Shadow Knights

by Jennifer Anne Davis

  “You obviously don’t know your son that well,” Reid scoffed. “Eldon seeks power. Once he discovers he’s your heir, he will take over Axian. He won’t care about either of your sons. If anything, he’ll see them as a threat and have them eliminated. Oh, wait, he already tried to do that with the assassination attempt—the one Dexter and I managed to survive.”

  “There’s no proof Eldon sent the assassins.”

  Reid didn’t feel like arguing with Henrick. If he refused to see reason, truth, and what was right in front of him, it was his loss.

  “As long as Eldon doesn’t see us as a threat, we’ll be fine,” Henrick added. “Once he realizes we want to remain here peaceably, he’ll understand. He’s my son, not Hudson’s. Eldon is good.”

  Reid didn’t want to tell Henrick how very wrong he was. “Regardless, once my father learns Dexter is not your heir, I’m not sure he’ll go forward with the wedding contract.” Deciding she’d said enough, she stood and exited the room, her hands shaking.

  As she headed down the hallway, she heard someone approaching from behind. She turned to see Princess Nara actually sprinting toward her.

  “Lady Reid,” Nara said as she approached. “I want to talk to you privately.” She pulled Reid into the closest room, which happened to be filled with portraits.

  Before Nara had a chance to say anything, Reid said, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be so forward with you and your husband.”

  Nara wrapped Reid in a hug, surprising her. “No, my dear. I’m happy you said something.” She held Reid at arm’s length. “Everything you said is true. My husband only wants to see the good in people—especially those he loves. It’s hard for him to look at the situation objectively.”

  “My father may already know Dexter is not Henrick’s heir.” And he may not care. His sole concern had been getting Reid to safety and maintaining his land and title.

  “Everything happened so quickly that I don’t remember the particulars. Colbert would be the one to see about that.” Nara gave Reid another hug before they left the room.

  Reid headed straight to the library. She found Colbert in his office with Finn curled on top of his feet. “My father will never sign the marriage contract once he learns Dexter isn’t your father’s heir.”

  “That’s what I’m planning on.” Colbert set his quill down, then leaned back in his chair.

  “How’d you get him to sign the preliminary one?” she asked, perching on the chair across from him.

  He pushed a piece of paper toward her. “When your father sent us his draft,” he tapped the paper, “he mentioned you being his heir, but he left out anything regarding Dexter. My father agreed and returned it, stating we would finalize the details later.” He pushed a second piece of paper toward her. “The king sent us this one.”

  Picking up both contracts, Reid quickly examined each. It was clear both assumed Dexter to be the heir, though neither specifically said so.

  “I’ve amended the contract between our fathers, stating the particulars. For example, what happens when your father dies and you return to Ellington? I took the liberty of mentioning that since Dexter has no obligations in Axian, he is free to move to Ellington with you.”

  “When my father reads this, he’s going to be furious.”

  “I would assume so.” Colbert grinned. “I’m counting on it to force my father into changing his heir.”

  “Funny you should mention that…because I just had a conversation with Prince Henrick about this very thing.”

  “I knew there was a reason I liked you,” Colbert said with a wink.

  She shifted in the chair, wanting to discuss something with him, but not sure how to go about it.

  “Reid, what is it?” he asked, leaning forward, his elbows resting on the desk.

  “So, I thought of something…”

  “Oh no, no more thinking,” he teased.

  She playfully kicked him under the desk, being careful not to hit the dog. “It’s about the other night,” she whispered, not wanting anyone to overhear their conversation. “If everything goes as planned and your father changes his heir and we’re successful in that other endeavor…” She didn’t want to say anything about assassinating the king in the palace. “That would mean Dexter would…” Again, she didn’t want to say anything about Dexter ascending to the throne in case someone lurked nearby.

  “Ah, you’re finally figuring things out. Yes, that means Dexter would be the king.”

  Was that something Dexter even wanted? She certainly had no desire to be the queen. Maybe they should just leave Eldon alone.

