A Court of Trickery and Salvation

Chapter Thirteen

When Rhysand led me back to the main room Casteel was gone so I took the Faerie wine Rhys offered and drank. The rest of the night was fuzzy but one look at the paint on my body this morning tells me all I need to know about the rest of the night. The guards open my cell and walk in before grabbing me roughly by my arms and forcing me to walk down the hallway. Chores. I forgot I had chores to do until the day of my next trial. The two males shove me to the floor with wicked smiles stretching across their faces as the drop the bucket in front of me, dirty water sloshing over the sides. A growl rumbles from behind them and I recognize it immediately as Casteel. "You will not touch her like that. If I catch anyone touching her I'll rip your fucking throats out." He snarls, his savagery on full display now that his secrets out, the guards dip their heads before vanishing. Casteel kneels down to help me up but I smack his hand away and glare.

"I don't want or need your help. Get it through your head. We are not friends anymore." I say the last part slowly, struggling to keep eye contact with him. Pain flashes across those burning eyes of his and for a second, I let myself feel that pain, let my heart feel like it's ripping in two. After all, I deserve it.

"I won't stop fighting for our friendship liessa." That nickname. He hasn't called me that in a very long time. My heart isn't just ripping in two anymore, it's shredding apart from one little word.

"Do not call me that. I never understood what it meant and I sure as hell don't want to now. You can take your overprotective alpha male attitude and shove it up your ass!" I snap, feeling that tug into madness again. Jaye's death is still effecting me hard and I don't even have time to try to process when I learn my other friend has lied to me for years. Wait... did Jaye know about Casteel?

"K... please just let me explain. I'll figure out a way to get you out of the deal with Rhysand and you can stay with me."

"In Atlantia? I'd rather live with him." Wow, how far I've strayed when I'd rather live with a High Lord of Prythian than with my friend but then again he's not that anymore. Gods I feel like I'm drowning in that bucket, everything is too much. Where the hell is Rhysand?

"When I explain everything you'll feel differently but please.. please don't shut me out. I'm still the same person." He begs desperately, I've never heard him beg before, never heard him sound so desperate. Only.. only with me, when I was heading here. Which he knew.... Knew where I was going.

"Did... did you follow me here Casteel? You're supposed to be in Masadonia but you're... here." I say slowly, trying to get my mind to work enough to piece everything together. Surely he didn't abandon a chance to be close to the Maiden for me. "What am I saying? Of course you didn't. You're here to enlist Amarantha's help getting you close to her. The Maiden." I finish, stepping back away from him even though every muscle in my body is screaming at me to get closer to him.

"No. No Kayla. I read the letter before you and I knew you'd take over for Feyre." Liar. He's a liar. He lied to you about who he was for years and he expects you to fall for it again but.. he looked out for you in Solis.

"I...Casteel.."

"Hawke. I will always be Hawke to you." He cuts me off, stepping so close to me that his scent invades my senses.

"You are going to get her in trouble." Rhysand says sternly as he approaches us, his hands in his pockets while he looks us over. Thank the Gods.

"Why are you always sticking your nose where it doesn't belong High Lord." Casteel growls as he turns his back to me to glare at Rhysand who keeps his face neutral.

"Why do you insist on hanging around her Prince Casteel? Don't you and Amarantha have plans to discuss?" Rhysand's voice never wavers as he challenges Casteel, those violet eyes flicking over to me in a silent question.

"Stop looking at her like that!" Casteel snaps, reaching behind him and tugging me to his side in an extremely possessive manner that I've never seen before. What is happening? Why is he doing this? Why is my heart racing?

"Amarantha is going to smell her on you. What happened to staying away from her? This is going to get her killed." Rhysand bares his teeth at Casteel, the first sign of any emotion other than bored indifference since he came up to us. Emotion... that's right, my rage.

"What's going to get me killed is her partner and her whore constantly hovering around me and getting involved in my business!" I snap, clutching onto that rage as if it's the only thing keeping me alive. Casteel turns back to me then both sets of intense eyes are burning into me. "I told you Casteel we are no longer friends so I am not your concern anymore and Rhysand the only kind of relationship we have is this bargain we have. Help me get through this alive and I come live with you in the Night Court." I glare between them, both of their eyes glittering with hurt and it kills me for some reason.

"Kayla.. just let me..."

"What part of no don't you understand?! After this is all over I don't ever want to see you again!" I snap at Casteel then I turn to Rhys. "When we get to the Night Court we live separately, our paths barely cross. No 'High Lord check in's' I am my own person." For as long as it takes me to let myself rot.

"I told you. I'm not giving up on our friendship." Casteel says, shifting his stance closer to me while glaring at Rhysand.

"As for your living situation, you're going to have to reside with me until I get a place set up for you away from prying eyes." Rhysand crosses his arms over his chest as he levels his stare at me, ignoring Casteel completely.

"Fine." I growl before turning my back to the two males. "Leave me the hell alone now."