by G. K. DeRosa
Stark white walls flashed before my eyes. The feel of rough cotton sheets slid against my palm. Sunlight streamed in through a small window, warm against my skin.
No. That wasn’t right. Not my skin.
I blinked and shook my head, my world finally coming into focus again. What was that? Was I losing my mind?
All thoughts of the strange images were stripped away as agony ripped across my body.
My arm was still curled around the taranoi, and the cold ground pressed against my knees, slivers of glass digging into my flesh. He rolled away, looking up at me with a haze clouding over his eyes. He was in shock. After all, he expected his brains to be spread all over the cobblestone.
Instead, it was my blood glistening on the ground. A gash sliced across both my knees, crimson soaking through my jeans. A leg bone was also poking through a hole in the material.
Oh hell that hurt.
My palm lay over it and with a deep breath, I shoved it back into place. My vision went white again, and I choked back a scream. I didn’t want to make more of a spectacle than I already had.
“Y-You saved me?” He shook his head as if he couldn’t believe it. Maybe he thought this was all a hallucination.
If it were a hallucination, I wouldn’t feel as if I’d been hit by an airplane.
“Yeah,” I breathed, wiping a sheen of sweat from my forehead with the back of my hand. “Still think all royals are evil?”
I unsteadily climbed to my feet, sharp needles tattooing down my arm, which was hanging limply by my side.
Damn. It was dislocated.
My jaw clamped shut, and I gripped my bicep. A shiver rippled down my spine in anticipation of the impending agony. I slammed my arm back into place and staggered as my vision blurred. I should have done that sitting down.
Murmurs drifted through the growing crowd. Some were calling me stupid while others were impressed by my bravery. Some assumed I was just trying to show off.
Ha! Like I’d risk breaking bones for attention. A constant spotlight was already on me simply for being a prince.
I reached my other hand out to help the taranoi off the ground. He took it, his expression unreadable. Was he disappointed he couldn’t blindly hate me? “What’s your name?” My father hadn’t given me anything but the details of his crime and a physical description.
“Dexter.” He licked his lips, his body still trembling from adrenaline. “Are you going to turn me in?”
It seemed a little anticlimactic to save him and then turn him over to the royal guards. But I had to. “Yes. I’m sorry.”
His lips thinned, and he nodded, seeming to accept his fate with more dignity than he had before. “Don’t let them send me to those forsaken aevitas fields. I’d rather rot for months in a dungeon serving my time.”
I gave a quick nod. “I’ll see what I can do.” That was the typical punishment for petty crimes. We always needed more workers manning the fields. Some did it by choice because they lived in the country and knew nothing else.
A slow clap cut through the whispers and praise surrounding us. Xander emerged from the crowd, a sardonic twist to his lips. “Well done, Brother.”
My shoulders stiffened. “Thanks.”
“I had no idea you were back from your little trip. I’m sure father was glad.” Sarcasm dripped from his words.
“Yes, he was.” My fingers curled around the taranoi’s arm. “He asked me to join in on the hunt for this taranoi.”
Xander’s navy eyes flickered toward the taranoi before returning to me, a storm swirling through them. “I see.” The tendons in his jaw clenched. He could already guess why our father had included me. It was a test. And I passed.
“Kaige, that was amazing,” a sultry voice interrupted the tension mounting between us. “You’re so brave.” Tessamia’s hand lay on my shoulder, a strong floral scent pulsating from her.
I broke eye contact with my brother to take in the half smile curled on her glossy lips, the bottom one snagged between her teeth as she surveyed me. “It was nothing,” I demurred.
Tessamia’s laugh was low and husky. “You’re so modest, Kaige—not at all like your brother.” She winked in his direction, riling him up.
His nostrils flared. “Cut it out.”
I lifted her hand off me and stepped back. Blonde tendrils of hair framed her porcelain face. The strands were a darker shade of blonde than Solaris’s whose own locks were like spun gold and warm as the sun.
