by Linda Kage
I peered into the darkened pit, horror filling my veins. Then I jerked back, shaking my head aggressively. “You must be joking.”
There could be any number of things down there, and I had no idea how deep it went. My God, the dungeons at home were a million times more pleasant than this monstrosity.
How could anyone be so inhumane?
“I’m always joking, my lady,” the guard sneered. “And I’ll be laughing your entire trip down, too.” Grabbing me roughly, he shoved me into the hole and let go.
I screamed. Indigo shouted my name from above. And then I landed, slamming into the bottom of the cell so abruptly I wrenched an ankle.
Sucking in a breath as pain seared its way up my leg to my bottom, I winced. “Ouch.”
Cold, black, damp stone entombed me into my new cage. On the other side of a row of vertical bars, Indigo appeared, landing with a crack, followed by a curse. And Farrow came next, dumped into the cell on the other side of me.
He made no noise and didn’t move when he hit the floor.
I watched him intently, seeking him with my mark. His screaming emotions were what had led me to the castle in the first place. From the moment Indigo and I had entered Blayton, I’d been able to sense Farrow’s presence again.
When a spark of fear and apprehension erupted from him, I knew he was in trouble, and I took off running, only knowing I needed to get to him. Not too long after that, another wave of sensations blasted me. For a moment, I thought he’d been mortally wounded, because pain. Suddenly, there was so much pain and loss I could barely breathe through it.
Now, I understood that must’ve come from the moment he’d lost Sable, because an onslaught of anger followed. Waves and waves of pure rage.
The entrance to the castle had been abandoned; everyone being called to the throne room for assistance. So Indigo and I had merely followed the clattering knights straight to where Farrow was. He’d already killed a dozen men by the time we reached him.
It was a sight to behold. I’d never seen a warrior so savage and masterful with a sword before.
But all that fury in him dropped when he found me being held hostage by the queen. Stupid Colt had run out of bullets one person too soon.
And now, here we were, trapped in the depths of hell. Indigo limped to the bars of my cell to check on me. I nodded and held up a hand, letting him know I was fine, all the while, I couldn’t seem to take my gaze away from Farrow.
Above us, the queen spoke through our grated ceiling. “You brought this upon yourself. You know that, don’t you, Farrow? All these years, I could’ve had you spared. Protected. But you made the wrong choice.”
I didn’t realize he was even conscious until he slowly pushed his torso from the ground with his forehead and knees, since his arms remained cuffed behind his back.
“You could’ve saved Sable too,” he hissed, glaring up at the queen. “But you laughed when they killed her. You laughed.” After struggling to his feet, he kicked the bars separating me from him to demonstrate his anger. Then he slammed his shoulder into them. “When I get out of here, the first person I’m coming for is you. Do you hear that, Kalendria? I will end you.”
“I’d like to see you try,” she said with the confidence of a woman who stood safely away from all threats. Then she turned away. “Goodbye, Farrow. Enjoy death.”
“We’ll see if you’re still smiling when I wrap my hands around your throat,” Farrow screamed, even though she was already gone. “You miserable blight! I won’t let you get away with this. I won’t—”
When something caught his attention inside his cell, he broke off abruptly. I followed his gaze as he noticed something on the rock wall beside him. Squinting, I leaned forward to see better as he stumbled to the wall.
The light down here was abysmal. Torchlight from above was the only source of illumination we were provided, so it took me a bit to realize a name had been scratched into the stone surface.
Sable.
Farrow gently touched it with his cheek, then he closed his eyes and rasped out a hoarse sob.
Another dry heave consumed him, shaking his shoulders. Then he fell to the floor, drew up his knees to his chest, and buried his face in them, weeping uncontrollably.
Curled into a fetal ball like that with his arms chained behind his back, he collapsed on his side and sobbed. The sound of grief was almost inhuman. It seemed to tear into him, gouging and flaying flesh and bone, desperate to reach his soul and obliterate everything he was.
My own legs gave out as his pain echoed into me. I clutched the bars and lowered myself down to the cold, dank floor. Then tears flooded my eyes and hopelessness entered my soul as I cried with my beloved.
