False Queen
Page 33
When we were between guards, Lyklor inched close to me and whispered, “Does my sister really behave this way?”
“Worse,” I said.
He grimaced. “Then you’ll excuse me if I forgo the family reunion.”
“She’d probably like you,” I said. “She seems to support any brother who isn’t Liri—and any cousin for that matter.”
“If she supports Albedo, then I question her sanity.”
Smart prince. I smirked.
We made it to Teryani’s chamber without any more pushing, tripping, falling, or hot, heavy Fae breathing down elf breasts.
“I trust the queen’s chamber will be more to your liking,” Lyklor announced at the door.
“It will do,” I said, even though I had yet to enter. “Good night.”
Lyklor and I reached for the handle at the same time. Our hands jammed together over the knob. My lips lifted over my clenched teeth as I glared at him.
“Allow me,” Lyklor said. He didn’t stop at opening the door. “Aren’t you going to invite me in?” he asked. “We have much catching up to do, Sister.”
I sighed heavily. “Fine. Come in.” We could probably use his help. Lyklor might not want to stay and fight, but he clearly wanted to escape. Three of us had a better chance of knocking out the guards in the courtyard.
But first thing first. The sheath dress was coming off.
“You, wait out there,” I ordered Lyklor as I stormed into Teryani’s massive walk-in closet, my mouth gaping open at row upon row of dresses. I pawed through before searching the dresser at the back of the closet where I had a little more luck when I came across a drawer of pants. Unfortunately, every pair looked like exotic dancer pants.
Seriously, Queen T?
Groaning inwardly, I pulled on a black pair with a floral lace pattern that stretched below the thighs and ended in a flare of lace and mesh from the knees down. I located a black tank top that left my belly exposed. At least it wasn’t the sock dress.
I found Lyklor on his hands and knees beside Teryani’s four-poster bed. What the —? He pulled out two swords.
“Look what I found!”
I appreciated the exhilaration in his voice. Swords were always worth getting excited about, especially when we were undercover, outnumbered, and without weapons. Until now.
“Right on!” I jogged over to join him. “Are there more hidden down there?”
Lyklor lay on his side, looking under. “Yeah, she’s got long swords, short swords, and daggers.” He pulled them out as he spoke, sitting up after he had amassed a pile of blades on the floor. “Nice pants.”
“Shut up.”
“Want to show me some of your moves?” He wiggled his brows.
“Hand me a couple of blades, then I’ll show you all kinds of moves.”
“Juggling?”
“Stabbing.”
“Ouch,” Lyklor said, gripping his heart with one hand, totally smiling.
I grabbed myself a short sword and a dagger.
“I don’t suppose there are any sheaths down there?” I asked.
Lyklor bent down and peered under the bed. “Nope.”
“Damn,” I muttered. “The guards are going to notice us carrying these down the hall.”
“Right, and they would have been totally blind to the swords if they’d been strapped to our hips.” Lyklor smirked. I kinda wanted to tell him to shut up again, but we needed to figure things out. “Ready to share your plan with me?” he challenged.
I told him the first part, the part where he helped knock out the courtyard guards so we could open the gates and signal Teryani and her troops. I told him one of the royal guards had come with me. I didn’t tell him it was Ryo. Lyklor wasn’t the only one with the ability to lie.
With a forceful huff, Lyklor shook his head. “Not a single one of my siblings could be bothered,” he said disdainfully. “They sent an elf to take back the castle. Liri dumped Dahlquist on your sister, and now Teryani sent you into Ravensburg with one single guard.” He shook his head again.
“I volunteered,” I informed him, pursing my lips.
“I’m sure you did. It doesn’t make it right.” He stared at me hard and asked, “Why? This isn’t your family. It isn’t even your realm. Why help them? Why help us?”
His tone had softened in his confusion—each word like a caress my body responded to. I didn’t have an immediate answer. I wasn’t even sure why. Because I was an action junkie? Because it was the right thing to do? Because . . . I’d hoped to see him again?
His gaze was way too invasive.
I lowered my lashes and stared at his mouth instead, changing the subject.
