I Bought the exiled king (by Natalie Winter) novel Chapter 145

Chapter 145

Valencia

I looked at the King again but he was only staring at the door intently.

“King Aecidus, are you all right?” I gently tried to nudge him but he would not say a word to me.

A

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I was no expert in medicine but a quick check told me he had not suffered any fatal injury during our little

escape.

But his pale face had sunken even further. He had been talking to himself all this while but now he fell silent and was staring aimlessly at the door.

I was feeling tired myself after the awkward haul and part of me just wanted to lie down here and rest.

I wasn’t even afraid of blood and death after seeing the bloodbath in the royal hall.

I was, however, afraid of dying before seeing Kililan again.

I clung to that hope that he was in the dungeons. I would not have to look for him through the forest. He was right here, a few floors below, probably.

That thought alone fueled me with energy to think again. To move my body that just wanted to give up.

‘Not until you find him‘ A voice demanded in my head. And I gritted my teeth, letting out a short, angry bark to pull my shit together.

“Fire” The King mumbled again and that is when it finally clicked.

The door would not open with rocks or blunt force.

So I hastily pulled the torch near the door, holding its flame under the lock. At first nothing happened.

The rusty metal didn’t creak or react to the fire at all. And I worried if the King was going insane and making me do some stupid shit.

I waved the torch around to look for another way out but there was none. Just this door and the steps that led upwards and downwards.

I gulped nervously, wondering how deep the dungeons would be. But then something crackled and the noise pulled me out of my thoughts.

I looked at the door’s lock to see that the metal was melting and the cracks spread through the metal like a fast growing vine.

I lifted a large rock and hit it upon the tiny piece of metal holding everything together. The clang reverberated through the dungeon but the door finally opened and I took a peak inside.

It was a stone room but there was a bed, a hearth and some other furniture, all covered in dust. It definitely

15:25 Wed, Sep 24

Chapter 145

…

was some abandoned room of the castle.

“Quick, get in”

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The King didn’t move at all so I had to haul him up on his feet and make him sleep on the dusty bed that creaked due to his weight.

The King lay without a word, his eyes unfocused and staring at the ceiling.

“Please stay hidden in here. Only try to contact your trusted advisors if you think they will help you.”

I said though I was not sure if he was even listening anymore.

The shock of Martin’s betrayal coupled with the violence afterward must have shaken him bad. Or maybe it was the effect of some medicine.

However, I could not stay with him anymore. I had to find Killian.

“Stay safe” I muttered to the King and gave his hand a gentle squeeze. I hoped he understood.

And I prayed to the Goddess to not let him get hurt while I was away.

He looked at me as if he was seeing me for the first time but then blinked and laid back on the bed again.

I looked at him miserably, wishing I could help him some more but before I would act on it, I turned around and walked outside the room.

I had done everything I could to save him. Now, I had to save the one who really mattered to me.

Holding the torch in one hand and gripping the robe tightly around myself, I stepped into the dungeon again.

I had been with the King all this time so it was unnerving to be all alone in this dark place. I had no idea how deep it was or what awaited me if I were to choose to climb up the stairs.

Probably the castle.

I gulped nervously again and took my first step down the jagged stone steps. A small stone hit my foot and tumbled down the steps, its voice echoing through the large space.

I counted my breaths to stop myself from shaking because I was not sure how long the stone kept falling down until the sound disappeared into the darkness.

The dungeon swallowed sound.

But Killian was here. All alone.

I would not let him stay here all by himself.

So I mustered some courage and started traveling downwards.

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