The gossip made me uneasy. I no longer lived in Caldiri. People here didn’t know me since birth and treat me with respect as a trusted healer. The knowledge that rumors could be swirling about me or my family was not welcome. Not in the slightest.
“Fine. We aren’t elves.” I moved to change the subject. “But why would they attack the draekon?”
Nolan stared at me like I was an idiot. “Because they are mortal enemies.”
“Draekon and elves?” Bridget revealed her confusion. “They’re enemies?”
I crossed my arms, feeling validated. I wasn’t the only one in the room who didn’t know things.
Then again, we both came from Caldiri.
Nolan moved his gaze to Bridget. I noticed the hard edges of his eyes softened. “For millennia,” he answered. “Long before the draekon came to the continent.”
The room fell silent as the pieces fell into place. Elves were the enemies of the superior beings who ruled our kingdom?
“The elves are the ones who cursed the draekon,” Lorie whispered, almost like she was afraid speaking the words aloud would result in some sort of punishment.
Tired of standing, I stepped forward and fell onto the sofa. I stared at the carpet beneath my feet, letting it all sink in.
I knew the draekon had been cursed. For some reason, though, I never considered the possibility that their enemies continued to threaten them. I believed draekon were indestructible. After all, they had overcome both curses placed by their enemies.
How did I not know the rivalry still existed? Why was all of this information kept from Caldiri?
“Lissa?” Lorie interrupted my thoughts. “Can I speak to you?” She glanced at Bridget and Nolan. “Alone.”
I, too, looked at the room’s occupants to gage their reaction. Neither of them appeared to hear Lorie’s request. They had moved on to discuss the elves in more detail. Nolan sat up, looking rather pleased to be the one to share such information with Bridget.
I turned away and pushed off the sofa, following Lorie into our bedroom.
Before I finished closing the door, she whirled on me. She stuck out her hand, holding a piece of paper. “An agent gave me this today.”
I took the item and read the note.
Lissa and Lorie,
I said I’d come for you. Be brave. It’ll all be over soon.
Lin
I didn’t know what to do: I didn’t know what to think. I lowered the letter and met my sister’s worried gaze.
“What if Lin joined the rebellion?” she blurted, unable to hide her fear. “What if he played a part in today’s attack?”
I struggled to get my thoughts in order. “When did you receive this letter?”
“Today. While I was serving tea in the courtyard. A census agent appeared and handed me the note. He was gone before I finished reading it.”
“A census agent?” My eyes narrowed. “Are you sure?”
“Yes,” she said, twisting her hands together. “H-he wore the black leathers with the red emblem.”
I didn’t know why an agent would deliver Lin’s letter, but I doubted it was a good thing.
“The attack was orchestrated by elves,” I said to reassure both of us. “Not the rebellion.” Even if our brother had gotten himself tangled with a census agent, he wouldn’t have condoned an attack on the castle. Lin wasn’t violent.
Except for fighting to reach us during the Ceremony, a tiny voice whispered.
Lorie wasn’t convinced. “But what if the rebellion is working with the elves? Our brother could be an enemy of the kingdom.”
I understood her fear and where it stemmed from, but I didn’t want to believe it.
A secret rebellion working with the draekon’s mortal enemies? Even if such a thing existed, I couldn’t imagine how our brother would have been able to join the cause in just barely over a month. Last I checked, the rebellion was nothing more than smoke and rumor in Caldiri.
“I’m sure the delivery of this letter is merely a coincidence.”
Lorie gnawed her bottom lip. “Truly? Are you sure?”
“Yes.” I stepped forward, placing a hand on her arm. “Honestly, I’m surprised Lin hasn’t written to us sooner. It is unfortunate that we finally heard from him on such a terrible day.”
Gradually, the unease and fear faded from Lorie’s blue eyes. Her trust in me superseded everything else. “Me too. I figured he would have met with the king to demand our release by now.”
I laughed—like Lin could get within ten feet of the king. “That sounds like him.”
“It was just such a strange coincidence,” my sister offered, trying to explain herself.
I squeezed her arm once before lowering my hand.
“Why wouldn’t Lin just visit us?” I watched as doubt crept its way back over her face. “Other recruits receive visits from their families.”
The realization had been another debilitating blow for both of us.
Lorie and I were raised to believe recruits were never allowed to see their families again. Instead, many of the kitchen staff visited their families on a monthly basis. We had to sit in envy and heartache as we watched Kenzie, and other servants with family in Draek venture outside of the castle walls to reunite with them.
“Lin doesn’t know that. I bet he sent the letter from Caldiri. He wouldn’t know he is allowed to enter Draek to see us.”
“We should write him.”
“We should,” I agreed.
I didn’t admit I already sent multiple letters to Lin, informing him of how not horrible Draek had been thus far. I even wrote to Jem. I wanted to reassure both men that we were doing well, but I had yet to receive a reply from either of them. I didn’t want to cause Lorie to worry, but I had my suspicions that letters from the capital were intentionally barred from entering Caldiri.
Lorie gazed at the far wall and shook her head. “Sorry, Lissy. I guess I overreacted.”
