Jackson and his father were too entertained.
A little niggle of guilt ate at her. Elijah was such a gentle man. It felt wrong to intimidate him.
“My Princess. The purple lines of the brand represent a Princess of Cymmera.”
“Do all women in Cymmera have these?”
“No. Only those descended from royalty.”
“Royalty? Are you saying I’m a descendent of King Maynard?” A surge of disappointment flowed through her. Could she and Jackson be related? She took in the horrified expression on his face.
“No.”
Jackson relaxed.
Some of Ryleigh’s tension eased.
“You are descended from King Raya. He is the only other royal line to ever have ruled Cymmera. The legends are obviously true. Your sister will one day have a similar mark.”
“So Mia will one day be able to survive here?” The relief surprised her. Had she planned to stay here? She had no clue, perhaps she had.
“Yes. She will undoubtedly be able to live in Cymmera and bear the mark of a Princess, if she so chooses.”
“Okay. I think I can live with this.” With relief calming her, she almost forgot about the other part of what he’d said. Almost. “What do the white flowers represent?”
He hesitated. He straightened his back, lifted his chin, as if bracing himself to impart the news.
She suddenly wanted him to stop. Don’t say another thing, she implored him silently. But she couldn’t stop the flow of words.
“The white lines are the mark of the future Queen of Cymmera.”
A weight fell onto her chest. Crushing her. She couldn’t breathe.
Jackson’s expression held only shock.
King Maynard’s held knowledge. And compassion.
A commotion from the hallway stopped her from having to respond. A loud pounding sounded against the door. “Elijah!”
“Yes.”
“I must see you and King Maynard immediately.” Darius Knight’s voice sounded strained even through the thick wood door.
“Go quickly. Get changed.” Elijah’s hushed tone held an unusual urgency. He picked up Jackson’s shirt and threw it to him then shooed them out of sight.
Jackson placed his hand on the small of Ryleigh’s back and guided her through the door to the dressing room. “Stay quiet.” He pulled on his black t-shirt, covering the symbol that now adorned his shoulder.
Ryleigh pulled her jeans on under the flowing gown. She pulled them up and buttoned them then hastily pulled the blue sweater over her head, slid her arms out of the beaded straps, and shoved her hands into the sweater sleeves. She wiggled the gown down past her hips and stepped out of it then threw it over the back of a chair.
Desire darkened Jackson’s eyes.
Heat flared. “Pig.”
“What?” The wide-eyed innocent look was ruined by the mischievous grin that spread lazily across his face.
She laughed softly, but sobered quickly. “Do you think something’s wrong?” Surely if something was wrong with Mia they would have called for Ryleigh as well.
Jackson took a step toward her, his stare intense. He reached up, slid his fingers through her hair.
She stiffened.
He lowered his hands to her neck.
Her blood warmed. A tingle started in her belly. Spread—
Jackson pulled back and lifted a hand to dangle the choker she’d been wearing in front of her. He tossed it on the chair and moved to the doorway.
Ugh…that guy could frustrate her like no one else. She dismissed her growing desire and moved to stand beside him.
He put his finger to his full lips to silence her.
Okay, do not think about his lips. She nodded.
He steered her in front of him and leaned against her back, both of them pressing their ears to the door he held cracked open.
Darius Knight spoke calmly, matter-of-factly. “…entered the far reaches of Cymmera, not the city itself, but the outlying areas. The word we received is they can’t hold them back. The warriors we have stationed out there are doing their best, but they’re no match for an entire army of savages.”
“Have you sent help?” King Maynard’s voice held no sign of laughter now. It also held no hint of anger, nor any other emotion.
“I sent Chayce with a small group of soldiers. I also sent the messenger bird with a coded message that help would arrive before the next nightfall. The stable boys are preparing the dragons for battle as we speak.”
Stable boys? Battle? Whoa. Did he just say dragons? A thrill rushed through her. Terror chased it away.
