Chapter 24

SABINA

“What are you trying to say?” I asked King Bancroft, his words leaving me frozen in place.

I watched him rise from his chair. “You’ll understand in time. For now, you have a king waiting. Go,” he commanded.

“No! I’m not leaving this harem until you clarify what you just said,” I insisted, my resolve firm. I needed to understand. Why had he ordered my capture?

“Sabina.” He moved closer. “If you linger here, Aboloft will have his men kill the maid who came for you, and all the servants who were supposed to watch you.”

Guilt. That was his weapon of choice. King Bancroft was using guilt to sway me. And damn it, it was working.

Knowing Aboloft, and his recent history of violence, I knew Bancroft was telling the truth.

I didn’t want to be the cause of so many deaths, not when I could prevent it. But I needed King Bancroft to explain.

“I’m sure Aboloft can wait a bit longer,” I responded, not fully believing my own words.

King Bancroft laughed lightly. “It’s been eight years, Sabina. He’s not the same man you left. Tell me, was Aboloft ever patient, even when you were close friends?”

His knowing eyes told me he already knew the answer. No, Aboloft was never patient.

He demanded immediate obedience. Whenever I urged him to be patient, he would pester me until I gave in.

“Your silence speaks volumes, Sabina. Go to Aboloft. I’ll explain everything another time,” he said.

I shot him—the king—the iciest glare I could muster, sighed in frustration, and stormed out of the harem. Luckily, I didn’t need help navigating my way back to Aboloft’s bedchamber.

But fear and anxiety hung heavy in the castle corridors as I made my way back. The servants were clearly terrified, which only amplified my own fear.

Aboloft was going to punish me, but this time, I wouldn’t show fear. If Aboloft had changed in eight years, so had I.

Standing outside Aboloft’s bedchamber, I noticed the absence of guards. Shaking off the thought, I pushed open the door and stepped inside.

The sight of the wrecked room didn’t surprise me. I knew Aboloft had a temper. His rage was infamous throughout Quopia.

But the sight of the king standing by the window, breathing heavily, radiating fury—that sent tendrils of panic creeping through my heart.

“You never listen, do you?” Aboloft’s voice broke the silence. His tone gave away his emotional state.

I should be terrified, but I wasn’t. I needed answers, and Aboloft wasn’t the one who could provide them.

“You said you’d be back by sunset,” I retorted, forcing myself to stand my ground.

“You were supposed to be in my bed when I returned, no matter when that was!” He roared, spinning to face me.

His anger was like a shield, shaking my resolve as he stalked toward me, his steps deliberate and predatory. I could feel my courage waning, but I held my ground.

Despite my instincts screaming at me to beg for mercy, I didn’t—I wouldn’t. I was done begging for mercy. Done begging for kindness.

King Bancroft’s words had changed something in me, unleashed a stronger version of myself. A woman who didn’t beg, but commanded respect.

I wanted revenge. If Bancroft had ordered my capture, then I wanted payback. I craved it.

“You said…sunset. If you’d told me you’d be back earlier, I would’ve been here,” I said, meeting his fiery gaze.

I flinched when Aboloft’s hands gripped my upper arms. He shook me, my teeth rattling. “Why do you do this to me?! Don’t you understand what you mean to me?!”

What did I mean to him? Sure, Aboloft had said some things while I pretended to sleep in the library.

But they couldn’t be true, could they? Aboloft wasn’t planning to propose, was he? Because that was unthinkable. It was unacceptable.

“What are you talking about, Aboloft? I don’t understand what you’re saying,” I replied.

“Tell me, Bluebell, do you want to escape? Do you want me to let you go? Because that’s not going to happen, do you understand?

“You can’t leave now. Not ever. You’ll stay here forever, just as you were meant to; just as I wanted,” Aboloft declared.

“I never said I wanted to run away. You think you’re the only one who suffered?! I willingly gave up my happiness, and unlike you, I had no one to help me.

“You had King Bancroft. You had a friend. I didn’t. I suffered every day, from sunrise to sunrise, for eight years!

“I told you all that, and you still treat me like I tore your heart apart, like I never cared about you!”

My outburst surprised both Aboloft and me. Fear flooded me, knowing I was in deep trouble.

I’d dared to speak out against the King of Quopia, a king already seething with rage. I’d provoked the beast, and now I would face the consequences.

But when Aboloft cradled my face and pressed his lips to mine, I was taken aback.

I’d braced myself for pain, for him to hurt me, but instead he was kissing me, channeling his anger and frustration into a kiss so fierce it threatened to bruise my lips.

His affection was rough, his lips moving over mine with a demanding intensity. He bit my lips hard enough to draw blood, then plunged his tongue into my mouth the moment I gave him access.

“You’re mine. Only mine,” Aboloft growled, before claiming my lips in another breath-stealing kiss. He only released me when I dug my nails into his arms, gasping for air.

“I need to know everything,” I panted. “And... King Bancroft isn’t telling me. He knows things and I want him to tell me.”

I wasn’t even sure what I was saying. But hopefully, my words were soft enough for Aboloft not to understand.

“I’ve wanted you since the moment I met you. And that desire has only grown. So much so that now I don’t care if you want to run. I won’t let you.

“You can see this castle as your prison, my beautiful goddess, or you can call it your home, because this is your home now,” Aboloft declared, ignoring my words. Thank God.

~Aboloft wants me? That can’t be right.~

“You said you’d be back after sunset. I didn’t know you’d come back so early. That’s why I wasn’t in your bedchamber,” I said, returning to the reason we were there in the first place.

“I know. I just don’t like coming home and not finding you,” he replied.