When a warm hand touched mine, I realized Indigo had sat down with me, just on the other side of the bars and had reached through to comfort me, because he knew I was experiencing Farrow’s pain with him.
I leaned toward him and let him be there for me, all the while crying harder because Farrow had no one. He grieved alone in this pit of hell, honestly believing there was no one left alive who loved him. Closing my eyes, I rocked, wishing I could help him in some way.
But how could he want anything to do with me? It was my fault his sister was dead. If he’d just turned me in to his king like he was supposed to, none of this would’ve happened. Or if I’d swallowed my pride sooner after learning the truth, he wouldn’t have had to face all this alone. Maybe his sister would’ve made it.
The guilt swelled. I closed my eyes, rocking gently as time passed.
After a while, Farrow went quiet. Numb. His emotions were drained. I felt drained. His body seemed to shut down, unable to bear anymore. And to be honest, it was a relief. I wasn’t sure how much more I could’ve endured to feel from him.
Next to me, my bodyguard leaned closer, keeping his voice low.
“You okay?”
It took me a moment to answer. I met his gaze, ignoring the way my bones felt as if they’d been shaken to the core. “It wasn’t me who lost a sister.” Or a father.
“Still,” he said. “You just had to experience all that with him.”
I blew out a shaky breath. Yeah, I had. “He’s devastated,” I reported.
Indigo nodded. “Well, that was obvious from here without having to share the mark with him.”
I nodded.
Indy’s eyes swirled with confusion as he studied the crumpled form of Farrow across the cell, where he lay in a heap on the cold, damp stone.
“He saved me,” Indigo finally said, his brows pinching together. “There was no reason for him to talk the queen into sparing me.” Glancing at me, he shook his head. “Why would he do that?”
I wiped the last of my tears from my cheeks. “Because he knew you were important to me.” Then a light smile wavered across my lips. “Plus, lying is kind of his specialty.”
Emotion clogged Indigo’s features. He returned his speculative gaze to Farrow. A moment later, he nodded. “Maybe I won’t kill him after all.”
I huffed out an amused sound, then sniffed and wiped another tear from my cheek. “I’m not sure why you ever thought to bother. I’d just bring him right back if you did.”
My bodyguard shrugged. “I know, but it would’ve amused me to serve him a mortal injury, anyway. But…” He looked conflicted as he shook his head, still watching my true love. “I believe he’s suffered enough.” Hissing out a low growl, he asked, “What kind of monster—king or not—has his own daughter killed just to teach another man a lesson?”
“The worst kind,” I answered. “And I have a bad feeling his widow isn’t much better than him.”
Indigo snorted, “That babbling bitch is crazy if she thinks I’m marrying her.”
“I don’t know,” I countered, smirking at him. “I almost think it’d be worth it just to see the look on her face when she realizes her new husband is, in fact, the prince of nothing.”
“Hey.” He shot me an offended scowl. “I’m a prince among men, thank you ve
ry much.”
I rolled my eyes, only to startle alert when Farrow shifted from the other side of the prison. I had actually thought he’d passed out after how hard he’d been grieving.
“Farrow?” I called.
His shoulders tensed fractionally. Then he lifted his head and slowly turned my way.
I held my breath, unsure how he’d receive me. The last time we’d talked to each other, I’d chained him to a tree, and now his sister was dead because of it.
Unease coiled in my stomach.
Finally, he made a hissing sound, rather like a wild animal warning others away. Then he growled out the words, “Why the fuck did you come to Blayton?”
“I…” Nervous sweat gathered under my arms. “I just wanted to help. I’m sorry, by the way, about—” But I couldn’t say the girl’s name. I winced instead.
Fat lot of help I’d been.
“You weren’t supposed to come here,” he stated, getting to his feet. Fury leaked into his system. “You were supposed to be safely on your way back to Donnelly, far, far away from this castle and this whole fucked-up situation. Dammit, why would you come here?”
