by Lia Davis
She paused and touched my cheek. “You look tired.”
I nodded. “It’s been a long day.”
I didn’t want her to go. There was so much we needed to catch up on. Yet, I couldn’t risk being discovered. The king would use Martha to control me for sure. Or he’d just kill her to prove a point.
No more. I would not live in fear any longer.
The king needed to be locked up or banished from the kingdom for good.
Chapter Nine
“These are really good.” I popped another chocolate bon bon in my mouth and savored the rich sweetness. Picking another one out of their bag, I handed it to Ayen, who rode on his horse beside mine. “Are you sure you don’t want one?”
He crinkled his nose. “No. I don’t like sweets that much. And definitely not chocolate.”
“That is inhuman. Chocolate is the best thing ever.”
He chuckled and shook his head. “You’re going to make yourself sick if you eat any more of them.”
I waved him off and ate another. I did close the bag and placed it back in the sack my aunt gave us for our journey to Kregon. Ahead lay the gates to the kingdom and my heart pounded. At the same time a wave of dizziness hit me and my vision blurred.
Maybe Ayen was right about eating all that chocolate.
“Hey,” Ayen said as he reached for me. “You okay?”
I nodded. “Yeah, just dizzy. Most be the traveling making me tired.”
He directed his horse closer to mine. “Almost there. Are you going to be sick?”
I rolled my eyes. “No.”
Although I might pass out. I didn’t dare tell him that. Taking a deep breath, I focused on my surroundings, which made me sad. The once beautiful town of Kregon had changed. The streets were dirty and smelled. Buildings were in desperate need of repairs.
“What happened?”
Ayen grunted and spoke through clenched teeth. “My father. We tried to help them but the more we tried, the more DD would punish them.”
A sob stuck in my throat. It wasn’t fair. The sadness turned to anger. The people of Kregon didn’t deserve to live like that.
“There it is.” Ayen pointed straight ahead to a modest cottage two streets from where we were. It was nestled between two other homes slightly smaller.
I wondered how safe this house would be since it was in the center of town. I didn’t question it. The guys had their reasons. I’d find those out the next time I talked to Conell.
Another wave of dizziness slammed into me. A moment later, I felt myself slide off my horse. My vision blacked out the moment before someone wrapped their arms around me and cradled me to his chest.
“What the hell happened?” Jonah. Was he holding me?
I tried to push him away. He’d kill me. He worked for the king. Panic rose up. Why couldn’t I see? I tried to speak but no words formed.
I struggled. Jonah cursed. “Easy, princess, I’m going to drop you.”
A growl sounded, then I heard Kieran. “Give her to me.”
When I was passed off to him, I clung to his shirt. His spicy scent calmed me. “What happened?”
“I don’t know. She was fine until a few minutes ago.” Ayen’s tone was urgent.
Kieran started to move and I heard the others follow him. “Did she eat anything recently?”
“Just some chocolates that were in with the food Martha packed.” It was Ayen again, his voice a little higher than before. “Why?”
“She’s been poisoned.”
The last thing I remembered was Kieran announcing that I’d been poisoned. I still couldn’t wrap my thoughts around the possibility. My aunt would never… It had to be someone on her staff. Someone found out who I was.
That last thought stirred a whole new panic through my system.
I shot up in bed, fighting to catch my breath.
Jonah rushed to my side. “What do you need?”
I shook my head and pushed at him to go away. He was the last person I wanted to see. “Go—”
“Stop fighting me. Breathe in slowly.”
No. I went to move and only fell to my side, unable to move my legs. Tears filled my eyes. “Why…aren’t…my legs moving?”
“It’s the poison. The herbs are helping to flush it out of your system.”
I avoided looking at him. “Where is Kieran?”
“He and the others went to find out who poisoned you.”
Laying on my side, I closed my eyes. Maybe if I ignored him he’d go away. He pushed me off a damned cliff!
