“Very well...” Kieran eventually ceded to her demands, albeit begrudgingly. As he headed out of the garage, he motioned for Lyneah and Tobey to follow. “I'm not thrilled with the idea of babysitting, but I'll let you tag along with me. For a bit.”
“Blech!” Tobey gagged as soon as he stepped out of the garage. He held a finger under his nose, blocking the offensive smell from assaulting his senses. “It smells like dead fish and rubbish!”
“You just summed up the city of Dovyr perfectly, my boy!” Kieran exclaimed as he clapped Tobias on the back. “That's how you know you've entered the city... the scent of dead fish permeates the air. It smells worse than a dirty whore.”
“Such a colorful analogy!” Lyneah sarcastically commended him. “I'll be thinking about that for days.”
After a short trek into town, Kieran led them to a busy marketplace, where its many vendors were selling fish, mussels, crabs, fish, and more fish. Tobias stopped at one of the stalls and picked up a dead catfish with a gaping mouth. When he tried to imitate the fish's gobsmacked expression, Lyneah giggled. “He looks surprised, doesn't he?” Tobey asked as he tossed the fish back onto the bed of ice that preserved it.
“I used to like fish once. Salmon, especially,” Lyneah said. “After today, no flesh of fish shall ever pass through my lips!”
“You're in Dovyr, love,” Kieran reminded her. “Fish is all they have to eat. If you truly intend to restrict your diet, I'd wait until you were out of town.”
Tobias stepped up to another stall and picked up a very slimy eel. He playfully wagged it at Lyneah, trying to scare her, but after a few seconds of foolishness, he was aptly punished. He realized the eel was still alive. When he saw it move its head and wiggle its eyes, he tossed it back onto the pile with a shriek.
“How inhumane!” cried a pouting Lyneah. “That poor eel is suffering.”
Tobias was grimacing as he wiped his hands on the front of his vest. When Kieran saw how disgusted he looked, he chuckled and said, “I don't know... I think Tobias is suffering more. He looks positively panicked.”
“I'm not p-p-panicked!” Tobias protested. “I was just... a bit surprised. I wasn't expecting it to move.”
“A bit surprised?” Kieran shook his head at Tobey's word choice. “Let's be honest, boy. You nearly soiled yourself.”
Tobias didn't say another word in his defense, he just pursed his lips and followed Kieran into a rundown pub. As soon as they stepped inside, they were greeted by the smell of cheap liquor, vomit, and burnt haddock. The terrible combination had Lyneah pinching her nose.
“Well...” Kieran began as he scanned the dirty faces of the pub's many patrons. “I don't see Rory.”
Lyneah's eyes narrowed at his assessment. “We just got here... we've barely even looked!”
“Then you can ask around, or whatever it is you do. I'm going to the bar to buy myself a drink.”
As Lyneah and Tobias watched Kieran walk away, neither of them said a word. Tobias was too busy gazing around the room in shock. The pub was so much more crowded than even a busy day at Lucky's.
Lyneah approached a heavily armed man with flecks of food sprinkled throughout his immense beard. Tobias stayed at her side, ready to defend her if necessary—even though he knew he was mostly useless. “Pardon me, sir,” Lyneah approached him as politely as possible. “Do you know where I can find a man named Rory McCray?”
“Nah. McCray wouldn't be caught dead in a shithole like this!” The bearded man heaved a wad of chewing tobacco spit on the floor after answering her question. It landed uncomfortably close to Tobey's feet, so he sneered and stepped aside. “If he's in a pub, he'd be in one of the more uppercrusty ones.”
“And... in what uppercrusty pub do you think we'd find him?” Lyneah asked. When Tobey heard her use the word uppercrusty, he had to choke back a chuckle.
“You could try The Red Dove or The Courtesan's Plate,” the filthy man suggested. “If I was you, I'd try The Courtesan's Plate meself. They've got the most cleanest whores and the very best food.” To Tobias, he added, “And I mean real beautiful whores, boy. They'll make you into a man, they will!”
“Um... thank you?” Tobias' brow furrowed as he thanked the man for his dubious advice. He was getting tired of people calling him boy, especially in front of the princess. He wanted her to think of him as a man: reliable and worthy of respect.
