With one last squeeze, Mia stepped back. “Darius and Tatiana are on their way. Please, Jackson…” She clasped her hands to her chest. “Please, be lenient. Don’t let anger force you into an irreversible decision. Please.”
A hushed whisper from the corridor interrupted her. She moved to Ryleigh’s side, clutched her hand, and waited.
Darius and Tatiana entered.
Lucas walked between them. Shackles bound his wrists.
Oh, no. It couldn’t be possible.
Jackson gasped.
There had to be a mistake.
He ripped his sword free.
“Jackson, stop.” Ryleigh grabbed his arm.
He shook her off.
“No, Jackson, please listen to me.”
He strode toward Lucas.
Lucas stood straight, head lowered.
“Jackson.” Mia jumped in front of Jackson and pressed her hands against his chest. “Wait.”
Ryleigh tried to drag him back, gain some kind of control before the situation escalated any further. “Do something, Darius.”
Darius put his arm around Ryleigh’s shoulder and gripped Mia’s wrist. He pulled them back gently.
“What are you doing?” Ryleigh screamed.
Mia fought. “Jackson Maynard. You listen to me right now.”
He ignored her.
Darius wrapped his arm around her waist and yanked her back against him. He tried to wrestle her out of the room, but she struggled against him.
He released his hold on Ryleigh to restrain Mia.
Ryleigh launched herself at Jackson. She grabbed his arm with both hands. Sheer desperation maintained her hold.
“Jackson,” she whispered urgently against his ear, desperate to make him listen. “You don’t know what happened yet. Stop. Calm down.”
He yanked his arm away. “Take Mia out of here.”
“No.”
“You don’t understand our customs or our laws yet. Take your sister and go. Now.”
She stepped in front of Lucas. “Not happening. I’m not leaving. You make the laws now, Jackson. You set the customs. Will you really condemn a man to death without even offering him the opportunity to defend himself? What if your father had stood on tradition when you failed to claim me? What if he hadn’t had the nerve to stand up to Kai, or the faith in you to give you a chance? Have you forgotten you were once called a traitor too? That you were once charged with the same crimes Lucas now stands accused of?”
She stood directly in his path, arms folded across her chest. “If executing a man who’s not even been offered the opportunity to defend himself sits right with you, have at it.”
She stepped aside, leaving him a clear path to Lucas.
“But I will stand right here. At your side. So know your decision is not only one you have to live with but one you are forcing me to live with as well.”
Mia shrugged off Darius’s hold and ran to Ryleigh. She stood tall, arms at her sides beside her. “Me too. Elijah trusted me to take his place. He trusted me to advise you. Yet you don’t even have the faith in me to listen to what I’m saying. Will you allow me the opportunity to do as Elijah instructed?”
Ryleigh kept her feet firmly planted on the floor, refusing to give in to the urge to go to him. This was a decision he had to come to on his own. But whatever decision he made, Ryleigh would support. After Lucas had his chance to explain. Probably.
Jackson’s harsh, ragged breaths beat back the silence.
Her heart broke for him. For everyone involved. What would happen to Kiara? She and Lucas were mated. Ryleigh remembered too well the pain she suffered at Jackson’s loss. How could Kiara be asked to endure that pain for eternity? Her thoughts plowed to a stop.
Could Kiara have known? Could she be involved? For the first time, Ryleigh understood the depth of betrayal Jackson must be battling.
What would happen to Sadie if her father, or even worse, her father and mother, were condemned to death.
Her chest constricted, as if a giant vice had squeezed her heart. She couldn’t do this. She shoved the thoughts aside. It was either that or go crazy chasing what-ifs.
“Your Majesty?” Tatiana still stood at Lucas’s side. As head of the Disciplinary Council, Lucas’s fate should ultimately fall to her.
Jackson’s barely leashed temper made Ryleigh doubt she’d ever get the chance.
“Bring the prisoner to me.”
“Jackson.” Tatiana’s voice held a note of warning that surprised Ryleigh. Not too many people could have gotten away with using that tone with Jackson. Tatiana wouldn’t have, either, if they weren’t such good friends.
