Chapter 161
A week later I was still trapped in this God forbidden castle. I desperately missed Leo and all the kids
and was beginning to get awfully bored. I’d thought long and hard about a way to escape but it is
with my deepest regret to inform you that they well and truly had every possible option covered.
Every window was welded shut, every door was bolted more than three times and after escape
attempt number 1, the secret passageway had been sealed along with every other yet to be
discovered exit route in the castle. There are times in life when it’s justifiable to sit around and wait
for a man to save you and unfortunately, this was one of them. The only foreseeable way to get
home was if Leo somehow located me. Considering that I didn’t even have a single clue where I was,
I wasn’t holding out much hope for that. This was my life now.
“Ella!” I heard my brother’s voice call down the hallway as I sat with my Dad in what had become my
chambers. Today, like every other day, he was watching me paint and giving the occasional tip. It
was of my family since without the photos on my phone it was the only way to show him what my
children look like. I had just finished Lili’s little nose when the door opened.
“The King wants you…again…”” Connor said to me wearily from the doorway.
“Again?” I questioned with a grown.
“It appears he can no longer take his daily walk around the grounds without you.”
“Fucking hell. It’s freezing out there. What is his problem?” I said aggressively putting my paintbrush
down.
Connor shrugged and handed me a long winter’s cloak that had been given to me, “Guess he just
has a massive crush on you.”
“Shut up,” I snapped throwing the cloak like garment around me and heading for the door. There
was no point trying to resist what the King wanted. I’d learnt that by now.
I made my way through the hallways with Connor to one of the heavily guarded doors leading out
to the extensive castle gardens. There awaited the King a.k.a Lennard, with a beaming smile. I gave
him a short-lived one in return before Connor left me and I began the tiresome walk with the King.
“So,” I began. “Since my mate doesn’t appear to be showing up any time soon. I think it is about
time we ought to be discussing the terms of my release. Your plan has clearly foiled so what need
there would be to keep me here any longer I do not know.”
“I like a bit of optimism, Ella,” he replied as we passed through an avenue of leafless trees. “But
yours is ill-informed. You will only ever leave this castle in a casket. And besides, why would you
want to leave here?”
I could think of many reasons.
“There’s a ball here tonight.”
“A ball?”
“To celebrate success in phase one of the plan. Kidnapping you,” he replied.
“Oh. How wonderful,” I said through gritted teeth. “And I suppose I am required to attend?”
“Of course.”
“Even better.”
“How absurd this is. Inviting a prisoner to a ball,” he remarked before laughing. “And imagine all the
balls we’ll have once the beast has been slain. Perhaps the centrepiece will be his head on a spike.”
I felt a sudden lurch of pain in my stomach at his words.
“Yes. Perhaps,” I responded in a forced tone. “Now if you don’t mind, I’ll be going back inside.”
“Why so soon?”
“I’m not feeling so well,” I replied turning away from him.
I felt his hand grab my wrist, preventing me from going.
“Did what I said about your mate upset you, Luna?” he asked with a raised eyebrow. “Because if that
is the case, I’ll feel less inclined to believe that you are truly on our side.”
Of course, that was the exact reason but I had to keep up the act. Over the past week, I’d been
convincing him that I too wanted Leo dead in order to, in the words of Connor, “avoid being thrown
in the dungeon for life or even killed”.
“No. Of course not. Maybe it is just something I ate,” I replied.
“But the castle food is to the highest of standards? Do I need to have a harsh word with the cooks?”
He questioned.
“No-” I said abruptly. I knew just how harsh he could be and no one deserved that.
“Why do I get the sense that you are lying to me, Luna?”
“I’m not,” I lied again.
“Then tell me how much you too desire to see him dead. His pain, his suffering, his corpse. Go on.
Tell me. Tell me just how you’d do away with him if you had the chance,” he taunted.
I stood frozen on my spot before a flush of anger swept over me.
“You vile man, I hope you burn in hell,” I hissed unable to hold my tongue. “I love my mate with all
my heart and if you try to hurt a single hair on his head I will fucking rip your throat out. Throw me
in the dungeon, I don’t care. At least I won’t have to put up with this anymore.”
He seemed mildly angered by my words but not in the slightest surprised. It was like he’d been
anticipating it- almost trying to squeeze them out of me.
“Throw you in the dungeon is just what I will do,” I said gripping my arm. “You were never on our
side. I knew it all along but I let your pretty face tell me otherwise. Guards!”
In seconds two guards were by my side.
“Take her to the dungeon. Make sure she can never get out,” he ordered.
They nodded whilst I enjoyed my last few breaths of fresh air and daylight before being dragged
inside and down two flights of steps.
Good one, Ella. Well played.