The Stolen Princess

by Kristen Gupton

  “And you believed him?”

  “Perhaps not at first. Years later, though, when he told me she’d fled from this place, killing herself by running off into the woods in the dead of wither, I felt abandoned.” He hung his head again. “She’d left me behind.”

  “And, conveniently, Athan was there to fill the void left afterward by promising you even more power.” Vinson smiled to no one. “He thought he could distract you with the promise of strength and control, to turn you away from needing other simpler things.”

  “Just as he tried to distract himself from the need of those same simpler things,” Baden added, his head slowly coming back up.

  Vinson nodded, seeing the wheels breaking loose in his brother’s head. “Baden, a suggestion if I may?”

  He nodded.

  “Athan has had years to bend you to his will,” Vinson said. “Despite it, though, you’ve never been quite like him. You’ve been cruel to me and others, but not to his level. If meeting your mother has brought up reservations within you, maybe you need to look into it further. You’re a vampire, Baden, you have instincts. I suggest you try using them for once, instead of doing what you’ve always done to try and gain Athan’s approval.”

  “I have some things to think about, certainly,” Baden replied.

  “Now, I hate to end this, it has been a good distraction, but I must make more progress before the guards come to check on me. I’d rather not have tonight’s beating be any worse than the others I have endured,” Vinson reached over to pick up his pencil again.

  Baden nodded and stood up from the desk. “Thank you for hearing me out. You’ve been more than patient with me, despite how I’ve treated you.”

  “I may be a vampire, Baden, but I am not a monster,” Vinson said, flashing one last faint smile. “Perhaps you aren’t either. If you do sincerely appreciate what took place here, perhaps you can ask the guards to take it a little easier on me tonight?”

  Baden started for the door, but stopped to look back at him. “I’ll see to it you are left alone tonight and the nights going forward. My influence here is limited, but not completely insignificant.”

  “Much appreciated.” Vinson watched as Baden retreated from the room.

  Vinson wondered if a legitimate breakthrough had happened or not. If it bettered his situation at all, it would be welcomed. He had to push the thoughts aside before too long, however. Progress on the design needed to move forward, or not even Baden would be able to spare him his punishment.

  * * *

  Baden stepped into the corridor and closed the door before leaning back against it. He knew his father would consider the conversation he’d had with Vinson treasonous. There was a knot of uncertainty in his gut.

  Hearing something down the hallway, he turned to see Sabetha coming around the corner with Athan hanging heavily from her side. He straightened up and pushed his thoughts back, going over to see what was happening.

  “Did you find Kayla?” he asked.

  Athan tried to move his right arm, but it refused to cooperate. “Of course I found her. I saw they had you prisoner as well.”

  Baden was hit with a wave of anxiety, his gaze averting to the side.

  The elder vampire’s eyes narrowed, but he was too exhausted to probe into his son’s thoughts. “I lost my powers when I got close to her, too. I hold no fault toward you over getting caught. When you were able to escape, you did, and without engaging them further. You did well enough.”

  Baden gave a single nod and looked at his father again. The knowledge that his father had been there to see what he’d been through didn’t sit well. He wondered exactly how much Athan had heard.

  “As for you, what happened?” Baden asked, deflecting the conversation away from himself.

  “Keiran has that damned sword of his mother’s. I should have known it would end up in his hands someday.” Athan moved to stand without Sabetha’s support. “I was foolish not to continue pursuing its whereabouts since Ilana’s death.”

  “And he struck you with it?” Baden took a step closer, able to see the faint discoloration of a blood stain on Athan’s black coat.

  “Obviously.” Athan frowned, his ego tarnished. “Hardly a fair fight, but he only managed to land a single blow. You’re fortunate he didn’t use it against you, Baden. The pain…it is unlike anything I’ve ever felt.”

  “It doesn’t heal?” Baden asked.

  “It will, in time, but there is nothing I can do to expedite the process I’m afraid.” Athan continued to stare at Baden, feeling something off about him. “What did they do to you while in their hold? What did Kayla say to you?”

