The Book of Kaels Bundle (Books 2 - 4): The Wood Kael, The Metal Kael, The Fire Kael

by Wendy Wang

  Egan's gaze fell on her and the ghost of a smile faded as soon as she stepped inside.

  “What's wrong?” He said moving to her. He cupped her cheek and tipped her chin so she could look into his eyes.

  “Nothing.” She said softly.

  “Someone's upset you?”

  “It doesn't matter.” She said. Her heart began to race. The last thing she wanted was to make him angry.

  He pulled her to him and wrapped his arms around her. His lips brushed her forehead. “Of course it matters. If someone has upset you—”

  “He didn't hurt me. The warden made sure of that. He just frightened me a little that's all.” She encircled her arms around his waist and tucked her head against the crook of his neck, breathing him in. His natural spicy sent calmed her and she ran her hands over his back. She wasn't going to do this, wasn't going to get caught up in him again and yet she couldn't stop herself.

  “How are the boys?” he asked pulling back a little so he could look into her face.

  “They’re as good as can be expected. I don't think Danny understands it all, but Tom does. He asked me if you were bad.”

  The muscles in his back stiffened beneath her hands and his jaw clenched.

  “What did you tell him?”

  “I told him you weren’t bad, just caught in a bad situation.” She lied smoothly, not wanting to upset him. If he became angry it would ruin everything.

  He tucked a piece of errant hair behind her ear and stroked her jaw with his thumb. “Thank you,” he said his voice gravelly with emotion. “For not telling them the truth.”

  “You're not bad, Egan. You're just like anyone. You make mistakes. We all do.” She snaked her hand between them and traced the lines of his jaw with her thumb. “I could not be in love with a bad man.”

  Egan's eyes darkened and a shadow crossed his strong features. “I do not deserve you,” he whispered and brushed his lips over hers. His body still felt stiff beneath her fingers. “I love you so much, Cilla.”

  He kissed her in earnest, pressing his warm full lips against hers. Her whole body melted against him, her core heating with a mix of love and desire for him. She wished they could be alone together, so she could be with him one last time. Her heart clenched at that thought. How was she supposed to live her life without his touch? Tears tickled the back of her throat.

  “Oh Egan,” she whispered, “I don’t know what I’m going to do without you. I don’t know how to raise our sons alone.” His warm breath felt so good against her lips. She loved him so much, and wanted him even more. She kissed him, hungrily this time and he picked her up lightly, pivoting her body away from the guard, maneuvering her against the stone wall. His hand brushed over her blouse, and cupped her breast. She moaned into his mouth and wrapped one leg around his hips. As he pressed against her, she could feel him, wanting her too. Her head clouded with yearning for him and she was only vaguely aware of his hand lifting her long skirt, dragging along her thigh. A moment later he lifted her up higher and she encircled her legs around him. Her breath caught in her throat as he joined his body with hers. Her eyes fluttered, and she saw the warden’s back. He stood in front of the cell door, obscuring the view of the other cells. Egan dragged his mouth up her neck, to her lips and she let herself be lost in his touch, one last time.

  ******

  Egan held onto her as her body went limp in his arms. Her breathing slowed from rapid panting and soft moans to long slow breaths. He kissed her neck and lowered her to the floor. She leaned her head against his shoulder and it surprised him when she began to cry. He tightened his arms around her, panic blooming inside his chest. He could handle almost anything thrown at him — weapons, fists — he could almost always find a way to avoid them, and strike back harder. But tears? Tears could paralyze him, leaving him helpless and unsure what to do.

  “What is it?” he whispered against her ear.

  It took her a minute to speak, and when she did her voice hitched. “I don’t want you to die. I feel like I just got you back.”

  Relief washed away the panic and he kissed her temple. She wanted him.

  Tell her. Damn D’Raq.

  Get out of my head.

  Tell her.

  Egan gritted his teeth and blew his breath out through his nose. Cilla stiffened in his arms. She pulled back and peered into his face. Fright shone in her eyes. He hated that look in her eyes, and yet some part of him, deep inside, needed her to fear him, fed off it. He curled his lips into a reassuring smile and her body relaxed. Leaning in, he touched her forehead with his, wrapping his fingers gently around the back of her neck.

  “There might be a way,” he whispered.

  “A way to do what?”

  “For me to live.” He pulled his head back and leveled his gaze on hers. Confusion traveled across her delicate features and morphed into disbelief.

  “What are you saying?” She glanced past his shoulder at the guard and kept her voice low so he could not hear. “How could that happen? You were sentenced by the tribunal.”

  Go on. She really wants to believe you.

  Get. Out. Of. My. Head!

  A chuckle echoed through the corridor, grating Egan’s nerves.

  “I know,” Egan continued. “But if I—” He swallowed so his voice wouldn’t shake. “If I escaped from here with you and the boys, we could run away. Have the life we always talked about having.” He tilted her head up and pressed his lips against hers, kissing her again until she was breathless. “Do you still want that? I know I've never been easy to live with. But I love you, Cilla.”

  “Egan I want to believe you would be different.”

