ARIA POV
The door was locked.
I twisted the handle again, harder, but it wouldn't budge. My beautiful bedroom—with its soft bed and silk curtains and golden decorations—was just another cage.
"No, no, no." I rattled the door, fear rising. "Let me out!"
No answer.
I spun around, looking for another route. Windows? I ran to them and pushed. Locked. All of them. And we were three floors up anyway. Jumping would break my legs.
I was stuck.
"This can't be happening." I pressed my face against the cold door. "Kael promised. He said I'd be free."
But here I was. Locked in. Just like Draevon's cage. Just like the auction house holding cell.
Different jail. Same result.
The mate bond hummed in my chest, connecting me to Kael somewhere in this huge palace. I could feel him—distant, busy, worried. But not here. Not with me.
A knock made me jump back.
"Miss Aria?" A female voice called through the door. "I'm coming in with food."
The lock clicked. A lioness in a maid's uniform enters, carrying a tray. She had golden hair and amber eyes that wouldn't meet mine. Behind her, two guards stood in the hallway—making sure I didn't run.
"I don't want food," I said, my voice shaking. "I want to see Kael. Now."
"His Majesty is in talks with the council. " The maid—Rina—set the tray on a table. "He asked me to make sure you're comfortable."
"Comfortable? I'm locked in!"
Rina finally looked at me, and I saw sadness in her eyes. "It's for your safety, miss. The house isn't safe for you right now. Too many aristocrats who... disagree with His Majesty's choice of mate."
"So I'm a prisoner for my own safety? That's nice." I crossed my arms. "What about my brother? Where's Garrett?"
"In the healing room. He's being treated for his injury." She paused. "He's also locked in. For the same reasons."
My anger burst. "Take me to Kael. Right now. Or I'll—"
"You'll what?" Rina's voice turned sharp. "Use your magic? Destroy the palace? Prove to everyone that you're dangerous?" She stepped closer. "Listen carefully, person. Half the court wants you dead. They're looking for any reason to call you a threat and demand your execution. Don't give them one."
Her words hit like ice water. I was so focused on feeling betrayed that I hadn't thought about the real risk.
"How many want me dead?" I asked quietly.
"Most of them." Rina's voice relaxed. "His Majesty is fighting for you. But if you cause trouble, you'll make it hard for him to protect you."
I sank onto the bed, suddenly tired. "So I'm supposed to just... sit here? Like a good little pet?"
"You're supposed to survive." Rina headed for the door. "Eat. Rest. Let His Majesty handle the business. He knows what he's doing."
She left, locking the door behind her.
I stared at the food tray. Roasted meat, fresh bread, fruit. It looked delicious. But my stomach was too twisted with anger and fear to eat.
I walked to the window instead, looking out at the palace grounds below. Human servants moved through the grounds, heads down, silent. Just like in the palace halls. Just like everywhere in this golden nightmare.
Was this my future? Living in a cage, waiting for Kael to decide when I could leave?
A sound made me turn. Scratching. Coming from inside the walls.
I pressed my ear against the stone. Yes—definitely scratching. And sounds.
"—through here—" "—careful, the walls are thin—"
Someone was in the walls. Moving toward my room.
My heart raced. Assassins? Nobles coming to kill me while I was trapped?
I backed away, looking for a weapon. Nothing. Just nice furniture. I grabbed a heavy candlestick—better than nothing.
The scratching got louder. A panel in the wall—one I hadn't noticed—suddenly slid open.
A girl fell out, covered in dust and cobwebs. She looked about seventeen, with brown hair and bright green eyes. Human.
"Finally!" she gasped. "Do you know how hard it is to travel the secret passages? I got lost twice."
I stared. "Who are you?"
"Mira." She grinned. "From the auction house, remember? We were in the cage together."
"Mira!" Relief flooded through me. "How did you get here? Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. The king's guards brought me here too, said I'd be safer in the palace." She brushed dust off her dress. "But that's not important. You need to come with me. Right now."
"Come where?"
"To the secret meeting." She grabbed my hand. "The human helpers are gathering. They want to meet you—the Forgotten One who's going to be queen. They have questions. And warnings."
"Wait—I can't just leave. The door's locked, and—"
"That's why we use the passages." Mira pulled me toward the open panel. "Come on. Unless you want to sit here like a prisoner while everyone else chooses your fate?"