  “Reid,” Colbert said, reaching across the desk and taking her hand. “If we do nothing now, we only prolong the inevitable. At some point, someone has to deal with this. Our fathers didn’t, so now here we are. We still face the same issues. Let’s take care of this once and for all.”

  “I don’t want to rule.” Just the idea of being responsible for thousands of people made her head spin.

  “No one who deserves to rule ever wants to. That’s how I know you’ll do a phenomenal job.” He squeezed her hand once before releasing it.

  “I’m not sure about any of this.” Sighing, she rubbed her aching forehead. Why did everything have to be so complicated? Why were there no clear answers? No matter how she looked at it, what was right and what was wrong always blurred depending on the variables. “I’m going to see if Dexter needs my help.” Maybe he had a task she could perform in order to keep her mind occupied.

  “You two seem closer than before.” It was a statement, but also a question.

  She shrugged, not wanting to have an in-depth conversation about her feelings. Talking about the subject meant she had to think about it—which she didn’t want to do.

  “You two could be great together. I hope you give my brother a chance.”

  “We’ll see.” She left his office before he could ask her anything else.

  Out in the main portion of the library, she spotted Gytha striding toward her. “Lady Reid.” Gytha bowed her head. “Prince Dexter sent me to fetch you.”

  “Is he at the compound?”

  “No. He’s here in the palace, working on security.” Gytha led Reid to one of the interior courtyards. “Wait here. I have another errand to take care of.”

  Reid hadn’t been in this particular courtyard before. A tall water fountain graced the middle of the space with several hedge-lined walkways leading up to it. A handful of tall trees were spread throughout the area, benches near each one.

  At the water fountain, Dexter talked to a group of two dozen soldiers, pointing at the interior palace balconies as he spoke. The soldiers nodded. When Dexter saw Reid, he excused himself and joined her.

  He leaned in and kissed Reid’s cheek, surprising her. Instead of moving away, he whispered in her ear, “The king has left his castle and is on his way here. He is expected to arrive in two weeks.” He took a step back.

  Two weeks wasn’t a lot of time to organize a failsafe assassination. Unease filled her. “I have a bad feeling about this.”

  “No one in the palace will be involved. I’ll make sure of it.”

  “What if something goes wrong?”

  He took her hand and pulled her along one of the walkways, away from his soldiers. “We’ll have several plans in place in case one fails.”

  “I think it’s too soon.” Something of this magnitude should take months to plan and execute.

  “I agree.” Dexter squeezed her hand. “But he is coming here to Axian. We must strike while we can. We’ll never get this opportunity again.”

  “Have you considered he’s planning something similar?” The king’s assassins may have failed the first time, but would they fail a second?

  “I’m sure he is.” Dexter stopped near a tree. “Eldon is probably coming here with the intention of taking over. He is going to use the excuse that Axian plans to invade northern Marsden. He will be the savior to his people by heading off a war before
it begins.”

  “And since he’s the king, everyone believes what he says.” Reid sat on the bench, pulling Dexter down with her.

  He reached out, fingering the fabric of her dress. “Don’t get me wrong…you look pretty in this dress, but it doesn’t suit you. I like it when you wear pants.”

  “Prince Dexter,” one of his soldiers called. “An urgent message just arrived for you.”

  “I need to go take care of this,” Dexter told Reid. “Why don’t you rest? I’d like you healed as much as possible before the king arrives. Just in case.”

  Reid hoped she wouldn’t have to defend herself any time soon. However, she wanted to be able to deftly wield a weapon before the king stepped foot in the palace. Even though she didn’t want to lie down, she knew her body needed the rest.

  Winding her way through the palace, she caught a glimpse of the front lawn with the city in the backdrop. Should she take a detour to the bookstore to send a note to the Knights? She’d completed her tasks—she knew where Dexter went at night and she’d gained his trust. However, the thought of revealing Dexter’s secrets didn’t sit well with her.

  Entering her suite, she headed straight to her bedchamber, eager to remove her dress for something more comfortable. She smiled when she recalled Dexter saying he preferred her in pants. That meant he saw her for who she was.

