She cowered beneath its scrutiny.
“She doesn’t know where he is, sir. But I’m certain he’s not here.” The voice came from her right.
A portion of Ryleigh’s focus shifted to a smaller man standing beside Kai. A shrunken man, his skin shriveled and grey. Long, matted, white hair hung nearly to his waist. He gestured toward her, his pointed, yellow nails dried and cracked.
Kai pinned him with a hardened stare. “You’re certain Jackson is not here? Or you’re certain she doesn’t know he’s here?”
“Impossible to tell. I’d expect her to know if her mate was near, but…” A barely perceptible shrug lifted the frail shoulder beneath a clingy, black robe. “Who knows?”
Wait a minute. Mate?
The smoke monster shifted.
Ryleigh struggled to keep an eye on the monster, Kai, and the new stranger.
The shriveled man waved a hand, and the monster disappeared, simply vanished as if it had never existed.
Who knew? Maybe it hadn’t. Maybe her mind had finally cracked under the pressure of a reality she couldn’t comprehend.
“If you’ll excuse us now, Thaddeus. I’d like some time alone with my prisoner.”
Ryleigh stiffened.
“Of course, sir.” Thaddeus bowed his head and left the room. The soft click of the door falling shut knifed through Ryleigh’s heart.
She was alone with Kai, the man who’d already tried to kill Jackson and vowed to kill her. She needed to corral her erratic thoughts and make some sense of what was happening to her. She had to find a way out.
Kai paced the room. The soft brush of his sword against his chainmail echoed through her head, making it impossible for her to think.
The constant clanking tortured her. Fear held her paralyzed, her knees hugged to her chest, her back against a wall. Her body rocked with each beat of her heart, the constant motion nauseating. Or maybe it was stark terror turning her stomach. An eddy of blackness encroached in her peripheral vision. Ryleigh reached for it, welcomed it, prayed for it to overtake her. She didn’t dare close her eyes.
Kai reached beneath his chainmail, still pacing at that same steady rhythm.
A scream welled within her chest.
He pulled something from under the armor, then turned his back on her and paced toward the window. Arrogant bastard. He should know better than to turn his back on his enemy.
Too bad she lacked the courage to attack. She dropped her head against the wall. Tears streamed down her cheeks, but she no longer had the strength to stop them. She covered her face with her hands.
Kai’s soft laughter mocked her.
It didn’t matter.
His hot breath washed over the backs of her hands.
Her eyes shot open. She dropped her hands to her sides, lifted her head, and found herself face to face with the warrior who was now squatting directly in front of her.
Evil filled his black eyes, leaving only bottomless twin pits of pure hatred.
He tilted his head. Contemplating her fate? “So, Ryleigh. What now?” He lifted a small knife, pressed the cold metal against her throat.
The need to swallow assailed her.
“Should I kill you and be done with it?” Maniacal excitement lit his features. “Or perhaps…” He drew the point of the knife slowly across her throat, dragging out the torture.
Pain sliced through her.
“I can find a better use for you.”
She squeezed her eyes closed and willed her mind to withdraw. It didn’t work.
“Don’t worry, my dear. I didn’t cut anything vital.” His laughter echoed through her mind. “Yet.”
Warmth trickled down her neck. Dots of light danced through the blackness.
Kai pressed the fist holding the knife against the wall behind her head. He gripped the back of her hair in the other hand and pulled her closer.
She struggled against his hold, tried to turn her head.
His grip on her hair tightened. He pulled her face closer, pressed his forehead against hers. Hot, fetid breath invaded her, assailed her.
She reached for her sword. It was gone.
“I would gain immense satisfaction from having Jackson Maynard witness your loyalty to me. I fantasize about the look on his face when he sees you kneeling at my feet, my faithful servant.” He pulled back enough to look into her eyes. “I will have you, Ryleigh. I may kill you once I’ve finished with you, but I will have my revenge against that pitiful excuse for a king. I will take everything that boy holds dear and torture him with it. And then I will kill him. Slowly. Painfully.”
