by Lia Davis
Once Kieran had the soft, clean gown on me, he pulled a pair of boxers out of the bag. “They’re Elion’s. We were in a hurry.”
I placed my hands on his shoulders while he put one foot at a time in the boxers. “I didn’t say anything.”
“No, but you were wondering.” Elion came over and lifted me to a stand so Kieran could pull up my borrowed boxers.
“I really don’t like being helpless.” A pout formed on my lips.
Eli kissed me. “Hush. We are more than happy to dress you, undress you, whatever you wish of us.”
Before Kieran could, Eli swept an arm under my legs and carried me out of the closet. “Now we get to feed you and pamper you more while filling you in on war and deception.”
My insides lit up with anticipation of spending the night with them. I couldn’t help but wonder if life with them would be filled with more evenings like tonight.
Yes, they would be. Especially after the king was dethroned and could no longer harm any of us.
What sacrifices would we have to make to secure such a future?
Chapter Eleven
Conell
Fury raced through my veins as I dismounted from my horse. My blood boiled. The small part of me that hesitated on actually killing my father was gone. The bastard was going to pay.
Kieran, my brothers, and I discovered a spy at Martha’s Inn. Tia’s second cousin on her mother’s side of the family, William. When we questioned Martha about the chocolates, she said she didn’t pack any.
It was Kieran who sniffed out the herbs used and found William disposing of the evidence. With fangs exposed, Kieran got the young man to spill.
The king offered a large bounty for Tia—dead or alive. I thought for sure Kieran was going to make the man his next meal. Elion had to drag the vamp out of the inn and back to Tia.
Martha was heartbroken and pissed. I’d never seen the tenderhearted woman curse anyone out before. I could see where Tia got her fire.
“We can’t ignore this,” Ayen snarled as he stopped next to me.
“We aren’t. I’ll send Jonah to get the bastard. I don’t even care if the wolf brings him back alive.” I closed my eyes. For a brief moment, I sounded as ruthless as my father. Only difference was, I was sane.
“Are we switching plans?”
I shook my head. “Not yet. I want to see how much DD knows. If our element of surprise is no longer going to work, then we move to Plan B.”
Plan B involved creating a civil war within the kingdom by leaking the evidence already collected, turning the people against the throne, and allowing Kieran, Jonah, and my brothers leave with Tia. Say goodbye to her, not knowing if I’d ever see her again.
“I don’t like Plan B.” Ayen nudged me to get moving. “It ends tomorrow night at the ball. It has to. I can’t leave our people in a war.”
I agreed. “It ends tomorrow.”
Ayen
* * *
Jonah rode into the stables as Conell and I reached the entrance. We waited for him in silence. Conell and Jonah had to make a face-to-face with Father to keep up appearances and to make sure the bastard’s drink was spiked. Since we discovered that Tia was alive, each of us took turns keeping the king in a semi-drunken state.
Recently, Conell had added more of the potion Chester made us to keep the king in a fog of what was actually going on. Conell gave the guards their orders and kept them busy enough not many of them looked for Tia unless we were all out pretending to search for her.
We didn’t know who to trust. When Tia got to the safe house poisoned, our trust issues multiplied.
Jonah joined us at the entrance. Conell asked, “How’s Tia?”
“She’s awake. She’s has regained some of her mobility, and she’s healing.” Jonah glanced around like he usually did when we had our little meetings. He was searching for threats and listening to our surroundings.
Yet, he seemed a little more relaxed. “And you and her?”
Jonah glared at me. “We’re working on it.”
“Good,” Conell said. “Ay, I need you to search for the journal. Try her cell room again. See if one of the other servants took it. Then go to the safe house. Jonah and I might not be there until time to take her to the ball.”
With another short nod, I headed to the servant entrance of the castle that led to the dungeons.
I slipped in and down the stairs to the damp underground of the castle without being noticed. So I thought until I entered the cell that used to be the one Tia stayed in. Two guards stood in the center of the small space, waiting for me.
Not just any guards, but the general and his first lieutenant. My heart fell to my feet. Dread burned my gut and quickly spread through my veins. Squashing my fears and keeping my features as emotionless as possible, I smiled. “What’s up?”
The general, Trace, frowned and pulled out a leather-bound book from his jacket pocket. “Looking for this?”
“What is it?” I played dumb to see where they were going with it. Obviously they hadn’t taken the journal to my father or they wouldn’t be standing in front of me like they wanted something.
“Cut the shit, Ayen. We know you and your brothers are up to something.” Trace opened the book and slowly flipped the pages. “If it has anything to do with getting Conell on the throne faster, we want in.”
I raised a brow. “You seem to think you know too much.”
Trace chuckled and pointed to his first. “Kit and I have been watching you three. Plus the walls have ears.”
“Only if you put the ears in them.” I threaded my fingers through my short hair. “Why should I trust you?”
“My service is to the king. That monster is no longer a king. He’s a coward who hides behind the fear and terror he spreads through the kingdom.” Trace advanced toward me, then handed me the book. “My service is to Conell, Elion, and you.”
