by T. M. Hart
"This could all be a trap. A way for the Shadows to get a hold of our princess," Killian bit out.
Barrister Corbett inclined his head. "Yes. That is true. I doubt there is anything I could say or do to convince you of the sincerity of this offer. It is, if you will, a leap of faith on your part. However, the Princess of Light will be allowed to bring whatever and whomever she likes, whether it be a chest full of weapons or a brigade of soldiers. The only stipulation the Shadow Prince has placed is that she is to reside at the Dark Manor. Though, she will have her own, private quarters there."
I turned to the Elder Council representative, "And what do the Elders have to say of this?"
He replied in an ancient, hollow voice. "They are in support of this union."
Killian made a frustrated groan.
I finally looked at him. "It's all right, Kil. I can handle this."
He stabbed a hand through his hair and stood. "If it pleases your grace, I will wait in the hall to accompany you to your chambers when your meeting is through."
He needed a minute. I think we all did. I nodded to him and he exited the sitting room.
I turned back to Barrister Corbett. "I accept."
My mother let out a gasp. "Violet, I believe it would be wise for you to take your time in considering this offer."
"Mother, if there is even the slightest chance this proposal is legitimate, I have to accept. I have seen firsthand the hardships, injuries, and loss of life our people have endured because of the ongoing contention with the Shadows. If I can do something to help bring an end to this warfare, I must."
The firelight in the room flickered, betraying her emotions, but in a calm voice, she said, "I understand. You wear your crown well, my dear." She looked around the room, "Now if you will all excuse me, I wish to check upon the princess's guard." As the queen of the kingdom, she did not wait for a dismissal. She simply strode out with her head held high.
Killian was like family and it didn't surprise me in the least that my mother was concerned for him. I think on some level she knew of his feelings for me. While she was dignified and austere in her day to day countenance, she was loving and caring with her family behind closed doors.
All eyes in the room went back to the barrister once my mother exited the room. When no one else uttered an objection, the barrister stood. "Then it is done. I will return to the Shadow Court at once to relay the good news." He bowed to me. "Congratulations your grace. I believe you have made a wise and goodly decision. I will have the marriage papers drawn up and sent to you."
And just like that, he left.
The room was silent. No one moved. My eyes traveled back to the coffee table. That luminous diamond sat glittering in its case like a silent black heart.
◆◆◆
Killian was tense and silent as he walked with me to my quarters. When we finally reached the entry way he held the door open for me and allowed me to pass through first. I sensed his intention just an instant too late. Because before I had time to react . . . Killian snapped my neck.
Chapter 4
"You son of a bitch!"
I sat in the middle of Killian's bed rubbing my mending neck. Although I had never been in his bedroom, let alone his residence, his scent was all over the unmade bed, which told me it was his. "I'm going to nail your balls to the wall."
"I needed to get you out of there and I knew you wouldn't cooperate. Temporarily subduing you was my only option." The bastard didn't have an ounce of remorse in his words. He didn't even bother to glance at me. He just went about his business stuffing items into a military backpack.
"So you snapped my neck and killed me?!"
"Don't be so dramatic Violet. You're immortal. It was a little nap."
"Okay. Who are you and what have you done with my friend?" Just a couple hours earlier he had been guilt-ridden when he thought he had overstepped his bounds. Yet here he was, completely unrepentant and even borderline callous.
"I'm acting under orders. This is for your own good, Vi. You get very stubborn when you make a decision and you would have made a huge mistake if we didn't intervene."
"We? Who's we?"
Killian didn't answer, but he didn't need to.
"My mother," I muttered.
"She's right, Vi. We need to keep you safe until we can take out this prince."
"Okay. First of all, I am an adult and I do not need my mommy siccing her lapdog on me to hole me up in his dog house."
Speaking of the lapdog's house, I took a good look around the space realizing how skewed our relationship was. Although Killian was my personal guard in an official capacity, he was also my best friend. He had spent countless hours over the years in my home, my personal quarters, and even my bedroom. The fact that I was now in his personal space for the first time in the history of our relationship was startling.
Clearly, I had passed the night healing from my neck injury as the late morning sunlight poured through the bay window. Since the sun was the direct energy source for our powers, all Radiant dwellings had oversized windows, French doors, and glass walls wherever architecturally possible and Killian's room was no different.
It was a decent size and fairly in order, apart from the unmade bed and a few clothes thrown over a chair. The furniture was modern and nice without being fancy. It basically looked like it could have been featured in the pages of a home store catalog, except for one corner of the room.
An art table was littered with charcoal sticks and drawing papers. Some papers were blank, some depicted unfinished works, some completed drawings. There were portraits, landscapes, and even floral subjects. Each one was so realistic that if not for the drawing tools I would have sworn they were black and white photographs.
One particular portrait made me hitch in a breath. On the floor, next to the drawing table, a sketch sat propped in the corner of the room isolated from all the others. A woman had her face tilted up and to the side. Her delicate, feminine features highlighted. Long ribbons of her dark hair danced around her shoulders and face, swept by the wind. The corners of her lips were slightly upturned in an unassuming smile. She seemed to be basking in some basic glory.
