Chapter Six: The Shadow of the Keep

The carriage ride to vael was dark fast and exhausting.

Fear filled the air, making everyone's breath caught in between.

The King was surprisingly quiet throughout the ride, even though it was a long journey, not a single word left his lips.

He just sat across from me like mute child or someone scolded by an adult for talking too much.

But the silence terrified me which even doubled when the vael came into sight.

The frostress had risen from the mountain like something ancient, dangerous, predatory and alive.

My breath quickened, this isn't just a castle, it has something that terrifies me.

The towering hall seem to watch us from above as we approach the threshold.

The air seemed heavier, every instinct of mine scream that I was definitely walking into a trap, but I still furge ahead anyway.

Probably into my grave.

My hands were trembling by now as I followed Ronan walked through endless stone corridors.

“You are safe here.” I heard his deep voice, which seem to vibrate through my bones, but I gave no response.

And I didn't believe him, all I could think of was an escape route.

I felt like a trapped bird, caged and helpless, who wanted nothing but freedom.

This place felt nothing like a fortress, it was more like prison where I could rot.

I was already expecting the enemy to surface.

Ronan stopped before a carved door.

Strange!

A place that hid such a brutal fortress shouldn't be this good.

He gestured for me to stepped inside and I reluctantly did.

Outside the cold was something else and the scent of predators were choking me.

But inside was breath taking.

I saw luxury in another form.

Rich fabric, elegant furniture, everything I was seeing spoke of wealth and royalty.

His room felt like heaven compared to the savage world outside.

But finally I decided to speak out. ”Why am I here?" My voice didn't come out as planned.

I didn't turned around to look at him instead I stare at the mirror in front of me.

My reflection wasn't something I should be proud of.

It was pale, and broken.

Then my eyes shifted to that of Ronan, he stood beside me, calm, untouchable, a man who command authority like God of war.

Anger flushed my face.

“Are you keeping me as a leverage, or is there a dungeon I haven't seen it?” My voice was a bit okay now.

He didn't move, he just stood by the door. "None of those are true.”

His voice was low and calm, sounding dangerously true. ”You're the truth I have spent a life time searching for.”

My stomach dropped, suddenly it started to make sense to me now.

I hadn't been rescued but was captured instead.

“Truth in my world usually comes with a hidden cost.” My voice was cold now.

I turned to face him now with my anger being visible.

Years of humiliation

Years of anger

Years of being unwanted, it just erupted that moment.

“At home, I was called the useless daughter and here I'm called the mate?”

I took a step forward. "You have traded one title for another but you still keep me under locks.“

The fury inside was becoming impossible to hide now

“So tell me Ronan, how's this different from the hole I just crawled out?"

For the first time his jaw tightened.

He took a step forward.

“Your father sold you for his own selfish interests.” His voice was deep and low. ”But I value you more than my own life.”

My breathe caught.

“I'm not locking you up, I am hiding you.”

He took another step closer, then another.

His amber eyes shined brighter. ”Well, you can leave now if you want.”

A pause.

Without another words he crossed the big room way too fast.

Just few seconds and he is miles away.

One moment he was standing miles away and the next minute he is standing right in front of me.

The gear radiating from his body felt like a physical force pulling me.

“The thornclaw pack is here.” he said quietly.

His eyes darkened.

“They don't want a maid, they want the kings head.” His eyes locked into mine. ”And they want the human he took from the action block.”

A shiver raced through me.

“You're not a prisoner here.”

I stared at him speechless, I practically forgot how to breathe.

So everything that had happened was his way of protecting me from everyone else.

“So...” my voice barely above a whisper. ”I'm the centre of this conflict.”

The realization hit harder than the mountain wind outside.

Cold!

Terrifying!

Merciless!

I hadn't escape the war, I had barely been dragged to its heart.

And now standing inside vael keep, I realized the truth.

I wasn't hiding from the storm, I was standing directly next to it.