How could I explain this to him? “I’ve always been guided by my dreams. They’ve always kept me on the right path, kept me from descending into madness. And my dreams tell me she will help me find the Harrower. When I sleep, I see Lila wearing a wedding gown, leading me on a path to the Harrower. So, this is what I must do.”
Sourial took a step closer, his eyes shining in the moonlight. His gaze was too sharp, too keen. “But it’s not working now, is it? Your reaper side is coming back.”
I cocked my head. “I’m fine.”
“You don’t remember the massacres I witnessed in the old days, Samael. Your dreams of ruling as king will lie in ruins if you lose your mind. You’ll be worse than the Free Men.”
“Maybe my reaper side is only surfacing because I haven’t yet married Lila. It is my destiny, even if it’s all for show.”
He went very still, shadows thickening around him. “She nearly murdered us both. What if she escapes again and passes information on to the Free Men? Or gets another bomb?”
“She won’t be able to. She will remain locked in the castle. We'll just have a public wedding. She’ll help me find the Harrower. I’ll kill the demon, become king, and lock her in her room again when the ceremony is over. I will forget she exists.”
In theory.
“Are you sure she’s actually mortal?” said Sourial. “Could she be a demon? Or nephilim? We both know she used magic.”
I shuddered at the word demon. “She’s not a demon. Have you ever seen a demon without black eyes? Nephilim, perhaps, but she doesn’t smell like a nephilim. She’s mortal. Some angel must have taught her magic. It’s the only explanation.” An inexplicable jolt of jealousy shot through me at the thought, and my jaw tightened.
Sourial narrowed his eyes. “And how are you so sure she won’t escape?”
I walked past him. “I can promise you that if she tries to escape this time, she will regret it deeply. Her freedom won’t last long.”
5
Lila
As I crept barefoot through the dark halls, I felt as if the ghost stalked behind me, breathing down my neck. The air in the castle was frigid; I hugged myself. Since I’d woken up in that room, wearing nothing but a thin white nightgown, no one had brought me clothes.
When I got out into the world, I’d be running through Dovren’s streets half naked and freezing. My bare feet would turn to ice on the cobbles. Still, it was better than taking my chances with the ghost.
Shivering, I turned a corner in the dark corridor. Shadows claimed most of the dark stone hall. Stark silver and black banners hung on the walls. Only the distant flicker of torches cast dim, wavering light over the arched ceilings.
The castle seemed oddly empty. Samael must have thought that I'd never be able to get out of that room, because no one was patrolling here. The hallway opened into a curving stairwell that swept down to the front entrance, and there—without a single guard—stood an enormous oak door with iron filigree. It was just waiting for me to open it and run outside.
I took a deep breath. I didn't really know what I'd find on the other side of the door, but it would get me closer to freedom. Before I went into hiding, I wanted to see Mum again, to tell her what I knew. I wanted to see Zahra, too.
There was no sense in wasting time, so I picked up my pace, rushing down to the bottom of the stairs.
An iron bar locked the door. When I got to it, I stole a quick glance over my shoulder, making sure I was still alone. I heard not a single footstep in the halls. Slowly, I slid the bar across, trying not to make too much noise. With the door unbarred, I tried the handle. To my shock, it simply groaned open.
Just outside, a wooden bridge arched over the moat. The chilly night air swept over me, stinging my cheeks, and the icy ground froze my feet. Shocked at my freedom, I stared at the rambling, thorny garden that spread out toward the ruined iron fence. The gate stood open.
Beyond the fence, the river rushed past. I only had about a hundred meters to get to the gate, but I'd be out in the open while I did it.
It looked abandoned out here—a ruined stable to my left, and a roofless church to my right, overgrown with vines. Mist roiled off the river, which would give me a bit of cover as I escaped.
In the distance, I heard masculine voices. My breath frosted the air, clouding around my face. The cold bit at my toes, my fingers.
Now or never, Lila.
Gritting my teeth, I broke into a sprint over the wooden bridge, running through the winter air.
Freedom!
I had just made it to the end of the bridge when I slammed into a brick wall of pain. I froze in place, agony shooting up my bones. It felt like a magical poison was moving up my body, from my feet, up through my legs, into my belly. I grabbed my stomach, doubling over. I felt as if someone were carving me open and dipping me in boiling water at the same time.
Did I say I wasn’t being tortured here? That was too hasty.
Shaking with pain, I staggered back. My legs were giving out, and I fell hard against the wood. My body convulsed, ignited with sharp pain from the inside out. I tried to roll onto my stomach, to crawl to the door. Was this how he was keeping me in here?
If I could make it back over the bridge, maybe the pain would stop. Once again, I tried to pull myself along, but I could no longer remember how my limbs worked.
I tried once again to push myself up onto my hands and knees, but my arms where shaking violently. Nausea rose in my gut, and I collapsed on the stone.
My mind started to go dark. I drifted off, my body going limp.
I woke staring into the beautiful but furious face of the Angel of Death. Gold tattoos swept over his high cheekbones; fire simmered in his eyes.
Icy winter wind whipped over me, and moonlight silvered the side of his face. I was still outside, still lying on the wooden bridge.
And I was still in an extreme amount of pain.
Samael had lifted me by my shoulders, and he was staring into my face. His expression was murderous, though, frankly, I’d have welcomed death at that point if it would’ve stopped that magic poison.
I gritted my teeth, trying to remember how to form words. "Take me inside, please. If it will stop the pain. Or I might throw up.”
Wordlessly, Samael leaned down and scooped me up, carrying me over the threshold like I was a broken bride. As soon as we were within the castle walls, the pain subsided—completely. Now, my limbs felt supple and relaxed.
Taking a deep breath, I met Samael’s gaze. His eyes smoldered intensely, and the air electrified around me. This was the first time I’d been close to another person in months. The warmth from his body radiated over my skin. Through his shirt, I felt his heartbeat. My flimsy nightgown was riding up, which meant one of his hands was pressed against my bare thigh.
Slowly, his gaze slid down, taking in the thin material of my nightgown. My hard nipples strained against the fabric.
Well, I certainly had his attention at last.
“Why are you in a nightgown?” he murmured.
“It’s all I had. That and the food that arrives in the dumbwaiter.” He’d completely forgotten about me, hadn’t he? “Was that pain I just felt your way of trapping me in here?”