I blew out a breath. Building our forces to overthrow our father was always a goal. “I can’t give you details. You’ll need to get them from Con. But this journal give us the proof we need to call my father out in front of the whole kingdom, during the ball tomorrow night.”
Trace nodded. “Where is Conell?”
One side of my mouth lifted. “Drugging our father with Jonah. So follow the drunken rants of the king.”
The guards laughed and left the cell. I held the journal and stared at it for several long moments. Sadness filled my heart. In my hands was the proof my father murdered my mother, and then Tia’s.
Taking a deep breath, I put the book in my blazer inside pocket and left the cell. I needed to see Tia. To make sure she was okay. To hold her.
And tell her she’d never have to run again.
It all ended tomorrow.
Chapter Twelve
Tia
“Tell me what you found out.” Kieran and Elion were good at distracting me. They were also terrible at hiding their anger. Especially Kieran.
Whatever they discovered pissed the both of them off.
After dressing me, they brought me to the bed. Elion sat behind me so my back rested against his front and his legs stretched out on either side of me. He massaged my hands and arms, one at a time.
Kieran sat in front of me massaging my legs. His fingers worked magic as he rubbed in the herbal serum Chester brought in a few moments ago. The bath helped, but it also made my muscles feel restless. It felt like they were moving when they weren’t.
Elion pressed his lips to my cheek. “It was your cousin, William. He’s a paid spy for my father. Plus, the bastard, my father, has a bounty for your return. I guess William was trying to collect the bounty on top of being on the payroll.”
I frowned. “I guess I don’t have to be alive for whoever to collect it.”
I didn’t know William too well. He was the son of my mother’s brother, whom we had never seen much. But the idea that anyone from my family would turn on me was unsettling. Sadness squeezed my heart.
How many othe
rs were looking for me, waiting to kill me to collect the money?
Kieran gently squeezed my thigh. When I met his stare, he said, “Stop worrying. From what I was able to pull out of William’s memories, the bounty was placed before you were announced dead. William didn’t even know you were and he didn’t know what you looked like, considering you wore a disguise. You never met him?”
Shaking my head, I recalled the young man from the inn. I didn’t recognize him. “I know who William is, but we haven’t seen each other since we were toddlers. So, it is possible that he didn’t know what I looked like. I didn’t know who he was until Martha told us. But how would he even know it was me?”
“He followed your aunt to your room, overheard you talking.” Kieran let out a growl. “I think it’s an isolated incident.”
Elion added, “Me, too. I haven’t heard of this bounty before now. Besides, we made sure to spread the news that you had died and kept it going.”
“I’m not sure if that makes me feel any better.”
Kieran leaned forward and kissed me. “It’ll be over soon.”
Another worry. The ball. “I’m not going to be able to sleep. Too much information turning in my mind.”
Elion scooted from behind me. “I’ll have Chester make some tea to help you sleep. We have a busy day tomorrow.”
He darted out of the room and I laid back against the pillows. Kieran stretched out beside me. “Are your legs still restless feeling?”
“Not as much.” I rolled to my side to face him. “What if we’re all walking into a trap?”
“We’ve planned for it.” He kissed me again, this one with more heat. A shadow of something rippled through his green eyes. Another hint about the plan they wouldn’t fully share with me.
“Why won’t you tell me about this plan?”
He brushed a strand of hair from my forehead, then traced a finger down my cheek. “Because, it could go in a few different directions. We have several scenarios that took us months to planned out. Even then…”
He trailed off and I scowled at him. “Even then, you fail.”
“No. Stop it.” He nipped at my nose. “Even then, we could be wrong about which way it will go. The king may be a cold hearted, evil bastard, but he’s very smart. He never shares his next move, not even with his general or most trusted guards.”
I sighed. “I bet he keeps the ones most likely to kill him the closest to him.”
Kieran’s silence told me I was right. It was frustrating not knowing what was going to happen. “Why couldn’t we leak the journal pages to public? That is if we find it.”
“That is an option.” Kieran wrapped an arm around me and snuggled me close. “Let us do the planning and worrying. Your job is to not eat any more bon bons with poison in them and trust us.”
Elion returned with my tea. “She can’t drink her tea in that position.”
I laughed at the tease in his tone. He always tried making me laugh. That was why I loved him. Kieran sat up, taking me with him, then held out his hand for the cup. When Elion gave it to him, Kieran placed it in my hands.
While I sipped the warm chamomile and mint tea, Elion darted out of the room. A moment later, he returned with a book. His smile widened and he passed the book to Kieran. “Kie, read to us.”
One dark brow lifted and Kieran asked, “Really?”
“Please,” I said, batting my lashes at him. “My mom used to read to me and it helped me sleep.”
Elion took my cup and set it on the end table, then pulled me to lay down. Once we were cuddled under the covers, he said, “I use to read to her before she ran away without me.”
Kieran rolled his eyes, but laughed as he opened the book. The sound of his low rumbling tone was calming. I was quickly pulled into the classic tale of Cinderella, forgetting about my earlier worries.
If I had to run again, I was taking my guys with me.
The warmth of the sun kissing my skin and the sound of birds singing happily outside my bedroom window woke me. I was alone in my bed so I listened. The low rumblings of voices drifted in from the living room.
