Tattered: (The Bond Between Us 1) by LiAnne Kay

Author:LiAnne Kay [Kay, LiAnne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-06-16T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 29

Alba

Numbness seeps into my bones as I follow the silent prince through the tunnels. I take shallow breaths and concentrate on walking. One step. Then two. I go from counting to sending quick peeks at the man next to me. How long has he known about the tunnels? More importantly, does he know that I have been searching them?

I bite the inside of my lip and wince at the sting of pain. He could ruin everything I have worked so hard to gain. Searching the tunnels hasn’t yielded another path, but I have eliminated many passages.

As the torch throws orange shadows on the walls, I steal another peek at Prince Arcadius’ profile. Firmness sets his jaw. Fire flares in his eyes.

Who threw the first dagger? Him? His brother?

I swallow as images crash over me. The men who attacked me running. The daggers lodging in their backs. The way their bodies fell.

A horrifying thought hammers a nail of truth into my heart. If I had returned to my bedchamber after my search through the tunnels, those men would be alive. I stumble over my feet as my chest squeezes painfully.

Another quick look at my escort reveals the same intense look.

Prince Arcadius hates me.

That’s why he has avoided me for weeks. Now, I have given him even more reason to dislike me.

“Say something.” I wipe sweaty hands against my surcoat and brace for a lecture.

Several breaths pass before he stops walking and faces me. Other than the frown pressed between his brow, no other emotion enhances his expression. In truth, I expected anger, or at least disappointment.

“What would you like me to say?”

Tiny dots dance across my vision as I take a deep breath and force myself to speak. “Don’t you want to scold me and tell me how foolish I was?”

“Would it make a difference?” he asks, his words rising above the fervent thumping of my heart.

More dots join the others. What’s happening to me? I raise a hand to my temple and rub. “Maybe. I can’t argue with silence.”

“Is that what you want to do? Argue with me?”

“No. I just…” Self-reproach claws at my throat. “I know it was foolish to be unescorted. I know…”

The dagger-wielder’s silent eyes blind my vision. He’s probably being tossed in an unmarked grave as we speak. I gulp and rock back on my heels. Dead. They are all dead. Did my assailants have families? I blink and shake away the thought.

“You know what?” Prince Arcadius asks, encouraging me to continue.

I swipe a hand across my hazy eyes. “That all you see is the danger, but I…” Need this more than you’ll ever understand.

“You’re right. It was dangerous. If not for Kallias and I…” An exhale escapes Prince Arcadius as he tightens his fingers around the torch. His knuckles turn white as he grips the end with enough force to split it in two. Fire flares in his eyes again as his gaze pierces through the walls.

They’re all going to crumble.

I would if he ever looked at me like that.

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