Darren grinned.
“He’s set to check the training grounds after the kennels, so you’ve bought yourself a half hour before he returns.”
“Thanks, Benny.”
The cook nodded and Darren led me through the back of the servants’ hall to the fourth floor of the palace.
“Did you want to see the Council of Magic’s chamber?”
“Of course I do!” I couldn’t contain my squeal. The room was off limits to everyone but the Crown and the Colored Robes.
Darren tugged me along to a narrow corridor at the right, and then up another flight of stairs past stained glass windows and powerful tapestries of previous kings. We must have walked another ten minutes before we finally reached an elaborate set of doors, stained black with metal engravings that stated, “Council of Magic: Official Chambers” and then in smaller writing, “Do not interrupt. Meetings are by appointment only. Please see Artemis to schedule.”
“Who’s Artemis?”
“One of the palace scribes. She’s not a particularly cheerful woman. I wouldn’t recommend sitting next to her at any of the dinners if you can help it.” He swung the door and then froze.
I collided with his back just as someone screeched.
“You have no right to enter this chamber! What are your names? Explain yourself at once!”
Darren’s face lost all of its color, and I peeked over his shoulder. Three Colored Robes and King Lucius, along with a group of what look liked the king’s advisors stood around a map of Jerar and its surrounding territories. Two guards strode forward and Darren swore under his breath. “Run.”
The two of us took off, racing down the hall, ducking into random passages as Darren led us on in a mad dash to avoid the two guards chasing us. Darren kept changing stairwells and halls so quickly I lost track of where we were.
“Almost—just a little bit further!” Darren turned down a wider hall than the rest. Gold, real gold sconces lit the passage and there was a lush rug padding our steps. I followed, clutching my ribs—I had forgotten how much faster Darren could run; my heart felt like it was about to explode from my racing pulse.
“In here!” The prince turned a key and then yanked me into the room behind him. He threw off his cloak and the wig and tossed them into a trunk at the foot of the bed. At that same moment, there was a loud knock on the door. The guards had arrived.
I ducked behind the doorframe and Darren swung open the handle with a bored expression.
“Your Highness.”
“What is it?”
“I’m so sorry to disturb you, Your Highness, but we think an elderly lady and a young woman might have passed by here. We just want to make sure that you didn’t see them.”
“An old woman and her granddaughter?” Darren spoke a little too loudly. “You must have been nipping at Cook’s wine, Torrance. No one has been anywhere near this hall but me.”
“My apologies, Your Highness, we were on orders to check all the rooms.”
“The only one with a key to this chamber is myself—and, of course, Father.”
One of the guards muttered something unintelligible and then cleared his throat. “Of course, Your Highness, please excuse me for the error. You said you never saw them?”
“I didn’t. But if I do, I will be sure to send word.”
“Yes, if you do, please let us know.”
Darren leaned against the doorway and folded his arms. “Tell me, Torrance, what did you think?”
“The old woman? It’s hard to say who she was.”
“Didn’t you say there were two of them? What was the younger one like?” I couldn’t see Darren’s expression, but I could tell from his tone that he was grinning. If I’d been standing closer, I would have kicked him. What is he thinking?
“I’m sorry, Your Highness, I—”
“I’ll bet she was pretty.” I could practically hear his laughter. “Did you think she was pretty, Torrance?”
“I’m not sure. I barely caught a glimpse, Your Highness.”
Darren sighed. “That is all, you may go. And you too, Cyrus.”
As soon as Darren had shut the door, I glared at him, arms crossed. “Are you mad?”
His eyes danced. “I’m allowed to have a little fun at your expense, Ryiah.”
“If they find out it was me—”
“They won’t.” The prince took a step forward, still smiling.
“But…” I never got to finish my thought. Darren’s mouth was on mine, and all protests were lost in the blink of an eye.
And then we were on fire.
I broke for air, gasping. My heart was racing, my legs were shaking, my head was spinning, and I couldn’t think. I couldn’t—
Darren’s hand grazed my waist as he pulled me back to him. “Ryiah,” he said.
The two of us stumbled across his chambers. Behind me I heard the thud of something loud. Books falling to the floor?
Darren pressed me against his bedside table and kissed me again, slowly, one hand cradling the back of my neck. Unable to stop, I slid my hand under his shirt and felt him swallow. His chest was hard with smooth ridges and curves against the lean muscle. I trembled. I wanted to run my fingers along every inch of him, and it scared me how badly I wanted to do it now.
Darren’s hand ran down my ribs, my waist, my thigh, and then hooked up under my knee. I had to bite my lip as he pulled me even closer, not caring that the hem of my dress was riding dangerously high. Every part of me was burning hotter and hotter, and I knew we should stop, but I couldn’t bring myself to move even if I wanted to because, gods, Darren’s hands were on my skin and in my hair and my entire body was aflame.
His breathing wasn’t so steady either. His mouth fell to my shoulder and a whimper escaped my lips. Was that really me? I started to pull away, embarrassed, but Darren took my chin and kissed me hard, biting the bottom of my lip until I gasped.