“I said, bring. Him. To. Me.”
She huffed out a breath but complied. With a hand on his arm, she walked forward.
Lucas walked calmly beside her. When he stood directly in front of Jackson, he stopped.
“That will be all, thank you, Tatiana.”
She opened her mouth to speak.
Jackson’s glare stopped her short.
She stepped away and stood beside Darius, hands clasped in front of her.
Jackson took a few deep breaths. “You are accused of treason. How do you plead?”
Lucas looked him straight in the eye. “Guilty, Your Majesty.”
* * * *
Jackson struggled for control. He tried to ignore Ryleigh and Mia.
Darius and Tatiana would understand the need for swift justice. At least, he thought they would. Darius’s expression remained annoyingly neutral.
Tatiana’s arms were folded across her chest, the mirror image of Ryleigh who stood across the room from her. Just what he needed while he tried to get a grip on himself. Three women ganging up on him, and Darius choosing that moment to stay out of it.
The man had had an opinion on everything for as long as Jackson could remember, and suddenly he had nothing to say.
The tapping of Tatiana’s foot against the stone floor was about to drive him mad.
Fine. He’d give the traitor one chance to explain. After that, all bets were off. They could all just get over it. If Jackson was the only one strong enough to mete out justice, so be it. “Guilty?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Lucas stood with his hands shackled in front of him. He stared at a spot somewhere near Jackson’s feet.
“Is that it?”
“Yes, sir.”
Ryleigh always told him counting to ten before lashing out would help him control his temper. He didn’t get past two. “Dammit, man. Do you have an explanation?”
“No, sir.”
It wasn’t Jackson’s fault if Lucas wouldn’t defend himself. He hefted his sword. “Very well. You are hereby con—”
“Lucas?” Kiara ran into the kitchen, then stopped. “W-what’s going on here?”
Lucas squeezed his eyes closed but remained silent.
Ryleigh ran to Kiara. She slung an arm around her shoulder and huddled close. He couldn’t make out her urgent whispers.
Mia’s smirk gave her away. She must have sent for Kiara before she came to him.
He’d give her points for trying, but he’d have to have a talk with her about using her tactics against him. He expected complete honesty from his advisors at all times. He shot her a we’ll-talk-about-this-later look. Hopefully, she’d get the hint.
Mia rolled her eyes. Yup, she got it.
“Jackson?” Kiara’s sob tore his attention from Mia.
She had every right to know what a traitor her husband was, but Jackson cared for Kiara. He didn’t have it in him to hurt her. He sheathed his sword. Lucas’s punishment could wait a few more minutes. Surely he could control his temper a little while longer for the woman who’d tried so hard to save his father, who’d tended him with such love and compassion when he lay on his death bed. Who’d sobbed at his side when she lost him.
“Tell me you don’t believe this nonsense, Jackson.” She propped her hands
on her hips and stared him down.
“Why don’t I let you have a few minutes with Lucas?” He couldn’t leave them alone and risk Lucas fleeing through a portal, but they could move farther away and give them some semblance of privacy.
She glared at him another moment, then turned to Lucas. “Lucas? Don’t make me ask again.”
He remained silent, his gaze firmly locked on the floor in front of his feet, his mind… Who knew where.
She went to him, lifted his chin, forcing him to look at her. She cradled his shackled hands in hers. “Please, Lucas. Whatever happened, we can work it out. I’ll stand by your side forever, but please tell me what’s going on. Ryleigh said you’ve been accused of conspiring with Chayce. That has to be a mistake. Right?”
The pained expression that crossed his face almost brought an instant of pity. Almost.
“Right?”
He remained silent another moment, and Jackson thought for sure he wasn’t going to answer. Then he sucked in a deep breath. “I’m sorry, Kiara.”
“Nooo!” She yanked her hands back and hugged herself, rubbing her hands up and down her arms. “You are the most loyal man I know. I won’t believe this. Not for one minute will I believe you betrayed your kingdom. Or your friend.”
She shot Jackson a glare.
