by Mia McKimmy
Riana threw the mirror onto the bed. “This dog collar is your idea of freedom? Why not throw me in one of your prisons and be done with it?”
Vind looked at her with dark, uncaring eyes. “If you defy me, that’s exactly what will happen. I never said you were free to leave, just to move around the castle.”
Riana laid her hand on Lily’s sleeping form beneath the burgundy satin comforter.
“I haven’t put one on her. Not yet, anyway. She’s too young to transport, and we are isolated deep in the mountains. She would never make it out on foot.” Vind chuckled. “Not before she’s eaten by wild animals, that is.”
“You’re a monster!” Riana swayed as she stood and leaned against the bed to steady herself.
Vind gave her an arched stare. “Yes, well, we have already established that now, haven’t we? The bathroom is through those doors. When you return there’s someone I want you to meet.”
Riana turned to glance at Lily. If she woke up alone with Vind, she’d be frightened.
“Run along, she’s fine. I gave my word. I will not harm her as long as you cooperate. Her room is next door to yours. To prove I’m not the complete monster you believe me to be, I will allow her to remain with you tonight, give her time to adjust to new surroundings.”
“Gee, you’re such a prince.” Riana’s tone dripped with sarcasm. “Am I supposed to thank you for taking a poor defenseless child to use as a bargaining chip?”
Vind’s face turned red, and his eyes flashed black. “Watch your tone with me, Riana. You do not want to push me too far. I am king here, and you will learn to treat me as such.” His eyes landed on Lily before he added, “Or you both will face the consequences.”
Riana glared back at him with as much disgust as she could muster. Between the shooting pain in her skull, the dizziness and nausea, she’d be lucky if she made it to the bathroom. She sure as hell wouldn’t ask for his help. It’d mean he would have to touch her again, and she really would throw up. She held to the bed and then the dresser until she had her balance. Then she wobbled the rest of the way on her own.
At the bathroom door she glanced back at Lily, and caught a glimpse of Vind. He sipped his brandy and watched her with an apathetic glare, similar to the one he’d used in her vision of his father’s death.
Heartless bastard.
Riana closed and locked the door. She slumped to her knees beside the toilet and emptied the contents of her stomach. When she finished, she eased onto the floor and curled into the fetal position. The cool tile soothed her face, as hot tears rolled and dropped to the floor. What am I going to do?
She had to get Lily out of there before the psychopath did something to harm her. Surely Vind knew if he harmed Lily, he’d have to kill Riana too. She wouldn’t stop until he did. As long as he wanted an heir from her, maybe he’d keep her alive. She could only hope he didn’t want to lose Lily as his…so called leverage. Keeping both her and Lily safe would be like playing with a stick of dynamite and fire at the same time. She had to figure some way out of this mess.
Riana stood and wiped her eyes. It’d please Vind way too much to know she’d cried. She couldn’t let Lily sense how scared she was either. Lily would be frightened enough when she woke.
She looked around the massive bathroom. Black and white marbled tile covered the floor and walls. The shocking contrast of red borders and accessories hurt her sensitive eyes.
Tacky. Expensive, but tacky.
Riana caught sight of herself in the mirror. A bandage covered her right temple. She eased the tape back on one side. An abrasion and dark bruising disappeared into her hairline. Her fingers moved over her scalp. She winced, and traced a lump the size of a golf ball. Her head had hit the cement border of a flowerbed as she went down with Lily in her arms. She recalled the guard yelling and heavy footsteps running toward them. Vind must have transported them before the guards reached them. Cy and Kyra would be worried sick, and the chances of them finding this place anytime soon were slim. Somehow, she needed to figure out where they were and find a way get word to Cy.
Riana splashed cool water on her face. Her emotions were all over the place. She had to calm down enough to think straight. As she entered the bedroom, Vind stood near the door talking in hushed tones to a small, older man dressed in a black, butler uniform, and heavy-set female wearing a black uniform dress.
Vind turned as she closed the bathroom door.