I assured it was fine, and that I would have done the same if I were in her shoes. When, in truth, a knot began to form at the base of my stomach.
I said the timing of Lin’s note was a coincidence… but I didn’t really believe in coincidences. Not to mention the fact the handwritten paper was delivered by a census agent.
No, something was definitely wrong with the situation. Lorie was right to think so.
I made it my mission to find out the truth behind the matter, but I vowed to do so without alerting my sister to the fact that our brother might be in danger.
21
The evening dragged on. Royal guards patrolled every inch of the castle, including our hallway. They made sure every single person—both human and draekon—remained in our rooms for the entirety of the night. It was strange, but that was the first night I could honestly say I had trouble sleeping in Draek.
The admission felt traitorous. I should’ve been wary and less inclined to find relief in the comfortable beds in my enemy’s territory. I thought of Jem and Jane sleeping on their rough straw mattresses in Caldiri. I thought of Lin spending the nights alone in our cottage. I’d allowed myself to be lulled into complacency, and a long overdue shame consumed me.
Rather than keep Lorie awake with my constant movements and exasperated sighs, I moved to the common area sometime after midnight. I settled on the comfortable green couch and stared at the ceiling. I think I managed another hour of sleep before Chef knocked on our door the following morning.
Bleary eyed, I answered and stepped to the side to allow her entrance.
“Amelissa.” She still used my full name despite most of the kitchen staff adopting my shortened name. “I’m glad to see you are safe. What of your sister and Bridget?”
“Both are well and asleep.”
Her shoulders relaxed. “Good… that’s good.” She looked around the apartment, distracted. I wondered if she’d managed to get any sleep herself.
“How are you?” I closed the door. “Are you all right?”
“Me? Yes
. Of course.” She rubbed her eyes. “Just tired. I was up most of the night.”
I gave her a soft, relatable smile. “Me too.”
“We haven’t had an attack in years,” Chef continued. She needed to confide in someone, and that lucky someone was me. I still hadn’t gotten over my wariness of draekon, but Chef had been nothing but kind to me. It was easy to talk to her. “And we’ve never had one in the castle. At least, not as long as I’ve been alive.”
The phrasing made me wonder. “How old are you?” I realized too late my question might be rude. “If you don’t mind me asking…”
“Over three centuries,” Chef answered with no emphasis, just fact.
I thought my eyes were going to pop out of my skull. “Three hundred years?”
Chef heard my tone and trailed her eyes over me. “I forget sometimes,” she stated softly, “how new this is to you. You’ve done well at adapting these past few weeks.”
I wasn’t sure if I should feel pride or disgrace. “Thank you,” I replied out a sense of obligation.
She continued to observe me. Her friendly eyes scanned me from head to toe, looking like she was trying to answer some unknown question. Finally, she said, “I actually came by because your presence has been requested.”
My entire body twitched. It took all of my strength to remain where I stood. “Someone wishes to see me?”
Please don’t let it be the prince. Please don’t let it be the prince.
“Yes.”
I steeled myself. “Who?”
If she noticed my unease, she didn’t comment. “My brother.”
“Agent Min?” I visibly relaxed. “Do you know what about?” Agent Min was definitely better than the prince, but his summons was still out of the ordinary.
“Noo,” Chef dragged the word out. “He didn’t tell me.”
I tried not to worry. “When should I see him?”
“As soon as you’re ready. He is waiting in the parlor.”
“Right.” I glanced down and observed my rumpled clothes. “I’ll change and be there shortly.”
Chef dipped her head. She exited the room without another word. Her back was bent forward. She was tired like the rest of us. Her body needed rest.
I splashed water on my face and dressed in my good skirt and laced up a new top. I would wear something else if I could, but my only other option was the flowing, sheer material from when I first arrived at the castle. I didn’t think that outfit would be appropriate.
At the writing table, I picked up a quill and dipped it in ink to write Lorie a brief note. I didn’t know if my meeting with Agent Min would take long but better to let her know of my whereabouts just in case.
I closed the door behind me, careful to keep the wood from hitting against the doorframe. I found Agent Min in the parlor. His hands were clasped behind his back. Upon hearing my entrance, he turned around and assessed me.
“Good morning.” I stepped closer. “Chef said you wanted to see me.”
His stare landed on my face. “Yes.”
His short reply seemed odd. “May I ask what for?”
“I’m to escort you to the northern wing. Someone there would like to interview you.”
Interview me?
I tried to deduce his cryptic words. “To interview me about the attack?” Did someone think I knew something?
Immediately, Lin’s face popped into my mind. I shoved the image away along with the fear accompanying it.
“Somewhat.” Agent Min dropped his hands to his side. “Shall we?”
With no choice, I trailed after him. We left the kitchen floor, and I almost objected when I realized he was leading me to the public stairwell. It was centered in the wing, and anyone passing by would see me. I wasn’t sure what Agent Min wanted from me, but until I knew it was nothing serious, I’d prefer to not be noticed.
I comforted myself with the fact that it was still early morning. The chances of someone being awake and roaming the castle were slim on a normal day, but even more so since we were all confined to our quarters.