  Baden shook his head and shrugged. “I was mostly ignored once I was in their custody. She didn’t have much to say to me. I suppose she’s still disgusted by me like she’s been since you had to take me away from her all those years ago. She tried to say she still loved me and such before the others at the end, but I’m certain it was an act. Being held against my will, though, that wasn’t something I care to ever experience again.”

  “It’s not something to generally be enjoyed.” Athan sighed and gave up trying to look inside Baden. He simply didn’t have the energy, his answer appeasing him enough for the time being. “Regardless, I need to rest now. I have quite a bit of thinking to do.”

  “Yes, of course.” Baden moved to the side and motioned down the corridor.

  Athan walked past, Sabetha keeping right along with him. He stopped before the door to his room and stared back at Baden. “Were you checking in on Vinson?”

  Baden’s head snapped up. “Yes, that’s where I was coming from.”

  “Progress?”

  “I’m not savvy as to what he’s working on, but he was diligently going at it,” he replied.

  “Good. See to it he keeps being productive, will you? I may sleep for a day or two,” Athan said.

  Baden gave up a genuine smile. “I’d be more than happy to.”

  * * *

  “Aye! Wake up! You’re back where you started!”

  Keiran sighed and sat up, raising an arm to block out the morning sunlight pouring into the cabin from the open door. “Already?”

  Dassion, far too energetic for the hour, bounced down the steep stairway leading below deck. He looked over his two remaining passengers. “Wind was at our backs, wasn’t it? Goes a lot quicker when you can sail in a straight line, right? Come on!”

  Keiran reached over and slapped Jerris in the middle of the back to rouse him before standing up. He ran his hands through his hair, his eyes slowly adjusting to the light. “You seem eager to get rid of us.”

  Dassion frowned, his shoulders rounding. “No! I thought you’d be excited to be back! I stayed up all night to get us here myself, didn’t I?”

  Jerris sat up, his initial reaction to the brightness like Keiran’s. “We’re back? That only took half as long…”

  Keiran noticed how crestfallen Dassion seemed. He went over and patted his shoulder. “I’m not ungrateful. We’re quite relieved to be back, I assure you.”

  “Good, I was wondering if I needed to turn this thing around and take you back out to sea for a few days to make you feel better about this all.” The captain shoved his hands down into the pockets of the coat he wore. “Now, mind you, it’s cold out there. Looks like it’s been snowing for a few days here.”

  The scent of the cold air running down the stairway and filling the cabin already had Keiran aware of the fact, but he didn’t want to risk hurting Dassion’s feelings again. “We’ll be sure to get our cloaks on before going up.”

  Dassion stood there, continuing to give his friendly smile.

  Keiran slowly nodded and took a step back before turning to get his things together.

  Soon they made their way down the gangplank onto the pier the ship had moored to. Despite the bitter cold, the port was still busy with workers going about loading and offloading other vessels. While the ports along the northern edge of the sea iced ove
r in the winter, Stanth was able to stay open year round.

  “Captain, I thank you again for taking us. I know it wasn’t in your plans, but you’ve helped more than you can possibly imagine,” Keiran slung his bag of belongings over his shoulder, his sword box tucked beneath his other arm.

  “Well, you did pay for the ship, didn’t you?” Dassion asked. “I appreciate that very much. Half expected this to be some sort of trick the whole time, you know?”

  “Well, I’m glad—” Keiran was cut off, hearing someone running up behind them.

  It was one of his Royal Guards from the castle. The man approached and gave a small bow. “My King, it is good to see you home. Sir Steiner dispatched us with your horses to the port once the river became impassible.”

  Jerris’ eyes went wide, and he tried to gesture to the other guard to stop talking, but Dassion gasped, hearing all he needed to.

  “King! What?” Dassion pointed between Keiran and Jerris. “What’s this? King? King?”

