“Is that so, little Crystal?” Conan scoffed in amusement.
“Princess Estelle,” she retorted fiercely. “That is my name. Don’t you dare let me hear you neglect it again.” She took another step forward and perfectly adjusted her shoulders to stare Conan dead in the eyes with her covered ones. Conan seemed a tad off-put by the accuracy of her direction, and I felt a proud smirk tug at my lip. “You may know the future, but you know nothing of the present. Miron isn’t a snake like you. He may appear rigid and tricky, but he is a far better man than you could ever hope to become. His honesty is what freed me... not from this tower, but from my fear of the unknown. You’d think that a girl who can see the future wouldn’t fear the unknown, but in my experience, it’s what you do know that becomes far more terrifying. Yes, the outside world can be scary, but I’m no longer afraid of it or you. So do whatever you want. If you want to scare me, or torture me, or threaten me, then go right on ahead. I would rather blind my eyes for good than share another vision with you. The only thing I truly care about in this world you’re already going to take from me.” She cast a broken glance back at me and my heart shattered into a thousand shards. “I have nothing more to fear.”
“Elle...” My voice choked as she turned back to me with a sad but reassuring smile.Do I really have to die? How can I leave her in a world like this? I can’t die, I just can’t. She deserves to be free from the chains my family shackled her in.
“That’s very touching,” Conan snarked. “Although I’m afraid I’m going to have to disappoint you. As much as I would enjoy some good old-fashioned torture and threats, I don’t think that will be necessary.”
His hand stretched forward in slow motion; I opened my mouth to call out, but his viperous grasp was too fast. My heart drummed viciously in my chest as I saw Elle’s face contort into panicked confusion. Conan lunged at her in the blink of an eye and snatched her roughly by the braid. He held the locks high above her head with a tight strain as he pressed his blade to her throat.
“No!” I yelled hopelessly as I pointlessly reached out for her. Her face went white as the cool blade touched her olive skin, but she still stood bravely in spite of her pressing terror. “Let her go, Conan!” I ripped the small blade from my boot and held it ready to throw, aiming directly between his eyes.
“Oh please, there’s no need for that,” Conan said with a casual roll of his eyes as he lowered the sword from her throat. “I’m not going to kill her... we already established that’s your job.” He flashed me a crooked grin, and with one fluid movement, sliced his sword across her braid. Fragments of broken silver strands misted through the air like shining tinsel as the cut braid fell limply into Conan’s grasp.
Elle shrieked as the strain against her scalp vanished and she crumpled to the floor. Conan laughed, and I scrambled over to help her. He raised the severed length of hair proudly up in the air like a new trophy as I pulled Elle across the floor until she was out of his reach. Her freshly chopped hair fell free from the cut braid and floated messily in front of her disoriented face.
“This should work perfectly. Thank you for your donation to the Ashbourne military,” Conan gloated proudly as he held the braid up into the light. The silver sparkled vibrantly against the golden rays, reflecting its iridescent glow against Conan’s pitch eyes.
“What in the realms was that for?” I spat at him as I aided Elle back to her feet. “Have you gone mad? Her hair doesn’t possess any power.”
Conan’s eyes darkened as a mischievous smile curled up his lips. “You’re correct. As of now, this hair is useless, but it won’t stay that way for long...” He strode over to the servants’ door, swinging the braid like a new toy as he walked. “You see, I have my own plans falling into place. I don’t always rely on cheating.”
“What type of idiotic plan involves a lock of hair?” I tried to sound ignorant as I hoped to pull out a hidden truth, but he saw right though my intrigue.
Conan’s smile vanished. “Nice try, brother, but that’s not a secret you’re going to get out of me today.” He stopped in front of the servants’ door and pulled something out of his pocket that he kept hidden in his palm. He faced the door, blocking my view. “I will impart one secret to you, though.” He stepped away from the door. and I instantly tensed as I noticed the new lock he had clasped onto the handle—the exact same as the impossible locks on the king’s doors. “It doesn’t matter what key you use on these locks, they’re enchanted.”
