CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Zianni's POV

​Why is she like this?

I sighed under my breath, frustration bubbling inside me.

"AGHHHHH!" I screamed, my voice echoing off the stone walls. "I'm tired of this! I'm sick of it! I need to get out of here!"

I slid down to the cold floor, hugging my knees to my chest. My breath came in uneven gasps, and before I knew it, tears were spilling down my face. My body trembled from exhaustion—from anger, from helplessness.

But then, an idea struck me.

I wiped my face, determination flaring in my chest. Let me get the fuck out of here.

There had to be a way.

I forced myself to my feet, my legs shaky but steadying with purpose. My eyes darted around the room, searching for anything—a door, a passage, anything that could lead me out. I rushed to the door and shoved against it, but it didn't budge.

"Ugh," I groaned, slamming my fists against the wood. Locked. Of course.

I was about to give up when a sudden chill brushed against my skin.

I froze.

Cold air.

Slowly, I turned my head, spotting an open window across the room. My breath hitched as I stepped toward it, the breeze sending goosebumps up my arms.

I reached out and closed it instinctively, but as soon as my fingers left the latch, a thought hit me like a bolt of lightning.

Wait.

My eyes flickered back to the window, my pulse quickening.

A new idea took shape in my mind—wild, reckless, dangerous.

I turned back around.

And this time, I pushed the window open and jumped out.

​I should have known this would happen.

The moment I hit the ground, pain exploded up my leg, blinding, unbearable. I bit down on my lip to keep from screaming, but the sharp sting of blood only made it worse. My vision swam as I struggled to breathe through it, my hands clenching into the dirt beneath me.

Something was wrong with my leg.

I knew it before I even tried to stand, but I forced myself up anyway, gasping as pain shot through me like fire. My knee buckled, and I barely caught myself before collapsing again.

Damn it.

I looked around, heart hammering. The castle gardens stretched around me, dark and empty, the lanterns casting long shadows over the perfectly trimmed hedges. But the walls—those cursed, towering stone walls—stood between me and freedom.

Even if my leg wasn't broken, I wouldn't have been able to climb them.

I gritted my teeth. Think, Ziaani. There has to be another way.

I forced myself to move, dragging my useless leg behind me as I hobbled forward. Every step was agony, but I refused to give up. I had made it this far. I had climbed out of that damn window, had risked everything to get away from her.

Respect the Queen when you speak to her.

The words still echoed in my mind, making my blood boil all over again.

Respect? For the woman who kidnapped me? For the monster who expected me to bow and obey as if she had any right to command me?

I would rather die.

I clenched my jaw and kept going, swallowing back the pain. If I could just find a gap in the wall, an opening, something—

A shadow moved.

I barely had time to react before strong arms wrapped around me, lifting me off the ground with humiliating ease.

I thrashed, panic flooding through me. "Let me go!"

"Stop struggling," came the calm, unbothered reply.

I knew that voice.

Rose.

Of course, it had to be her.

I twisted in her grip, but it was useless—she was stronger than me even on my best day, and with my leg shattered, I didn't stand a chance. She carried me as if I weighed nothing, walking steadily back toward the castle like this was just another chore for her.

"You're a real pain, you know that?" she muttered.

I glared up at her. "Then put me down."

"No."

I let out a frustrated growl, but she didn't even blink. She just kept walking, unfazed.

As we entered the castle, the warm glow of candlelight cast long shadows against the stone walls. The scent of burning incense filled the air.

And the servants—they saw everything.

I could feel their eyes flicker toward us before they quickly turned away, pretending they hadn't seen the Queen's prisoner being dragged back inside like a disobedient child.

Humiliation burned in my chest, but I refused to let it show.

Rose carried me deeper into the castle, down endless corridors, until finally, she stopped in front of the massive doors to her chamber.

The Queen's chamber.

My stomach twisted.

I didn't want to go in there.

Before I could protest, Rose pushed the doors open and stepped inside.

The heat from the grand fireplace hit me first, warming the already suffocating room. Deep crimson drapes framed the black stone walls, and there, standing in front of the fire, was her.

She didn't turn right away. She didn't need to. The weight of her presence alone was enough to make the room feel smaller.

Slowly, she turned. Her piercing crimson eyes found mine instantly, and for the briefest moment, she simply stared.

Then, her expression hardened.

"You snuck out?"

Her voice was quiet. Too quiet.

I refused to look away.

"I'm not your prisoner," I said through clenched teeth.

The Queen's lips curved into something that wasn't quite a smile. "You most certainly are."

My hands curled into fists. "I don't belong here."

She sighed, as if I had disappointed her somehow. "And yet, here you are. Limping back into my castle after failing to leave it."

My face burned with fury. I had almost made it. If I hadn't broken my damn leg—

"If you were truly desperate to leave," the Queen continued, her voice maddeningly calm, "you would have succeeded."

My jaw tightened. "If I hadn't broken my leg, I would have."

She let out a quiet chuckle. "How foolish."

I braced myself for whatever was coming next. More commands, more punishments—

But instead, she turned to Rose.

"From this moment forward, you will not leave her side," the Queen said. "She will not be alone. Ever."

I felt the words like a slap.

"What?!"

"You clearly cannot be trusted with your own safety," the Queen continued, ignoring me completely. "So Rose will be your shadow. Every second of every day."

I couldn't breathe.

This was worse than imprisonment.

I turned my glare to Rose, but she only sighed, crossing her arms. "Looks like we'll be spending a lot of time together," she muttered.

I wanted to scream.

Before I could say another word, the Queen called for the healers.

Within moments, several nurses entered the room, their hands cool against my burning skin as they inspected my leg. Their voices were low, murmuring about fractures and swelling, but I barely registered their words.

All I could feel was the crushing weight of defeat.

The Queen lingered for a moment longer, watching me with an expression I couldn't read. Then, without another word, she turned and strode toward the door.

"I expect no more foolishness," she said before disappearing down the hall.

The moment she was gone, the air felt easier to breathe—but not by much.

The nurses continued working, murmuring instructions to one another as they wrapped my leg. I barely acknowledged them.

Rose leaned against the wall, arms still crossed, her gaze unreadable.

I clenched my fists.

This wasn't over.

No matter what it took—no matter how long I had to wait—I would escape.

And next time, I wouldn't fail.