They would not have left their king, were eager to fight for him, in his honor. Even if it meant dying.
Jackson took one last look at his father. He lowered his father’s hand gently to rest on his stomach then released it. “Go in peace, Father.”
It was time. He turned and walked away. There were things to do. He opened the door and addressed the guard. “Send for Elijah.”
“With all due respect, sir. Kai ordered us to ignore your directives.” He looked to the other guard who simply nodded in agreement.
Anger swelled in Jackson’s chest. He stood straighter, gripped the bottom of his shirt in his hands, tore it over his head, and tossed it to the ground between the guards.
Both guards gasped. The one who had ignored his order paled. Stuttered. “I…uh…Kai…”
“That is a direct order, soldier.”
“Sir, yes, sir, King Maynard. My apologies.” Both men dropped to their knees and lowered their heads in deference to their new King.
Jackson strode purposefully down the corridor.
The whispers of the guards followed in his wake. Good. News would travel quickly.
Now to handle Kai. What to do with him though. He’d been a loyal second in command to King Maynard for centuries. Jackson would have to choose a successor immediately. But who? Should he ask Kai?
Great. His first decision as King, and he had no clue what to do.
Elijah was loyal, strong, well-liked. But he wasn’t a King. He often disappeared for long periods of time when visions tormented him or research was required. Elijah had his role, and it was vital to the Kingdom, but he was no king.
Chayce could assume command in the event something happened to Jackson. But Chayce’s destiny lay in a different direction. He would lead the Cymmeran Guard. It was a role he was well suited for. Besides, he didn’t have the focus or the drive necessary to lead a Kingdom.
Back to Kai. And yet…it just didn’t feel right. He stood outside Kai’s door, indecision making him hesitate.
An image of Ryleigh came unbidden. The symbol on her arm a dim glow, drawing his attention. Was she actually the rightful heir to the throne?
He dismissed the thought.
She didn’t have the knowledge necessary to rule Cymmera. Not yet, anyway. But she would learn. Would she one day rule at his side, as his queen? Every instinct he had screamed that she would.
Perhaps she was meant to be second in command.
Pain pierced Jackson’s heart.
Kai had been such a huge part of his life, had been his mentor, his friend. He would never forgive Jackson for this.
Jackson took a deep breath and braced himself for the battle to come. Even though the door was slightly ajar, Jackson still lifted a fist to knock.
“You still need to get rid of Jackson.”
He froze, his hand in the air, shock paralyzing him.
The voice was familiar, yet distorted. As if coming through a portal from another realm.
Jackson strained to listen, to identify the disembodied voice.
“I’m well aware of that, Your Majesty.” Kai’s voice was unmistakable.
Agony unlike anything Jackson had ever experienced impaled him.
“I won’t tolerate another screw up. You were ordered not to allow the old man to return to the castle. If they had been able to heal him…”
Anger crept in, slowly replacing the pain of betrayal.
“I understand that, sir. Jackson disobeyed a direct order to leave him.”
Silence.
Jackson’s rage built, tunneled his vision.
Kai had betrayed his kingdom, betrayed Jackson, and betrayed his King, a man who had trusted him enough to make him his closest advisor.
“Jackson needs to go. Have you figured out what to do with the other two?”
“Not yet, sir. The older one bears the mark of the Queen.”
A sharp intake of breath. Obviously, the speaker hadn’t known that.
“Which means she can challenge my ascension to the throne if she so chooses. I have asked her to rule beside me, but she’s a defiant one. Another Jackson.”
“Don’t play games with her then, just get rid of her.”
The rage pounded through Jackson’s head. Throbbing. Beating at him. Demanding he move.
“The younger one, though. She’s weaker, having trouble surviving in Cymmera. If I take her as my queen, she’ll do as she’s told, and no one can challenge my leadership.”
“Very well—”
Pure, primal rage catapulted Jackson through the door.
Kai turned.
A portal closed.
