“Man.” The boy held up his hands and wiggled the fingers. “The hands were too big to be a woman’s.”
Killian smiled and ruffled the boy’s hair. “Very good. Did you see his eyes?”
He bit his lower lip, thinking. “They were brown.”
“How tall was he?”
“I-I don’t know, Highness.”
“I think you might know.” He offered the boy a smile then asked, “Was he taller or shorter than me?”
The boy thought for a few seconds before answering, “Shorter.”
Killian nodded and pointed to Ryan, who was a few inches shorter than the prince. “Was he taller than Ryan?”
The boy turned around and shook his head. “He might have been as tall as him.”
“Good. How was he dressed?”
“He had a cloak with a hood.” The boy tilted his head to one side and frowned. “It looked nice, though, not ratty or old.”
“Is there anything else you can remember about him?”
The boy reached up and touched the ring on Killian’s neck. “He wore a ring like that, but he had it on backward.” He touched the flat part of the ring. “He had this turned to his palm so I couldn’t see what was on it.”
“Thank you.” Killian closed his eyes and fought to rein his emotions in. “Davies is going to take you home now. You have been a great help.” He turned to Davies and handed the guard a small purse of gold. “See to it his parents get this with my thanks.”
The guard nodded and offered the boy his hand.
“You’re welcome, Your Highness.” The boy took Davies’s hand, and together they walked away.
Killian studied the letter, as though it might come to life and snap at him. He didn’t move or take notice of the nobles walking around him, giving their prince strange looks as they passed. Ryan stepped up and held out a hand.
The guard gave a pointed look to a couple of noble ladies as they strolled nearby. “Your Highness.”
“Serena wouldn’t have cared,” Killian said as Ryan helped him to his feet.
“She probably would have joined you on the floor.” Ryan chuckled as Killian brushed dust off his clothes. “I have something else in mind, by your leave, of course.”
“What are you thinking?”
“You haven’t been to the practice field in a couple of days.”
“I can’t stand all those ladies watching me as though I’m some prized stud they want to breed.”
“They want more than that, Highness,” Ryan said as they fell into step, making their way through the corridors, deep inside the bowels of the castle.
“I know.” Killian’s reply sounded exhausted with an edge of bitterness to his words.
“The Royal Guards have a place where you can practice without anyone watching you. I will partner with you again, if that is what you wish, or I can wait outside and make certain you will have complete privacy.” As he spoke, Ryan led the prince into the wing of the castle where the Royal Guard was housed. He approached a plain door and pushed it open.
“Where are we?” Killian asked as he stepped into the room. It was an empty space with a smooth stone floor, a fire burned in the hearth and candelabra along the walls flickered, which was the only illumination. He walked to the center of the room not sure what to do.
“As I said, this is the Royal Guard’s wing. Sometimes we need a place to practice when the weather is bad or if the only time available is late at night. So we have a number of rooms like this one.”
“You mentioned something about complete privacy.” Killian tapped the letter against his hand.
“If that is what you wish. Each of these rooms has only one entry. I will stand guard outside this one until you are ready to leave.”
“Thank you.” Killian waited until he heard the door close before he turned the letter over and examined the seal. It wasn’t Serena’s or that of the province she governed. The glob of red wax was impressed with a single sleeping dragon. Killian searched his memory trying to recall if he’d seen this sigil in any of his studies, and came up with nothing.
He frowned while turning the letter over again and traced the letters of his name in Serena’s simple, yet elegant, hand. The prince felt an all too familiar ache in his chest. Part of him wanted to throw the letter in the fire and be done with it, but he knew he couldn’t do that. The tiny spark of hope inside nursed the possibility that dimmed more with each passing day. He wasn’t sure if this letter was going to feed or smother that spark, and part of him didn’t want to find out.
Wanting to preserve the impressed image on the seal, Killian walked over to one of the candelabra and drew the dagger from his belt. He warmed the blade in a candle flame before slipping it between the parchment and the wax. The seal came away from the letter and slid into Killian’s hand, he held it up for a few moments before he bent over and set it on the floor. After sheathing his dagger, the prince took a deep breath and unfolded the letter. A quick glance proved to him it was Serena’s handwriting.
Killian,
I am well. I have not been harmed. Lord Dennsmore assures me my continued well-being is dependent on how well you follow his instructions. Please, if you love me, do as he says.
Serena.
The words ripped through his heart, and he found himself whispering denials over and over as he read. He was unaware of the sound escaping him until Ryan pushed the door open and then slammed it shut. Ryan strode over and took Killian’s wrists, gripping them to the point where it was painful, slicing through the haze. Killian stopped yelling. Ryan released his wrists, and the prince scrubbed his face.
“Oh, Gods, did anyone else hear that?”
“No, Highness. I was the only one in the hallway. Are you well enough now?”
“No,” Killian admitted and handed Ryan the letter, sitting back on his heels while the guard read.
When he was done, he returned the letter and stepped back before sitting down, grief stricken. “Do you believe what she’s written?”