“Because it was my fault that her life was in danger,” I tried. “If you had just brought me to your king to begin with, she would’ve been okay. I owed it to Sable to—”
“You didn’t fucking owe her anything,” he barked. “The only reason her life was in danger was because the king willed it so. Nothing we did killed her. He killed her.” Growling out his emotions, he thrashed in his cage, bumping his shoulder against the bars yet again to make them shake before he howled in agony, “He killed her. That monster killed my sister.”
Fury flared through my mark, telling me he was getting upset again.
“That stupid son of a bitch. I can’t believe I ever put any hope in him. Any allegiance. If I’d just been smart and seen him for what he always was, none of this ever would’ve—”
“Farrow,” I said sternly. “Stop.” He’d just kept me from blaming myself for this. The least I could try to do was the same for him.
And he did stop. Squeezing his eyes shut, he panted a few moments before lifting his face and opening his lashes.
His eyes narrowed in on me before he flashed his teeth and demanded in a low growl, repeating, “Why did you come to Blayton?”
“I—” I swallowed uneasily. He didn’t seem very happy to see me at all.
“Why, Nicolette?” he boomed.
With a sniff of indignation, I scowled, snapping, “You’re welcome, by the way, since—you know—you’d be dead right now if we hadn’t showed up when we did.”
“I’m supposed to be dead right now,” he thundered, glaring as he pushed his shoulder against the bars to snarl savagely. “And you took that from me. You…” He closed his eyes and pressed his face to cold steel as agony tore through him. “Since I couldn’t save her, I should’ve died with her. She was the only thing I had left. And now she’s gone. She’s…”
“Farrow, no,” I whispered, drifting forward to touch his cheek. He’d been nicked repeatedly. Small cuts dotted his face and arms. I wanted to kiss them all better. But I knew he wouldn’t let me.
Air hissed from his lungs. His eyes slitted open. He looked so lost and abandoned when he rasped, “The best thing you ever did was leave me chained to that tree. Why the hell did you come back?”
“I...” Shaking my head, I countered, “Why couldn’t I come back? It wasn’t as if I left you, left you. We were just having a row—because of your lies—and I needed some space to myself before I could forgive you for all your errors. It was never meant to be a permanent—”
“Well, it should’ve been permanent.” His chin trembled. More tears filled his eyes. “Only people with a death wish stick with me.”
“Yes, well.” I notched my chin higher. “I guess I’ll just have to be the exception to that rule.”
Now, if we could only get out of here, I might actually feel a little more confident about that claim. I glanced around our surroundings, seeing nothing to help us escape.
Farrow merely watched me, eyes swirled as he studied my face. “I thought you hated me,” he finally said.
I snapped him an immediate frown. “What in God’s name made you come to such a silly notion?”
He lifted one shoulder. “Not sure exactly. Maybe the part where you chained me to a tree, told me you were leaving, and said goodbye before you walked away had something to do with it.”
With a harassed sigh, I rolled my eyes. “And you immediately decided to assume that meant I hated you? I even told you to come back for me whenever you pulled your head out of your ass and learned how to be a proper soul mate.”
“No, you said—”
“Well, that’s what I meant!” I snapped. “God! You’re so typical. You haven’t figured anything out at all, yet, have you? No wonder why I’m still so vexed with you. But seriously...” I gazed around the cell, shoving my hands against my hips and frowning. “I need more space from you right now. Hasn’t anyone ever escaped this damn dungeon before?”
“Not yet,” he answered, his gaze still on me as it moved to my wrist guards and paused. Then he looked up suddenly to the ceiling. “But the guards have gone,” he noticed. “So now’s our best chance.”
I snorted. “Of course they’re gone. Why would they need to stick around when there’s absolutely no chance of us leaving this damn tomb unless they personally fish us out?”
Farrow lowered his focus back to me. “I wouldn’t say no chance,” he crooned softly.
I frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Yeah.” From his cell, Indigo suddenly jerked to his feet and clutched the bars. “What do you mean?”
“Take out your hairpin, princess,” Farrow said softly with a tip of his chin. “Toss it on the ground there and stomp on it as hard as you can with the heel of your boot.”
