A Bond of Hate

Chapter 4

The room fell silent, the weight of the guard's words hanging in the air. Caspian's eyes darkened, as he stood up from his chair, his demeanour shifting to one of cold determination.

"Where?" he asked, his voice low and dangerous.

The guard hesitated, glancing around the room before answering. "At Saint Lupins General Hospital, your Highness."

Caspian was on his feet before the guard had even finished speaking, the chair scraping loudly against the stone floor. Lyle, his advisor, was right behind him, his expression grim. Across the room, Stevie and the young hacker, Henley exchanged concerned looks.

"I'll go check it out," Lyle offered, his voice steady despite the tension in the air.

Caspian shook his head sharply. "No," he interrupted, "I'm going."

"Going where?" I demanded, standing up from my chair, but my question hung in the air, ignored by everyone as if I hadn't spoken at all.

Caspian turned to Lyle. "Have a car organized. Now." Without another word, he strode toward the door, his movements swift and purposeful.

I wasn't about to let him leave me in the dark. I followed him, my guards trailing behind me like shadows, much to my annoyance. "What's happening, Caspian? Why are you going to a hospital?" I demanded, trying to keep up with his long strides.

He didn't even slow down, barely sparing me a glance. "I don't have time to handle you right now, Farryn," he snapped, his tone dismissive.

My blood boiled at the dismissal. I wasn't just some pawn to be shoved aside. "Then I'm coming with you."

That got his attention. He stopped abruptly, turning to face me with a glare that could have frozen the blood in my veins. "No, you aren't," he said, his voice a low growl. "You're to stay your ass in your room until I get back, and don't cause any trouble."

I snorted, crossing my arms over my chest defiantly. "Yeah, as if I'd listen to you."

Caspian stepped closer, towering over me, his expression thunderous. But I didn't flinch. I met his gaze, refusing to let him intimidate me. "That's an order, Farryn," he said, his voice cold and commanding.

I tilted my chin up, glaring right back at him. "f**k your orders," I spat, enunciating each word clearly.

A gasp escaped from one of the guards behind me, but I didn't care. This was a battle of wills, and I wasn't about to let him win. We stared each other down, the tension between us crackling like a live wire.

Then, to my surprise, Caspian smirked, a wicked glint in his eyes. He drew back, looking over my head at the guards. "Escort her back to her room and make sure she stays there," he ordered, his tone dripping with taunting amusement.

My eyes widened in shock as one of the guards, the taller one, placed a hand on my shoulder, preparing to pull me away. I glared at Caspian, fury burning in my chest, but he only looked down at me with a mocking smile before turning on his heel and marching down the hall.

I struggled against the guard's hold, but it was no use. I was dragged back to my room, anger and frustration boiling inside me. Once the door was closed and locked behind me, I paced the room like a caged animal, cursing Caspian to the depths of hell.

"He thinks he can keep me here?" I laughed bitterly, shaking my head. "Think again, asshole."

My eyes scanned the room, searching for a way out. The window caught my attention, and I hurried over, throwing it open and peering down. I was on the third floor—too high to jump. But if I could make it halfway down...

I glanced back at my bed, a plan forming in my mind. Smiling to myself, I grabbed the bed sheets, quickly tying them together into a makeshift rope. I tugged at the knots, testing their strength. They'd hold. Now I just needed something to anchor them to.

I looked around the room, my eyes landing on the small vanity in the corner. It was sturdy enough to hold my weight, especially if I pushed it up against the wall for support. I hurried over, pulling the vanity closer to the window and tying one end of the sheet rope to its leg.

Taking a deep breath, I climbed onto the vanity, sitting on the surface with my legs dangling out the window. The wall would act as an anchor, keeping the vanity in place while I climbed down. I flung the sheets over the edge, measuring the distance.

I cursed under my breath when I realized it only reached halfway. I'd have to jump the rest of the way.

"Here goes nothing," I muttered, saying a quick prayer to whatever god might be listening before I started inching my way down.

The descent was slow, my muscles straining as I held onto the sheets, my feet scrabbling against the rough stone of the castle wall. When I reached the end of the rope, I looked down, judging the distance to the ground. It was a long drop, but I didn't have a choice.

Taking a deep breath, I let go.

I landed hard, a sharp pain shooting up my right ankle as I hit the ground. "f**k!" I hissed through clenched teeth, collapsing onto the grass. My ankle throbbed, but I didn't have time to worry about it. Flexing my foot, I tested my weight on it. It hurt, but not enough to stop me.

Limping slightly, I made my way around the side of the castle, keeping to the shadows. The front courtyard was busy with activity—servants were preparing Caspian's car, loading it up with supplies. He hadn't shown up yet.

Good. I still had time.

I waited until no one was looking, then hurried over to the car, slipping around to the back and opening the trunk. It was a tight fit, but I managed to climb inside, pulling the lid down just as I heard voices approaching.

I held my breath, the sound of my heartbeat pounding in my ears as I listened to the muffled conversation outside. I couldn't make out the words, but I recognized Caspian's voice, sharp and commanding. The car dipped slightly as someone climbed inside, and I braced myself, praying that no one would think to check the trunk.

The engine roared to life, and the car began to move, jostling me around in the confined space. Every bump sent a fresh wave of pain through my ankle, but I gritted my teeth, forcing myself to stay silent.

"f**k, she's everywhere already," I hear Caspian curse. "I even smell her in here."

I couldn't stop the smile from forming even if you paid me.

The journey continued in silence. I didn't know what was happening at Saint Lupins General Hospital, but whatever it was, it had Caspian rattled. And if it was important enough to drag me out of the comfort of my bed and lock me in a room, it was important enough for me to see it with my own eyes.

Whatever was going on, I was going to find out. And I wasn't about to let Caspian or anyone else stop me.