“Come on, Tobias,” Lyneah said as she seized his wrist and dragged him away. “If Kieran and that man both think we won't find Rory here, then it's time to look elsewhere.” When she found her second companion, Kieran was hunched over the bar, waiting for his drink. “Come on, Kieran. Let's go.”
“Damn... already? But I haven't had a single drink!”
“Then you can order one at the next bar.” Lyneah tugged the sleeve of his loose black shirt, encouraging him to come with her. “Do you know where I can find The Red Dove or The Courtesan's Plate?”
“Aye.” Kieran sighed deeply as he allowed her to steer him out of the pub. “One of them is just a few blocks away. I suppose I can take you.”
They tried The Red Dove first. Kieran ran to the bar as soon as they entered, while Tobias and Lyneah continued their search. They questioned three people, including an old woman who shamelessly flirted with Tobias and called him a “beautiful young man” and “an angel on this earth.” When they left the pub, his face was as red and bright as the resplendent sunset that colored the sky.
It was getting late, so Kieran agreed to take them to one final location: The Courtesan's Plate. When they entered, Kieran stayed at Lyneah's side this time—after all, he knew it could be a dangerous place for a woman. Tobias went to gather information on his own while trying to avoid the advances of the pub's many harlots. As soon as he entered, one of them rushed toward him and tousled his blonde locks. When Lyneah saw it happen, she giggled. After getting flirted with at The Red Dove too, she assumed Tobias would be blushing for the foreseeable future.
“Do you know where I can find Rory McCray?” Lyneah asked a middle-aged man with a whore on his lap.
“No.” His answer was dismissive. He was far more interested in burying his face in the bosom of his buxom lady friend.
“Do you know where I can find Rory McCray?” she asked another of the pub's patrons, but the man was too intoxicated to answer her question. In fact, he was so intoxicated that his head hit the table, at which time he immediately began snoring.
“This is useless!” Lyneah moaned. Turning to Kieran, she tossed up her arms in frustration. “I thought I'd have more success when we got to Dovyr, but this is the same thing that happened in Lundun! Why is it so impossible to find one man?”
“Because this particular man doesn't wish to be found,” a deep, rich, masculine voice suddenly answered her query.
When Lyneah turned around and found the speaker, she nearly gasped. Without question, he was one of the most gorgeous men she had ever seen. He had a perfectly square jaw, plump lips, and pale blue eyes that were half-hidden under a mess of disheveled sandy hair.
She barely had time to soak in his appearance before the man slowly rose from his chair. “I'm Rory McCray. And believe me, I know who you are.” Rory whipped his sword from its scabbard and pointed the tip at Lyneah's neck. “And did you know you're traveling with my brother? No? If I had to guess, I'd bet he didn't tell you that.”
10
“Aislainn!” The next day, Kitt caught the handmaiden's arm when she passed her in the hall. “Aislainn, may I have a moment of your time?”
Aislainn handed off the linens she was carrying to one of the other servants, then she turned to Kitt. “Of course, Your Highness. I am always here to serve you, first and foremost.”
Kitt sighed at the rigidity of Aislainn's reply. Sometimes she needed a friend, not a servant. “Will you accompany me to the dungeon? I wanted to try to talk to Lysander again.”
“Really?” Aislainn's brow was pinched by the prospect. “But he was rath
er dismissive of us last time. Are you sure you want to do that?”
“I do. I can't shake the feeling that he has more to tell me. I just need him to stop resenting me.”
“Well then...” When Aislainn turned in the direction of the dungeon, she didn't look particularly happy; in fact, Kitt felt a bit guilty for disturbing her. “If you'd like, we can go now, Your Highness.”
“Thanks.”
“You needn't thank me. Truly.”
Kitt's fists clenched when they reached the cells. She was bracing herself for more vulgar language and wolf calls from the prisoners—and it was a good thing she did, because one of the men even dropped his skivvies and showed them his bum as they passed. And it wasn't exactly clean, so it was a sight they would not soon forget.
“Men...” Aislainn said with a groan. “Some of them are truly no better than beasts.”
“Some, but not all,” Kitt defended them. In particular, she was thinking of Roderick and Miles, whose gentlemanly manners were always impeccable.
