by G. K. DeRosa
“What are you doing lurking outside of my room?”
His pale skin flushed under the candlelight. “Prince Kaige asked me to keep an eye on you.”
I threw my hands on my hips and grunted. “Seriously?”
“Please, let’s go back inside.” He held the door open and ushered me back into my lavish prison.
I resumed my pacing in front of the fireplace. “Garridan, I can’t stay here anymore.” I wrung my hands as I debated whether to trust Kaige’s faithful servant. He’d been kind to me so far. “My father is in danger in Imera. He’s being punished because of something I did, and I can’t sit here and do nothing.”
The crease between Garridan’s gray brows deepened. “I’m sorry, Solaris, I didn’t know.”
“If I return to Imera, the Collective will come after me too. Kaige is trying to protect me by keeping me locked up here, but it’s not fair.”
“That is quite the predicament.” He ran his hands through his remaining tufts of white hair.
I pinned him with my best puppy dog eyes. “Can you help me get a plane or a car even? I need to leave today; my father’s life depends on it.”
His weary eyes widened, and he quickly shook his head. “I’m afraid I cannot help you, my dear.”
I clasped his wrinkly hands, squeezing. “Please, Garridan. You’re my only hope.”
He twisted his lips uncomfortably, and then fixed his eyes on mine. “I’ve known the prince since the day he was born, and I have never seen him like this. The feelings that you’ve incited have made him a new man. You brought light into his dark, orderly world. I cannot be the one to take that away from him. I’m deeply sorry.”
I released his hands and huffed. A slight pang of guilt stirred in my chest as I reflected on his words. I didn’t want to leave Kaige, but when he was acting this stubborn, what else could I do?
He grabbed a duster and began tidying up the room. “Are you hungry, dear? Perhaps that will take your mind off things.”
I opened my mouth to say no, but my stomach growled, betraying me. “Maybe a little.”
“Good. I had the cook prepare your lunch.” He turned toward the door, and then looked back. “Promise me you won’t go anywhere.”
I narrowed my eyes and crossed my arms over my chest.
“I will be back in fewer than five minutes, so you won’t be able to get far. I may not look like much, but I’m faster than you think.”
“Fine,” I muttered.
He grabbed the tablet from the entrance table and typed on the glossy screen. “Here. You’ll be able to get caught up on current events in Imera on this site.”
I took the tablet and pressed it against my chest, a flicker of hope awakening. “How?” I asked before he turned to leave.
“Special royal access. It’ll be our little secret.” He pressed his weathered finger to his lips and slipped out the door.
I leapt onto the couch and began searching the site. After a few minutes, I found articles on Malcolm and my supposed disappearance. My breath hitched. It had been the day I broke into the lab, and Kaige rescued me. Five days ago. I cringed at all the damage Turstan could do to my dad in that amount of time.
On the bright side, I didn’t find anything about Gavin getting caught or punished. I’d been so concerned about my dad that I hadn’t even considered what happened to him. Or Isla. What if someone found out she’d messed with my tracking device?
The icy hands of guilt squeezed my lungs. My breaths came faster and faster as I pictured the horrible things happening to my friends because of me. I was being selfish staying here in my Kaige bubble.
I clicked on a few more articles but discovered nothing more of interest. Apparently, Imera was having its best year in modern history. The country was prosperous, and its citizens were thriving. Yeah, right.
The clang of metal against stone outside the door tore me from the words on the screen. That was quick. I opened the door, and the most delicious aromas wafted up to my nose. An elaborate silver tray covered with heaping platters of food sat on the floor. I peered down both sides of the hall, but no Garridan.
Hmm. He must have had somewhere else to be. My stomach rumbled, and I decided to help myself. I brought the massive tray into the sitting room, depositing it on the coffee table as I checked out my dining options.
My mouth watered as my eyes settled on a fluffy cake smothered in fresh strawberries and whipped cream. Who said I couldn’t have dessert first? I picked up the spoon and dipped it into the frothy cream.