“It is in her hand.” Killian frowned, his eyes drifting over the words, each one sending needles into his heart where they burrowed deeper with each beat.
“She could have been forced to write it,” Ryan suggested.
“Forced? “Killian was dimly aware that he sounded like a fool, repeating what he’d just heard.
“If she is being held against her will, something like this isn’t out of the question.” The guardsman sighed. “You two weren’t exactly subtle about your relationship after Serena was raised to nobility. From what I hear of the court gossip, your grandmother was considering no fewer than six potential contracts. As far as I know, none has been withdrawn.” Ryan shrugged.
“Serena never did put one forward for herself.” He shook his head, remembering the argument they’d had when he found out. “She knew how it would be seen by others in the court,” he said parroting her excuse, but he was sure it was because she didn’t want to be the one to take the lead with that step. Serena was independent, but in some things she followed his lead. He had the feeling the question of marriage was going to be one of those things if she came back to him.
“She was waiting for you.” Ryan’s statement hurt like an arrow aimed right at Killian’s heart, and it hadn’t missed the mark.
“I was planning to propose at the ball. I wanted it to be perfect. Then they called me into that meeting with my grandmother, and my mood wasn’t exactly festive. It seemed that something happened in the interim because Serena wasn’t herself and didn’t want to talk about it. There was the scene with Dennsmore, so I decided to wait until I saw her the next day. I never saw her. She had disappeared during the night.” He slipped the letter into his pocket and picked up the seal.
“For what it’s worth, I know she would have accepted, but I don’t think it would have changed anything.” Ryan didn’t mention he believed that if she had agreed to marry Killian, those in control would have killed Serena, not just taken her.
; “Thank you. I know she values your friendship,” the prince said, but he stopped and took a deep breath, composing himself. He needed to think logically to stop letting his emotions rule. “So, you think Dennsmore forced her to write this. If that’s true,” Killian closed his eyes as he continued, “then he has no reason to keep her alive.”
“I would not make that assumption.” Ryan’s voice was strong but not harsh.
“What do you mean?”
“If you agree to one of the other contracts,” he sighed and said, “then yes, Serena will have outlived her usefulness, and they will kill her. If you agree to Dennsmore’s demands, then it is up him to keep his word.” Ryan hated seeing the look of despair that flooded Killian’s eyes, but he thought he’d be doing not only the prince but also Serena, a disservice if he lied. “However, I believe this letter proves they believe she can be useful to them. As long as you hold out and don’t give in and accept a contract, they will, in all likelihood, keep her alive. Promises of her continued safety can be used to coerce you into an agreement.”
Killian scrubbed his face with his hands. “Gods, I just want her safe.”
“Was there anything else with the letter that would indicate where she’s being held?”
“No, and I don’t think the description the boy was able to give us will help much.”
“I am sorry, your Highness,” Ryan said. He sighed, knowing this conversation and the heartache that went along with it could have been avoided. If the Royal Guard had protected Serena, they wouldn’t be in this position. However, since she was not a member of the royal family, she was left on her own. Unlike other nobles, she chose not to employ personal bodyguards, believing she was capable of taking care of herself. “Would you like to be alone, your Highness?”
“Please, in private, call me Killian. I hate my Gods-cursed title right now.”
Ryan smirked. “Very well, would you like some privacy… Killian?”
“Yes, please,” Killian nodded and after a moment added, “Thank you.” Ryan offered the prince a perfunctory bow and started making his way out of the room. “And Ryan?”
“Yes, Highness?” He paused with his hand on the door.
“I want you to talk to Dennsmore. Tell him I will meet with him.”
“As you wish, Highness,” Ryan said before he slipped out into the corridor.
Killian pulled the letter out of his pocket and turned to the fire. He held it in his hands, staring at the paper and his name in her handwriting. He reached out, holding the letter over the flames, telling himself to let go, to drop the parchment and allow the fire to consume the words, but his muscles refused to obey. The heat crept up his arm and over his hand, but Killian didn’t move. He meant to drop it, expected to, but instead he pulled his hand back and slipped the letter into his pocket. Going back where he’d left the seal, he picked it up needing to take it to the chief archivist to see if any records on file might offer some information… anything leading him back to Serena.
Late that night, Killian took the letter out of his pocket. He sat at his desk and unfolded the parchment, staring at the words on the page until they blurred together. He propped his elbows on the desk and rested his head in his hands. His eyes drifted to the signature, a line he hadn’t paid much attention to at the first reading. Something tugged at the back of his mind, causing Killian to look closer. A quick smile curled his lips. Her normal looping flourish underneath her name was missing, and only the two of them knew what it meant. Feeling his heart beating a strange rhythm in his chest, Killian opened the false bottom of his desk drawer and retrieved one of Serena’s love letters. After unfolding the note, he laid it beside the other one. He held the two pages so the signatures were side by side and studied them for a long time. Then he placed them both in the drawer, replacing the false bottom before closing it again.