Even with her eyes closed, I knew who it was. I knew beneath those lids were violet eyes. I was stunned silent for a moment. All I could do was try and process the feelings the portrait stirred in my chest.
When I was finally able to tear my gaze away from the drawing and look at Killian, I was surprised at the fire I found. I was expecting him to be contrite or embarrassed, maybe even a little wounded. Instead what I found was a resolved male who would not deny his feelings or apologize to anyone for them.
"Is that how you see me?"
"Yes. Always."
Something slipped down my cheek. When I patted my hand to my face, it came back wet. A tear. I had shed a tear. "Thank you."
I know it might seem like an odd or even awkward response, but when you receive a glimpse of the way someone sees you and it is so truly beautiful in spirit, in a way in which you could never see yourself, what can you do but make an offering of gratitude.
He nodded once. "I didn't mean to upset you."
"I'm not. I'm . . . honored. And although mere words are an insignificant gesture in comparison, I think you are a male rare in your value of worth."
Killian gave one more nod and then let out a heavy breath before resuming his packing. "You didn't think so a moment ago, Vi."
"You. Broke. My. Neck."
"Yeah well, I believe you just referred to me as your mother's lapdog, so how about we call it even."
"Fine. But really, Killian, this is ridiculous. How exactly is kidnapping me going to solve things."
"Number one, this isn't my plan. It's your mother's. I'm just following orders. And if I happen to wholeheartedly agree, well that's just a bonus. And two, I am not kidnapping you. I am simply taking you to a secure location out of reach of any Shadows."
"And if I refuse?"
Killian thre
w the bag he was packing to the ground and gave me a look I had never seen before. "You'll die, Violet. You'll fucking die. Do I really need to spell this out for you? This . . . marriage proposal," he spat. "It's a trap. It's so obvious. Do you really not see that? Are you really that blind?"
"Is it, Killian? Is it a trap? Or is it an opportunity?"
Killian looked around the room as if to find who I was talking to. "What are you talking about?!"
I stood up and crossed to him. "Think about it. This is our chance to finally put an end to this war."
Killian grabbed my arms. "Are you listening to me? It's a ploy, Vi. They will kill you."
"Not if I kill them first.
He pointed a finger at me. "You're certifiable." He looked around. "Let me find a recording device. That right there is probably enough to have you committed."
"Killian, listen to me. They think they're getting a privileged, little princess. They don't know what I do. What I'm capable of. Once the marriage is official, I take out the Dark Prince and this war is over."
Killian didn't bother with a reply. He simply went back to packing. "I grabbed a few things from your room last night. There are fresh clothes in your bag as well as some toiletries. The bathroom is in the hall, if you'd like to take a moment before we leave."
There was no point in arguing with him. I picked up my bag and headed out of the room. I walked straight down the hallway and opened the front door. A blast of energy came hurtling behind me, slamming the door shut.
"You passed the bathroom," Killian said.
I turned around. "I'm leaving," I told him.
"I'm afraid I can't let you do that, Vi."
I laughed. "What are you going to do? Fight me?"
He stalked towards me. His green eyes bored into mine. "There is nothing I won't do to keep you safe."
"You don't get to make these decisions for me, Kil."
"I'm not. I am following orders from the ruler of the Radiant Court."
I looked around his place. It was nice. I knew he had been orphaned as a child, and I knew he had worked hard for everything he possessed. The last thing I wanted was to destroy his home, which is what would happen if we got into it here.
Killian was an excellent fighter. One of the best. But I was better. The only reason he had gotten the upper hand on me the previous night was because I trusted him implicitly. I hadn't been expecting an attack.
I played out what would happen in my head. I'd insist I was leaving. Killian would try to stop me. We would spar. His place would be wrecked, and in the end, he would lose. Then he would have to report his failure to my mother.
I didn't want to do that to him.
I dropped my bag by the front door and went to peruse the living room.
Nice. Neat. Flooded with sunlight.
I made my way into the kitchen and stopped when I saw the bar top counter. A decadent stack of strawberry pancakes sat atop a neatly arrange table setting.
The son of a bitch had made me pancakes.
I veered over to the freezer, and my hunch paid off. I found a chilled bottle of vodka. After grabbing the bottle and shutting the door, I rummaged around and found a couple shot glasses. Then I plunked myself down onto the bar stool and poured two shots.
"It's eleven o'clock in the morning, Vi. What are you doing?"
I downed one of the shots and gave the other a nudge. "It's practically the afternoon," I told him.
"We need to leave," Killian pushed.
I gave the shot glass a second nudge. "I know. We will." I poured another shot for myself and downed it.
"Violet. Now is not the time for this."
I slowly rolled my head from one side to the other, testing just how tender it was. I even closed my eyes and stroked my collar bone while my hair swished across my back. "My neck is still in a lot of pain," I sighed.