Enough of this. He couldn’t stand there and watch her suffer like this. “Kiara, please. We’ll give you a moment to say your good-byes, but that’s it.”
Some kind of half scream, half sob erupted from her, and she fell to her knees. She lowered her face into her hands and cried.
Ryleigh and Mia each took an arm and helped her to her feet.
“You can’t do this, Jackson. I won’t allow it.” She spun on Lucas. “Lucas. You tell me what they are talking about right this minute.”
“Please, Kiara. I can’t. Go now.” He turned away from her.
Ryleigh tried to guide her toward the door.
“And what do I tell your daughter, Lucas?” she screamed and ripped her arm from Ryleigh’s grip. “What do I tell Sadie about her father when the other kids give her a hard time because he was a traitor? When she’s alienated because her father betrayed his kingdom?”
He spun back to her. “Tell her I loved her with all of my heart and did what I had to do to protect her,” he yelled, his voice hoarse. He shook his hands, rattling the chains holding the shackles. “Tell her I sacrificed my life to keep her safe. To keep you safe.”
Kiara ran to him. She cradled his cheeks, forcing him to look at her. With her voice utterly calm, she issued a command. “Tell me.”
He pressed his forehead against hers. “I am so sorry, Kiara.”
“Then it’s true? What they’re saying is true?”
“Yes.” The harsh whisper barely made a sound. If the chamber hadn’t been dead silent, it never would have carried to Jackson standing only a few feet away.
“Kiara.” Jackson took a tentative step toward her. “We offered him the chance to explain, but he refused.”
Okay, that wasn’t exactly true. Jackson had tried to execute him on the spot, but Ryleigh and Mia had forced him to slow down and give him a chance to explain. So it was sort of the same thing. “I’m willing to listen if you can get him to talk.”
At least that much was completely true. Now the immediate shock and anger had worn off a little, he wanted, no, needed, an explanation. If Lucas could be talked into betraying his kingdom, anyone could. “Please, Lucas, tell me what happened.”
“I’m not shirking my responsibility, nor am I asking for lenience. I pled guilty to treason, and I’m fully prepared to accept the consequences of my actions.”
Jackson nodded but remained silent, hoping he’d offer some kind of explanation. Lucas was not only one of his most trusted soldiers, on track for a command position, but he was a good friend. Family really. Jackson was desperate for some explanation that didn’t involve Lucas’s betrayal.
“I wouldn’t have said anything if not for Kiara. I owe her an explanation, Jackson, so unless you’ll leave us alone together for a few minutes…”
“I can’t, Lucas. You know that.”
“Yeah. I figured.” He sucked in a shaky breath and turned to his mate. He took her hands in his, rubbing his thumb back and forth over hers.
How could a man capable of such tenderness have committed the crime he’d been accused of?
“I love you Kiara, more than life. I pledged to be yours, to care for you for eternity. And I would have done almost anything to keep you safe. But I would not have betrayed my kingdom to save you. As much as I love you, with everything in my being, I knew you’d never forgive me for that. And I could never go to my death knowing you wouldn’t forgive me.”
Kiara cried softly, but she only gripped Lucas’s hands tighter, her knuckles white.
“Chayce came to me. I pulled my sword, fully ready to execute him on the spot, fully committed to fulfilling my duty.” A tremor tore through him. “But he had something with him. A creature I can’t explain. It seemed to be made of smoke.”
Jackson choked on the memory of that thing inside him. And the thought he’d almost killed a man without granting him the opportunity to defend himself.
“I can’t explain it, Kiara, but it felt like it was inside me. Choking me.” His breath hitched. “It searched my memories. No matter how hard I fought, it…invaded my mind. It stole knowledge. About you. About Sadie. Where she was, where she’d be. The things she liked to do.”
He tried to look away.
Kiara cupped his cheek and brought his gaze back to hers.
“Chayce asked me to have someone deliver a scroll to Elijah. I didn’t ask any questions, even though I knew it had to be a ploy.” His face reddened. “Elijah is dead because of me. Our kingdom is in ruins because of me. And my daughter is still alive.”
Ryleigh started forward, but Mia held her back.
