Delano had stood guard outside nearly the entire day. I knew because the last time I had pounded on the door, he’d answered through the heavy wood. He’d replied in virtually the same way each time I demanded to be let out.
“No one wishes to chase you through a snowstorm.”
“I’d rather not be gutted by the Prince, so no.”
“The Prince will return soon.”
My favorite was when I’d said that I just wanted some fresh air. “Nothing personal, but there is literally no way I would trust you enough to crack this door open to allow even an inch of fresh air to enter your chamber.”
How was that not personal?
I started toward the door, planning to bang my fist off it until the whole keep came running—
The door suddenly swung open as Delano rushed inside, hand on the hilt of his sword. He drew up short, eyes bright as he checked me over and scanned the room.
“Are you okay?” he demanded. Delano had the kind of face that often tricked you. Except for the nearly constant crease between his fair brows, there was a boyishness to his features. As if he would be grinning the second he thought you weren’t looking. But in that moment, with the hard set to his jaw and the steeliness in his eyes I’d never seen before, he looked as if he were a breath away from lopping off someone’s head.
“Other than being angry about being trapped in here? Yes.”
His eyes narrowed. “You weren’t yelling?”
My brows lifted. “Not externally. Did you hear me yelling?”
Delano’s head tilted. “What do you mean by…not externally?”
“I was probably screaming internally for being locked in here.”
“So, you weren’t screaming?”
“No. Not out loud.” I crossed my arms.
His already light skin seemed paler. “I thought… I thought I heard you calling my name.” The crease between his brows deepened. “Screaming for help.” Letting go of his sword, he ran a hand through his nearly white-blond hair. “It must’ve been the wind.”
“Or your guilty conscience.”
“Probably the wind.”
I started toward him.
There it was, a flash of a grin. “Sorry to interrupt.”
“Interrupt what? I’m stuck in this room. What could—？” I shrieked as the door closed and locked. “Now I am yelling!”
“It’s the wind,” he yelled back through the door.
I stomped my foot once and then twice instead of giving in to the urge to really scream.
Throwing myself onto the bed, I pictured all the different places I could stab Delano, but then I felt a little bad about that. It wasn’t his fault. It was Casteel’s. So, I pictured putting as many holes in him as I could until I started to doze. I didn’t fight it. Being unconscious was far better than rage-pacing. I had no idea how long I slept, whether it was minutes or hours, but when I opened my bleary eyes, a patchwork quilt had been draped over my legs, and I saw that I wasn’t alone. Across from the bed sat Kieran, in the same chair as the night before, practically in the same position—one booted foot resting on a bent knee.
“Good afternoon,” he said as I blinked slowly, looking between him and the quilt. “The quilt wasn’t me. That was Cas.”
He’d been in here? While I slept? That son of a—
“Though I’m glad you finally woke up. I was going to give you another five minutes before I risked life and limb to wake you. Unlike Cas, watching you sleep is not something I find all that entertaining.”
Casteel watched me sleep? Wait. How long had Kieran been sitting there? “What are you doing in here?” I rasped.
“Other than wondering exactly what choices I made in my life that led me to this exact moment?” Kieran asked.
My eyes narrowed. “Yes. Other than that.”
“Since I figured Delano would like a break and wondered if you might be hungry. I’m hoping that you are because I would like to eat, too.”
My stomach immediately decided that yes, it would like some food, and grumbled loudly.
“I’ll take that as a yes.”
Feeling my cheeks flush, I shoved the blanket off and stood. “Am I actually allowed to leave this room?”
“Of course.”
My brows lifted. “You say that as if I’m asking a stupid question. I’ve been locked in here all day!”
“If you could be trusted not to run, then perhaps you wouldn’t be locked in here.”
“Maybe if you weren’t holding me captive, I wouldn’t have to try and escape!”