Expected? No. Hoped? Yes.
Tears stung her eyes. Oblivious, Hugo marched in front.
Two Queen’s guards flanked them. It was an alarming experience having ruthless killers at her back and Hugo ahead. Walking swiftly, he led her up staircases and down corridors until she was dizzy. Utterly lost, she tried to match his long stride. He did not look at her again, just strode on ahead expecting her to keep up. After days of inactivity and weeks of starvation, Diamond’s heart began to race uncomfortably; by the time they reached the more illuminated part of the palace and music reached her ears, she was breathing heavily and shaking with fatigue.
“Hugo. Please. Slow down,” she panted, a sheen of sweat covering her brow. “I need to rest.”
Hugo turned and nodded to the guards at her back. They stepped back, watching her like hawks. Diamond leaned against the wall, trying not to throw up. Hugo’s shadow loomed in her peripheral vision, but asking him for help was out of the question. Clearly he had dropped any pretence of caring about her. Pursing her lips she deliberately avoided his continual regard.
“Here,” he said eventually, holding out his arm to her. “Let me help you.”
“No,” she ground out between clenched teeth. Glaring defiantly at him she pushed herself off the wall. “It’s clear where your loyalties lie, commander. I don’t need your help.”
“Diamond—please, just take my arm.” His voice sounded softer now, his eyes concerned.
“No. You’ve made it very clear you don’t give a shit about me, Hugo,” she spat bitterly. “I am nothing to you, even after everything we’ve been through,” she replied, swallowing her tears, and lifting her chin.
His hand reached out. “Diamond….”
“Well, who do we have here?” interrupted a voice from behind her.
Diamond’s stomach flipped. “Jack!” she breathed in a rush of air.
So happy to see him—to see anyone other than Hugo—she ran to him, ignoring the glares of her gaolers. Jack’s guards stiffened but he just waved a hand at them and they stood back.
“Hey!” he laughed, opening his arms as she almost bowled him over.
Diamond wanted to cry with relief. He looked so handsome, so strong and actually happy to see her. He was an anchor in a world spinning with unknowns and fear.
Disentangling himself from her desperate grip, he held her at arm’s length. His twinkling brown eyes inspected her thoroughly, his gaze roaming down to her satin-clad feet, back up over the length of her twinkling gossamer dress. Heat radiated from her cheeks by the time he’d finished his inspection.
“You look—wow.” Jack shrugged as if at a loss for words. “Stunning.” He held her hands gently. “And so much better than you did this morning. You really worried us there for a while.”
“Sorry,” she smiled sheepishly. It was ridiculous in the circumstances but Jack’s compliments made her glow inside.
Hugo’s face was thunderous. ‘Do not tell him of the Queen,’ his gaze snapped in no uncertain terms.
“And as much as I would happily stand here all night and hold you, we have to go in that room for dinner. So? Shall we?” Jack said, placing her hand in the crook of his elbow.
“Err….” Diamond looked nervously at Hugo. Dark eyes glittered in a face that resembled carved granite.
“Oh, Hugo won’t mind if I steal you away for a while—will you Hugo?” Jack drawled, winking at the Queen’s guard, but Diamond did not miss the challenge lacing his words. Something passed between the prince and the Queen’s guard in that moment, but Diamond did not care.
Not daring to look in Hugo’s direction, she clung to Jack’s arm as they approached the giant double doors of the dining hall. Two smartly dressed servants pushed the heavily carved doors open.
Diamond stared in awe. On each gilt door a green and red sea serpent coiled through a breaking silver wave, staring fiercely at whoever dared approach. The servants bowed low to Jack and stayed low until Hugo passed them.
Jack turned his head and smiled down at her, his eyes reflecting the glimmering light from the chandeliers that hung from the vaulted ceiling. Her fingers gripped his silk-covered arm nervously.
“Don’t worry. You’ll be fine,” he reassured her, completely unaware of her predicament as he patted her hand. “Come. There are some people here who are desperate to see you,” he said, watching with amusement as General Edo spotted them and strode down the hall.
