“I'll lose my job if I stay much longer, Lyneah,” Tobey said with a sigh. “I can't.”
“Please!” Lyneah seized the lapel of Tobey's frayed red vest as she pleaded with him. “Why would you leave me with Rory? Aren't you worried for me? I thought you liked me!”
“I... do,” Tobias admitted. In reality, he probably liked her a bit too much. But she had two fiances and a boyfriend, and there were princes and knights among them. How was he supposed to compete with that when he was just a bartender who lived in a hovel? “I do like you. But I'd be leaving you with a man you've agreed to marry. Should I be worried for you?”
“If you left, you'd be leaving me with n-nothing...” When Lyneah spoke, she was the one who stuttered. As tears filled her eyes, she prayed they wouldn't fall, because Lyneah rarely cried in front of anyone. To Lyneah, crying was a sign of weakness, and she was far from weak. “I don't have anyone else. You're the only friend I have right now, Tobey!”
When he realized she was on the verge of tears, Tobias' heart practically shattered. It took him less than a second to change his mind. “Alright, I'll stay.”
“You will?” The tears in her eyes were instantly replaced by pure, unadulterated elation. “Really? Are you sure?”
Though he nodded, he looked a bit uncertain. “Yes. I'm sure.”
For a second time that day, Lyneah threw her arms around Tobias and crushed him in a hug. “Thank you, Tobey. Thank you thank you! You have no idea how much this means to me!”
“Well, like I said... it makes me ha-happy to make you happy.” And it was true. As soon as the princess said she wanted him to stay, he should have known he would have no resistance against her. Lyneah had so much influence over him, she could have talked him into wrestling warthogs.
“Oh, is that Kieran over there?” Lyneah suddenly asked. “Ah, I believe it is! I haven't spoken to him in awhile. Do you mind if I do?”
Tobey shook his head, but he didn't say a word. He had a feeling she was going to talk Kieran into staying in Dovyr too. Tobey wanted to believe he was special to her, but he doubted it. As soon as she had the castle under her control, she would forget all about him. As he watched her walk away, his heart felt heavy.
“Tobey.” Behind him, someone was whispering his name. When he turned around and saw someone who looked exactly like Princess Lyneah, he was momentarily confused. He looked back at Lyneah, then glanced at the speaker, then back and Lyneah.
Finally, he understood. “Kitt?”
“Yes!” Kitt lowered the hood she was wearing, showing him her short locks. Then she pulled him between the stalls, where Lyneah wouldn't see them if she happened to turn around. When they were hidden from view, Kitt threw her arms around him too. After hugging two women who basically looked identical, Tobey's head was muddled.
“You and the princess seem close,” his friend observed. It was her first time seeing Lyneah in the flesh; Kitt was shocked by their similarities.
“I... don't know.” Tobey's answer was sadly honest. “And what are you doing here, Kitt? How did you get here and why are you in Dovyr, of all places?”
“It's a long story. It would take too long to tell you the whole thing. But Tobey... it is good to see you!” Before she continued, Kitt peeked around the stall, making sure Lyneah wasn't returning. When it was safe, she continued. “I'm looking for someone. Do you think you could help me?”
“Wh-who are you looking for?”
“I'm searching for a man named Francis Doon. We saw him in Lucky's one day. Do you remember?”
Tobey nodded. “I do remember. And Lyneah's told me stories about him. He's been captured and tortured by a man named Rory McCray.”
“And he's in Dovyr, right? Do you know where I can find him?”
Kitt looked desperate, if not a bit panicked, so he wanted to help her in any way he could. “Doon or Rory?”
“Doon!”
“Rory's imprisoned him in a shed across from The Courtesan's Plate. It's a pub, and it's not too far from here,” Tobey explained. “But what do you want with F-Francis Doon?”
Kitt thought she saw someone staring at her, so she pulled up her hood, hiding her short hair. “I desperately need to speak to him.”
“Well g-g-good luck. The shed is always under guard.” Tobey shrugged. “But Rory is Lyneah's fiance, so you might be able to use that to your advantage.”
“What?” Kitt shrieked. “But she already has a fiance! Prince Malik!”
“I know...” Tobey exhaled sharply. “Tell me about it.”
