A Lost Princess (Belles & Bullets Book 2)

by Caylen McQueen

  “I've never killed someone before,” Kitt softly told him. “I'm not sure how I feel about it... but right now, I think I feel... numb.”

  “Don't let it bother you. You did what you had to do. He would have killed you otherwise.” Roderick sat beside her and gently held her hand.

  “I have to get out of here, Roderick. I must,” Kitt insisted. “My life is threatened on a regular basis now. I can't stand it!” When she locked gazes with him, her eyes were swimming in desperation. “Please, Roderick. I want to go home!”

  “I'll find a way, don't worry,” Roderick said. “It might take some careful planning, but I think I can get you out of the castle. Perhaps I could distract the guards at different times while you slip out? I know they follow you all the time, but we can find a way to make it work. Or, if it seems impossible...” He exhaled heavily at the thought. “I suppose we could steal an airship.”

  “No!” Kitt vigorously shook her head in protest. “No, I can't let you do that! You'd lose your job... or you'd be imprisoned. I won't let you risk yourself for me!”

  “But I do want to help you, so I'll do whatever I can.” He released Kitt's hand and brushed her cheek with his thumb. “Do you want to sleep in a different room tonight? Would you like to move to the empty room across the hall?”

  “I... suppose I could, though it hardly seems necessary. Either way, there's no way I'll sleep.” When she glanced in the middle of the room where the body once laid, Kitt quickly changed her mind. The dark red stain on the floor was very persuasive. “Actually... yes. Let's go. I think I need a change of scenery.”

  Roderick took her arm and led her across the hall, where an empty guest room was waiting for her. When she was settled in her new room and Roderick started to retreat, Kitt grabbed his wrist and kept him close to her.

  “No,” she begged him. “Don't go. I know it's a lot to ask, but... I'd prefer it if you stayed.”

  “I understand.” Instead of leaving the room, Roderick sat in a chair beside the bed. It was an incredibly uncomfortable piece of furniture, but he was in no position to complain, not after the night she had. “And I will gladly stay.”

  “I'm so sorry,” Kitt apologized as she crawled into bed and slipped beneath the blankets. “I'm really, really sorry if this inconveniences you, Roderick. I hate to think that I might be inconveniencing you!”

  “You don't have to apologize.” Roderick leaned back in his chair and gave her a weak smile. If Kitt needed him, if she actually wanted him around, he felt honored. “And you could never be an inconvenience to me, so perish that thought!”

  15

  The next day, Lyneah's search for Rory led her back to the shed with Francis Doon. The fact that he dedicated so much time to the agony of one man made her queasy, and when she stepped into the small torture chamber, Rory was at it again. He had his whip in his hand, and though he hadn't used it yet, there was a mad glimmer in his eye that suggested he had plans.

  “Rory.” She sounded sad, but he took no notice of it.

  “Ah, Princess Lyneah! You're just in time.” He removed Doon's iron collar and proceeded to coil his whip around the pirate's neck instead. “My pet is getting a new collar.”

  There was a sickening creak of leather as Rory tightened the whip around Doon's neck. Rory squeezed and pulled, choking the pirate until his face turned red. And as he strangled him, Rory leaned forward and lightly kissed the top of Doon's head.

  “Rory...” The second time she spoke his name, she said it with a sigh, hoping it would make her disapproval more obvious. “Rory, would you please stop?”

  With a roll of his eyes, Rory uncoiled the whip from Doon's neck. The pirate gasped when he was released, though he tried to do it subtly. “And once again, my lady saves you,” Rory whispered to Doon as he held a fistful of his hair. “You are truly in her debt... although she won't be able to save you every time.”

  “Don't you ever get bored of this?” Doon asked, his voice strained. “Because I'm getting rather bored of it all.”

  “Then I'll have to think of a way to make this more... entertaining... for the both of us.” Before he stepped away from Doon, Rory ruffled his hair, as one might ruffle the hair of a child. After returning his whip to its shelf, Rory turned to Lyneah and flashed his most charming smile. “Did you require my attention, my dear?”

  “Yes, I... I needed to speak to you.” In the corner of her eye, Lyneah watched as Doon lifted his shackled hands and tried to rub his neck. She felt so sorry for him. “May I have a moment of your time, Rory?”

