The Reluctant Queen

Chapter 26

A/N:

I am sorry for the long wait, I really didn't mean for it to take this long. That being said, I tried to make it a pretty big chapter for you guys. I hope it was worth the wait!

I hope you are all healthy and safe!

Enjoy!!

Adrian's POV:

Sophia didn't struggle in his arms. Instead, she quietly held onto him, her face in his shoulder. Good. His temper was beyond him now, far greater than any anger he had ever felt towards her.

He had dismissed the staff a few minuets before, the maids and guards scurrying like rats. They were afraid. They could see Adrian's fury just beneath the surface and wanted nothing to do with it. Just as well. He didn't need them breathing down his neck while he tried to repair this. She was ensnared by that foolish, weak little jester yet again. And in the end, their plans had almost fallen apart around them.

How on Earth did she even find him? Or him her? She was close that one night, right after she had arrived at the castle, but there was no chance she could have gone down there again, not without being noticed. That alone made his temper flare.

There was someone in the castle, a mole that was helping her. Helping Louis.

He ground his teeth, his pace picking up as he turned the corner. Even with all of the precautions he had taken, the spells Jared had placed, locking Louis up and keeping Sophia by his side as much as possible, it all meant nothing in the end. They had found each other and Louis was able to convince her to betray him.

It was taking everything in him not to lock Sophia in a room and kill the bastard himself, but that was the one guarantee to make the situation even worse. No, Adrian needed to be with Sophia more than he needed to satisfy his desire for revenge. As soon as Louis would be killed, the memory spell would unfold, and he couldn't leave Sophia to endure that alone. He wasn't sure if breaking the spell would be painful or not, but it was sure to bring her emotional turmoil. No matter how angry he was with her, he would always pick her above everything else.

In a few moments he arrived in the corner of the castle, an area that Sophia probably didn't realize existed. It was very off limits, even to most of the staff. At the end of the hallway was Jared's work room, his personal study to conduct spells and make potions. Adrian was sure the wizard would not be pleased that he was going to be rummaging around through his things, but Adrain could give a shit right now.

He set her down on her feet before the door. A large, steel lock was clasped on the door to prevent entry and snooping, but with a tug, Adrian snapped it off and pushed the door open. Sophia's eyes widened as she watched him. He grabbed her hand and walked inside. She made a little gasp and looked around. Normally he would have been amused.

The room was filled to the brim with magical ingredients. The desk in the center of the room was covered in parchment and open books, and in the corner was a fireplace with a cauldron hung above it for mixing potions. That was typically what this room was for, making potions for moments like this, for the unexpected. Just one wall alone in the room held shelves and shelves of completed bottles.

He walked over to the shelf, scanning each label. Damn it, where was it? "Adrian?" Sophia whispered. He ignored her, his back to her as he continued his search. She was scared, unsure what was going on and why he took her here. He didn't really feel the need to explain himself, not now, not with how angry he was.

Rationally he knew this was not completely her doing. She was a naive girl, sweet and trusting even before her memory loss. But that didn't make what she did do any less damaging. She was willing to help Louis, to free him, even if it put her at risk. Even if it hurt Adrian. How could he not be angry with her?