Adrian blinked and tried to clear the blurriness from his eyes. He was in bed, which wasn’t an unusual place to be, as he had been sleeping. It was also his own bed, as he could feel his silk sheets on top of him, but he felt off. There was a nagging feeling at the back of his mind that he had experienced this before.
His throat was sore and he felt as if he were lying on pins and needles. There was also an IV in his arm, which was most definitely unusual. Adrian briefly wondered if this was what mortals felt like when sick.
He was exhausted and had been about to allow sleep to pull him back under when he realized there were two people arguing in his room. It was a bit rude, his groggy mind thought.
He’d also missed that someone was lying in bed next to him. It was a struggle to turn his head, but when he managed it, he was a bit surprised to see Kellin next to him. What the hell was going on?
As his mind cleared a bit more, it became apparent to him that the two arguing were Baylin and Xavier.
Baylin growled. “We need to inform them of what happened.”
Inform who of what, Adrian wondered. Something had obviously happened, but his mind was blank as to what.
“Why do you still trust them?” Xavier shouted back.
“You don’t understand.”
Xavier growled in frustration. “Then help me understand! Only someone on the inside would know about the protections we had in place. Something you are well aware of. How else would the previous assassins have gotten in unnoticed? It’s naïve to trust them so blindly!”
“None of them are behind the attacks. And I do not need your permission to inform them. As for why I trust them, it’s not my story to tell.”
He cleared his throat to get their attention, an action he instantly regretted when pain assailed him. Adrian made a mental note for future reference to never clear his throat when it was sore—it was a completely moronic thing to do. At his painful utterance, Xavier and Baylin came to his side.
There was worry in Xavier’s eyes as he looked down at him. “Adrian, how are you feeling?”
Adrian managed to croak out, “Sore. What happened?” Oh God, talking was ten times worse.
They both looked a bit surprised at his question. “Don’t you remember?” Baylin asked hesitantly.
He thought about the question and struggled to find the memories. What he found was a big fat nothing. He’d been about to tell them so when Xavier held a glass of water to his lips—exactly what he needed, he thought. Adrian sipped slowly as Xavier gradually tipped the glass. A bit of water spilled out but not as much as he’d thought would. It was a bit awkward to drink while lying down.
“I know your throat hurts, so answer in as few words as possible,” Baylin instructed.
His throat was still a bit dry but better than before. “Bit foggy.”
Xavier began to run his fingers through Adrian’s hair. “So you don’t remember…”
While the man’s words were more statement than question, he still nodded in response.
Concern filled Adrian when Baylin took his hand and began to gently rub the top of it. For the first time since waking up, he took the time to examine both of the men.
Xavier looked exhausted and a bit sad. However, Baylin, while exhausted, as well, looked as if he was about to fall apart any second—he looked devastated. “What happened to Kellin?” All thoughts of his own predicament were driven out by the terror of possibly losing the small man.
Continuing to rub the top of his hand, Baylin gently said, “Adrian, you and Kellin were poisoned. It was the cake.”
With the mention of poison, the memories returned—it also dawned on him why the pain felt familiar. He had suffered the effects of poison before, but he didn’t recall ever feeling as terrible as he did now.
With the resurfacing of his memories, other details became clear. One detail, in particular, filled him with dread. “No…” His cry of denial was a hoarse whisper as he finally understood the devastation on Baylin’s face.
Baylin looked down at him, his eyes sad. “We don’t know yet. The healers have to examine him again to know for sure. There’s a chance…I’m still hopeful.”
It was a lie. He was certain Baylin didn’t believe his own words. Tears ran down his face at the pain the couple would suffer at the loss. “I’m sorry.”
“Not you too…Adrian, it’s not your fault. Please don’t blame yourself.” Baylin paused to take a shuddering breath. “I…don’t think I can handle your guilt on top of my own.”
Baylin held up his hand when Adrian began to protest. “I know, it’s not my fault, but part of me feels as if I have failed to protect my family. It will take time for me to work through these emotions and accept what has happened.”
