Bridging the Ancient ✓

Chapter 23

The prince's eyes flutter open, blinking rapidly as he adjusts to the sunlight streaming in from the windows. I pulled the curtains back when the sun began to rise; I've never seen a more beautiful sight than the sun drifting higher and higher with every minute passed.

Renit's chambers have the best view. Now I sit on his windowsill, waiting for him to realize I'm there, watching his every move. This next step is going to be the hardest as the king has already left and I have no choice but to tell Renit the truth. I didn't want to but the thought ate at me all night, the possibility that he would hate me if I didn't say anything.

Everyone is aware the king is on his way to the flower meadows. He left with a group of guards, including Binx, and they won't be back until the threat is removed and the rebellion is completely shut down. That could take a day. Or more. And I can't have Renit believing something else is going on. It's best to hear the truth from my lips, rather someone he doesn't trust or know.

Renit rubs at his eyes and slowly looks around, taking in everything his chambers have to offer. Like my own, his were cleaned and everything on his desk was straightened to look like he hadn't been here in months. The only mess in his room is the ruffled duvet on his bed from the healers tossing him underneath the covers and leaving me to take care of the rest.

He was completely unconscious, Dalis managed to pull off what I asked of her. And as the sun rises, I do as well, standing to show him I'm there. Renit's stare snaps over to me and he pauses, brows furrowing as he tries to recall what happened last night. After he was taken to be examined, we didn't see each other again and he's trying to place what exactly took place to get him here.

If it wasn't for me, he would be aware. I'm the reason he's confused, I was the one that went behind his back and devised a plan to harm the entire kingdom. All before I could figure out the extent of Silas's injuries. The truth has remained hushed throughout the night, Dalis didn't say anything and I wasn't about to venture into the halls to find that information.

The only venturing I did was to order the guards away from the bottom of the tower. I made them believe Renit and I would be doing something else other than speaking—if the guards hear the possible argument we'll have, I'll end up in the dungeons.

"What...what happened?" Renit asks. He sits up, resting his back against the bedframe. The healers had removed his shirt to examine what was left of his wound, revealing the missing bit of ink on his chest.

Although his question is simple, I can't seem to find the right answer for it. There are so many things I could tell him, the plan I made with the rebels, the betrayal, or the apology I need to share. I wish there was a correct answer as to what I should start with.

Easing myself into it, I sit down on the edge of his bed and rest my elbows on my knees. Immediately, he knows something is wrong as his voice demands to know the unsettling truth. "Roux, what did you do?" Every word is harsh. "Why was I asleep? I didn't need a sedative to be healed last night."

He throws the covers back and I hold up a hand to stop him from storming out of this tower to find the answers. This is what I didn't want, the healers shouldn't be in the middle of this and neither should Dalis.

"Let me explain," I urge. "I'll tell you everything."

His nostrils flare with annoyance. "Start talking."

To distance myself from him and the truth, I stand from his bed and walk towards the middle of the room. "Your father is on his way to the flower meadows. He left this morning."

Renit blinks. His next threat is tied around his tongue. "There is nothing in the flower meadows, we were taken to Fosux." He grips onto the edge of his bed and hoists himself to a standing position. The sedation, lingering, sends him toppling to the side but he grapples for the wall before I can help him.