I blinked in absolute confusion. “Do…what?”
“And maybe step back after that; I’m not sure how fast it’ll work.”
“Holy shit,” Indigo squawked from his cell. “Please tell me you have a way to get us out of here.”
My stomach pitched. Narrowing my eyes, I squinted suspiciously at my mate. “My God. What did you do?”
He shrugged mildly. “As you’re not a fan of magic, I couldn’t rightly tell you I had borrowed a couple of your things for Mydera to charm, now could I? You never would’ve worn them again.”
“You…?”
“Lied?” he finished for me. He smiled without any amusement. “Since when have you ever known me to be honest, right?”
I rattled out a shaky pant, ground my teeth and uneasily slipped the hairpin from my dark locks. “Well, now I know why you were so intent for me to keep my jewels on at the ferry.”
“Absolutely,” Farrow agreed. “The safest place they could be was on you.”
I arched a severe eyebrow. “And you never planned on telling me I was covered in fucking magic?”
“I would’ve,” he argued, “whenever we reached Blayton and I needed to borrow them to break Sable free. But no sooner than that. I didn’t want them to distress you.”
“Oh, of course not,” I grumbled sarcastically, not buying it. “No, there was no reason to tell fragile little Nicolette the truth. Not that I’m your soul mate or anything.” I eyed the clip again, grimacing. “What’s this thing going to do when I step on it?”
“Get us out of here, I hope.”
I shot Farrow a glare for being extremely unhelpful.
“Christ, Nic,” Indigo finally snapped. “Will you just throw the damn thing on the floor and stomp on it already?”
Lord help me from aggravating men. Cursing both of them, I tossed the pin onto the ground. “Just so you know,” I announced as I lifted my foot above it and hovered a moment. “If we all die because of this, I was against the idea of using magic from the beginning.” Then I jammed my heel down and crushed the pin underfoot.
It spark
ed, and I leaped back. When nothing else happened, I tilted my head. “Maybe it’s a dud.”
“Fucking hell,” Farrow hissed. “That would just figure. I gave up my flagon for this piece of shit? I’m going to murder Mydera.”
And just like that, the clip began to tremble and morph, growing and expanding, shooting upward. I yelped and skittered another few steps back. Before our eyes, it turned into a thick, ropey vine, with short, stubby branches sprouting off to the sides every few feet, providing lattices so it could be climbed.
“My God.” I sucked in an amazed lungful. “It’s a ladder.”
Once it reached the ceiling, it paused and shimmered as if ready to be scaled. Hesitantly, I eased forward. With a moaning cringe, I released a breath and grabbed the vine.
“Oh,” I said in shock, glancing either way toward both men. “It’s surprisingly durable. I wasn’t expecting that.”
“Then climb that son of a bitch,” Indigo urged. “Because I refuse to marry the psycho of a queen who tossed me down here.”
“Okay, but I must warn you,” I told him as I started my ascent. “Kalendria doesn’t deal well with rejection. Just ask Farrow.”
“Funny,” Farrow groused dryly from behind his bars.
I smirked to myself though, finding some humor there, until I reached the roof of our cell. “Great,” I realized, moodily. “I’ve climbed to the top of this pit. Now what? The trapdoor’s still padlocked closed.”
“Use the pendant on your necklace,” Farrow instructed. “It should unlock anything.”
“Of course,” I muttered, shaking my head. “You had that charmed too, huh? What other magic am I wearing right now?”
“Your wrist guards,” Farrow said, surprising the heck out of me with his forthrightness. For once. “The left one turns into a sword and the right is a shield, I believe.”
Weapons. I’d been wearing weapons all this time? “Wow. Would’ve been nice to know that right about the time my Colt ran out of bullets.”
“Apologies,” Farrow replied mildly. “I was a little too busy trying not to die to remember and mention them at the time.”
“Well, if you’d told me about them when you actually had them enchanted...” I snapped, unlocking the cell with a snarl and shoving the door open. It swung back on its hinges, toppling to the stone floor beside it with a jarring echo that resounded around the entire dungeon.