Royal Pawn (Jacky Leon Book 6)

by K. N. Banet

  “That’s a very easy promise to make,” I said, nodding. We shook on it.

  After a moment of quiet, Carey frowned.

  “Your family knows about this now. Have they said anything? Are they going to visit like they keep saying they will?”

  “I don’t know,” I answered honestly. “They…they haven’t spoken to me in the last week. We just need to give them time to adjust. They’re…fighting a lot of old pain. My family fought wars against werewolves, so it’s going to take them some time to understand and be okay with this.”

  “But they will be okay one day, right?” Carey leaned on the counter. “I mean, Jabari is nice. He wouldn’t throw you away just because you love my dad.”

  I couldn’t answer her honestly, so I remained silent.

  “Jacky?”

  “Leave her family to her,” Heath said gently. “It’s complicated. They’re old, and they’ve seen a lot. They don’t trust me and have their reasons not to trust werewolves.”

  “That’s not fair,” she said softly, kicking the cabinets underneath the bar where we hid the cleaning materials. “I mean…we don’t like that people judge Landon for things he can’t control. You can’t control being a werewolf, and Jacky can’t control being a werecat. It’s not fair.”

  “No, it’s not,” I agreed. “Zuri is okay with your father and me, and she’s trying to talk some sense into them.” That I did know for certain. She and I exchanged a short set of emails, talking about how Hasan was reacting. He was certain Heath was playing me and wanted his children to help him figure out how to convince me to walk away.

  At least killing Heath isn’t on the table. Something to be grateful for.

  “You could have told them in a better way,” Heath pointed out.

  “It was an emotional moment,” I reminded him. “Either way, it’s done. We were planning on doing it, anyway. We should have never let Brion blackmail us, should have said something sooner…” I sighed. “It’s done.”

  “No second thoughts?” he asked softly.

  “None,” I growled at him. He smiled, which made me smile in return.

  We let the conversation die and waited. Finally, I felt two supernaturals enter my territory. Based on the direction they were coming from and the speed they were moving, they were driving from Dallas. I felt their signatures and tried to identify what they were. One brought images of snakes to my head, and I froze, putting that together quickly.

  Kaliya was her name, right?

  I couldn’t identify the other unique signature.

  “They’re almost here,” I told Heath and Carey. “Maybe you two can wait upstairs and let me deal with this.”

  “Are you sure?” Heath narrowed his eyes.

  “Yeah,” I whispered, thinking about everything I knew about Kaliya—assassin trained by my own brother, Tribunal Executioner, ruler of the nagas. The Demon Serpent, Sorcha had called her.

  Heath grabbed Carey, who whined about missing out, and took her out of the room. I moved out from behind the bar and stood in the center of the room. Cassius frowned in my direction before taking another swallow.

  “Who is here?” he asked darkly.

  “Friends,” I answered softly—not a lie. Hopefully, they were his friends. I didn’t know them.

  I saw the black SUV park outside and watched a beautiful white-haired Indian woman get out of the passenger’s side. From the driver’s side, a Latino man who was definitely over six feet tall and only made of muscle got out and stretched his arms.

  Kaliya made a straight line for my door, which I opened before she got the chance.

  “I’m Jacqueline, daughter of Hasan,” I greeted. “You are in my territory. You are?”

  “Kaliya Sahni, Queen of the Nagas,” she answered with a smile that revealed fangs. “That is my mate, Raphael Alvarez, Warlord of the Cambions. You have someone who belongs to me.”

  “Leith sent you,” I said, stepping back to let her in, but she didn’t enter immediately.

  “He did,” she confirmed, inspecting me head to toe. Whatever she saw, she didn’t comment. She entered my bar and saw him, sighing heavily. “Thank you for calling. I’ve been worried.”

  “They called you their best friend.”

  “They are…were…Sorcha was one of my only friends,” she answered, tilting her head to the side, and I couldn’t see her face anymore. “Cassius is the other. Again, thank you.”

  She walked across the bar and sat down next to him. He looked up and glared at her.

  “They’re under Sorcha’s protection, so they’re under mine,” he growled. “I can’t leave.”

  “You’re not good to anyone like this,” Kaliya whispered, reaching out, but he jerked away from her touch. “You have to come back to Phoenix.”

  “I can’t,” he whispered harshly. “I can’t go back to that house, and…”

  “Come to mine,” she pleaded. “Please, Cassius. We, Raphael and I, didn’t get an invitation to her memorial service. Nothing. Please. Come home and grieve with us.”

  “No,” he growled.

  “Fine,” she snapped. “We’ll do this the hard way.” She got up, stormed to the door, stuck her head out, and screamed, “Raphael! Come get this stupid ass of a man for me!”

  Raphael was there quickly, paying me no interest, and headed straight for Cassius. Cassius, who could threaten my father and get away with it, made no move to stop Raphael from grabbing him and forcing him to stand.

  “We’ll be damned if you think we’re going to leave you to handle this alone,” the cambion snarled. “After everything we’ve been through, you should have come to us.”

