“You're already hurting me!” Kitt pointed at the red marks on her arm where he had been squeezing too hard. “And where's Doon? What does he have to say about all this? He's avoiding me, isn't he? That bastard! He's afraid to hear what I'll say!”
“I dunno,” Bryce said and he dragged her forward. “I ain't paid to read his mind.”
Kitt scanned the area for Doon, but she didn't see him. However, she did see Miles, so she called to him.
“Miles!” she shrieked his name. “Miles, what's going on?”
Miles kept his head down, as if he was ashamed to look at her. His answer was so quiet that she barely heard him. “I'm very sorry, my lady...”
“Oh god...” Kitt moaned. Miles sounded so somber, she felt like she was marching to her death. She kept looking around for Doon, but she didn't see him on deck. When she glanced over her shoulder, she saw Roderick some distance behind her. Another pirate, one she didn't recognize, was escorting him back to the castle. She tried to get Roderick's attention, but he didn't notice. He was too busy focusing on the bandage that was wrapped around his shoulder.
As they disembarked from the ship, Kitt finally saw him. Captain Doon was a considerable distance ahead of her, and he was charging into the castle. “DOON!” she screamed his name. “Doon, get back here, or I swear to God...”
“Are you makin' threats against the captain?” Bryce asked with a low chuckle. “Dat's awful funny.”
As for Doon, he didn't so much as glance back at her. He tugged on the brim of his top hat, lowered his eyes, and surged toward the throne room with conviction.
“I can't even begin to tell you how much I hate him right now,” Kitt hissed. “I hate him I hate him I hate him!”
Bryce didn't have anything to say to that. He just grabbed her a bit harder and shoved her forward, off of the ship and toward the castle.
Being back at the castle was Kitt's worst nightmare; it was the last place she wanted to be. It was the place where she couldn't sleep because she feared for her life. It was the place where she would be executed if her identity was revealed. It was the place where she had a fiance she didn't want, and a mother who considered her a rival. Kitt didn't want to pretend she was the princess anymore. She was tired of pretending.
But what other choice did she have? If she told her story to anyone but Roderick, how could she be sure she wouldn't end up in the gallows?
Bryce shoved her into the throne room, where Doon was already in a conversation with Queen Loreina. Like Roderick, the queen had a sizable bandage on her arm. She had likely been injured during the attack on the castle.
“Thank you for returning my daughter to me yet again, Captain,” Loreina spoke to Doon. “Once again, I am in your debt.”
“I am happy to serve you, Your Highness,” Doon answered with a bow. Unbeknownst to him, Kitt was glaring at the back of his head. If she could have ignited his hair on fire with her gaze, she might have opted to do so.
“You'll be receiving another reward, of course. A large reward,” Loreina promised him. “My daughter's safety is, of course, a primary concern.”
Doon started to glance over his shoulder, but as soon as he glimpsed Kitt standing behind him, he quickly looked away. “Of course, Your Majesty.”
“We have uncovered the identity of the attackers,” Loreina continued. “Apparently, they were working for Rory McCray. He's been opposing us for some time, but this is the first time he's attacked us outright.”
“Then he should be dealt with,” Doon coldly suggested.
“We are of one mind on this.” Loreina's eyes narrowed until they were slits. “I want him dead, and I want you to kill him for me. I cannot let him think he's in a position of power, nor can I allow him to get away with such an affront. I want you to find him, kill him, and cut out his beating heart.”
Doon cocked his head and chuckled. “Do you truly want the heart, or would stabbing him in the chest be sufficient?”
“I don't care about the heart. I want him dead. Deader than dead.” Loreina tossed her hair over her shoulder as she raged. “If you do this for me, the reward you receive will be larger than any reward you've received thus far.”
“Then it shall be done, Your Highness,” said Doon, bowing again.
“Good.” Loreina sounded satisfied. She folded her hands in her lap and smiled at her loyal privateer. “I do not doubt you will get the job done, Captain. You are ever so efficient.”
“Your compliments honor me, Your Grace.”
“And now you are dismissed,” Loreina said, flicking a finger toward the door. “And Lyneah... I must ask you to leave as well. I am glad to see you safe, of course, but I require rest for my injuries.” The queen pouted when she looked down at her bandaged arm.
Kitt was happy to be dismissed, because it meant she was free to chase after Doon. He seemed as desperate to get away from her as she was desperate to speak to him. When she left the throne room, he was already halfway down the hall.
“Doon!” she hollered after him. “Doon, get back here!”
He increased his pace, lengthened his strides, and quickly turned a corner. But Kitt was determined to catch him. She lifted the hem of her gown and sprinted after him as quickly as she could. “Doon!” When she finally caught up to him, she grabbed his sleeve and pulled him backward. “Doon, why are you doing this? Why did you take me back to the one place you knew I didn't want to be? I thought you were taking me home! Why did you lie?”
Doon turned around slowly. He had yet to say a word to her, but he already looked exhausted by the conversation. “I never intended to take you home. What did you expect me to do... return to the castle without a princess? I would have looked like a fool who failed to rescue you.”
“So you did lie!” Kitt exclaimed. “Why?”
He glanced over Kitt's head, refusing to make eye contact with her. “Because why not?”
“I thought you cared about me!” Even though she was enraged, Kitt tried to keep her voice down. She didn't want any of the nearby guardsmen to overhear their conversation. “You even apologized! I thought you felt sorry for what you did! Was it all a lie?”
“Hm.” Doon stroked his chin as he considered her words. “I suppose it was, but I don't know why you're surprised. When did I ever give you the impression that I was a man of honor?”
Kitt clenched her fists so tightly, she could feel her fingernails carving into her skin. “What's it like to be such a horrible person?” she hissed at him “What's it like to live your life without any regard for anyone else's feelings?”
“Good question.” Doon chuckled. “I'd say it's fairly comfortable, actually.”
“Grr!” Kitt grunted. “Why are you so... so... wicked!”
Doon rolled his eyes and sighed. “Don't look so cross. It's not so terrible, is it? I'm even going to let you keep Miles.”
Kitt's eyebrow shot up. “What do you mean?”
“I mean he's going to stay behind as your servant. As the princess' servant,” Doon explained. “It was Miles' choice, and while I consider him invaluable, he was quite adamant. So I agreed to let him go.”
Kitt couldn't think about Miles. Her mind was consumed by a single thought. “I hate you,” she told him. “I hate you, Doon. I really do.”
“Good!” Doon slowly clapped his hands. “Did it ever occur to you that I don't care if you hate me? Or, perhaps, that I want you to hate me?”
“Why?” Tears sprang into Kitt's eyes when she heard his response. For a moment, she really had fooled herself into thinking he cared about her. It was crushing to realize how very wrong she was. “Why are you like this?”
“Like what, Kitten?”
Kitten. Hearing that nickname made her glower. Hot tears threatened to spill from her eyes as she observed his expressionless countenance. “You have no soul,” she whispered.
“Once again, I'm glad.” Doon slid backward, eager to get away from her. “If I don't have a soul, then I won't have to see my enemies in hell.” As
he stepped back a second time, he bowed to her. “Now I really must be on my way. Farewell, Princess.”
Kitt was overcome with rage and disappointment. Her entire body was a maelstrom of fury. As she watched him swagger away, a scream flew from her lips, which attracted stares from nearby knights. Doon acted like he didn't care, not even a bit. She was so frustrated by his callousness that she nearly punched a wall.
She watched Doon walk down the hall, through the door, and hopefully out of her life for good. When he disappeared from view, a single tear slipped from her eye.
Kitt's heart was in agony.
The Barefoot Barmaid (Belles & Bullets Book 1) Page 19