Thirty Nights Forgotten

Chapter 14: A King's Duty

Addy’s POV

A guard leads me up the stairs along a familiar path to the top floor of the castle. When he gestures at the large, oak doors leading to my old room, I’m surprised to find it hasn’t changed a bit. While the rest of the castle seems to be devastated by battle, this room remained untouched through it all.

It’s bright and airy, just as I remember it, which feels even more out of place given the state of disrepair the castle is in at the moment. The room is colored in shades of blush pink, gold, and white, and a large, crystal chandelier shimmers brightly overhead, casting rainbow flecks of light on the paneled ivory walls. The living room furniture is pink with a tufted diamond pattern, with plenty of pillows in different textures. The furniture is sat facing a large, white marble fireplace, although there isn’t a fire lit or fresh flowers waiting for me like before.

I notice a layer of dust on the mantle as I walk by, and I take my finger and brush a line across the wood. Obviously, there hasn’t been much time to clean it while the staff has been focused on getting the castle back together.

Did the final battle take place down below? Did King Elijah’s pack battle other werewolves here before taking the throne? Did Prince Matthew already flee by the time the werewolves arrived?

“Lady Addison, I have brought you lunch.”

Surprised, I turn around to find a maid standing in the doorway with a tray of food in her hand.

“You’re not Persephone,” I blurt out.

“No, I am Sayah.”

Her voice is rather cold, and her face is somewhat expressionless as she sets down the tray on the coffee table. Oddly, she reminds me more of the demons that attacked Nicholas and me through the portal, rather than a human. Although her pointed ears, which stick out through her long, silvery hair, could be that of an elf’s, her deathly pale skin and ruby-red gaze give her away.

“Sayah, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be rude. I just know Persephone from before. Does she still work here?”

“The name does not sound familiar to me.”

Once she sets the tray down, she retreats to the corner as I eat, and it’s a little unnerving. Her eyes stare unblinkingly ahead, almost like she’s more of a robot than a living being. As much as I want to try to get to know her and make conversation, her icy voice seemed unfeeling and uninviting.

I have to get her out of here. She’s creeping me out.

“Um, Sayah, would you draw me up a bath?”

With a curt nod, she quickly disappears into the attached bedroom, where I soon hear the bathtub filling up with water.

To be honest, I am really looking forward to washing off all the dirt and grime from the forest and the dungeon. But I’d much rather be out there with Nick and Nicholas instead of here, and knowing that they’re in danger leaves me feeling sick to my stomach.

Elijah was right – Nicholas is going to do everything in his power to rescue me, even if it risks his own safety. I just hope he realizes it’s a trap and stays away.

I’ll need to find a way to either get a message to him or escape altogether. I was hoping Persephone still worked here because she could help me, but it seems like she’s gone, along with the other guards and staff that used to work for Nicholas.

I’m going to need to figure out a plan. I’ll need allies if I have any chance of escaping.

What if I could get close to Elijah and change his mind? He seems to want me – or, at least, the person I remind him of. Annabelle.

Is there a way to use that resemblance to my advantage? Perhaps I could convince him to call off his search for Nicholas by leveraging our relationship. Not that we have a relationship, but maybe…

Obviously, I’m devoted to Nick and Nicholas. They are my mates. But if I can use Elijah’s feelings for me – I mean, Annabelle – to keep them safe, I’ll do it without hesitation.

Once I’m finished with my food, I head into the bathroom, eager to wash off and get into a clean set of clothes. Immediately stripping my shirt and bra off over my head, I toss them to the floor and begin to unbutton my shorts.

However, I let out a small scream when I glance up and find Sayah standing in the corner, her eyes staring blanking ahead of her.

“Holy s**t!” I cry out, covering my bare chest and turning my back to her. “Jesus, you scared me!”

“Apologies.”

“I don’t need any assistance with my bath. You’re excused to go back to your duties downstairs.”

I wait until she walks past and shuts the door behind me, and I let out the breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding.

***

I could barely sleep all night since I’m so worried about Nick and Nicholas. Our mate bond is weaker at this distance, so it’s difficult for me to pick up on their emotions.

