Page 75 of Royal Hunt
“If you want to save your precious half-breed and repair the barrier, get me out of this cage.”
Twenty Four
My mind reeled as I stepped away from the cage. Cassus was likely lying to save his sorry ass, but what if he wasn’t? Ellis was reviving slightly as we made our way up to the castle, at least enough that he could walk on his own and glare at anyone who stared at him for too long.
“When we get to your rooms we’re having a talk,” I murmured.
Ellis grunted, but didn’t protest.
I pushed open the massive oak doors to his room, gaping at what I assumed were the king’s quarters. They were massive! This suite had to take up this entire side of the floor! The colors were done in dark brown and burgundy, with highlights of gold. It wasn’t the kingdom’s pennant colors, and the overall feel was a bit stuffy and rich.
“Need to redecorate,” came Ellis’s grunt from behind me. He staggered over to a large chaise lounge and flopped down onto it, one hand on his head.
Guilt infused me. I sat down next to him on the floor, the thick carpet enough cushioning for me. “You ass. You don’t have to give your life force for me. I could have healed the normal way.”
Ellis’s eyes drifted closed. “Then I would have had to hunt down your little boyfriend and his father and burn them alive.” His eyes shot open as he studied me with an intense gaze. “You being healed and well will keep my sanity. If I would have had to watch you lay in bed for weeks, it wouldn’t have ended well for them. At least now I’m too tired to chase them down.”
Worry sat heavily on my chest as we descended into silence. The crackling fire was the only sound, oddly soothing as white noise to fill the heavy tension between us.
“I … Well, thank you,” I finally mumbled, embarrassed.
“Anything for my queen.” He yawned, eyes closing again. Not knowing what else to do, I laid my head in his lap. I didn’t know how to tell him how sorry I was for everything; how deep down, I wanted his love, but that I didn’t feel like I deserved it. How this was especially true after letting his younger siblings die in front of me.
Ellis stiffened at first when I rested my head against him, but then relaxed. Slowly, his hand came up and gently stroked through my hair. I let out a deep sigh and went boneless against him.
“I forgive you.” I went still at his voice: low and gravely. He continued, “I … I think I forgave you the moment I woke up the next morning, hungover and realizing what had happened. I just … it’s hard to explain.”
My heart beat against my chest as he slowly began to open up to me. I couldn’t push him; I had to be patient.
“Can you try?” I asked.
His fingers continued to massage my scalp.
“I have powers I can’t control; powers that scare me. One threatens to kill my people and destroy everything around me, and the other haunts my dreams at night.”
I forced myself to breathe. Would he finally tell me everything?
“What do you see in your dreams?”
Ellis let out a deep sigh. “I see death. I see ashes and bones; I see the ruins of everything that once was. And I see you.”
I lifted my head to see his face, a tortured expression looking back at me. I didn’t know whether to be offended, sad, or afraid. Cassus’s warnings about death and decay rang in my head. Had Ellis been too out of it to hear?
“But what does that have to do with me—”
BANG. BANG.
I flinched as a heavy fist pounded twice on Ellis’s door.
“What is it?” Ellis called out, every bit the arrogant and irritated king.
A panicked voice answered back. “There are people swarming the castle! They claim you said you’d feed them! We’re shutting the gates against them!”
Ellis sat straight up, wincing. “Coming! Coming …”
I stood up with him, squeezing his hand in support. He limped towards the door.
“I shouldn’t have said that,” he mumbled to no one. “I should have known it would cause a riot.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “I can’t feed everyone. I can’t!”