He sighed, then the bed shifted, drawing my eyes open. Perched against one of the posts at the foot of the bed, he stared off at the wall behind me. “My wolf refuses to shift. It’s way of punishing me for what I did to you. He doesn’t care of the reasons.”
I didn’t respond. I wasn’t sure I understood what he was talking about.
“It physically hurts to not shift on a regular basis.”
Huh. Served him right. I was beginning to like the wolf a lot more than the man.
“It also makes me weaker. Most would go insane, rogue even.” He paused for a long moment. “I’m sorry you don’t trust me. It was the only thing I could do. The Hounds were closing in on you. If they caught you…their orders were to kill you.”
A gasp burst from me and I stared at Jonah. He stared back, his eyes shiny. “I couldn’t let them have you. I panicked.”
Fucking crap on a cracker. My own stubbornness and bitterness hardened my heart. The truth in his words softened the walls. I pushed my upper body up so I sat. “I hit my head on a rock and passed out. I could have drowned.”
I wasn’t sure how I survived.
He inched closer to me. When I didn’t flitch away, he dropped his shoulders and closed the space between us.
His arms were warm and surprisingly comforting as they snaked around me. “I pulled you out and brought you to a friend. I’m sorry.”
I didn’t remember much of the few days I stayed with the elderly woman who claimed to find me on the river bank. She’d been nice and for that reason I knew I had to move on before the king discovered me and hurt her.
“A little warning would had been nice.”
He hugged me tighter and buried his nose into my neck. I held him. Words failed me. If he’d continued to keep me at arm’s length and just watched me from across the room, I could handle it. Ignore him. Yell at him.
But this…him breaking down and apologizing…I wasn’t sure what to do.
After a long while he lifted his head. He drew his brows together. “What do you need?”
My first reaction was to tell him I didn’t need people waiting on me, that I wasn’t helpless. Only at the moment, I was helpless. My legs still didn’t want to get with the game. And I felt icky.
But a bath would have to wait until after I regained the use of my legs. “How long until the poison wears off?”
His features hardened as if the mention of someone wanting to hurt me made him angry. It angered me as well. “Chester says it depends on how long it takes your body to get rid of it. It wasn’t a lethal amount and we believe whoever did it just wanted to warn you, or us.”
A spike of fear burned in my chest. “The king knows.”
Jonah framed my face in his hands. “We don’t know that. But if he does, he’s being careful or he’s just not sure.” He leaned in until our faces were inches apart. “That asshat will never touch you again.”
The truth of his words touched my soul. I realized something about him. Jonah chose whom he was loyal to and his wolf hated the king. “I’m sorry for not hearing you out.”
Shaking his head, he said, “You don’t get to apologize. You did nothing wrong.” Slowly, he pressed his lips to mine. The wildfire of desire flared to life, starting in my core and spreading until it consumed me.
Jonah broke the kiss too soon and I wanted to grab him, pull him back in. In my hesitation, he withdrew to his corner on the bed. Was it his way of giving me space?
I tried to move my legs again but the message from the brain just wasn’t getting through. However, my bladder worked just fine and screamed to be emptied. “I um…need to use the restroom.”
Chapter Ten
Without missing a beat, Jonah shot up and rushed around the side of the bed. Was he going to help me use the toilet? I expected him to get someone. Conell said I’d have a lady’s maid, after all. My answer came when Jonah scooped me up in his arms and carried me to the bathroom.
“Isn’t there someone here that could help?”
After entering the bathroom, he closed the door. “The only one here besides you and me is Chester. I don’t think you want the old man to help you.”
“No,” I said drily. “I thought for sure the princes would have a staff here.”
Gentler than I thought possible, he lowered me until my bare feet touched the cool title. “Can you stand?”
Strangely, I could feel my legs and my weight settle on them as I straightened the upper half of my body. I just couldn’t make the muscles move. “Maybe.”
“Lean on me.” He gripped my hips and lowered himself down in front me. Butterflies swarmed in my belly.