When they reached the cell that held Prince Lysander, Kitt was actually relieved. Lyneah's uncle was incredibly unfriendly, but at least he wasn't obscene. “Uncle!” Kitt gripped the bars as she called to him. “Might I have a word with you today?”
When he turned around and saw his niece standing behind him, Lysander's eyes lit up. “Lyneah.” He lowered his eyes, unable to meet her gaze. “I'm ashamed of myself. I was rude to you yesterday, and there is no excuse for it.”
“It's alright. If I was behind bars, I am sure I would not be in the best of spirits.”
“No. You mustn't excuse my behavior!” Lysander insisted. “You are not your mother, and you have always been good to me. I treated you reprehensibly, and I deeply apologize for it.” He suddenly turned his attention to Aislainn. “And you, young lady... I was rude to you as well. Of course I remember the young girl with the black curls whose eyes lit up every time I gave her chocolate. I did not often give special attention to children, but you were especially sweet.”
Aislainn held a hand over her heart. “I'm touched that you would remember me, Your Highness. It... it means a lot to me.”
“Now if you would like to bring chocolate to me, I would certainly not object!” Lysander said with a chuckle. “Although... I'm sure I don't deserve it after the way I treated you yesterday.”
Aislainn answered with a smile. “If I have a chance, I'll smuggle you some.”
“Good. I cannot begin to tell you how much I'd want it. This place... it makes you hollow. It breaks your spirits, and it happens quickly.” Lysander's frown deepened as he glanced around his chilly, black cell.
Kitt made the mistake of glancing over her shoulder. In the cell across from Lysander, there was a maniacal-looking man with a pale, scabby face. He was repeatedly running his tongue over his lips as he watched the two girls. When he had her attention, he thrust his hips against the bars and gestured toward his private parts.
“That's Mad Petey. Ignore him,” Lysander advised her. “Fortunately for you, he isn't in much of a talking mood today.”
Kitt's shoulders tensed as she turned away from the pervert. “This saddens me, Lysander. You're a prince! You shouldn't have to share a space with someone called Mad Petey. It doesn't seem fair!”
“And the shocking part is, I haven't actually done anything wrong,” Lysander quietly told her. “Your mother believes I'm a threat to her rule, which is why she decided to put me here. If I was you, Lyneah, I would be very, very careful. One day, she might decide that you are a threat to her rule as well.”
“And you're right to think so. I don't trust her.” Ever since she met Loreina, the queen made her feel ill at ease. Queen Loreina was the main reason why Kitt couldn't sleep in the castle. As long as the queen saw her daughter as a rival, Kitt was determined to sleep with one eye open.
“You're a smart girl, Lyneah,” Lysander told her. “Treat your mother with caution, keep your friends close, and stay vigilant. If you do, I'm sure you'll be alright.”
A cacophony of wolf calls suddenly erupted from the cells. It took Kitt a moment to realize why the prisoners were suddenly reinvigorated. Loreina, as if summoned by their talk of her, was heading in their direction. “Damn!” Kitt hissed. “The queen's coming toward us!”
“Did she follow us down here?” Aislainn asked. Kitt had no idea, so she simply shrugged.
“Come here. Come closer to the bars...” Lysander encouraged his niece. When Kitt's ear was within whispering distance, Lysander sluggishly rose from the ground. As he crossed the cell, the chains that engulfed his wrists and ankles clinked loudly. Leaning as close to her as he could, Lysander whispered, “If you want to know what your mother is truly capable of, check the tower where your father is lying ill. When you see what's become of my brother... then you'll understand.”
“Ah, Lyneah! My dear, dear daughter!”
As soon as she heard Loreina's voice, Kitt backed away from the bars and turned in the queen's direction. “Yes, Mother?”
“I didn't expect to see you down here, darling! Are you visiting your uncle? Aww, how cute.” When she turned her attention to the prince behind the bars, Loreina flashed him a chillingly sweet smile. “And what did you and my daughter have to discuss? I can only imagine!”
“Nothing of importance, I assure you,” Lysander answered stiffly.
“Oh, I'm sure, I'm sure.” When Kitt saw the queen's eyes rolling, she knew she wasn't convinced. “Now... Lyneah... I'm afraid I must ask you to go. I have business to discuss with your uncle, so take your little handmaiden and get out of my sight.”