It didn’t matter what Baylin said—Adrian knew his feeling of guilt would not dissipate that easily. However, he would keep it to himself. Baylin had enough to deal with right now. Adrian took a deep breath and locked what he was feeling away—he would deal with the emotions in private later.
Xavier, who had remained quiet for the exchange, said, “You should rest now. It will take a few days before you’re fully recovered. To gain your strength back, on top of resting, you’ll also have to increase your intake of blood for a while.”
“Judging from the IV in my arm, I imagine I’ve already been given a few units of blood. What poison would require such extensive healing time?” he asked, his voice only a whisper by the end.
“A very powerful one. Now rest, and no more talking,” Xavier instructed as he tucked him in.
While he wasn’t satisfied with the answer, resting sounded like a good idea to Adrian. And he fully intended to—once he found out what the two had been arguing about. “What were you two talking about?”
Baylin laid Adrian’s hand on the blanket. “It’s not important right now. Rest.”
“You know me, Baylin. I can be quite stubborn…I suggest you tell me before I show you how stubborn I can be.” He may have felt like shit, but he was still king, dammit.
Xavier glanced at Baylin, who glared at him. The warning to keep his mouth shut was clear.
A warning Xavier ignored as he answered Adrian a few moments later. “Baylin wants to inform the council of what has happened. I don’t trust them, and he refuses to tell me why he does.”
He sighed and hesitated. Was it right for him to continue to keep this secret from Xavier? “Baylin, given what has happened, he deserves to know, don’t you agree?”
“I trust you to do what you believe is right.”
“Fine,” Adrian said and then paused. “However, it’s a long story. I don’t believe that my throat is up to it yet. Nor do I have the energy to show you through touch. If you’ll allow me to rest a bit more, I’ll be able to explain everything. Or show you if you prefer. While I do so, Baylin, please contact the council and Zaytari. They have the right to know what is going on.”
Baylin nodded. Xavier looked as if he wished to protest, but instead of speaking his concerns, he said, “Then please rest peacefully. I’ll be here watching over you.”
Deciding to do just that, Adrian settled into the bed. The last words he heard were Baylin saying he was going to take Kellin back to their room.
* * * *
Baylin caressed Kellin’s cheek, then pulled the covers up to tuck him in. Sitting down next to the bed, Baylin took Kellin’s hand in his.
He felt as if his world was falling apart—his little phoenix was suffering, and there was nothing he could do about it.
“He will need to be kept asleep.”
Baylin jerked at the voice. He looked up and peered into eyes very similar to Kellin’s. “Asher…I didn’t hear you enter.” His brow wrinkled. “Why would he need to be kept asleep?”
“The pregnancy will not survive otherwise.”
Baylin laughed bitterly. “Survive? There’s no chance of that, Asher. Don’t give hope where there is none.”
“There will be if you listen!” Asher na
rrowed his eyes. “And you will, as I am not giving you a choice to do otherwise! Now, he will be kept asleep, because if he awakens there really will be no hope. His phoenix will force him to go through a rebirth, a rebirth that only he will survive.”
“A rebirth? Asher, Kellin has yet to even go through one. We’re not even sure his human genes will allow him to.”
“His natural scent has been replaced by the smell of fire and ash. While you cannot detect the shift, I can. The flames of death are waiting to consume him.” Asher inhaled, his eyes flashing red. “Kellin’s phoenix feels it is too injured to continue. We must convince it otherwise. And the only way to do so is to keep him under. It will give him time to heal.”
Baylin wasn’t sure what to say, so he said nothing.
“I am here to give you hope, Baylin, but it’s up to you whether you grasp hold of it or not. Your children will survive this as long as Kellin’s phoenix does.”
Baylin gasped. “Children?”
Asher smiled kindly and took his free hand. “Yes, my friend, children.”