Kitt was glad Roderick wasn't with her, since she doubted he would be too happy to hear that particular bit of news. “Alright, Tobey, I'm going to need you to do me a favor. I need you to keep Lyneah distracted for the rest of the day. Better yet... take her out of town, if you can. I'm going to pretend to be her.”
“I haven't seen you for weeks, and now you're asking me for s-strange favors?”
“It's not that strange, is it? The princess seems to like you... oddly enough.”
“Oddly enough?” Tobey shrieked the words.
“I mean, it's odd that you're in the princess' company to begin with, but it's not odd that she would like you. You're sweet.”
“Right.” Tobey's eyes rolled toward the heavens. “I'm sure that's what you meant, Kitt.”
“Okay, go.” Kitt gave him a tiny shove in Lyneah's direction. “If you do this for me, I'll owe you the biggest, hugest favor in all the world!”
“Girls,” muttered an aggravated Tobey as he headed back to Lyneah. He hated to disappoint them, and he hated himself even more for being unable to tell them no.
18
“Princess Lyneah?” The gruff man who guarded the red shed looked dumbfounded as he said the name. “Why do you want to see the pirate?”
“I have business with him... pertaining to my mother,” Kitt said. “And I need to speak to him about Rory.”
“Huh... I dunno.” As the guard scratched his double chin, the extra folds of flesh rippled and swayed. “I dunno.”
“Oh, just let me in!” Kitt begged. “Is this really up for debate? How would Rory McCray feel if he knew you were preventing his fiance from entering this room? Rory and I are allies now, and you're treating me rather poorly.”
“Oh... aye...” She seemed to be getting through to him. “I s'pose I can let you in, but only for a little while. And if the pirate tries somethin', you just yell for me and I'll clobber 'is head.”
“Good. Alright. Thank you.” Kitt breathed a sigh of relief. For a moment, she feared it would be much harder to get in to see Doon. As the guard opened the door, her entire body was tense. She wasn't sure what to expect, but she knew it wouldn't be good.
And it was even worse than she expected. Doon was kneeling in the center of the room, tied up, shackled, beaten and bruised. Kitt's heart and stomach simultaneously clenched at the sickening sight. As soon as the door was closed behind her, she lowered her hood.
Doon's gaze weakly flickered to her short red locks, and his eyes were lit with shock. “Kitt?” he gasped. “Is that really you?”
Kitt dropped to the floor beside Doon. She wrapped him in her arms and pulled his head to her shoulder. He was injured, so she cradled him as gently as she could. “Doon...” Her lips brushed his ear as she whispered his name. “I'm going to hug you all I want, alright? And you can't stop me.”
“You're right.” Doon chuckled as he raised his shackled hands, calling attention to the manacles that bound them. “I quite literally can't.”
With a roll of her eyes, Kitt tightened her arms around him. “It's good to see you haven't lost your humor.” She kissed his hair, laid her cheek on his head, and continued to hold him.
“This is more than a hug.” Doon's tone was accusatory, but playful. “I believe you've crossed into the territory of tender embrace.”
“Is that so bad?”
“Not bad, no, but very confusing. The last time I saw you, you told me you hated me. I'
m beginning to think you weren't entirely honest with me,” Doon said with a chuckle. “Lying little Kitten.”
When she finally let go of Doon, Kitt sat back and got a good look at the state he was in. There was a metal collar around his neck, and his wrists were rubbed raw by his manacles. His face was bruised and scraped, and he was recovering from a black eye. The worst part was his back. He had no shirt, so she could clearly see the extent of his injuries. Between the scars from old lashes he received years ago, there were several new gashes across his back. Some of them were older and had started to scab over, while some were still fresh and oozing blood. The longer she looked at the canvas of hewn flesh, the more Kitt felt like she wanted to cry. It killed her to see him like that.
“I'll find a way to get you out of here!” Kitt exclaimed. “I don't know how... not yet... but I will. This breaks my heart.”
“Kitt...”
“I'm serious, Doon. My heart hurts to look at you right now. I can't believe I—”
“Kitt.” Determined to have her attention, Doon said her name more forcefully. “You need to listen to me, alright? Listen. I don't know how you got here, but you need to go home. I don't deserve your pity, do you understand? I don't deserve it.”
