by M. Lynn
But then… “Why’d he kill my father if he was so set on family?”
Camille sat Helena in a high-backed chair and pulled a comb through her wet hair. “I don’t know, but…”
“But what?”
“I don’t think the rebellion was entirely Cole’s doing. That Tenyson boy is dangerous.”
She’d always known Ian was dangerous. How could two boys grow up together and turn out so completely different? Ian and Dell. Cole and Quinn.
Silence descended as Camille braided Helena’s hair around the crown of her head. She showed her the dress Cole had chosen for the occasion. A simple midnight blue gown that flared out at the hips. The bust line dipped down low. A sapphire necklace, mask, and the glass slippers she hated so much rested next to the dress.
Camille helped her put it on. “I must go make myself ready,” she said. “Cole will be pleased with your appearance. Tonight is a big night.” She gave one final nod and disappeared through the door.
Helena’s heart beat solidly in her chest as she laid back on the bed. The dress covered each bruise as if someone had considered it. The silver mask would cover the marks on her face, making it seem like none of it had happened.
But it had. Nothing would erase the scars on her heart or the images in her mind. Her father hitting the ground. The last look of fear on her mother’s face. Estevan’s wounds.
She’d come looking for revenge, but now it had changed. Vengeance alone would only leave her more shattered than she was before.
She had to protect her family. Nothing else mattered.
Helena sat up when the door to her room opened and Ian stepped through. She pulled her knees to her chest as if that could protect her from the hard glint in his eye.
“I’ve wanted to have you alone for quite some time.” He smiled, his eyes flashing.
“Leave me or I’ll scream.”
Ian laughed. “The only person in this wing right now besides you and me is your dear brother, Estevan, and he’s in no condition to move.”
“Why are you doing this? Isn’t it enough to steal my kingdom? My home? My brother? What else do you want from me?”
“What I’ve always wanted, Helena.” He cocked his head as if it should be obvious. “You and I were always meant to wed. I love you, Lenny.”
She shook her head. “Don’t call me that. I will never be your wife.”
“Oh, but dear, your father promised you to me, and then your brother upheld that promise.”
She ground her teeth. “My brother has no power over me.”
His smile widened. “I like my women strong. It makes it so much more fun to break them.”
Helena hid her wince as she stood. “Get out of my room.”
His eyes narrowed in challenge. “Gladly, but you’re coming with me.” He lunged forward, wrapping an arm around her waist. “Cole sent me to show you something.”
She turned her head away from his rancid breath. With a different personality, Ian Tenyson would have been considered a good suitor. Power, money, looks. He had it all. Yet, his touch made her skin crawl.
He pulled her into the main sitting room of the residence and out into the hall. His grip was so tight, she couldn’t break free. Holding up the mask he must have snatched, he gestured to her face. “Now.”
She complied but only because she wouldn’t get anywhere by fighting. Ian led her through the maze of halls and down a stairwell before stopping outside an unadorned door. He didn’t release her as he pushed it open.
Helena’s heart fell into her stomach. A cot sat across the sparse room and a boy’s sleeping form sprawled across it.
Kassander.
She covered her mouth with her hand.
“He’ll be moved to the royal residence once he wakes and is questioned.” Ian’s tone was smug.
Questioned. She swallowed thickly, knowing what that meant. “What kind of information could Kass possibly have?”
“He was brought in with a man claiming loyalty to the king, and the boy is needed to confirm the information he has given us. Don’t worry, he is unharmed at the moment, only drugged.”
“What do you want from me?” Helena whispered. “Why did you bring me here?”
“You can help him.”
“How?” Her voice was so small she was sure he hadn’t heard her until he turned.
“Tell me where the tunnels are.”
Her eyes widened. So, Estevan hadn’t told them the palace’s biggest secret? She released a shaky breath. The tunnels might be her only way out of there after she did what she came to do. It gave her some small comfort that Cole hadn’t yet found them. There was one piece of information she could still use.
