“Who?”
He tugged at my hair again, and anger slammed through me. I wanted to kill him. If we were standing, I would have kneed him hard. My kneeling position and the angle of my body made that impossible. If he expected me to beg him to stop, he was going to be disappointed.
I reached up and gripped his wrist to ease the pressure. The smile on his face grew, telling me he didn’t just enjoy controlling me with pain, he loved it when I fought back.
“Storm,” Tully said. “My brother and his band of merry pirates in their stupid secret island, that’s who. Didn’t he teach you to use a dagger or a sword?”
“No,” I said.
“Did he mate with you?”
“No.”
“But he wanted to, didn’t he? He wanted you.”
So, this was about Storm. Tully wanted what his brother had. Refusing to play his stupid game, I kept quiet and braced myself for more punishment. Sure enough, the bastard yanked my hair again, forcing me to look at him. Cold silver eyes narrowed in malice as they roamed my face before settling on my lips.
No, no, not the kiss. Anything but those lips on mine.
“I want you to know everything about my brother. What did he do when you first met? When you were on his ship? When you reached the island? Did he keep you chained to his bed, submitting to his every whim? I know he did. Pirates live a life of debauchery and lawlessness.”
The sick son of a bitch. He imagined the life Storm led and tried to compete with him? That was beyond twisted.
“Tell me,” he snapped when I didn’t speak. “My people said he watched you at that hotel before I arrived. He wanted you without knowing who you are. Did he claim you?”
“No.”
He leaned in until our faces were inches apart. At the same time, he twisted my hair, my scalp exploding with heat and pain so intense tears rushed to my eyes.
“Liar,” he snarled. “We know exactly what happened on Captain Ren’s ship. Why would you threaten to kill yourself to save Storm’s life if he means nothing to you? Why would they call you Storm’s lass on his island? Captain Ren told us. You forced him to let Storm go, and now we know he’s not dead.”
Damn it! Tears raced down my face.
“I expect him to come for you once he heals, Alexandria. And when he does, I’ll be waiting.”
He let go of my hair and gripped my chin, fingers digging into my jaw. He studied me with a cold indifference.
“Tears? You brought this onto yourself with your lies. Don’t ever lie to me, Alexandria, because that only forces me to hurt you. Do you understand?”
I glared at him. He chuckled.
“Fight me then. It will make your submission sweeter.” He swooped down and pressed his lips to mine.
I tightened my lips and clenched my jaw, refusing him entrance. His grip tightened until I knew he’d break my jaw to win. I gasped. He pushed his tongue down my throat while I fought my gag reflex. I wanted to bite him, but from the last time, I knew he’d love it.
I was close to passing out when he lifted his head and leered.
“Hmm, you taste different. Better. We should have dinner tomorrow night. I’ll have the seamstresses make some dresses for you.”
He stroked my jaw, where he’d probably left bruises. I cringed, and his hand stilled.
“Maybe I don’t need to wait for you to change, Alexandria. We wouldn’t want my brother to attempt a rescue before I enjoyed the pleasures of your company.”
The thought of spending an intimate moment with this bastard made my skin crawl.
“Go. Take care of my mother. I’ll stop by tomorrow to see how she’s doing.”
I couldn’t remember scrambling off the bed, but I shot through the door at a run, almost bumping into the guards and his manservant. Gwyn was by the entrance to the queen mother’s room. She pulled me inside and closed the door.
She pulled me into her arms, and I clung to her.
“It’s okay, lass,” Gwyn whispered, rubbing my back. “You are okay.”
Tremors shot through my body. I wasn’t okay. Tully knew Storm was alive. I couldn’t let Storm come for me. I had to escape. Without his mother. Tears raced down my face, and the shaking grew worse. I hated the idea of leaving her behind, but what choice did I have?
Gwyn leaned back and gripped my face, furrows on her brow.
“He didn’t force himself on you, did he?”
“No.” My eyes flew to the bed. Seeing the outline of the queen mother under the covers steadied me. “How’s she doing?”
