Hours pass and the shadow twins still haven't arrived to take me up to get ready for Rhysand so I just curl up on the cot and fall asleep. Nightmares of Casteel's fangs ripping into Jaye's neck plague my dreams, yanking me awake multiple times. So many times in fact that I just stop bothering to fall back asleep, my mind now racing with everything that's happened. I finally let myself feel all of it, not the just the rage or the muddled versions. All of it. Tears race down my cheeks and sobs burst from my throat, harsh and painful. I pull at the hair on top of my head with each strangled breath that manages to barely fill my lungs between sobs and hysterical laughs. Soon it all changes to shrieking and my fist slamming against the cement wall, over and over and over again until my knuckles split open.
"Kayla!" A pair of arms wrap around me, trapping my arms to my sides as they haul me away from the wall. The combined smell of the sea and citrus with pine, cinnamon and dark spices fill my nose calming my crashing. Rhysand moves to stand in front of me, holding my face between his hands while Casteel slightly tightens his hold on me.
"You can't be here. Neither of you." I croak hoarsely, the fight effectively leaving my body. All that rage I have been clinging to completely evaporating. "Why are you here?"
"I felt you." Rhysand says softly, his eyes searching mine while he rubs his thumb calmingly over my cheek bone.
"It doesn't matter. You two being down here so much is what got me into that mess. No more visits." I pull my hands from Casteel's arms and softly move Rhysand's hands from my face, my fight fully and truly gone.
"You can't expect me not to check on you. It kills me that your down here in this cell." Casteel seethes, turning me around in his arms so I'm staring into those burning amber eyes. "It kills me even more that you have to go live in the Night Court with him." He snarls at Rhysand, his eyes flicking from mine to his.
"You've never been this hateful. What could've possibly happened to make you act like this towards him. Rhysand has done everything in his power to keep me safe and sane." I jump to Rhys' defense, Casteel's hostile words clanging through my mind. Whore. If he found out about me and Crighton would he call me the same? Would I be a whore to him? Would he stop loving me like he claims to.
"It doesn't matter Kayla." Casteel continues to glare at Rhysand before his eyes return to mine, his jaw clenched hard. "You realize after this is all over, I won't be able to see you anymore." When I don't say anything he gives a small nod. "Fine. This is the last time you'll see me."
"Wait." Rhysand speaks up before Casteel can leave. "Kayla, despite all your best declarations of hatred and loathing it's clear you still value Prince Casteel or you wouldn't have begged me to keep him from reacting to your beating which was very difficult."
"He was once my friend." Casteel's and I's eyes clash with each others and all I can think about is all the times I spent laughing with him, playing with him, confiding in him, and the thought of never seeing him again destroys me. "Prove to me you're still him. My friend. We can go from there." I look back at Rhysand. "I know we already made a bargain..."
"Prince Casteel and I can work something out." That stupid half smile finds it's way on his face, his little victory smirk but I can't help but return it with a little smile of my own. There goes my plan to just let myself fade away into nothing.
"Okay but seriously no more visits like this. My last trial will be here faster than we know." I look between the two males, their faces identical with disapproving glares. "Out. Now." I order, crossing my arms over my chest. The realization that I just ordered a Prince and a High Lord out of my cell settling into me. What really shocks me is that they listen, both of them turning and walking out of the cell. I should be glad that they listen to me with ease but something about it feels weird. The sight of them leaving twists my heart so painfully that I almost start sobbing again. What the hell is going on with me? I hate Atlantian's and I hate Fae but... I'm starting not to. Something inside me is starting to realize I hate the fact that I'm so much weaker than them, I hate it so much I focused that hate on them. If I was like them then I could've stopped those mercenaries from crippling Father and putting us in the position we are now. If I was like them then I could've stopped Crighton the first time he forced himself on me. If I was like them I could be free. That thought alone wears on me more than I wish it too. That thought sends me spiraling down that self destructive path once more. I curl up in the cot, leaning my head against the cool stone of the wall and let myself fade off into sleep.
YOU ARE READING
A Court of Trickery and Salvation
أدب الهواةKayla Archeron is the youngest daughter of the Archeron family. Kayla has been away for years, serving in the human army as a way to get money to her family but when she gets word from Nesta that Feyre was taken by a Faerie, she fights tooth and nai...