Elle gasped, “What do you mean?”
Conan snickered. “It means that only certain people are capable of opening these locks. Anyone who doesn’t fit the lock’s criteria will never be able to open it.” He crossed the room back to the king’s door, and produced a basic brass key. He slid the key into the lock and it opened with a single click.
“Let me guess, you have to be Father’s favorite to open it?” I asked snidely.
Conan shrugged in amusement. “It doesn’t hurt. But no, in fact, the rules are much more straight-forward for these locks. It’s even possible for one of you to open it as soon as I leave.” I raised a suspicious brow at him and felt a knot form in my stomach as his smile grew more eerie. “Only a person who has slain someone of royal blood can open these locks.”
The blood drained from my face, and I turned to look at Elle, who was now equally pale.Her vision... No, I would never.
“Luckily for you, both of you are pure-blooded royals. All you have to do is pick who will die, and then the other will get to leave. I already have my bets placed on who I’ll see outside.” Conan snickered. “According to our dear princess, you and I have a date with my sword. So, if I was to guess...” He pouted in Elle’s direction. “Looks like prince charming isn’t going save you, after all... I would love to stay and watch, but I have a few more errands to run. Have fun, you two!” He gave one final wave, then disappeared behind the door, sealing us in our deadly cage.
chapter seventeen
My blinded eyes were so wide that I was shocked I couldn’t see through the silk. Every nerve in my body felt twisted and tense to the point where I had to remind myself how to breathe. I took in a sharp breath and felt Miron stretch out his hand to touch mine. The warm sensation of his calming contact sent a much-needed wave of ease through me. I took his hand with a firm squeeze, and he pressed his second hand atop mine.
“Elle...” His voice quivered and his palm felt cool and clammy atop my hand. “I didn’t... I mean, I would never...” He sighed and tightened his grip on my hand. “I would never hurt you. You know that, don’t you?”
My head throbbed as my heart instantly caved to his words.I know what my visions said... But even so.“I do,” I said firmly. My visions weren’t allowed to determine who I trusted. Miron was my friend. Conan could have placed his sword directly in his brother’s hand, and my answer still would have remained the same. “I trust you, Miron. I truly do.”
His pulse heightened in his fingertips and I could almost feel the warmth of his smile. “I trust you, too.” His voice held a deep sentiment that sent an unfamiliar fluttering sensation through my stomach. “Conan has always had a knack for bringing out the worst in people, but I’m not going to let him antagonize me. If the lock won’t open, then I’ll chew through the door if I must. I swear to you, Elle, you’ll always be safe with me.”
“Thank you, Miron.” I smiled weakly. “I hope our teeth don’t break against the door before we starve to death. I highly doubt Conan will keep sending meal deliveries in the meantime.” The pit in my stomach deepened as I considered our meager options for escape.Neither of us will harm the other, but both doors are sealed with the enchanted locks...
“Well, perhaps we could spare our molars and attempt an escape through the window?” he acknowledged while walking toward the opening.
“I’m not so sure...” I reached nervously for my hair, but only grasped at air. I tucked the freshly chopped strands behind my ear with foreign movements. “I’ve never climbed before, and I wouldn’t be able to remove my blindfold.” My chest seized at the thought of plunging out of the tower window.It’s so high up...
Miron paused thoughtfully for a moment, then shuffled back in front of me. “Give me your blindfold then.” A pass of air informed me that his hand was outstretched to me, but I didn’t make any effort to reach for it.
“What? But if I take it off, I’ll get visions every time I look at you. That’s likely more dangerous than just letting me climb blind.” I placed my hands protectively around the silk tie with a tentative step backward. To be honest, I wouldn’t mind seeing his eyes again, but such distractions would be of no help during a daring escape.
Miron chuckled softly. “Don’t worry. I’ll wear it for you.”