“She’s sound asleep.” Gwyn let me go and went to check on her, touching her forehead. “She’s still a bit warm, signs of a mild fever.”
I frowned. “I don’t understand. You said she needed me.”
“The lads knocked on my door and told me to get you. Nereus had given them instructions on what to do in case you had visitors.”
Nereus. I owed that man a debt I could never repay. “Can I sleep in here tonight? I left Tully in my room, and I’m scared he might still be there when I return.”
“Of course.”
Gwyn slept on a narrow feather mattress on the floor, and the place was cramped at night, but I didn’t care. I’d sleep on the stone floor than go back to my narrow bed.
“Come on.” She opened a chest and removed a cover. “Sleep next to the queen mother. Her bed is big enough for one more with room to spare. If Prince Tully comes to check on you, I’ll tell him she has the shivers and you are keeping her warm.”
CHAPTER 8
I woke up to something hot moving against my back. Last night’s events rushed back, and I jerked up, expecting Tully.
Relief coursed through me when I realized it was Storm’s mother. She twitched, shuddering as though cold, yet sweat coated her skin and heat wafted from her like sauna rocks. My gaze went to the floor, but Gwyn had left the room. Easing out of the bed, I ran to the door and yanked it open. The two guards from last night were missing.
Where was everyone?
Refusing to worry, I went to the washroom, pumped water into the small trough, and got a washcloth. I dampened it as I hurried back into the bedroom. Settling on the edge of the bed, I squeezed out excess water and started wiping the queen mother’s brow.
She tossed her head and mumbled words in Gaelic.
“It’s okay. I’m trying to lower your temperature.” The problem was I had no idea how someone recovered from whatever concoction the oracle had fed her.
“No,” she mumbled, tossing her head. “Not my babies. No… Please…”
“Shhh, it’s okay. No one is taking your babies.” I continued to wipe her down. Not sure whether to remove her drenched chemise, I reached under it and swept the wet cloth across her chest.
“Not my lads,” she mumbled, her body twitching. “Don’t hurt them. Please.”
“Your lads are fine, Queen Mother. Remember I told you about Storm? He is doing fine.”
“No, he is not.” Her eyelids flew open. She stared at me with unfocused eyes. “You must leave for home. Find Storm. Make sure he is okay. He’s lost and alone.” She sounded coherent.
“I know, but I can’t leave you like this.”
“I’ll be fine. I have Tully. I must make sure she doesn’t hurt him. Find Delia. Tell her to take Storm and care for him like he was her own.”
Delia? She wasn’t talking to me. She was delirious.
“I’ll find Delia,” I said, playing along.
“Thank you, my Gwynevere. I don’t know where I’d be without you. Come back to me once he is safe.”
She calmed down a bit even though she was still burning up. I continued to wipe her down when her stomach started to rumble. Did she need to use the toilet? I’d seen Gwyn carry her to the washroom a couple of times a day. After putting the cloth down, I placed one arm under her knees, cradled her upper body, and lifted her off the bed.
We made it to the chamber pot just in time. Holding a semi-conscious person upright over a w
ooden box with no back support wasn’t fun. With Tommy, I’d help him to the toilet and leave him to do his business.
The bedroom door opened, and Gwyn called out, “Lass?”
“Washroom.”
Gwyn appeared in the doorway and gave a dismayed grunt when she saw us.
“She is burning up,” I said. “I tried to sponge her down, but I don’t know if that helped.”
“You did great.” She took over. “I have a gel that will lower her fever, but to help her with the pain and the stomach, we need an elixir only the oracle can give her.”
“No,” I said. “That woman did this to her. There’s no way I’m going to her for help.”
“I know, lass. Unfortunately, she is the palace healer. No one else is authorized to treat members of the royal family.”
“Tully gave me the authority to treat his mother, so we’ll go around her.”
“How. No one will dare give her medicine. They all fear the oracle.”