“I know of no tunnels.” She lifted her chin, meeting his gaze.
He slammed his fist into the wall next to her head, and she jumped. “Don’t lie to me, Helena.”
She narrowed her eyes and clamped her lips shut.
Ian reach down, sliding a knife free from the scabbard at his waist.
I will not flinch. I will not flinch. He doesn’t deserve my fear.
He’d thrive on it, bask in it.
He dipped the tip of the knife under the edge of her mask and pushed it up to reveal her face. Trailing the blade down along her cheek, he pressed the tip just hard enough to draw a single bead of blood.
Helena’s chest rose and fell rapidly as he traced her jaw with his free hand, letting it wander down over her neck and across her collarbone before stopping at the swell of her breasts. “Where are the tunnels, Helena,” he whispered, leaning close.
“Go to hell.”
His chuckle vibrated against her skin.
She focused on Kassander’s sleeping form over Ian’s shoulder, silently praying he didn’t wake. She didn’t know what Ian would do to her.
Stepping closer so his body was flush with hers, Ian pushed her harder against the wall. “You’ve always smelled so sweet, Princess.” He lowered his face and inhaled. Keeping the knife gripped tightly, he smoothed his hands over her sides, sending a shiver along her spine.
Nausea rose from the pit of her stomach, but she stayed frozen in place. She’d rather Ian try to get the information from her than Kassander.
Tears streamed down her face, but Ian didn’t seem to notice as he pressed his lips to her jaw. “Where are the tunnels, Helena?”
She didn’t speak.
Ian bit the sensitive skin of her neck sending a shooting pain through her. She let out a tiny whimper, and he smiled against her, enjoying making her suffer. “Today will be the final day of the little rebellion.” His hand snaked around to her backside. “I’m going to gut those bastards.” His lips moved down to her chest as his hands bunched up her dress to slip underneath.
His clammy fingers latched onto her upper thigh.
“I’ve been waiting for this for so long.” He bit her again, and she held back a yelp.
“My brother will kill you for this,” she growled.
Ian laughed. “Cole has already said you’re mine to do with as I will.”
She didn’t say he hadn’t been the brother she’d been speaking of.
“I can’t wait to show my new woman to my entire family.” He lifted his head to meet her gaze. “I’ve heard my half-brother has returned to Madra. I think he’ll like my new bride, don’t you?”
Dell. She closed her eyes, willing the tears away. How did Ian know he was in Madra? Her eyes caught on Kassander again. What had he said? Someone had brought him.
Landon. She gasped. There was no other explanation. Another member of her family to pledge loyalty to Cole. And he’d dragged Kassander back here as well. Her entire body shook as Ian continued his attentions.
“Dell is just a boy, Helena. Tell me where the tunnels are, and I’ll show you everything he doesn’t have.”
She shoved at his chest. “Dell is more than you’ll ever be.”
Her limbs recovered from their frozen state of shock, but his strength overpowered hers, a
nd the knife he held pressed against the hollow of her throat.
“Don’t move,” he commanded.
“You can’t kill me.” She wished her confidence was as strong as her words.
“So sure about that?”
Another presence appeared over Ian’s shoulder, stopping in the doorway with a finger raised to his lips.
Helena almost couldn’t breathe as a trickle of blood slid over her shoulder. “Do it,” she breathed. “What are you scared of, Ian? Cole?”
Ian laughed. “Cole doesn’t scare me. You really know nothing, do you, little princess? Cole was put onto his throne by us. Me and—”
His words trailed off as a blade pierced through Ian’s back. He glanced down in shock, blood gurgling from his mouth, before stumbling back and falling sideways. The carpeted floor muffled the sound of his body crashing into it. Crimson life seeped into the thick fibers. Helena couldn’t move. She couldn’t look away.
A groan left his mouth, and then Ian Tenyson was dead.