Savages had entered Cymmera? She had to get to Mia. Tattoo or no tattoo, Jackson or no Jackson, she was leaving here and taking Mia with her.
The brand on her arm stung, just for the briefest moment, a gentle reminder of where her loyalty should lie.
Jackson retreated, pulling her focus from her internal battle. “Wait here.” The whisper was harsh, left no room for argument. He’d issued an order and assumed she would obey as he strode from the room without as much as a backward glance.
Yeah right. She followed him into the main chamber.
All three of the men looked up at Jackson and Ryleigh’s approach.
King Maynard maintained a neutral expression.
Elijah scowled.
Darius raised an eyebrow and looked questioningly at Elijah.
Ryleigh scanned the room, like a kid searching for something she left out that would get her in trouble, but no sign of the Ordination Ceremony remained.
“Has the city been secured?” The King’s monotone thundered through the room.
Darius read from a small leather book. “The Junior Guard is stationed along the wall.”
Jackson pinned him with a stare.
“Dakota remained with Mia for now.”
Jackson nodded.
“More seasoned soldiers are guarding the perimeter of the castle, but we’re going to have to make some decisions.”
King Maynard massaged his temples, the first outward sign of tension he’d shown. “Yes. Where’s Kai?”
“On his way. I sent for him immediately. I was told you were here with Elijah, so I requested he meet us here.” Though the question was evident in Darius’s tone, no one elaborated on what they’d been discussing. He let it drop.
“All right. Do you have damage reports?” King Maynard clasped his hands behind his back and paced.
Darius hesitated, stared pointedly at Ryleigh.
“Speak freely.” None of the playfulness she’d become used to was evident in Jackson’s forceful command. He was every bit the warrior in that moment. Dark. Dangerous.
She’d glimpsed a hint of that danger before, but never as close to the surface as it now was.
“Very well, sir.” Darius took a deep breath. “The outermost village has been completely destroyed, everyone killed except for one child who somehow managed to escape the slaughter.”
Ryleigh’s hand flew to her mouth. Bile surged into her throat, threatened to erupt.
All of the men stared at her.
She swallowed. The bile burned its way back down to her gut. It roiled, but stayed down. She worked to blank the horrified expression that had to be evident on her face.
“Where is the child now?” Jackson drew the attention from Ryleigh.
Grateful for the reprieve, she worked to contain her emotions.
“She made it to a small outpost in time to warn the guards what was happening. A soldier is trying to make his way here with her. That child most likely saved the outpost from a similar fate.”
“Oh, please.” Kai strode into the room. “That outpost is staffed with seasoned soldiers. There would have been no slaughter.”
“My reports are that our soldiers are outnumbered by about four to one. The savages were brutal in their destruction of the village. They left everything—and everyone—in pieces.”
“Hmm.” Kai stood perfectly still, hands clasped behind him, feet apart.
A guard entered the chamber. “Sir, the latest message has arrived.” He handed Darius a small scroll, bowed to the King, and retreated to the doorway.
Darius opened it and read aloud. “The outpost guards are involved in an intense battle. The commander has issued orders to pull back if they can. They are going to try and set up an ambush closer to the village of Maris in an effort to stop the savages from reaching it.” Darius paused and lifted his gaze from the scroll. He met each of their gazes before speaking. “He’s not optimistic. He suggests we try to intercept them after they’ve passed Maris but before they reach Coran.”
“The Death Dealers might be able to reach Coran before the savages do. The Cymmeran Guard will not.” Kai’s voice held no emotion.
Silence hung in the air. Thick, heavy, oppressive.
King Maynard stood tall, his posture tense. “Very well. Issue the orders.”
The guard bowed then turned and left.
Kai started to follow him, but stopped and turned back to face King Maynard. “Won’t my protégé be joining me?”
Ryleigh’s heart stopped. Surely Jackson wasn’t going to leave her.
Darius intervened. “Prince Maynard has been assigned to guard the Princess.”
Kai turned a disgusted gaze on Ryleigh.