“But Doon, I--”
He interrupted again. “No, Kitt. I'm quite serious. Now's your chance to go back home. You need to go back to Lundun, and you need to get away from me. After all I've done to you, I don't deserve an ounce of your pity.”
“No. I'm going to stay!” Kitt's answer was resolute, clearly unchangeable. “You can't make me leave. I want to help you!”
“Kitt!” Doon sounded more than a bit irritated as he shouted her name. “If you stay, I'll end up hurting you again one day... because I only ever hurt people. Do you understand that? You need to give up this fantasy that I'm your friend. I'm not your friend. I never was.”
“You're right. You aren't my friend.” When she agreed with him, Kitt thought he looked a bit hurt. “You're more than that.”
Kitt's determination made him heave an exasperated sigh. “But I want you to go. Please go.”
“I don't think you really want that.” No matter what he said or how many times he tried to banish her, Kitt knew better. She knew what Doon needed, and it wasn't to be left alone. When she leaned forward to kiss his forehead, she caught him flinching. She didn't know if he flinched because of the bruise on his head, or because he didn't want to be kissed. “I'm not leaving your side. In fact, I'm going to stay in this room with you until Rory's men come and drag me out!” Kitt laid on the floor beside him and stared up at his face.
“You're very stubborn, you know,” Doon told her. “Very stubborn. Extremely stubborn. You're probably the stubbornest person I've ever met. I'm not sure if that's an admirable trait or a horrible one.”
“It's admirable,” Kitt answered with a nod.
“I don't know. I was leaning toward horrible, myself.” Doon cracked a smile, hoping she would know he was teasing her. After what he had endured for the last few days, it was difficult to smile. But for Kitt, he had to try.
Kitt laid her cheek against the cold, hard ground as she watched him. After days of being separated from him, she wanted to see his face and hear his voice as long as she could. While she laid beside him, Kitt caressed his hand—the one with the missing fingers. His glove and metal digits had been removed, and the hand itself was horribly bruised. Since he always wore gloves, Kitt knew his missing fingers were a source of shame to him. She wondered how he felt to have them constantly exposed.
“So, Kitten...” A sigh escaped from Doon's lips when he finally broke the silence. “If you insist on staying here, what would you like to talk about?”
“The other day, an assassin nearly killed me,” she casually told him. “If I had been a bit slower to react, I'm sure I would have died!”
“I'm assuming Barnabus saved you, yes? That dog is lethal, after all.”
“Right. Uh-huh. He licked them to death.” Kitt shook her head at Doon's inappropriately timed joke. “Actually... do you remember when you gave me a gun? I saved myself with it.”
“I'm glad the gun came in handy, but... who's trying to kill you now?” Doon's eyebrow slowly raised. “It wouldn't be Rory McCray this time. He and Princess Lyneah are an item, apparently.”
“I heard that! And it seems... odd.” Kitt wrinkled her nose. She hadn't met Rory before, but if he was the one responsible for Doon's torture, she hated him already. “What can you tell me about Rory McCray? What kind of person is he?”
“Truthfully?” Doon paused to chuckle. “He's a little bit twisted and a little bit in love with me.”
Kitt's eyes narrowed. “What?”
“It's not even a joke. That man kisses me every time he beats me. But never on the lips, thank god. I'd take a round of light torture over a kiss on the lips.”
“I'm not even sure how to respond to that,” Kitt said. “That's... odd.”
“Oh, I'm sure he's mental. And I can't believe Lyneah's stupid enough to align herself with a nutter. I even tried to warn her.” Doon shrugged, as if Lyneah's fate was of little concern to him. “Oh well.”
Kitt stared at Doon's hand. She closed her eyes and imagined his fingers skimming through her hair. Even a tiny bit of affection would have been satisfying—but Francis Doon would be the last man to give a loving caress to anyone, and Kitt already knew that.
“What I wouldn't give for a pot of Miles' tea!” Doon suddenly said, putting an end to Kitt's daydream. “I'm lucky to get chicken bones and broth from McCray. Good lord, he's a piss poor chef.”
“Oh... Miles is here! In Dovyr!” Kitt exclaimed. “He came with me. Roderick too.”
