Chapter 18
Abbie POV
The following morning.
I walk out of the billiard room down the corridor, and my eyes light up when I spot Ivy coming toward me. I was about to run to her when I realized the King had come around the corner and was next to her. He has a hold of my hand. Ivy, also noticing me, smiles and moves toward me before freezing, yet my gaze was on the possessive way he gripped her hand as if he was afraid she would run off. Ivy pauses and I frown.
However, the King looked down at her and said something while I waited to see if she was allowed to come to see me. He glances down at her before bringing her hand to his lips. My eyes widen. Why was he being affectionate toward her? My breath lodged in my throat as worry courses through me for her. Surely, he isn’t forcing her to be his sex slave. The thought horrified me. I know it happens, but she was my Ivy. I don’t know if I could live with knowing she was suffering like that.
The guards didn’t even bat an eyelash at his outrageous affections toward her as if they expected, yet whatever he said had her rushing over to me. Her body crashed against mine as she embraced me, and I squeezed her tight. It felt as if it had been ages since I last saw her.
Upon colliding against her, a sob burst from my lips as I smother her in my hug. The relief I felt upon realizing she was okay, or as okay as she could be given her situation, was as if a weight had lifted. Ivy squeezes tight, proving she missed me just as much as I missed her.
Pulling away, I see tears streaking down her face and I wipe her tears, and she wipes mine. “I was so worried when I didn’t see you for a few days; I thought they got rid of you,” I murmur, remembering to keep my voice out of earshot.
I didn’t want to see her punished for my words, and I also didn’t want to be reprimanded before holding me at arm’s length. I glanced over at her, looking for lash marks or bruises, but I found none. She appeared to be okay.
“Where is your uniform?” I ask her, noticing she wasn’t wearing the usual staff uniform all the servants here wore.
“I have to go with the King somewhere. He told me to wear them,” she says, and my brows furrow. Wait, where is he taking her?! glance over at the King to find him talking to his guards and Clarice. Panic made me worry she had done something wrong. Was he shunning her from the castle or selling her? I felt my stomach pool with dread at the possibilities.
“You’re leaving the castle?” I asked, unable to keep the panic sound in my voice. Ivy glances over her shoulder at the King before looking back at me, and she nods her head.
“But you’re coming back, right?” I ask. I feel the blood run from my face. And I glance down at my clothes again. If he was getting rid of her, I wanted to go with her. I don’t want to remain here without her. We had a pact. Ivy is all I have left, and I refuse to go on without her. I couldn’t. She is the only reason I didn’t kill myself. The goddess knows how I tried to end it. If it weren’t for her, I would have.
“Yes, I will bring her back, Abbie,” the King says, pulling me from my thoughts, and I quickly straighten just as Mrs. Daley taught us, making sure not to meet his gaze. I give a little curtsey, not wanting to be whipped for disrespect, and turn my neck in submission
“It’s time to leave,” the King says, leaning down next to her and placing his hand on her hip. My eyes dart to his hand before going to lvy. Wondering if she was okay when he suddenly pulled her away from me and toward the guards at the end of the hall.
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