Chapter 58
Ping's body ached as she slowly regained consciousness. Her wrists were bound with rough rope, her ankles shackled. The cold air bit at her skin, and the damp scent of an unfamiliar place filled her nose. She was in a dark, stone-walled room—some sort of underground prison.
She struggled against her bindings, but they were tight. Her heartbeat pounded in her ears as she tried to piece together what had happened. The last thing she remembered was wandering alone in the woods, trying to clear her mind after running from the palace. Then—voices. Footsteps. Hands grabbing her.
She swallowed hard. Where am I? Who took me?
The door creaked open, and torchlight spilled into the room. A tall figure stepped inside, his boots clicking against the stone floor. His face was partially hidden under a hood, but the smirk on his lips sent chills down her spine.
"Well, well," the man said mockingly. "The lost queen of Mora. How foolish of you to roam alone."
Ping glared at him. "Who are you? What do you want?"
The man chuckled. "I serve someone with a great interest in you. Someone who wants revenge against your dear husband."
Her stomach dropped. Ling.
The man crouched before her, tilting his head. "Do you know how much you're worth, my lady? You're not just a queen—you're the king's greatest weakness."
Ping clenched her fists. "If you think Ling will let you get away with this, you're wrong."
The man laughed. "We're counting on him coming. After all, he has so much to lose."
Ping's blood ran cold. This wasn't just a kidnapping. This was a trap.
And Ling was walking right into it.