I liked my little human’s hair better.
I cleared my throat and turned toward the taranoi. “Let’s go.” Xander’s eyes burned through my skull as I marched through the crowd, gritting against the pain that walking caused. Xander would make it to the king’s study before I did.
A cold chill skittered down my nape. Xander’s anger made him irrational and foolish. He’d been known to lash out despite the consequences. He could tell the king what I’d really been doing these last few days just to satisfy his fury.
Chapter 5
Kaige
The king’s back was to me as he stared out the window in his study overlooking a courtyard. His hands were clasped behind his back, his shoulders relaxed. If Xander had told him anything damning, those deep navy eyes would be boring into me with disappointment and maybe even hatred.
My gaze flicked toward my twin who was leaning next to the fireplace, the flames casting ominous shadows over his stone-carved face.
“Well done, Kaige.” The king’s words echoed Xander’s from the street, but his were sincere. “I knew you could do it.” This wasn’t only about apprehending the thief. He was referring to the test proving I was still the same levelheaded, dependable Kaige who oozed perfection.
I was far from that. If he could see past the thick mask in place, he’d be ashamed of me.
“Yes, brother,” Xander interrupted, his lips hitching up in a leer. “Once again, you’ve managed to prove your loyalty to the crown and all of Draconis.” He raised the glass of wine he was holding, toasting me.
“You look like you’re in pain.” The king’s brows dipped as he surveyed my ragged condition. Blood marred my ripped jeans, and my shirt wasn’t any better.
“It’s manageable.” I swallowed back a groan and straightened up under his heavy gaze. My entire body throbbed.
The king trailed to his dark mahogany desk and pressed a button on the phone. “Bring two bottles of synth immediately.”
Anders’ pretentious voice sounded over the line. “Yes, King Razvan. Right away, sir.”
I blinked to keep my eyes from rolling. How could my father stand to have Anders as his servant? I’d rather jump off that building ten more times than listen to his sucking up all day. Garridan would rather tell me the truth than what he thought I wanted to hear. And he would never blindly follow me around like a lap dog. Despite his position as a servant, he had self-respect and dignity.
“When I told you to detain the criminal, dead or alive would have sufficed.” His large hand motioned toward my disheveled appearance. “You didn’t have to injure yourself just to save the thief.”
I ignored Xander’s snicker. If he’d been the one dangling on that ledge, he would have dropped the taranoi without a second thought.
“He committed a petty crime,” I said stiffly. “He didn’t deserve to die.” Didn’t my father understand the taranoi were just as much a part of our kingdom as the nobles?
He gave a one-shouldered shrug. “Yes, but had roles been reversed and he was holding onto you, do you think he would have helped you?”
The words Dexter spat as I captured him in the club played through my mind. He wouldn’t have wasted any time trying to save me.
My silence was answer enough for the king. “Good job, though.” He smoothed a lock of glossy onyx hair from his face. “Very impressive tactics.” His navy eyes flickered toward Xander. “You pulled it off even though your brother had a head start.”
The tendons in Xander’s jaw flexed, but his e
xpression remained impassive. “Yes. Exemplary.”
I shifted on my feet, gritting my teeth against the burst of pain shooting through my limbs. I wish my father wouldn’t make it so obvious that he favored me over my brother. Then again, if Xander hadn’t been such a slacker these last few years, the king might take him more seriously.
Anders arrived with the synth and presented a glass bottle to my father, practically kissing his feet as he bowed.
The king waved him away with a dismissive flick of his hand. “Give them both to Kaige.”
Anders’ smile dropped infinitesimally as he turned in my direction to offer me the bottle. “Prince Kaige.” The few white hairs on his otherwise bald head looked ready to fall off.
“Thank you.” I took it and twisted the cap.
“My pleasure.” Anders placed a napkin on my father’s desk and set the second bottle down.
