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Destiny was winded by the time she reached the castle. How could she have been so stupid? Elizabeth knew, Mia had said it herself, the arrow had been a warning. She felt foolish that she never imagined Elizabeth would tell her mother.
The castle was drowned in red light from the setting sun. Something was not right. Destiny ran through the halls in a panic, hoping that Mia was sitting in her room reading her favorite book. She reached the apartment, unlocked the door and silence greeted her. Her rooms were dark, Mia hadn’t lit the lamps. Destiny’s heart began to pound, her breath was scarce as she approached Mia’s door. The room was empty. A pain incomprehensible to Destiny closed its fingers around her heart.
“She’s gone.” Destiny whirled around to Elizabeth’s smug face. Rage burned away the sadness.
“When?” she hissed through clenched teeth. Elizabeth’s eyes went wide in surprise as Destiny’s hands closed around her throat. “When?”
“Not long,” she choked out. “Darling... Keit...” Destiny tossed Elizabeth to the side and ran back out of the room. When she reached the main floor of the castle she screamed to the servants for a horse. Not long, she chanted silently to herself, they hadn’t been gone long. The corridors were a blur to her as she raced to the stables. None of the servants seemed to move as she screamed at them. Master Deric waited for her at the end of the hall.
“Get me thirteen horses saddled and ready or I’ll have your head!” she snarled at him. He jumped and ran. Destiny detoured, turning into her father’s study. She grabbed his sword from the mantle above the fireplace. Once the scabbard was around her waist and she’d checked that the sword was clear, she shouted for guards. Like ghosts they appeared from nowhere and everywhere; twelve of them. She left the castle, her men behind of her. She gazed at the jade maze of forest beyond the castle. There was only one road to Keit from Lesia and Darling would waste no time.
* * *
I WATCHED DARLING FROM the corner of my eye, painfully aware that he watched me as well. I had tried to run from them the moment I was taken outside but he had more than just the two guards; a whole detachment of troops, it seemed. They captured me easily and when I kicked and bit at them, they knocked me unconscious. In an old carriage, I woke up to the Prince touching my face. I pushed his hands away and he retreated as a cat might when toying with a mouse. I remained near the window, looking out over the passing landscape. It didn’t bother him that I was silent. He did enough talking for the both of us, but there was something in his voice that baffled me. He seemed on edge, nervous as we crossed the countryside as he told me Keit was far more beautiful than Caunica and that I wouldn’t have to worry about anything ever again as long as I obeyed him. I had to keep the grimace from my face.
Obey.
“Amia,” he said now as he inched closer to me, “you belong to me. It would be best if you forget her.” He slid his arm around my shoulders and put his hand firmly on my knee. “Kiss me.”
I turned to him.
“Good girl.” He forced my legs apart and put his lips on mine as he closed his eyes. I reached under his shirt and he gave a little moan. Bile rose in my throat but I dug my nails into his side until he screamed and let me go. I pushed him away and didn’t see his hand arc through the air, but I felt the slap. The sound cracked through the silence. “Bitch! You are mine now and Destiny can’t save you! She won’t save you!”
In the distance, I heard the distinct thunder of hooves. My heart sprang into my throat and threatened to choke me. It was enough to distract him from jumping on me. He called for the coach to stop.
“Mia!” It was Destiny as I knew it would be. I pushed past Darling out of the carriage and saw her with twelve Caunican guards spread out in a half-ring. Darling stumbled out of the coach and grabbed my arm, pulling me behind him.
“Go back to your castle, Destiny,” Darling shouted to her. “She belongs to me now.”
In answer, she pulled her sword free of its scabbard, the ring of steel echoing through the trees standing in witness around the clearing.
“Let her go and you’ll return to Keit alive.” Destiny threatened. She dismounted. His hand went to the sword at his hip. I didn’t care what he did to me, I only worried they would fight. I panicked when I saw it; Destiny and her men were outnumbered four to one. I realized he knew it would come to this. Most of his men would easily destroy her band of twelve while the last dozen wore her down. Then he would go in for the kill. It would be easy. I had to stop it.
“Let me speak with her,” I touched his arm. He looked back at me but the hand on his sword didn’t move. In his cold eyes, I could see the temptation of her death. I glanced once at Destiny in horror. He thought it over for a half a heartbeat and then shook his head.
