Page 32 of Cage of Darkness
“My apologies,” he replied.“You may exit. I’m not looking.”
After making sure the blanket fullycovered her, she pushed open the door. True to his word, Kerdan hadhis back to her. She exited and moved past him. He turned, not onceglancing her way, and went inside the bathing room, closing thedoor behind him.
Alone in the prince’s bedchamber, sherushed over to the fireplace and dropped to her knees, trying towarm herself.
***
Allyssa opened her eyes. A dying firecrackled before her. Yawning, she pushed herself to a sittingposition. The fur blanket slid off her shoulders. Clutching ittightly around her, she looked for the prince. The bathing roomdoor stood ajar, the inside pitch black. The drapes surrounding thefour-post bed were drawn shut. He must be asleep, although shecouldn’t hear him breathing.
A pile of clothes sat on the hearth.She snatched the warm fabric, pulling the shirt and pants on. Theyhad to belong to the prince because they were far too large forher. However, she dared not complain because she was clean andwarm—two things she’d never take for granted again.
On the couch, pillows weresituated at one end along with a thick blanket, making a bed. DidKerdan intend for her to sleep there? It certainly looked moreappealing than the ground upon which she sat. She glanced at thedoor, but it was bolted shut with a lock that required a key. Toget past it, she’d need that key—and the prince was probablysleeping with it. The couch-turned-bed did look ratherinviting.Blimey.She was a fool. Climbing onto the couch, she pulled theblanket up around her neck. Well, at least she would be a wellrested and warm fool.
***
Allyssa awoke the next morning to aroaring fire. The drapes surrounding the prince’s bed had beenpulled back. It revealed a neatly made bed, with Kerdan nowhere insight.
She stood and stretched. It had been along time since she’d slept so well. Going over to the window, shepushed the curtains aside, revealing the bright morning light. Snowfell from the sky, covering the trees in white. She longed to see apiece of grass or a leaf poke through the thick snow.Something—anything—that hinted at life outside the castle. Becauseif nothing could survive in this harsh environment, then shecouldn’t either.
She sighed, leaning her head againstthe freezing glass. She didn’t know what to think of her presentsituation with Prince Kerdan, but she did believe what he’d saidabout hating his stepmother. Last night, she had been around theroyal family for only a few moments, but in that brief time, she’dfelt the tension and hostility between Kerdan and Jana. Then therewas Soma, who only complicated matters. Kerdan said that Soma triedto kill him. At the Russek base camp, she’d overheard soldierstalking about Kerdan being on the brink of death. Hopefully, thefamily dynamics would be enough to keep her alive or at least buyher enough time to escape.
The door flew open, and she jumped,spinning around in time to see the prince close and bolt thedoor.
“You’re awake.” He held alarge bag in one hand and a box in the other. “Sit.” He noddedtoward the chairs.
The smell of warm bread wafted throughthe air, making her mouth water. She hadn’t eaten a decent meal inweeks. She tripped over her own feet in her haste tocomply.
“I didn’t anticipate youbeing so civil this morning.” He glanced around the room as ifexpecting to find it in disarray.
Her treasonous stomach growled,revealing the only reason she obeyed was the hope of food. Theprince chuckled and sat on the chair next to her. He set the bag onthe ground and then lifted the lid off the box, revealing a platepiled high with food. “For you.”
Grabbing the plate, she began shovingthe food in her mouth, acting in a very unprincess-like manner. Butshe didn’t care. The warm bread practically melted in her mouth.She smelled cinnamon and sugar sprinkled on the bowl of oatmeal,and she moaned in pleasure. Slices of cheese and some pastry she’dnever seen before covered the rest of the plate.
“You’re not the least bitconcerned the food is poisoned?”
She shook her head, inhaling anotherchunk of bread. “If you intended to kill me, I’d already bedead.”
His eyes remained steady, observingher. So what if a bit of oatmeal ran down her chin? It wasn’t likehis opinion of her mattered.
“I suggest you eat slowly.”He leaned back in the chair. “You’re probably going to vomit thatup.”
She continued devouring the food,unable to stop. After every last morsel had disappeared, shesighed, her stomach blessedly full.
“I brought you moreclothing.” Kerdan pointed to the bag at his feet. “A few of myyounger soldiers were willing to part with some clothes they’doutgrown. Something in there is bound to fit you.”
Setting the plate on the low table,Allyssa regarded the prince. His hair was pulled back at the baseof his neck. The black markings on his face were gone, confirmingher suspicion it was paint and not a tattoo. Without his armor, helooked younger and not so harsh. Granted, he was still tall andimposing, but not quite as vicious as he appeared yesterday. “Whatdo you want with me?” she asked.
“Right now, I want to getto know you.”
A qualified response thatindicated he might want more in the future.Interesting. “Why?”
“That depends on you.” Hisface remained impassive, no hint of emotion or feeling. He remindedher of her father, Darmik, during an interrogation.
“How do you suggest webecome better acquainted when you are holding me hostage?Especially considering that your father is intent on conquering mykingdom.” She looked pointedly at him. “We are enemies.”
He shrugged. “My friendships have allbeen forged on the battlefield. So, I suggest we fight.”
“What is your intention? Toget to know me? Become friends? Or do you simply want to wallop myarse?”