Lucas shook his head. “If I had it to do again, I don’t know if I’d make the same choice. Maybe. But knowing what I know now, I just don’t know.” He turned to Jackson. “I’m sorry, Jackson. If not for Sadie, I would have come straight to you. But I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t take the chance she wouldn’t be protected. The thought of that thing creeping into my daughter’s head, searching through her thoughts, manipulating her.”
Rage continued to build in Jackson, but its focus had changed. Thaddeus controlled those things. Just as Thaddeus had controlled Chayce.
Lucas’s breath came out in sharp gasps. His fists clenched. “Chayce knows too much already, and with the knowledge he stole from me… I’m sorry, Jackson. I just didn’t trust you could keep her safe.” He looked him straight in the eye. “There is no need for a trial. I won’t force anyone to hold responsibility for sentencing me. I plead guilty to treason knowing full well the sentence for treason is death. It’s a sacrifice I make freely, and I can only hope my decisions saved my daughter. I accept full responsibility for my choices. I can’t ask you to understand my choices. But you are my friend, and I would like your forgiveness.”
Ryleigh laid a hand on Jackson’s arm.
He shrugged it off. He couldn’t bear the thought of her sympathy. “Are there still guards in the castle?”
Darius stepped forward. “There are a few outside the door.”
“Very well. Send for them.”
He nodded and went to the door.
“Lucas.” What could he say? This man had been a loyal friend for most of Jackson’s life. But he hadn’t trusted him, and that cut deep. Jackson would have died defending Sadie.
Understanding shot through him.
Truth was, him dying still might not have kept her safe. Maybe some of the betrayal he’d suffered had been his own fault. He hadn’t done enough to make his people feel safe, hadn’t been able to protect them. His people were afraid. People made poor choices out of fear, did things they might not otherwise have done if not backed into a corner.<
br />
He needed time to think. “I’m placing you in custody, for now.”
Two guards took up positions on either side of him.
“Take him to his room and stay with him. Do not leave him alone for a minute.”
They nodded and turned away.
Kiara followed.
At this moment, the child Lucas had sacrificed his life for sat in an unknown realm, without either of her parents, protected by strangers. “Lucas?”
He looked back.
“I know you probably heard, but in case you didn’t, Chayce is dead. No matter what happens, he poses no further threat to Sadie.” He could at least give the man that much. Of course, a bigger threat might still hover over them in Thaddeus.
“Thank you, Your Majesty.” The chains clanked as he lowered himself to one knee and bowed. Then, shoulders slumped, he trudged out the door between the two guards.
Everyone else followed behind them.
Lucas’s fate would not be an easy decision, and he’d have to allow Ryleigh and Tatiana a say. Maybe even Mia. But not just yet. He wasn’t yet ready to defend his decision. Hell, he didn’t even know what his decision was. He did know he had to find his people, though. And destroy Thaddeus and those damned smoke creatures.
He couldn’t ride to Argonas short one Death Dealer. He had to replace Vaughn until he was able to ride again. But Lucas’s betrayal rattled him. If he couldn’t trust Lucas, who could he trust?
He caught Darius on his way out the door. “Darius, send for Noah White.”
Noah had proven his loyalty time and time again. Even when he’d still been a prisoner and had every reason to hate Jackson and want him dead, he’d come to Jackson when Chayce had approached him and asked him to betray Jackson. Granted he hadn’t told him the truth in time, but at least he’d let him know there was a traitor, even though he’d tried to bargain for his freedom in exchange for the information. Jackson couldn’t blame him for that. He’d have done the same thing. Besides, Jackson had been positive at the time that Noah would have given the information if Chayce hadn’t interrupted them. Noah had later confirmed that suspicion.
Even though he’d loved Ryleigh, still did if the look on his face when he watched her was any indication, he’d still ridden with Ranger to Argonas and braved the tunnels to save Jackson from the torture chamber, despite his feelings for Ryleigh. Or maybe because of his feelings for Ryleigh. Who knew? In the end, it didn’t matter. What mattered was giving Ranger a partner he could be sure would have his back.
Battle for Cymmera Page 18