Three

Roghd crouched and began packing a small sack with a few seeds, some dried berries, salves made from herbs found throughout the forest, supplies to make a fire, and an extra set of clothes. He handed me the bag, his midnight eyes gave me a loving look saying everything words could not. I hugged him. 

“I love you.”

“Blessed be” he softly stroked my hair

I turned to Jace. He didn’t meet my eyes but he moved close to me and wrapped his arms around me. 

“You saved me. You’re the reason I woke up every morning. I will always think of you, bud. Be well and take care of your dad, okay?” 

He gave me one short but clear nod. 

Inching my way to the gates from out of the tree line I realized I was holding my breath. I had no idea how I would approach the gates. Did I need to identify myself? Will they recognize Bryt as the name of the former princess? Or would they think it just a coincidence? What should I call myself? I really didn’t think this through at all. But I was already making my way to the gate, pure determination driving me to believe it would be fine. 

They were just open. No guards. No people inside the court. Just emptiness. Wasn’t this bad? Just as I was about to move from the safety of just outside the gates looking in to actually into the castle walls a man seemed to appear in front of me out of nothing but a breeze. 

“Princess, we have waited so long for you” a voice melted into my ears. His velvety cadence rushed over me. 

I looked up and up and…up. He was tall. Really tall. At least to me. All the men I had known in my time outside the castle walls had been my height or only slightly taller. At first glance he was far from the most attractive man I had ever seen. The way his dark plum eyes danced with a coy playfulness contrasted so intensely with his blonde hair and light eyebrows. His jaw was strong and sturdy yet there was a youthfulness to his skin. Quite the enigma. He was mesmerizing. 

“I’m sorry, what?” Graceful, I thought. But my mind was stunned. 

“Well of course the prince of the kingdom must greet his future wife” He said painfully slowly, as though he liked the way his desire could be sensed from afar. 

Wife? What is he talking about? 

“I opened the gates in order to send out a search party for you but you came to me, how lucky am I? Now, if you’ll follow me” he smirked. 

Do I follow him? Would he have answers? I decided that it probably was the only real option I had so I stepped forward. 

“I don’t know about this wife nonsense but I’d like to hear what you have to say” I said in as steady of a voice as I could manage. 

“Very well, I am sure I have all the answers that you seek. Come.” 

We began to walk towards the large castle entrance. I looked up to gaze at the castle that once had been so familiar to me. Nothing was familiar now. The shimmering white stone that once stood as a symbol of peace and acceptance had been stained with patches of gray, brown, and black debris. It looked worn and decrepit with no hint of warmth anywhere near. The thought of this once gloriously perfect castle now in such a state of decay made my eyes well with tears. Dekk could have, at the very least, kept the kingdom’s beauty. Now, standing before me was a lifeless and damp structure of stone that looked of no use to anyone. 

My eyes then lowered and looked around. The people of this kingdom looked just as the castle did. Devoid of any life. Any light. Their limbs hung loosely at their sides, as if the effort to raise them would be too great, and their eyes looked at me with nothing. No emotion. No fire. No desire. Nothing. How could this have happened?

We ascended the stairs that were set just to the left of the entrance of the castle. It smelled of moss and decay however, not in the way of how a forest smells. No. It smelled as though bodies had been left to rot. Vultures clung to the sills of the windows that lined the walls. Their eyes moved with us. Watching, ready to swoop down at the first sign of collapse. The unease that was blanketed all around me felt suffocating. Dirty and intentional. 

We reached a large room at the top of the staircase. This one large room sat directly in the center of the two staircases that stretched down on either side of its doors. With a strong shove the doors moved open to reveal a room that resembled a cave. The walls were the darkest gray I’d ever seen with torches lining three of the four walls. One single long vertical window rose from floor to ceiling in the center of the back wall. A long and sturdy desk sat in the center of the room made from what looked to be made of ebony wood and was paired with two statuesque chairs one on each side. The man took a seat in the larger of the two chairs and motioned for me to sit as well. I began to sit in the chair opposite of him however, to my astonishment, he shook his head. 

