“No. Don’t s-say that. You’re a fighter. You always have been.” His hollow gaze met mine. Kindness radiated from him, despite the horrific mess he’d become. “You can’t give up. Not until you draw your last breath.”
If only it was that easy. Every time I fought back, something bad happened. And right now, I couldn’t bear anything else.
With a sigh, I sat up, shaking the snow from myself. “I want to go home, Mr. M. And I’ll do anything to get there.”
He bent beneath the wind, the breeze rustling what was left of his leaves. “Goooood.”
He wouldn’t be saying that if he knew what I’d be willing to give up to get there. The lump in my throat made it hard to breathe as tears streaked my face again. I’d spent my entire life protecting and looking out for everyone else. That was easy when there was so little at stake. But with my life on the line? Now I had to do whatever it took to survive.
I buried my face in my hands, wishing for the ground to swallow me whole. I had no fight left within me.
The crunch of footsteps roused me, and I glanced up to see Etienne trudging into the courtyard.
“Come along, let’s get you out of the cold.” In one swift movement, he swept me into his arms and carried me inside.
When we got to his quarters, Rena stood waiting. Hot water steamed from the tub, and the scent of roses was heavy in the air.
“Get her cleaned up and into something warm,” Etienne said. “I’ll be back soon with some soup. The queen wants you to see her later tonight.”
“What?” I snapped my head up and glanced at him. “Is she going to kill me?”
“She wants to talk. That’s all I know. But tread lightly.”
He slipped from the room, leaving me with his servant.
Rena tugged off my cloak for me and tossed it to the floor. “That was a brave but stupid thing you did.” She spun me around and undid the buttons on my gown. “No one’s ever made it as far as you.”
I stared at the logs snapping in the fireplace. “Yeah, well, it got my friend killed.”
Rena moved to the front of me. “Yes, but you’ve given people hope. That there might be a way out of here.”
“And again, someone died.”
She patted my arm, gave me a curious look I didn’t understand, and then left. She’d never talked to me before, and I wasn’t sure why she had now. But I didn’t want anyone using Demetria as a martyr to encourage them to try and break out of here. I didn’t need any more deaths on my conscience.
I tugged my dress down over my hips, and it fell to the floor in a heap. Goosebumps puckered my chapped skin as I made my way to the tub. At last, I climbed in. The hot water scalded me, but I forced myself to sink into it. I sobbed, laying my head against the edge of the bath.
My fingers trembled as I reached for the soap. Furiously, I scrubbed my body, scratching and scraping until I was raw. Then I fell back into the water, letting it cover my head.
Under the water, I could pretend I was anywhere else but here. No more pain. No more nightmares.
A hand jerked me up, and I sputtered.
It was Rena. “You’ve a visitor coming soon. You need to get ready.”
She dropped a towel around my shoulders as she ushered me from the bath.
I grabbed the cloth and dried off. Rena handed me a long nightgown, which I pulled on over my head. The older woman disappeared, and then a moment later, my visitor—Etienne—came in.
His gaze flickered over me. “Why don’t you sit near the fire so you don’t catch your death?”
“Why is everyone so concerned with my well-being?” I asked as I trudged to the overstuffed chairs and plopped down.
Weariness settled in as the heat from the flames made me sleepy. A sense of defeat washed over me, and I sank further against the seat.
“I never wanted this for you,” Etienne said. “I’ve failed you. I meant to get you out of here, and all I’ve done is make things worse.”
My gaze met his, and I watched the sadness enter his eyes. He caught my hand in his. Such a soft touch. So gentle. His kindness confused me.
“I want out of here so badly,” I whispered.
“I know. But I’m not sure if we’ll get any more opportunities. The queen has doubled the patrols.”
My vision blurred as tears welled. I was never going to get home. I’d forever be stuck in this nightmare…unless the queen decided to make an example of me tonight.
Maybe I should have stayed underwater. It was looking more and more like death would be my only escape.