I didn’t fear her, only her magic. She reminded me too much of my stepmother, who was a bully, and I hated bullies. The problem was I didn’t know where to find a healer. I needed Lord Conyngham’s help. I didn’t trust the pompous lord, but we had a few things in common. He knew about the uses of charcoal and seemed not to trust the oracle’s healing methods either. Plus, he had a soft spot for the queen mother.
Gwyn finished cleaning the queen mother up and carried her back to the bed. She’d brought breakfast, but food was the last thing on my mind. I couldn’t leave Storm’s mother like this, yet staying meant evading Tully’s grubby hands and sloppy kisses, not to mention losing my virginity to him. Was it just weeks ago I’d told my best friend I’d never lose my virginity to a man I wasn’t crazy about? It seemed like eons ago. I needed a plan.
“Where did the guards go?” I asked.
“They are eating breakfast on the steps.”
I found them stuffing their faces and chugging drinks from large tumblers. They scrambled to their feet and bowed.
“Please, don’t do that,” I said. “I’m a nobody in this hellhole.”
They blinked as though shocked by my announcement.
“I need to talk to Lord Conyngham. Can you take him a message?”
They exchanged glances.
“What is it?”
“Lord Conyngham retired to his country estate days ago. It’s a few days’ ride from here.”
Damn! “If I want a tonic to settle my stomach, where do I go?”
“The oracle,” one said.
Not that bitch. “What if I don’t want to go to her?”
Surprise flashed on their faces.
“She is a very unpleasant woman.”
They grinned as though agreeing with me.
“So, where do I go to buy tonic around here?”
“The marketplace has local healers selling salves and elixirs,” the same guard said.
“The one near the docks?”
They nodded.
“Find Athol,” the second guard chimed in. “He’s the best.”
“Thank you. Oh, and if someone is going to Lord Conyngham’s estate, please pass along my message. I need to see him. It’s urgent.”
I walked into the queen mother’s room to find Gwyn had stripped her down to nothing and was smearing a clear gel on her body.
“Who gave you that gel?”
“The cook, and don’t look at me like that, lass. She would never go to the oracle for a salve. She keeps this for the staff. Unfortunately, this is all she’s got for cooling down the body, and it’s only temporary.” Gwyn frowned. “But she might know someone who can get us something for the queen mother. I rarely leave the palace, so I wouldn’t know, but she might.” She handed me the jar of gel. “Put some on her legs and arms. I’ll go ask her.”
I settled beside the bed with the gel and spread some on the queen mother’s thighs. She was burning up, but the gel had some serious cooling effect because my fingers grew cold. I was working on her arm when she turned her hand and gripped mine.
My eyes flew to hers. She was studying me, but that was not the reason I gasped. Her eyes were clear and focused.
“Storm’s lass,” she whispered.
I nodded and leaned closer.
“Thank you.” She spoke slowly, her breathing heavy. She continued, stopping every few words to catch her breath. “I heard the things you said about Storm and his island. I’m so proud of him.” Her voice trailed, tears filling her eyes.
“Don’t cry, please.” I used the corner of her cotton sheets to dab at the teardrops. “He would not want you to.”
“I’ve been worried about him, but now that I know he is okay, I can rest in peace.”
“I don’t think he knows you are alive, Queen Mother,” I whispered. “He would have stormed this place and rescued you if he knew.”
Her chin trembled, more tears welling in her eyes. “You think so?”
I grinned. “I know so. He is loving and caring, and he would have done anything to rescue you. He will.”
“No, he shouldn’t. It’s too late. It’s my time to go.”
Her other hand sneaked from under the covers and gripped mine.
“Tell him I’m sorry for leaving him behind. I tried to go back for him, but his grandfather threatened to hurt him. He tried with the fire and failed.” She paused and closed her eyes, her face wreathed with remembered pain. “I thought about him every day, and I never stopped loving him even when I thought he’d died.” She opened her eyes and locked on me, her grip tightening. “What’s your name?”
“Lexi, ma’am. Uh, Queen Mother.”
Her lips trembled. I had a feeling she was trying to smile. “Stupid name. Never liked it. My Orath had given up his throne, so he wasn’t a king when he died.” Her eyes teared. “Love Storm, Lexi. He deserves someone who puts him first. I didn’t and regretted it.”