  Keiran turned back to face the captain, giving a awkward smile. “I don’t know what this man is talking—”

  Dassion shook his head, jabbing a finger into the middle of Keiran’s chest. “Now, look here! You told me you were someone else! You tricked me! I knew this whole thing was too good to be true! You’re going to take my ship now, aren’t you? Or you’ll demand I give you back the gold, eh? All a big game to play with a poor commoner’s livelihood, isn’t it?”

  Keiran raised a hand slightly before him, shaking his head. “You wouldn’t have taken me if you’d known, Dassion.”

  “You’re damned right!” he shot back, his cheeks red from the cold went even darker. “I don’t like being lied to, do I? No!”

  “I’m not going to take your ship or ask for the gold back,” Keiran said, looking over at Jerris for help.

  The guard simply smiled and decided it would be more fun to watch Keiran squirm than to intervene. “I told you all those lies you spill would catch up with you.”

  Dassion’s eyes were wide, his gaze switching between the two of them. His hand fell back to his side slowly, however, as he realized he wasn’t supposed to confront the most powerful person in the country like he had. “So… King Sipesh, then… Right…”

  “It’s all right, Dassion. You have to understand why I couldn’t be honest about it. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have taken me after what you’d been through last summer,” Keiran said.

  “Not really my place to question the king of the country, is it?” Dassion asked, shoulders rounding.

  Keiran quirked a brow at the irony of that statement, but let it slide. “I’m still the same person I’ve been with you this entire trip. You got your ship paid off in the course of it, anyway.”

  He looked to the side and nodded. There was no reason to be afraid of the vampire aspect of it. If Keiran had wanted to do him in, it would have happened already. “I suppose I can say now I’m friends with the king, aren’t I?”

  “Aye, you are, Dassion.”

  His smile returned and he puffed his chest out, nodding. “Good, good, then! Well, I suppose I should let you get back to whatever it is you do.”

  Keiran extended his right hand and offered up a smile. “Again, I appreciate what you’ve done for me.”

  Dassion reached out and took his hand and shook it before stepping back. “If you should need my services again someday, I suppose I wouldn’t mind terribly.”

  “I will keep that in mind, Dassion. Thank you.”

  Jerris elbowed Keiran in the side as they walked away from the ship, following the guard who’d come to them. “And you get away with it, again.”

  “It’s not as though I like having to be dishonest about my identity, Jerris. It was all for fun before I was the king, but the stakes are a little greater now,” he replied. “We got Kayla home, and that’s all that matters.”

  The redhead nodded and turned his attention to the guard leading them. “So, Kanan had you bring our horses all the way here?”

  “Aye. He knew you’d require a way to get back home once you returned. We’ve been here for a few days, one of us constantly keeping watch to see when you’d come back, so we could find you,” he said, looking over his shoulder.

  “Good thing. We don’t have any gold left to have gotten horses for the ride back,” Jerris said, giving Keiran a sidelong glance. “Our king’s money management skills are lacking.”

  * * *

  When Keiran and his small entourage of guards made it through the castle gates, the first real blizzard of the year was blowing. The weather had been merciful for most of their ride in from the coast, the previous several days passing without incident. Things had changed that morning, however, when they’d started to descend into the northern portion of the valley Tordan Lea occupied.

  They arrived at Jerris’ house in town, finding Magretha staying in due to the weather. While the guard invited the others to remain until the storm let up, Keiran was too anxious to get home. He gave Jerris permission to simply stay at the house and take the day off before charging with his other guards toward the castle.

  Once in the courtyard, he dismounted and Kanan approached him from the guardhouse.

  “Did everything go all right?” the old man asked.

  “Aye, Kayla is back with the Nahli. Thank you for having the foresight to have our horses delivered to Stanth.” Keiran gave a tired smile. “It simplified matters for us greatly.”

  “I suppose I have my uses even when I’m not allowed to go out,” Kanan said.

  Keiran inwardly winced, knowing the old man was still upset over not being allowed to go. “It was cold, wet, and miserable. I promise you didn’t miss anything worth enduring that for.”