  “Your Highness, you may have all of my moments, and more,” Rory said with a bow. Before they left, he shoved Doon's hands away from his neck and refastened his metal collar. When he was sure the pirate was adequately shackled, Rory took Lyneah's elbow and led her out of the shed.

  As soon as they were alone, Lyneah said, “I really wish you wouldn't torture that man. Everything about it seems so... wrong. It's like something my mother would do.”

  “Good god, are you comparing me to Queen Loreina?” A icy chuckle erupted from Rory's throat. “That's not a comparison that makes me very happy, you know.”

  “I'm sorry, but... it has crossed my mind.”

  “Then perhaps I will limit my time with Francis Doon. For you.” At first, Lyneah was afraid she made him angry, but he was smiling at her again. “But before you feel sorry for him, I should probably remind you that he did try to kill me.”

  Even though it was a cloudy day, Rory lifted the sunglasses from his hat's brim and lowered them to his eyes. Lyneah thought it was a bit odd, but she didn't say anything. She hadn't known him long, but she was already starting to expect eccentricities when she was with him.

  “Oh well. Doon will get his punishment eventually,” Rory continued with a sigh. “After all, I'm reopening The Pit soon.”

  Lyneah raised an eyebrow. “What's The Pit?”

  “It's just a bit of fun for my followers and an entertaining way to punish my enemies. You'll find out soon enough.” Without warning, Rory suddenly spun in her direction, raised her hand to his lips, and kissed it lightly. “Now, was there something you wanted to talk about?”

  “I... yes.” Lyneah nodded reluctantly. “Might we go somewhere private? This isn't something I wish to discuss in the middle of a crowded street.”

  “Of course.” Rory took her hand and led her in the direction of a nearby inn. “Then I will take you to my room... unless that makes you uncomfortable?”

  “Not at all,” Lyneah lied. In truth, after watching him torture Doon, she would have felt apprehensive of him no matter where they were. She kept wondering what would happen if she made one wrong move. Would she end up on the floor with Francis Doon, shackled and chained beside him? Such thoughts were never far from her mind.

  “Ahh, Lyneah!” Rory suddenly exclaimed as they entered the inn and headed to his room. “You really are beautiful. I haven't told you that enough, I'm afraid.”

  “Enough?” She repeated the word with a chuckle. “I only met you three days ago, Rory. It isn't as if I expect you to compliment me constantly.”

  “Still, I fear I haven't complimented you at all,” Rory sulked. “A gentleman should always compliment his lady, especially when she's as lovely as you are, Your Highness. A woman such as yourself deserves all the praise in the world!”

  “You are too kind.”

  “And you are, perhaps, too humble. Especially for a princess.” Rory opened a door and motioned for her to go inside. As she stepped into his bedchamber, Lyneah subtly patted the gun on her hip, making sure it was still there. Though she doubted he would hurt her, she wanted to be as prepared as possible.

  “Do you think I'm handsome, Princess?”

  “I do.” And it was hardly a lie. Rory had the face of a marble statue, sculpted to perfection. “You're an extraordinarily handsome man, Rory McCray. But I'm sure you're already well aware of your good looks.”

  He didn't disagree, he simply changed the
subject. “I believe I owe you an apology, Princess.” Rory closed the door behind him and crossed the room with a sigh. “I wanted to kill you once. Now that I know you, I realize what an unfortunate loss that would be. Not only are you beautiful, but you are good and gracious. You are everything your mother is not.”

  “Thank you, Rory. That means a lot. And I... um...” When Lyneah swallowed, her throat felt incredibly dry. Even though he was being kind to her, being alone with Rory prickled her nerves. “And now, let us waste no more time. I meant to talk to you on the matter of marriage, Mr. McCray.”

  “Mr. McCray!” Rory's smile strengthened as he repeated the words. “You still insist on calling me that? How cute. Go on.”

  “I have given your proposal a great deal of consideration, and I have decided to accept,” Lyneah said. “I truly believe it is a union that would benefit us both.”

