h's

ng. The guards came once in a while, dropping scraps of food that were barely enough to keep me alive. A piece of old bread

know how much longer I could take it. My whole body ached. The fever brought on strange dreams, visions of my past life, of what co

left for me. No love.

new that I was going to die soon. The thought didn't scare me anymore. In fact, it brought a strange kind of relief. Death woul

me again. I could hear voices in my head, faint and distant. Was i

e metallic scrape of keys. It was quieter, more deliberate, like someone trying to be careful. I

m light of the cellar. His eyes, a striking shade of blue, locked onto mine. I felt my breath catch in my

ice was barely a whi

said softly while taking a step

? I tried to move away from him, crawling backward across the cold stone fl

aid. "You're mistaken. Pl

e didn't want to startle me. "Leah, I know what they have done

nd of trick. "Why should I trust you? Y

I hadn't seen in so long-compassion. "I'm not like them, Leah. My name is Tariq, and

whisper I had heard in a dream. But it di

wrapped around me, catching me just in time. His touch was gentle, careful not to press on my wounds, and for a m

me?" I asked, my voice shaki

darting toward the door. "The guards will notice I'm gone soon, and t

e strength to argue. I didn't have the strength for anything anymore. All I wante

nothing. He moved quickly but quietly, making sure to avoid the patro

the forest surrounded us, fresh and alive, so different from the damp, suffocating ai

er of the trees. His movements were swift and careful, his eyes con

sure I was resting against a soft patch of grass. I winced as my wounds protested the m

, his voice filled with con

had taken hold of me again, making everything blur at the edges. "I... I don't understand," I m

ember yet, but you're meant for something greater than this. Kayden and S

mind. "I'm no queen," I said, my voice t

t. And I promise, I'll help you remember who you tr

my life had been shattered, and now this stranger wa

my throat tight. "I've lost every

it feels like that now," he said softly, his voice filled with emotion. "But you haven't lost

o long, I had believed I was nothing. That I was destined to live in the shadows, to

sked, my voice tremb

cause you're special, Leah. You've always bee

own on me. Could it be true? Could I really be somet

ariq's expression tensed, and he stood up quickly, scanning the area around

eneath me, too weak from the fever and

lifting me into his arms again.

rest, I felt something I hadn't fel