“Riana, this is Alpheus. He is in charge of my home. If there’s something you or the child need, he would be the person you ask.”
The butler bowed his head before he spoke. “Madam Riana.” His accent was Sivadian, and his eyes were light gray.
Riana hadn’t expected to meet someone who wasn’t a feeder. Alpheus smiled at her, a warm smile that wrinkled his eyes.
Vind turned to the woman. “This is Ms. Rizzo. I arranged for her to be Lily’s nanny.”
“Madam.” Her accent sounded different.
Italian maybe? She met the criteria for a feeder—black eyes and an eat-shit smile. “We are pleased to have you and Miss Lily here,” the woman said.
Riana didn’t trust her. Feeders were not this civilized. Her mom had told her enough horror stories to know this was a ruse. Not to mention everything she’d learned in class over the last few weeks. The female opened her mouth to say something else. Riana cut her off before she could speak. “I am not pleased to be here. And, neither you nor anyone else will be going near Lily. I will take care of her. We will not need your services.”
“Riana,” Vind snapped. “You will show Ms. Rizzo and Alpheus respect. Matter of fact, you will show anyone in my employment respect, especially them. They are loyal, and have been with me for a long time. Surely you haven’t forgotten what we spoke of earlier?” His merciless eyes cut toward Lily.
Riana looked away. She ground her teeth to keep from saying something that would cause him to follow through on his threat to harm Lily.
“Good.” Vind said.
Heat radiated from Riana’s face. The asshole had taken her silence as a sign of submission, when all she wanted was to tear into him like a tiger protecting her young.
“Wake the child and cleanup for dinner.” Vind said. “There are clothes for you in the closet. Ms. Rizzo will bring appropriate dinner clothes from Lily’s room. Alpheus will come and escort you to the dining room in one hour.”
The three of them turned and left the room, closing the door behind them. The sound of several locks slid into place.
“What happened to moving freely around the castle?” she said to the closed door.
Chapter 24
Cy returned from his meeting with the council and stopped by Oz’s office for a quick update. Afterwards, he hurried to his apartment to change clothes before taking Riana home. Vind’s army could show at any time and try to break him out. For some unknown reason, he was becoming more anxious by the minute. His chest was tight and his head was splitting. He needed to get Riana someplace safe.
As Cy headed for the door, the lights blinked inside his apartment and his watch released a soft beep. Those were signals alerting him that his mother had arrived. She wasn’t home when he’d visited to tell her about Vind’s capture, so he left the message with her assistant. Most Sivadians would never believe their queen actually transported outside the compound walls and followed a tunnel leading into his kitchen pantry. He couldn’t keep his identity hidden if people at the compound saw their queen popping in to visit.
He opened the pantry and punched a code into a wall panel, releasing the locking mechanism on a steel door. His mother stood waiting on the top step that led down into the bricked tunnel. Other than Riana, she was one of the most beautiful females on Earth. Throughout history, her legendary beauty had inspired artists, sculptors, authors and poets. With dark hair and skin as flawless as a perfect diamond, her pale aquamarine eyes held the light of a mother’s love whenever she looked at him.
“Hello, darling. I know
you’re busy, but I have something to ask of you.”
Cy embraced his mother and kissed her cheek. “I’m a little anxious to get Riana home, but can spare a minute for you.”
The queen took a long breath and released it. “Cygan, I came because I want to see Vind. I would like to speak with him before he goes before the council. Would you and Oz be so kind as to bring him here so we can talk privately? I know everything he’s done, but he is still my son. I need to look in his eyes, mother to son, one last time before he is taken away forever.”
It broke Cy’s heart to hear the anguish in his mother’s voice. He understood her need to look into Vind’s face, the same way he had. If she was looking for a sign of remorse, then she’d be in an even worse frame of mind afterward. Remorse was an emotion his brother had never been capable of producing, not even for her. But he couldn’t deny her request, even though it would cause her more pain.
“Of course we’ll bring him to you. You’ll have to allow us to remain in the room. Vind can’t be trusted, and your safety comes first. Don’t expect much from him, Mother. Time has hardened him more than even I could’ve imagined.”