Jackson ignored it, fixing his full wrath on his mentor. “How dare you?”
Kai showed no remorse. No shame. Instead, a slow, malicious grin spread across the warrior’s face. “Well, well, well. You’ve just made my job easier.” His laughter crawled up Jackson’s spine.
Jackson’s entire body vibrated with anger as he reached for his sword.
Kai’s smile faltered. His mouth fell open. His gaze riveted on the mark adorning Jackson’s arm. “No.”
Kai’s harsh whisper sent a small ripple of satisfaction through Jackson. It did nothing to dilute his anger at Kai’s betrayal.
Jackson pulled the sword from its sheath. He circled Kai.
This man had taught Jackson everything he knew. He was aware of all of Jackson’s weaknesses, could most likely predict his attacks before Jackson even thought of them.
Kai pulled his own sword, recovering from his shock. The smug, self-assured smile returned. “No matter.” He shrugged. “I can take you down just as easily with a mark on your arm.”
Kai stepped forward with incredible speed. Used his sword to slice through the mark.
The red slash, the symbol of the king, opened up. Blood ran down Jackson’s arm.
He ignored the sting and circled his mentor. He chastised himself, had to stop thinking of this man as his mentor. He was a traitor. His crime punishable by death. As King, it was Jackson’s duty to carry out that punishment. Jackson searched for an opening.
Kai was strong, smart, experienced. It wouldn’t be easy to beat him. But he could beat him. Because Kai was arrogant.
“What’s the matter, boy? Have you forgotten how to fight?”
Jackson waited. Patient.
“Or do you lack the balls to come after me?”
His every instinct begged him to attack, urged him to respond to Kai’s taunts. Still, he waited.
Kai frowned.
Jackson had always been short tempered, quick to lash out in anger.
Kai straightened, relaxed his stance, ever so slightly.
Jackson pounced. He plunged the sword toward Kai’s heart.
The warrior blocked the blow, but only partially. The sword instead tore through his shoulder. Kai screamed, rage and pain driving him crazy.
Jackson pulled back. Waited again.
Kai attacked. He swung his sword, his aim for Jackson’s neck dead on.
Jackson blocked. The sound of metal on metal echoed through the stone chamber.
Kai moved.
Jackson had forgotten how fast he was. Jackson swung around to meet his next blow.
Kai’s sword clashed down against Jackson’s.
Jackson’s grip on his sword slipped, only slightly, but still costly.
Kai landed his next blow, deep into Jackson’s side.
Jackson backed away.
Kai followed through. Missed.
His hand slick with blood from the gash in his arm, Jackson panicked. Back-pedaled too quickly. Tripped. Fell to the floor. Somersaulted back and jumped to his feet. Barely avoiding another blow from Kai.
Jackson circled around, trying to give himself room to think, space to maneuver.
Kai’s grin widened. He charged forward, the thrill of victory burning in his eyes.
Jackson sidestepped the attack. Tu
rned. Caught Kai with a glancing blow to the head.
Kai turned. Blood dripped into his eye, impeded his vision. He heaved the sword toward Jackson.
Barely nicked his ear. Too close to his neck, his throat.
Jackson swung around. A flash of steel. The clang of crashing metal. The coppery stench of blood. He breathed in deeply and held it, tried to clear his head. Focus. He fought back the darkness threatening to envelope him.
Kai plunged his sword toward Jackson’s gut, desperate to land a killing blow. His vision becoming more and more inhibited by the flow of blood. He used his free hand to swipe the blood away.
Jackson didn’t waste any more energy. He waited for Kai to move toward him. Kicked him in the chest, moving him back. Then followed through. Immediately driving his sword into Kai’s chest.
The warrior’s eyes went wide. He backpedaled and fell. Blood trickled from his mouth.
Jackson stepped back. Thrust again.
Kai rolled.
Jackson turned. Took a step back.
Blackness. A portal opened and Kai rolled through.
