"Yes, I handled it," Rowan answered, sounding like his usual composed and indifferent self while I was sweating so much it was starting to make my dress stick to my skin. The little aid the glass of water I had drank provided to quench my thirst was quickly being undone.
The Queen hummed, sounding distracted as she came to a stop before a set of familiar doors that had my steps faltering and my blood running cold. "Hmm, also something that I heard. It was difficult not to given that it ended in a public spectacle. But I'm sure that was as intended. "
Despite the cold eyes she cut his way, Rowan's expression didn't waver as he left my side to move around her and push the door open for her to enter. He kept his eyes pointed at the ground while he waited for her to make her way inside. She kept him waiting for a few drawn-out moments where the tension in the air grew to a suffocating degree that had me shifting on my feet. When he continued to remain still with his head down, she finally looked away from him and stepped forward, releasing the tension. I released a breath, finding it instantly easier to breathe.
Tracking her with my eyes, I watched as the Queen made her way into the room, Rowan not far behind her. I knew I was supposed to follow, but my feet refused to move. When I caught sight of where specifically the Queen was making her way, they grew cemented to the ground. My eyes grew unfocused as a scene that I knew wasn't there started to play out in front of the chaise that had featured in my latest nightmares. My mind played out the detailed picture of two gruesome deaths that had already been scrubbed off the floor so well that no one but those who had seen or heard of them would know of the blood that was spilled on it.
Before the ghost of screams that i was hearing in my head could end and the second head could join the first on the floor, fingers banded around my upper arm, shattering the illusion that held me frozen.
"Don't," Rowan whispered into my ear as he pulled me into the room, causing me to stumble. "The faster this is over, the faster we can leave. Don't do anything stupid to drag this out."
Like running away. The fear that would follow once I was caught wasn't worth running from the fear I currently felt. Not only would it drag whatever was about to happen out, but it was also sure to make it worse.
"I won't," I said with more confidence than I felt.
Rowan must have heard the hesitance in the way my voice shook. Having absolutely no confidence in me, after leading me into the room and pulling me to a stop before the Queen on the chaise that I was sure had splatters of blood hidden in its ornate pattern, he kept his hand on my arm as a precaution. She didn't miss her son's firm hold, her eyes taking it in with curiosity that had me wanting to shy away.
"Human," she said so abruptly that I couldn't help but jump. She lifted her eyes to mine. "Fetch me my smoke sticks," she ordered with a lift of her chin towards the desk in the room. "They should be on my desk," she added with a wave of her hand.
My tongue darted out to wet my lips as my eyes darted toward Rowan with uncertainty. I was sure he saw my need for guidance against the masked crazy before us, but he did nothing to address it. Meeting my eyes, he calmly released my arm to clasp his hands together at his back. Like the Queen, he waited for me to follow her directions.
Swallowing hard, I clenched my teeth as I looked away from him, choosing to focus on the floor. Of course he wouldn't help, his fear of her, though well hidden, was enough to keep him silent and obedient.
Giving the Queen a stiff nod, I made my way towards her desk. It sat before a wall of windows that had their curtains pulled back to reveal angry grey skies. The torrent of rain pelting it made it difficult to see the immaculate gardens that they looked out over.
