by RJ Metcalf
Weston rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m sorry if I caused offense.”
She stopped still and shoved a piece of her hair behind her ear, not meeting his gaze. “You were right to question. I cannot fault you for that.”
“But you fault me nonetheless.” He pointed out, irony tinging his words. “Don’t deny that I hit a nerve.”
“Fine. You hit a nerve.” Abigail bit out. “Back home, it’s common place for our society to have blood-bonded. We have strict rules for those who have the bond and harsh punishments for those who disobey. It’s unthinkable that anyone born since the barrier went up would be bonded. That is the old way. We don’t enslave.” She waved her hand, rolling her wrist as she had before when manipulating water. Weston rocked a step back, and she clenched her fist, letting it drop. “For you to ask if I’ve been bonded is a slap in the face. We don’t allow Void Born in our land, as they are part of the problem; it’s with their blood that that bond can be made, and due to that, we will never allow them to stay within our borders.”
Weston’s heart sank from his chest to his toes. The odds of them being willing to let Raine go were suddenly slimmer than he’d envisioned.
Abigail huffed a sigh. “I need to go speak to my father about Advisor Kaius.” She graced him with the barest of nods before turning on her heel.
He stared after her, head spinning.
Chapter Forty
Jade
She was right back in a gilded cage. Almost worse than before, and she had no one to blame but herself.
Jade paced the length of the pale blue settee in her new room and shook her head at her reflection in the mirror over the cushion. “No. I’m not going to stay trapped in here forever.”
“It’s not forever,” Weston retorted. He rubbed the back of his neck. “It’s for only a few days.” He waved a hand at Zak. “You understand, don’t you?”
Jade turned around to face the two guys and crossed her arms. Zaborah and Niles kept silent watch of the argument from the relative safety of the Compatibility game table, both of them glancing up occasionally, but neither so much as making a peep. Jade focused on where Zak perched on the edge of a deep blue couch. “You don’t really think I should stay in here, do you?”
Zak pulled his knee up to his chest and rested his arm around it. “I agree that you should be out of the public view for a bit, but not completely.” He raised a hand, as if he could sense the electric frustration building up in her. “I think you should do as you wanted: clear Francene’s name, if at all possible, and continue working for our people.”
She grinned at Weston smugly.
Zak continued, “I also think you should be cautious, and not be in the public eye too much.”
Jade deflated. “What?” She stared at Zak. “Seriously?”
“Until we find the assassin who took out Everett, yes. We know there were at least three assassins, including the one that tried to off him”—Zak hitched a thumb toward Weston—”so we need to take your security seriously.”
Weston winced, and had the good sense to look abashed. “I just want to do whatever I can to keep you safe. Now that we know there’s been Void Born and blood-bonded all over the palace, who knows where is safe, or who is safe?” He scuffed his boot against a white tile. “And, again, I really am sorry about last night, I––”
“No.” Jade interrupted. She stared down at her feet, then moved to sit next to Zak. She sighed and patted the couch cushion next to her. “I owe you an apology. I overreacted, and I know you’ve made changes in your life, yet I threw everything back in your face, and on the worst possible night to do so.” Her cheeks burned as she hunched her shoulders. “I was unforgivably rude.”
Weston snorted. “You spoke your mind.”
Jade picked at her skirt. He was being far too gracious to her. “I’m still sorry.”
“Forgiven.” Weston leaned back on the couch and tilted his head back to look at Zak. “I don’t care what you do, just keep her safe. I don’t know if the assassin was just after my family or any other leaders.”
Zak gave Weston a somber nod. “You have my word.”
“No, no, no.” Jade pushed off the couch and returned to pacing. “I’m here for a reason. I’m here to make a statement that I, Doldra’s princess, still trust Aerugo and the protection you have.” She faced Weston directly. “I can’t help you in that way if you two insist on hiding me in some corner.”