Jackson took two steps forward. Intent on diving through after him. Stopped. A vision of Daygan’s savages lying in wait. He allowed the portal to close. Staggered toward the door.
Ryleigh.
He had to reach her. Had to get Mia to safety. He flung the door open and stumbled into the corridor.
“Jackson.” Lucas ran toward him. “Go find Kiara. Now!” He reached for Jackson’s good arm, tried to take the sword from his hand.
“No.” Jackson clutched the sword tighter.
The sound of running footsteps pounded through the corridor.
Lucas issued orders.
Voices, metal clanking, footsteps, the harsh rasp of swords being unsheathed. Chaos.
“Jackson, what happened? Call for Darius and Kai. Find the Death Dealer squad. Where’s Kiara? Someone find her. Now.”
No. No. No. Jackson screamed in his mind. He had to stop them. Could he trust Lucas? Could he trust anyone? He had to think.
Lucas struggled to aid Jackson, hold his sword ready for an attack, issue orders, find his wife.
Jackson stopped walking. He stepped back from Lucas. “Wait.”
Lucas paused and turned to face Jackson.
Jackson placed his back against the wall. He studied the men surrounding him, waiting for his orders, waiting for him to lead them. Were there traitors among them?
His body had already begun to repair itself. Would continue to heal at an incredible speed.
But Kai’s injuries would heal just as quickly.
He had to pull himself together.
Ryleigh and Mia needed protection.
He faced Lucas, looked deep in the other man’s eyes. He’d known Lucas for as long as he could remember. He had to trust someone. But not with the girls. “Lucas.”
A hush fell over the gathered men. They all watched him. Some staring into his eyes, searching for…something. Others, gaping openly at the mark on his arm. A mark that was now partially concealed by drying blood.
“Sir, please. What happened? We cannot defend Cymmera if we don’t know where the threat lies.”
The guards glanced nervously around. Their gazes darting over every available surface, since a portal could open up anywhere, at any time, allowing an invading army to enter their world.
“Kai.”
A murmur rippled through the crowd.
The Death Dealers charged up the stairs but stopped short as they entered the packed corridor.
Jackson straightened away from the wall. Stood tall. Torn between reaching the girls and needing loyalty from his men. He had to hurry. “Kai is guilty of treason. He has betrayed this Kingdom. He has betrayed his King. When King Maynard was injured on the battlefield, Kai ordered that he be left behind.”
He stared pointedly at each Death Dealer.
Their faces filled with guilt. Shame. They should have known better than to leave their King. And yet, it would have been considered treason to disobey a direct order. A no win situation. He didn’t have time for grudges.
“What’s past is past. I hold no animosity toward any man who followed a direct order from the King’s right hand man. However, each man standing here must now make a choice. I am taking my father’s place as King. You either choose to follow me, or you may leave now with no repercussions.”
Lucas fell to his knee.
Darius Knight stood directly behind him. A small smile played at the corners of his mouth. Pride filled his eyes. He held Jackson’s gaze as he knelt.
The rest of the men followed suit.
“Please rise.” Touched by the gesture, Jackson nodded at the men as they stood.
“We must hurry. Kai has escaped to Argonas. He’s mortally injured but will heal in time, especially if he can reach a healer. We must secure the castle. The women and children must be moved to a safe location. Their location is compromised now that Kai is involved. He knows where to find them.”
The full implication of that hit the men hard. Their wives and children were now in danger.
Jackson searched the crowd. Where was Chayce? “Lucas, find Kiara and Sadie. Then take your unit and secure the women and children.”
“Where is safe?”
Tick tock. Tick tock. The seconds ticked away, a time bomb moving ever closer to detonation. He had to hurry. Where to send them? “Bring them here.”
“Are you crazy? We can’t bring them here. What if they attack the castle?” Concern echoed through the chamber. The men clearly questioning his sanity. His intelligence.
“It’s brilliant.”
The grumbles quieted.
