Chosen: Curse of the Draekon Book One

by Samantha Britt

  As if hearing my unspoken question, he said, “Yes. I asked about you.”

  “Why?”

  The prince visibly started.

  I cursed my lack of control. I bet no one, especially not human servants, spoke to the prince so abruptly.

  He recovered quickly. “Min and I are friends. Childhood friends,” he revealed. “I described you to Min and asked he help find you.” He gestured to my clothing, referencing my kitchen uniform and appearance. To his credit, the prince’s gaze barely stopped to admire my naked shoulders before returning to my face.

  Some of my anxiety lessened.

  “I…” I wasn’t sure what to say. I looked at the floor at his feet. His knee-length boots reflected the candlelight.

  The prince moved on without pause. “Min says you are a healer. As you can imagine, I wasn’t surprised. Thank you for that, by the way.”

  I’d been busy staring at the gold thread under his feet. I raised my gaze.

  I must have looked confused because he elaborated, “Thank you for helping me move out of firing range.” He took another step closer. “I am in your debt.”

  The words unsettled me. “There is no debt.” I was proud my voice didn’t shake. “You said so yourself; your healing abilities would have healed you even without my help.”

  “True, but not if another elven fighter managed to land a second blow.”

  Casually, he sat on the chair, acting like he didn’t just reveal he could have died. “You saved me. And I would like to make you an offer in return.”

  22

  Icy dread poured into my veins. The prince stared at me, waiting for a response, any sign that I heard what he said.

  I didn’t react. I couldn’t speak or move.

  The prince of draekon was about to make me an offer, and I knew in my gut that I would be unable to refuse. To do so would be foolish and likely punishable. I couldn’t offend an heir to the kingdom, but I wasn’t sure I wanted any part in what he was about to say.

  Long seconds passed where the prince observed me with a confused, yet curious, stare.

  “Amelissa?”

  I’d forgotten I told him my name.

  “Are you unwell?” No doubt, he’d observed my too pale skin and saw the sweat forming on my forehead with his enhanced vision. I wanted to turn and run to avoid hearing whatever offer he was about to make.

  But that wasn’t an option.

  “I’m fine.” I braced myself for what was to come.

  I could see he didn’t believe me, but he let the matter drop.

  “I would like to offer you a position with our castle healer,” he spoke like he was talking to a skittish animal. “Would you be interested?”

  It took too long for me to understand. “A healer?” I blinked. “In the castle?”

  The prince nodded, unaware of what I’d believed his intentions were. “You will become Master Errol’s apprentice. I’ve already spoken with him on the matter. He is waiting for you in the infirmary.”

  “Infirmary?” Gods. I sounded like an idiot.

  But the prince’s patience remained. “Yes. Come. I will show you the way.” He stood and crossed the room before I took my next breath. He passed me and opened the door, gesturing for me to follow.

  I saw no other choice.

  Careful to keep at least three feet between us, I walked behind the draekon prince to my new position in the infirmary.

  Fear and unease swirled in my belly, but there was also the smallest tendril of excitement. I wasn’t sure what else might come of me helping save the prince during the attack, but at least I could return to my love of the healing arts—I’d get the chance to help people again.

  The prince led me through the royal halls. I quickly became lost. The floor had more twists and turns than any other in the castle. I wondered if it was on purpose.

  What better way to protect the royal family than to make the paths to their rooms convoluted and confusing?

  We descended to the bottom floor and walked out into the early morning light. Following a stone path, the prince headed towards a rectangular building located opposite the stables. I’d never noticed it before; it was tucked against the castle walls, nearly out of sight.

  The prince entered without ceremony, dropping a greeting the moment he opened the door. “Master Errol? Are you in here?”

  “Yes, Your Highness. Just like I said I would be.”

  I stepped in and blinked as my eyes adjusted to the well-lit room. Three of the four walls were lined with oak tables and rows of shelves. Every surface was covered with vials, herbal plants, or equipment. I’d never seen so many healing medicines and tools in one place.