I hate this. All I want is to be back in their arms.

After Creepy Sayah (as I’ve started secretly referring to her) drops off my lunch tray, I decide to get dressed and explore the castle.

I make sure to take frequent breaks so I don’t overexert myself. Without my proper medications, I’m going to need to take extra good care of myself until I can return to Earth.

As I take a seat in the main entryway of the castle, the servants seem to pay me no mind as they slowly clear the rubble and debris. I can only imagine how many months this is going to take to return the castle to its former glory. I spend a little time watching them before heading to my next destination: the castle gardens. After spending so much time and effort to restore it, I can only hope that it’s been maintained throughout the transition of power.

But I’m only met with disappointment. Without Persephone here to maintain her elven magic, the foliage has completely receded and died. In fact, it appears to have returned to its old, decrepit state with crumbling stone columns surrounding the garden, with overgrown weeds and vines everywhere.

“Lady…Addison?”

Surprised, I whip around to find King Elijah standing behind me, his icy blue eyes staring at me with an unreadable expression.

“Oh, uh, hi.”

He walks up to stand beside me on the balcony, and we both turn our gazes onto the garden below.

“Getting some fresh air?” he asks politely.

“I’m just exploring the castle. It’s changed quite a bit since I was here last.”

“Yes, well, the anarchy that broke out after Nicholas’ disappearance has left its mark on this place. It is a massive undertaking to clean it up.”

“You can’t blame Nicholas for this!” I snap. “You’re the one that took the throne from Prince Matthew, and judging by the werewolf claw marks everywhere, it’s obvious that this is actually your fault.”

Crossing my arms, I purposefully avoid his gaze as he turns to face me.

“My fault, hmm? That’s an interesting way to look at things.”

“Do you see this garden?” I say, pointing down below. “I worked hard to make this garden perfect, and clearly you’ve been neglecting it. I’ve also noticed you have a smaller staff than Nicholas had. Are you having financial difficulties, Elijah? A castle is expensive to maintain, although I take it you’ve figured that out by now. Are you sure you’re prepared for the responsibility of being king?”

Suddenly, I feel his strong hands grab my arms, pushing me back against the balcony. My breath catches in my throat as he leans in closer, towering over me with his commanding presence. There’s nowhere for me to go as he pins me between his arms, and if I recoil any further back, I’ll tumble over the balcony to my death.

“Are you mad at me over your little garden project, my lady?” he asks, narrowing his intense gaze. A small smile tugs at the corner of his lips, and I can tell he’s playing a game with me.

With a shrug, I feign nonchalance and hope that he can’t hear my heart pounding in my chest.

“I’m just questioning your ability to rule, is all. It just seems like you lack the experience, whereas the Oureys spent centuries building their wealth and power. Nicholas was born to be king.”

“You underestimate me,” he whispers, drawing even closer so our noses are practically touching. “I was born to be the alpha of the greatest werewolf pack in the realm.”

“I thought the Blood Moon Pack was the greatest werewolf pack? At least, that’s what Nicholas said. And he wiped them out for crossing him.”

When I see his smirk disappear, I know I’ve struck a nerve. A tense silence falls between us as I wait for him to speak, but I can see his anger rising to the surface.

“Yes, and while your precious Nicholas was marching his armies to attack, he left the rest of us defenseless. He betrayed his promise to send troops to secure the northern border. What sort of king turns his back on his people and leaves them defenseless, just so he can stab his greatest ally in the back? It was a gross display of power for the sake of his vanity.”

He steps away from me, spinning on his heel to walk away.

“Never mention that unfortunate incident with the Blood Moon Pack to me again.”

Before I have a chance to respond, he disappears into the ballroom, leaving me alone on the balcony.

When he’s gone, I realize that I’d been holding my breath this entire time. As I step away from the ledge, I wonder if I perhaps pushed a little too far.

And what did he mean by all of that? Was Nicholas supposed to send troops to his pack when he went to save me from Malcolm?

Perhaps I should find Elijah and tell him the real story. But if I do, will he blame me for Nicholas abandoning him and his people? If he does, I might not survive to ensure Nick and Nicholas’ safety.