Chapter 52 Not an exception

Chapter 52 Not an exception


LILY'S POV:

I swallowed thickly. My throat felt dry. My mind was racing, trying to figure out how much he knew, what he was implying, why he was looking at me like that.

"Why did you save me?"

"Because your plan was foolish." His words made my skin crawl in a bad way.

Then he spoke louder, so everyone could hear. "Your stepmother knew that kidnapping you was going to affect your standing in the court."

I stared at him, my mind trying to catch up. What did he mean by that? What was he saying?

"What are you talking about?" The words came out before I could stop them, my inner thoughts just spilling out.

Raven answered instead, his voice flat and clinical like he was reading from a book. "If a noblewoman gets kidnapped and then returns, she gets branded as an abomination. It's believed she's already been used. Spoiled goods. No one wants a princess who's been touched by strange men."

The room seemed to get smaller. My palms went slick with sweat and there was this rushing sound in my head, like water flooding in, making it hard to think. Hard to breathe.

"I've been missing more than a day now." I whispered, but my words could still be heard in the silent cabin.

I looked at Atlas. He wasn't looking at me though. He was staring at the fire, his jaw tight, and I realized suddenly that he wasn't going to tell them. He wasn't going to tell his men that this whole thing was staged. That I wasn't really a victim. That I had played a game and lost.

Elliott played me. He took my plan and twisted it, used it against me, and made it worse. I was so stupid to trust him. So stupid to think I could beat him at his own game.

(Flashback)
"We’re in the palace,” he said. “You walked into my training ground talking about playing a game. If anyone heard that, it would cause trouble. So now,” he added, “I’m listening.”

I frowned. “That doesn’t mean you had to drag me like a criminal.”

He turned, folding his arms across his chest. "I'm listening."

I glared, rubbing my wrist. "Why did you have to drag me?"

I frowned. “That doesn’t mean you had to drag me like a criminal.”

Then I muttered, “If Anya sees this, she’ll skin you alive."

A strange look crossed his face. A flicker of something almost like amusement. He shrugged, a slow smirk spreading. "I'd like to see her try."

I blinked as I was caught off guard. What did that mean? Was there some history there I didn't know? "What are you—"

"Enough," he cut me off, the brief smirk gone. "What do you actually want, Lily? Get to the point, or I'm leaving you here to talk to the walls."

The words left my mouth before I could polish them. "Disgrace my stepmother."

"How do you suggest I carry out such an act?" He said, laughing at the thought of doing what I requested.

My stomach churned at the idea of seeking his help but I had no option at the moment. " I want to stage a kidnapping act. My step mother is here right now, I will be visiting my father in a couple of hours. That should be enough to plant the idea of her kidnapping me."

"You badly want to leave this palace, No problem. But the situation is that I'll get blamed for the actions too."

I shook my head. "You won't if you supply her the men who will kidnap me. That way I won't be harmed, you are blameless and my stepmother goes down for it ...in public."

For a moment, he just stared. His eyebrows drew together as he turned the words over slowly. "You're asking me," he said, each word deliberate, "to publicly disgrace Lady Kathy. Your stepmother. The wife of the Minister of War." (End of flashback)

"What should I do?" The question came out small, pathetic almost.

Atlas moved before I could blink, settling himself on the ground beside me. His body was close, almost touching, and the warmth coming off him was better than that fire burning so intensely across the room. I hated that I noticed. Hated that my skin prickled where he was near.

"Well for starters," he said, his voice low, "you weren't kidnapped for long."

Raven stepped forward, taking over. "You were kidnapped on your way back to the palace. Hit at the back of your head. You woke up in some rundown place and escaped when your kidnappers drank themselves stupid." He paused, letting it sink in. "You're going to cry when you tell this story. Make them believe every word."

I swallowed. "Then what? What if they don't believe me?"

"Then it's their thoughts against your words." Raven shrugged like it was simple. "They weren't there. They didn't see what happened. If rumors spread about you being used, cut their tongues out. If you can't stomach the blood, I'm happy to do it. I don't mind seeing red every day."

I scowled at him. "No thank you."

He hummed, this irritating sound. "Unless they're not lying about you being used. Then I suppose the rumors would be true."

The words hit me like a slap. I stared at him, shocked he could say something like that so casually. My mouth opened, trying to form something, anything, to throw back at him. But nothing came. The words just died in my throat.

"You are crossing the line!" Anya's voice cut through the cabin, sharp and angry. She was sitting up on her bunk, her face flushed with rage. All that fear from before, forgotten. "How dare you insult the princess like that?"

I blinked at her. She was defending me. After everything she said, after calling me stupid and trusting and basically calling me a whore, she was standing up for me.

Atlas clicked his tongue. He settled his hands behind him and leaned back, completely relaxed, like none of this mattered at all. "I didn't see you having an issue when you called your princess a whore."

So they heard it. I was hoping our voices were low enough not to be heard by the third parties. Was this night all about my embarrassment?

He tilted his head up, looking at me through half-lidded eyes. "Should I cut off her tongue for you, dear Princess?"

I hate when he calls me that. Not because I want him to use my name, but because of the way he says it, like the title is a joke, like I'm a joke wearing a crown I don't deserve.

I gave him a stern look, even though he wasn't looking at me. "Mind your business, Atlas."

He hummed again, that same nonchalant sound, not moving an inch. "As you command, Princess." Then his eyes shifted to Anya and something in them went cold. "But for you, lowly maid, I'll tell you once. Watch your tongue when speaking to me. If you weren't a witness, your head would be on the floor right now."

Why does he have to be over bearing? "I suggest you stop this, Atlas. "You've said enough."

He turned those dark eyes on me, slowly. The firelight flickered across his face, making shadows dance where they shouldn't.

"Princess." He said it this time too softly. "I grant only two wishes. And you have used both of them. I suggest you also mind your tongue. Cause I won't mind cutting it off too."

The words landed like stones in my stomach.

Chills ran through my spine, sharp and cold, because I could feel it. The weight of what he was saying. He wasn't joking or threatening to scare me. He meant every single word.

I didn't reply. Couldn't reply. My tongue felt thick in my mouth, useless.

He got up slowly, stretching his arms above his head. "We're riding out of here as early as possible." His voice was normal now, lacking any signs of teasing. "Rest. I'm taking my first watch."

He started walking toward the door, his boots heavy on the wood floor. Boar was already pretending to be asleep. Raven was watching me with an unreadable expression. Anya had pulled her blanket up to her chin, her eyes wide and fixed on Atlas' back.

He reached the door. His hand touched the handle, then he stopped.

He threw a glance over his shoulder, straight at me.

"A word of advice for you." His voice was low, meant only for me even though the whole cabin could hear.

I held my breath.

"You're too trusting."

The fire crackled. The harsh wind beat against the roofs.

"That will kill you.”