The Labyrinth of Negrastir

Taking Cover

I was waiting in front of the guardhouse for the guards to bring the prisoner and two horses when the last person I expected to see came over.

Why was this guy here at this hour? The sun had not yet appeared above the horizon and the twilight sky was painted in various shades of orange and purple.

Malachi glanced at the sky before meeting me halfway across the tended lawn as if he could read what was going through my mind.

His stare carried a subtle undertone of irritation.

"Is all of this because of Nessa?"

"What?"

Inching closer, he spoke in a hushed tone so that it was barely audible. Even his stern eyes darted around to ensure no one was listening.

"I'm asking if you're running away because of that day?"

I turned my face away, hoping that the change in view would jog my memory.

That day? What day? The day I found myself in the eerie woods? What did Lara say again?

Something about me seeing the Crown Prince kissing my adopted cousin Nessa...

I couldn't help but smirk as I finally tore my eyes away from the ground.

"You think the world revolves around you, Your Highness?"

"I don't know what you're up to. But if anything happens to Nessa because of you, you'll pay for it."

"If you're that smitten with my dear cousin, then why do you want to marry me? Don't you think what you're saying sounds contradicting?"

"That's for me to decide. Marrying you doesn't mean I love you."

I stood there, utterly astonished and at a loss for words to say. "Then let Hera go! Why force her into this marriage if you're in love with someone else?"

"Are you asking because you genuinely don't know or are you pretending not to know?"

He drew closer. His voice was filled with such contempt that I instinctively took a step back.

"You think I can just ditch you and marry Nessa after all you did to get back at me? You'll ruin her, Hera! That's what someone like you does!"

"Ruin her? What're you—"

"She told me everything, Hera! She said you tried to poison her the day we went to the moon festival!

"I can't believe you'd want to hurt her just because I showed her some attention! And you know what? You're... you're the reason I fell in love with her."

Did Hera really try to poison her cousin? I didn't know so I couldn't speak up for her. But there was no doubt in my mind that the Crown Prince pitied Nessa.

In his eyes, Hera was the villain who tried to take the life of an innocent person.

"If I promise not to harm her, will you still push for this marriage?"

"I can't trust anything you say, Hera. Not anymore..."

I dropped my head and racked my brain for a way to persuade the Crown Prince. Every party involved would bear the painful consequences of this marriage.

"Tell me, how can I gain your trust?"

"There's no way I'll ever trust you."

"Even if... I never come back?"

There was a subtle shift in his eyes. "Is that what you're trying to do?"

"Just give me an answer," I said. "If I walk away and never come back, will you trust me and call off the wedding?"