Diamond gaped. The general wore ornate metal and leather armour emblazoned with a dragon. Jack’s sigil. His jaw was clean shaven and his wings glinted impressively. He was like a force of nature approaching, and she couldn’t help but smile. The general’s grey eyes widened as he took in her appearance, but he greeted his prince first, bowing smartly to Jack.
“Good evening, Highness. Our seats on the dais are ready when you are.”
When the general turned his attention back to Diamond, she was a little surprised by his reserve. He did not kiss her or hold her; she was not a child anymore, she reasoned.
“Well, young lady, I see you are recovered. That is good—we all thought you might die,” he said with an edge to his voice that caused Jack to frown.
“Err, thank you—unc—I mean, general,” she replied and smiled at him. “The healers have been amazing. And it’s good to see you looking so well too. Your new armour is very impressive. You look nothing like the man I knew who lived in the woods.”
“Indeed. Well, that is how it should be now that I have re-joined Prince Oden,” he answered with a tight smile.
Maybe he is just tired or worried, she reasoned, confused and hurt by his aloofness. She tried again. “And I’m so glad to see you unharmed. I wondered if you had made it….” her voice petered out, distress stealing her voice.
Jack smiled understandingly and patted her hand but the general turned his head away. “We did—all of us, because of you.” Jack was obviously trying to reassure her, but his eyes narrowed slightly at his new general.
Diamond wasn’t entirely convinced they had survived because of her, more likely in spite of her. She knew her magic had killed Ragor’s soldiers but she had no idea what had happened after that. All she could remember was Hugo’s eyes as she had burned him. Did I really ask him to kill me? Her head throbbed. It was all so hazy.
Jack gave her a bright smile, so she fought her anxiety. He was studying her intently, like he often had in the forest.
“Do you know what happened to Tom?” she coughed, clearing her throat uncomfortably.
“Who me?” chimed a familiar voice from behind.
She whipped her head around and exclaimed with relief. Tom looked pale but otherwise healthy. As she chatted and caught up with her friend, she did her best to ignore the threat hanging over her head and the staring, hateful faces that followed her progress around the room. Needing the support of someone, Diamond clutched tightly to the arm of the mortal prince.
Chapter 34
Hugo was having difficulty keeping his face blank. Diamond was holding onto Jack’s arm like it was a lifeline. What is Jack doing?
Any pretty, well-bred girl in this room would fall at his feet; there was no need to heap such attention on Diamond. Hugo’s chest tightened as Diamond glanced at him fearfully. Being who and what he was often shamed Hugo, but he always hid it, always pushed it away. This time he couldn’t. The remorse and guilt he felt at biting her—at bringing her here—was breaking him in two.
Stifling a sigh he stood back against the wall, watching as her guards scanned the room. They were standing a respectful distance away but close enough to stop her if she somehow became a threat. Hugo’s teeth clenched and unclenched, his scar twisting enough to garner glances from those nearby. For a moment he distracted himself by staring at them until the overdressed fools nearly pissed their breeches and scurried away.
He quickly found the two Queen’s guards again. They hadn’t moved. His shoulders relaxed minutely. The fae he had grown up with hated him for
the favour their Queen showed him. He should be dead. They all knew he had magic but none of them, not even Lord Commander Ream, knew what it was. He only ever used his darker talents when his Queen forced him, but even she had no idea how dark those magical depths went. Bile burned his throat and he thrust those thoughts away.
It would not take much for these guards to find an excuse to hurt Diamond. Word would already have circulated through the tower after what he did to Attion and that other prick. Not for a second did he think his Queen or his ‘brothers’ believed he didn’t care about the girl from the north.
Accusing faces, pale phantoms of the dead, echoed in his mind, as they often did. The Queen wanted powerful magic eradicated from her kingdom, or so she said. Hugo tried not to growl. He had seen what she really did to those with magic. She was insane, driven so by her belief in her dark god and his eventual return.
Erebos was as much a tale of darkness and evil as Lunaria was a tale of light and goodness. The dark and the light as it always was in fairy stories and legends. Good magic verses evil magic.
Ridiculous children’s tales. It was true his Queen allowed her Acolytes to live but, like him, that was only to serve whatever darker purpose she had in mind for her kingdom.