“Did Albedo and Malon force you to pierce your tongue?” I asked.
“I did it myself.” Lyklor rubbed his chin.
“You did?” I leaned forward, staring at his lips, waiting for a glimpse of the iron ball, but it remained hidden in his mouth.
“After my false father shared how he switched Ryo and me as babes, I pierced my tongue. I knew it was my best chance at survival. If I was seen as untrustworthy by all, I wouldn’t be a threat to Albedo.” He smiled grimly. “It turns out the ability to lie has saved my skin more than once—and now yours.”
“If Fae don’t trust you, then why are the citizens of Dahlquist demanding Aerith give you the crown?”
“They don’t know about the piercing.” Lyklor raised his brows. “Yet. Knowing Albedo, he spread the word that I was Liri’s true younger brother. If the crown somehow ends up on my head, he’ll inform the citizens of the piercing, stroke their doubts, and encourage rioting to take me down.” He shrugged. “In the end, he gets his way.”
“Not for long,” I said, raising my short sword. “It’s time to retake the castle.”
“Right, we’ll just storm past every guard with our swords, and no one will stop us,” Lyklor said with a chuckle.
“Can’t you glamour our swords? Make them invisible or something?” I asked. Use what you got; that was what Keerla always told me.
Lyklor pursed his lips and gave me a hard stare before answering. “I can’t make things invisible.”
“So, what can you do?”
He looked away and shrugged. Now who was being elusive? Well, I didn’t need him to be forthcoming. I had a brilliant idea.
“Glamour the two of us to look like Albedo and Malon,” I said, bouncing on the balls of my feet.
Oh, good one, Mel! We’d have the castle gates opened in no time without a hitch.
Lyklor shook his head. “Whoever glamoured you is strong. I’m not well practiced in the art of disguise. There’s a high probability I wouldn’t be able to return you to appearing as my sister, whom I’ve never met, remember, or keep it in place for long if I did manage the enchantment.”
“I don’t need to be turned back into Sarfina. We’ll be out of the castle by then.” Come on, Lyklor, work with me here.
The frown didn’t leave his lips.
“Make me look like Malon and you can be you,” I pressed. “I’ll hold the swords. It still works.” When Lyklor hesitated, I huffed. “What is it now?”
“I cannot change your sex.”
My ears grew hot at the mention of fornicating—even though that wasn’t how Lyklor meant it. To make matters worse, my wayward eyes stared pointedly between his legs. Gah!
“I cannot make a female male or a male female,” Lyklor expounded with a smirk.
“Now you tell me,” I grumbled, folding my arms over my bosom.
“So now what?” Lyklor asked.
“Give me a moment to think.” I scanned the room, searching for inspiration; then I loosened my arms and walked around the large chamber, taking in the windows. Could we tie bed sheets together and lower them down for our troops to scale into the castle?
I passed a polished oak armoire topped with crowns set upon velvet pillows on display. I stopped, pivoted, and returned to the display of diadems. Some were gold-toned, others silver, one fro
sted white and sparkling with diamonds. I picked up a silver circlet with oval sapphires spaced an inch apart and placed it on my head.
“What are you doing?” Lyklor asked in a voice that dipped to the floor. He took careful steps toward me, eyebrows knitting into his forehead.
I lifted my chin and grinned. “I have an idea. Make me Teryani. Make me queen. Then all the Ravensburg guards will have to obey me. Won’t they?”
Lyklor groaned. “That is a terrible idea,” he said, shaking his head.
Oh goodie. My favorite kind.
Continue reading Three Kings
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Slaying, Magic Making, Running Wild, AND RULING THE WORLD!
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SPELLBOUND TRILOGY
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False Queen
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Nikki Jefford is a third-generation Alaskan now living in North Carolina with her French husband and their Westie, Cosmo. When she’s not reading or writing, she enjoys nature, hiking, and motorcycling. Nikki is the author of the Royal Conquest Saga, Wolf Hollow Shifters series, Aurora Sky: Vampire Hunter series, and Spellbound Trilogy.
To find out more about her books and new releases, please visit her website: www.nikkijefford.com