Sitting back in his chair, Killian considered what the differences in the signature meant. The flourish was a private signal to each other that the note was genuine. Is it possible Serena left it off on purpose? Is the note a well-done forgery? If either is true, what does it mean? He thought back to the night of the ball, replaying the evening from the moment he’d seen Serena until they’d parted, searching for some clue, some hint she was putting on an act. He grasped her ring and whispered, “Wherever you are, my love, do what you must to stay safe and come back to me. Please, Gods, bring her home.”
The next day, Killian and Ryan worked through the forms, moving in sync, side-by-side. The prince felt the hot sun beating down on him, a trickle of sweat rolled from his hairline to his waist. As he went through the motions, his thoughts strayed to Serena and, for a moment, he saw her red hair in a long braid down the center of her back. She controlled movements as she practiced her deadly art. Killian stopped in the middle of a transition from one form to the next and dropped to a knee, feeling his heart constrict in his chest. All around him, he heard sharp gasps and a few high-pitched shrieks, but to his left, he saw Ryan moving. The guardsman sheathed his sword and knelt at Killian’s side.
“Are you well, Highness?” Ryan asked, genuine concern in his voice.
“No.” Killian’s voice was tight as though the young prince fought to keep some emotion under control. “Ryan, I am not well.”
He asked, “Would you like to stop?”
“No,” Killian said, shaking his head, “just give me a moment.”
“What happened?”
“I got distracted thinking about Serena and…” His voice trailed off, and Killian shook his head in frustration.
Ryan glanced around. The distraction was obvious. Apparently, every young lady of the court was standing beneath the trees, holding parasols. He knew each hoped to catch the prince’s eye and replace Serena in his heart. “I think I understand, and I’m sure having all the young ladies of the court watching your every move doesn’t help.”
“No.” Killian pushed himself to his feet while ignoring the chattering of noble women all around him. He sighed and turned to face Ryan. “Look, I know Serena kept you informed as to my training progress. She always said if something happened to her, she didn’t want me falling behind.” He rubbed his temples, considering how to continue. “Right now, I don’t need to work the forms.” He took a breath and plunged onward. “What I need is a bout. I need to work out some of this pent up energy. I’m going to go crazy if I don’t.”
“Practice swords,” Ryan answered without hesitation.
The prince shook his head. “No.”
“There is no way I am allowing you to fight with edged blades in your state of mind.”
“Blunted edges,” Killian countered. He shrugged. “Even Serena didn’t like working with edged weapons.”
“She worried about hurting you, my lord.”
“She worried about the consequences.”
“She worried about you.” The guardsman’s voice went soft, gentle.
“What?” Killian studied the other man, a look of genuine confusion on his face.
Ryan frowned for a moment before making a decision. He knew Serena had never told Killian how much each time she’d wounded him had hurt her. “Give me your sword, Highness.” The guardsman ordered the prince in such a way that Killian complied, handing over the practice sword without thinking. “You cannot practice properly here. Not right now. There are too many distractions.”
“Where do you suggest I practice? Or do you suggest I stop?” The prince’s voice cracked through the air like a whip. No. No. I can’t stop. I can’t lose this one connection I still have with her. It will be like losing her again.
“I do not suggest you stop, my lord.” Ryan nodded and handed Killian back his sword. “It is clear you need it, for more than one reason. Beginning tomorrow, we will practice in one of the guard training rooms.”
“What about today?”
“We will continue, but you cannot allow yourself to become distracted like that again.”
“I understand.”
; “There may be times when you are fighting at Serena’s side. Your concern for her cannot be allowed to distract you from your own fight.” Ryan took a deep breath, making an on-the-spot decision before he continued, “If you were to become distracted, you put not only yourself, but Serena, in danger.”
“How would my distraction put her in danger?”
“If she has to focus on your fight as well as her own, she’s not going to be in top form. I know this isn’t what you want to hear, your Highness, but you need to focus. If you can’t in practice, then you won’t be able to in a real fight.” Ryan was honest and watched Killian’s reaction for any sign of distrust.
Killian rubbed his temples and nodded. “I know.”
“Then you also know she would berate you, and bust your ass for letting what’s happening to her distract you from your swordplay.”
Killian laughed even though it lacked true mirth. A vision of Serena berating him for being careless flashed before his eyes. “You’re right.”
Ryan studied the prince for a moment before nodding. “Very well, are you ready to get back to work, your Highness?”
“Yes,” he said, accepting Ryan’s offered hand and pulling himself to his feet.
“Good.” Ryan took a few steps away from the prince and brought his sword up into the ready position. Killian stepped back, giving them more room. Whispers and high-pitched giggles wafted through the air from the crowd of spectators.
Ryan nodded, Killian returned the gesture, and they settled into fighting stances. Killian struck first, testing Ryan’s defenses. The guardsman’s sword blocked the prince’s with ease and flowed into an attack of his own.
The pair traded blows, their movements becoming more a dance than a fight. Killian fell into the rhythm, losing himself in the exertion to the point where he forgot about their audience, the yawing pit in his heart, even the burning in his muscles and lungs. Killian’s blade slipped past Ryan’s defenses, and he landed a solid hit on his shoulder.
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