Royal Games

Chapter 53

"Not too much sugar!" He protests. Kelly instantly stops pouring the sugar into the mixing bowl. She's still extremely quiet, which Isaac is very worried about, but she seems willing to join in with the activities we suggest. I'm also glad to see her bruises healing and body gaining weight.

"It's the butter in next, right?" I check.

"Right."

I tip in the small bowl of slightly-melted butter. When I set the bowl down on the counter, Isaac swipes a finger through the tiny amount left. I barely have time to react before he smears it down my nose. I scowl.

Kelly can't help herself as she lets out a small giggle. Isaac dips his finger back into the bowl. "Do you want your face painting too?" He gives her a teasing grin, before lunging forwards. She ducks out of the way, and I end up with another smear across my left cheek.

As the three of us are laughing, my phone rings. Marco's name flashes across the screen.

I swipe the phone from the counter and quickly leave the room.

"What's the news?" I demand.

"Aly... Alyssa." Marco slurs down the phone. Something's wrong.

"Marco?"

"So nice to hear your voice again after so long." It's not Marco on the other end. My body starts shaking as I realise he's at my mum's mercy.

"What have you done to him?" I breathe.

"Your brother isn't the one you need to worry about. He's drugged, but unharmed. The rogue guard, on the other hand... Well, let's just say he may never heal."

My hand clamps over my mouth as bile rises. Liam. Things have gone horribly wrong. And it's all my fault for putting him in danger in the first place.

"Come and save them, Alyssa." She taunts. "While there's still something left to save." My mum's cackle is the last thing I hear before the line goes dead.

I rush to the bathroom, barely managing to reach the toilet before I throw up.

This is it, I realise, clarity taking hold of me. I already knew I had to kill my mum, but I've been avoiding it. I can't keep running from the inevitable. I have to put an end to all this hiding. One way or another, this ends today.

Isaac comes to find me a minute later. He doesn't say anything as he takes in my dishevelled state. He merely sits on the bathroom floor beside me, resting a hand on my thigh. I lay my head down on his shoulder.

"She caught Liam." I rasp. "She caught Marco. She won't let them go unless I go to save them."

"It's a trap." Isaac says simply.

"I know." I reply glumly. Then I sigh. "But I have to go anyway. None of this will end until one of us is dead. Even my dad knows I have to kill her."

"You never mentioned..."

"I thought if I could stay away from her, it wouldn't come down to this. I was wrong."

"Let's discuss this somewhere more comfortable." Isaac stands, before offering me a hand up. I let him wipe my face clean before he leads me up to his bedroom. We sit side by side on the bed. "Would you be capable of it?" He asks. No judgement. No dissuasion. Just plain calculation.

"Honestly? I don't know."

"If you can't do it, I will." I stare at him in shock. "I love you, Alyssa, and I would do anything for you. Anything. So if I have to commit murder to save your conscience, then so be it."

"Don't say things like that." I recall Adrianna saying something about Isaac having a darker side. For the first time, I question how well I truly know him.

"No?" He presses a row of kisses down my cheek. I don't pull away, despite my troubled thoughts. He continues along my jaw, until he hovers over my mouth. "You don't understand the power you have over me." He murmurs.

Kiss me, I want to say. Kiss me until I forget the rest of the world.

But now isn't the time for that.

"I'm going back to the palace." I say, shuffling away so that Isaac's lips are less of a distraction. "And you're going to stay here this time."

Isaac opens his mouth to reply, but I hold up a hand, silencing him.

"I might not know what my mum's planning, but I'm going in prepared for a fight. I won't put anyone else in harm's way; this is between me and my mum."

"You don't have to do this if you don't want to."

"But I do." I insist. "My dad wouldn't explain it, but he said it had to be me. He said I would soon understand why."

Isaac sweeps me into a tight hug. "Come back to me."

"Always. I promise." I know have no right to make such a promise, but I don't care. "Finish baking the brownies with Kelly. Don't let her know there's anything wrong."

"As you wish, Your Highness." Isaac smirks as I untangle myself from his arms. Smiling back, I roll my eyes.

In my room, I prepare for the day ahead. I don the same black clothes I wore when we stuck into the palace, minus the cloak, which would only be a liability if it comes down to a fight. I tie my hair up into a ponytail and strap as many weapons to my body as I can; daggers and swords and potions.

This time, I drink an invisibility potion before leaving the house. It's broad daylight outside, and my appearance would likely cause a stir in this unassuming village. Then I'm flying out the window and towards the clothes shop Isaac showed me.

There is no one in the shop except its owner, who must be seelie if there's a portal here. I become visible again. The shop keeper is mildly surprised to see me appear, but simply nods towards the changing room where the portal is.

Once more, I walk through the portal, ending up in my room at the palace.