Rage shredded the fear holding her immobilized. She pressed her hands against the floor, shifted her weight, and brought her shin up between his legs.
He jumped up and dropped the knife but didn’t release his hold on her hair.
She stood with him, holding her hair at the roots to keep him from ripping it out.
His fury burned. “You—”
She lashed out, plunging two fingers deep into his eyes.
He tossed her aside and covered his face with his hands.
She stumbled, regained her footing.
A scream tore from his lungs.
Rage? Pain? Both?
She wasn’t waiting around to find out. She bolted for the door. Please be open. Please be open. She rattled the knob. Locked. Nooo. She whirled and faced Kai, pressing her back against the door.
A blood red tear dripped from the corner of one eye. He held her stare. Pain and rage contorted his face into something grotesque.
Think, think, think.
He took a step toward her.
She searched for calm, for focus.
Another step.
All rational thought fled.
He grabbed her beneath the chin and lifted her from the floor.
She clutched his wrist with both hands.
His iron grip tightened.
Pain radiated through her face. She closed her eyes.
“Open your eyes, and look at me. Now.” He punctuated his words with a tighter hold.
Her eyes flew open.
“You will obey me.”
She held his stare, tried to harden her own features into a look of defiance. Probably failed.
“I will allow you this one moment of disobedience. The next time you cross me, I will kill you on the spot and toss your body at Jackson’s feet.”
She firmed the line of her mouth as best she could through the ache in her jaw.
“You are not the only one who is entitled to her place on the throne.”
A chill raised goose bumps down Ryleigh’s back.
“If you continue to defy me, I will simply take your sister as my queen.”
All hope died.
He threw her to the ground.
She cracked her head against the corner of a table. Blood ran down her face, obscuring the vision in her left eye. She covered the wound with her hand and used her sleeve to wipe the blood from her eye.
“Here, maybe this will help you decide.” Something clattered against the floor beside her.
Pressure built in her ears, and she lifted her head.
Kai was gone.
Hope flared. The portal. With no idea what realm she was in, she wasn’t sure she could call a portal. Her excitement dimmed. All right, with the immediate threat gone, maybe she could think straight. First things first. She had to figure out where she was being held. She wiped her bloody hand on her jeans, then pulled her sleeve over her hand and wiped her head and eye. Once her vision was clear, she struggled to her feet. The room faded in and out of focus. She gripped the edge of the table to steady herself as she stood.
A couch sat facing her in the center of a beautifully crafted rug. Heavy velvet drapes hung almost completely closed in front of the window. Walls of grey stone— Wait. The window. She started across the room, moved too quickly. Her vision blurred, and she waited for some o
f the fuzziness to recede. Then she moved across more slowly.
But even if she did find a way to escape, she couldn’t risk Kai going after Mia.
Indecision slowed her pace. What else could she do? She certainly couldn’t surrender to Kai’s demands. Could she? She needed time to think. Urgency demanded she act.
Pain pounded through her head, intruding on her thoughts. She reached the couch, turned around, and sat. Emotions battered her. A roller coaster of feelings all battling for a place at the forefront of her consciousness.
Her gaze played over the floor where she’d been sitting, caught on a small brownish spot. Blood. Her blood. A dim flicker of light from beneath the table stole her attention. What the…? She leaned closer. The stone! She dove for the Divination Stone.
Kai must have stolen it. This must be what had clattered beside her before he left. What had he said? Maybe this will help you decide. She sat on the floor where she was and lifted the stone. A milky, grey haze filled its center. She clutched the stone tighter, willed it to help her, to send her a vision of what path to follow. Nothing.
“Ugh. What do I do now?” Think.
Kai stole the stone, but how could he have known she’d go in search of it?