  “I am different, Cilla. I am,” he pleaded. “Being here. It's changed me. Shown me what's really important. You and the boys are what's really important to me now.”

  She put her hand on top of his and closed her eyes. Her face wrenched with pain.

  You really have to learn to manage your anger.

  Get out of my head, you son of a bi—

  She hesitates because of your past behavior. Convince her.

  “Cilla, please believe me,” he whispered, and kissed her forehead, moving to her eyelids and again gently this time to her lips. Her body relaxed against his, and she tucked her head in the crook of his neck and wrapped her arms around his waist hugging him tight. He stroked her long curly hair.

  “I don't want to lose you.”

  “Then help me,” he said softly.

  Her arms tightened. “What would you need me to do?”

  “I need you to flirt with the guard and disarm him of his baton.”

  Slowly she pulled out of his arms and he watched her face carefully. Her eyes grew wide and the color drained from her cheeks. Her grip on him slackened. He could almost see her mind working going through his request what it would mean and whether she could do it or not.

  “You want me to flirt with someone else? To disarm him?”

  “I know it's a lot to ask.” He placed his hand on her shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. “If you're not comfortable though —” He cast his eyes down and frowned, trying to look sad.

  “But if I don't do this you'll die,” she whispered mostly to herself.

  He brought his gaze up to hers again, “Yes. It means you walk out the door and we say our goodbyes forever.”

  “And if I do?” She eyed the guard and lowered her voice, “What happens?”

  Egan threw a glance over her shoulder at the guard. He still had his back to them.

  “You would use the baton to free me from these harnesses.” He showed her his wrist. “Then you'll go back to the palace and get the boys ready to go. I'll come and get you.”

  “How? How can you get out? There’s so much security here? And how will you get into the palace? There is so much more security there.”

  “I have a plan. And I have help. I won’t be alone doing this.”

  “Egan —”

  “Cilla,” he said his voice too sharp
. He took a breath trying to calm himself. “Do you trust me?”

  Her green eyes searched his face and for a second he thought she might say no. She let out a slow quiet breath and nodded her head.

  “Good,” he said. “I love you and I would never let anything happen to you or the boys. You all are my world. You believe that don't you?”

  The pained look reappeared and tears struck her cheeks. She swiped them away quickly and sniffled. “Yes,” she said. “I believe you.”

  His lips curved into a smile. “Good.”

  The guard cleared his throat.

  “That's the hour folks,” the guard said.

  Egan hugged her to him again and kissed her temple. “Come and see me again tomorrow.”

  “I will.” She nodded.

  He watched her through the bars as the guard let her out.

  Excellent job. Very masterful.

  Shut up D’Raq. Her mother could still get to her. We'll see where her head is tomorrow.

  She’ll make the right decision. She loves you. More than you deserve.

  Egan’s face twisted into a scowl. I know.

  Twenty-One

  Cilla hummed to herself as she entered the playroom. Danny and Tom were lying on their stomachs on the floor playing with molded tin soldiers. Y'Ana laid on one of the sofas in an odd position, with her head hanging over the edge of the cushions and her feet propped on the back. Her short white blond hair spiked towards the ground and she held a book in her hands, reading it.

  The young maid put in charge of the children stood at attention as soon as Cilla entered the room.

  “Meldra,” Cilla said.

  “Hello, ma’am,” the maid said. Her gray eyes quickly cut to Y'Ana, her pale face fearful. Had something happened with the girl? Again? Cilla sighed.

  “Hello, boys,” Cilla called. “Aren’t you going to give your mother a hug?”

  “Mommy!” Danny said jumping up and running towards his mother. He flung himself at her legs wrapping his little arms around her. She picked him up and hugged him to her breathing in his sweet clean scent. It was the last vestiges of babyhood. It would be gone soon along with the powdery softness of his skin. He was already becoming long and lean like his older brother. A pang filled her chest and she wished she could keep him a baby forever.

  “Hello, my sweet boy,” she said, kissing him on the temple. “What have you been up to?”

  “I’m a soldier. Just like Daddy.”

  “I see,” she said, watching Tom pretend to blow up a whole garrison of tin men with one fireball. “What about you Y'Ana? What have you been up to?”

  Y'Ana jerked herself up to sitting and stared at Cilla with her ice blue eyes. She held up her gold and red leather bound book, with an engraved sun and moon on the front.

  “You’ve been reading?” Cilla asked. Y'Ana nodded her head. The child’s unblinking glare seeped into her skin, sending a shiver crawling down Cilla’s back. It was as if the girl could see to the heart of her. Y’Ana looked down at her book and Cilla could move again. “That’s wonderful Y’Ana,” Cilla said, but the words felt hollow. If anyone asked, she would deny it, but part of her would be glad to be done with the child.

  Tom sat “Where have you been, Mama?”

  Cilla called up a smile. “Just for a walk.” The lie came out smoothly. Maybe too smoothly. The only one who might know it was a lie was the queen and if Cilla avoided her until Egan carried out his plan, then she and her boys could be in a different realm before the queen could put a stop to it. The four of them would make a new start. Put everything that had come before behind them. Her boys deserved a chance to really know and love their father. Egan had changed. She could see it, but more importantly, she could feel it.