  “Smart girl.” Rory moved closer to Lyneah, so close that she could see the unshaven bristles on his face. As he brushed his knuckles across her cheek, he whispered, “You've made me a very lucky man.”

  “I'm impressed with what you've managed to accomplish on your own,” Lyneah said. “You started with practically nothing, and yet you raised an entire army. They follow you because you are charismatic and ambitious. For a king, such qualities would be invaluable.”

  “You're too kind.”

  “Even in distant cities, they speak your name... because you give them hope.”

  “And what about you, Lyneah?” Rory leaned forward and brushed his lips across her forehead. “Do I give you hope?”

  “You're giving me a reason to try,” Lyneah said with a shrug. “I'm sure I wouldn't be able to oust my mother on my own.”

  “So...” Rory peeled Lyneah's gown away from her shoulder. When she felt his fingers on her neck, she shuddered, but she didn't recoil from his touch. “I'm your fiance now?”

  Lyneah nodded. “Yes. You are.”

  “Say it,” Rory whispered, leaning down to kiss the exposed flesh of her shoulder. “Tell me I'm your fiance.”

  In some strange way, getting kissed by him was simultaneously chilling and exhilarating. “You're my fiance.”

  “You're mine?” When he studied her face, his light blue eyes were practically pleading with her. “Tell me you're mine.”

  “I'm... yours.” Lyneah could hear the hesitation in her voice, but Rory seemed to miss it.

  “Do you remember, Lyneah?” As he spoke, Rory whisked a few wisps of red hair from Lyneah's forehead. “Do you remember what I told you about strong people? I told you I like to break them. Well... to be quite honest, I feel the same way about you. I wouldn't want to break you, of course... I would never hurt you. Never. But at the same time, I know you're a very strong woman. You're brave, bold and spirited, and for that reason...” Rory's breath tickled her ear as he leaned closer to her. “I would love to dominate you.”

  Lyneah's eyes went wide, but she didn't say anything. She didn't know how to respond to that.

  “But I would never hurt you,” he repeated. “I need you to know that. It's important to me. And you need to know I would never force myself on you, nor would I ask you to do something that made you uncomfortable.” When he stopped speaking, he lightly sampled Lyneah's neck, kissing her several times. “And yet... I want this. I want you... tonight. I want you to prove to me that you're mine. You're mine, and no one else's.”

  Lyneah nodded. She didn't know why, but she did. It was a trait she shared with her mother: she didn't shy away from using her body to secure the thing she needed.

  And yet, she felt dirty, especially when she felt his hand sliding over her bum. When he found the gun on her hip and removed it from its holster, Lyneah winced.

  “What's this?” Rory asked with a chuckle. “You weren't planning on killing me, were you?”

  “N-no. Of course not.”

  “Good. Now don't look so afraid. I was only teasing you, love!” Rory kissed her head and tossed the gun aside.

  A chill swept through Lyneah's body as Rory removed her dress. She felt it fall in a pile at her feet, so she timidly kicked it aside. As soon as he started removing her undergarments, Lyneah's breaths went ragged. She tried to convince herself that she wanted him to undress her—after all, Rory was exceptionally handsome and he wasn't without charm. And he was her fiance.

  And yet, Lyneah couldn't stop feeling disgusted with herself. What would Roderick think? What would Tobias think? Would they be disgusted with her too? She squinted her eyes and tried to block them out of her mind when she felt Rory's hands gliding along her naked body.

  “You're so beautiful,” Rory whispered the compliment into her ear. “You're so utterly, breathtakingly beautiful.” When he brought his lips to hers, Lyneah gasped. It was the first time he ever kissed her mouth, and he wasn't gentle. His tongue dipped between her lips, desperately seeking her tongue. She could feel herself instinctively pulling away as he suckled her deeply.

  Rory nibbled her bottom lip as he lifted her off her feet and carried her to his bed. He nearly tripped on Lyneah's discarded gun along the way, which made him chuckle. Lyneah wished she felt like laughing with him, but she felt more like crying, especially when he tossed her on the bed and dove between her legs.

  I could stop this, Lyneah reminded herself. He said he wouldn't force himself on her and she had no reason to doubt him, and yet, she couldn't bring herself to tell him to quit. Lyneah opened herself to him, letting him have his way with her.