Weston blinked, pulling back. “You’re risking yourself––”
“I’m not risking anything more than I would when out on the run, facing whatever is out there,” Jade waved a hand in what she hoped was a northerly direction—where the barrier had once been. Being cooped up without many windows was affecting her sense of direction. “If I’d left last night, I would be facing a lot more dangers—many of which would be unknown—compared to what we know to expect here.” She leveled a finger at his face and tried to contain her smirk as his eyes crossed. “I’m not the Doldra representative, but I’m still important enough that I know that my running would look bad for Doldra and Aerugo. And I’m not going to do that.”
Silence settled on them for a long minute until Zak’s shoulders heaved with a sigh, and he gave Weston a wry grin. “She’s right, you know.”
Weston didn’t respond. He hunched forward on the couch, pressing his fingers to his lips as he thought. Finally, he dropped his hands and looked up at her. “OK. Fine. You do your own thing. Just … be careful.” His eyes got bigger, pleading. “Stay in the palace for now, at least? Until Francene is cleared?”
Jade glanced at Zaborah and Zak, waiting for their affirmations before nodding. “I can do that. And has there been any word on her?”
Weston tugged the wrinkles out of his vest and scooted to sit on the edge of the seat. “Two of Francene’s employees have turned up dead, and to call her furious right now would be the understatement of the century.” He shook his head. “She has a solid alibi with several witnesses, so I think General Titus will be content to release her soon.”
Jade sighed. There was practically nothing for her to do to help Francene, apparently, and though she’d gotten Zak and Weston to see her perspective, there still wasn’t much she could do to help, aside from be seen as trusting Aerugo. And even with that, there were likely to be some sort of inane security measures whenever she’d leave her room. She had to grudgingly admit that their concern for her safety was well-grounded, but what could she do?
“Sorry, Jade, but I need to go,” Weston’s voice was apologetic. “I need to talk with my mother before the next Summit meeting. We need to discuss the … funeral arrangements.”
She turned and took in his bowed head and curved shoulders and she set aside her frustration for a moment to reach out to him. Her relationship with her father had been different than his with Everett, but they both shared that loss. “Of course. And if we can somehow help with that, let us know.”
He gave a soft smile as he nodded and motioned to Niles, who rose, moving one more tile on the Compatibility board before walking out the door before the prince.
Zaborah stared at the board, her mouth ajar. “I never expected that meat-head to be so good at strategy!”
Jade flopped on the couch next to where Zak still perched on the edge, and she groaned as her corset dug into her skin. She straightened enough to breathe and grabbed the pillow next to her, ruthlessly twisting the tassels.
“So. What’d the pillow do to you?” Zak nudged her shoulder with his knee.
“I don’t know what else I can do here.” Jade bumped her head against the back of the couch. “I know that my being here is good for appearances and trying to unify the nations with them trusting Aerugo and all that, but I thought I’d also be help in some other way. Something active. I thought I’d be able to help Francene clear her name, but that’s apparently well underway. I––I’m useless here, and I’m useless out there!” Jade flailed her hands. “I don’t know what I’m doing.”
Zak hummed to himself and reached out, gently toying with her hair. She relaxed at his touch. A small grin touched Zak’s eyes. “Well, at least––”
The door banged open, and he pushed Jade into the couch as he drew his sword. She heard the thud of what she hoped was Zaborah’s chair falling over. Jade flung the pillow to the floor and twisted look over her shoulder. Zaborah stood, sword tip at Brandon’s throat, his hands up.
“Brandon?” Zak didn’t lower his blade. “What’s wrong?”
Brandon’s gaze shifted to Jade and his eyes widened. “So you did stay.”
Jade scooted further back on the couch. What was his deal, barging in like that? “Yes.”
Zaborah huffed and sheathed her sword. “Whales, we were ready to skewer you. Don’t go bursting into places. We thought you were some assassin!”