Finally, after what seemed an eternity of silence, Helena found Reed’s bewildered gaze. He backed away from the short sword still protruding from his brother’s back. His hands shook as he clenched and unclenched them.
“I…” He started, unable to voice what he’d done.
Helena watched him cautiously, sensing the pain in his gaze. Had he felt that pain as he set his men to attack Dell? Or as he’d taken Quinn hostage?
“Reed.” She put up a hand to calm him. “It’s okay.”
“I… Ian. He’s dead.”
The rebels’ words came back to her. “You can trust Reed Tenyson.” She didn’t know if that was true, but she didn’t have the luxury of waiting to find out. If she was going to make it out of this, she had to trust him.
“Reed, we can’t stay here.”
He shook himself as if waking from a long slumber. “You’re right.” His gaze slid over her bloodstained gown before settling on Kassander’s restless form. “He’s waking up. Cole sent me to move him. You must change. Tell Cole there was a tear in your gown and throw this one into your fireplace. I’ll have one of my people come here and clean up…” His eyes settled on his brother again, and he swallowed. “Come.”
Reed went to the bed and lifted Kassander. “The king was waiting until we could gather information from the boy, but we’ve run out of time. He’d like his entire family by his side in one hour’s time.”
Helena followed him into the hall, conscious of the blood on her chest and dress. Her carefully braided hair now lay askew. But none of it mattered. Ian Tenyson was dead. Cole’s right-hand man. What would he do?
She couldn’t bring herself to care about the consequences as she still felt Ian’s touch slithering along her skin like a snake wrapping around her limbs, ready to squeeze the life out of her.
The man who’d spent his life tormenting Dell was gone.
She breathed out heavily, walking in step with Reed. “Are you okay?”
Reed looked sideways at her, a hard glint in his eyes. “Ian had it coming.” His jaw tightened. “He has been threatening to kill our mother for being a suspected rebel.”
“Your mother isn’t loyal to Cole?”
Reed shifted Kass higher in his arms. “My mother can be a horrible woman. But she was loyal to the king who’d given her the power on the merchant’s council. She didn’t appreciate her son jumping her in station.”
“Lenny,” Kass mumbled as they passed a gaggle of wide-eyed servants.
“Kass.” She reached for his hand. “It’s okay. I’m here. We’re going to be okay.”
“No. We’re not.”
She squeezed his hand as his words swirled in the recesses of her mind, clouding her thoughts in darkness.
They reached the royal residence and Camille appeared, hands on hips. “What happened?” She directed the question to Reed.
Reed carried Kass to an empty room. “Ian is dead.” He said nothing more as he disappeared.
“There’s no time to explain.” Helena stopped in front of Camille. “I need another dress.”
Once Helena bathed and dressed once again, Reed joined her on the couch. “Tonight is Cole’s first public appearance. You’re going to be at my side the entire time. I won’t let anything happen to you, okay?”
“Why would something happen to me?”
He hesitated for a moment before dropping his voice. “There will be a rebel attack. In the chaos we will have our best chance to take Cole down for good.” He slipped a tiny knife into her palm. “I’m told you know how to use this.”
She quickly slipped the blade down the front of her dress, eying the passing servants. “I can do it.”
He nodded. “I know.” Considering her for a moment, he spoke again. “This will not be easy. The things you will see tonight…”
“What am I going to see?”
“Cole has a plan to show the people who holds power in Madra. It was Ian’s plan. Just… stay on mission. Remember what you have to do.”
She nodded. “I can do that.” She just didn’t know how hard it would be.
Chapter Twenty-Four
“Lady Tenyson has had word from inside the palace.” Catsja approached Edmund from across the barn.
Dell had watched many rebels come and go throughout the night. Something big was happening and they wouldn’t give him any information.
Edmund sat up where he’d been lying. He brushed the hair out of his eyes. “Is it what we’ve been waiting for?”
Catsja hesitated. “Edmund…” She sighed. “It’s not from Helena.”