Chapter Twenty
Salome
My footsteps crunched on loose gravel as I made my way to the soldier’s barracks. I so wasn’t looking forward to my training session with Gwenn, but at least I got to wear breeches. Okay, so they weren’t jeans, but they were way better than the frilly dresses I’d been decked out in. The breeches seemed to be the only positive thing that happened to me since arriving in Summer.
Something shimmered out of the corner of my eye. I whipped my head around, and for a moment, I swore I saw Lord Darach’s ghost flicker near the fence post. I took a few steps toward it, but when I blinked, it was gone.
“Great. Now I’m seeing things.”
“Who are you talking to?” Gwenn stalked out from behind the building, carrying two wooden swords.
“Um—no one.” My face burned. Sure, she chose now to show up when I sounded like a raving lunatic. As if she needed any more reason to hate me.
She shook her head, a frown creasing her lips. “Here, take this.”
Gwenn tossed one of the practice swords at me. It flew over my head, smacking the side of the barracks with a resounding crack!
She glared. “This is going to be a long day.”
“Well, I didn’t ask for your help.” I trudged to pick up my weapon.
“No, but you’ll get it regardless.”
That made absolutely no sense at all. If she didn’t want to be here then why was she? Then it dawned on me. Gareth and Nevin. It’d be nice if the two of them quit meddling in my life.
“The first thing you have to do is hold the damn weapon correctly.” She marched over and twisted the wooden piece in my hand. “Your fingers need to grip the handle here. If you hold it the other way, you’ll probably chop your leg off.”
Why did I feel like a kindergarten student learning to color between the lines?
After making sure I had a firm grip on the sword, she moved in front of me.
“Now, you need to work on your stance.”
I stood there, staring at her. “Um—I’m not sure what you mean.”
With an exasperated huff, she came closer. “Spread your feet apart until they’re shoulder width. Bend your knees a little more.”
My boots scuffed the ground as I moved into position, mimicking her stance. “Like this?”
“Yes. Now, I want you to swing your weapon around. Get used to the feel of it in your hands.”
My teeth grazed my bottom lip, and I spun the sword in a wide arc like I’d seen in the movies. Somehow, I lost my grip, and it sailed through the air and almost hit Gwenn in the face. If she hadn’t ducked, she’d probably look like a unicorn right now, with a wooden sword sticking out of her head.
“Sorry. I’m so sorry.” Crap. I didn’t do this bad when Gareth was trying to show me how to defend myself with a dagger.
Probably because you didn’t have him yelling at you for no reason.
Instead, I’d spent half the time kissing him, which was probably why I hadn’t caught on too quickly.
“You’re not supposed to let it go when you swing it. For shit’s sake.” Gwenn picked it up and tossed it back to me.
This time, I caught it, but barely, and I ended up hitting myself in the stomach. If I survived this training, it’d be a miracle. The only plus side was at least we weren’t using real blades; otherwise we’d both be dead about now. Although I bet if I had the Blade of the Four Kingdoms, I wouldn’t be so cl
umsy. Something about that weapon gave me confidence—and it felt almost alive in my hands. Like the day in the river with the Kelpie. But it was a real blade, and I didn’t want to chance killing my future sister-in-law—even though she was kind of pissing me off at the moment.
For the next few hours, Gwenn attempted to show me how to wield a sword. She went through different movements and stances, none of which could I master. Gwenn’s irritation poured off her like rain.
“I want you to go on the offensive,” she said.
I sucked in a deep breath, my heart pounding. “What if I hit you?”
She smirked. “I don’t think we need to worry about that.”
Jerk. Just for that I hoped I gave her splinters in her face. Trying not to overthink it, I stepped toward her, my fake blade moving in an arc. With a quick flick of the wrist, she disarmed me, then rushed forward, knocking me to the ground.
Damn it. I leapt to my feet once more and retrieved my weapon. My chest heaved as I tried to catch my breath. No way would I ever get this.
