His sneering, cruel expression when we parted flashed before my eyes, but I couldn’t tell them the true source of my hatred for him. “He was a party to his father’s plans to kill my sister’s new family and destroy Marin. I could never love such a man.”
A gasp sounded on my left, just as I heard the soft sound of a closing door to my right. I frowned at the small front door carved from the larger ones. Had it been open a moment ago?
More servants arrived and began carrying my bags out to the carriage. I shook off my distraction and followed them. This time I was able to greet the coachmen by name, not at all unnerved by the carriage that appeared to drive itself. I hadn’t worked out how I would break the news of our true destination to them yet, but that was a job for after we had left the castle grounds.
Just as I was about to step into the carriage, however, I noticed a familiar head among the rose bushes. Telling the servants to wait, I hurried toward the garden, almost running through the spirals.
“Dominic,” I said softly as I reached him in the center of the roses.
He started and spun around, seeming to drink me in with his eyes. I had hoped I would see you again, but I did not like to intrude.
“I couldn’t leave without a proper farewell. I am…I am grateful for what you’ve done for me.”
He shook his head. Too little, too late. I see that now. I did not believe you would be able to see past my appearance, so I let my anger and my hurt pride control me. But you have taught me better, and for that I am grateful, even if I am never to see you again.
I opened my mouth, but he held up a hand to silence me. I am not looking for reassurances. I know we will not meet again. And I do not deserve anything else. But I have something for you. A proper birthday gift for you to remember me by.
“I do not need a gift to remember you, Dominic.”
He smiled slightly at my words, but reached for something behind him anyway. When he turned around, he held a single rose. I took it with a trembling hand, breathing in its sweet perfume. It was pure white at its center, the white softly blending into a cream with the faintest blush of pale pink, becoming deep pink only at the tips of the petals.
I stared at it in wonder. “I have never seen such a rose.”
I have worked with the gardeners to develop it as a gift for you. I feared it wouldn’t be ready in time, but when I came out this morning, the first rose had bloomed. It is called Belle Sophia.
I couldn’t speak, my breath trapped in my throat and tears springing to my eyes. How long had he been growing it? I looked around the garden, trying to regain my composure, and sucked in a breath.
“You said it bloomed overnight?”
He nodded. Ironic, isn’t it?
I looked around in shock. How had I not noticed as I rushed through the spirals? Overnight, the roses—the one remaining piece of the enchanted garden—had withered and died. Not a single bloom remained on the bare bushes.
I will have the gardeners prepare the bush itself for travel, and when my carriage returns I will send it to you in Marin. But at least you can take this rose with you now.
“Thank you, Dominic.” I reached to touch his arm, but he pulled away from me, and I let my hand drop, hurt by his rejection. “Well, then…I suppose I had better be going.”
Yes. Goodbye, Sophie.
“Goodbye, Dominic.” The words felt at once too little and too much. I gripped the rose to my chest and hurried into the carriage, not looking back.
Chapter 26
I watched the castle disappear in the back window of the carriage. Surely, they would discover Cole had escaped at any moment. What would Dominic do when that happened?
I still hadn’t worked out how Cole had escaped. I had actually crept down to the dungeon in the middle of the night, afraid there might be guards down there in need of medical attention. I knew I should tell someone else what had happened, since I had no way to see the guards myself, but I didn’t know who I could trust to keep my secret.
To my astonishment, I had been greeted at the entrance by the voice of the guard who had agreed to give Cole my letter. He had joked that he was becoming a postal service, although he had sounded slightly disapproving behind the levity. When I assured him that I had not brought another letter but had merely come to check if the prisoner wished to make any reply, he had informed me that all had been quiet since my previous visit and that no such request had been made by Cole.
I had left in shock but also grateful since it meant I could keep my secret a little longer. Cole must have gotten his hands on a godmother object, despite how rare they were supposed to be here. It was the only explanation for the ease of his escape. Twice now.
As soon as we passed through the now open gates, I thrust out a projection, searching for Lily with all of my mental strength. This time I burst through the lingering blockage on the first try, connecting with Lily instantly. Either I had become stronger or it had become weaker.
Lily! Lily! Are you all right? Has he hurt you?
Sophie! She groaned. Cole made it to you, didn’t he? I was hoping he would be eaten by a bear.
Don’t say that! If he had been, his men would have killed you.
They could have tried, she projected in a mutter.
I sighed. For all her defiance, she sounded tired.
A glance through the front window showed we had nearly reached the main road through the forest. Just a minute, I projected to Lily. I need to talk to the coachmen.
I banged on the roof of the carriage until I heard one of the coachmen call out, Whoa! and the horses slowly came to a stop. I clambered out, and stared up at where I knew they must be sitting. “We need to go to the Palinaran capital.”
I don’t understand.
“We’re not going to Marin, we’re going to your capital.”
The second coachman spoke, sounding as uneasy as the first one. I don’t think His Highness would like that.
I put my hands on my hips and glared at them. “He told you to take me to my sister, did he not? Well, my sister is in the capital.”
I suppose…I suppose he did say that.
I sensed their capitulation and smiled at them. “Excellent. How long will it take us to get there? We need to hurry, you know.”
About two days, Princess Sophie.
I frowned. Two days. Even if I could defeat Cole, I had no hope of returning to Dominic before his opportunity to claim the throne had disappeared. I bit my lip; there was nothing I could do.
“Let’s be on our way, then.” I climbed back into the vehicle, and we were soon back in motion.
What was that all about?
I lied to Dominic. He thinks he’s sending me back to Marin, so I had to give the coachmen new orders.
Dominic? Oh! You mean the Beast.
I frowned again. Please don’t call him that.
She sent me an image of her shrugging shoulders. If you wish it. She didn’t ask for an explanation, although I could feel the curiosity in her mind, and I was grateful for her restraint.
You know you can’t possibly marry Cole, Soph, she projected instead.