Brandon stalked forward and brushed past Zak to glare down at Jade. “I warned you so you’d escape, not stay like you have a death wish!”
Done. She was so done.
Jade stumbled off the couch and let her skirts untwist on their own. She glowered at Brandon. “I make my own choices, thank you very much. And while we appreciate the forewarning, I’m staying. My father gave his life to protect Terrene, and I’m not about to waste that sacrifice by turning my back on our people when I can help here!”
“Oh really? What do you hope to accomplish by staying here?” Brandon challenged.
She glared up at him. “If I’d run, I would’ve shown that Doldra doesn’t trust Aerugo to keep me safe. My presence proves our trust in Aerugo, and that the nations can unify.”
A flash of surprise glimmered in Brandon’s eyes, and he rubbed his jaw. “That’s a fair point, yes. And I’ll grant that it’s important. But I don’t want to risk your safety.”
Her stomach tightened, and she threw her hands up in the air. “My safety! Everyone is concerned about my safety! Has everyone forgotten that the barrier is down? That all of us are in danger? It’s more than just me. I’m not some helpless princess. We have bigger problems at hand than just some stupid assassin!”
She caught a glimpse of Zak dropping his face into his hand in the corner of her eyes, and she ignored his reaction to focus on Brandon’s unimpressed scowl. Jade folded her arms. “I want to help protect everyone that I can.”
“Oh?” Brandon cocked his head to the side. “How are you going to do that?”
She grimaced. “I’m going to … help.”
“How?” Brandon braced his hands on the back of the couch and leaned forward. “By putting yourself out there, where someone can kill you? By marrying Weston to unify the kingdoms? By doing what, exactly?” He spun away, shoving both hands in his hair.
She pushed her lips together, trying to keep them from trembling. Her entire body shook.
Brandon turned on his heel to point at her. “I’m trying to protect you, Ad––Jade. Why can’t you see that? I want you to have the life that I didn’t.”
Zak’s warm hand slipped into hers. “Brandon. We’ll do everything we can to keep her safe. You know that.” Zak narrowed his eyes until they were green slits. “Instead of berating a choice already made, how about you give some useful suggestions.”
She squeezed Zak’s hand, unable to form words, but thankful for his support.
Brandon’s accusatory finger dropped, and he stood there, almost awkwardly, unable to look her in the eye all of a sudden. He scratched the back of his neck. “You plan to stay then?”
Jade lifted her head, tilting in like Francene had trained her, and as she’d seen Violet do when scolding someone. “Indeed. And if you possess any constructive ideas instead of useless criticism, I would be interested to hear what you have to say.”
She could feel the slight hitch in Zak’s breathing through their touching arms, and she glanced up out of the corner of her eye to catch his suppressed smile. His thumb rubbed circles on her knuckles.
Brandon’s brow furrowed. “I’ll have to think on it.” He hesitated. “We could use someone to organize the supplies for the refugees. Maybe that’s something you can do?”
That sounded boring, but it was something she knew how to do, thanks to Aunt Garnet’s management of the Sapphire. And it would be something that she could likely do inside, out of the public eye, appeasing both Zak and Weston, let alone Brandon. Maybe she’d send a letter to Aunt Garnet and Grandmother Ellie, ask one of them return to the palace to help her.
“I’ll think on it,” Jade replied, her voice cool. “Is there anything else?”
“Ah, no.” Brandon’s gaze shifted to Zak, then away. “I’ll leave you be.”
Jade watched him leave, her nerves jingling under her skin. She didn’t wait for the door to fully close before she spun away, taking deep purifying breaths, trying to blow out some of the frustration that clouded her head. “Zaborah, please lock the door. I really want to avoid any more unplanned interactions with people right now.”
Zaborah nodded and after she locked the door, she leaned against it with a small smirk playing at her lips. “Quite the show there, Your Highness.”
“Zab,” Zak’s tone held a note of warning to it.