An electric carafe of tea sat on his desk. “Would you like some tea while I call Oz and let him know?”
“That would be nice dear.”
Cy poured her tea and sat it on the table in front of her. As he grabbed his phone, Oz’s face appeared on the caller ID. “I was about to call you. Mother is here and wants the two of us to bring Vind to my office so she can talk to him.”
Oz took a long breath, and when he spoke his voice sounded tight, stressed. “That’s why I’m calling. I’m at the jail now, and Vind’s not here. The guards are unconscious, locked inside one of the cells.”
Cy rubbed his brow. “He couldn’t have escaped this compound undetected. There is no possible way.”
“I’ve already locked down the compound. The guards are conducting a detailed search. Something went on at the gate and I’m headed there next. They said I needed to see this for myself. Meet me in the observation room so we can go over the recordings inside the cells.”
“Okay, I’ll be there in a minute.”
Cy hung up, and met his mother’s fearful eyes.
“Has he escaped?” she asked.
“He’s not in his cell. But I don’t believe he’s left the compound. I need to meet Oz. Don’t worry, Mother, we’ll find him. You lock the door behind me and I’ll call once we know something.”
“All right, dear,” the queen said, her tone deflated. “I’ll wait to hear from you.”
Cy headed straight to Riana’s quarters. The knot in his stomach worsened with each passing second. Until he laid eyes on Riana, he wouldn’t be calm enough to concentrate on searching for Vind.
After knocking on the door for what seemed like forever, Elle finally answered. “Took you long enough,” Cy snapped as he strode past her.
“I was taking a nap. Since it appears we’re under house arrest. That wouldn’t be any of your doings, would it Mr. Boss Man?”
Cy ignored her and headed into Riana’s room only to find no one there. Her bathroom was empty also. His heart raced as he went back to the living room.
Elle sat on the couch with a bottle of water in her hand.
“Where is Riana?” he blurted.
Elle’s gaze narrowed. “She’s not in her room?”
“No, I wouldn’t have asked if she were. When was the last time you saw her?”
“She was here when I went to take a nap. Commander Oz came by and told us not to leave until you returned.” Elle glared at him suspiciously. “What’s going on, Cy?”
“Nothing.” He cast his gaze down and headed for the door. “I have to go.”
Elle stepped in front of him. “It’s something, and the only thing you have to do is tell me what’s going on.”
“I don’t know where Riana is. I have to find her. He tried to hide the fear in his voice. It didn’t work. He grabbed the door handle and pulled.
Elle shoved her weight against it, slammed it shut, and pinned him with a frustrated stare. “There’s something you’re not saying, Cy. Why do you look so freaked out? If something has happened to Riana, you had better tell me.”
“We had Vind in our cells and he’s escaped. I need to find Riana to make sure she’s safe. I’m not saying this but once, Elle. Get out of my way, before I do something I’ll regret.”
“I’m coming with you.”
“No, you’re not.” Cy’s phone rang and he pulled it from his pocket. “Yeah.”
“I need you in the observation room, now,” Oz said.
Oz’s voice was tighter than last time they’d talked. Whatever he’d found, it wasn’t good. “I’m on my way.”
Thank God, Elle had disappeared. At least she was no longer demanding answers he didn’t have. Cy slammed the door on his way out, and hit the stairwell at a dead run. He wasn’t surprised at the sound of bare feet pounding down the steps behind him. “Go back, Elle! That’s a command!”
Elle caught up to him outside, keeping pace with his long strides. “Look, you can command all you want. I really don’t care. I’m helping you look for Riana whether you like it or not. She’s been my best friend since we were five. I love her as much as you do, and I have as much right to search for her as anyone.”
Cy stopped abruptly and pinned Elle with a hard stare. Damn, she was stubborn. He didn’t have time to argue, and she might actually be of help. “Fine, just don’t get yourself killed. And, try to do as you’re told, for once.”