  On the wall not covered by objects, a man hunched over a desk, grinding some herb in a pestle. “Come in,” he said, waving without looking away from his task. “I will just be a moment.”

  The prince and I obeyed. I continued to observe my surroundings while I waited.

  How long had it taken me to supply my meager healer’s bag in Caldiri? Years. And it still lacked many medicines and ointments I wished to provide for my neighbors.

  Glancing around, I doubted the castle healer wanted for anything. The infirmary looked thoroughly and expensively stocked.

  The mortar dropped to the table as the man stood. “All right then. Is this her, Your Highness? The healer you mentioned?”

  I straightened as the man’s dark eyes landed on me. I’d been expecting a human servant, but I looked into the gaze of a draekon. My spine stiffened even further. The castle healer was a draekon? And I was to work for him?

  “Yes, Master Errol,” the prince answered respectfully. “This is Amelissa Allaway, a Caldirian recruit.”

  I lowered my chin, dropping my eyes. “Pleased to meet you.”

  “A Caldirian with manners.” Master Errol conveyed surprise. “How nice to see.” I was mildly offended.

  The master healer continued to survey me. “You’re a healer, girl?”

  “I was.”

  “No longer?”

  I gestured to my clothes. “I am assigned to the kitchen staff.”

  He and the prince shared a look.

  Master Errol turned back to me. “Are you particularly skilled in the healing arts?”

  “I believe so.” But standing among his advanced equipment, I felt less skilled than I had five minutes ago.

  “Agent Min reports Amelissa was the most celebrated healer in her region. Her skills were well known by the census agents sent there.”

  I tried to hide my reaction. Even though I had already been recruited to the capital, I still didn’t want to be known by the agents. I craved the anonymity I fought so hard to get during the welcoming banquet. Though, it clearly did little good.

  I looked to the prince. I knew he felt he owed me for assisting him during the attack, but his kindness felt like too much for a recruit.

  Feeling my gaze, the prince turned to me.

  “Why?” I asked while my bold curiosity outweighed my fear.

  I didn’t need to elaborate. The prince knew exactly what I meant. He could have instructed Agent Min to handle my reassignment in his stead. Why did he take the time to do it himself?

  “Because.” His dark irises seemed to swirl in the flicker of candlelight. “Many draekon and humans would have run by me, not knowing who I was, in order to save themselves. But you didn’t. You stayed. You helped.”

  The intensity of his stare filled the air between us. I found it hard to breath.

  The prince ensnared me with his sincerity and gratitude. It was too much. Too much power shifted in those eyes and too much of it focused on me. My feelings warred between nervousness and gratitude.

  Master Errol cleared his throat. The sound gave me the strength to tear myself from the prince’s stare.

  The healer’s eyebrows lifted, and his dark irises shined. Whatever thoughts swam through his mind must have intrigued him. “Well, my dear,” he said, motioning for me to approach. “Let us
see what you can do.”

  23

  “You saw Warren and Jasper?” I ushered my sister to sit beside me. We were in my new castle rooms, located in the north wing. My apartment was adjacent to Master Errol’s. As his apprentice, I was to join him whenever he was called to a patient, no matter the hour.

  At first, I feared living in such close proximity to a draekon. Especially a male. My unease all but disappeared after one week in my new rooms. Master Errol treated me as a respected employee, and we quickly established a professional rapport. I craved the knowledge he possessed, and he happily imparted his wisdom. My first two weeks as his apprentice were exciting and fulfilling. The only thing I missed was being able to see my sister as much as I wished.

  That fact had forced me to consider denying the prince’s offer. I didn’t want to leave my sister in the kitchen apartment without me, but Lorie squashed the idea. After several heated discussions, she convinced me she would be fine living with Bridget. Besides, we were permitted to see each other every evening. Though I worked for Master Errol, I still joined the kitchen staff in their parlor for conversation and friendship. Unless I was needed to treat a patient, of course.