  On her way to the closet, movement caught her attention. She froze. Someone was in her room, and it wasn’t Joce. Slowly, she turned to face her intruder.

  The man casually sat on Reid’s chair, his booted feet resting on her dresser. He slapped the book he’d been reading closed. “Morning, princess.”

  “Ackley! What are you doing here?” He was the last person she expected to see.

  He tossed the book on the dresser. “I’ve been sent ahead of the king to prepare for his arrival.” When he stood, his gaze roamed over her from head to toe. “The real question, Lady Reid, is what are you doing here?”

  “You would know since you’re the one who sent me here.” He didn’t even flinch, confirming her suspicion that he had a hand in this.

  “I must say,” he gestured to her and the room, “it appears you’ve taken to your new position with astonishing ease.”

  “I’m gifted that way.” She folded her arms, waiting for him to get to the point of his visit. Had he discovered Dexter’s plot to assassinate the king? Was he here checking up on her?

  “I’m disappointed in you, Reid. I expected a warmer welcome. I’m beginning to think you’re not happy to see me.” His shrewd gaze zeroed in on her.

  “I’m tired is all.”

  His face instantly softened. “Are you okay?”

  She nodded.

  He stepped forward, wrapping his arms around her. “I’m sorry,” he whispered. “There wasn’t any other way. I never meant to do this to you.”

  “I know.” And it wasn’t just Ackley. Her father had done this to her, too.

  “Idina said Dexter is a good man. I would never have sent you here otherwise.”

  “He is.” So why were there tears in her eyes? Wanting to change the subject, she asked about Idina and Gordon.

  “They’re both doing well.” He held her at arm’s length. “Listen, Reid. We need to talk. Idina discovered something. There’s—”

  “What’s going on?” Dexter asked, startling Reid.

  She glanced over her shoulder to see him in the doorway. He watched her, face unreadable.

  Ackley’s hands tightened on her arms.

  “Come in.” She waved Dexter over. Ackley released her, a mask of haughty indifference sliding over his face. “I’d like to introduce you to Prince Ackley. Ackley, this is Prince Dexter, my fiancé.”

  The cousins stared at one another.

  Finally, Dexter spoke. “How’d you get in here?”

  “Does it matter?”

  Reid knew Dexter took security seriously. The last thing she needed or wanted was the two of them fighting. Placing her hand on Dexter’s arm, she said, “Is everything all right?” She assumed he was here because of the message he’d received.

  He focused on her. “Yes. I wanted to see if you needed anything. I thought you’d be in bed resting by now.”

  “Why would she be in bed?” Ackley demanded.

  “The king sent a group of assassins after us.” Dexter glared, fists clenching. “Reid fought one. Came out of it with a cracked rib.”

  “Ah, yes. Sorry excuse for assassins if you ask me.” Ackley plopped on the chair, kicking his feet up on Reid’s dresser.

  “They’re not from Marsden, are they?” Reid asked as she sat on her bed, curling her legs under her.

  “And that is what I need to discuss with you.” He laced his hands behind his head. “Idina has discovered a few things.” He kept glancing at Dexter, who stood at the end of the bed.

  “You can speak freely in front of him,” she said.

  Ackley raised his eyebrows. “Can I?”

  “I’ve been investigating men from Bridger going to Melenia to trade,” Dexter said. “It seems that every time a ship returns, it contains more men than it set sail with.”

  Ackley nodded. “Turns out they’re soldiers. Idina uncovered correspondence between Eldon and the king from Melenia.”

  “Soldiers?” Reid asked. Her ears began ringing, her stomach twisting. This was so much worse than anything she could have imagined. “Does Gordon know?”

  “He knows.”

  Reid’s heart sank. “He’s going to support his brother and king no matter what, isn’t he?”

  Ackley shrugged. “I can’t be sure. Eldon is keeping us apart—so we have little opportunity to converse.”

  Reid fidgeted with the end of a string on her dress. “Where are these Melenia soldiers?”

