Beasts of Flames

Chapter Three

I waited two hours after the dinner bells had rung to make sure all other nobles would no longer be roaming the castle halls. My reputation was already tarnished enough that I could not risk anyone seeing me after my aunt had barely managed to spare me from a life in the dungeons.
I had changed from my black gown into a new set of armored leathers, the dark color helping me to blend with the shadows. I quietly slipped from my chamber after listening for the soft scuttle of footsteps. When I deemed it to be clear, I made my way towards an entrance to one of the passageways I had memorized as a child.

Slipping behind a tapestry of an ancient king, I gently ran my fingers over the bricks of the wall, searching for the notch that would open the way. I pushed my body against the inner wall of the passage and ducked as I snuck toward my destination. The coolness of the bricks against the pads of my fingers felt like pure ice compared to the heat that burned under my skin, notably warmer than I had ever felt before. I steadied my breathing, aiming to be as quiet and calm as possible. I could not lash out without being spotted and convicted on the spot, and I needed answers. Tip-toeing through the darkness, I reached out in front of me and pushed against the wall that I had walked through so many nights in this castle.

I silently pushed open the wall, revealing the whole of Maximus' chambers. Crouched against the passageway wall still, I scanned the room for any sign of Titus or other royal guards being present, but no one else was in the room. Maximus was soundly sleeping, his naked body only covered by a thin sheet that I had slept under with him. The sheet I would probably never be under again, the body I would never be able to press against, the warmth that was no longer mine to experience.

I pushed aside those thoughts, unsheathing my knife from my waist. I moved agilely across the room, avoiding the mess of bottles and clothes he had scattered on his floor. He had developed a drinking problem since we had last spent a night together. I stood beside his bed, staring down at the boy who had been my friend and holding back my tears at how peaceful he seemed. It was entirely unfair that he appeared unfazed, and I was burdened with pain and tears from the memories we had shared.

I pressed the tip of my knife to his throat, and leaned in to whisper,

"Wake up, Maximus."

Maximus' eyes fluttered open and grew wide in shock when he realized I had a blade against his throat.

"What the fuck, Lyda? What the fuck is going on?" he yelled, forcing me to cover his mouth halfway through the sentence so he couldn't alert anyone nearby.

"That is the exact question I wanted to ask you. Look at you, what an adorable little mind reader."

I loosened the pressure on his throat, and he swatted away my knife as he sat up in bed and said,

"Grow up, Lyda. You're acting like a child right now."

From the way, he mocked me, he must've forgotten I had a knife at his throat mere moments ago, but I maintained my cold stare as he looked at me.

"What do you want me to say?" he threw out rashly.

"I want an answer. One minute, you're begging me to jump into bed with you, and the next, you're engaged to the Rose of Verdallan. Tell me which one is true, now."

My tone was becoming much more aggressive as the conversation was progressing, the leash I had on my anger slipping from my mind.

"It's complicated, Lyda-"

"No, don't give me a bullshit answer like that. Tell me the truth, Maximus."

He contemplated his next words, running his fingers through his disheveled hair. Then, he just looked at me, so desperately, like he was drowning underwater and couldn't find a way out. After a few seconds, he finally got the words out,