My heart pounded in my chest. “Where would I go, Aboloft? You said it yourself. I can’t leave even if I want to. So, don’t worry.”

“I know you can’t leave. But this castle is big. I don’t want you wandering off. You could get lost in these halls,” he responded. I could feel his anger starting to fade.

“There are servants everywhere. I can’t get lost,” I countered.

“You can because you don’t know these halls, even though I wish you did,” Aboloft muttered the last part to himself, but I still heard it.

“This castle is big, but—”

He cut me off. “Enough, Bina. No more arguing. I don’t like it when you’re out of my sight,” Aboloft stated.

“I’m not a child. I’m a grown woman. Even if I do get lost in this castle, I can find my way back. I might not be as privileged as you, but I still know things,” I retorted.

Aboloft sighed loudly, running his fingers through his hair in frustration. “You don’t understand, Bina. You just don’t understand.”

“Don’t understand what?” I asked.

He shook his head. “Nothing.”

Why were these kings so cryptic? Why couldn’t they just tell me what they wanted in plain words?

“Aboloft, just tell me,” I demanded. Knowing he wouldn’t punish me gave me a bit more confidence to speak my mind.

“Where were you?” he asked instead, his eyes boring into mine.

“Why are you doing that?”

He was confusing me, jumping from one topic to another. It was getting hard to keep up.

“Doing what, my sweet?”

Who was this man? Was he gentle or cruel? Kind or harsh?

“You keep changing the subject. It’s frustrating,” I complained.

Aboloft chuckled darkly, taking my hands in his.

“I’m trying to control the beast inside me that wants to throw you on the bed and tie you up so you’re never out of sight. That’s why I keep changing the subject. So tell me, Bluebell, where were you just now?”

His words always had a strange effect on me. They stirred up desires that lurked in the dark corners of my soul. Aboloft was a sorcerer, making me feel and want things I shouldn’t.

“I-I was with Ki-king Bancroft,” I stammered, not wanting my dark desires to distract me from what was important.

“And why were you with him?” Aboloft asked.

“Because I needed to know some things, and he was the only one who had the answers,” I replied, looking away from him.

I knew he was going to make me tell him everything that happened between me and the King of Sodora. That was just how Aboloft was.

“And what were those things that only he knew the answers to, and I didn’t?”

Oh, Aboloft, please stop asking questions.

“Nothing that should concern you,” I told him.

“Don’t you know by now, Bina, everything you do concerns me. Now, answer my question properly. What did you want to talk about with Bancroft?” Aboloft repeated.

Why did he always have to do this? Why couldn’t he just worry about himself? I really didn’t want to tell Aboloft that I was with King Bancroft because I wanted to know why he’d changed.

“Where were you? Where did you go just now?” I asked him.

“That’s not what I asked,” he stated.

“You want to know everything about me. I want the same from you. I’ll only tell you what King Bancroft and I discussed if you tell me where you went,” I told him, crossing my arms over my chest.

“Stubborn girl. What am I going to do with you?” Aboloft cupped my left cheek. I thought he’d be angry, but his dark eyes were soft, filled with affection.

“Answer my question.”

King Bancroft had really changed me. If I hadn’t gone to the harem to talk to him, I doubt I’d be talking back to Aboloft like this.

I still couldn’t believe it was King Bancroft who’d ordered the guards to capture me. I thought he was my friend. But I guess his loyalties would always lie with Aboloft.

“I had some urgent business... in Wilsden,” Aboloft replied.

My eyes popped wide open, my heart folding in on itself at the mention of the name that always brought back chilling memories.

What was he doing there? Sure, he was the king, but he needed to be cautious. The folks in Wilsden were a dangerous lot. They didn’t hesitate to inflict harm.

“Why would you go there? Don’t you realize how dangerous it is? The people in Wilsden aren’t kind.”

My voice hitched, concern for Aboloft’s safety flooding me. I quickly scanned the man I loved more than anything, making sure he was unharmed. Only then did I let out a sigh of relief.

“Why the worry, my beautiful goddess? Wipe that concern from your eyes. I don’t like it. As you can see, I’m perfectly fine,” Aboloft said.

“No, you don’t get it. Wilsden is a dangerous place—”

“Bina, I’m the King of Quopia. No place is dangerous for me,” he countered.

“No, you’re mistaken. Yes, you’re the king and you’re powerful. But Wilsden is a terrible place. The people…”

Tears of panic welled up in my eyes. If anything happened to Aboloft because of the people of Wilsden, I wouldn’t let them off the hook. I wouldn’t show them mercy.

“Shh, don’t worry, Bluebell, I’m safe and sound. I know Wilsden wasn’t kind to you, but I promise, I won’t let anyone hurt you.” Aboloft soothed, his thumb gently stroking my cheek, his lips brushing the top of my head.

“It’s not me I’m worried about. Wilsden has done all it could to me. But I don’t want the same for you.

“Stay in the castle, where it’s safe. You have plenty of men at your command. Send them to Wilsden. Don’t go alone,” I begged.

“I’m the king, my sweet. I have no choice but to go. Wilsden is part of Quopia, and therefore, my responsibility. I have to treat it with the same importance as the other towns.

“You have nothing to worry about, Bina. Absolutely nothing,” Aboloft replied.

I had to find a way to persuade him not to return to that dreadful place. But he was determined to fulfill his kingly duties. And I didn’t want that.

I was out of arguments, but I wasn’t about to give up. I’d pushed Aboloft away once, I wasn’t going to repeat that mistake.

I’d just have to figure out how to shield him from the evils of this world.

“Why did you go to Wilsden?” I asked.

In response, Aboloft drew me into his arms, his chin resting on top of my head.

“For you, my beautiful goddess. I went to Wilsden for you.”