I placed my hand on his shoulders and tried to calm my breathing as he slid his hands down the sides of my legs. The thin cotton nightgown I wore didn’t provide much of a barrier. His warmth seeped into me, sparking desire and need.
When he reached the bottom of my gown and slipped his hand under it, I sucked in a breath. My eyes widened. Panic uncoiled.
Jonah snapped his gaze to mine. A flash of blue light rippled in his irises. His wolf. “I’m not going to hurt you or force you to do anything.”
Closing my eyes, I nodded. Shame triggered guilt. “I’m sorry. I feel helpless. I…”
His features softened. “I have to remove your panties so you can relieve your bladder.”
He raised one brow as if challenging me. I stared back but started laughing. “I’m acting like a child.”
He grunted like he disagreed, then tugged my panties down before standing. One leg at a time, he lifted them to finish removing my underwear. “Lift your gown up and I’ll help you sit.”
If I didn’t feel like my bladder would explode at any moment, I’d tell him to forget it. Why was I so nervous? It wasn’t like he was being a perv or anything. In fact, he went into healer mode. It was as if he’d taken care of someone before.
Steeling my backbone, I did as he asked.
Once I was on the toilet, he moved to the door, then exited the bathroom. I knew he didn’t go far because he called out to Chester.
The sorcerer answered back, his voice becoming louder as he entered the bedroom. “She’s awake? How is she?”
The sound of his aged, husky voice warmed my heart.
“She can’t move her legs.” Jonah replied back to Chester.
“Can she feel them? Like if you touch her leg, can she feel that?”
“Yes,” Jonah answered.
“Good, good. That’s a good sign.” There was a rustling sound. Were they right at the bathroom door? Then Chester added, “Run her a bath as hot as she can stand it and put this in the water. Make sure to use the whole bottle. I’ll make her some soup and more tea.”
Footsteps moving away from the door told me Chester left the room. A moment later, Jonah came back in.
I smiled. “A bath sounds amazing.”
He frowned but turned on the water to fill the tub. After putting the stopper in, he dumped the contents of a small amber-colored jar into the bath. I sensed an uneasiness from him.
When he was satisfied with the water, he glanced at me. “Ready?”
His tone was low and his wolf still looked out at me through his eyes. A sense of protection and concern rolled off him. “Yes. I’ll need help removing my gown. I feel off balance.”
“You can leave it on if you want.”
I smiled weakly. He was trying to make me feel comfortable. Even though I wanted to wash, I could do it once my legs got with the program. “Okay. Thanks.”
With another grunt, he lifted me off the toilet and carried me to the tub. When he set me inside, I slipped down into the water. Jonah grabbed me with a curse before my head went under. “Sorry.” He held me so I sat straight up. “Hold onto the sides for a minute.”
Doing as he commanded, I watched him, wondering what he was going to do. Then he took off his shirt and pants. I quickly averted my gaze but remained silent. A moment later he slipped into the bath behind me. “Lay back against me.”
Easing back, I closed my eyes and relaxed. Herb-infused water made my skin tingle. From my own studies of herbal medicine, I knew the mixture of lavender, mint, rosemary, willow root, and a few other smells I didn’t recognize would help draw the toxins out of my body.
Behind me, Jonah’s body was still tensed. I let a sigh slip from my lips, then picked up his hand. After placing a kiss to his knuckles, I linked our fingers together. “How did you become one of the king’s guards?”
He tensed even more. The muscles in his arm twitched. For a moment, I thought he would jerk his hand away. Relief shuddered through me when he nuzzled my neck, breathing in my scent. It was similar to what Kieran does, yet different in a way I didn’t understand fully.
“Are you sure you want to know that story?” he asked.
I was. “Yes. Please, I want to know you.”
“I’m not that person anymore. Understand that.” He waited for me to nod before he began his story. I figured he had a dark past, but I also knew enough about people to know that cruel ones didn’t feel sorry for their crimes.
“I was six years old when the king’s army attacked my den.”
