Mia stared back at her, her eyes brimming with tears. “For coming to get me.”
Ryleigh’s heart shattered. “Oh, Mia.” She pulled her back into a tighter embraced, smoothed her hair. “Of course I came for you.”
“No. You don’t understand.” Mia shook her head, the mass of curls tumbling as she backed up and caught Ryleigh’s gaze. “You didn’t have to come get me. You could have sent someone. You risked your life to come for me, though, and I want you to know how much that meant to me.”
Keeping her gaze firmly locked on Mia’s, Ryleigh nodded. “You’re welcome. I love you, little sis.”
“I love you too, big sis.” She grinned, and an image of the little girl she’d been surfaced. “Wanna know a secret?” She glanced over her shoulder, then back to Ryleigh as she lowered her voice. “I knew you would. Never doubted it for a second.”
Ryleigh couldn’t hold back the smile. “Because you know how much I love you?”
“Nah. Because I know what a control freak you are.” Laughter echoed through the chamber.
Ryleigh pinched her arm. “Brat.”
“Touche.”
“Come on.” She led Mia into the chamber.
Dakota and Jackson stood at a long table they’d set in front of the dais. Jackson’s hand rested on his friend’s shoulder as they hunched over a large scroll spread before them.
“Jackson.” Mia ran to him and threw her arms around him the instant he turned.
He wrapped his arms around her waist, lifted her off the floor, and spun her in a circle, eliciting a fit of giggles. He placed her back on her feet, and his expression turned serious. “Are you all right?”
A surge of love choked Ryleigh.
“I’m okay, now that I’m back home.”
“I’m sorry I wasn’t here to protect you.” He tucked her hair back. “I promise you, he’ll never hurt you again. You have nothing to fear. Okay?”
She nodded and hugged him again.
When she turned away, Dakota reached an arm around her shoulder and pulled her close.
Mia bit her lip but couldn’t hide the smile.
Ryleigh was so not ready for this.
“You know, Jackson…” Dakota paused, running his finger over something on the parchment in front of him. I’m pretty sure I saw something like this recently.” A scowl creased his features.
Ryleigh bent over the table to see what he was pointing at. Lines and marks dotted the brittle page, in what appeared to be layers. It made no sense to her.
“A map of the realms, but more detailed. If we could just figure…” He snapped his fingers. “I’ve got it. The book we were looking at.” He turned to Mia. “The one Elijah gave you. Remember?” A horrified expression crossed his face. “Uh oh.”
“The one Chayce was reading with you?” Jackson propped his hands low on his hips.
“Yeah. Mia, where’s that book? Do you still have it?”
“Sure. It’s in my room. Do you want me to go get it?”
Ryleigh’s heart lurched. Ridiculous. She couldn’t have heart failure every time Mia wanted to go somewhere in the castle.
“Yeah, but I’ll go with you.” Dakota squeezed her shoulders quick before releasing her and turning to Jackson.
Apparently Ryleigh wasn’t the only one with concerns about security.
The door opened, and Elijah, Darius, Tatiana, and Caleb entered. “Your Majesty.”
“Yes, thank you for coming.”
“By the time you finish updating everyone, we’ll be back with the book.” Dakota grabbed Mia’s hand as they fled.
Jackson gestured for the others to join him around the table. “Dakota dug up scrolls with layouts of the realms, but it’s difficult to decipher all of the layers. He went to get the book Elijah gave Mia, said he remembered seeing a map of the realms in there. We have to figure out where Chayce would have fled.” He took a moment and met each of their gazes. “We must find him if we’re going to keep Cymmera safe.”
“Speaking of keeping Cymmera safe, I have the prisoner waiting for you to see, Your Majesty.” Elijah pulled chairs from behind a curtain toward the table.
Ryleigh grabbed one from him and pulled it over for Jackson.
Jackson frowned. “Prisoner?”
“Yes. The woman from the tunnels?”
“Bring her in.” Ignoring the chair, Jackson ascended the platform and paced back and forth before the thrones, hands clasped behind his back, head down.
