“And why does she look like the other one?” The second guard seemed to be struggling to catch up.
“Obviously it was part of the ruse that allowed the others to escape,” Cole snapped. “Believe me, one way or another, I will discover how it was done. But in the meantime, I want every guard out searching the palace for the prisoners. If they are not found, you will pay the punishment.”
Both men paled and hurried from the room. The guard who had been talking to Cole earlier made as if to follow them, but Cole signaled for him to stay. I felt a small stirring of pride that I had unsettled him enough that he wanted backup.
He must have seen something of the emotion on my face, because he shook my arm, hard. “Don’t think this is over, Princess Sophie. I am not so easily defeated.”
I remained mute, so he towed me over to the throne and threw me to the ground at its foot. Sitting down, he gestured for his remaining guard to come and stand over me, sword drawn and pointed down in my direction.
I pulled myself slowly into a sitting position, rubbing at several new bruises I could already feel forming. That was twice I had ended up on the stone ground in the last few minutes.
I reached out for my sister in my mind. Sorry, Lily.
No, I’m sorry.
Don’t worry. I tried to keep my tone positive. You’ll find a way to rescue me, I’m sure of it.
No, they…
Before she could finish the sentence, two guards strode through the double doors on the far side of the throne room. Between them they dragged my sister, her feet barely touching the ground.
She looked up and met my eyes…they caught me, I’m afraid. I’m so sorry, Sophie.
Chapter 29
I leaped to my feet. “Lily!”
“Ah!” Cole also came upright. “Well done.”
What happened?
She looked dejected and guilty as they half carried her forward. We had nearly made it out of the palace grounds and were taking turns scouting a short way ahead. I was distracted, worrying about you, and stumbled straight into a group of guards. I bolted, to lead them away from Jon, but I couldn’t outrun them. She paused. He’s going to be so furious that I left him behind! And you, Sophie. You should be furious with me, too. I’ve ruined everything!
I sent her an internal glare as she arrived in front of the throne. Don’t be ridiculous. This situation is not your fault. All of the guilt belongs with Cole. I glanced at the guards who tightly gripped her arms. And maybe some on these henchmen of his, too. Who in the kingdoms are they?
She glanced at one of them and frowned. Honestly, I have no idea. I don’t think they’re Marinese, though.
“Where’s the prince?” asked Cole.
One of the men shrugged uncomfortably. “We haven’t seen any sign of him. The others are still out looking.”
Cole’s eyes narrowed, but then he shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. There is nothing he can do, and Lily is the important one.” He turned to me. “I told you I would not be so easily defeated Princess Sophie. And you have now worn out every shred of my patience.” He gestured at the guards, and one of them grabbed both her arms, holding her firmly in front of him, while the other drew his sword and placed it at her throat.
“No!” I leaped to my feet and lunged forward, but the man who had remained behind with Cole held me back.
“Carefully now, Princess,” said Cole. “You wouldn’t want to go startling my guard here.”
I froze.
“We will be married immediately,” he continued.
I swung around to stare at him. “Immediately? But Dominic is still the heir.”
“We will be married now, to ensure you don’t get any more foolish ideas. You will be able to claim the throne soon enough.”
I gaped at him, my mind racing. This couldn’t be happening. Everything had gone wrong, and now it was all moving too fast. I couldn’t marry him. But when I looked at the sharp blade pressed against Lily’s throat, I knew I couldn’t refuse him either.
Don’t do it, Sophie! But I could feel Lily’s fear, as sharp as my own.
Cole seemed to have lost all caution in the face of our nearly successful defiance. It was a dangerous move since he didn’t know that Dominic had dissolved our betrothal. I suspected Lily and I weren’t the only ones afraid—I could sense the fear lurking beneath the surface of his actions. He didn’t understand what had happened, and he no longer trusted his ability to keep us secured.
“But how?” I asked, searching for any way to delay him. “How are we to be married?”
He eyed me coldly. “Surely you didn’t think I had come unprepared? In Marin, I befriended an official from Palinar, one stationed in the duchy with a small liaison role before the curse hit. He has accompanied us and stands ready to perform the ceremony. He is eager to assist in freeing the kingdom from the curse of the Beast and his family.”
The thought of Dominic brought tears to my eyes. If only I could have found a way to save him. Would I ever get to see him again, or have the chance to tell him how I felt? What would happen when Dominic’s coronation window closed? Would he remain a beast forever as I feared?
My stomach churned. If he came after me, it wouldn’t matter. He would be dead.
And yet, still I wished he was here with me.
Cole was shouting orders for the official to be brought to the throne room, but I was only listening with half my mind. A strange flash outside the window kept distracting me. I remembered the flashes I had seen earlier while driving through the city, but this one was different. This one actually looked like a human form.
There! I saw it again. This time I felt sure it had been a person. How many guards did Cole have with him? My heart sank. He would not allow us the opportunity to escape again. And Jon would be hard-pressed to assist us, even if he remained free. Not when he was alone and had no way to communicate with us.
The official eventually arrived, and I noticed that he looked nervous at all the drawn swords and angry-looking guards. Perhaps he would refuse to conduct a ceremony so clearly done under coercion? But Cole clapped him on the back and murmured something in his ear. His face cleared, and my hope withered.
Cole had the official stand in front of the throne and arranged the two of us at the bottom of the three steps that led up to it. Lily he positioned to one side, within my eye line, still held by one guard, another holding the sword to her throat. He pulled a ring from his pocket, and I shivered, feeling it already like a prison chain around me.
Dominic! I cried in my heart, my eyes filling with tears. It should have been you.
As if called into existence by my desperate wishes, a deafening roar shook the throne room. Everyone started and looked toward the double doors. They had been flung wide and, standing between them, stood Dominic. Fury radiated from every line of his body, and death was in his eyes.