Oh, no. A sob escaped me before I could rein it in. He squeezed my waist with his free arm and my hand with the one I held onto. “Are you going to cry?”
“I might. But continue. I won’t interrupt.”
After he placed a kiss on my shoulder, he continued. “My den was small and no match for the army. The adults were killed and the children were taken back to the palace. I was raised with the Hounds. Trained and endured the bastard’s cruelty. Each day I grew more and more intent on killing him.”
Jonah paused to take a few breaths. I could feel his wolf’s energy just under his skin. It was like the animal still wanted to get ahold of the king. I rubbed soft circles on his forearm. A moment later, the energy seemed to calm. I smiled while Jonah began talking again.
“I fought my way up in the ranks. Yes, the Hounds have ranks. They aren’t as mindless as the king likes to tell people. The Hounds are smart and deadly. They allow their wolves to rule their instincts to hunt and kill. Anyway, my advancement and raw hunger for blood earned me the king’s attention. It was also what interested Conell.”
I perked up at Con’s name. “What do you mean?”
Jonah poked me in the side. “You said you wouldn’t interrupt.”
“Sorry.”
With a chuckle, he brought our connected hands to his lips. “Conell was the one that suggested I be a royal guard. I think the prince was hoping I’d assassinate the king.”
When he stopped, I waited to see if he was finished. After a few moments of silence, I asked, “When was that?”
“A few months after your mother and the king married.”
I nodded. From the first time I met Conell, I sensed his anger toward his father.
“Trying to drown the princess again?”
The sound of Elion’s teasing voice made my cheeks heat. At least I still had my nightgown on. Although it was wet and clung to my skin.
Jonah splashed water at Eli. “Where are the others?”
“Kieran will be in here in a few seconds” Eli smiled wickedly, as if expecting some kind of conflict to arise between Kieran and Jonah.
Just then Kieran stuck his head in the doorway of the bathroom. He glared at Jonah, but his gaze softened when he met mine. “What’s going on?”
My pulse quickened at
Kieran’s edgy tone. Was he mad? Jealous? I tried to move my legs and was only able to get a muscle twitch. A small progress, but not helping me in the least. “I can’t move my legs.”
Jonah nudged me. “Sit and hold onto the sides of the tub.”
As I did he stood, but Kieran was already there, lifting me out of the bath. I stared at his features, then whispered, “What’s wrong?”
Once in the bedroom, he entered the closet and closed us in, then flipped on the light. “It’s better to wait for Conell and Ayen to return.” He sat me on an elegant cushioned bench then frowned.
I sucked in my bottom lip. There were no clothes in the closet. “Why are we in the closet?”
A crooked smile lifted one side of his mouth. “The wolf got to be in the bath with you. I get to dress you.”
I laughed. “Is this a territorial thing?”
He shrugged. “Just annoying Jonah.”
A knock sounded, then the door opened. Elion held out a bag to Kieran. “You forgot these.”
Kieran took the bag and grunted. I glanced to Eli, who just shook his head, then asked, “Should I send Jonah?”
“Yes,” Kieran replied. The single word was clipped out with a growl.
More secrets. I folded my arms and glared at my vampire. When he met my stare, he sighed. “Let’s get you dressed and Eli and I will fill you in.”
“Tell me everything.”
He nodded as he dug into the bag and pulled out a lavender nightgown. Eli darted out of the closet and returned a moment later with a towel. After handing it to me, he stuck his head out. “Kieran says to go to the palace. Con and Ayen are there.”
Jonah rumbled a reply I couldn’t hear. Eli said, “Yeah. The bastard.”
Kieran tapped my thigh and I glanced at him. “You felt that?”
“Yes. I can feel my legs but the muscles aren’t working.” Just then my calf twitched. “I think the bath helped. Chester gave Jonah an herbal mixture to put in the water.”
“Good.” Kieran peeled my wet gown off and I dried what I could with the towel Eli gave me.