For years it had been Hugo she had sent with her other guards to hunt down babies born with any other colour wing except gold. Gold meant a small amount of magic, enough to manipulate the metal in their blood and learn how to armour if the child were taught how, but not enough to be a threat. Hugo’s gut twisted painfully and the hunger he felt as he smelled the delicious royal fare suddenly turned to nausea. It wasn’t just the children he had brought before her that sickened him. No. It was every single person who had done nothing wrong except be born with magic of one kind or another and stupidly let it show.
Hugo released a heavy sigh. Atonement for his crimes would come eventually, of that he had no doubt. Until then he would find a way to protect the one person that meant more to him than his own life ever could. Squeezing his tired eyes shut he smoothed his features back into neutrality. It wasn’t hard, he had learned at a young age to hide his feelings, to give nothing away—not even as he saw Jack brush a lock of hair from Diamond’s face and wrathful anger flared in his gut.
Jack glanced at Hugo but he did not wink or smile as he had done in the forest, instead he brushed the beautiful comb that twinkled in Diamond’s hair and whispered something in her ear. Hugo swallowed his jealousy as she blushed prettily.
It was nearly three years since the Queen had ordered Hugo to assist the prince with defending Stormguaard. He had not intended to become friends with Jack. But Hugo had spent two years fighting the Wraith Lord alongside the mortal prince. Spending time with Jack and the Rhodainian army had been illuminating. In fact, learning some of Jack’s men, like Gunnald, had magical gifts they openly used for war had taken him months to accept. Rhodainian fae had gifts far beyond anything Hugo had ever seen; not just golden wings but the glorious hues of green and red that were never allowed to live in Avalonia.
Gunnald’s swiftness and accuracy with a bow had astounded Hugo almost as much as seeing people, human and fae, use magic in their everyday lives. Being so far from the shield and the Queen, he had allowed his own magic to stir. It had revelled in its freedom. Hugo had been able to hone that growing power and train it in a way he never could have in Valentia. Without fear of reprisal he had used his ability to assist Jack’s campaign against Ragor on many occasions, earning him a level of respect and friendship from Jack’s men that he had never known before.
Despite magic, Stormguaard had still fallen to the overwhelming numbers of Ragor’s army. Jack had pulled back the remains of the Combined Army to the borders between Rhodainia and Avalonia. Together, Jack and Hugo had sought out the enigmatic Master Commander Riddeon, and joined the remains of the prince’s army with the Queen’s warrior legions.
Commander Riddeon had welcomed the reinforcements. As one large force they fought many hard and bloody battles and had even reached the point of pushing the Wraith Lord’s forces back when the Queen had ordered her troops to withdraw. Even the stoic and professional Master Commander Riddeon had been unable to hide his shock and disagreement with that order.
Hugo clamped his lips tight and exhaled. The more time he spent away from the cloying influence of the immortal Queen, the more unsettled he became—unsettled to the point he found himself questioning why he hadn’t deserted long ago.
His tongue found the rough skin inside his cheek, pushing at his scar. No. He knew why. Any thoughts of escaping his miserable existence had been crushed long ago. That was until he had found himself looking into the most beautiful violet eyes he had ever seen. Diamond had entwined herself into his soul so deeply he would do anything to keep her safe. Her blood was eternally imprinted on his, just the beginning of a blood bond that he had no right to pursue. A shiver rippled through his body and he swallowed. He had marked her with his venom; even if their Nexus didn’t exist, they were connected, bound by that act alone.
It had been so easy to sense her anger and disappointment at his inability to protect her from his Queen. He didn’t know if he should feel relief or regret that Diamond had no idea about their bonds. He allowed himself a small smile; perhaps he should feel a measure of both. He could imagine her blazing anger if she ever found out. Venom, magic and blood; an intoxicating mix, one that could destroy them both if the Queen were to find out.
Clinging tightly to Jack’s arm, Diamond flicked yet another wary glance his way. Hurt and fear flared through their invisible link. Unknowingly, he rubbed at his chest. A group of young lords who were slightly drunk and a little loud stepped in front of him and he lost sight of her for a moment. Hugo stayed where he was, though, and let his thoughts drift back to early this morning.
