Bridging the Ancient ✓

Chapter 58

My hands are shaking so hard I drop the cloth back to the floor and whirl to Renit. "You need to leave," I order. "You need to leave before your father figures out the truth." I move to grip his hand but the prince slides out of my reach.

Akeno is here, a witch of all-seeing and one with the ability to expose our entire operation to the king. We had been in the clear for so long, for weeks, and now that is about to come to an end. I can barely see straight as I grip onto Renit's arms and force him to look at me.

"I'm not leaving," he snaps. He squeezes my hands tight to stop them from shaking.

They beat Akeno. That was clear in those few seconds I saw him pass through with the guards—they did not understand I would take any recognition with him at all, a random man with blood-stained clothes and such a severe limp that I wonder if his leg is broken. Something has to be, his torture went on for long enough. Akeno wouldn't crack underneath the pressure of a simple beating, it had to be so long and thorough that he finally spilled the truth to the king and ruined our future completely.

He knows what we've done.

"We'll figure this out," Renit whispers. But all hope is gone. I shake my head in denial, I will not let him believe that I am all right with this.

Shuffling feet sound outside the archway and I turn to see Hallie and Silas watching us, their eyes clouded with not only alcohol but confusion and a faint tint of fear. Whether they can see it in Renit's face or not, mine is enough to draw their attention.

"Tell Dalis to keep an eye on Celestine," I whisper so only they can hear. "Let no one near the throne room."

Because that's where they're taking him. That's where the king will be.

"What the hell is going on?" Hallie hisses. She looks back to the dining area as laughter erupts from one of Darius's well thought out stories that are likely filled with fibs to make it interesting. He's spent most of his time at this castle and nothing interesting happens here, not when there's an entire kingdom he has yet to explore like his cousins.

I step close to the princess who grips on Silas's forearm to yank him away if need be. She's always looking to protect him. "I can't explain it to you right now," I say. "But I need someone to keep Celestine safe. Take her somewhere else if you have to but don't leave her here. If something goes wrong—"

"Nothing will happen," Renit interrupts. "Akeno wouldn't spill that information."

Silas crosses his arms over his chest. "Who's Akeno?"

Renit forces himself to meet his brother's eye, lying through his teeth. "No one."

Boots scuffle behind us and I turn to find two guards standing to attention, their chests puffed out and their spines straight. They lazily place their hands on the pommels of their swords and their helms are neatly polished and ready for blood splatter.

I exchange a wary look with Renit. They're here to summon us to the throne room, not just the two of us but the others behind as well. Both princesses, both princes. I cannot fathom putting Silas in danger again and all Hallie ever wanted was to protect him but here we are, faced with a wall of guards in a hallway that is already closing in. If we fight, we'll automatically be guilty and Renit will never forgive me for not listening.

"Play it normal," Renit whispers in my ear. He jerks his chin towards his brother and Hallie, silently ordering them to come along even if they didn't have any part in this. I have a feeling they would have come anyway, they already caught a whiff of the fear I'm experiencing and wouldn't dare stay behind.

I don't have time to say goodbye to Celestine but Hallie does me a favor and whispers to Dalis the instructions meant to protect my sister at all costs. I take one final look at her, laughing with a chalice close to her mouth as she relishes in another story being shared, and turn to face the rest of my group. This is it. I can feel it. I know this is the end.