Baylin closed his eyes, his tears falling as he desperately tried to latch on to Asher’s hope.
* * * *
Kaiden was awoken by the incessant ringing and vibrations of his cell phone on his nightstand. He wearily wiped his eyes and looked at the clock on the wall. Who the hell would be calling him at 2:00 a.m.? Either it was an emergency, or an idiot trying to sell him something—he was betting on the latter.
Just to shut it up, Kaiden reached over blindly, grabbed his phone, and accepted the call. “What?” he barked.
His stomach began to churn at the information being given to him. Jumping out of bed, he started getting dressed. “Why am I just now hearing about this?”
The answer to his question didn’t please him in the least. The council should have been informed the minute the incident had occurred, he thought angrily. He strode swiftly out of his bedroom, slamming the door behind him. After rushing down the hallway, he descended the stairs to the first floor.
Kaiden decided to forgo a coat to save time, and was at the door putting his shoes on when his son appeared. “Dorian, what are you doing up?”
“I heard a door slam. Is something wrong?”
Kaiden finished slipping on his shoes and straightened. “I don’t want to worry you, but I won’t lie either. The king has been poisoned. However, he is doing fine, and is expected to make a full recovery.”
“What?” Dorian exclaimed, his face paling at the news.
He became concerned when his son started to tremble. “Breathe, Dorian. As I said, the king is going to be fine,” Kaiden soothed as he wrapped his arms around him and rubbed his back. He released him after placing a quick kiss on the top of his head. “Now, I need to get going. Relax and try to get some sleep. I love you.”
“Love you, too, Dad…” his son said softly.
Giving his son one last look, he left.
* * * *
Dorian couldn’t breathe. He felt as if his world was collapsing, and he didn’t know if there would ever be a way to fix it.
It couldn’t be true, could it? He was just seeing connections that didn’t exist—it had to be a coincidence. It just had to be…she wouldn’t betray him like this!
Chapter Ten
Eight hours later
Adrian stretched, feeling considerably better than the last time he had woken up. His throat was only a little sore and his body just a little achy. As he stretched a bit more, a soft noise drew his gaze to the right of his bed.
Xavier was snoring softly, fast asleep in the ornate wooden chair beside his bed. Having fallen asleep in one before, he knew they weren’t the least bit comfortable.
He chuckled when Xavier’s head drooped forward. The chuckle turned into a wince when Xavier jerked at the noise and slammed his skull into the back of the chair. There was a loud thump when he hit—the man groaned and rubbed the back of his head.
Xavier was still rubbing his head and looking a bit groggy when he asked, “How are you feeling?”
“Better. How’s your head?”
“I’ll be fine,” Xavier said and hesitated. “Are you well enough to continue our discussion?”
“Yes. However, rather than discussing it, it will be easier to just show you.” Adrian held out his hand to Xavier. The man looked almost afraid as he reached out to take his hand—as if he feared what secrets Adrian had been keeping from him.
At the contact, Adrian brought forward the memories that would answer all of Xavier’s questions. Xavier’s eyes glazed over as he was drawn into the events that had occurred almost five thousand years ago.
* * * *
Standing, Xavier slowly took the hand of the man he had come to love. He only hoped the secrets Adrian had been holding close wouldn’t damage the feelings he had for him. At contact, he felt as if he was spiraling down—so many images flashed through his mind.
But soon everything settled, and gone was Adrian’s bedroom. He was now in an outcrop in a forest he had never seen, surrounded by hooded figures. He felt different, smaller even—at the same time almost too big to fit into his skin. The feeling alerted him to the reality of what was happening. He wasn’t a silent observer watching as events took place—he was experiencing Adrian’s memories as if he were Adrian.
However, nothing was happening—he seemed to be frozen at the beginning of the memory. Rain droplets were suspended in the air around him, the world motionless. At first, Xavier was lost as to what to do. But then he realized he felt a pull. The memories were trying to pull him in—he had just been instinctively fighting it.
