Page 56 of The Dark Prince
Tyr grumbled, but didn’t contradict me. He continued to bleed through the bandage, and I frowned. Maybe I should send Maddeus for Arne.
He winced as I applied more pressure. “And did you find your answers?” he spit out.
“Did you find me in the woods?” I shot back, ignoring his question. “Of course you did. You always find me. How did you get hurt? Was it the beast?”
His hands dug into the blankets and the mattress, shame twisting the side of his face I could see. He only wore a half-mask today, covering just the deformity instead of his whole face. I appreciated the ability to read his expressions.
“I didn’t save you. Maddeus did.”
Ah. He was angry at himself because he hadn’t been the one to save me. The scene flashed again in my mind: the beast rearing above me, and the arrow catching it in the back.
I looked down at the wound under me, mentally matching its placement.
Oh.Oh.
His anger made terrifying sense; a terrifying, yet logical sense. Suddenly, I understood his self-loathing. The lesson with the dagger hadn’t just been a flight of fancy, not some distraction so we could spend time together. He’d meticulously showed me where to strike for an instant kill. At the time, I’d thought he’d just had expert knowledge as a hunter.
I was wrong.
He had expert knowledge because it was his body, and he was training me how to execute him.
Because Tyr was the beast that haunted the forest and terrorized his people.
The doors opened again, and I twisted around to see Arne burst in. He stopped at seeing me and instantly read the emotions in my eyes.
I let go of the bandage and backed away. I kept a chant going in my head.Keep breathing. Keep your face blank. Don’t upset him.
“He doesn’t want anyone in here,” I heard myself say, my voice hoarse.
Tyr rolled onto his back to face me, ignoring the pain as his face twisted with anger.
“No. I don’t want you here.”
It felt as though he’d put the knife through my heart. I backed away and out the door.
I wasn’t sure how long I walked the corridors. Eventually, I paused in front of that same window that overlooked the courtyard; the one I’d found my first night here. The weather was mild today, the air crisp and fresh against my skin as I leaned out over the stone windowsill. A shock of pink chiffon against a sea of brown training armor down below announced Aella’s presence to everyone around her. Her dress practically made her glow in the morning sun, her high laughter audible as it drifted toward me. She sat comfortably alone on top of her horse, wearing black furred gloves and a hat. Maddeus was grinning and had a hold of her reins.
They’d been together for an hour and already looked more at ease with other than Tyr and I after weeks. I suddenly regretted ordering Maddeus to entertain her.
“There you are. Are you alright?”
I whipped around, hoping my eyes weren’t red. The last thing I needed to do was have Bessy worry about me.
I nodded, unable to articulate. Fat tears leaked down my cheeks. Oh, damn. I tried to breathe, but let out a shuddering sigh.
Bessy’s face melted into an expression of sympathy. “There now. It’s alright. Lord Tyr will be right as rain in no time.”
I pushed out another breath. I couldn’t lie anymore. I needed her support and understanding. If anyone in this castle was likely to know Tyr’s secret besides his men, it would be her. Nothing got by her. “Tyr’s the beast, isn’t he?” I croaked out.
Bessy flicked her eyes up and down the hallway, ensuring no one was around. “Follow me. We’ll go where there aren’t any wandering eyes.”
Intrigued, I followed behind Bessy as she snuck me between two marble pillars and into a dark little crawlspace I hadn’t even known existed. A servant’s alley! Our manor had had none built into it, though I often wished it did so I could escape Roselle. Bessy paused between two marble columns and tugged me toward the darkness. To my astonishment, there was a space about shoulder width that just keptgoinginto the darkness.
Bessy led me through the abyss, cautioning me to watch my feet.
I really needed to stop wearing slippers.
She guided me blindly through the hall, which was mostly straight with only a few twists and turns. My fingers traced along the stone walls, mapping out my path before I took each step. Eventually she put out a hand and stopped me, putting a finger over my lips. We stood in silence, listening.
