Chapter 19

~Pov ~ Reve 

The cool wind floated through the broken overhang entryways, a delicate moan from the timberland that encompassed the old castle. It kissed my skin, warmed not by the sun, but by the burning pressure between us. He stood some time recently me, tall and unmoving, his obsidian eyes bolted onto mine like twin edges attempting to puncture through tissue and bone. I gazed right back, pouring all my contempt into that look, brave him to see absent first.

But he didn't.

Perhaps it was a diversion to him. Maybe he was utilized to individuals disintegrating beneath the weight of that gaze. But I would not be one of them. I wouldn't let him win this noiseless war.

With a breath caught midway between resistance and franticness, I pushed him. My hands struck his chest, firm and consistent like old stone. He didn't move. Not an inch. Instep, he watched me -as in case perusing the fine print of my soul. It was frightening, how still he remained, how purposely calm. A predator considering his prey, and more regrettable, knowing it had no place to run.

A minute passed. At that point another.

And fair when I thought this can be my forever-bolted in a standoff with this incoherent animal-he ventured back. One measured step. At that point another. He turned without a word and vanished into the dim hallway behind him.

I held up. Long sufficient to form beyond any doubt he wouldn't return. Long sufficient to breathe again.

Now.

Now was my chance.

On quiet feet, I crawled to the overhang. Vines twisted around its railings, dabbed with blooms as well fragrant, as well idealize. As on the off chance that they, as well, were portion of the figment this castle wove around its detainees. I grasped the press railing and inclined forward, bracing myself for the drop.

But when I looked down-nothing.

Not darkness. Not ground. Just nothing. A white, moving vacancy, just like the world had been gulped entire and cleared out the castle loose in an abyss.

My breath caught. My throat tightened.

This isn't real.

But the stone underneath my feet was strong. The discuss, the vines, the railing in my get a handle on - all genuine. Genuine sufficient to trap me.

Hope, little and delicate as glass, split discreetly interior my chest. There was no way down. No way. No Cyrus. No return.

I turned my back to the edge, clutching the railing behind me. I required to think. I couldn't remain here-not with Nyx.

He hadn't murdered me however, but he would. He was holding up, like a cat circling its prey. Playing with it. Testing its limits. Observing it jerk some time recently the jump. I might feel it within the hush between us, within the way he looked at me â as in the event that he as of now possessed my fate.

I required to elude. Somehow.

A delicate sound broke through the stillness. Just like the stir of silk or a whisper behind the clears out. My hand brushed against the vines as I squinted, peering through the foliage. A black out shine sparkled behind a leaf.

Curious, I lifted it gently.

A animal emerged.

Tiny, no bigger than my small finger, floating midair with translucent wings that gleamed like moonlight on water. His confront was that of a boy- abnormally excellent, sharp highlights, and brilliantly eyes. He wore a dark tunic, a dark shirt tucked into free pants that undulated as he moved. As before long as he saw me, he secured his confront with both minor hands.

And then, he peeked.

The motion was so guiltless, so irrationally sweet, I nearly laughed.

With a sudden whirlwind of light, he shot absent to a adjacent pot, trailing shimmers in his wake.

"Wait!" I whispered, taking a cautious step toward him. "Hey small one, don't be perplexed. I won't harmed you."

He didn't reappear.

"I am alone here," I proceeded delicately, "No one to converse to. Possibly we might be friends?"

I bowed by the pot, tenderly moving through the takes off. No sign of him. Still, I seem swear I saw other lights moving inside the greenery. I wasn't beyond any doubt on the off chance that they were genuine or on the off chance that the castle was at long last getting to my intellect. But at this point, nothing astounded me anymore.

Maybe I truly am in a pixie story, I thought. One of the dark ones.

Then, a sudden sound -the overwhelming squeak of the chamber door.

I stood strongly as two ladies entered, their heads bowed, long silks trailing behind them. Without a word, they moved to the side, making way.

A third woman ventured forward. She held her chin tall, her look sharp as a falcona's

"So" she said, voice like velvet over steel, "you are the one. The one our king.."

Her eyes contracted as she examined me, and I felt the floor shift beneath my feet - not physically, but within the weight of predetermination that had fair entered the room.

And I realized, with a sinking heart, that my story here had as it were just begun.