Jackson had been so certain there was another traitor. Someone from within his kingdom, someone he trusted, someone who would have known where the family tunnels were, someone who would have known about the stone, known she’d go look for it. Someone who would have sent her in search of it. Elijah. Elijah had said he’d take care of Mia until Ryleigh returned. How could she have been so stupid? She had to find Mia, had to get to Jackson, had to warn him.
Ryleigh stuffed the stone into her pocket and stood. She swiped her arm across her brow, wiping the blood from her forehead. She concentrated on an image of Cymmera, pulled a vision of the throne room to the front of her mind. Warmth filled her core, tingled down her arms. Energy gathered. She struggled to contain it as she lifted her arms, kept it leashed until she could no longer restrain the ball of power. She ripped her hands apart. A small explosion lifted her off her feet, slammed her into the wall behind her. Red sparks showered over her, burning her skin where they landed. She brushed frantically at the embers.
Kai’s laughter filled the room, echoed inside her head. His voice was distorted, as if coming from a great distance. “Do you really think I’m foolish enough to make such a stupid mistake? Thaddeus is one of the most powerful sorcerers alive. You are no match for his magic.”
Ryleigh rubbed the back of her head, rolled her shoulder. A dull ache settled at the base of her neck. All right. She would just have to find a more conventional means of escape. Determination propelled her across the room. She tore open the heavy drapes. Bars covered the window.
“Accept your fate, Ryleigh. King Maynard will be here shortly, and I expect you to be cooperative by the time he arrives.”
Relief weighed heavily, slumping her shoulders. Of course Jackson would come for her. Had she really thought he’d leave her there? She pulled the stone from her pocket, clutched it to her chest, and continued to search for a way out.
* * * *
When Jackson entered the Council Chambers, the other ten members of the Council of Elders were already seated. He only hesitated a moment, and ran a hand over the empty seat to the right of his. The seat Kai had once occupied at the real King Maynard’s side. The one Jackson should have already filled with his most trusted advisor. Whoever that was.
He rubbed his eyes. “Please, send for Chayce.”
A guard nodded in acknowledgement and left the chamber.
Jackson took his seat at the head of the semi-circular, stone table.
Tatiana Storm, head of the Disciplinary Council, cleared her throat.
Jackson spared her a glance but said nothing.
Elijah sifted through a stack of papers.
Darius Knight, head of the Security Council, stood. “Sir, if I may?”
Jackson shot him a look of gratitude for interrupting the strained silence. This was ridiculous. He’d known these people his whole life. “Yes, Darius.”
“We were called to council but were not given a reason. Has something happened?”
Elijah drummed his fingers against the table.
Jackson worked to ignore the monotonous tapping. “The Divination Stone was stolen from Ryleigh’s room.”
The scowl Darius already wore deepened. “How could that have happened? And why wasn’t I informed?”
Another reminder that Jackson sucked at being a king. He hadn’t even followed the proper protocol when an intruder had obviously gained access to the future queen’s room. “Forgive me, Darius. Things have been a little chaotic lately—”
Tatiana’s very unladylike snort interrupted him.
He ignored her. “But, I am trying to get control now.”
Darius rolled his shoulders. “Why don’t you start at the beginning, and explain what’s going on?”
Jackson had no doubt the other man was angry, and rightfully so, but at least he would give Jackson a chance.
“Sit, please, Darius. This doesn’t have to be so formal. Let’s just work together to figure out what’s going on and fix it. All right?” He met each of the council members’ stares, one by one, and held them. If he couldn’t gain their respect, the Kingdom of Cymmera would surely fall.
Tatiana leaned forward, elbows resting on the table, as she twirled a thin scroll between her fingers. “Sure, Jackson. What ca—”
“Is that any way to address your king?” Chayce strode through the doorway, frown firmly in place.
Tatiana huffed out a breath, tossed the scroll onto the table, and sat back with her arms folded.