“Even Roddy Rick came to see me? Goodness, I feel so flattered. You better fix my hair before he gets here. After all, I wouldn't want Roddy to see me like this.”
Doon was smirking again. Kitt didn't appreciate that he took nothing seriously, but she was glad he hadn't changed. If she was the one chained to the floor, she doubted she could keep her spirits as high as he did.
“Doon...” As she whispered his name, Kitt suddenly reached out to caress his cheek. When he leaned away from her touch, she felt incredibly sad. “You're a difficult man do get close to. You know that, don't you?”
His response didn't surprise her. “I never wanted to get close to anyone, Kitten.”
Before she could reply, the shed's door opened. Kitt immediately sat up and pulled the hood over her head. An unfamiliar man stood in the doorway, watching her with curiosity.
“Ah, Rory!” Doon said his name so Kitt would know who she was looking at. “How I've missed you! What do you have planned for today? Pulling out a toenail? Extracting a tooth? I'm up for anything, honestly.”
Rory ignored Doon's sarcasm and turned to Kitt. “Hello, beautiful,” he greeted her. “I've been looking all over for you! When they told me you were with Doon, I was shocked! Why would you waste your time with this feral beast?”
Kitt got to her feet and approached Doon's torturer with caution. “I'm sorry. I wanted to talk to him for a bit. I had a few questions to ask about my mother.”
“Queen Loreina? Ew. Don't squander another thought on that old cow. You should be thinking about me, love.” Rory coiled an arm around Kitt's waist, pulled her toward him, and crushed his lips against hers. Even though she let him kiss her, her face was pinched in disgust. And when Doon saw Rory's tongue slip into Kitt's mouth, his gaze dropped to the floor.
At the end of their kiss, Rory patted Kitt's bum. “You'll join me for supper tonight, won't you?” Rory asked, then he turned his attention to Doon and gave him a light kick. “Doon will be there.”
Kitt grabbed Rory's arm and tried to pull him backward, away from Doon. “Please don't kick him,” she whispered.
“Damn. You're always so quick to defend this man!” Rory grunted loudly. “But this bastard doesn't deserve your pity.”
“I know,” Doon agreed. “I tried
to tell her that too. Honestly, I did.”
Rory put a hand on his hip as he glared down at Doon. “You're sounding very chipper today, Captain. We'll have to do something about that, won't we?” Rory suddenly threw back his head and laughed so loudly, it was almost inappropriate. “Let's see how happy you are when I throw you into The Pit tomorrow!”
The Pit? Kitt's eyes narrowed. She had no idea what he meant, but it didn't sound like something she would like.
“Let's go, love.” Rory wrapped an arm around Kitt's back as he steered her from the room. “I want to admire your face in the sun and tell you how lovely you are.”
As Doon watched them go, his fists were slowly clenching. He hated to see his Kitten in the company of a man he despised.
“I will kill you, Rory,” Doon whispered a promise to himself. “But if you hurt her in any way, I'll be sure to kill you slowly.”
19
“Alright, what is this?” Lyneah picked up the square piece of tattered canvas that Tobey carried to their picnic. She twirled it in her hand a few times, trying to make sense of it.
“It's a k-k-kite. I made it,” he said, sounding rather pleased with himself. “See the stick I glued to the back of it?” He pointed at the stick, as if seeing it would somehow make it obvious.
“This is supposed to be a kite?” Lyneah couldn't hide the skepticism in her voice. “Will this thing actually fly?”
Tobey reclaimed the kite from Lyneah's hand and rose to his feet, ready to prove himself. They were picnicking near the Onyx Cliffs of Dovyr, where he had begged her to spend the rest of the day with him. He didn't want to tell her it was Kitt's idea, not when Lyneah looked so happy to be there. In fact, he didn't mention his encounter with Kitt at all, because he didn't want to get his friend in trouble for impersonating the princess.
First, he tried tossing his kite into the air. After several attempts at getting it airborne, he decided there wasn't enough wind. Changing his tactic, Tobias ran around in circles, but his kite simply dragged behind him. When he heard Lyneah giggling at his lack of success, Tobias laughed at himself along with her.
A Lost Princess (Belles & Bullets Book 2) Page 12