  “I…”

  “I don’t want to hear it,” the cambion said, yanking Cassius to start walking with him.

  “Thank you again,” Kaliya said as she stopped beside me, watching Raphael load Cassius into their SUV. “It’s safer if he’s with us. I know you’re under his protection. Leith explained it all to me. If you may need a favor from him one day, you can just call Leith at their home, and he’ll get ahold of Cassius. Good luck with you and your werewolf.”

  “You…you know about that?”

  “Oh…” Kaliya snorted. It wasn’t very queen-like. “You know I know your brother, right?”

  “Yeah, it’s been mentioned,” I mumbled.

  “Yeah, I keep up with all the gossip about your family, thanks to that. He didn’t tell me, though. I heard through the grapevine. Jacqueline, daughter of Hasan, the entire fucking world knows about you and your wolf. Take it from someone who mated out of species, it’s not easy, but it’s worth it. If…” Kaliya’s expression turned serious and thoughtful. “If Sorcha thought your relationship was worth fighting for and protecting, then it’s worth it. Fight for it. She was never wrong about these things.”

  “Sounds like you know from experience.”

  “I do,” she confirmed. “It was nice seeing you again.”

  “I don’t remember the first time,” I said, frowning deeply, then it dawned on me. She was the naga I smelled at my trial, there to be my executioner. How had I forgotten that little detail?

  “That’s a good thing,” she pointed out. “But it looks like you figured it out. Well, have a nice day.” Walking into the sunlight, she joined the men in the SUV, and they wasted no time. Raphael, in the driver’s seat, hit the gas and kicked up gravel. They disappeared from view, and I was left reeling.

  “Did you hear all that?” I asked loudly.

  “She seemed cool,” Carey said, coming out with her father.

  “And dangerous,” Heath pointed out.

  “Yeah.” I agreed with both of them. I wondered if I would ever see them again and then decided I wasn’t too keen on the idea. Cassius, sure, but not those two. “Now, Heath, get out of here. I’m taking Carey to dinner.”

  “I’m going!” He laughed but didn’t leave until he kissed me once, deeply for good measure. Carey, at her most mature, made not a peep.

  38
<
br />   Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Heath

  Heath walked into his office the moment he got home and looked at his son, sitting there, waiting for him.

  “I picked it up,” Landon said softly, holding up the small box. Heath grabbed it quickly then headed for his chair.

  “How are you and Dirk?” he asked, trying not to think about what was in the small box for a moment. His son was going through some big changes, and he wanted to talk about them while the women were out of the house.

  “Good. Figuring things out. He’s not against dating men, just never has before. He…he has feelings for me.” Landon was shy about admitting that but quickly got over it, growing exasperated. “He has this blasted tattoo done with witchcraft that hid his feelings from me…” Landon groaned. Heath knew his son hated magic, and this was only helping enforce that.

  “You’ve never actually dated a man either,” Heath pointed out with a small smile. “I’m happy for you, son.”

  “Yeah, we were forced to talk about it while you and Jacky were running around, fighting fae wars.”

  Heath didn’t find the comment comical, but he chuckled, anyway. His son was just trying to lighten the mood. The entire situation had been hell for him, taking him too far from home, watching people use Jacky and twist her in circles. He’d hated every minute. The arrow he had taken at the end had only been the cherry on top of a poisoned sundae.

  But now…

  “Father…we need to talk about Dallas,” Landon said softly. “Things have been…messy there.”

  “I know.” He tried his best not to think about it. That pack wasn’t going to last a year the way it was behaving. Something was desperately wrong in Dallas.

  “Have you thought about how they’ll react once they know about you and Jacky?”

  “I don’t care,” Heath answered honestly. He lifted the box and stared at it. “Landon…”

  “I know. I know what’s in the box and what you’re thinking about doing. I know how you feel about her. I’m okay with it. I’m happy for you, actually. She’s wonderful for you. She keeps you on your toes and makes Carey happy. She…” Landon smirked. “I like her, but don’t tell her I said that.”

  “She’s figured you out, don’t worry,” Heath teased his boy.

  “Hurry up and marry her before this world figures out how to tear you away from each other,” Landon whispered

  “First, I need to figure out how to ask her.”

  Landon pointed at the box. “Well, you’ve got part one figured out. She loves you, you love her, and you have a ring.”

  Heath smiled, twisting the box around in his fingers.

  “And I have my son’s blessing?”

  “You do,” Landon confirmed.

  It meant a lot to him. Heath’s romance with Landon’s mother had been brief and passionate, ending after an argument and her death while he was left behind watching Landon. He hadn’t been in a serious relationship since that. The approval of his children was something Heath always desired. He knew Carey was okay with it, remembering her jumping and cheering when he’d told her. It was hard sending her off with Jacky, knowing she knew his plans. Hearing Landon’s approval made his heart swell.

  If only Richard…

  Heath quickly shook that thought away.

