A Curse So Dark and Lonely: Chapter 26

There are children in the castle.

They are loud.

And seemingly everywhere at once. They’re delighted by the music that fills the halls, awed by the candies and pastries that appeared with the late-afternoon tea. Freya seemed frightened at first, but eventually became charmed as well, her eyes wide as she tried to keep the children in order.

I didn’t think I would mind, but their ringing laughter proved to be too much of a reminder of my life before, and I sought the relative silence of the training arena, where Grey spars with Jamison. The only thing ringing here is steel on steel.

Sweat slicks Jamison’s hair and his breathing is heavy, but he has been holding his own. I expected his missing arm to affect his balance, but he seems to have learned to compensate.

He fights like a soldier, aggressive and lethal on offense. Soldiers in the King’s Army are trained to kill expediently. The Royal Guard is—was—trained to disarm and disable first. It’s making for an interesting match.

Grey went easy at the start, but there’s no restraint now. When Jamison falls back, Grey takes advantage, driving forward to hook the soldier’s sword with the hilt of his own.

The weapon jerks out of Jamison’s hand. I expect that to be the end of it, but the soldier is quick. He snatches his dagger to block Grey’s next attack.

Grey raises a hand to call a stop. He nods at the blade on the ground. “Again.”

They’ve been at this for over an hour. Jamison’s labored breathing fills the empty arena, but he nods and fetches his sword.

Lilith’s voice speaks from the shadows behind me. “Prince Rhen. I see you have found a new toy for Commander Grey. He must be so pleased.”

I’m never truly surprised when she chooses to show herself—especially not now, when I’ve dared to allow myself the smallest bit of hope.

I need to play this very carefully.

“And there are children in the castle.” Lilith claps her hands lightly. “Such fun.”

I turn. She stands in the darkness, barely visible aside from the spark of light on her eyes.

“You said you would not interfere,” I say to her.

“I am not interfering. I am observing.”

“You are interfering with me.”

Her eyebrows go up, but then she smiles mockingly. “Your Highness, you do not seem yourself today. Have you not yet found true love with that tatterdemalion?”

“You know I have not. If this is my last season, I will not see Emberfall burned to the ground before there is nothing I can do about it.”

“And what of your dear, sweet, broken girl?” Lilith presses a finger to her lips and her voice drops to a whisper. “Oh, Your Highness, has she already fallen for Commander Grey? Tell me, do you find it an odd bit of irony, your seasoned fighter matched with a girl who can barely walk with grace?”

“No.” My voice grows bored. “She has asked me to secure a meeting with you so that she may make her case for an early return home.”

“A meeting with me?”

Lilith’s voice is hushed, and I cannot tell whether this impresses her—or angers her. If it’s anger, I need to draw her ire. Better to have it directed at me than at Harper. “Yes.” I lift a shoulder in a halfhearted shrug. “I could see no reason to keep you a secret.” Swords clash behind me. “If you do not mind, my lady, I have interest in watching this match.”

Without waiting for a response, I return to the arena railing.

My chest is tight. I promised to do this for Harper, but I feel as though I’ve sworn to arrange a meeting between a mouse and a lion.

Lilith steps up to the rail beside me, but she says nothing. Grey and Jamison fight in the center of the arena, though there’s no elegance to it now. The soldier’s swordplay has taken on an air of desperation—but he still fights.

Eventually, Lilith says, “You should have mercy on this man, Prince Rhen. Grey will run him into the ground.”

She is right, but I will not interfere. I am waging my own battle here on the sidelines. “You wish to speak of mercy, Lady Lilith? I find that to be an odd bit of irony.” I glance at her. “If you have no interest in meeting with Harper, leave this place. I have no time for you.”

“You will not dictate to me, Rhen. Must I remind you of our roles here?”

The words hit me hard. I said something similar to Harper. Hearing them from Lilith makes me wish I could take them back.

“I need no reminder,” I snap, turning to face her. “You’ve cursed me. You’ve cursed my kingdom. If you’ve grown bored with your game, end it. If you’re unwilling to return Harper to her home, take your leave.”

“Such fire! Prince Rhen, it has been quite some time since I have seen your temper. I must say, I have missed your spirit.” She lifts a hand and steps forward, reaching as if to touch my chest.

A sword point appears against hers. “You will keep your distance,” says Grey. His breath is barely quick, and though sweat dampens his hair, his sword does not waver.

Lilith scarcely spares him a glance. “This does not concern you, Commander,” she says. “You will keep your distance.”

Grey doesn’t move. His sword point does not either.

Now she looks at him. “Haven’t you learned your little sword cannot truly kill me?”

“I have learned it can hurt you.”

Yes. He has. It never ends well for him.

Lilith moves her hand as if to touch his blade. I have no idea what she plans, whether she’ll turn his sword to molten steel or drive it back into him—or maybe send it spinning to slice into both of us.

But Jamison’s sword appears at her throat, forcing her to lift her chin.

She freezes. Her eyes shift to the soldier. “You have no part in this.

You want no quarrel with me.”

He stands strong. He’s tired, but his sword does not waver either. “I know an enemy when I see one.”

Her eyes, full of fury, lock on mine. “I will destroy them both,” she hisses.

“Stand down,” I say to them at once. I don’t take my eyes off her. “You will not harm my people.”

Their swords lower. Jamison takes a step back, but Grey remains at my side.

Lilith steps closer to me. “Tell your other man to give us privacy, or I will destroy him.”

“Jamison,” I say. “Go. Wait in the armory.”

He hesitates—then says, “Yes, Your Highness,” and withdraws.

“I have the power here,” Lilith says. “You are to remember that, Prince Rhen.”

“I have not forgotten.”

“Why do you ask me to return the girl? It does you no good for me to take her away.”

“She does not love me. Her mother is dying. You have cursed me, not her. It seems cruel to deny her the final days with her mother.” I keep my voice bored. Disinterested. Anything more, and Lilith will use it against me.

She considers this for a long moment.

Finally, her eyes flick to Grey. “Fetch the girl, Commander.”

Grey does not move.

Lilith steps forward and walks her fingers up his chest. “I do not like being ignored,” she whispers as her fingers reach the skin of his throat. “I could carve the bones out of your neck while he watches.”

“Harper has come to trust him,” I say to her. “She will not react well to his loss. You yourself swore not to interfere.”

“Who says he needs to die?” Her fingernail presses into his skin and a pearl of red wells up.

“Commander,” I say. “Go.”

“Yes, my lord.”

He doesn’t like it, but he’ll obey. Grey heads for the passage into the palace proper.

Lilith moves to stand in front of me. Irritation fills her eyes. “I do not like this,” she says. “You seek to trick me somehow.”

“This is not my request. As you said when Harper arrived, she is an unusual choice. If home calls to her so strongly, I will not trap her here. She will never love me if I keep her prisoner.”

Lilith moves close enough that I feel the weight of her skirts against my legs. “Ah, so you’re altruistic now? I have heard men become so when the end is near. An attempt to right their wrongs, I believe.”

I say nothing.

She folds her arms and gazes up at me. In anyone else, it would be a girlish gesture. “There is a part of me that will miss this.”

“There is no part of me that will,” I say.

Her hand lifts lazily and she traces a finger down the center of my chest. “Are you sure, Prince Rhen?”

With those words, the pain begins.