Pulling the covers off me, I moved one leg. A thrill shot through me at having my muscle function again. However, when I tried to stand I fell on my ass. Footsteps rushed into the room, but a female voice said, “Tia?”
My heart skipped a beat. Only the guys knew I was here. I remained on the floor, hidden from sight by the bed. A moment later, the woman in question came into view. Tears filled my eyes and I scrambled to stand, pulling on the blanket and mattress, with not much luck.
Martha rushed to me. “Are you all right?”
Nodding, I tried to stand again, this time making it. My legs shook under my weight but held me up. Just then Kieran, Elion, and Ayen came into the room, each scanning the area for threats before meeting my gaze.
“I can move my legs. They’re weak but functional.” I reached out to Martha. She took my arm and helped me walk around the bed, each step becoming a little steadier.
Kieran and Elion closed the distance and took me from my aunt. When I glanced to Ayen, he smiled and held up the journal. A spark of excitement lit up my insides. “You found it.”
I let go of Kieran and Elion and stumbled the few feet to Ayen. As I reached him, my right knee gave out. Ayen caught me before I hit the ground. His brows bunched. “Are you going to be okay for the ball?”
“Yes. I have to.” I stood up straighter, putting all my weight on my legs. Ayen still hung onto me. “I just have to move around and work out the muscles.”
Just then Chester entered my bedroom. The space was really starting to shrink. When the sorcerer’s gaze landed on me, he smiled. “You are correct. Movement will help. Although you may not feel up to dancing all night.”
I turned to the guys. “See.” Pointing to the journal in Ayen’s hand, I brought the conversation back to the real issue—their plan to expose the king of his evil ways. “Where was the journal?”
Ayen frowned and motioned to the doorway. “Let’s take this out to the living room. There’s more space.”
Martha nodded and shooed everyone out. “I’ll make breakfast.”
The mention of food woke my stomach up because it growled. Elion laughed and kissed my cheek. “Let’s feed the princess.”
“You and I need to return to the palace.” Ayen led me out to the living room and directed me to the sofa. “Our father’s general, Trace, had the journal. He and his first was waiting for me when I got to the cell Tia used to stay at. They want in on our plan.”
Elion scowled. “You didn’t tell him the plan, did you?”
“No. He guessed that we were planning on dethroning DD, but that’s all. I left it at that and told him to get the details from Conell.” Ayen bent down and kissed me on the lips. “See you tonight.”
Before Ayen and Elion left, Kieran spoke from the window next to the front door. “Trace has always hated the king. Several of the guards and myself placed bets on whether Trace or Jonah would assassinate the bastard first.”
The news about the guards eased my tension and worry a little. We had our small army. But would it be enough?
“Hey,” Elion said. moving into my view where I apparently zoned out for a moment. I smiled at him and bopped my nose. “Do you trust us?”
“Yes. Always.”
He kissed my forehead. “Then believe everything will be okay.”
A sigh slipped from my lips. “You two better go before DD comes looking for you.”
Elion scrunched his nose and gave a half frown. “See you tonight, princess.”
“See you, tonight.”
Kieran glanced at me before following the two outside. I pushed to a stand and slowly and unsteadily made my way to the double glass doors that led out the back. From the kitchen, I could hear Martha and Chester laughing and talking like old lost friends. A smile lifted my mouth. It was so good to have my aunt there.
After opening the doors, I stepped out on the patio
and breathed in the fresh air. The grass was damp from the morning dew and I so wanted to feel the wet, cool blades under my feet. Holding onto the wall of that framed in the patio, I made my way to the yard, where I stepped off the concrete.
With my bare feet on the earth I felt grounded, level-headed, and believed anything was possible.
A twig snapped to my left and I swung around too fast and fell to the ground. Three shadows loomed over me. One of them was none other than King Balsatra, my step-father.
Fear stole my ability to scream. The two guards with him eased the doors shut and advanced toward me. I tried to stand, but my legs were too weak from the poison.
“Good morning, Tia,” the king said with a chuckle. “I knew my sons were hiding you. The ungrateful assholes. I just had to find the right moment to find out for myself. And take care of the threat altogether.”
Dread hit me in the gut. “What do you mean?”
“Now you’re a smart girl. Kieran isn’t the only vampire I have on staff. Just one bite out of that wolf and his memories of you and where you were unlocked.” He waved a hand to his guards and they grabbed my arms, lifting me off the ground. “As for my sons, they will be thrown in jail for treason and plotting an assassination. The punishment is death.”
No. I jerked my arms, trying disparately to get away. “Help!” I screamed, which only made the crazy asshat of a king laugh.
“I have guards inside the house. Your aunt and that sorcerer will be joining you in the dungeon. I might even let you watch the hangings of your precious princes.” He held his hand out and blew.
Fine, shimmering dust flew into my face. My eyes drifted shut. No. Sleeping powder.
Then everything went black.
Chapter Thirteen
I laid on the dirt-covered stone floor of the dungeon cell watching a rat eat something it found in the corner. The floor was cold against my cheek. The ice sank into my skin, chilling me. Yet, I didn’t feel the bite of it.