When I reentered the ballroom, I found Dominic still standing on the balcony where I had left him. He turned, clearly surprised at my reappearance. But his surprise quickly turned to concern, and he strode forward to meet me.
What is it? What has happened? What have you seen?
I felt grateful my story didn’t require me to hide my grief and fear. “I saw Lily.” An unplanned sob broke through.
Dominic took both my hands, holding them in a firm grasp. Tell me.
“She…she’s sick. Really sick.” I lowered my voice. “She might die. And she’s calling for me.” I focused my gaze on him, filling my expression with desperate pleading. “You said earlier this evening that I was free now, that you wouldn’t keep me trapped any longer. Did you mean it? I have to go to her.”
Dominic took a deep breath and dropped my hands, turning away. Did he mean to take back his words? To tell me I couldn’t go?
“Cole has shown that the passage is safe now,” I said. “Everything is changing—like the snow melting and the flowers dying. Please! I have to go.”
He turned back to me, his face a blank mask. Of course, you must go. My carriage will take you to ensure your safety. He took another deep breath, as if to steady himself. I did mean what I said. I should never have kept you prisoner in the first place. How could a marriage between us ever have worked in such circumstances? I release you from our betrothal. Go, be with your sister. And only return if you wish to do so.
“I…I…don’t know what to say,” I whispered. He had just given me what I had been seeking since my arrival, but I couldn’t feel any relief or pleasure.
He laughed, no humor in the sound. I must truly be a monster if my attempts to make some small retribution for my misdeeds meets with such astonishment.
I shook my head. “No, I didn’t mean…”
Just go. You need to pack and get some sleep before your journey. I will have the carriage ready for you at dawn.
My body responded to his order, leaving the room while my mind still struggled to think of the right thing to say. When I reached my chamber I cried deep, heaving sobs. I wasn’t sure if I cried for myself, or for Lily, or for Dominic, or for Palinar. I suppose I cried for us all, and for the farewell that I should have had with Dominic.
I was waiting with my bags in the entrance hall before dawn broke. I had hardly slept, and Tara had been crying over me since I awoke. Even respectful Lottie had broken down and begged me to return, but I did not want to give them false hope. I had no idea what my future held.
When Tara asked me tearfully if I was leaving because I was in love with Cole, I shook my head in frustration. Obviously, Lottie hadn’t passed on our conversation.
“Of course not,” I snapped. “I’m leaving for my sister.” I hoped they would all remember my words and understand my meaning if I should end up married to Cole.
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.
I will if it’s the only way to save your and Jon’s lives. You know you would do the same for me.
I refuse to let that slimy, stinking, lying low life win. I had known Lily would be mad, and I couldn’t help but smile at the outrage in her voice. It was just such a relief to speak with her again.
Well, we do have one advantage he doesn’t know about. I assume you didn’t tell him about our connection.
Of course not!
I snorted. He tried to convince me to agree to come with him at first, saying that you had hatched the plan together. He would have received a shock when we got outside the castle grounds, and you started screaming in my mind that it was all a lie.
Lily sent me an affectionate smile. I knew you wouldn’t be taken in by him, no matter what he said. I shifted uncomfortably on my seat, aware of how close I had come.
What happened? I asked her. How did he capture you?
She groaned. I had taken to riding up into the hills around Marin every day and gazing out into Palinar. Eventually I noticed changes in the wilderness. They were subtle at first, but I became increasingly sure of them. Like trees in the distance that hadn’t been there before.
I decided to ride out a short way and see what I could find. Jon insisted on accompanying me as long as I promised to turn back at the first hint of something dangerous. He only let me go at all because he knew I was going crazy wanting to try, and he thought we would have to turn back within minutes of the border.
She sighed. Only we didn’t. Not within minutes, not even within hours. We kept waiting for howls, or paw prints, or something. But instead we found streams and trees, even deer and rabbits once we got far enough in.
By the time either of us realized I was actually right, we had gone so far in that we couldn’t get back that night. We made camp as best we could and debated what to do next. I wanted to keep going to find you, but Jon insisted we turn back for reinforcements. He promised we would come straight back out again.
Except that night Cole and his men found us. They had been watching Palinar from across the border in Talinos and had noticed the same thing I did. They had already been exploring the reclaimed wilderness area for some days before we arrived, apparently. It hadn’t occurred to us we might need to keep guard while we slept—we hadn’t seen a single other person, after all. They easily overpowered us before we were even properly awake.
She gave a silent scream. I feel like such an idiot.
You’re not an idiot, I reassured her. How could you possibly have known something like that would happen?