  Kanan’s eyes averted to the side for a moment. The boys had done fine without him as they’d managed before. “I suppose.”

  “Where’s Thana?” Keiran asked, eager to both avoid getting into it with Kanan further and to see his wife again.

  “Where she always goes when she’s worried about you.” Kanan tipped his head toward the stables. “I’ll assume you don’t want me to go find one of your grooms to come take Porter for you?”

  “No, I can handle this one. Thank you, Kanan.” Keiran gave him a wry smile and nodded before turning and leading his horse toward the stable.

  Thana was inside, wrapped in one of Keiran’s cloaks. She had Quinrah out of his stall, and she stood grooming him. Since she’d found out she was pregnant, she hadn’t ridden. Now that the baby had been born, she yearned to get back in the saddle, but the weather wasn’t cooperating. At least she could still see her horse and brush him out.

  “The industrious queen, getting white horse hair on my cloak.”

  Thana spun around, seeing Keiran entering the stable. She dropped the brush from her hand and jogged toward him.

  He let go of Porter’s reins and put his arms around her tightly, closing his eyes. “Miss me?”

  “Terribly,” she whispered before meeting him in a kiss.

  When she pulled away, Keiran checked her over. “How are you? How is Zach?”

  “I’m all right, just a little cold out here,” she admitted. “As for your son, he’s fine. Corina is watching him while he’s napping. I took the chance to come out here to take care of my other charge.”

  Seeing Danier’s former horse standing there brought up thoughts about the general, but this wasn’t the time to delve into it. He looked at her again. “I’ll make quick work of getting Porter put up, then we can go inside and warm up.”

  Thana’s cheeks burned, not knowing if that was meant euphemistically or not. “Warm up, you say?”

  Keiran caught her expression and the left side of his mouth quirked upward.

  * * *

  Keiran sat with Thana pressed against his side in their large heated bathing pool. Not much in the way of conversation had taken place between them since they’d come inside.

  Now, satisfied, warm, and clean he smiled down at her. �
�You managed to hold things together while I was away?”

  She gave a lax nod against his shoulder. “It’s a challenge to burn down a stone building. Did you have any trouble on your trip?”

  “Well, Kayla is home, so it was successful. We did have a small run in with Athan along the way. I managed to hurt him this time, though.” Keiran started to smile with pride, but it was cut short when he saw Thana’s expression fall at the mention of his name. “What?”

  “I’m afraid I had my own encounter with Athan.” She shook her head and sat up. “He came here looking for Baden.”

  Keiran shifted around to kneel before her, putting his hands on her shoulders, anger threatening to make them shake otherwise. “Did he hurt you?”

  “Scared me, caused me to fall, but no permanent physical damage. That’s why my knees are all scraped up,” she said. She could feel Keiran’s immediate agitation, but didn’t want him getting too wound up. “Obviously, he found you afterward. He was able to see into my mind to find out where you’d headed. I wasn’t strong enough to stop him.”

  “It’s not your fault.” He tensed his jaw, stirring rage forcing his fangs downward. Knowing Athan had visited her sparked plenty of emotion. “If only my aim had been better, I could have killed that bastard and ended all of this.”

  Thana placed her hand in the middle of his chest, getting a glimpse of his fangs. “There’s nothing to be done about it now. You’re home. You need to relax.”

  He grunted and moved to sit beside her again, water sloshing around them as he did so. “I was relaxed until I heard that. The thought of him here when I’m not around to do anything about it…”

  “Is a risk you will have to take if you leave, Keir.” Thana forced up a smile. “He’s always come and gone as he pleased, you have no means of predicting or stopping it. Remember, he even visited me when we were on our way home from the Sador Empire together. If he wants to see someone, he simply will.”

  “I still don’t have to like it,” he said, trying to let go of his anger enough for his fangs to retreat. “For all the heightened numbers of guards Kanan has put on duty, nothing stops Athan.”