Chapter 37

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

Ellery

The following morning, I woke on the bench again. I didn't recall falling asleep, and I hadn't laid down this time.

My chin rested against my chest, and a trickle of drool crept from my mouth. I hastily wiped it away and winced when I lifted my head.

My neck protested the movement, but I kept my hands in my lap instead of rubbing it. Loud rumbles came from my stomach as more platters of food rushed past me, but again, they offered me nothing.

Rising, I ignored everyone around me as easily as they did me while I strode toward the bathroom. I cleaned up the best I could, but my dress was rumpled, and despite having my hair in a braid, it was starting to tangle. I undid the braid, ran my fingers through my hair, and plaited it again before drinking more water and leaving the room.

I tried to ignore the incessant grumbling of my stomach and the knots cramping it as I settled on the bench again. I couldn't stay here for much longer without food. Weakness crept through my limbs, my head pounded, and my vision blurred before correcting itself again.

I'd anticipated being at my best when I finally saw the king, but that ship had sailed. Now, I hoped I didn't pass out or mess up big-time when I got my chance… if I got my chance.

The king and duke—and I was sure he was somewhere around here—hadn't forgotten me, of that I was certain. They enjoyed showing me how little I meant to them while making me suffer.

I couldn't imagine what they were doing to my mother; it would make me cry if I did so, and I refused to shed a tear in this place. She was okay; I would get her out of this.

Judging by the sun, it was early afternoon by the time a servant came to stand before me. I lifted my head to take in the tall, thin woman; concern etched her harsh features.

"The king will see you now," the woman said. "I will take you to him."

"Thank you."

I took a deep breath as I braced myself to rise. I'd been sitting so long that my legs almost didn't work at first. Eventually, I managed to get one foot in front of another as my stomach continued its incessant rumbling.

The woman led me across the great hall and into a narrow corridor. From there, we wound our way through the palace and past rows of open windows looking out on the lake.

Unicorns grazed while phoenixes fluttered through the trees, and the sun shone off the crystalline, blue water. I savored the enchanting sight before the walls surrounded us again.

The servant didn't speak but kept giving me surreptitious glances from under her lashes. I didn't know if she was aware of why I was there, and I didn't ask; she couldn't help me.

We rounded another corner, strode past another hall of windows, and emerged in a large courtyard I'd never seen before. In the center of the yard, beneath the shade of a tree, sat the king's throne.

Or maybe it was a different throne. Maybe, instead of having the thing carried wherever he went, he'd commissioned hundreds of duplicates and set them out all around the palace.

However, it was more likely he had servants carry the thing around for him. He'd enjoy watching them do so and probably sat on the damn thing while they did.

The king wasn't sitting on his throne now as he stood with a bow and an arrow nocked against it. A hundred feet in front of him stood a target with three arrows nowhere near the bull's-eye.

From a glance, I could tell he didn't have his foot lined up properly, and his hand was too high. The man probably believed it was the bow's fault for his lack of ability.

The duke stood beside the king. Like his son, he was broad through the shoulders and chest, but he wasn't as big as Ryker, which was something else that probably annoyed him about his son.

His features were similar to Ryker's, but the duke had dark blond hair and pale green eyes compared to Ryker's deep brown hair and mercury-colored eyes.

I wasn't astonished to see him here, but my blood ran cold as he turned and smiled at me. I loathed this man, not only for taking my mother and forcing me to end things with Ryker but also because of the abuse he'd unleashed on his son while he was only a child.

If we succeeded in taking Tempest back, I would personally destroy this man. I'd never killed before, but I would gladly tear out the duke's heart and shove it down his throat.

As if reading my thoughts, the duke's eyes twinkled with amusement before he shifted his attention back to the king. The king fired another arrow that barely hit the target before turning the bow over to examine it.

"Shitty craftsmanship," he remarked before thrusting it at a servant. "Fire whoever created this."

"Yes, milord," the servant murmured before hurrying away.

The duke said something to the king, who turned to me. His pale blue eyes surveyed me before he grinned and strode to his throne.

He settled onto the plush red seat and gripped the ends of the arms as he leaned against the pillowed back. Four servants scurried over; they used giant leaves to fan him as another lifted a goblet to his lips. The king drank from it before he waved the man away.

The king's gaze ran over me again before he looked at the duke. "I remember her."

Before coming here, I'd donned my best walking dress. It flared out at my waist and had three-quarter sleeves covering most of my skin. Despite the modest clothing, I felt stripped bare before the king and duke as one eyed me with lust and the other with revulsion.