Tears rushed to my eyes. I’d put my brother first, too, and it was the right thing to do at the time. Now, I needed to focus on Storm. Us.
“I will.”
“Don’t let him come here. Escape and go to him.” She spoke faster, the words tripping on her tongue. “If he comes here, he will kill him. He is not well in the head.”
Who was she talking about? Tully or his grandfather?
“I wasn’t strong enough to fight his grandfather. I tried to run with Tully, but he found out. He took Tully away and gave him to her. Together, they turned him into a monster. Now, he destroys things. Hurts people. Please, leave before he hurts you, too. Escape while you can. And keep Storm away from here.”
“But I can’t leave you like this.”
She sank back into the pillows, her eyes closing. “I’m dying, Lexi. I have been for a long time.”
Her hands relaxed and slipped from mine.
“It’s not just this body. My mind and spirit are dying because of what I did to my sons. I abandoned one and allowed the other to be raised and molded by monsters. I hung in here with hopes that one day I’d hear news about my Storm. Now that I know he’s found someone to love him, I can let go. All I need is my Gwynevere by my side.”
I gripped her hand. “But you’re not sick, Queen Mother. The oracle has been poisoning you.”
A sad smile touched her lips. “No, lass. No one poisoned me. My mind is gone. My spirit is tired. It’s time I joined the gods.”
“The oracle did this to you,” I insisted. “I don’t know what she gave you, but if you ever feel like you’re losing your mind or are so tired you can’t keep your eyes open, that is because of her tonic. The reason you are sick now is because I stopped her from feeding you the poisons and your body is trying to get rid of it.”
Her eyelids lifted slowly. “That can’t be true, lass. I would have known. My Gwyn…” Her eyes rolled into her head, and she started to convulse.
“Gwyn! Help!” I called, panic spiraling through me.
I tried to remember everything Mr. Sinclair had insisted I learn befor
e becoming Sienna’s nanny, but I drew a blank. Helpless, I gripped the queen mother’s frail hand and tried talking to her.
The door opened behind me, and Gwyn rushed into the room.
“I don’t know what to do,” I cried.
“Cushion her head so she doesn’t hurt it and roll her to her side.”
I tilted the queen mother’s body. Gwyn moved to the other side of the bed and adjusted the pillow.
“This will pass,” she added.
Her calmness steadied me, but my gaze didn’t leave Storm’s mother until the convulsions stopped.
“That was scary. She’s so frail I don’t think she can survive more of that.”
“Cook said we’ll need an elixir to ease her stomach, the pain, and the shakes. There’s a healer at the marketplace who sells them.”
Gwyn checked the queen mother’s mouth and pressed her ear close to her chest.
“She’s breathing okay.” She scooped gel from the jar and put more on the queen mother’s cheeks and forehead. “She is cooler now, but I want you to add more when it melts away, until I come back from the marketplace.”
Is she seriously thinking about leaving me with her?
“No, you stay with her, Gwyn, and I’ll go to the marketplace. If she convulses, I’ll panic again.”
Gwyn chuckled. “No, lass. You’d know exactly what to do. Besides, they won’t let you leave the palace. I overheard the seamstresses discuss the dresses they were making for you. You didn’t say anything about the dinner party Tully is throwing to introduce you to his friends.”
My stomach dropped. Crap! He was going to have his friends there? I’d pushed aside the dinner or what might happen afterward, but it was inevitable now. And my humiliation would have witnesses. I couldn’t defy Tully without consequences. Doing it in front of his friends was suicide. I was going to be fish bait or a permanent resident of the dungeons before tonight was over.
“Tully mentioned it last night,” I said calmly as though my stomach hadn’t started to churn.
“Are you okay?” Gwyn touched my forehead, frowning. “You seem fine.”
I grinned. “I am.”
“Lass, you were shaking and crying last night. What happened between yesterday and today?”
Storm Unleashed: Phantom Islanders Part III Page 10