“No no, that is too far from me, I need you close” he drew out each word letting the depth of his voice echo throughout the room. He then snapped his fingers and a guard, seemingly from nowhere, approached and moved the other chair to be seated next to him. 

“Where are my manners? My name is Vycer. I am the prince. Son of the great Dekk, king of this land” he stated. 

I scoffed at the sound of Dekk’s name. Some king. I knew at that moment that I should bite my tongue but I just could not. 

“He isn’t a king, he is a killer. A murder. But you are well aware of that, aren’t you?” I practically spit the words out. His eyes do not waiver. He is not phased at all by my incredibly stupid, stinging, and epically stupid outburst. 

“Hmm, I find that he is both and not nearly the monster you believe.” Vycer’s eyes hold my gaze for only a moment as his gaze then begins to shift slowly down my body. I shuddered from disgust but also, his voice, it was like a dark, arousing spell. A spell that stoked a fire inside of me. I was repulsed by my attraction to this man. What is wrong with me? I am here for my family. Not for this clearly unstable but deliciously attractive man. 

I did not respond. I just held his gaze until I felt a warmth on my face as if a hand had gently been placed up on my cheek. I shook it off and looked up to meet Vycer’s gaze again. He gave me a devious grin. This exchange was as though I was a field mouse watching a fox slowly eying his next meal. 

“What am I doing here?” I demand. 

“Ah yes, princess, I suppose we can address that” he shot a glance at me proving full well he knew exactly who I was, “As the next in line for king, I must find a bride to be by my side. Standard, as you know. However, I cannot just have any woman, I need royal blood. I want to be seen as the true heir to this kingdom. My father has had countless attempts on his life because he is not of royal blood. No one ever wanted, or wants, him to rule. This kingdom is crumbling because there is no one faithful to him. I will change that. I will make them see that we belong here. My family is the true royalty. For that, I need you, my princess. I need you.” The last sentence was drawn out, filled with tension. 

“That's a cute speech, your highness, but I haven't been royalty for a long time. Your father ruthlessly murdered mine fifteen years ago. Does that ring a bell? Why would I ever agree to marry you?” I spat at him. I knew this was a poor move. My emotions took over. I couldn't stop the words from flowing off my lips. I surely will be locked away for my outburst. 

To my surprise his face showed no signs of anger. Instead a flash of…I'm not sure…compassion, I think, moved across his eyes. 

“Ah yes, that whole thing. I'm aware that is what you believe to have happened. It's no matter now though. As you said, that was years ago, we've all moved on. So should you.” He stated in a very matter of fact tone. 

I stood there stunned. Did this man just tell me to move on? What is wrong with this family? Does life not matter to them? 

“I'd rather not,” I replied flatly. 

“That's fine, my sweet, because you're not leaving these castle walls ever. You can choose to stay bitter or choose to embrace your future. Either way, we will be married” he smiled sweetly, turned and shut the door behind him leaving me in the massive room. Alone. 

I let out a long sigh. Okay, get it together Bryt. I need to get out of here. Thankfully my time with the wild ones helped me acquire a very well rounded set of abilities. The years of stealthily navigating the wooded areas to hunt grouse, squirrels, and other creatures has prepared me to quietly slip out of this prison. I stood up and walked to the window. No ledge. Okay, the window isn't an option. I thought back to the route we took coming in. We came in and followed the left staircase to the top. Only one way out. I'm not a fighter. I can't take on one guard let alone a handful of them. Think. Think. I sat back down. The only way out is to escape when I am closer to the entrance. Ugh. I slid down into the chair and laid my head back. What did I get myself into? I should have never come here. What did I really think I was going to be able to do? Tears welled up in my eyes and silently started to stream down my cheeks. I tried to muffle the sounds of my heaving cries. This was a terrible idea. I had such a good life. Why did it take me getting stuck in the disgusting tower to realize that? Jace and Roghd were the best chosen family I could have ever asked for. Now…now I may never see them again.