She rubbed the tattoo on her arm, foolish, since he couldn’t see the mark through her sweater, but she couldn’t help but feel exposed under his intense scrutiny.
He turned his back on her and addressed Darius. “This is a time of war. Our people are being slaughtered. We are their only hope for defense right now. The Prince will take his proper place in battle.”
Darius opened his mouth to speak.
Kai pointed a finger in his face. “I will not lead my team into a battle of this magnitude short a man. Jackson either takes his place, or my Death Dealers will remain here to protect the city, and the villages can fend for themselves.”
Elijah lunged toward him. “That’s a death sentence for thousands of people, Kai.” His hands trembled, curled into fists.
Kai spun toward Elijah, gripping the handle of the long sword at his side. “Indeed it is.”
“That’s it.” King Maynard ripped his sword from its sheath.
Ryleigh sucked in a breath.
He pointed the sword at Jackson. “Prince Maynard. Join your unit.”
Jackson’s eyes went wide. Then blank. “Yes, sir.” He bowed and moved to leave. The look he shot Kai burned with hatred.
The warrior stared back at him, his expression smug.
“Jackson.”
He stopped but didn’t turn back to his father. “Sir.”
“Elijah will see to protecting the Princesses.”
“I will?” Elijah seemed as surprised as Ryleigh.
“Yes. Do you know what to do?” He spared Elijah a glance.
“Of course, Your Majesty.”
“See to it then. I will be leading the Death Dealer team.”
Everyone in the chamber gasped.
Except Kai. His eyes hardened. The already tight line of his mouth firmed.
King Maynard moved toward him. He stopped and stood toe to toe with the warrior, placed the tip of his sword against Kai’s chest. “I will never bow to ultimatums, Kai, no matter who issues them. In case you’ve forgotten, I was mentored under the original Death Dealer team, I outrank you, and I am now in command of this unit. If you wish to accompany us, go prepare.”
Kai clenched his teeth, flexed his hand over his sword handle. He held the king’s stare, lifted his sword the slightest bit. Then he turned and stormed from the room.
“Darius, have the women and children been evacuated?”
“We’re in the process of evacuating now, sir.”
“Thank you. Prepare your units, please.”
“Yes, sir.” Darius bowed and left.
“Elijah.” The king spoke in hushed, urgent tones. “Move them through the family tunnel. Quite honestly, I just don’t know who to trust anymore, so don’t trust anyone.”
“Sir.” Elijah bowed his head.
“I’m not kidding, Elijah. You trust no one. You take Ryleigh, Mia, Kiara and Sadie. Send Dakota to join his unit.”
“But, sir.” He faltered. “What of the city, sir? How can I leave it?”
“The city will have been evacuated. I will not have a repeat of the last time. If they burn it to the ground, so be it. We’ll re-build. The Death Dealers ride the fastest dragons in any realm, and I’m going to push hard to reach Maris as quickly as possible. I don’t want to lose that village.” He shook his head. “If we don’t make it, I’ll have to live with that, but we will stop them before they reach Coran. I refuse to lose any more of my people.” He nodded to Ryleigh and strode from the room.
Jackson approached Elijah. “Go ahead, Elijah. Ready the others. Ryleigh and I will meet you in my chambers.”
“Very well, sir.” He took a few steps but stopped and faced Jackson. “I’ll take good care of them, My Prince.” He bowed his head and left.
“Listen to me, Ryleigh. It will take a little while before the preparations are complete, but we don’t have much time.”
She ran to keep up as he strode from the room and started down the corridor.
“You stay with Elijah. He’s the one person I know I can trust.”
“How can you be sure?”
“I am sure, but I want you to take this.” He stopped and pulled a small, sheathed dagger from his boot. He held it out to her and smiled. “Just in case.”
She only hesitated a second before taking it and shoving it into her boot.
“Elijah will take you out through the royal family tunnels. Only Elijah and our immediate family know about them. No one should expect that, and it should be safe.”
“Does Kai know about them?”