  “All right boys, let’s go get washed up for dinner. You too, Y’Ana.”

  Tom scooped up his tin men and put them into their blue woolen pouch. He fastened the pouch to his belt and jumped to his feet to join his mother.

  The door opened as Cilla reached for it. Cilla's breath caught in her throat at the sight of her mother and she wilted beneath her mother's hard expression.

  “Cilla,” her mother said her voice full of cool disapproval.

  “Hello, mama,” Cilla said cautiously. “We were just getting ready to go get dressed for dinner.”

  “I see,” her mother said. “Perhaps you should take time enough for a bath then.” Her mother leaned in close and whispered next to her ear, “to get the smell of him off of you.”

  Cilla’s cheeks filled with heat and fury colored her vision red. She would not be shamed for loving Egan.

  “Have you been spying on me?”

  Her mother stood straight and looked her daughter straight in the eye. “I followed you. Saw you go into the prison.”

  “So what? I went to see my husband. A man I happen to love.”

  Her mother scoffed making a noise in her throat. Her lips twisted into a sneer. “Have you forgotten what he’s done to you? What he’s done to Sorrel. Or your boys!”

  “He loves me and our boys. I can’t help what happened to Sorrel I can’t change it. But Egan has changed he is not the same man.”

  “Wake up, Cilla! I didn’t raise you to be a fool girl!”

  “Mama, I am not a fool! You have never been able to see the good in him.”

  “How could I? Not when he ruined your life. You had such a bright future and he had to go and get you pregnant at sixteen.”

  Cilla felt Tom’s arm wrap around her hips and he hid his face against her waist. She held him close wishing she could stop her mother from talking before she hurt him anymore. “Stop it mama! Just stop it! Tom and Danny are the best things that ever happened to me.”

  “I don’t want your heart to get broken again. Egan is going to die. What would you be left with?”

  “You have never wanted me to be happy. And no matter what you might think of Egan Crane he loves me. Which is more than I can say for you at the moment. Come on boys.”

  “Mama?” Tom looked up at her horror marring his innocent face.

  “Thank you, Mama. Thank you very much. And for your information Egan is not going to die. Not if I have anything to do about it.”

  “What is that supposed to mean?”

  “Nothing. Nothing at all.” She rested her chin on top of Danny’s head. His soft brown curls tickled her skin and his sweet scent calmed her.

  “Cilla –”

  “No, you said your peace. Maybe you should just go home to your farm.”

  “And where will you go?”

  “I will stay here until—until after it’s over.”

  “And then you’ll come home?”

  “No, Mama. I think the boys and I will just make a life here.”

  “Cilla — you know I only tell you the truth because I love you.”

  “No, Mama, you tell your version of the truth because you like to be right, no matter who it hurts. Now if you’ll excuse me we need to get ready for dinner.”

  “Cilla —” Her mother called after her but Cilla pushed past her. She refused to look back. Egan was not going to die. Not if she could do something about it and she could do something about it. She just had to find the courage to do it.

  ******

  It had been more than two days since Cilla had come to see him. He paced the length of his cell, his feet leaving a trail in the dust. Tomorrow he would be executed. If she did not come today, then that would be it. The end. No more chances.

  Maybe she had decided to just let it happen. Maybe he'd been wrong about her love for him. He sighed. The wool of his shirt irritated his skin and he hooked his finger into the collar to keep it away from his neck. He pictured her mother and the words she would use to try and convince Cilla that he was worthless. Less than worthless. If by some miracle of the fates Cilla was able to break away from her mother and he was able to escape he would definitely have to get rid of the old woman. It might be the only way he and Cilla had a chance at happiness.<
br />
  You worry like an old woman.

  Egan stopped in his tracks and glared at the wall towards D'Raq’s cell.

  She will come. Trust her.

  You don't understand.

  What? Don't I understand? What it's like to put your faith in another person? To trust only to have them trample on that trust.

  It's never been Cilla that I don't trust. We were happy once. But anytime her mother interferes — it all goes to Nahl.

  Well what are you going to do about it?

  You already know why are you asking?

  Because I want to hear you say it. If you're off carrying out some mission of revenge, how do I know I can count on you?

  If I get a chance to kill her I will, but I’m not taking precious time to seek her out. Although, I suspect, it will be easy since she doesn't like to leave Cilla alone for too long and it might actually give her a chance to make her own decisions for once.

  I see. Well I don't particularly want to kill you so let's ensure that we both stick to our respective bargains.

  Fine.

  You worried about nothing.

  Why do you say that?

  Because she’s on her way now.

  You can hear her?

  A soft chuckle echoed down the corridor. Oh yes. I hear her. Get ready

  His heart sped up and Egan stopped moving and turned to face his cell door.

  ******

  “Are you all right, ma'am,” the warden asked, glancing sideways at her.

  He was a different warden than the one who had led her to Egan’s cell before. They all seemed so young but this one kept looking at her face, watching her. She called up a smile. “I'm fine, thank you.” She wrapped her arms around her waist hugging them to herself. “I'm just a little nervous that's all.”