The front door banged open and Kaige barreled in, his navy eyes wild. His hair was a mess; from the looks of it he’d been tugging on each and every dark strand on his way down here.
Uh oh. Garridan must’ve sold me out.
I dropped the spoon and glared at him. He wasn’t the only one that was allowed to be mad. “Kaige, I—”
His nostrils flared, and his head whipped toward the food on the table. I blinked, and he’d zipped across the room and now stood right beside me.
“Where did you get this?” He picked up a strawberry and held it to his nose, sniffing it.
“Garridan brought it; I think.” I shrugged, my brows knitting. “Why are you acting so weird?”
Panic spiked through the blood bond, and I staggered back, falling into the chair.
“Did you eat any of this?”
I straightened, my pulse quickening to match his altered state. “No. Why? What’s the matter?”
He threw the strawberry back on the plate and picked up a roll, then a slice of meat. A growl reverberated in his throat, sending a chill up my spine.
“Kaige, tell me what’s the matter!”
“It’s poisoned. All of it.” He picked up the tray and flung it against the stone wall. The sharp clang echoed through the room, vibrating in my eardrums.
“What?” I finally choked out.
He bent down, picking up a chunk of potato. “I recognize the scent. It’s Mortiphen—a powerful potion. Only a handful of alchemists can create it. We had to study the formula for the trials.”
I gulped. “What does it do?”
“It’ll kill any human being. Nocturnes are immune because of our vampire blood, but humans…” He raked his hands through his hair. “It’s a terrible death, barely noticeable at first. It attacks the organs, eating away at the cells until it liquefies the insides.”
My pulse spiked, my knees quivering. I almost died—again. I wasn’t safe anywhere anymore.
Kaige’s arms came around my waist, and the next thing I knew I was pressed against his chest. “Oh gods, I almost lost you.”
Fear and anger swirled through the bond, our wild emotions like battling tides crashing over one another. He held me tightly for a few moments, running his hand over my back.
I released him and glanced up into his tortured eyes. “Who’d want to kill me?”
Silver exploded in his irises, and sharp fangs popped out. “There’s only one person I can think of, and I’m going to rip his throat out for it.”
Chapter 29
Kaige
I didn’t even bother knocking on the door. Instead I rammed my shoulder into the thick wood, breaking it open with a deafening crash. Xander jumped out of the cushy leather chair in front of the fireplace, spilling his bottle of synth down his shirt.
“What are you—”
I barreled into my brother’s bedroom and slammed him against the marble wall, a bone-shaking growl slithering between my teeth. “Did you really think you could poison her and get away with it?”
His nostrils flared, and he tried to shove me off. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
For a moment, uncertainty slid through my bloodstream. Could my father have done this? Had I made a mistake threatening him with telling everyone the truth about our so-called synthetic blood?
I quickly shook off the doubt. My father wasn’t stupid or reckless. As far as he knew, killing Solaris could endanger the peace with Imera. T
his stunt screamed Xander. My brother was the one with a knack for dark and deadly potions.
“It didn’t work,” I hissed. “She didn’t eat the food.”
The disappointment flashing through his eyes proved my instincts right.
“That’s too bad,” he snarled.
A crimson haze descended over my vision. How could my own brother want to hurt me so much? Losing Solaris would be like chopping off a limb. Did he really hate me that much?
“I can’t believe you of all people have fallen for a human,” he spat, his fingers curling around my wrist in a failed attempt to force me off. “You’re putting all of New Isos at risk because you can’t see past one little blonde female.”
“The prophecy isn’t about us.” I released him and shoved him across the room.
Xander stumbled and knocked over a table as he righted himself. “You can’t know that. It could be anybody. It’s the reason the no-contact law was put in place. It’s the reason our worlds are divided.”
