Lorkana by Emily Zimmerman. (free e books to read TXT) 📕

only heard bits and pieces, but I was able to make out things like “she doesn’t deserve this” from William, and “she couldn’t be trusted” from the king.
I pulled on the binds that held my hands to the wall, and in the process my foot kicked a tray, making a loud clattering sound and making the argument stop. William entered first, but the king quickly followed.
“Where is Logan? What have you done with him?” I didn’t know why, but I was suddenly worried about his safety, knowing they’d done something, but not knowing what.
William opened his mouth but Labara stopped him, an evil smile touching the corner of his mouth “he’s been taken care of. As you can understand, he couldn’t be trusted”
I lowered my eyebrows, not quite understanding what he meant by “taken care of.”
“What do you mean…taken care of?”
“He’s dead” the king shrugged.
And that’s when my entire world came crashing down on me. Prince William opened his mouth again but I saw the king’s hand tighten on his shoulder. My mouth was open, eyes wide, tears flowing freely. I couldn’t say anything.
“No…no. No!” It slowly turned into a shriek, my breathing was shallow, and I felt lightheaded.
Labara dragged his son out of the room, leaving me to grieve.
“No, please God no! No, no” I repeated, sobbing uncontrollably. I felt like my heart just ripped into pieces, and I had no meaning to live anymore.
Chapter twelve:

I sat, hands bound, head hanging low. I was only letting out quiet whimpers now, but I had fallen apart. King Labara paced in front of me, obviously getting impatient “your people have disappeared from the kingdom. Are you not worried for them? Do you not rule them?” he asked me.
I didn’t answer, my lips were numb, and I had no reason to use my voice, I had no reason to eat, to sleep, or to even keep breathing. My heart beat painfully in my chest, as if it too, didn’t see the reason in my being alive.
“Listen to me! If you don’t tell me where your people were taken, I will be forced to take drastic measures” he threatened, grabbing my hair and pulling my face up to look at him.
I stared at him in pure hate “go ahead then. Kill me, do what you want. I could care less. My people are with trusted brothers and sisters, they are safe” my voice was without emotion, dead.
He studied my eyes and then let out a disgusted snort “all this because one man was killed. You are weak!” he scowled.
I couldn’t care less that my arms throbbed so badly I thought they’d fall off. I couldn’t care less that he was insulting me. I was empty, my other half was gone, and I was without a whole.
They had cut my dress so it was only a few inches below my bottom, a form of torture. It got cold at night, but, unknown to them; William came every night with a blanket for me.
The king grunted and finally left. I was left alone to stare at the cell door, still hoping Logan would come to my rescue…he never did.
Almost an hour later, as the air started to get colder, William came in with a blanket folded over his arm. He didn’t speak, but guilt flowed from him like tidal waves.
We never spoke to each other; he just untied me, settled the blanket in my lap and sat beside me. I wouldn’t speak, and he accepted that.
I rubbed my wrists, staring blankly at the red, angry looking burns from the rope.
“Johanna…I’m so sorry” he whispered.
I looked up, he didn’t seem to be saying that he was sorry for the reason I thought he was. He suddenly leaned over and pressed his lips to mine. Before I could push away, he pulled away. I had no idea what to say, I was filled with all these conflicting emotions. Pain, guilt, and…desire?
“I’m sorry…I know that was uncalled for” he whispered.
“Then why did you do it?” I couldn’t help it, it was the first question that came to mind.
“Because…” he trailed off, glancing at me with that strange look again.
“Because…?” I held up my hands for an explanation.
“Gah! I don’t know!” he sighed.
I nodded “okay. Then let’s leave it at that” I drew my knees up to my chest and wrapped my arms around my legs.
He hesitated before whispering “Logan…loved you very much.”
I stiffened and balled my hands into fists, squeezing my eyes shut.
“I take it you loved him back”
“Our love is not something I’d like to talk about” I managed to whisper.
“Please…I need to know.” He whispered back.
“Why do you care? Why does it matter to you that we were both ready to die for each other? That we were planning to get married, to have children…why does it matter to you? I’ve lost my one and only love and…and you are trying to make me speak of him!” I was crying again.
He pulled me into his side and tucked my head into his chest “that was all I needed to know. I’m sorry” he murmured.