Elle gave him a tight-lipped smirk. “I’ll do my best.”
When Cy and Elle entered the observation room, Kam and Oz sat in front of a roll of monitors covering one side of the small room.
“What’s Blondie doing here?” Kam asked in a snide tone.
Elle gave him a disgusted glare. “Love you too, asshole.”
“Don’t ask.” Cy looked over Oz’s shoulder at the screen, paused on a view outside the trainees lodge. Oz stared at the monitor as if he were in a trance.
“What did you find?” Cy asked when no one said anything.
Oz shook his head and started one of the videos. “You need to take a seat. This one starts not long after I left Riana’s this morning.”
The recording started with Riana following Mr. Connors out of her building and through the compound. Once they entered the jail, Oz switched monitors. It picked up with Riana and Mr. Connors stopping in front of Vind’s cell.
Cy’s stomach churned bile into his throat as he watched the tape. His eyes widened and he moved closer to the screen. “What the hell? Is Vind actually fading?” No one answered. They were all paralyzed by what was happening on the screen. Right before he disappeared, Vind turned and looked up at the camera with a vengeful grin, as if to say ‘I have what I came for, brother.’ At that moment, Cy realized he’d set-up his own capture. Vind wasn’t satisfied with just killing him. He wanted Cy to suffer. Suffer for their father’s choice of him as successor. Suffer knowing Vind would destroy the only woman he’d ever loved.
His entire body shook as rage fought for release. He needed to kill Vind in the worst possible way. Even though he couldn’t hear what Vind said to Riana, it was obvious he was threatening her with something. When the camera captured her face it revealed the whole spectrum of emotions, and he felt each one. From anger, fear, sorrow, to acceptance, it all played out on her beautiful features.
Cy didn’t think Riana’s emotions could hit him any harder, until they switched to the last monitor. When she ran into Lily, he gasped for air from the weight of her terror. His knees sagged. Someone steadied him, and then lowered him into a chair.
After it ended with Riana and Lily disappearing from the courtyard, Cy looked at Oz, and a mirror image of his own fear and desperation stared back. Something he hadn’t seen on the ancient warrior since the day Cy’s father died. Fear of what Vind would do to Riana and Lily had shaken them both to the core.
“I’m going to rip that fucker limb from limb,” Cy said through clenched teeth.
“Not if I get to him first,” Oz replied. “I should’ve let Miles kill him after his capture.”
Cy rose and paced in front of the monitors. If he didn’t control this rage, he’d never clear his head enough to think. “We need a plan and we need one fast. I want every Protector we have working on this. Even if they’re retired and unable to fight, they still have years of experience dealing with Vind. They may remember something useful.”
Cy’s gaze moved around the observation room. “Where’s Kyra? Does she know about this?”
“She was with me when I first viewed the video,” Oz replied. “She lost it. We had to hold her down to keep her from destroying the equipment. Lily’s the only family she has left. I sent her and Miles to the armory to finish pulling weapons, make sure everything’s loaded and ready.”
“I still don’t know how smart it was to put loaded weapons in her hands right now,” Kam said.
Oz shook his head. “She’s tight. As long as someone’s with her to keep her from going off halfcocked and getting herself killed.”
Cy scrubbed his face with both hands and took a deep breath. “Where were the guards who were supposed to be watching these monitors when this went down? And why the hell didn’t they call for someone to investigate when an unauthorized person entered the cells?”
Kam looked at Cy as if he dreaded what he was about to say. “They didn’t see anything because they were unconscious. Mr. Connors’ nephew had brought coffee, which evidently drugged them. Vind had this entire thing planned.”
Since the video ended, Elle had been transfixed to a screen paused on Riana’s face. She shot to her feet as if someone turned on her switch. “What I want to know is where that weasel Connors and his skanky nephew are now? I will beat the truth from those heartless bastards.”
“I have people searching for them.” Oz said. “They both signed out of the compound moments after Riana and Lily disappeared. The nephew lived with Connors and his wife, and there’s no one at their residence. The guards are searching the house for possible leads.”