I Bought the exiled king (by Natalie Winter) novel Chapter 149

Chapter 149

Valencia

I pressed my forehead to the bars, trying to close the impossible distance, trying to force the universe to give me just one inch more. His breath fanned against my skin, so close, so far.

“Val…” He whispered my name like it was both a vow and a curse. His hands clenched on the chain, pulling hard enough that the cuffs scraped his wrists raw. But still, he didn’t break.

The sound of boots echoed faintly from somewhere down the hall. The chaos above was shifting, spreading, and soon this place would no longer be hidden.

He saw me flinch at the sound, and his tone hardened. “There isn’t time. Listen to me.”

“No, why do I think you are lying to me just to save me from death?” I cried out, but the fight was draining from me, replaced by helpless trembling.

“I am not lying to you.” He caught my gaze and held it until I felt pinned to the earth. “Keep going to your left. Go to the infirmary in the temple. Find Mary. Tell her to move the King to the lower ward–beneath the temple. Tell her to lock it, to let no one in but you. Then go to the east guard post. Torv keeps the steward’s keys on his belt. There’s a potion, a herb that can calm me. Only he knows where it’s kept. Find it and secure it. With that, I might have a chance. When in doubt, choose left.”

Infirmary. Temple. Mary. Left.

He had said a lot in a few seconds and he seemed to be in unbearable pain.

“Promise me I will see you again” I demanded, holding my palm outstretched in front of him.

But behind us the sound of the boots scraping against the rocks grew closer.

Killian snarled, the sound ripping from deep within his chest. “Val, go! Hurry!”

I staggered back a step, torn in two. My body screamed to stay, to fight, to claw at the bars until I freed him. Dread took root in my head, telling me that he had not promised me.

I feared he was just sending me on a goose chase to keep me safe,

But my mind whispered that if I didn’t move, we’d both be caught–and neither of us would stand a chance.

My hand pressed to the cold iron one last time. “I’ll come back for you,” I swore, voice shaking but fierce.

His burning gaze followed me as I turned, torch in hand, sprinting into the choking dark.

Behind me, his howl rose again. It was louder, wilder, shaking the very stones beneath my feet.

And I didn’t know if it was a promise of survival or a warning that the chains wouldn’t hold much longer.

But I was determined to get that potion and find this guard. Killian had given me a purpose that allowed me

Chapter 149

to think clearly.

Infirmary. Mary. Potion.

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I repeated those words in my head like a mantra, chanting it over and over as I began tracing my way back up.

The King had led me inside through a secret tunnel but I doubted I would be able to find it. And even if I did, I would end up in that royal hall that had become a massacre spot.

I had to find another way to move out undetected.

Only one torch was burning right now but that was enough for me. I grabbed it and began feeling the walls. around me to ascertain which way to move ahead.

There were several paths ahead of me and all of them looked dark and ominous.

‘Keep going left‘ Killian had said.

So I began advancing through the leftmost tunnel.

The stone tasted of old breath and to my astonishment the reeking smell of human waste and rot was less

here.

My lungs thanked me as I took in the damp air. It was still heavy, but the only smell was of moss and dirt.

1 shone my torch ahead and noticed that the only things lying ahead in my path were stones and moss. There was no sign of blood, bones or anything else.

Some confidence seeped into me as I thanked the heavens for showing me the right path. Some part of me also wondered how the King had sent me through that dirty road but Killian was aware of this safer, cleaner

route.

That little seed of hope took root inside my heart once again, burying tiself deep in me.

I continued to advance slowly and carefully.

Occasionally I would still hear the shouts and screams but I kept repeating myself that Killian would be okay.

The dungeon stair steepened until the torchlight became a thin ribbon, swallowing most things whole. I hugged the wall and willed my body to keep moving. Every nerve was raw with the weight of what I’d promised.

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