  “Pa, I like it here. Ask her to marry you, and I’ll help you fight like hell to keep her. I’m not going to let some shitty werewolves or old werecats keep you from being happy. I’ll fight fae wars with you and kill vampires.” Landon made it sound as if he had a personal stake in the matter. After a moment, Heath realized he did. If they were driven away from Jacky, Landon would lose his chance with Dirk, the only chance he’d ever had with a man he liked.

  Heath smiled. They just needed things to remain calm for a few months. He knew he wanted to be with her for the rest of his life. He just didn’t know how she would feel if rings were suddenly involved. That was the only unknown.

  Her answer.

  Keep reading for more information about the next release or jump to my website and sign up for my newsletter at kn-banet.com/mailinglist.

  Dear Reader

  Thank you for reading! This will be a long Dear Reader section this time, lots to discuss, but important stuff.

  HEATH, YOU SLY DOG.

  Yeah, expect a little bit of Heath perspective coming in future books. It’ll never be more than 1-3 chapters and this was the taste of that. He just sees so much that Jacky misses (for whatever reason like being unconscious or focused on something else) and it could really add to the depth of the story, to remind us and the characters that a lot happens when our leading lady isn’t looking. He’ll be the only added POV in the books and he’ll remain in third person.

  There’s a whole lot I’ve types and retyped to talk about Cassius, Brion, Sorcha, and more. Here’s the important bullet points instead of giving you an essay on it.

  1. At this point in the timeline, Kaliya Sahni’s series is over, so you will not see the aftermath of this in her series. (The timeline link is on the Tribunal Archives page after Dear Reader)

  2. The story of Cassius and his father is far from over. We’ll be seeing their family drama spill out onto nearly every Tribunal Archives series that comes after this point.

  3. This is not a story that will conclude in the Jacky Leon. Don’t look for it.

  I can’t stop bringing this up. If you want the story behind Zuri, Kushim, and their little son, Amir, you can have it! You can find it in the Call of Magic Anthology! Preorder now for only $0.99 on any platform.

  Call of Magic Anthology

  Ancient and Immortal: A Tribunal Archives Story

  October 26, 2021

  Now, onto the best news… WHEN IS THE NEXT BOOK?

  ROGUE ALPHA

  JACKY LEON BOOK SEVEN

  COMING IN DECEMBER 2021

  And if I still have you head over to my website to get the latest updates on the next book in the series! You can also find free POV chapters and shorts in my blog. kn-banet.com

  Or you can come join me in The Banet Pride, where I’m always hanging out with readers.

  And remember,

  Reviews are always welcome, whether you loved or hated the book. Please consider taking a few moments to leave one and know I appreciate every second of your time and I’m thankful.

  The Tribunal Archives

  Jacky Leon is a series set in the world of The Tribunal. Events between series in this world will be cross referenced and secondary characters will show up in different series.

  For more information about The Tribunal Archives and the different series in it, you can go here:

  kn-banet.com/books

  There is an official timeline that includes every book so far in the world on my website but it is not the recommended reading order. Due to the nature of the world, each series stands alone and can be read at any time.

  You can find the official timeline here:

  kn-banet.com/tribunal-archives-timeline

  Acknowledgments

  I’m very bad at giving really public praise. I shower people in praise in private. But that’s not everyone’s love language and that’s okay.

  So this little page shall now be dedicated to everyone who helps me get these books from the concept to the release and beyond. From my PA, to my editor and my proofreader, to my wonderful friends helping me through the hardest moments. To my husband, who doesn’t read my books, but loves that I write them and is willing to listen to me talk about them for hours.

  And to you, the reader, for without you, I wouldn’t have anyone to share these stories with. I’m a storyteller at heart and you have given me the greatest gift of listening.

  I love all of you. Thank you for continuing to go on this journey with me.

  About the Author

  KN-BANET.COM

  Living in Arizona with her husband and 5 pets (2 dogs and 3 cats), K.N. Banet is a voracious... video game player. Actually, she spends most of her
time writing, and when she's not writing she's either gaming or reading.

  A storyteller at heart since she was a child, she enjoys writing about the complexities of relationships, no matter the type. Familial, romantic, or even political. The connections between characters is what draws her into writing all of her work. The ideas of responsibility, passion, and forging one's own path all make appearances, and so much more.

  Also by K.N. Banet

  The Tribunal Archives

  Urban Fantasy

  Jacky Leon

  Oath Sworn

  Family and Honor

  Broken Loyalty

  Echoed Defiance

  Shades of Hate

  Royal Pawn

  Rogue Alpha

  Volume One: Books 1-3

  Kaliya Sahni

  Bounty

  Snared

  Monsters

  Reborn

  Legends

  Everly Abbott

  Servant of the Blood (September 2021)

  Tribunal Stories

  Ancient and Immortal (Call of Magic Anthology)

  Also By Kristen Banet

  Reverse Harem

  Epic Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, and Paranormal Romance

  Complete Series

  The Redemption Saga

  A Life of Shadows

  A Heart of Shame

  A Nature of Conflict

  An Echo of Darkness

  A Night of Redemption

  Age of the Andinna

  The Gladiator’s Downfall

  The Mercenary’s Bounty

  The Warrior’s Assault