Chapter 18

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A Dangerous Ally

Eliza's feet barely touched the floor as Kellen pulled her and Alden through the narrow passageways below deck, his steps quick and sure. The muffled sounds of the chaos above—the clash of swords, the desperate cries of soldiers—were growing louder with every step they took. The ship seemed to be alive with the tension of a fight that was just out of reach.

Alden's grip on Eliza's hand tightened as they moved deeper into the shadows, away from the main hold and into a smaller, less traveled section of the ship. Eliza couldn't help but feel a growing sense of dread in her chest. Everything felt wrong.

Kellen glanced back at them, his eyes scanning the passage ahead. "We don't have much time. We need to reach the back of the ship. There's a hidden compartment there, an escape route," he muttered under his breath.

"What route?" Alden demanded, his voice hard, mistrusting. "If this is another trick—"

"It's no trick," Kellen cut in, his voice sharper now, tinged with something that almost sounded like urgency. "I'm not going to hand you over to Prince Edward. I've been playing my part, but this game is bigger than just money now. If we don't get you off this ship, we'll all die."

Eliza's breath caught. The way Kellen said those words—so blunt, so certain—sent a shiver through her. He had been playing a game all along. But now, as he looked over his shoulder with such an intense focus, it was clear that whatever role he had been playing, it had changed. This wasn't about money anymore.

"Why should we trust you?" Alden growled, his body tense beside her. "You've been working with them. With Prince Edward. You were going to sell us out."

Kellen didn't flinch at the accusation, but his jaw tightened. "I was hired to get you to safety. That's all. When Edward found out about your escape, he offered me more money to hand you over. But it's not about the money anymore." His voice dropped to a whisper, a rare flicker of emotion crossing his face. "I know who Edward is. He's not just some prince. He's a man with power—and he's ruthless. If you think he'll let you go after all this... you're wrong. If I want to see the both of you survive, you have to trust me."

Eliza looked from Kellen to Alden, the weight of the decision pressing down on her chest. She wanted to believe him. But how could she? Kellen had been their captor once before. Could they afford to trust him now?

"I don't have time to explain everything," Kellen added, his voice low and urgent. "But I can promise you this: if you stay here, you won't make it out alive. If you trust me, I'll get you off this ship. I swear it."

Eliza could feel Alden's gaze on her, the tension in his grip as he hesitated. But in his eyes, she saw something that made her heart flutter—a flicker of trust. Alden was willing to risk it.

"Alright," Alden said, his voice grim but resolute. "But if you betray us again—"

"I won't," Kellen interrupted, his eyes flashing. "Now let's move."

Without another word, they followed Kellen deeper into the ship. The narrow corridor twisted and turned, and Eliza's senses seemed on high alert, every creak of the wood above them sending a jolt of anxiety through her body. She knew time was running out. Every second they delayed brought them closer to the prince's soldiers, and the thought of Prince Edward's hand on her throat—the man who had once been her fiancé, the man her father had tried to marry her off to—sent a cold shiver down her spine.

They reached the far end of the ship, where Kellen stopped in front of a hidden door in the wall. He knocked three times in quick succession, and after a tense moment, the door creaked open, revealing a narrow passageway lit only by the faintest flicker of candlelight.

"Go," Kellen urged, stepping aside to let them through.

Alden went first, pulling Eliza in behind him, and Kellen followed close behind, the door shutting quietly behind them. They moved through the passageway, the air thick with the smell of damp wood and saltwater. The passage seemed to stretch on forever, but Eliza held onto Alden's hand like it was her lifeline.

They didn't speak, but every step felt heavy, like they were moving toward some inevitable confrontation. How much longer could they keep running?

Kellen led them to the end of the passage, where a small boat was waiting, tethered to the side of the ship, its sail neatly furled. The boat was simple but sturdy—a lifeline to freedom.

"It's not much, but it'll get you out of here," Kellen said quietly, his voice almost softer than before. "The crew won't be able to follow you once you're out on the open sea."

Eliza's heart pounded in her chest as she looked at the boat, the reality of their situation setting in. The thought of being out there alone, exposed to the vastness of the sea, terrified her. But it was better than the alternative.

"Thank you," Eliza said, her voice barely a whisper.

Kellen nodded once, his face hard to read in the dim light. "Don't thank me yet. You still have a long way to go."

Alden moved toward the boat, steadying it, ready to cast off. He turned to Kellen with a questioning look. "What about you?"

Kellen hesitated, his gaze flicking back toward the hidden doorway they had just passed through. "I'll stay behind. I'll cover your escape. Just get out of here before they find us."

Eliza's stomach turned at the thought of Kellen staying behind, of putting himself in danger for them once again. "You don't have to—"

But Kellen held up his hand, cutting her off. "I'm not asking for your thanks, Princess. I'm doing this because it's the right thing to do."

Before Eliza could respond, Alden stepped into the boat, his hand reaching out for hers. "We have to go, Eliza. Now."

Kellen turned to face them one last time. "Good luck. And remember—Edward won't stop until he has you. Stay hidden. Stay smart."

Eliza nodded, her heart heavy with gratitude and sorrow. She would never forget what Kellen had done for them. If they survived this, she would make sure he knew that he had earned more than just their trust—he had earned their loyalty.

Alden pulled the boat away from the ship, and Kellen stepped back into the shadows, disappearing from view. The tension on the ship seemed to thicken in the air, but Eliza didn't look back. They had to keep moving.

The open sea lay ahead of them, vast and intimidating. But for the first time in days, Eliza felt a sense of possibility. They were free.

But she knew, deep in her heart, that this freedom would come at a price. They hadn't escaped yet—not by a long shot.

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