Taking a deep breath, he forced himself to let go, giving up control, allowing the memories to take over. His consciousness fell away.
It was raining. Adrian found it fitting considering the mood of those around him. His plans were coming to fruition—it was time to act.
He understood the dread that permeated the air. If they failed, it would mean certain death and the continued destruction of Vadin. If they won, it could still mean death, at least for him, but the others would be free, which was all that mattered.
“It is time, my friends. The meeting has been set. It happens tonight,” Adrian announced. “Your trepidation is warranted. However, know now what you do this night is right. If we succeed, any sacrifice made will be worth it. Tonight we fight for a future! Tonight we take back our lives! We fight for freedom even if death comes for us! We—”
One of the hooded figures around him cleared their throat loudly, causing him to stop midsentence—judging from the pitch, it had been a man. His eyes narrowed on the large hooded figure directly to his left.
“Prince Adrian, I understand you are trying to rally the troops, but there is still planning left to be done,” chided the hooded figure.
Hissing slightly, Adrian snapped at the man, “Fine! Let’s just do this!”
A few of the men and women laughed at his irritated reply.
Xavier pulled free of the memory—he recognized the hidden man’s voice. The realization barely entered his mind before another memory pulled him in.
Adrian took a deep breath. It was time. He made sure his face remained neutral as he strode through the hallways of the castle—wouldn’t be good to alert those still loyal to his father that something was going on.
When he reached the door of the council room, he looked at the three men standing like guards in front of the door. All were tall, but two had black hair and the other was a redhead. Out of the three, the only real guard was Baylin. The other two, Sin and Dante, were the heads of their own Zaytari groups.
He asked, “Are they all here?” Their plan would fail if someone was missing.
Adrian sighed in relief when Baylin nodded.
After a calming breath, he nodded at them. He was reaching for the door handle when Baylin grabbed his arm. “Watch your back, Adrian,” Baylin ordered.
Adrian smirked. “Don’t I always?” He opened the door and w
alked in. It shut behind him, sealing all the room’s occupants inside.
There were twenty people standing around the large oval table in the middle of the room. All looked surprised at his presence—it was a struggle to mask the disdain he felt for the men around the table.
He wondered how they would react when he revealed the twenty people currently cloaked by magic. If any of them had actually had the power that their station would suggest, they would have noticed the residue of magic—but they were all weak, greedy fools. None worthy to rule the districts that had been placed in their care. His father’s councilmen were monstrous in their greed, killing easily to get what they wanted—they would pay dearly tonight for their actions against the people of Vadin.
“What are you doing here?” Jordanin Sindarin snapped. While all of the councilmen were horrible, Jordanin was the worst one—a monster who sold innocent children, among other things. “Where is your father?”
With a vicious grin, Adrian cast a sound containment spell on the room. “He’s not coming.”
“What?” several of the council members yelled.
Jordanin marched up to him and grabbed him by the front of his shirt. “What are you doing?” the man demanded.
In a cold, mocking voice, Adrian taunted, “If I were you, I wouldn’t be worrying about my father right now.” And with a single thought, he dropped the magical veil hiding his men and women. Shouts of anger and fear followed their reveal.
Adrian’s men and women were heavily armed, faces hidden by the hoods they wore. There was no denying why they were here.
“You traitor!” Jordanin roared. “I’ll kill y—”
Adrian felt the spray of warm blood as Jordanin’s head was severed from his body. Wiping some of the blood off his face, he glared at the large hooded figure standing behind the decapitated body. The figure was holding a bloody sword.
Everyone remained frozen as Jordanin’s body collapsed to the floor—and then Adrian’s men and women attacked, and screams of terror, pain, and anger wrenched the air. Blood splattered on the walls, and battle cries of victory filled the air. With each councilman’s death, another hood dropped, revealing the faces of his chosen council.
Adrian's Bodyguard [Vampires of Vadin 1] (Siren Publishing Classic ManLove) Page 9