“No. I don’t know what’s going on with Kai, but my father obviously doesn’t trust him anymore.” He lowered his voice even more. “Being that I was just acquitted of all charges, everyone would have known I’d be ordained soon. The timing of this invasion is just too coincidental. It had to have been intentional. Nothing else makes sense.”
They started up the stairs toward Jackson’s chamber. “You think someone’s trying to stop you from becoming a Death Dealer?”
“That, or someone’s trying to stop me from becoming the heir to the throne.”
When they reached the door, Jackson grabbed her and pulled her to him. His lips crashed down on hers. This kiss was not gentle. It was filled with all of the emotions that must be hammering at him. Rough. Passionate. He pulled away too soon.
“Jackson.”
“I have to go, Ryleigh. If there were any other way I wouldn’t leave.”
“Can’t we just go home?”
“No. You cannot return to your realm. We have no way to know what might lie in wait there.”
“What if I go somewhere random? They’d never find us.”
He was already shaking his head. “You stay with Elijah. Nothing’s completely safe, but this is the safest we can make it. Promise me you’ll listen to Elijah.”
“I will.” The urge to cling to him, to hold him there, was almost irresistible. “Promise me you’ll come back to me.” She didn’t cry, didn’t beg him to stay, though she desperately wanted to.
He held her gaze with his. “I love you, Ryleigh.” He pressed his lips gently to hers. Once. Quick. Then he shoved the door open, nodded to Elijah, and ran down the stairs.
* * * *
Jackson ran down the stairs. Had he really told Ryleigh he loved her? How had that happened? He’d opened his mouth, and the words had just jumped out. Crap. Leaving her was killing him. When he got his hands on Kai…
Kai. The warrior seemed to be on a mission to hurt him, to destroy Ryleigh. What had happened to Kai? Jackson’s mentor. T
he man had once been like a father to him.
His father. What was his father doing going into battle? The King was more than experienced as a soldier, a Death Dealer. Something in Jackson’s gut nagged him. He’d have to keep a close eye on the old man.
The random thoughts battered at him, stealing his concentration from the battle he was about to enter. He stopped. Squeezed his head between his hands. He had to regain his focus. No way could he fight this way. Dealing with all of these emotions was too new.
He turned around and ran back up the stairs, heading for the uppermost levels of the castle. When he reached the top of the stairs, he pushed through the trap door and ascended onto the flat surface of the tower roof. He took a deep breath. The fresh air filled his straining lungs. The familiar scent of home poured through him. He worked to slow his breathing, slow his heart rate.
Ryleigh always managed to kick it up to an uncomfortable pace. Ryleigh again. Couldn’t he rid his mind of her image for even a few minutes?
Jackson bent over, stretched his back. He propped his foot up on the low wall surrounding the tower, stretched first one leg then the other. He vaulted up onto the parapet. Stood. Surveyed the Kingdom his mother had loved so much. He inhaled deeply, the cool air beginning to calm him. He closed his eyes, focused on balancing himself.
He opened his eyes and walked along the battlement, slowly at first, trying to gain his balance, his focus. His powers had been fully restored during the Ordination Ceremony. He was stronger than any human, faster, more agile. He faltered, lost his footing, looked down.
But he couldn’t fly.
He blew out a breath, steadied himself, focused solely on the ball of energy within him. Stabilized his core. Tightened his muscles. Loosened them. He started to run. Increased his speed. Worked to empty his mind. Allowed his instincts to guide him. Power exploded inside of him.
He ran across the crenellations, launching himself easily over the gaps. He concentrated on the energy flowing through him, on allowing the parkour style run to free his mind. He ran around the entire tower once, willing his reflexes to take over.
The second time around, when he reached the nearest turret, he launched himself toward it. Landed just his toes, for a split second, on a protruding block. Used his hand against the wall to push off and back toward the tower he’d just jumped from. Then he pushed off just as quickly toward a flat roof. He landed smoothly, never slowing, and continued across the rooftop.
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