“Don’t pretend you tried to kill her for anything other than your own selfish desires.” Maybe there was some truth to Xander’s words, but it didn’t give him the right to slaughter Solaris. “You knew her death would tear me apart. You assumed I would give up the crown, and you’d swoop in and take it.” I slowly stalked closer, my fangs sliding from my gums. “If you had succeeded, you wouldn’t have lived long enough to reign.”
A growl slithered between his teeth, and his shoulders squared. “We’ll see about that. There’s still time to end her life. She’ll never be safe.”
Hot anger exploded toward the surface, blinding me to everything else. My hands snapped out, and I hurled him against the wall. Before he could recover, my fingers wrapped around his throat and I picked him up, his legs dangling in the air. “You’ll die before you ever lay a hand on her again.” My voice was nothing more than a vicious, guttural growl. By threatening my human, he’d provoked the beast inside me. It no longer lay dormant in a chamber of icy control. He was my twin, but that would no longer stop me from killing him.
Xander struggled in my grasp, his fingers trying to pry mine off. He was no match for me with my veins full of Solaris’s blood. His face began to turn blue as I squeezed tighter.
An iron grip suddenly clutched my shoulder and wrenched me back. I dropped Xander and pivoted toward my attacker.
“Kaige! What are you doing?”
It took me a moment to realize the king stood before me, his navy eyes wide.
Xander scrambled up, coughing. “He’s gone mad. He tried to kill me.”
I turned back to my brother, taking a step in his direction. My father moved fast, standing between us.
“Calm down, Kaige,” he snapped. “Explain yourself.”
My entire body vibrated with fury. “He tried to poison Solaris with Mortiphen.”
My father cursed and spun around to face Xander. “Tell me you didn’t.”
His gaze averted to the floor, betraying his guilt. “I only wanted to stop the threat of the prophecy.”
Silver melted through the king’s eyes, and he seemed to grow two sizes bigger. His presence engulfed Xander’s bedroom. “Mortiphen is highly contagious for humans. If she had ingested the poison and had gone back to Imera, she could have spread it.” His breath came in ragged pants, and his fangs flashed. “You would have killed countless humans!”
Xander scoffed. “Good riddance to them. Maybe they should all be killed.”
A humorless laugh tumbled from my mouth. My twin had no idea the consequences of exterminating humans. Without their blood, we’d die too.
My father shot me a dark look before he turned back to Xander. “If you try to poison the girl again, I will punish you myself.”
Xander’s cruel expression faltered. “What? Are you serious?”
“He won’t get the chance,” I blurted. “I’m taking her back to Imera today.” This only proved how unsafe Solaris was in Draconis. It was the last straw. I couldn’t have her here until I was king. Then, I’d find a way to protect her from my brother, The Collective, Turstan, and anyone else trying to harm her.
My father dragged his fingers through his hair, mussing up the usually perfect midnight locks. “I’ll compel a few soldiers to take her.”
“Absolutely not,” I hissed. “I’ll take her myself.”
The king’s lips thinned. “You will not. You’re not safe in Imera.”
Neither was she. “I’ll be fine. I’ve done it before.”
“Kaige, I won’t allow it.” The king grabbed my arm as I tried to stalk by him. “I mean it.”
I shrugged out of his grasp. “I’m taking her back. I won’t be gone long. Preparations for the coronation will continue as planned.” My eyes bored into my father’s, and he got the message loud and clear. I wasn’t taking no for an answer.
Chapter 30
Kaige
My fist tightened around the bag of supplies my mother prepared for Solaris, unwilling to hand it over. Once I did, this moment would become too real. The thought of saying goodbye once again had my heart in an iron vice.
The moon was hidden by a row of identical gray buildings, thick darkness coating the alley. The last time I was in Imera, the streets had been alive with cars and sirens. Now, eerie silence stretched for miles.
“He should be here soon,” Solaris whispered, her fingers absentmindedly grazing mine.
I grunted, my eyes scanning the night for movement. She’d called her friend Gavin. She assured me he could be trusted, and he might be the only one that could get to her father—if her father was still alive.