She was right. I was tired of waiting. Tired of being told what to do.
"Lead the way," I said.
We crawled through the tight passage, darkness closing around us. Mira led with firm steps.
"How many servants know about these passages?" I whispered.
"All of us. It's how we survive—by having places the beastmen don't know about." She looked back. "We've been planning for someone like you for years. Someone who could change things."
We turned left, then right, then down a steep hill. Finally, we reached another panel. Mira pushed it open.
Light poured in. We exited into a large underground room. And it was filled with people.
Thirty, forty human workers, all watching me with wide eyes. All wearing the same gray outfits. All looking at me like I was their rescue.
"She's here," Mira announced. "The Forgotten One."
An old guy stepped forward. He had white hair and kind eyes. "Welcome, child. I'm Marcus. I speak for the house servants." He bowed. "We've waited a long time for someone like you."
"We need to know," a woman asked quickly. "Is it true? Are you really going to be queen?"
"I... I don't know. Maybe?"
"Will you help us?" Another voice. "Will you change the laws? Free us?"
"Please," someone else begged. "My daughter was sold last month. Can you bring her back?"
More voices joined in, all asking questions, all begging for help. The crowd pressed closer, and suddenly I couldn't breathe.
"Stop!" I held up my hands. "I can't— I don't have that power! I'm just—"
"You have the king's heart," Marcus said softly. "That's more power than any of us have ever had."
"But I can't make promises! I don't even know if I'm staying!"
Shocked silence.
"You're thinking of leaving?" A young boy asked, his voice small and broken. "But... you're our only hope."
Guilt crashed over me. These people were counting on me. "I need time," I said desperately. "I need to figure out—"
A loud crash echoed through the roof. Shouting. Running sounds.
Mira's face went pale. "They know you're gone."
The panel we'd come through suddenly burst open. Royal guards poured in, guns drawn.
"Nobody move!" the lead guard yelled.
The servants scattered, panicked. Guards grabbed Marcus, pushing him against the wall. He cried out in pain.
"Stop!" I screamed. "Don't hurt him!"
They grabbed Mira, twisting her arm. Another kicked an old man who'd fallen.
"It's her!" one guard pointed at me. "She escaped! His Majesty will—"
A roar shook the entire cellar.
Kael appeared in the doorway, his eyes blazing gold with rage. His lion was right at the surface, barely tamed.
"Release her," he said quietly. Dangerously.
The guards dropped me immediately and bowed. "Your Majesty, she escaped her room and was found with—"
"I said release ALL of them." Kael's speech was pure command. "Now."
The guards obeyed, letting go of every helper.
Kael walked straight to me. His jaw was tight, his fists clenched.
"Aria," he said, his voice forced. "What were you thinking?"
"I was thinking I'm tired of being locked up!" I shot back. "You promised me freedom!"
"I promised you safety!" His voice rose. "Do you have any idea what almost happened? Lady Seraphine just tried to have you murdered! She sent poisoned wine to your room!"
My blood ran cold. "What?" "Rina caught it before you drank it. But if you'd been in the passages? Alone? Vulnerable?" His hands shook. "They would have found your body, and I would have lost you before—" He stopped, breathing hard.
Before what?
"I didn't know," I whispered.
"Exactly. You didn't know." He looked at me, and I saw fear beneath the anger. "That's why I need you to trust me. Please."
But before I could answer, Marcus spoke up.
"Your Majesty, the girl was just trying to meet her people. We asked to see her. This is our fault, not hers."
Kael turned to him. "You're Marcus. Head of the house staff."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Then you know using the secret passages without permission is forbidden."
Marcus lifted his chin. "Yes. And I'd break that rule again if it meant meeting the one who might finally free us."
The cellar went quiet.
Kael looked at Marcus. Then at the staff. Then at me.
"Everyone go back to your posts," Kael finally said. "This meeting never happened. But Marcus? No more secret meetings. If Aria wants to meet with you, we'll arrange it properly. Safely."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Marcus bowed deeply.
The servants filed out, many throwing thankful looks at me. One woman touched my hand briefly, saying, "Thank you for coming."
When they were gone, Kael dismissed the guards. "Wait outside. All of you."
They obeyed reluctantly.
Finally, we were alone in the dusty basement.
Kael turned to face me.
"We need to talk," he said quietly.
And I knew that whatever came next would change everything.