophe.
Bloodyhell. She smelled worse than a pile ofhorse dung. Several candles lit the room, revealing a copperbathing tub elevated over a handful of burnt logs. She had betterbathe before she passed out from her own stench. Kerdan must havebeen desperate to put up with her.
Going over to the tub, she pumped thelever. Frigid water slowly poured into it. Once the water lookeddeep enough to sit in, she released the lever and peeled off herclothing, kicking it toward the door. It reeked of something fouland rotten, making her gag.
Climbing in the tub, she yelped fromthe ice-cold water. Maybe she should have lit the wood underneathto warm the water. But that would take far too long. She needed tobe quick in case Kerdan burst in while she was naked. Forcingherself to sit down, she grabbed the chunk of soap laying on theedge and began scrubbing away the dirt and grime. Her fingers felteach protruding rib bone. She barely recognized her own body sinceshe’d lost so much weight in the dungeon. Moving on to her tangledhair, she rubbed the soap on it. Once she’d cleaned every inch andno longer reeked, she climbed out of the filthy water, her skincovered with goose bumps.
A large fur blanket hung on the wallso she plucked it off the hook, wrapping it around herbody.
“I have some clean clothesfor you to wear,” Kerdan called from the other side of the door.“You can come out here and dress while I bathe.”
She swayed on her feet. When was thelast time she’d eaten?
“Allyssa?” She vaguelynoted the lack of title.
“Face away from the door,”she demanded. “And that’s Princess Allyssa to you.”