Jade waved a hand between them, ignoring Zaborah. “Zak, how do you feel about the refugee idea?”
Zak tapped his fingertips against his sword hilt, his expression thoughtful. “It’s not a bad idea. I would expect there’d be plenty you could do both inside and outside, and you can start on the indoor paperwork aspect now, then do everything outdoors when the dust has settled.”
Or when the Elph armies have wiped us all out. But Jade let that thought go unspoken.
What did the refugees need? How could she help them? “I need some paper,” Jade announced. “I know what I’m going to do.”
Chapter Forty-One
Raine
Raine sat on the bed, legs drawn up against her chest, chin on her knees, staring across the small cell at Lynx. He’d fallen asleep sitting up again. He’d consistently insisted on her taking the bed each night, and then he’d sit by the curtained door, silently guarding her with his presence there. No one had come in to bother her, and Holden seemed perfectly content right now in letting Lynx “keep” her. Whether it was a ploy to lull her into a false sense of security, or whether Lynx genuinely meant to make her feel safe, she didn’t know. The sense of security was long gone before she’d ever come here.
But that had nothing to do with Lynx. He’d behaved honorably with her thus far, and, deep down, when she was honest with herself, she was certain that this was the same man that Ben had spoken of before. Even so, she hesitated. Did she dare trust Lynx? Or, Andre, as he’d told her his name really was? What a man behaved like at a palace could be radically different than in a prison.
She had trusted Simon—albeit hesitantly—and that only brought her a world of pain and hurt.
Ben, she’d trusted.
Too little, too late.
Raine growled deep in her throat, willing away the tears that welled up in her eyes. This was going to be a problem, rooming with Andre. He constantly made her think of Ben. Her missing Ben had been buried under stress and survival, and now that sorrow was uncovered—an open wound weeping fresh blood at the slightest thought and whim.
Someone dropped something in the cavern beyond, and the men out there laughed heartily as someone else swore. Raine flinched, the sound of that thump resonating in her head. So similar to the memory of the soldier dropping Papa.
How hard had he hit Papa? Was Papa alive? Were any of them still alive?
Now the tears came in earnest.
They’d tried so hard and failed so badly. They let all of southern Terrene down. And now the team was, at best, splintered apart, and she was doomed to live and die in the mine. Or, at worst, she was the only one still alive.
She choked on a sob and Andre stirred. He opened one eye, looked at her, and straightened. His lips pressed into a thin line as he rubbed his fist on his sternum. “Sorry. I not
have handkerchief.”
She scrubbed at her eyes with the cleanest hem of her shirt, a broken laugh escaping her lips. “Can you imagine how refined this place would be if they started giving handkerchiefs out to pit winners?”
Andre huffed a small laugh. He stiffened and scrambled to his feet, turning to face the curtain door. Holden pulled it back, the filthy fabric bunched in his tattooed fist. He gave Andre a hard nod then fixed a sharp smile at Raine. “Guess what, She-Bear?”
Raine forced her spine to stay straight and not shrink back. By all appearances, Lynx appeared calm, yet he held a hand braced against the floor, as if ready to jump up and intervene if needed.
She lifted her chin, letting her words sound braver than she felt. “What’s that?”
“I have a present for you.” Holden leaned against the door frame, eying her with a smug grin as he rotated his arm, letting her see a new spread of reddened skin and ink. “I arranged for you to have a chance for revenge.”
Raine held her breath, not sure if she dared to hope she understood Holden. “What do you mean?”
Holden smirked. “Simon. And as for how, that’s for me to know. You just do what you need, so you can get your fighting spirit back. I didn’t challenge you for you to join our ranks and bring us down.”
“Yes, sir.” Raine nodded, surprise tingling through her. “When?”
“Today.” Holden scratched at his shaggy beard. “Something about being on a timetable or whatever.” He rolled his eyes. “I don’t know what the higher ups around here think time means to us, seeing as we’re all stuck down here.”