“We must marry.”
I jerked backwards and bumped my head against the stone wall behind me. Rubbing the spot with one hand, I glared at him. “You must be mad. Even if I had any desire to do so, I am already betrothed. I will not break my engagement and risk destruction on my own kingdom.” Was I never to cease receiving strange proposals?
Cole looked apologetic. “I know it’s not what you would have hoped for. But we cannot see any other way. Your engagement is not with Dominic, exactly. It is with the heir of Palinar. And when those three years, three months, three weeks, and three days pass, he will no longer be the heir. And there will be no Palinaran of royal blood to take his place. But if, as soon as that moment has passed, we are married, then our marriage will make you Palinaran. You can then claim the throne. And you will have indeed married the future king of Palinar. We believe it will be enough to satisfy the ancient laws.”
“We?”
“Prince Jonathan, Princess Lily and me.”
I was still almost too shocked to process his words. “You’re trying to tell me that Lily wants me to marry you?”
Cole chuckled darkly. “Oh no. She hates the idea. But they had no other Palinaran to hand. Certainly, no other who was willing to brave the dangers and attempt to reach you. And the only thing she hates worse than the idea of you marrying me, is the idea of you being trapped here forever by the curse with only the Beast for company.”
I frowned. As incomprehensible as it seemed, his words made sense. If we broke the curse, at least Lily and I would be reunited, however distasteful my husband.
But I could not accept such a thing. I was already betrothed. I stared across at him.
He sighed. “Am I really such a terrible prospect? I know I’ve made mistakes in the past, but I honestly want to make restitution for them.”
I tried to look at him through objective eyes. His manner did seem to have changed since I had last seen him in Marin. He wasn’t much older than me and, physically, he was attractive. Perhaps I might even grow to love him. My mind recoiled from the thought. But I couldn’t reject his words out of hand, not if it truly was the only way to save Palinar.
While I stared at him, the door crashed open, and we both flinched violently. The Beast’s roar exploded in the confined space as he burst into the cell. Cole leaped toward me and, for a moment, my confused mind wondered if he meant to protect or attack me.
He had barely brushed against me, however, before Dominic leaped forward and thrust him away. He flew through the air and smashed against the far wall. Sliding to the ground before slowly pushing himself back up, he faced the growling Dominic with surprising bravery.
I looked between the two of them as my mind registered what my hand was telling me. Cole had thrust a piece of parchment into my fingers, unseen by Dominic.
What were you thinking? yelled Dominic, his eyes still on Cole, but his words clearly directed at me.
“I needed to speak to him,” I said, wishing my voice weren’t so shaky after the many unexpected turns of the night.
It isn’t safe!
“I’m fine, aren’t I?” I pushed away from the wall and slipped from the room. When the prince didn’t follow me, I called his name sharply.
He backed out of the room, his eyes not leaving Cole until the door swung shut, pushed by one of the guards. Then he turned and grabbed my arm. I let him tow me out of the dungeon and away from the listening guards. But as soon as we were out into the main part of the castle, I dug my heels in, pulling him to a halt.
He turned to me and the angry words dropped from my lips. I had never seen him look so desperate or so frantic. Promise me you won’t try that again.
“I cannot promise you such a thing. And you should not ask it of me. I am not your servant or even your subject. And I will never get Cole to talk if you are always there glowering at him.”
He talked then, did he? Dominic sounded disparaging, and I bristled.
“He would have, if you hadn’t burst in so abruptly and interrupted us.” The lie tasted like ashes in my mouth, bitter and all too light. It had been far too easy to say. But I could hardly tell Dominic the truth of what Cole had said, he would rip him limb from limb. And I was desperate to get away from him so I could read the parchment. I needed time alone to think.
Dominic pulled me closer. Please, Sophie, he whispered, his desperate eyes holding mine. Please. I only want to protect you. Don’t you see the way he looks at you? He shivered and his voice went hard. I will not let him touch you again.
When I said nothing, refusing to give him the reassurance he wanted, he abruptly dropped his hand and stepped back from me, his face becoming angry and hard. You may not be my subject, but this is still my castle. I will order the guards to deny you entry should you try such a thing again. You can save yourself trouble, and them embarrassment, by not making the attempt.
I sucked in an angry breath and glared at him. “I have never forgotten that this is your castle, or that I do not belong here. Believe me, I am always searching for a way to leave.”
He jerked back as if I had struck him, hurt flashing across his face almost too fast to see. I immediately regretted my hotheaded words. I had lashed out in my anger and spoken more harshly than I had intended.
I turned and ran toward my room.
I made it inside before I thought to look down at the parchment still clutched in my hand. I could see my name written across the outside in an all-too-familiar handwriting. I swayed, almost collapsing. A letter for me. From Lily.
Chapter 23
I climbed into bed and sat there, a branch of lit candles on a table nearby, stroking the single word. Seeing my name in her hand made me feel near to her, and I wanted to enjoy that feeling for a moment. Because I feared that once I read its contents, my emotions would be once again thrown into turmoil.
Finally, I could delay no longer.
Dearest Sophie, I miss you every day. Jon tells me to have trust in you, and I do! It is the Beast I do not—and cannot—trust. I cannot rest easy while you are helpless in his grasp. And I am determined that you be freed from your betrothal. I know that you left with such high hopes of breaking it yourself and coming back to us…but so much time has passed. I am becoming desperate. You were never supposed to be there alone!
Neither of us were ever supposed to have to be alone. I feel that I have failed you, and I don’t know what to do.
Oh dear, Jon is telling me off for writing such a depressing letter. I just wish I could speak to you. Could know that the Beast did not blame you for those wolves injuring him…
I love you, Sophie!