But like a spark, the scent of cloves I picked up on Jasion clings to my nostrils, and the reality of it slams into me like a wrecking ball. Michae said he found cloves near the king in the throne room right after he was murdered. I thought it had been strange at the time.
Fuck! Jasion used magic to murder the king. My father. I knew it.
My stomach drops right through me like a boulder.
And I'm next.
The asshole blamed me, using the ruby as evidence. I'm his scapegoat, aren't I?
My chest burns with rage, my heart beating so fast and hard, the room tilts around me. They killed the king in cold blood for Ahren to get into power, to use him as a puppet. But my prince isn't that stupid. He can't be.
I pace mindlessly in my cell, both hands now hurting terribly.
Anger surges like a tsunami through my chest, and nerves dance across my temple. Darkness begins to linger inside me. My time is coming if I don't get out of here and warn the princes.
All I can think about is them, my throat thick with terror that I won’t get a chance to stop this.
I close my eyes and take deep breaths to still my raging heart, and a flare of power erupts down my arms. My power sparks as a sharp ache digs into my cut palm from the ruby. Is my ability fluctuating because I shattered the ruby?
There is only one thing to do and it’s risk, but sitting here is not going to help me. I raise my hand covered in dried blood and bits of stone too small to remove, bringing it to my mouth and focusing on the image of a portal opening to my room in the castle. Then I blow out a breath.
A surge of energy rises through me and rolls out past my lips. A pale blue fog puffs out into the air, billowing all around the cell until it concentrates in a corner, darkening until all that stands before me is a black opening just large enough for me to enter. I don't wait a single second longer and lunge toward my escape.
As I step through the portal, I whisper, “Please don't let this be a mistake.”
Chapter 13
Guendolyn
I step out of the portal and emerge out into an oversized sitting room with pearlescent wallpaper. Long, narrow windows flood the room with natural light, while a fire roars from the hearth in the corner.
Ornate wooden furniture decorates the space, and carved display cabinets are packed with all manner of books and colorful gems. Only when I look over to the two couches facing each other do I notice the back of someone’s head.
My heart beats frantically because nothing in this room looks familiar. I've seen enough of the princes’ mansion to know they don't have windows like these.
I’d been trying to get the portal to take me to my room, but obviously it didn’t work. So where the hell am I?
I turn back toward the portal, except it's gone, and my insides freeze over.
Please, no! I raise my wounded hand, needing to get out of here fast. I give a quick blow over my palm, concentrating on my room in the mansion, yet not a single spark of energy comes. The more I try, the more I start trembling. This is the worst-case scenario, being taken to a random place. Sure, I escaped the dungeon, but where in the world did I land instead?
Wasting no time, I swing toward the black, wooden door and quickly grasp the handle…
“I wouldn’t do that if I was you,” a female's voice sweeps around me from behind.
My shoulder muscles bunch up, and I turn around swiftly.
Several feet away stands a jaw-droppingly beautiful woman who looks so familiar. She's older, maybe in her mid- to late forties, long blonde hair falling over her shoulders in soft curls. Delicate round face with the bluest eyes, pale lashes and deep red lips. She's slightly taller than me, curvy, and wearing a teal gown that’s tight around her bust and billows outward like she has layers of fabric underneath. If there was ever an image of a perfect fairy tale princess, this woman was the epitome.
There's something quite familiar and calming about her.
“I-I think I've l-lost my way,” I say softly, playing the innocent card.
She looks at me from head to toe, then to the door.
“You came exactly where you needed to,” she answers. “The portal brought you here because this is your place.”
What is she talking about? Looking around the room for anything familiar, I find nothing, and outside all that's in view are snow-covered woods for as far as the eye can see. There are no mountains, which is strange, as I'm used to seeing them from the mansion windows.
“Who are you?” I ask. “What is this place?”
She steps toward me, and there's a daintiness in the way she saunters. She is a woman of higher standing, someone used to always appearing perfect. I've seen the princes' mother, so I know it’s not her.
But why is this woman locked in a room?
“Come with me.” She offers me her hand, palm upward, the tips of her fingers slightly curled.
I should be afraid, but the energy around her calms me. There's something about this woman that makes me want to curl up and listen to her tell me tales. And she seems to know more about me than I do.
So I reach out and place my hand with the bite on my wrist in hers.
In response, she rewards me with a beaming smile that I feel deep inside me, like she's the sun filling me with a strange tranquillity.
She guides me over to a window, both of us standing side by side, staring outside to where the morning sun is just peering up over her horizon.
Down below is a lofty stone wall surrounding the
