"No! You will listen to me this time, Skye. There is no way you are marrying him. Never!" her father's voice thundered echoing through the damp cell walls, the thought of it alone angered him.
Skye flinched at his tone but held her ground. She couldn't blame him for reacting this way. But still, the truth weighed heavily on her chest. This was the only way.
"Father, please—"
"No!" King Alexander snapped, pacing the narrow space "I would rather die on my knees than watch my daughter chained to that monster."
She swallowed hard. "And if you die, what happens to Gumstom? What happens to our people? He'll slaughter them, Father. You know he will." she argued wanting him to see reason.
His steps faltered. He turned to face her, he was angry she was even considered this "Do you think sacrificing yourself will change that? Do you think a man like Zed Laskaris will stop once he has what he wants? He is not a husband Skye, he is a conqueror. He will consume you as he consumes kingdoms." He warned, everything about the Prince screamed danger, he could not give his only precious child to him.
"Then let him take me instead of them. Let him destroy me if it means our people survive." She said as tears stung her eyes.
His angry expression cracked, and for a moment she saw not the king but her father. The man who had once carried her on his shoulders through the palace gardens, who had sworn he would always protect her. "Skye… you are all I have left. I will not hand you over like some pawn in a game of power."
"Father, I put us here," she whispered, guilt twisting her stomach. "If I had kept quiet in the throne room, if I hadn't spoken out—"
He crossed the room in two strides, gripping her shoulders. "No Skye, You defended my honor and that of te kingdom, like a true ruler would, That is no sin." His voice softened but remained firm. "The problem is him, not you. And I will not let my daughter suffer for his cruelty."
"But if we do nothing, he will kill all of us," she insisted, her voice breaking. "If marrying him means Gumstom will be safe, then so be it" She added
Alexander's eyes glistened with unshed tears, and clenched his jaw "You will never marry that man. Do you hear me? Not while I still draw breath."
Silence fell between them, it felt suffocating. The torches flickered in the hallway beyond the cell. Skye lowered her gaze, heart torn in two between her duty to her people and the love her father unwilling to let her go.
But she knew what she had to do. She stared at her father hopeless, she knew he would never agree, but even if she refused to marry Prince Zed, he could still take over their kingdom and have her if he wanted.
Later that night…
The same guard that brought her last time, brought her once again to Prince Zed's chambers
The door creaked open and Skye stiffened. She didn't need to be told who it was. His presence filled the room long before his voice did.
"Has your father made a decision?" Zed asked, his tone smooth but laced with impatience.
"He refuses to let me marry you." Skye said lowered her eyes unable to meet his.
Zed chuckled, a low dark chuckle that lacked humour, the sound making her stomach twist. Without warning, he hurled a dagger across the room. It struck the wall sticking to it. The dagger had been so close that the air from it brushed her cheek. She froze, heart pounding in her chest.
"Then I suppose I'll behead you all tomorrow and take your kingdom anyway," he said calmly, like this was an everyday conversation.
"Please," Skye blurted, her voice breaking. "I'll try to convince him."
She heard his boots against the ground as he approached. Her instinct screamed to step back, but she forced herself to stay still. His slender pale finger tilted her chin upward, forcing her gaze to meet his.
"Even if you fail," He said, voice steady "I will still have you."
His words made her chest tighten, not from longing but from terror. How could someone sound so certain, so absolute?
He released her and turned toward the door, leaving her in the room.
Skye stood there in silence wondering what her fate would be. The silence was broken by a grunt. Skye turned to see Pharian, the strange man who had appeared the day before and he was struggling to pull the dagger from the wall.
"Who are you?" she asked, fear and confusion lingering in her eyes.
He gave her a half-smile. "I told you. I'm your friend. Pharian." He said as he yanked the blade free and cheered himself.
"We are not friends," she said firmly.
"How cold," he scoffed, stepping closer. "You are a Princess, I am not a Princess. What else?" He mostly asked himself.
"Does Zed know you exist?" She asked, wondering if she was speaking to a ghost.
"He wishes I didn't," Pharian replied with a laugh, though for a moment a sad look came on his face but it disappeared as quickly as it came.
"Sorry," she murmured, though she did not fully understand, the statement he had made was sad.
"Don't worry. It is nothing," he said, his smile softer than Zed's, but still unsettling.
"If you are truly my friend, Pharian, help me and my father escape," she urged hoping to take advantage of the situation.
Pharian laughed at how clever she was before he shook his head. "Zed would have my head. I don't interfere in his business or I will truly cease to exist "
Her heart sank at the statement.
She noticed something, Pharian never referred to Zed as Prince, nor any title of respect. She opened her mouth to ask why, but he was already gone.
The door creaked, and Zed stepped back in. His gaze swept over her.
"You're still here? I thought you'd be halfway to convincing your father," he mocked.
"I have," Skye lied, raising her head trying to show she was not too intimidated. "He has agreed."
The smile that spread across Zed's face was the most terrifying she had ever seen making her regret her words.