“A stroke of genius.” Darius moved forward to stand beside Jackson. “Kai would never suspect that. The first thing Jackson should do is evacuate the castle. It’s the logical course of action. Kai and Daygan will both expect it.”
Darius looked to Jackson. “Go. Tend to what needs to be done. I’ll take over here.”
“Thank you.” Jackson nodded his appreciation. He leaned close to Darius. Spoke quietly. “Find Dakota. Do it yourself. Bring him and Mia to my chambers.”
“Very well.”
Jackson started down the corridor. Pain coursed through his body, his side burning.
“Jackson.” Ranger jogged toward him. “Please, let me help you.” He stared Jackson straight in the eye. “We are loyal to our Kingdom, King Maynard. All of us.”
Jackson leaned on Ranger.
The other man put his arm around Jackson’s back, easing some of the pressure from his side.
Together, they moved quickly up the stairs and into Jackson’s chamber.
When the door opened, Ryleigh shot up off the couch and ran to him.
“Are you all right? Oh, man. What happened? You’re hurt.” Her questions tumbled over one another.
He couldn’t focus on which one to answer. He took her by the arms and stood face to face with her. “Calm down, Ryleigh. I need you to listen.”
“I’ll be outside the door if you need me, Your Majesty.” Ranger bowed and closed the door behind him as he left.
Okay, he was going to have to do something about all the bowing and the Your Majesty stuff. It was getting just a little too weird.
“Please, Jackson.” The plea in Ryleigh’s voice pulled his attention back to her. “What happened?”
Did Ryleigh even know his father was gone? He didn’t know. He’d run out without a word when he’d received the news. “My father…”
“I know. Kiara came back to work on healing me. She told me what happened.” Tears filled her eyes. “I’m so sorry, Jackson.”
He pulled her into his arms, needing the warmth of her body against his.
She went willingly, laid her head against his shoulder. She fit so perfectly there.
He never wanted to release her, would hold her to him forever if he could. He winced at the pain in
his side.
She backed away. “Are you all right? What happened to you?” She led him to the couch and helped him sit.
Nika and Nahara, who had stood back while he’d greeted Ryleigh, now approached. They each lowered their heads in turn, waiting for Jackson to reach up and pet them.
The hounds had always comforted him. Even when he’d been a child, and had suffered from night terrors after his mother’s death, Nika and Nahara had been there. He wanted nothing in that moment more than to hop onto Nika’s back and fly.
“Jackson, please.” Impatience and frustration crept into her voice.
Concentration was difficult while his body was consuming so much energy to heal. “Kai.” Just voicing the words was still difficult. The pain of betrayal much stronger than any pain from his injuries. “He was a traitor. He betrayed his protégé, his king, his kingdom.” Jackson shook his head. He still couldn’t believe it.
“How can you be sure?” She frowned.
She didn’t say she’d told him so, though she could have. She hadn’t trusted the warrior from the beginning. He should have taken her concerns more seriously.
“I overheard him. I went to his chamber to talk to him, tell him I was assuming the throne. I stood outside his door trying to decide if I should ask him to be my second in command.” The ache of the memory pierced his heart. “I heard him speaking to someone.”
A flicker of memory tried to surface, the familiar voice he hadn’t been able to place. The flash of someone as the gateway had slammed closed. He shook it off, couldn’t remember. “They were discussing how to get rid of me and how they’d already gotten rid of my father.”
“Oh, no. I’m sorry, Jackson.” She kneeled on the floor in front of him, placed her hands over his. Sparks ignited. She kept her gaze down, watching the fireworks. “He was here.”
He had to strain to hear the soft whisper. “What?”
She cleared her throat. “Kai. He was here right after you left. I thought he was looking for you.”
“Was he? What did he say?” Anger pummeled him, chasing away some of the hurt.
“He asked me to be his queen.” A shiver coursed through her. She finally looked up into his eyes. “He said if I wouldn’t agree, he’d take Mia. I have to get to her, Jackson.”
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