Without looking back, I headed for the wooden post where Shadow was secured and unwrapped the reins with trembling hands. I climbed onto Shadow and motioned him around to head toward the forest. Instead of a run, we started off in a trot. I was not in a rush to return to the castle.
2
By the time I walked across the drawbridge to the castle, a light drizzle was all that was left from the previous deluge. Two guards standing at their post were about to deny me entrance when they saw my face. Startled, they glanced at one another in confusion before hastily letting me in. I heard them report my entrance through the radio, but I didn’t have the energy to care about the repercussions of my escape from the castle.
My Converse sneakers made squishy noises as they sloshed onto the pristine marble floor as I headed towards the grand staircase that led to my chamber. Guards were posted all along the way, but they were eerily quiet as I dragged myself upstairs.
When I reached the corridor that led to the Royal Wing, William was pacing outside the door, waiting for me. He ran a hand through his buzz cut hair and scratched at his scalp in frustration. He wasn’t on duty tonight, but when the other guards realized I was gone they must have woken him up.
“Yer Majesty!” He stormed over to me, meeting me halfway. “Where have ye been? It was storming tonight! How could ye go out there like that?”
I was deflated and tired and lacked the energy to argue or explain my actions. I just wanted to go to bed. But I knew that would be impossible.
Heavy boots sounded behind me, getting louder and louder with each booming step. I didn’t have to turn around to know who it was.
“Ye have a lot of explaining to do, Yer Majesty!” Ranulf shouted from the end of the corridor.
I tightened my hands into fists to keep from crying. Right now, all I wanted was Bash. I didn’t want to speak to anyone else.
Ranulf grabbed my arm and whirled me around, throwing my hood back. “And yer dressed like a commoner!”
I rolled my eyes. “That should be the least of your worries.” I ripped my arm from him.
“What the hell were ye thinking, Yer Majesty? It’s dangerous out there! Especially for ye!” Ranulf yelled.
I knew he was right, especially after receiving that package from Abaddon, but I couldn’t sit still. After opening it, I hid it in the closet right away. Once we’d spent a respectable amount of time at the reception for our mating ceremony, Bash and I went to sleep, but I couldn’t even close my eyes. Hours went by and sleep never came. I knew I had to do something, anything, but the only thing I could think to do was to reach out to the only one I knew I could count on in times of peril … Lucian. He always told me to go to his cottage if I was ever in trouble, and right now, I was in a lot of trouble. Except I didn’t get the response I expected.
“I don’t answer to you,” I growled.
Ranulf’s expression darkened. “Ye may nae answer to me, Princess, but my job is to protect ye! So right now, ye will answer me!”
“Ranulf!” William gasped, taking hold of my arm lightly and pulling me back. “The Queen should probably get cleaned up and get some rest. We can talk afterward.”
Ranulf’s glare was unmoving as we stared each other down. “Double the guards around the Queen. I don want her going anywhere.” Without another word, he spun on his heels and stormed away.
“Come on, Yer Majesty, let’s get ye some dry clothes.” William was gentle as he ushered me into the Royal Wing.
We entered the common area and there were guards all around. Apparently, William was ten steps ahead of Ranulf. He’d already doubled the guards.
“William?” I turned to the guard and stopped him mid-step. “I need a favor.”
“Anything, Yer Majesty.”
“I need the guards gone,” I said.
“Anything but that,” he said dryly.
I sighed. “I promise I’m not going anywhere; I just need to speak to Bash without any prying ears. What I need to tell him is extremely private. No one can know.”
William’s face tightened. “Yer Majesty, I cannae leave ye unguarded. Ranulf will have my head.”
I bit my lip as I thought about it for a moment. “Then … you stay behind. Only you. But what you hear, you cannot repeat.”
William frowned, not liking the idea whatsoever. “Ye know I would never betray yer trust, Yer Majesty.”
I nodded. “I know.”
“Very well,” William grunted and turned to the guards. “All right, lads, let’s give the Queen some privacy. Head down to the foyer. I’ll come get ye in a moment.”
“Aye,” they all agreed and started to exit the Royal Wing.
William turned to me. “I’ll be right outside in the corridor, just in case anyone decides to come upstairs. If ye need anything—”
“Thank you, William.” I patted him on the shoulder. He was the last to exit the common room.
I took a deep breath before running my hands through my wet hair. I shook out my hands and approached the double doors that led to the Queen’s private chambers. I turned the handles and opened the doors, stepping inside.
I expected Bash to be sound asleep, but instead he was sitting on the edge of the bed in the dark room with only a small lamp turned on. He wore a pair of cotton pajama pants and nothing else. His hands were clasped between his legs and his head hung to his chest. He was waiting for me.
“Bash …” I whispered.
“It’s late, Mackenzie, just come to bed.”
He sounded so disappointed and defeated. It was the last thing I wanted to do to him, especially on the night of our mating ceremony.
“Bash … please, look at me,”
