Ice and Chains

Ice and Chains
The ache in my wrists settles into a dull throb by the time the door opens.

I lift my head from the pillow and immediately scoot farther back against the headboard. It isn’t even a reaction anymore. I do it because I refuse to let him think I’m settling into this.

Jakko steps inside. His gaze flicks to the chains before settling on me. His hair falls into his eyes, and he flicks it away as he crosses the room.

He sits on the edge of the bed, setting down the new carafe of water and holds out a small cloth pouch. “I brought you something.”

Suspicion twists through me. I eye him, trying to find any malicious intentions in his expression. Surprisingly, I find none, and I reach for it. 

The moment it touches my palms, I freeze. I feel the icy cold, the hard planes of the item within the pouch. 

My eyes widen, and I open the pouch. The fabric is damp, and inside it, I find packed ice. “How?”

My gaze snaps toward the window. The sky beyond the kingdom is clear. There is no snow, not even on the mountains that I can see on the horizon. 

“There are mountains north of here,” Jakko says, pointing to the opposite direction I’m looking at. “When you’re wealthy enough, it’s not difficult to keep ice frozen.”

I look back down at the pouch. The cold seeps into my skin and immediately eases some of the burning in my wrists.

I hate that it feels good. I hate that he had something to do with it. 

“Thank you,” I mutter, even as the words taste bitter in my mouth. 

Jakko studies me for a moment before standing. “I had planned on having dinner with you tonight.”

He moves toward the wardrobe, and the wood creaks as he opens it. My heart quickens in my chest, because it sounds like he won’t be able to. And that sounds better to me. 

“But something came up.”

I press the pouch against my wrists. “What a tragedy.”

A quiet huff leaves him.

I glance up just as he emerges from behind the wardrobe doors. Dark royal robes drape across his broad shoulders. Gold accents catch the fading sunlight streaming through the windows.

Unfortunately, he looks exactly like what he is supposed to be. A king. A very powerful king at that. Handsome in a way that suddenly makes me realize how easy it is for him to make people follow him. 

I can see how he could be intoxicating to some. 

His eyes catch mine. “See something you like?”

I look away, jaw clenching as I mentally scold myself for my betraying thoughts. “No. I was thinking about how insane you are.”

A smile pulls at his mouth. Before he can answer, a knock sounds at the door.

“Enter.”

A guard steps inside and bows. “Your Majesty. The guest king has arrived.”

Jakko nods.

The guard immediately retreats, leaving an echoing silence behind. I let it sit for a beat, chewing on my lip. Curiosity spreads through me like warm soup. 

“A king?”

Jakko adjusts one of his sleeves. “Yes.”

“What king?” I pick at the pouch as I press it to my wrist. 

His expression immediately closes off. “No one you need to concern yourself with.”

My stomach tightens. The dismissal feels deliberate, not just something he throws over his shoulders to get me to be quiet. It feels like he’s hiding something. 

And it only makes me more interested.

Jakko walks toward the door. “I’ll return later.”

His gaze drops to the chains. “Try not to stab anyone while I’m gone.”

Was that a joke? I blink, thrown by the unexpected flash of humor. It sounds so normal coming from him. As if he isn’t the reason I’m chained to this bed in the first place.

The door shuts behind him. I stare at it for exactly three seconds, then I throw myself against the chains. Metal rattles, the headboard banging against the wall. Pain shoots through my shoulders but I still pull harder. 

The cuffs bite into my skin, and still nothing. 

A frustrated sound tears from my throat, and I slam my fists against the mattress. The room echoes with the noise, with my cries of anger, frustration, and absolute helplessness. 

I collapse back onto the bed, breathing hard. For a moment, I close my eyes. The darkness behind them feels wrong. Until a familiar sensation brushes the edge of my mind. 

Whispers begin to fill my ears. Too faint to understand and gone before I can focus on them.

“Are you alright?”

I jerk upright, opening my eyes. Relief crashes through me. “Em.”

I scramble off the bed.

The chain snaps tight before I reach her. Pain shoots through my wrists and I stumble, landing hard on the floor.

Em rushes forward. “My Lady!”

“I’m fine.” 

I’m not really, it hurts, but she’s here. She’s here and that’s all that really matters right now. I grab her hands, trying to find any indication that she’s worse off than she’s letting me know. 

“You weren’t hurt?”

Her expression softens. “No. I’m alright.”

Relief loosens something in my chest. At least one thing hasn’t been ruined.

A commotion outside the window catches my attention. I can make out the rumble of horses and I walk toward the window, as far as the chains let me. 

“What are you doing?” Em asks.

I step closer to the opening. “Jakko said another king arrived.”

The noise outside grows louder. Maybe if I can see who it is—

Suddenly Em crashes into me. The force sends us both tumbling to the floor. “What?”

She scrambles upright immediately, but keeps me down with her hands on my shoulders. Her face is pale, trembling in terror. “Stay away from the window.”

I blink at her. “Why? What’s happening?”

“Please.”

My stomach drops. “Em.”

She shakes her head.

“Em.” I say it more forcefully this time, needing answers. 

Her eyes shine with panic. I try to push myself up, but she still keeps me down. 

“No, my lady. Please stay down.”

“Tell me what’s happening, Em.”

Tears gather in her eyes. “It’s King Kaan.”

The name means nothing and everything all at once. I don’t know him, but her reaction, the terror in her voice sends my stomahc into a violant movement. 

“Stay away from the windows, please.” Her fingers tighten around my shoulders and she smiles softly. “I think I know how to get you out of here.”