I knew Cole was still loose. I should have been more wary.
It never occurred to me he might try to get into Palinar, either, if that’s any consolation.
She laughed. A little, perhaps.
I’m surprised he didn’t try to force you into marrying him, with Jon as his threat.
She sent me a disgusted expression. He thought of that as soon as he had us safely restrained. But betrothals are as serious a legal bond here as they are back home. They can only be dissolved by agreement between the two parties, and even Cole doesn’t want to risk violating the ancient laws.
He was furious when Jon said that he would die before he would dissolve our betrothal. And if he actually killed him, he would have had no leverage against me, as well as risking war with all the kingdoms for killing an heir. Obviously, they couldn’t threaten to kill me, so then Cole had to come up with a new plan. He’s completely convinced that your betrothal to…Dominic will be severed when he ceases to be the heir. I’m not sure if he’s right or just deluding himself.
It doesn’t matter, I projected glumly. Dominic dissolved our betrothal before I left. I knew I should be glad because it meant I didn’t have to choose between Lily and Arcadia, but I couldn’t muster the emotion.
Wait, really? Then you’re free! Well, as soon as we work out a way to escape Cole…
Yes. Free. I felt strangely depressed at the prospect, although it was possible that was just my anxiety over Cole. It’s a long story, I warned her.
Well, you have a long journey, I assume…
And so, I settled in to tell her the whole story of everything that had happened to me since leaving Marin. Not surprisingly, she bombarded me with questions throughout, but when I finally finished, she fell silent.
It’s been over three months, and I still have no idea how to save Palinar, I projected, failing to keep the dejection out of my voice.
So, what do we actually know? she asked. Other than that old King Nicolas broke his covenant with both his people and his family and was, what…killed for it?
I shrugged. I don’t actually know how he died. Only that he’s dead. And I’m only guessing that he killed Queen Ruby.
He was clearly a man who would stop at nothing. I could feel her studied concentration. And Princess Adelaide is missing—fate and whereabouts unknown. We know she outlived her father, though, so he can’t be responsible for her disappearance. She hesitated. Do you think Dominic could have killed her?
I frowned. Once I had wondered the same thing, but my doubt had long since slid away. No, I’m sure he would not have. He never talked about her current situation, but when he reminisced, he always sounded protective. And the servants said they were always affectionate toward each other.
Lily accepted my judgment call without comment. So, our best theory is that the curse was only against the royal family. It could even have been the curse itself that killed the old king. I received an image of her shaking her head. We were all so sure the entire kingdom had been cursed. It never occurred to anyone it might not be a curse, at all.
How could it have? I projected. Who would possibly guess that the people had merely been shifted sideways into another realm, and the wasteland put in place to protect them from outsiders who might try to come in and take their land?
But it has still affected them negatively, projected Lily. Surely there is some means to rescue them and bring them back.
> There must be, I agreed. The godmothers have been involved, and they always leave a way out from such things. But no one would talk to me about it.
Wait! Lily gasped. You’re telling me that the capital isn’t empty like it appears, but full of invisible people? And that I can learn to hear them?
Maybe. I spoke slowly, trying to think it through. I’m not completely sure. The godmother who intervened for Dominic changed something to allow him to interact with his servants. It’s possible I was only able to hear them because of whatever she did.
You mean, like she made some sort of extra bridge between the two realms, or something?
I shrugged. Maybe?
And you think when she did that, she also cursed him to look like a beast and took away his voice. Oh, and trapped him in the castle grounds. So, there are possibly two different curses—or, at least, pseudo-curses—to find a solution for.
I shrugged again. Yet another guess. There are just too many guesses. Not least of which is why the snow melted at the castle and the wilderness disappeared. In fact, for that one I don’t even have a guess.
Lily was silent for a moment. I do.
Really? What?
She hesitated again. I don’t want to say, I might be wrong.
I snorted. When have you ever worried about being embarrassed in front of me?
She sent another image of her shaking head. It’s not that. I just don’t want to give you a false idea. It might lead you down the wrong track.
I rolled my eyes but couldn’t be bothered arguing with her. Not when we had more important things to discuss. But none of that matters until we can get you and Jon free from Cole. We need to come up with a plan.
We talked about it for two days straight. Lily wanted to incite the invisible people of the capital to fight against Cole and his men. Only, there were several problems with her plan, as I kept reminding her.
One was that despite trying over and over again, Lily couldn’t hear anything. If there were invisible people anywhere around her, they were either silent, or too separated from us to be heard. And she and Jon couldn’t try speaking aloud to them, because there was a guard in the room where they were being imprisoned at all times.
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