  It's not a big deal, she tried to tell herself. She had been with other men before, and she needed Rory to know he could trust her. She had to prove to him she completely supported him and their union.

  And yet, in the back of her mind, Lyneah hated herself for what she was doing.

  16

  “I'm so sorry, my lady. So very and terribly sorry!” As Miles sat with Kitt at the edge of her bed, he wrapped an arm around her and held her close. “Had I known there would be an attempt on your life, you would have never left my sight.”

  “It was terrifying,” Kitt told him. “For a moment, I actually thought I was going to die. If not for...”

  Miles urged her to continue. “If not for what, my lady?”

  Kitt took a deep breath. “If not for Doon's gun, I would have most definitely been dead today.” As she studied the revolver on her desk, Kitt tapped her lips in silent contemplation. “But who could possibly want me dead? Is it Loreina?”

  “You know, that is sadly possible,” Miles said. “And... and speaking of Doon, my lady... I...”

  When he didn't complete his thought, Kitt tapped him on the shoulder. “What about Doon?”

  “I recently heard some... troubling news about the captain.” With a far-off look in his eye, Miles gazed in the direction of the door. “But you already have enough on your mind. Perhaps I should tell you another time.”

  “Troubling news? About Doon?” Kitt's heart seized at the thought. “Please tell me, Miles. If it's about Doon, I want to know.” Kitt had recently been wondering why she hadn't seen him in several days. She had been trying hard not to think about him—and failing miserably. In truth, Francis Doon was never far from her mind.

  “Doon has been captured, my lady.” Miles' voice was barely more than a whisper as he told her the news. “His attempt to assassinate Rory McCray was a failure. Instead, he was captured by him.”

  “Doon's... captured?” Kitt tilted her head as the painful truth seeped into her mind. It was difficult to accept, because Francis Doon didn't seem like a man who would be easily defeated. To Kitt, he had always seemed invincible. “Well... can't his men rescue him? The pirates... or privateers... or whatever you want to call them? Can they not ride in on the airship and free him?”

  “Doon has an airship and roughly fifty men. Rory has an army of hundreds,” Miles said. “The odds were sadly against him.”

  “Well... can we do something?” Kitt asked, even though it seemed like a ridiculous thing to sugges
t.

  “I doubt it, although I wish I could. The latest bit of news was... a bit disturbing. Doon is...” Miles sighed in the middle of his sentence. “He's being beaten, apparently. Tortured. And quite brutally, if the rumor is true. But I don't--”

  Kitt was on her feet before Miles finished speaking. “Then I have to go to him!” she declared. Her heart suddenly ached at the thought of Doon in peril, as if it was determined to share his pain. “Where is he?”

  “He's in Dovyr. But... go to him?” Miles couldn't tell if she was being facetious, so he raised his monocle to study her face. To his surprise, she looked dreadfully serious. “How can we go to him when you can't even leave the castle?”

  “I need to talk to Roderick. Do you know where I can find him?”

  “The last time I saw Roderick, he was heading to the knights' quarters.”

  Kitt, having heard everything she needed to know, rushed to the door and into the hall. Miles tried to pursue her, but she was moving too quickly, and he wasn't exactly young. “But... my lady, you must see sense! I have no idea what you are planning, but if it leads you into trouble, I shall never forgive myself!”

  “It's alright, Miles!” Kitt called to him over her shoulder. “I'm alright. Doon, on the other hand, is not alright, so I have to get to him by any means necessary. And don't even try to talk me out of it!”

  Miles kept trying to get to her, to stop her, so Kitt lifted the hem of her dress and sprinted down the hall. She hurried to the knights' quarters, which was a large brick building on the castle grounds. She had never been inside, and for good reason. As soon as she entered, she passed two half-naked knights in their knickers. They made no attempt to cover themselves, nor did they greet her as she passed.

  “Ohh Roderick...” she whispered to herself. “Where are you?”

  Kitt reluctantly stopped one of the knights. She almost decided against it, since he was shirtless and glistening with sweat, but she braved the awkward encounter for the sake of Doon. “Excuse me!” she called to him. “Do you know where I can find Sir Roderick Kelp?”