The First Betrayal

Chapter 9

As soon as I finished talking to my brother and Jonas, I went up to see Noah. My hands were clammy, and my heart was thumping so loud it drowned out any background noise. There was a small part of me that thought it could have been an accident. Maybe he really was trying to make amends. But the larger part of me knew the truth. He had tried to kill me. He had no love for me anymore and this was all just some elaborate plan. My life was quite literally in his hands now. There was nothing I could do about it either if I wanted to keep Jonas and Jacob safe.

The walk down the hall seemed never ending until I finally came face to face with our(his) bedroom door. It took all of my courage to reach up and knock on the door. I heard a muffled come in and I took a deep breath before stepping over the threshold.

I kept my hands folded in front of me, but my head was held high. He might have me trapped here but I will not show him any ounce of fear. He needs to know how little bearing he has over me. Even if my body secretly trembles beneath my dress my words will spout lies. He will not force me into submission.

He stalked over to me in a few strides until we were standing toe to toe. I looked up at him with fire in my eyes but looking down at me was an equal fire. One that blazed hotter than mine, but I wouldn't back down.

"May I help you, your majesty." I bit out.

"You better learn quick that little attitude of yours will only get you killed, for good this time." He said through gritted teeth.

My anger was pulsing through me at this point, and I did not care in the moment weather he was going to hurt me again or not. I assumed he wasn't based solely on the fact he could have killed me when he caught me. No. He's keeping me alive for a reason. And I would use that until my last dying breath. Anything to give myself an edge.

"Why did you do it? I thought we were happy. I knew we had our problems and differences, but I never expected you to go as far as to kill me."

He let out a low chuckle and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, "Darling, it wasn't anything personal. I'm sure you've heard the rumors by now. The crazy queen. Now that just won't do. So, the simple solution was to kill you off. That way no one could speak ill of you. As they say don't speak ill of the dead. I did it for you."

Bile rose in my throat after every word he said. Our bedroom was feeling more and more like a dungeon by the second. Him being this close to me didn't help that.

"Oh, so I should be thanking you then?" I said sarcastically. "My apologies let me just bow down to you and your kindness. You really thought you were helping me, but you were only helping yourself. You are a cruel and insufferable man." I let out a breath of air to calm myself before I got too riled up. "Now tell me why you kept me alive this time. You could have had your guards kill me and the other two right then and there. It would have been over with without anyone knowing about it."

He leaned down close to my face, I could feel his breath on my ear, "Because I need your help. And you would be wise to assist me or else someone might let the general know that his two newest recruits are spies. They would be killed immediately."

My skin went cold, and beads of sweat started to drip down my forehead. There was no part of me that wanted to help him with whatever he was planning. But if I wanted to make good on my promise to keep them safe. I would. So,

"Fine." I took a step back, "I will help you. But, just to let you know I knew you coudln't do any of this on your own. The second I left your kingdom started to fall apart. You were always a weak man."

Fury bloomed in his eyes but before he could get in another word I stormed out of the room. My footsteps echoed down the hall as I tried to get as far away from the bedroom as possible. He may have me locked in here, but I certainly was not staying in the same room as him. There were at least a hundred more rooms in the palace for me to sleep in. I would find one where he could not enter without my knowledge. For being his palace, he really does not know it from top to bottom like I did. There were plenty of blind spots for me to hide in.