A few hours later, after a short nap, William tied me back up with an apologetic grimace. He took the blanket and, for the first time, kissed the top of my head. He left the room, and a few minutes later, my stomach growled. I hadn’t eaten since they put me in here, and my stomach was being stubborn.
I sat staring at the door, waiting for the tray of food that I wasn’t able to eat; another form of torture. This time, a woman came in, instead of the regular guard. She looked around uneasily and set my tray in front of me. She looked around again, sat down, and picked up a piece of bread that sat there waiting for me. I knew her, she was familiar, but where had I seen her before?
“My queen, you are getting thinner by the minute” she said softly, lifting the bread to my lips. My eyes widened and I almost choked on the bread. I worked to chew and swallow. This was one of the servants who served me food at the kingdom of wolves.
“Liberty! What are you doing here?” I hissed softly.
“I followed you and Logan, and then impersonated one of the servants. The guard was easy to persuade. I told him I was under orders by Kind Labara and Queen Yuma to deliver the food, and he just nodded and let me go” she lifted an apple wedge to my lips and I eagerly ate it, sighing in relief.
“Thank you…but this is very dangerous. You could be hurt, Liberty” I scolded.
“My queen, I would give my life if it meant you would still be alive” she proclaimed, lifting an orange slice to my lips.
A tear slid down my cheek and I smiled slightly.
“Oh! William wanted me to give you this…he said that he would be back tonight” she clipped my hair back with the hairpiece that I had thought was lost.
“Thank you. Now you should go, before they catch you! Leave the rest of the food, if it’s gone they would surely ask questions” I murmured.
She nodded, bowed her head, and left.
I sat in silence once again, staring up at the ceiling. I closed my eyes, only meaning to rest them, but I ended up falling asleep instead.

I awoke to the sound of the cell door opening. I opened my eyes to find William standing there; he had the blanket draped over his arm. He nodded in greeting. “Johanna.” He murmured.
I nodded back. “Hello William.” I whispered.
He sat beside me and draped the blanket over my legs, untying me from my binds. I stared down at the angry welts again, they’d gotten worse. “Johanna, I know this is hard for you, but I need to ask one more question about Logan.”
The hand that I was examining tightened into a fist I got a sharp stab of pain in my hollow heart. “I don’t know if I can do this.” I whispered.
“I know. But this needs to be said. There are legends of the rarity of a mate in your kind. It’s said that your kind only ever get a mate once or twice every hundred years or so.” William said. “So my question is, were you two…mated?”
I stared at the gate across the room, my eyes pooling with tears. “I-“ I paused, my heart constricted painfully in my chest, my throat closed over and I closed my eyes. “Yes…we were mates.” I said, swallowing the lump in my throat.
William was silent, and I couldn’t speak anymore. I was overwhelmed, yet again, with the realization that I would never see Logan again. My sweet, white haired, silver eyed prince charming that I loved so much was gone.
My head fell into my hands and I choked on a sob. William rubbed my back, probably not sure what to say. “What am I going to tell Vivia? Or Demetrio? Oh God, they’ll be devastated.” I realized.
“Who are they?” William asked.
“Demetrio and Vivia are Logan’s brother and sister.” I said.
“He has siblings?”
I nodded. “Yeah. Vivia, Logan and Demetrio were like my father’s children. Before I came Logan was heir to the throne.”
William nodded once.
“William, I can’t see my life without him.” I admitted softly.
In the corner of my eye I saw Williams head snap in my direction. “Don’t ever say that!” he said fiercely.
I looked over at him in surprise; he was staring at me with hard, desperate eyes. “You’ll be alright. I’m going to get you out of this, I promise you.”
I looked back down at my hands as a new wave of sadness flowed through me. He reminded me of me when Logan had told me he didn’t think he’d make it. I knew how Logan felt now, why he was so calm, he didn’t want to die, but he knew he couldn’t stop it.
For me it was the opposite, I wanted to be with Logan again, and I was glad I couldn’t stop it. I was calm because I’d accepted it; I wasn’t going to live without Logan.
“Johanna, listen to me. You won’t die; think about Logan, this isn’t what he would have wanted.” William cupped my face in his hands and turned my head so I stared into his eyes. I’d been this desperate with Logan…but that was because I loved him, I couldn’t stand the thought-
I gasped and in an instant I was away from William, across the room against the wall. It all made sense, the strange way he stared at me, the kiss, why he’d brought a blanket every night to keep me warm. “You love me.” I whispered.
He stared into my eyes, not moving from across the room. “Inconveniently, I do.” He said, sighing.
He was right, it