The chilled synth ran down my throat, briny and metallic. The scent of Solaris’s warm, buttery blood filled my senses, spurring my thirst. My fangs ached as I imagined sinking them into a vein, her warm body soft in my arms. Within a matter of seconds, the entire bottle was gone, and I was sipping air.
Ander’s brow arched in my direction. “Shall I bring more?”
I shook my head and handed him the empty container. “This is enough.” I picked up the second bottle and tore the cap off.
“That will be all, Anders.” My father dismissed his servant with a quick wave of his hand.
Anders nodded and scurried out of the study, closing the door behind him.
“How can you stand him?” Xander asked. “He reminds me of a greasy little weasel.”
Xander and I actually agreed on something.
My father shot him a droll look. “Anders isn’t so bad. Besides, he’s loyal.”
“And weird,” Xander mumbled under his breath.
“Father?” I cleared my throat and hesitated. “Can I speak to you alone about something?”
Xander instantly straightened and leaned away from the fireplace, his lips in a hard line. “I have every right to be here. What could you possibly speak to father alone about?”
Of course, my twin automatically assumed this had something to do with him. “This is about the taranoi’s punishment. Would you like to join in on the conversation? It could take a while.” It didn’t really matter if Xander remained or not. I simply couldn’t stand to be in his presence any more than I had to.
The tautness of his shoulders melted away, and he shrugged. “Oh, well, I need to leave anyway.” He couldn’t possibly spend time talking about things he considered trivial. “I promised Zabrina I’d bring her a treat before bed.”
The king’s brow furrowed. “Don’t spoil her.”
Xander scoffed. “This coming from you?”
Everyone knew Zabrina was the king’s soft spot. She could have him wrapped around her little finger in seconds if she wanted to.
My father simply shook his head. “Don’t keep her up too late.”
Xander nodded and stalked toward the door, passing close to me on his way. “Been thinking about your human lately?” he mumbled under his breath. “I know I have.” He licked his lips.
My hands curled into tight fists, and it took every ounce of control not to smash his face in. Like I said, I didn’t want to be in his presence. It might cause me to do something stupid and reckless.
Once Xander was gone, I took a deep breath, forcing my body to relax. A dull throb still burned my limbs, but the synth had helped.
“What is it you wanted to talk about, Kaige?” The king was business as usual.
My gaze lingered over him. His dark pants and shirt were neatly pressed and wrinkle-free, as if the material itself were too afraid to ruin his appearance. “Will you send him to work the aevitas fields?”
“Probably,” he said, reaching into his desk drawer and pulling out a small glass cup. “We always need workers on those fields.”
My finger ran along the lip of the synth bottle. “Could he possibly work in the harvesting rooms here instead?” It was slightly less terrible than the fields. “We need workers for that as well.”
His dark eyes scrutinized me as he pondered my question. “I suppose that could work. This is his first offense, and it was a failed attempt at that.”
I gave a quick nod. Dexter would be happy to hear that.
“Is there something else on your mind?” he asked, taking out a silver container marked Exsomnum. The elixir provided a burst of energy. Perhaps the king was overworked lately. Planning for the trials had been stressful for him.
I resisted the urge to fidget under his heavy stare. “The taranoi never seem to have enough synth. Could we not simply give them more?”
His fingers lingered over the bottle, a tiny line forming between his brows. “It’s not that simple, Kaige.”
“Why?”
My father sighed and pulled the small cork from the container, pouring a few sips of the clear mixture into the cup. “Everyone gets rations, but we also have to sell some to keep money in the city. After that, there isn’t anything left.”
I blinked. “Why can’t the alchemists make more?”
He was silent for a moment, his eyes cast on the silver bottle. “There’s not enough aevitas.”
That hardly seemed like the case. We had tons of fields further from Castle De La Divin.
“We can’t grow it fast enough,” he added when he noticed my perplexed expression.
I nodded and glanced at the bottle of synth in my hand, swirling the crimson liquid around. The bags of human blood flashed through my mind.