“Please,” I whispered, “tell your men to lower their weapons and leave us in peace. If you do, I’ll...” I couldn’t say it, my body was repulsed by the thought. He straightened gracefully, turning to me. His pale lips twisted in a grin as he leaned forward to smell my hair.
“How do I know you’ll keep your word?” My eyes prickled. I hated myself but I had to do it and I would do anything for her. This was the price for the only chance I would ever have to say good-bye. I needed her to know I loved her, that I wasn’t leaving because I chose it. He was not as tall as she and so I did not have to stretch up on my toes to force my lips to his. He was surprised when my skin touched his but he delighted in it. I felt his lips moving, shifting into a smile but for this he stayed perfectly motionless; testing the depth of my pledge. My stomach twisted and my hands curled into fists but I forced my muscles to cooperate. I slid my fists up his chest and curled my arms over his shoulders in the same instant I forced my feet to move closer to him. I flinched when my chest pressed into him but his arms were around me now, tightening, squeezing. He lifted me off my feet, one hand slid from my back down the length of me as he set me down. I was trembling, I could feel Destiny’s eyes on my back. He released me and turned me roughly to face her. His men backed away.
By the look on her face she was not pleased, but she did sheath her sword. I closed the distance between us, stopping just a little short. I wanted her to understand but she wouldn’t look at me.
“Destiny,” I choked, “please allow me to explain.” Still she didn’t move and so I took the few steps separating us and reached for her. She looked up. Too much pain on her face, it knocked me back a step, my own heart crumpling with agony.
“I thought I was coming to rescue you,” she said, “but I see you went with him. Is this why you made me promise never to doubt your love—so I wouldn’t feel sorry for myself when you ran away from me?”
“No.”
“Why couldn’t you wait until I told the Queen?” Pain and disbelief colored her voice, “you don’t want to be with me.” And though it wasn’t true I couldn’t voice it. She would not believe the truth hurt as she was. If I didn’t go now, Darling would kill her. Her careful planning, our waiting had all come to the pinnacle.
“Time was always against us, dearest. I have to do what’s best for you and them,” I whispered as I glanced at her men. Their lives were on the line, just as hers—just as all Caunicans would be if Darling were to assume the throne. There was still time for us. This moment would not be our last but I hated that her beauty was twisted by anger and hurt because of me. Carefully, I touched her face and stepped closer to her. She didn’t move, not even as I moved to press my lips to hers. She was cold...distant. My Destiny was not here. The forest chilled as though the threat of a storm had ruined the day. I stepped back as my body shook in a riot of pain. “Destiny, I’m sorry—”
“Don’t,” she spat at me and I rocked back a step. “Go to him.” She turned her back to me. Her slender form blurred as my vision clouded with tears, my greatest fear whispered with icy breath along the back of my neck.
“You promised,” I sobbed.
“Just go,” she didn’t turn around. “GO!” I flinched, but nodded. As she had when Richard died, when Oleanna left her, she was protecting herself from the pain. Only this time, I was the cause. I understood; if it helped ease her pain, so be it. I only hoped she would remember her promise one day and when she did, I hoped our loved survived enough for her to still want me. A small white light in the darkness of my mounting despair, maybe she would come for me.
I love you. Forever and always.
“Remember your promise. Farewell, my love,” I whispered. “Be free. Be happy.” I heard Darling before he touched me, sliding his arm across my chest, panting against my cheek. He dragged me back to the carriage and called for them to go. Destiny stood as a statue in the clearing with her back to me and I watched until she and her men were but specks in the distance.
“That was very noble of you,” said Darling once we rounded a bend in the road and I could no longer see the clearing at all. Now that I couldn’t see her, the darkness closed in. My heart was too heavy in my chest. The soiled velvet carpet beneath my feet wavered into pictures of her face.
“I didn’t do it for you.”
“I know.” He smiled, “you will change your mind about me, you only need time.”
“An eternity could pass and still you would disgust me.” My eyes misted, filled. The tears flooded my cheeks and I felt the inside of my chest ripple with an agony I couldn’t quite feel.
“My sweet Mia,” he said, his breath heavy on my ear, “the things you say light a fire in me.”