It didn’t mean I had to like it. My nostrils flared as I recalled the way he’d looked at her, and the way he’d so easily touched her. Solaris was mine, and no one would be touching her like I did. I’d make sure he knew that.
“I don’t like this,” I ground out for the hundredth time.
A long, tired sigh slipped from her mouth. “I’ll be fine. I took Garridan’s elixir. I don’t even look like Solaris Levant.” She motioned a hand down the front of her body. “I look like a regular Jane Doe.”
She still looked like Solaris to me, with blonde hair brushed over slender shoulders and eyes the color of electric moss glowing through the dark. My chest ached as I committed her face to memory again.
Feeling the jolt of anguish through the bond, Solaris glanced up, her lips dipping. “I have to do this, Kaige. He’s my father.”
I gave a quick nod before turning back and scanning the alley. This wasn’t at all like the last time we’d said goodbye in Imera. This time, I had no intention of letting her go. Once I was king, I’d return for her. How else were we going to find a solution to the blood slaves?
A figure passed through the opening of the alley and entered. My body tightened, and I drew Solaris into my side. “Someone’s coming.”
She stiffened. Only one heartbeat approached, echoing against the concrete structures. He was alone. His human scent, mixed with gunpowder and sweat, drifted on the wind. It was nothing like Solaris’s honey and jasmine flavor, and I certainly didn’t want to tear into his vein.
Well, maybe I did, but that was because I knew he wanted my little human to himself.
“Gavin.” She slipped from my arms and bolted forward.
Too bad for her my reflexes were ten times faster. My arm shot out, catching her around the waist.
She shot me a dirty look over her shoulder. “Really?”
I shrugged. “How do we know this isn’t a trap?”
Her lips thinned. “Kaige.”
I rolled my eyes and released her. “Stay right here, or I’ll just cart you back.”
The human stopped, blinking at the figure before him. “Solaris?” Uncertainty riddled his tone.
“Oh, right.” She motioned toward herself again. “I look different. It’s this potion thing that changes…” She shook her head. “Never mind. I’m just glad to see you.”
His gaze shifted to me. “
Who are you?”
“This is Kaige,” Solaris answered for me.
“Okay…” Gavin inched closer, his attention all on my human again. “I’ve been worried sick about you, Solaris. What in the hell is going on?” He made the mistake of reaching for her.
I stepped forward, a deep growl vibrating in my chest. My eyes narrowed, the navy orbs melting to silver.
His jaw dropped, and every ounce of blood drained from his face. “Oh my god. You’re a nocturne.”
“Yes, and you’d do well to keep your hands off her.” My fangs descended, flashing white through the shadows.
“Kaige,” Solaris snapped, “be nice. He’s here to help.”
Gavin’s breath shuddered. “What are you doing with a nocturne, Solaris?”
She rubbed her temples, frustration zipping through the bond. “That’s not important. I’ll explain later.” She turned to me, her gaze flicking to the bag still clutched in my hand. “Are you going to give that to me or not?”
A puff of air exited my mouth as the knot in my chest grew. The moment I’d been dreading had finally arrived. I handed it over, putting it on her shoulders. “I’ll contact you as soon as my coronation is over.”
She bit her bottom lip to keep it from trembling. “How?”
“Coronation? Wait a minute. What was your name again?”
I ignored Gavin. “I’ll find a way.” I pulled her close, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear. “If you’re in danger, I’ll feel it, and I’ll be back here as soon as I can.”
She shook her head. “You can’t do that. I’ll be fine.”
My jaw clenched. “Promise me you won’t do anything stupid.” She could promise all she wanted, but we both knew she’d break it to save her father.
“I’ll try.” Her fingers curled in my shirt, her own anxiety doubling mine.
Neither one of us wanted to be separated again. With the bond permanent, I had a feeling it was going to be hell.
My eyes shifted toward Gavin who was watching our exchange, his mouth pressed into a thin line and shoulders as rigid as brittle glass. He wanted to touch Solaris like I was.