  Lorie plopped onto the cushion I hit with my palm. “Yes, this morning. We met for breakfast at a café near the city square.”

  I didn’t know there was a city square. It seemed too quaint for the sprawling capital, but I had yet to spend time exploring any place outside of the castle. I hadn’t had a day off as a kitchen servant, and Master Errol didn’t seem like the type of boss who would like an employee to take random days off. He was a dedicated healer.

  I waited to see if my sister would give me more detail about her outing on her personal day. It had been the first Chef gave her.

  She didn’t.

  “And how are they doing?” I prompted.

  “Really well!”

  “Really?” Relief washed over me. I fell back against the decorative pillow—an item I’d originally found useless but had grown quite fond of. “I’m so happy to hear that.”

  Lorie bounced a little. “Yes. And Warren has already saved over three gold coins. He was telling me that some recruits own their own homes in Draek. He is hoping to buy one soon. He said I could live there.”

  “Did he?” My eyebrows nearly reached my hairline.

  Lorie didn’t notice. “Yes. Can you believe it? Warren would have never been able to afford a home half as nice in Caldiri.”

  “Is that so?” I purposely altered my tone. I wanted to see if Lorie picked up on it.

  She carried on like I hadn’t said anything at all. “I know we would all rather be home in Caldiri, but you have to admit that life here isn’t terrible. I mean, a house, Lissy. Warren can buy a house!”

  Her enthusiasm was understandable. Warren’s accomplishment was something to be excited about, but it still felt wrong.

  That was not to say I wasn’t happy for Warren. Or even Lorie. I’d never seen her work day in and day out before. It was what Lin and I had been trying to get her to do for years.

  In Draek not only was our sister working, but she was enjoying it. She earned a decent wage as a server, and she was making friends. Lorie was happy… and so was I. I enjoyed my work with Master Errol.

  But it didn’t feel right.

  Lin, Jem, and all of the other loved ones in Caldiri were worrying about us. They feared their beloved sons and daughters were being mistreated and misused.

  I’d tried to alleviate the guilt I felt by writing to Lin again. As did Lorie. But we hadn’t received a single response. The only communication either of us had was that oddly delivered note during the attack.

  For a while now, my suspicion about Lord Stanley had been growing. I wondered at our region’s lack of knowledge and communication with the rest of the kingdom.

  If the ruler of our region was intentionally blocking information and, instead, filling citizens’ heads full of fear and terror of anything outside our borders, I wanted to find out why?

  I just wasn’t sure how I would do that.

  “Have you heard from Lin yet?”

  The question pulled me out of my thoughts. “No… have you?”

  “No.” Lorie sounded sad. “Which is strange. I thought, after the attack, he would have reached out again.”

  The attack I didn’t know if he was involved in. That was an entirely different issue, but an issue nonetheless.

  I rubbed my eyes. I’d initially convinced Lorie our brother could not have been involved in the elven attack, but since working as Master Errol’s apprentice, I’d overheard draekon guests and human companions murmuring about rumors of a rebellion.

  I had followed my teacher through the castle halls, listening as the visitors gossiped about the unprecedented attack on the castle. Several times, I heard mention of Prince Finn’s wound, and how he bravely overcame his injury before taking to the skies to engage the enemy.

  I had to hide my snort the first time I’d heard that one. Little did the twittering females know, the prince had been lying in a dusty closet after I had helped protect him from further harm.

  It was amusing how drastically wrong rumors could be.

  But it was also terrifying how right they might be.

  I had been in the middle of administering a tonic for headaches to a female draekon when I heard her friends discussing the rebellion. Schooling my face, I continued working while I listened.

  “Well, I hear Prince Finn has thrown that ambassador into the dungeons. One of my ex-lovers is a royal guard, and he told me the prince believes rebels orchestrated the attack.”