  “Some are in Bridger. Idina said something about them mining for precious gems as part of their payment. Others have been dropped off somewhere along the Axian coastline.”

  Dexter started pacing. “How many soldiers are accompanying the king here?”

  “Eldon has ordered half of Gordon’s men to stay behind in the city. The other half are coming with him to Axian.”

  “That’s not nearly enough for an invasion,” Dexter commented.

  “No,” Ackley said, “it’s not. Which leads me to believe Eldon will be using the Melenia soldiers.”

  Dexter rubbed his face. “I need to send word to the men I have watching the ports and inns.” When he reached the doorway, he turned to Ackley. “Let’s go.”

  “I want to talk to Reid.”

  “Lady Reid needs to rest. And we should make your presence known. Come, I’ll introduce you to my parents.”

  Ackley stood and stretched. “I suppose that’s wise. That way, my brother can keep track of me. He has enough men here spying for him.” He came over to Reid, giving her a hug.

  “What’s that for?” she asked, unused to physical affection—especially from Ackley.

  Chuckling, he whispered in her ear, “I just wanted to see Dexter’s reaction. Now that I have, I must ask, what’s your relationship with him?”

  “It’s complicated.”

  “Aren’t they always?” He winked and strode across the room, joining Dexter.

  At supper that night, Ackley sat in the place of honor, to the right of Prince Henrick. Nara sat across from her husband, Reid next to Dexter, and Colbert next to Ackley.

  “If we’d known you’d be arriving early,” Nara said, “our cook would have been able to prepare a nicer meal.”

  Reid eyed the lamb, potatoes, and carrots. The meal was nicer than anything else she’d eaten here.

  “Oh, I suppose my brother intended for me to catch you off guard.” He took a sip of his wine.

  Henrick dismissed the servants, telling them to shut the doors as they left the dining room. “We need to speak frankly with one another. What does King Eldon intend to do?”

  Ackley swirled the wine in his goblet, considering Henrick. “I’m su
re you already know the answer—he intends to take over Axian. He has everyone convinced you’re going to invade the north. He’ll take control of Axian, claiming it’s to prevent a nasty war and to maintain peace.”

  “Once King Eldon is here, I’ll talk to him. I’m sure we can come to mutually agreeable terms,” Henrick said.

  Ackley reared back in disbelief. “Why do you believe that misguided notion?”

  “Because Eldon is my son.”

  Ackley snorted. “And he’s my half brother, yet that didn’t stop him from trying to assassinate me. It didn’t stop him from sending his mercenaries after Dexter, his other half brother.” He took a sip, then set his goblet down. “He will strip you of everything you love and hold dear.”

  “Are we speaking of Hudson or Eldon?” Nara asked.

  “Exactly,” Henrick replied. “Eldon is my son, not Hudson’s.”

  “That may be, but Hudson raised him,” Ackley pointed out.

  “What’s your plan, Ackley?” Reid asked. “Because I know you have one.”

  The corners of his lips curled into a slight smile, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “I always have a plan.” Casually, he leaned back in his chair. “I’m just not sure I want to share my plan with any of you.”

  Reid moaned. “We don’t have time for this. Let’s work together to stop Eldon.”

  Ackley stared, seeming to consider her.

  “Will you stop appraising my fiancée like she’s a piece of meat?” Dexter snapped.

  Ackley’s eyebrows rose. “Me?”

  “Yes, you. I don’t like the way you’re looking at her. She’s not yours.”

  Ackley’s face went sly, his lips curling in a devilish grin. “She isn’t? Are you sure about that?”

  Reid felt like her entire body erupted in fire as mortification set in. She wanted to crawl under the table and melt away.

  Colbert chuckled. “I haven’t had this much entertainment in ages.”

  Reid eyed Dexter. He’d balled his hands into fists, and he hadn’t yet touched his food.

  “Ackley,” Reid said, belatedly realizing she should have used his title. “Prince Henrick is a former Knight, I’m a Knight, and you’re a Knight. We all want the same thing. Let’s work together to accomplish it. Please, just tell us what you have planned.”