“Again,” Gwenn said. “This time don’t rush into it. Watch my movements.”
“I’m trying. Believe it or not, we don’t do sword crap in my world.”
“This crap might save your life one day. Because believe it or not, you might not always have guards to protect you.”
“That’s not what I meant…” I kind of wanted to tell her that I’d already saved myself once, but I doubted she’d believe me, and I didn’t want to sound like I was bragging.
She glowered. “Get into position. This time you’ll be on the defensive.”
My fingers clenched the wooden handle. I squared my shoulders. Gwenn rushed at me. I barely had time to lift my sword. Thwack. Her weapon struck mine, jarring me. I tried to hold my ground, but I stumbled backward beneath the force.
Once more, I found myself on my butt, with my makeshift blade several feet away from me. I rubbed my elbow. Tomorrow, I’d be nothing but one giant bruise.
“Okay, I might need a minute to rest,” I said as I climbed to my knees and rested my hands on my thighs.
Gwenn stared at me, eyes narrowed. “You know what? I think we’re done with our lesson. You’re far too fragile. You’d think if my brother was going to pick a human woman, he’d at least make sure she had a back bone.”
Tears burned my eyes as I shifted my gaze to the ground. Screw her. And this stupid place. I bit back the lump in my throat and fought to compose myself. No way in flipping hell did I want her to see me cry. After a second, I pushed to my feet only to find Gwenn stalking off.
I picked up my sword and flipped it over in my hand. What am I doing here? Seriously? I should’ve just made Gareth take me home where I belonged.
The scent of autumn leaves filled my nostrils. A slight chill swept across my skin.
“Here, let me help you.” Lord Darach came up behind me. I gasped as I felt his ghostly touch.
Okay, I was pretty sure I shouldn’t be able to feel him. Yet I did. One more mystery to add to the mix. Awesome.
“Darach? Wait, how are you here?”
He just smiled. “You looked like you were having a hard time wielding your weapon.”
I rolled my eyes. “Was I that obvious?”
He chuckled. “All you need is a teacher with more patience.”
“Good luck with that. I doubt I’ll ever learn what I’m doing.”
“You will, I promise. Now, let me guide you through your movements. They’ll seem strange at first. But hold them, let your body get used to them.”
His fingers moved up my arms until his hands covered mine. Together we lifted the sword. He led me in several different maneuvers. We swiped the air, arcing and poking and swinging. When my wrists or arms started to go in the wrong direction, he’d catch us mid swing and get me back on course.
Warmth radiated through me as he pressed against my back. For a second, my skin tingled and my blood heated. I glanced down as his fingers disappeared into my flesh.
Oh God, what’s happening?
Somehow, he’d sunk inside me—almost as if he’d possessed me. When he realized what had happened, he jerked back, taking with him the sudden heat I’d felt.
“I-I’m sorry. That’s never happened before.”
“No, it’s okay.” I spun to face him. In that brief connection, I’d seen a flash of his humanity. Of the guy he used to be. He reminded me a lot of Gareth.
Giggles erupted from across the yard. A few nobles walked past me with strange looks on their faces.
“Can they see you?”
“No, so far you’re the only one who can.”
My gaze met his. “Why are you here in Summer?”
He shrugged, then gave me a smile. “I don’t know. Ever since you came to the Ruined Court, I’ve felt attached to you. Like I have to be where you are. Besides, someone needs to watch after you to make sure Nevin doesn’t do anything foolish. I don’t want you to suffer the same fate as me.”
My fingers traced the wooden sword I still held. “So you’ve been here since I arrived? Keeping an eye on me?”
“Yes. I traveled with you from the Ruined Court.”
I gasped. “Wait, you haven’t watched me bathe or change, have you?”
He chuckled. “No. I’m an honorable ghost.”
“Y-you better be.” My eyes traveled over him, coming to rest on the two arrows protruding from his chest. “Do you want me to try and take those out for you?”