Ryleigh gave up on trying to decipher the maps and watched Jackson instead. He seemed different since he’d returned. Stronger, more focused, determined. Calmer. Was it the torture he’d experienced in the tunnels that grounded him? Or their newfound commitment to each other?
He glanced up to find her watching him, and a small smile curved his mouth. Stress still darkened his eyes.
“Your Majesty.” Elijah escorted a small blonde woman into the chamber.
The girl moved forward slowly, glancing around the chamber as she entered, eyes wide with fright. Her hair a wild mane framing her delicate features.
Noah stormed in behind them. “Is this really necessary?” He gestured toward the shackles binding her tiny wrists.
A surge of sympathy shot through Ryleigh. It looked as if the girl’s hands could slide right out of the bonds.
“Remove the shackles, please, Elijah. There’s no need for that.” Instead of taking his seat on the throne, Jackson sat on one of the steps and addressed the woman. “Are you all right, Payton?”
“I’m fine.”
Noah’s posture relaxed. He glanced at Ryleigh, and his gaze caught hers. He frowned.
Heat crept up her cheeks. Could he tell Jackson had claimed her as his? She tore her gaze away.
“Sit, please. Relax.”
Payton moved forward, perched on the edge of the same step as Jackson, leaving a wide gap between them. Nervous energy vibrated from her, and she remained wary, as if ready to run at the slightest provocation.
“Look, Payton.” He turned and faced her. “You don’t have to be a prisoner here. You are welcome to remain in Cymmera if you’d like to pledge your loyalty to our kingdom, or we can help you return to your own home if that’s possible.” He paused, massaged the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger. “But first, I need you to explain what you were doing in the dungeon. Okay?”
She nodded, but made no move to speak.
“Are you hurt?”
Staring into Jackson’s eyes, she slowly nodded.
“Elijah, could you send for a healer, please?” He shifted, adjusting his weight as he rubbed his hip. “Talk to me. We want to help, but we also have to protect our people. Please understand that, and let’s make this as simple as possible. We’re not your enemy.”
Tears slipped from the girl’s eyes, tracked through the dirt on her face in the same path they’d obviously followed before. She took a deep, shaky breath. “I was kidnapped and taken to Argonas to be Daygan’s wife.”
Tension ratcheted up as everyone’s attention riveted on the young woman, the deafening silence filled with accusation.
“When I refused, he put me in a tower.” Her voice hitched. “When I still refused, told him I’d rather be dead…” Her gaze wandered for a second, two. Resolve brightened her cat-like eyes, turning them a brilliant shade of green. “He had me taken to the dungeon.” She squeezed her eyes shut, lowered her voice to barely a whisper. “Tortured me.”
Soft sobs wracked her tiny body, and she lowered her face into her hands.
Noah moved forward, sat beside her, and placed a tentative hand on her back.
Her gaze lifted to his, but she didn’t pull away. “I tried to escape once, but when he found me…” A shudder ran through her. “It was worse than before.” She shook her head, swiped her cheeks, shoving the tears away with more force than necessary. “Then, one day, he stopped coming. For a long time. And I thought it was
over. Thought he was going to leave me to die in peace. Then Chayce showed up.”
Noah rubbed circles on her back.
A small niggle of…something she wouldn’t examine too closely…tugged at Ryleigh’s heart. He’d always been so sensitive, so filled with compassion.
Payton looked at him, caution filling her eyes, but she stayed still. “He demanded to know why Daygan wanted me so bad. When I told him I didn’t know, he took me back to the torture chamber.” She shook her head and lowered her gaze to her hands fidgeting wildly in her lap. “Then you found me.”
Jackson cleared his throat, studied her for a moment. “Do you know why Daygan wanted you so badly?”
She shook her head, stilling her hands by clasping them together, the tight grip turning her knuckles white. “He never said.”
“How did you two meet?”
She frowned. “We didn’t meet. One day I was walking from my dormitory to my last class of the day, running late, as usual.” A small smile played at the corners of her mouth, obviously a happy memory. It disappeared quickly. “Then everything was gone. Just like that.” She smoothed her hair back behind her shoulders, her fingers tangling in the knots. “I woke up in a luxurious bedroom with Daygan and his buddy standing over me.”