Weary and in pain, he had left Diamond’s room to take care of himself. Lord Commander Ream had been waiting. Instantly, Hugo’s senses had screamed in alarm. The Lord Commander was the coldest and cruellest fae male Hugo had ever met. He was loyal and protective of the Queen to the point of obsession. If Commander Ream deemed Diamond to be a threat in any way, he would kill her in an instant, with no regrets.
Hugo had silently followed him and entered the Queen’s private chambers. Completely unconcerned for his wellbeing or the gash on his leg, oozing pus through stinking bandages, his Queen had bid Hugo kneel. With hard green eyes, her voice calculating, she had questioned him again and again about Diamond and her abilities. Such an interrogation had coated his stomach with ice, and hiding the overwhelming protectiveness he felt for Diamond had been nearly impossible.
A peal of sweet laughter reached his ears, jolting him out of his reverie. Diamond’s eyes sparkled as she let go of Jack’s arm and graciously took General Edo’s. Hugo eyes narrowed. The general did not look particularly pleased. In fact, he looked almost reluctant to escort Diamond. It was an odd reaction given General Edo’s determination to help his friend’s daughter reach safety.
A distant trumpet heralded the Queen’s imminent arrival. Squaring his shoulders, Hugo braced himself to see her. Today’s events had left him anxious to the point of wanting to grab Diamond and run. But that would be downright foolish. He was too recognisable and there were too many spies in this city for him to get far.
Fixing his blank gaze on Diamond, he took several deep breaths. The only way to keep her safe now was to do what the Queen wanted and bide his time. Not only did he need to convince his Queen that he did not care about Diamond, he needed the goddess’ favour to outwit her immortal mind.
Chapter 35
Hugo watched Diamond’s face fill with fear at the sound of the trumpets before she mastered herself. Her terror seeped through to him, and he watched her already pale face drain of colour entirely. Desperately thin, she looked like she might collapse any moment; despite that, he thought she looked utterly stunning. Her ethereal looks were completely at odds with the average Valentian, as were his, but he thoug
ht her captivating. Her eyes glittered almost as much as the delicate folds of her dress, which floated around her like a twinkling mist. Her silver locks looked beautiful piled on her head in a mass of curls, braids and waves, and he stifled an overwhelming urge to walk up and pull away the beautiful comb that nestled among it. He wanted to see those silver tresses tumble down so he could run his fingers through them, over and over. The urge became almost unbearable, and he leaned up against the wall, crossing his arms to stop himself.
Hugo realised he wasn’t the only one who had heard her laugh or was drawn to her either. His throat constricted as he scanned the room. Guards and lords and even some of the more brazen servants glanced over at her. Curious gazes followed her, but it hurt his heart to see interest turn to hate and disgust as those same people recognised her as a half-blood. Keeping his face neutral, he hoped none of them would seek to hurt her tonight.
A trumpet blared again, sounding the arrival of the Queen and her entourage. Hugo pushed off the wall and strode forward, glad to have an excuse to position himself near Diamond again. Her only response was a disparaging glance, accompanied by a blast of magical anger. Hugo absorbed it and glowered down at her, forgetting she had no idea what she was doing.
Keeping hold of the general’s arm, she took no further notice of Hugo as they all waited for the Queen to be seated on the elaborately decorated dais at the far end of the hall.
Jack winked at Diamond, glancing at Hugo as he kissed her hand before elegantly turning on the ball of his foot and marching purposefully down the hall towards his seat. Respectfully, the other guests began to take their places. Hugo addressed General Edo, who seemed more interested in his prince than the girl on his arm.
“Sir? I will escort Diamond to her seat if you wish to accompany His Highness.” Choosing to ignore Diamond’s furious frown, he gave a slight nod to the older man.
The general nodded, passing Diamond’s hand over without any hesitation. He did not even look at Diamond, let alone bid her farewell as he strode after Jack. Hugo kept his face impassive when hurt flickered in Diamond’s large eyes.
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