Agent Min moved at a brisk pace and didn’t say a word. I’d been waiting for him to offer an explanation of where we were going, but I was disappointed.
In another situation, I may have been brave enough to vocalize my questions. But something felt off about his behavior. Agent Min had always treated me with kindness. He understood the drastic change my life had taken, and he tried to make it better in the little ways he could manage.
But seeing him walk with tense shoulders and a rigid spine, I suspected it was not the time to rely on his kindness.
We moved through a passage linking the wings of the castle. I bit my cheek as we began to ascend the stairway in the north wing. I’d never been above the first floor in that part of the castle. Only royal servants went beyond the court’s public rooms.
The truth I’d been trying to avoid fought its way to the surface. An entirely new anxiety took over as I realized we were walking to the royal living quarters.
“What are we doing here?” I breathed. I was too nervous to care I sounded like a terrified child.
Agent Min paused on the next landing. “Prince Finn wishes to speak with you. I advised he do so early to avoid notice.”
A small relief but one I appreciated, nonetheless. “What does he want to talk about with me?”
Sympathy crossed his face. “It isn’t anything bad,” he tried to comfort me. “That is all I am permitted to say. The rest must come from the prince.”
My eyes flitted to his. I saw sincere and genuine regret that he was not allowed to tell me more.
“All right.” I flattened the fabric at my hips in a nervous gesture.
Agent Min raised an arm. I thought he might reach out and pat me, but the limb fell away a moment later.
As he continued to climb leading us to the highest floor in the entire castle, I forced myself to be brave.
I pushed aside any and all speculating thoughts. I would know what the prince wanted soon enough. The sooner we arrived, the sooner I could get the whole thing over with.
Gods be with me.
If I believed the apartment in the kitchens was lovely, the one I stood in was by far the most luxurious and lavish room I had ever stepped inside.
When Agent Min pushed in the two tall, black wooden doors, I didn’t know what I expected to see on the other side.
An office, maybe?
Or perhaps an empty parlor?
I did not anticipate I would be escorted into the prince’s private chambers. Nor did I take the moment to consider the amount of opulence I would see laid bare before me.
The carpet was a deep, dark green. Gold thread twisted and curved to accent the border of the entire floor. I followed the scroll from one edge until it landed in the middle of the room. I stepped forward to see over the ivory table in front of it, and I observed the royal crest embroidered in the carpet.
Raising my gaze, I tried, but failed, to admire all of the paintings on the wall. There were too many. I had a feeling I could spend days in the room, and I would still need more time to examine everything.
Continuing my perusal, I noted finely upholstered chairs, the golden beverage cart in the corner, as well as several small statues and figurines adorning elegantly carved tables.
I knew draekon liked to hoard treasure, but I never knew such treasure existed in the world. The prince’s room was the definition of excessive wealth, but it was also filled with the most beautiful things I’d ever seen. And I could not bring myself to be disgusted by it.
A cough drew my attention away from the finery.
There. Standing in the corner and blending in with the rich colors and wealth of the room was the injured draekon prince. Though, he showed no signs of the previous day’s ghastly wound.
He was taller than I remembered. Then again, I’d only seen him lying on the ground or hunched over with pain. And his injury had distracted me. His pitch-black hair was neatly swept to the side,
and his broad, muscular shoulders filled out his ivory tunic nicely.
Prince Finn stood before me, and his onyx eyes watched me with cautious interest.
I froze. What was the proper way to greet a prince?
Should I curtsy? Bend to one knee? I’d never been taught how to handle my current situation. Why would I? I was a laboring recruit. Who would have ever thought I’d come face to face with a draekon prince?
Rather than do the wrong thing, my mind and body both decided to do nothing.
I stood there, staring, as the prince lowered the book he held and placed it on a nearby table. He did not move his eyes from me.
“Thank you, Min.” His voice was smooth as cream but deep like the bass notes of a guitar. “That will be all.”
Agent Min didn’t hesitate. He moved to leave. As he passed me, he gave me a small, reassuring smile. My eyes followed his exit, and he closed the dark doors behind him.
Gods. I was alone with a draekon prince.
I turned back around. All I wanted to do was avoid powerful draekon at all costs, yet, there I was, alone with one of the strongest and deadliest creatures alive. It was no secret that King Roderick’s sons were a force to be reckoned with. They led the king’s vast armies. Lord Stanley’s draekon bodyguards loved to brag about the princes’ victories on the battle field. The males and females enjoyed terrifying us with warnings about what happened to regions that rose up against the king. Apparently, ___, a small region off the west coast of the continent, had been burned to the ground for their disobedience.
I swallowed.
“Thank you for coming,” the prince addressed me once the doors shut. “I’m sure this is a strange for you.”
That was an understatement. I tilted my head forward but said nothing.
“Min tells me you come from Caldiri.” He stepped closer. “I hope you are finding life in Draek bearable.”
I blinked, remembering I’d pretty much said the same thing days ago in my letter to Lin. “Agent Min spoke to you about me?” Why would he do that?
As if hearing my unspoken question, he said, “Yes. I asked about you.”
“Why?”
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