Valarya de Mertaire

I couldn't believe they actually made me sit on this disgusting floor. Where were their manners toward me? I was, after all, their beloved princess.

They were all kiss-asses to Ilias. I'd need to teach them a lesson.

Hours went by. A few guards walked in to gossip about the wedding. One funny fellow attempted to throw trash through the bars at me, but I spat in his face before he could. I think I'm the funnier person.

If Ilias was going to come lecture me, why was he taking such a long time? I thought I was a priority to him. Guess he really wasn't ready for marriage.

"You are the craziest person I've ever seen," the voice practically scolded.

"You are absolutely right, sir," I said proudly, leaning against the back wall of my cell. I made to not lean too heavily against it. "But please, do remind me."

"You're in a cell. You shouldn't have done that. What if he hurts you?"

"Watch and learn how a real actor has finesse and style."

"Wait, what?"

I didn't bother to hide my grin. Why would I if no one was here to see me celebrate? "This is all going according to my plan."

The voice was shouting through my head. "How could you plan a way out of this?"

"Because I planned to get here."

"Quit being vague!"

I heard heavy steps echo from the descending staircase right of my cell. Pushing myself off the wall, I brought up a few tears and shooed away the voice. I felt a little bare standing in the middle of an iron incased room in lace undergarments, but Ilias had seen me in less. Besides, I wasn't too concerned with his words.

"You thought you'd get away," Ilias mocked, stepping into my line of sight. His suit was replaced with the emerald colors of the Guard. "Well, at least you finally revealed what your ulterior motives were. I wouldn't have wanted to marry a monster, anyway."

"You should've killed him when you had the chance," the voice in my head bit.

I gave a defeated sigh and sank to the ground, curling into a ball. "You're right."

Ilias gave a curt nod as a paced in front of my cell.

"Ashe Knightley really has brainwashed me. He turned me into this... monster. This selfish monster."

"I'm glad you finally came to your senses." At first he sounded relieved, but then his face twisted as he came to the iron bars. "And do you think I'm stupid enough to believe that, my dear?"

The voice in my head screeched.

I sighed, placing my forehead on the iron bars. "Ilias," I breathed out, touching his shoulder, "sweetheart. My eternal love."

"Cut the act."

My hand cupped his cheeks. I was only a few inches away from that delicate spot at his neck. "I'll take care of Ashe Knightley," I promised Ilias. "And when I see him, I'll make sure to send you a letter covered in his blood."

"You are sick," Ilias muttered.

"No, I am acting like you, my dear."

He stepped away from the bars, calling in what looked to be at least two dozen other guards. "Keep your eyes on her. She's gone mad."

"I'd get those guards out of here, if I was you, Commander Kensintarus." The guards all passed each other a distasteful look before glancing at Ilias. He stood there, his eyes narrowed at me. With a lift of my brows, I said. "You do what you want with what I said."

"Sir, she's not wearing much clothes—"

"Focus, men!" Ilias ordered, his fingers rubbing his temples. "Just get out. All of you need to get out."

"We'll guard the perimeter of the Tower."

"For Saints' sake, just get out," Ilias sighed, holding the door open for the other guards. A few stayed back with him.

Poor man was afraid of me. I was just a delicate runaway bride. What was the difference from the first wedding I ever had?

I put a perplexed face on and got my eyes teared up. "Ilias, please!" I begged, shaking the iron bars for emphasis.

"You're going to be begging for a while, Princess Valarya."

"I thought we were past the formalities. Did me trying to stab you not strike you as a personal threat?"

The guards in the room all slowly walked to the other end of the Tower, their whispering following.

"I already have Prince Kace locked in a prison. Soon, I'll have Ashe Knightley executed and your father will see that you are no fit for the throne. Don't you see?" He came up to the bars again, this time a grin spread on his face. "Everything is going exactly the way it should. Ashe Knightley was never the man of the people."

"Ashe Knightley has proved to be better than you in every way—"

Wordlessly, Ilias threw a newspaper into my cell.

Ashe Knightley Found Unconscious

And there was a picture of the prison that he wrote to me about.

I didn't need to act the grotesque feeling that arose in my stomach.

"He has already lost. Give up, Princess. Fight for a real cost. Fight for me—for us. This is your country. Who helped you grow up? Ashe Knightley or your family? Would Ashe Knightley care about your country that way I would? The way Manea and Irene would?"

No. Ashe Knightley wouldn't.

Nicholyn would. 

Manea helped Nicholyn, though I never understood why she'd help that selfish prince. It all made sense. Nicholyn had been like me—his father just as strict to him and his brother. The only choice he had was Manea.

"You're right," I rasped, holding back that burning sensation that prickled my throat. "He would've never cared about Thaeleck the way I do."

But he would now. He did now.

"But," I added, bringing Ilias in by his collar, "I must ask you something."

Ilias leaned closer.

"Have you ever seen the damage a nitrate bomb can do?" I didn't hold back my smile one bit.

He flew away from the bars, his eyes wide as he called for the guards to come back in, but one of the guards began fighting, pinning them all back and knocking them all unconscious except for Ilias; he managed to run out. The guard took off his hood.

"Nylas? This was not part of the plan—"

"I'll hold the guards back from entering." He ran to the door, using his body to prevent it from opening.

"Nylas, get away from the door!" Frantically, I ran up to the bars, screaming at him. 

He eyes met mine for a second. My heart sank at the realization.

"You can't!"

With a small, relinquished smile, he told me, "It's okay. I'll be with Irene." His olive skin paled as he brushed away a dark strand of hair from his face. "You better kill Ilias."

And the guards bursted through the door, knocking out Nylas on their way in.

The wall behind me exploded. 

The Tower released a deafening sound. The bomb planted at the bottom sunk the ground underneath me. Before I could go under, I spun to the gaping hole from the explosion behind me and watched as a woman with cascading obsidian hair came flying toward me. 

The floor was collapsing. 

The ground was about to fall apart, but I leapt through the air, the woman diving herself and the dragon down to catch me. I grasped on, and the Tower went up in flames, the screams of the guards echoing throughout the evening air. I couldn't help but wonder if Nylas was one of them.

He was right, though; he'd be with Irene.