“His buddy?” Jackson frowned.
“Yeah. The old guy. Thaddeus.”
“You’d never seen either of them before that?”
“No. Never.”
“Do you know what realm you come from?”
She looked at him, confusion evident in her scowl. “I don’t even understand all of this stuff about realms. Daygan said he’d taken me to another realm, and I couldn’t ever go home.” She wrapped her arms across her chest and shivered. “Said I was no longer human.”
Noah gasped.
Jackson nodded. “I kind of figured that. I’m sorry, Payton. I can’t return you to the human realm. It’s not possible.”
Tremors shook her, and she turned into Noah’s embrace and cried.
His gaze shot over her head to Jackson. “Isn’t there anything you can do for her?”
“Look at me, Payton.”
She lifted her gaze to his. “If you are willing to pledge your allegiance to Cymmera, you are welcome to stay. You will not be harmed here. You will be free to live your life as you choose, with whomever you choose. But that’s the best I can offer you. I’m sorry.”
She wiped her eyes and shrugged. “I already knew that, really. I hoped, but I accepted long ago that I’d never return home.” She swallowed hard. “Thank you. I’d like to stay.”
Elijah stepped forward. “Kiara is waiting outside, sir.”
“Very well. Thank you, Elijah.”
“We have a healer for you. She’ll help you clean up and tend to any injuries you have. Noah, would you take her out to Kiara, please? Help her begin to adjust to her new life?”
Noah stared at Jackson.
Ryleigh held her breath.
The two men maintained eye contact, their gazes intense. Although it was obvious some message passed between them, Ryleigh couldn’t figure out what it was.
“Sure. But please tell me we’re going after that bastard.”
Jackson’s expression hardened as he stood. “Have no fear, Noah. Chayce will pay for everything he’s ever done to anyone. That’s a promise.”
Noah nodded and helped Payton to her feet. As he escorted her forward, he looked at Ryleigh. Pain lined his face.
Her heart went out to him, ached for him, for them, for a past that could have been different, a future that could have been different.
“Jackson.” Dakota strode into the chamber.
Mia cried softly at his side.
“What happened? Are you all right?” Ryleigh ran to her sister.
“I’m sorry, Jackson. I left the book in my chamber, beside my bed, just like Elijah told me. He said to make sure I kept it safe, and now it’s gone.”
“What’s gone?”
“The book. The one Elijah gave me. It disappeared.”
Elijah shot forward. “What do you mean, disappeared?”
She shook her head. “I don’t know. I left it by the bed, and now it’s not there.”
“All right, both of you calm down.” Jackson held his hands up.
“You don’t understand. We have to get that book back.” Elijah placed a hand on Mia’s back. “It’s not your fault, dear.”
“Why is it so important we get it back?” Jackson stood, hands propped low on his hips, bruises and cuts still evident on his face.
“The book holds secrets, prophecy, visions. The entire history and future of Cymmera is laid out there. If Chayce figures out how to use the information in that book to his advantage, he can invade and take over Cymmera.”
“All right. Tatiana, see to Payton. Maybe she knows more than she realizes. Try to find out why Daygan wanted her so bad. Darius. Arrange for security for her, then tighten security around the castle. Caleb.”
Caleb stepped forward as the others started to move. “Sir.”
“Ready the Guard and the Death Dealers. You are to invade Argonas. Seize control. Eliminate any further threat to Cymmera.”
“Yes, sir.” He turned to go but paused and looked back. “You know he won’t be there, right, sir?”
Jackson nodded. “Yeah. I know. We’ll keep Mia and Payton protected. But without a kingdom to rule, and an army to use, there isn’t much he can do. Once our kingdom is secure and no longer in immediate danger…” Steel hardened his features. “I’ll hunt Chayce down myself.”
* * * *
Jackson ran his finger along the chain of the flail. Bits of his blood and flesh still clung to the spikes. Betrayal cut deep.
