You can't find me

Chapter 53

Adrian groaned as he woke up, the world around him spinning as his vision blurred. His head ached, the sharp pain throbbing as if something heavy had been placed on his mind. It took a few moments for him to clear the fog in his brain, and when he finally blinked open his eyes, he realized something was wrong.

He wasn't in his house.

The lavish room, with its rich tapestries and glowing lanterns, was unfamiliar. The soft, elegant furniture only seemed to deepen the disorientation. His pulse quickened as he scanned the room, trying to piece together how he'd gotten here.

His thoughts flashed back to Zaniyah—her casting that strange, glowing spell, the magic that had rendered him unable to move...

"Zaniyah?" His voice cracked as he whispered her name, still trying to understand what had happened. Why was he here? What had she done to him?

Trying to sit up, his body felt heavy, as though he were still under some sort of spell. His hands reached to rub his face, but as he moved, his eyes caught sight of something that made his heart drop.

The room. The decor. The throne on the far end of the room. He didn't need to be told to know he was in a place that was not just any grand estate—this was a royal chamber. It certainly wasn't Alex's because he had went to the the castle many times before to meet him and his brother. 

Before he could process his next thought, the sound of a door creaking open reached his ears. Zaniyah stepped into the room, her face unreadable. She was dressed in an elaborate gown, a crown of sorts resting on her head, her eyes avoiding his as she walked toward the window.

Adrian's breath caught in his throat. "Zaniyah," he said, his voice hoarse, more than just confusion laced within it. "What the hell is going on? Where am I? Why am I here?"

She glanced at him over her shoulder, but her expression was neutral, cold even. "You're in my kingdom," she said softly, her voice oddly detached. "I brought you here."

His mind raced. "Your kingdom?" He scrambled to sit up fully, the pieces of the puzzle not fitting. "What do you mean? Zaniyah, you're not... you're not telling me everything. What is this place? Why are you dressed like that? Why—"

Before he could finish his frantic questions, the sound of voices outside the room caught his attention. Zaniyah turned toward the door, as if expecting the conversation. Adrian's gaze followed her, but before he could speak again, she opened the door, stepping into the hallway.

His body moved before his mind caught up with him, his legs carrying him to the door, despite the way his head spun. He had to get answers. He had to know what was going on.

He pushed the door open just enough to peer outside, his chest tightening as he saw Zaniyah speaking to someone—another man, older, dressed in formal attire.

Adrian's ears caught the man's words, though they were barely more than a whisper through the crack in the door.

"Your Majesty," the man said, bowing his head low as he spoke. "The preparations for the coronation are well underway. Everything is falling into place."

Adrian's heart skipped a beat. His mind reeled. Your Majesty?

Zaniyah. The Queen.

His breath caught in his throat as the weight of her words earlier crashed over him. She was royalty. The crown, the kingdom—it all made sense now, but it hurt in ways he hadn't expected. The confusion, the betrayal—it all hit him like a sudden wave.

He didn't know what was worse: the revelation of her identity, or the fact that she had been lying to him this whole time.

He stumbled back from the door, his chest tight, his emotions swirling in a storm of anger, hurt, and confusion. She had never told him. Not once. She had never said a word about who she truly was.