  Gasps filled the air. “Human rebels? Impossible.” Pompous draekon confidence covered the words. “How would they organize a co-attack with the elven dirt bags?”

  “They couldn’t,” another female answered with her own haughty tone. “Those elven bastards are determined to destroy our race, and they are using the proposed peace treaty as a distraction. I will speak with Finn and inform him of my suspicions.”

  I fought the urge to turn and see who said the prince’s name so casually.

  “Do you believe he will listen?”

  “Of course.” I could practically hear the unknown female toss her hair over her shoulder. “You know we are close.” The group of females laughed, allowing me to deduce just how close the prince and female were.

  I’d left the room shortly after with a growing sense of foreboding. The draekon female claimed there was no way the rebellion could have been involved, but if the prince believed it to be so, it would be unwise to dismiss the possibility.

  Pulling away from the memory, I focused on the present. I had believed Lin wouldn’t have had sufficient time to find and join the secret, rumored rebellion, but what if I was wrong? What if my brother had joined the rebellion? And what if he was involved in the elven attack?

  I wanted to confide in Lorie about my worries and suspicious, but my desire to protect her won out. I didn’t want to tell her anything bad unless I was absolutely sure. I didn’t want to be the one to take away the happiness she’d found in Draek. At least not until I was sure we had something to fear.

  “I’m sure we will hear something soon.” The words sounded false to me, but Lorie eagerly accepted them.

  She moved on. “I’ve told you about my days, but what about you? How are you enjoying the healer work in the castle?”

  As far as Lorie or anyone else knew, Agent Min had recommended me for the healer’s position after looking over my census paperwork. We claimed that my occupation had been documented.

  No one was aware I had helped save the prince’s life. No one understood my position transfer was due to the prince believing he owed me a debt.

  No one, except for me, Agent Min, and Prince Finn.

  “I enjoy it very much,” I answered honestly. “It’s nice to be able to help people again.” It didn’t matter if they were draekon or human, Master Errol treated everyone within the castle walls. Patients ranged fro
m over-worked humans with various physical ailments to soldiers with broken bones. The work kept him, and myself, busy. But I liked being busy.

  “Is it true you’ve been in the royal quarters?” she asked, bouncing on the sofa. “I overheard Nolan say he saw you and Master Errol use the main stairs—the ones leading up to the royal family’s living area.”

  I observed her behavior. I didn’t understand why, but Lorie was acting like an excited schoolgirl. Didn’t she know the royal family was comprised of the most dangerous and powerful draekon? Shouldn’t she be worried I was in their presence?

  “Yes,” I confirmed the rumor. “Master Errol completed the routine check of Prince Finn’s health.” A lie, but a necessary one.

  Master Errol and I had visited the prince to monitor the progress of his stomach wound. I stood to the side during the examinations while Master Errol instructed the prince to lie flat. He’d applied light pressure to the surrounding area, humming his approval with the lack of inflammation.

  Me, on the other hand? I’d spent the time gawking at the magic of the prince’s quick healing. Only a thin, pink scar indicated the wound had even existed.

  “Is he as handsome as everyone says?” Lorie continued. Indeed, she looked like a gossiping teenager.

  She is a gossiping teenager, I reminded myself.

  Lin and I never had the luxury of enjoying the silliness of youth, but we had ensured Lorie did. And she was taking full advantage.

  But that didn’t mean I was going to make it easy for her. “Who?”

  “The prince!” Her beautiful blue eyes widened. “All of the girls say he and his brother are the most attractive draekon they have ever seen. Can you imagine? All draekon are stunning. The princes must be gorgeous.” As a kitchen server, Lorie had yet to see the prince.

  I shook my head but couldn’t help my smile. I’d never seen the second prince, but I had admired Prince Finn’s looks when he summoned me to his chambers. He was handsome, like all draekon.

  But as for being the most handsome? That was like comparing two pieces of music and asking which one sang to my soul the most. I couldn’t say.