Dell leaned back against the wall, his entire body deflating. He scanned the stables. Bunks sat at one end with a table in the center. In them, men and women caught what little sleep they could. A heavy iron lock hung on the door, keeping people both in and out. The rebels trusted no one.
Beneath Dell, the packed dirt floor made for a poor bed. Morning light fought past the edges of dark window coverings as Dell took stock of each ache and pain in his body. There’d been little time just to consider what it was they tried to do.
Removing a king from the throne wouldn’t be easy.
Edmund took his time getting to his feet. He held out his hand for the message Catsja carried. She handed it to him and his eyes scanned the words as he walked to the table where a tray of water pitchers, cups, and simple food sat.
After a few moments of tense silence, Edmund startled them all by slamming the paper on the table. The crack of palm against wood echoed against the stone walls.
Orlo appeared from an adjoining room with others following. They’d all heard the commotion but none dared approach Edmund.
Except Dell. He got to his feet and moved to stand beside his friend. Edmund pushed the paper to Dell.
The king has invited select citizens to the palace to witness a demonstration.
Today. When the sun is high. That is our chance.
Use the tunnels to gain access to the palace.
Dell stopped reading. “Tunnels?”
Edmund closed his eyes. “They lead from one of the rooms in the west wing and come out into the city.”
“Those are just a rumor.” Catsja crossed her arms over her chest.
Edmund shook his head. “I know where they are.” He scratched the back of his neck. “Helena must trust him if she showed him the location.”
Dell was about to ask who Helena trusted when his eyes scanned the rest of the message.
The king will not allow Helena, Estevan, and Kassander to leave this palace alive. You must come for them.
R.
R? “Reed.”
“I’ve been telling you he’s one of us.” Catsja regarded Dell coolly.
His jaw tightened. Reed wasn’t Ian, but did that mean he could be trusted? Probably not.
“What does he mean the king won’t let them leave alive?” He handed the note back to Edmund.
Edmund read the words again. “I swear I didn’t think he’d do it.”
He lifted tortured eyes. “I would never have let her go if I thought Cole would hurt her. Now he has all three of them.”
“Hurt her? We don’t even know what Reed’s words mean!” Dell searched frantically for any meaning that had Helena returning to him.
Orlo grunted. “Of course we do. The king will end his family to cement his rule.” His eyes bore into Dell. “He’s going to kill the princes and the princess.”
Dell pushed away from the table, turning only to find Edmund behind him. “Get out of my way.”
“We can’t fall apart now, Dell. I want them back as much as you.”
“You read the note. He’s going to kill them.”
“Not if we stop him.” He turned to the other rebels watching him. “Prepare to leave.” To Catsja, he gave different orders. “Go to our other safe houses. Warn our rebel brothers and sisters of what we plan. Make sure there is a rebel presence at this demonstration should our plan go wrong.”
“And what is your plan?”
Dell finally understood. This was what they’d been waiting for. He didn’t wait for Edmund to answer. “We’re going to take the palace.”
“Our intel says the palace will be mostly empty as everyone is required to attend the king’s demonstration.” Edmund’s voice echoed along the dark tunnel.
Dell traced his hand along the wall. So, this was how Helena had gotten out of the palace dressed as a boy. His feet crashed through a puddle on the stone floor as he pictured the princess creeping along in the darkness. Had she been scared?
If it hadn’t been for this tunnel, he might never have met her.
Someone crashed into him from behind, sending him flying forward. His knees slammed into stone and pain radiated up his thighs.
“Sorry,” Orlo grumbled.
Dell grunted and pushed himself to his feet.
“Shhh.” Edmund held up a hand for them to stop.
Rebels packed the long tunnel, their steps the only sound breaking the silence. Edmund led the way with Alex close behind him. Etta and Tyson would be with the rebels viewing the king’s demonstration. Dell wished he was with them, but he trusted them to keep an eye on Helena. He had bigger things to do.