Page 62 of Royal Hunt
Carefully, we made our way through the hall, dodging the shards of wood and the bits of spoiled food, still left over from the betrothal feast.
The doors leading off to the antechambers to the sides of the dais were open. My heart sank as I realized that every room in the castle likely looked like this one.
Lily wrinkled her nose. “What’s that smell?”
I wasn’t sure what she was talking about until I took a few more steps forward. Then I covered my nose and gagged, nausea flipping my stomach.
Nessian inhaled sharply. “I think we found where they put the bodies.” He shot a look to Ellis and then took the lead, going into the antechamber and down the side corridor first. We piled into the hallway after him, gripping onto each other tightly. One by one, Nessian cleared each room until he came to the last one.
He disappeared inside, then we heard the sounds of dry heaving.
“He found them,” Ellis grit out, his grip on my hand crushing. I didn’t cry out or make any outward sign of pain. He needed me to be strong, and acting strong for him kept me strong. It was foolish, but it was all I had.
“Ellis, don’t—”
Nessian came out of the room wiping his face, slamming the door behind him.
“Ellis, don’t go in there. Don’t,” he begged, hands folded.
Ellis put a hand up to stop his protests. “I’d like a moment alone.”
Nessian looked like he was going to protest, then sighed and guided his sisters away. I stepped up behind Ellis, determined to be there for him.
He stiffened in the doorway, feeling my presence at his back. “You don’t have to be here. I don’t … I don’t want anyone else to see them like this.”
His voice broke at the last part, and I rubbed the small of his back. “If that’s what you want,” I whispered, already backing away.
Ellis snagged my wrist and held it. “No, never. I’ve been alone my whole life. I never want to be alone again. Ican’tbe alone when I see them because then it’s real. Then Iamalone.”
I nodded, squeezing his hand. “You aren’t alone.” Together we stepped inside the room.
Originally it had likely been a meeting space; a large oak table sat in the middle with chairs covered in fur surrounding it. Judging by the shape of the table and the small diagrams scattered everywhere, it had once been a war table.
It was hard to tell with the pile of rotting bodies on top of it. My eyes watered at the smell as we neared, but I kept it together for Ellis. I squeezed his hand. “I’m so sorry.”
They were piled in order of when they were killed, starting with what looked like the king on the bottom, the princess Ildris next, her limbs splayed over top of her would-be father-in-law. Ellis’s older brother Mellan was next, his head sticking out and lolling back at us. The slice in his neck made his head tilt back unnaturally far. I hurriedly focused on the others.
The queen. The young prince Hector. The princess Rowan.
My guilt rose as I saw the two small bodies on top. I felt the overwhelming need to purge my own sins. I likely would never forgive myself unless I did.
“Ellis, I’m sorry. I had a chance to save them,” I stuttered, realizing I was crying.
He jerked, frowning. “You’d mentioned something before, but it didn’t make sense.”
I kept going because if I stopped now, I’d never tell him. “There was a moment where I had to choose between getting you out or trying to save them. I was the only one close enough. The only one armed. I chose you because two little kids couldn’t put a kingdom back together. I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry.…”
Ellis jerked his hand back from me, anger in his eyes.
“I thought you were being dramatic. I thought you were making stuff up to hurt me.”
“I had to make a choice!” I argued. “You were the last living heir, and I—”
“Saw your chance to raise your own station, I remember!” He spat at me. “You couldn’t very well be queen if you saved my younger sister, could you?”
I reared back, horrified by the accusation. “No! That wasn’t it at all. I—”
“I thought you were a premonition of change and hope, but it turns out you were just part of the horror. Pari is wrong. The dreamswarnedme about you! They told me you’d bring nothing but death and fire, and here we are!” He turned from me, covering his face with his hands.
