Ch. 27：Reuniting with a Psychopath

“M – My lady.” Tears rolled down Sabrina’s eyes when we got to the prison. She glanced from me to her brother with a pained expression on her face. “How –“
“Is everything ready?” I ignored her and turned to the warden in charge of the prisoners.
“Yes. He is free to go.” The stout man responded.
Thankfully, her brother’s crime wasn’t too severe. He’d been caught robbing an Alpha’s carriage. I took a good look at the boy. He looked younger than me so he would be maybe seventeen or eighteen.
“Do you have anywhere to go?” I asked the boy. His eyes slid to his sister. She was dressed in the palace’s uniform.
“No, ma’am.” He hung his head.
“I - I will take him.” Sabrina clutched her brother’s thin bicep. “There’s – I have a friend who can house him.” She looked terrified as if she feared he would be sent back to prison if he didn’t have a home to go back to.
“Very well,” I muttered. “I will return to the palace now. Come see me tomorrow, Alfred.”
“My Lady –“ Sabrina rushed after me. “I will –“
“Take your brother. See me when you get back.” I felt the fever of earlier return. My gaze darkened and I stumbled.
“Are you okay, Miss?” Ian caught me.
“Fine.” I gave him a tight smile, standing up straight.
The truth was that I didn’t feel fine at all. My whole body hurt. Killian had used me so thoroughly the previous day that standing took a toll on me, not to talk of walking. My back ached, my legs trembled when I stood, in fact, I ached from head to toe.
“Miss –“ Sabrina still had tear-stained cheeks as she followed me to the carriage.
“We will see in the palace, Sabrina,” I smiled, my facial muscles stiff.
The carriage ride back to the palace was silent. I hadn’t left the palace since I entered and I’d never visited the capital before but I couldn’t enjoy the scenery outside the window. Excruciating pain wracked my insides. Even my gums hurt and my eyes burnt.
“Are you okay?” Ian asked but I nodded my heavy head.
The carriage ride back to the palace would take at least another two hours and I didn’t know how I was going to survive in this state.
“You could have sent me alone if you feel unwell,” the royal guard commented when I couldn’t help but hunch over, clutching my pounding head in my hands.
It wasn’t that I liked Sabrina so much that I went through all this for her but I needed her to know that I’d gotten her brother out of prison. Me, not Scarlett her mistress.
The betrayal that stung my heart when I realized she was a spy Scarlett planted was indescribable. She was the first person in this place that welcomed me - the only person. Realizing she’d done all that to deceive me hurt more than my pounding head. I had started to consider her as my friend but thankfully, I discovered her true identity before I got too invested.
Why did I release her brother then? It was simple. I was new to this world. Without Killian, I could do nothing, a powerless queen. I’d have to make my way in this world and I planned to start somewhere. Sabrina’s loyalty to Scarlett was because of the promise of releasing her brother but now that he was out of prison, she could work for me instead.
She was a fickle person, I’d noticed. Her loyalty was easily bought and now, with her brother out of prison, I should have her loyalty. She’d lied to my face, deceived me, and tried to humiliate me and the king. She wasn’t any better than the queen or even Scarlett, her mistress. She made me wear that slave choker and I could never forgive her for that.
I was deep in thought when I felt the carriage lurch to the side and then skid to a screeching halt.
“What is happening?” I looked out the window to see a deserted road.
“Let me find out from the driver. Please wait here, Miss.” Ian jumped out of the carriage. With him gone, I let out a groan which I had been holding back.
“You’re a bastard, Killian,” I cried to myself.
This fever started yesterday after I felt him release inside me. It was the first time he did that. Was it supposed to be like this or was there something in his seed? With a jolt, I wondered if I’d fallen pregnant.
“No way.” It couldn’t be that fast. Besides, he asked a maid to bring herbal tea to prevent pregnancy an hour after we finished.
“Miss, we have to change the carriage wheel.” Ian poked his head into the carriage. My heart fell when he said that. “It’s okay. There is an inn you can rest at while the coachman changes the wheel,” he added after reading my expression.
“Is it far?” I accepted his hand as he helped me out of the carriage. My legs were in no condition for a trek.
“It’s not.” He walked beside me. I could see the inn’s sign a short distance from the dusty road.
We entered and the place had at most three guests, all travellers judging by their cloaks.
“I will help the coachman so we can get back on the road in time. Please, rest a bit.” With that, Ian went back to the carriage.
Sighing, I rested my head on the table before me. With my temperature climbing, I recalled the days when I worked in the small inn in our pack. I’d been sixteen years old then and the innkeeper had two sons who liked to play rough. My shoulders quivered as I remembered the many times I’d been touched inappropriately by the guests or the innkeeper’s kids.
“It’s good to see you again.” My body froze at the sound of that voice. My head became too heavy for me to raise off the table but even before I raised my head, I knew the voice's owner. “Won’t you look at me, Carrot?” My heart fell to my hard stomach. “Or shall I call you Amethyst now?” I shut my eyes as I felt him sit beside me.
“Don’t touch me.” Although I hadn’t been looking, I felt his hand reach for me and my stomach revolted against the thought of his filthy hands touching me.
“Why? Are you too good for my lowly hands?” I turned to see Noah settling on the bench with me. “Oh, I forgot. How can a nobody like me lay hands on the king’s mate?” His tone mocked me. I swallowed down bile at the rage in his eyes. His eyes and lips told different stories.
“Why did you run away?” He asked, touching my hair. I tried slapping his hands away but he caught my wrist in a firm grip.
“You expected me to stay back and continue to be your prisoner?” I sneered, wrenching my hands from his. His grip tightened. “Let go.”
“Now that I’ve found you, do you think I would let you go again?” He kissed my knuckles one by one. Disgust slammed into me, overriding my fever. My lips curled as the bastard smirked.
“You hurt my feeling, Carrot. I’ve been searching for you for a month now but you were masquerading as another man’s mate.” A chill spread in my spine at the laughter in his eyes.
“I rejected you so I do not know why you were searching for me. By now, you should know that I won’t accept marrying that old pervert you planned to sell me off to,” I murmured.
“Being mated to the king is even better, Carrot.” He grinned. “You exceeded my expectations, so congratulations.”
It was too soon. I knew I would have to face him one day but it was too soon. I hadn’t prepared. Wasn’t ready. I didn’t have a plan yet, didn’t know what to do with his sudden appearance.
It was a no-brainer that he would be looking for me but the prince’s protection – What did he even mean by exceeding his expectations? He spoke like he had planned this from the start.
“I am the king’s mate now so you better accept my rejection.” A dark look flashed across his face.
“You are not,” he whispered. “I was on my way to visit you at the palace but we unexpectedly met here.” He looked wistful. “You should be nice to me, Carrot. After all, I am the only one that knows your secret.” My heart stuttered and he grinned, standing. “We will be seeing each other in the future.” With that he left, leaving me reeling with shock and apprehension.
“Are you okay, Miss?” I jolted as Ian came to stand before me. Did he – Did he see Noah? “The carriage has been fixed. We should get you back to the palace as soon as possible, you look worse.”
He stuck close to me as we walked back to the carriage and his eyes didn’t stray from me throughout the journey back. I was tired, queasy and lightheaded. The journey felt like forever but we arrived at the palace late in the evening.
Ian helped me out of the carriage and at the front door of the palace were Killian and Sabrina waiting for me. Killian’s expression was grave as he glared at Ian.
“Did I say you could leave the –“ He growled, about to cuss me out but my ears rang, the world tilted on its axis and I stumbled.
“Amethyst –“ Someone shouted my name as my world went black.