The door opened, and a light voice filtered in through the tense atmosphere. “So this is where half of my family is hiding.” My mother’s footsteps were light as she crossed the threshold, the silver gossamer top flowing around her hips.
My father smiled. “We were finished.” He ticked his head in my direction. “Why don’t you see that Kaige makes it back to his room? He might still be a little shaky on his feet.”
I guess our conversation was over.
Her face lit up, and she gently wrapped her arm around mine. “Of course. I can’t let my little boy fall down and get hurt on the way to his room.” She winked one dancing emerald eye.
I shook my head. “Little boy? Really?”
She gently ruffled my hair. “You’ll always be my sweet little boy.”
My father chuckled under his breath. He wasn’t safe from her cheeky humor either.
“I heard about your theatrics at the club,” she said as we slowly walked down the marble encased corridor. Sconces along the walls lit the area and brought more warmth to the drafty space. “The news is spreading like wildfire. It’s all the ladies at Castle De La Divin are talking about.”
Heat crawled into my face. “Please tell me you’re joking.”
She shook her head. “Not a chance. They’re all tittering around like drunken school girls.”
Oh gods. That was the last thing I wanted.
Tinkling laughter floated from my mother’s mouth. “Relax, Kaige. Most men would love that kind of thing.” We turned a corner, her long waves of auburn hair brushing my arm. “You have so many ladies to choose from. Old, young, pretty, plain—they all fancy you.”
“They fancy the crown.”
She tsked. “Not all of them.” Her lips thinned. “Stay away from Tessamia though. She’s awful.”
A chuckle rumbled through my chest. “There’s no chance of that ever happening.” She and Xander had an on again off again relationship, and we weren’t the kind of twins that shared.
My mother cleared her throat, her gaze nervously flickering to me. “Is there something going on with anyone else? Maybe someone you don’t want me to know about?”
My feet stumbled, and I nearly choked on my own spit. “What? No. Why would you ask that?”
A guilty look crossed her delicate features. “I may have bribed Zabrina with candy so she would tell me if she knew of
anyone special in your life.” She bit her lip. “Sorry.”
My blood turned to ice as I recalled the conversation I had with my little sister in the arena corridor. I told her about a friend who was in trouble. She assumed I was referring to a girlfriend. And then she told my mother, and my mother was like a bloodhound when it came to my love life.
“There’s no one.” Each word stabbed the truth into my chest. Solaris was gone, and I’d never see her again.
My mother pulled me to a stop, the humor slipping from her expression. “Was there someone? Did something happen?” She gently touched my shoulder. “Zabrina said this girl was in trouble. Is she okay?”
A sad smile curled my lips. “She’s fine.” I rubbed the back of my neck, trying to find the words that would satisfy her worry without condemning me. “She just … went back home. She doesn’t live close.”
“I see.” She pulled my arm to put me in motion again, her eyes pensive as we strolled silently for a few moments. “You know, Kaige, you can pick any girl to marry. She doesn’t have to be a high-ranking noble or a noble at all. I’ll handle your father.”
Gods, my mother was too sweet. She assumed I’d been seeing a taranoi girl.
“I just want you to follow your heart and be happy.” She patted my cheek as we stopped at my door.
I believed her. If only my happiness could be achieved with some poor country taranoi girl. The words of the prophecy hung at the end of the hall like a choking reminder of how wrong my feelings were. “I know, Mom.” I smiled, but I knew it didn’t quite reach my eyes from the worry lines I saw still creasing her forehead.
“Okay then,” she sighed, seeming to give up on the conversation for the moment, “but remember what I said. You can tell me, and I’ll make sure no one—even your father—stands in your way.”
Unable to speak through the lump suddenly clogging my throat, I nodded. My mother couldn’t know how wrong she was. If I wanted to be with my little human, my mother wouldn’t be on our side. She couldn’t. The threat of the prophecy would prevent her.