He lifted the weapon and hung it on the wall behind his throne, not as a reminder of the torture or the betrayal or any sense of loss. But as a reminder of what was important to him.
Ryleigh, Mia, his friends, his kingdom. He could have lost so much, but instead, he’d found his destiny. He’d learned a lot in that chamber. About trust, love, loyalty. Lessons that would serve him well throughout his life.
The door screeched open.
“Are you ready?”
Jackson studied the weapon a moment longer. “I’m coming for you, Chayce. That’s a promise.” He turned to Dakota. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”
Dakota shot him a grin. “Well, then. Let’s do this.”
“I have to do something quick first. Did you bring Mia?”
“Yup. She’s waiting at the bottom of the stairs, like you asked.” Dakota frowned. “Is there a problem?”
“Not at all. I just have something for her.”
Mia stood fidgeting, paced, fidgeted some more. “Hey. There you guys are. I was starting to wonder if you were ever coming. Hmm…And they say girls take a long time to get ready.”
Her laughter warmed him. She was resilient, strong. She’d be fine.
“Come on, quick, before Ryleigh starts looking for us.” Jackson jogged up the steep stairway, Mia and Dakota on his heels. He threw open the door and entered his chambers.
Nahara lay curled in a ball, Nika standing over her, snarl firmly in place. “It’s okay, boy. It’s just us.”
“Is Nahara okay?” Mia ran toward her. “Why is she just laying there in—”
Her squeal pierced his eardrums.
“Puppies.” Mia lifted the hem of her long gown and dropped to her knees.
The puppies attacked. Rolling, jumping, climbing over one another to get her attention.
Her excitement touched a part of Jackson he’d thought long dead.
Dakota joined her on the floor. “The black one’s mine, right? The male.” He lifted the huge black pup in the air, then nuzzled his nose.
“Hey. How come Dakota gets a puppy?” Mia batted Dakota’s arm playfully as a small white pup climbed into her lap and curled into a ball. Her opalescent wings tucked neatly aroun
d her.
Jackson studied her for a moment. His new sister. He loved her already, would do anything to protect her. “That’s why I asked you to come up here.”
Mia’s gaze shot to his. An expression of pure joy lit her features, widened her eyes.
“The pups aren’t old enough to leave Nika and Nahara yet, but when they are…”
Her lip quivered.
He knelt facing her, and gripped one of her hands in both of his. “She’s a gift, Mia. Whichever one you choose.”
Mia lifted the little pup from her lap, the tiniest of the litter. So delicate. He’d known that would be her choice. Had no doubt. She cradled the pup close, and wrapped her free arm around Jackson’s neck. “Oh, Jackson. I don’t know what to say. Thank you so much.” Her tears spilled over, dampening his shirt.
He set her back, wiped her tears, and tucked her hair behind her ear. “You will have to train her and teach her, but she will be your constant companion, your best friend. She will protect you.”
Mia frowned. “What about when I have to return to the human realm? Can she come with me?”
“I don’t think you’ll have to go back often, or for long. You seem to have grown much stronger already.” A rush of pride shot through him. He’d been told of the role she’d played as Ryleigh’s advisor. “And one other thing, while I have you both here. Mia, Ryleigh has already chosen you to be her advisor, and I’d like you to continue in that role if you’d like.”
A blush reddened her cheeks. “Sure.”
“Thank you.”
Her smile illuminated the dim chamber.
“And Dakota…”
Dakota stood and faced Jackson, the big ball of fur wiggling out of his grip.
Dakota had shown courage, loyalty, strength, wisdom. For one so young, he’d stepped up and shouldered the responsibility of leading the Queen’s Army into Argonas and saving Mia. “Would you do me the honor of heading my Advisory Council?”
Dakota’s mouth fell open. “Uh…I…uh…”
“Is that a yes?” Jackson laughed.
At Dakota’s nod, he continued. “Together, the two of you will take over if anything should happen to both Ryleigh and me. Until then, you will help guide us, work with us to rebuild our kingdom, to make Cymmera strong again. Return her to her former grandeur.”
Lost Princess Page 24