He swore and crossed to sit on the adjacent bar stool, downing the shot I had poured for him and placing his head in his hands. "I'm so sorry. I feel awful for hurting you."
I felt bad for playing on his guilt, but I needed him to listen to me.
I put my hand on his shoulder, making sure to avoid his back. Killian had two long scars running down each side of his spine. And no matter how much time passed, they were always sensitive.
I had questioned him once on how they had come to be, but he didn't know. He said he had had them for as long as he could remember. And being orphaned, he didn't have anyone he could ask.
"Hey. You were protecting me," I told him. "I appreciate the lengths you go to. I'm incredibly lucky to have you watching out for me." I held my breath, afraid I was laying it on too thick. But Killian turned his head to me and flashed a tight smile.
I sighed—genuinely sighed.
That golden-brown hair. Those piercing green eyes. My god, even with a ghost of a smile his dimples were apparent. But more than anything was his genuine character—he was such a good person.
What was wrong with me?
I tried desperately, for what seemed like the thousandth time, to feel something for him then. I willed myself to want him, to feel some kind of attraction. But all I had for Killian was a sisterly type of love and appreciation. And I knew it would never be anything more.
I poured another shot for each of us and clinked my glass to his, downing the shot. No longer trying to butter him up, I was sincere with what I told him next.
"Killian, you are the noblest, most decent male I know."
He ran a hand through his hair and shook his head. "Vi, I'm not."
I held my hand up to silence him, but he took it in his own and brought it to his heart. "If you had any idea how close I've been to . . . how many times I've almost tried to force you to love me. This plan of your mother's . . . I was more than happy to follow it through. It was what I've always wanted to do, and now I've been given permission to carry it out."
He let out a heavy exhale. "But it's not the way I want to begin something with you. And Violet, you have to understand—we all love and care about you. There's no way we can send you off to the Shadow Court."
"Killian, I have a plan."
"No—"
"I'm not going to just bust in there, guns blazing. I'm going to learn, observe. I'm going to know everything about this guy—where he goes, what he does, who he trusts. I'll bide my time. And once I know everything there is, I'll know what I need to do."
Killian ran his hand through his hair again. Clearly frustrated. The muscles in his arm and shoulder bunched and flexed with the movement. "Even if you are successful, and that's a big if, it will be too obvious. They'll know it was you. They're not going to let you get away with it."
"So I won't let them know it was me."
Killian threw his hands up in the air. "We're immortals, Vi! It's not like you can make it look like an accident."
"I'll frame someone else. There are tons of other groups who are fearful of this guy or afraid of what his rise to power will mean. I take him out and then it looks like it was the dragons, or the shifters—heck, maybe I can get a banshee to sing for him. Whatever. Once I know more, I'll figure it out.
"Then, as his widow, and the ruler of the Shadow Court, I pardon the offense. I make some big statement about how the fighting and killing must stop. How I am choosing not to retaliate in an attempt to finally put a rest to the warfare between immortals. I'll call upon other leaders for peace and finality.
"His death will be mourned and respected. His people will see that he gave the ultimate sacrifice for them and their well-being . . . Like I said, I'll figure out the details, but you get the idea."
"There are so many things that could go wrong with that plan. No. Just, no."
"Killian, why do you fight every night? Why do you guard me every day? You care about your race. You care about others. You feel that you are capable of defending those who cannot defend themselves."
I took his hand in mine, once again. "You are noble and courageous. Please. Allow me to try to
be the same."
He eyed me for a long moment before squeezing my hand in his big warm one. "I go with you, and I go first. I'll take a team with me and we will scope out the Dark Manor, as well as the route there."
I tried to play on his sense of honor and duty. "The Radiant Court needs you, as well as every other team member the squadron has. Your people need you. It doesn't make sense to risk others. I need to do this alone."
He began to shake his head.
"Look. Killian. I get it. It's very possible—actually likely—that I won't make it through this. But I have to try. We will never have a chance like this again."
Killian didn't acknowledge my plea. Instead he made one last ditch attempt to change my mind, his words desperate. "Come away with me. Not because of any of this. But for us. Let me be enough for you. We can leave right now. I have a penthouse in New York. We can get lost in a sea of mortals for a while. Or we can go to the Caribbean and lounge on the beach for a few weeks. I will forsake everyone else for you."
I looked at him then. Really looked at him. And I hated myself for what I was doing to him. But for whatever reason, I knew my destiny was not with him. And I also suspected that somewhere deep inside, he knew that his was not with me.
I leaned forward and gently grasped his face in my hands, placing a light kiss on his lips. And knowing I was breaking his heart, I sadly whispered, "No, Killian . . . you won't."
Chapter 5
True to his word, Barrister Corbett returned with papers the next evening. I signed them, and that was it. One night I had been out fighting Shadows, and the next, I was married to their prince.
We arranged to have a transitional meeting, wherein a contingent of guards from the Radiant Court would escort me to a neutral location. I would then be entrusted to a contingent of guards from the Shadow Court who would take me to the Dark Manor.