Kitt's spine tingled at the queen's harsh words. She almost preferred Loreina's false sweetness over an icy dismissal. After glancing in Lysander's direction one more time, Kitt linked arms with Aislainn and escorted her away. “I pity him,” she whispered to her handmaiden as they passed the prisoners' cells. “I can only imagine what Loreina's planning for him.”
Loreina waited until her daughter was gone before she extracted a long, silver key from her pocket. When she held it up for Lysander to see, his eyes lit up—and she laughed at his reaction. “Don't look so excited, Lysander. This doesn't mean I'm letting you go! Silly boy. Now... step away from the door, please, I'm coming inside.”
The prince's eyes narrowed as he took a step backward. He watched Loreina turn the key and open the cell door—it made a harsh screeching noise as she pushed it. “Get down on the ground, Lysander. Lie on your back,” the queen commanded him. “If you don't do as I say, I'll scream for the guards, and they'll be over here in an instant. Those brutes will be much less gentle than me, I'm sure.”
Though reluctant, Lysander did as he was told. As soon as he was on his back, Loreina was kneeling by his side, fumbling with his breeches. When he tried to sit up, the queen lightly pushed him back to the floor.
“What are you doing?” Lysander gasped.
“I'm going to have sex with you... for old times' sake,” Loreina answered with a smirk. “You're not going to protest, are you?”
Lysander's face was twisted with disgust. The thought of being ridden by the woman who put him in prison was sickening, but what was he supposed to do? “Even if I did protest, would that stop you?”
“Probably not... but let's not pretend you won't enjoy it.” When she tugged his breeches to his ankles, she tried to ignore the heavy panting from Mad Petey across the way. “You were such a good lover once. And if I recall, you once said the same of me.”
Lysander could neither agree nor disagree. “But that was ages ago.”
“True, but I never forgot you. You were always the handsome brother... always the charming brother.” Loreina reached under her gown and wriggled out of her unmentionables, then climbed on top of him. “To this day, you're still one the greatest men I've ever known. Honestly, it's such a shame I have to execute you.”
The queen bellowed loudly as she impaled herself on him, but Lysander didn't make a sound. He simply closed h
is eyes and let her have her way with him. Lysander just wanted her to finish and be done with it.
“You've always been such a beautiful man,” Loreina whispered as she rode him. She lifted his shirt and ran her fingers across his stomach, lightly raking his flesh with her nails. “Even in death, I'm sure you'll be beautiful.”
When she was finished with him, Loreina collected her undergarments and slipped them back on. “That was incredible,” she said as she leaned down to kiss him forcefully on the lips. “And don't try to tell me you didn't enjoy it, because I know you did. And I'm so glad we got to make one final memory before you have to die.”
“But I don't have to die,” Lysander quietly disagreed. “You're the one who put me here. You're the one who's decided to kill me.”
“I know. And as I said, it's such a shame, because I'd really rather not.” Loreina shuffled out of the cell and closed the door behind her. When she turned to face him, her lips had stretched into a sardonic smile. “Believe it or not, Lysander, you will be missed.”
11
Even with a sword at her throat, Lyneah never flinched. Because she couldn't turn to look at him without cutting her neck, she studied Kieran in the corner of her eye. “So... this is definitely Rory McCray?”
“Aye. This is definitely Rory McCray,” Kieran answered with a chuckle.
“And he's your brother?”
“Aye,” he said again. “My little brother. It seems I forgot to mention that my name's Kieran McCray. Sorry, love.”
“Unbelievable...” Lyneah wanted to box his ears, but she settled on a sigh. “But as I recall, you had some very unkind words for your brother!”
“Did he?” Rory's eyebrows shot up at the thought. “Kieran... did you tell the lovely lady that I'm a bad, bad man?”
“I might've told her you're a bastard,” Kieran said with a shrug. “But that's not untrue. Even if the bastard's my brother, that doesn't mean I have to agree with everything he does.” Kieran drew his sword and gently tapped the side of Rory's blade, trying to get it away from Lyneah's neck. “Now... would you kindly lower your weapon? I didn't bring Princess Lyneah here so you could kill her.”
A Lost Princess (Belles & Bullets Book 2) Page 7