Chapter 22 Chapter 22

Chapter 22 Chapter 22
Ashley
“My lady.”
A soft knock sounded on my door, and I recognized it instantly. Relief rushed through me, I hurried across the room and pulled the door open.
Ethonian stepped in, balancing a tray of food in her hands. She moved quietly, like she always did, and placed the tray on the small table before turning to face me.
“Have you been avoiding me?” I asked right away.
Her brows lifted slightly in surprise, but her gaze quickly dropped to my neck. She stiffened, suddenly aware of the marks I had tried so hard to hide. Lately, I only wore high-necked clothes whenever I stepped out, but inside my room I had been careless.
“No,” she said gently, shaking her head. “Why would I avoid you? I have just been busy, Ashley.”
She gave me a small, tired smile. “You haven’t forgotten I’m a maid, have you? If I don’t complete my duties, I get punished.”
Guilt settled heavily in my chest. “I’m sorry,” I said quietly. “I wasn’t thinking. I have been so caught up in everything happening to me that I didn’t even stop to ask how you have been surviving here.”
The words felt heavy on my tongue. It really had all been about me. “You don’t need to apologize,” she replied, her voice softening. “I understand, you are going through a lot. Anyone in your position would be desperate to get out of here.”
She hesitated for a moment, then stepped a little closer, lowering her voice. “I have been speaking to someone,” she said carefully. “Someone who can help you escape without the king finding out. They can get you somewhere safe.”
My heart leapt instantly. “Really?” I asked, hope lighting up my voice. For a brief moment, everything else faded, the fear, the walls, the constant feeling of being trapped. But just as quickly, reality came crashing back. My hand moved unconsciously to my stomach, the hope in my chest dimmed. I couldn’t leave.
She looked at me, confusion written all over her face. “What’s wrong? You have always wanted to leave. Are you changing your mind?”
I shook my head slowly. I wished I could tell her everything about the baby, about the fear sitting heavy in my chest but something inside me refused to let the words out. Trust didn’t come easily anymore.
“I can’t leave,” I said instead, my voice low. “I have nowhere to go. And the king, he won’t stop looking for me. If I run, he’ll find me.” I let out a weak breath. “This place is already unbearable. I’m barely surviving as it is, and yet he refuses to let me go.”
Ethonian studied me carefully. “Do you want to leave?” she asked. I hesitated. “If you truly want it,” she continued, stepping closer, “then you can leave and he will never find you.”
Her words settled deep, stirring something dangerous inside me. I fell silent, my thoughts pulling me in two different directions.
If I stayed, I knew what awaited me—whispers, jealousy, cruelty from the other women. They wouldn’t stop until they broke me or killed me.
But If I left, I might not survive this pregnancy, just one night with him had changed everything. I could still feel it—his presence, his strength, like it lingered inside me. Since then, there has been no pain, no weakness. My body felt stable and alive. Just like the doctor had said.
I was standing at a crossroads, and either path felt like a risk.
“Look,” Ethonian said softly, leaning closer as if the walls themselves were listening. “If you’re worried about surviving out there, we can go to a witch.”
I frowned slightly. “A witch? How would that help anything?”
A small, knowing smile touched her lips. “You don’t understand how powerful they are,” she said. “Even the king fears them—that’s why he drove most of them away.”
Her voice dropped to a whisper. “We can find one. She can place a protection spell on you, hide you completely. No one would ever find you. And you’d be safe from anything sent after you.”
I swallowed, my thoughts racing. I knew witches were powerful. But I had never seen one, never trusted my fate in their hands.Hope flickered faintly. “Can they help with more than hiding?” I asked, my voice almost breaking. “Can they help someone like me, someone struggling with pregnancy? Can they help me carry this child safely even without my mate?”
“Yes, Ashley,” she said gently. “Do you have any idea how powerful witches are? I can start asking around right away. Before the day ends, you could already have your answers.”
Hope rushed through me so fast it almost hurt. I stepped forward and grabbed her hands tightly, holding on as if she were the only steady thing in my world. “Ethonian, if I can see a witch today, I would be so grateful,” I said, my voice soft but full of emotion. “You are the best friend anyone could ever ask for. You always show up for me, especially when I’m at my worst.”
She shook her head, her eyes glistening. “And you think I have forgotten everything you’ve done for me?” she said. “You stood up for me when no one else would. You never looked down on me, never treated me like I was less. You made me feel human in a place that strips that away.”
Her voice broke slightly. “I will always be there for you, no matter what.”
Tears filled my eyes, and before I knew it, we were both crying. “I know how dangerous it is for you here,” she continued after a moment, her tone turning serious. “The king’s mistresses, they are desperate. They all want his attention , they know he may never find his mate again, but sooner or later, he will have to choose a wife. Every one of them wants to become Luna, to become queen.”
Her gaze flickered to my neck, to the marks I could never fully hide. “If they even suspect he’s interested in you,” she added quietly, “they won’t hesitate. They will get rid of you.”
A chill ran through me. “And the king…” I whispered, my hand instinctively moving to my stomach. “He already threatened to kill my pup after I gave birth.”
Saying it out loud made it feel even more real, more terrifying. “I really need to see that witch today,” I said, my voice trembling slightly. “Thank you, Ethonian. Truly.”
She stepped back, nodding with determination. “I will speak to someone I trust. They will know where to find one.” Then her expression softened with a hint of regret. “I might not be able to go with you. The palace is unpredictable, I could be called at any moment. But the person I send will make sure you get there safely. I promise.”
Before she could say anything else, I threw my arms around her, holding her tightly. “Thank you,” I murmured. “I owe you everything. And I swear, I will survive this. I’ll come back stronger, and when I do, I’m getting you out of this place.”
I pulled back slightly, meeting her eyes with quiet determination. “I promise.”