He nodded. “I don’t think they’ll budge. The winter queen spelled them. They’re what kept me tethered to the Ruined Court. To her and her bidding. That is until you came.”
I placed my weapon on the nearby fence post then turned to him. My fingers trembled as I gripped hold of one of the thin shafts. With a tug, it pulled loose. Then I moved to the other and dislodged that one as well. When I glanced down, I realized they were real. Not ghost arrows. But actual wood.
He gasped. “You’ve freed me from the tether.”
“The arrows, what do I do with them?”
A burst of eagerness and anticipation crossed his face. “Break them.”
I held the two weapons up and snapped them in half. Tendrils of smoke flared up as they lit on fire.
“Holy crap.” I dropped them and watched as flame consumed them. Soon it burned out, and there was nothing left of them.
Darach eyed me, but his smile slipped away. “You’ve got company. I’ll see you soon, Salome.”
And like that, he disappeared right as Nevin sauntered over to me.
“Ah, there you are. Gwenn said she started your training today.”
I snorted. “Yeah, if you want to call it that.”
“I’m glad you decided to learn how to wield a sword. It never hurts to know how to defend yourself. And Gwenn is a good teacher.”
My mouth gaped open. “Um—yeah, I don’t think she likes me. At all.”
“Just give her time.”
Why did everyone think we’d be best friends? Didn’t they get it? Gwenn hated me. And if I was honest, I didn’t care for her either.
Nevin ushered me toward the palace. I glanced over my shoulder to find Darach sitting on the fence, watching me. For the first time since I’d arrived here, I realized I might have an ally and a friend.
Too bad he’s a ghost.
Chapter Twenty-One
Salome
I slipped into a pair of breeches, then tugged a tunic over my head. For the last couple of days, Gwenn had had me out training with her. She’d pushed me to the point of exhaustion and had treated me like her own personal battering ram. I had the bruises to prove it.
I didn’t really see any improvement during her practices. She just kept beating the crap out of me, which might have been the whole point.
But once she finished with me, Darach would appear and run me through different drills. He said it’d take me more than a few days to get used to the movements and feel competent enough to fight. He claimed it could tak
e months or years before I developed the skills I needed, but his kindness and patience made me want to be better.
With a sigh, I tied my hair up in a ponytail, then sat on the edge of my bed to pull on my boots.
The scent of autumnal leaves surrounded me, and I sighed, already sure who I would see. Darach appeared next to the balcony door.
“Morning,” I said, standing to greet him.
“Morning to you.” He grinned. “I got to thinking last night, while you slept.”
My eyebrows rose. “About?”
“How would you like to show up Gwenn today?”
I snorted. “Um—are you on drugs?’
He gave me a quizzical look. “What?”
“I mean, you’re joking right? You’ve been at all my practices. I have absolutely no chance at winning. She’s too good.”
He ran a ghostly hand through his auburn hair. “What if I helped you?”
“But what if someone sees you?”
“They won’t. I told you, you’re the only one who can.” He smirked, floating over until he stood in front of me. For a moment, he seemed taller than normal—stronger. He touched my hand. “It’ll be fun.”
He was right. It’d be fun to finally show Gwenn I wasn’t this prissy, weak human she thought I was. Besides, it wasn’t like I could do any worse than I already had.
“Okay, I’m in. I sure hope this doesn’t backfire.” My gaze met his.
“It won’t, I promise. It’s about time they start giving you the respect you deserve. You’ve done so much for Summer by freeing the ungrateful Nevin from his curse and risking your life to come here.” His eyes darkened.
Whoa, I wasn’t expecting that. “Well, thank you. I suppose we ought to go then.”
When I arrived at the training grounds beside the barracks, Gwenn stood with her arms crossed, waiting for me. “You’re late,” she snapped.
“Sorry, I was getting dressed.”
She tossed my wooden sword at me. This time, I caught it midair.
“Thought I’d stop in and see how your training is coming along.” Nevin sauntered over to the fence and leaned against it.
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