Jackson sighed. “There’s no need for formalities here, Chayce. We’ve all known each other forever. Tatiana and I were good friends growing up. As far as I know, we still are.” He checked her expression for any sign she disagreed with him but found nothing. “I don’t expect any of you to address me as anything other than Jackson while we’re in private council.”
Chayce’s sneer made Jackson re-think the offer he was about to make. Maybe his brother held too much animosity toward him for this to work.
“You sent for me, Your Majesty?”
The mocking attitude grated on Jackson’s last nerve. “Look, Chayce. I’ve already asked you to be one of my advisors; it only makes sense for you to head the Advisory Council at this time.”
Chayce simply took his seat without another word.
“All right.” Enough petty arguing. Jackson summoned patience. “Where were we?”
“You were about to tell us what is going on.” Frustration harshened Darius’s words.
Urgency beat at Jackson. “Look. The bottom line is, the Divination Stone was stolen from Ryleigh’s room, and Ryleigh went in search of it.”
“Alone?” Darius gripped the edge of the table and shot to his feet.
Jackson spared Elijah a scathing look. “Yes. Alone. I must go find her, but there are things here that have to be attended to first.” No matter how badly he wanted to dump it all and run after her. “By the way, where’s Mia?”
Elijah stood. “I sent her with Dakota Knight to the human realm, sir.”
“Do you think that’s the safest place for her?”
“I have no idea at this point, sir.” The prophet lifted his hands in a gesture of surrender.
So much for an informal meeting. Jackson’s tightly corralled patience threatened to escape.
“You can’t possibly think you’re going after Ryleigh alone?” The look Darius pinned him with told him that wasn’t happening, no matter what Jackson had in mind.
“I hadn’t thought about it yet, Darius.” Liar.
“Jackson, you are now the leader of this kingdom. You can’t simply run off, alone, on some suicide mission.”
The truth of his words didn’t soften the blow. If anything, the stark reality of them hit him
even harder. But who could he trust enough to take with him? He couldn’t very well engage in a battle with his enemy with a traitor at his back.
“I’ll go with you.”
He studied Chayce for a moment, trying to judge the sincerity in his offer, then shook his head. It didn’t matter, anyway. “With me and Ryleigh both gone, you’ll be left in charge.” The reality of that statement slammed into him like a wave of ice water. What was he thinking?
Darius rounded the table and faced Jackson. He put a hand on his shoulder. “I’ll go instead of you, Jackson.” Darius headed the Security Council, had ridden with the Death Dealers, was his best friend’s father. Darius was loyal to a fault.
Jackson wanted nothing more than to trust this man, but with Ryleigh’s life possibly hanging in the balance, Jackson just couldn’t bring himself to trust anyone else.
“Jackson.” Elijah spoke calmly. “Please, hear me out. This is Ryleigh’s quest. Not yours. She will return when her task is completed.”
“How can you know that?”
The seer rolled his eyes.
“It’s not that I don’t trust you, Elijah.” Or was it? “I just can’t leave her out there alone.”
“My King…” Respect and frustration marked his words. He looked to the other Council Members for support.
None was forthcoming. What would become of a land where the rulers couldn’t seem to agree on anything?
Elijah sighed and spread his hands wide, then pressed them flat on the table. “How can you ask Miss Ryleigh to become your queen, to rule at your side, maybe even in your stead at some point, if you can’t trust her?”
It didn’t matter that Elijah was right. Jackson still couldn’t leave her on her own. Elijah could have sent her into a trap. Elijah was with her when she’d been abducted from the family tunnels. He was one of the only people Jackson knew of who was aware of their existence.
“I’m sorry, Elijah. I just don’t know who to trust anymore.” Jackson studied the backs of his hands, unwilling to witness the hurt he’d find in Elijah’s eyes if he looked up.
Silence descended on the chamber. Tension weighed heavily in the air. Did they all think he was crazy? Or did they too suffer from a lack of trust in each other?
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