My nails dug into his shoulders, and I kissed him back, melting and burning and unable to keep my hands to myself. Gods, I was losing myself in what it felt like to be near him. Darren was dangerous, driving me to forget everything and everyone but this moment, and I didn’t ever want it to end.
Any semblance of control was broken. The prince choked my name, picking me up and throwing me onto his bed. Soft pillows feathered my fall. Darren’s face was flushed and his eyes were wild as he pushed my wrists up against the frame.
I held my breath, my eyes locked on the two dark smoldering stars bearing down on me.
“You have no idea what it is I want to do to you,” he whispered.
The only sound in the entire room was the frantic beating of my heart slamming against my chest until I was sure it would break.
And then there was a loud knock on the door.
“Open up, brother, I know you are in there. The guards saw you.”
The two of us jumped. Darren practically fell from his bed as I darted to a corner of the room, the two of us in a mad panic.
Darren motioned for me to hide behind one of the heavy brocade curtains hanging at the opposite end of the room. Then he cleared his throat loudly and made his way to the door, cracking it open only a smidge to glare at his brother on the other side.
“What do you want, Blayne?”
“I have been looking all over for you. Father expected you to report to him as soon as you arrived.”
“I was busy.”
“Busy?” Blayne’s tone was instantly suspicious. “Doing what? Avoiding your duties to the Crown? Priscilla said she hasn’t seen you all day. This better not be about that lowborn, brother. I have no more patience for whatever silly infatuation you’ve got parading around in that thick skull of yours.”
The prince stiffened. “Ryiah is not lowborn anymore, and even if she were—”
Blayne ignored him and rattled on. “What you need is a good lay, Darren. I’ve seen how that redhead looks at you. Tell her whatever she needs to hear, and the rest will take care of itself. Then you c
an get back to what’s important, like your role in this kingdom—or have you been training so long as a mage that you forgot you were also a prince?”
Darren’s knuckles on the door’s handle whitened. “I know my role,” he said shortly, “and where my duties lie. I will report to Father within the hour.”
“Well, see to it that you do,” Blayne snapped. “I can’t be the only one who takes my role seriously. What Father sees in you, I will never know.”
Darren slammed the door shut and then waited until his brother was out of hearing distance before he turned to me. “I’m sorry you had to hear that.”
I stepped out of the curtain, sick to my stomach. Even without the knowledge I’d been present, Blayne had still managed to make me feel worthless. “Tell her whatever she needs to hear, and the rest will take care of itself.” His words made me realize how close Darren and I had come to fulfilling his twisted prophecy.
This time when the prince took a step toward me, I flinched. Darren’s shrewd gaze missed nothing.
“You are upset.”
“I-I’m not upset,” I stammered. “I j-just didn’t think things would h-happen s-so fast.”
Fury darkened the prince’s face. “I would never ask you to do anything you didn’t want to, Ryiah. I’m not my brother. I would never try what he and Ella—”
“I-it’s not that.” I was stuttering, and I knew my cheeks were now as red as my scarlet-red locks. “But...”
“But you can’t stop thinking about what my brother said.”
I couldn’t look at him.
A hand entered my vision and tipped my face. Darren’s eyes met mine, and there was a grim smile on his face. “Blayne’s wrong,” he promised quietly. “I love you, Ryiah. Nothing is going to change that.”
14
With my best impression of nonchalance, I exited the castle’s formal ascension chambers and followed the remaining throng of apprentices into the grand ballroom. Everyone was chattering on in excited voices. Even the ornate torches seemed to reflect the evening’s enthusiasm, flickering wildly along the hall and dancing off the many-colored windowpanes surrounding it. The orchestra was already playing an upbeat march and the heralds were having particular fun announcing the newly graduated mages to the awaiting crowd of nobility.
I scanned the mass for the one apprentice who had been noticeably absent throughout the entire ceremony. For the past week, I’d barely slept, tossing and turning, dreaming of that moment Darren finally appeared and put all my fears to rest. Five days had never passed as slowly as they had the past week.
“Ryiah, would you like to grab something to drink?”
I started, drawn out of my thoughts by my best friend’s question. She and Alex had appeared at my side while I’d been too busy searching the crowd.
“Ella,” my brother’s response was filled with irony, “can’t you see? She’s waiting for him.”
I glared at Alex. “You don’t need to be so cruel.”
My brother made a frustrated noise. “You don’t need to be so naïve.”
“Like all those girls you courted before Ella?” I stood my ground. I would not let his doubt get to me. Not tonight. “Darren’s not a hopeless flirt like you!”
“Ry, Alex, stop it!” Ella shoved herself between us and then scolded my brother. “Alex, your sister is old enough to make decisions for herself. The least you can do is support her.”
My brother stared at her incredulously. “Don’t pretend to agree with her, El. You told me last night—”
“It doesn’t matter what we think.” She glowered. “We are here for her, and we’ll support her because that’s what—”
I never got to catch the rest of her reply. The royal herald had just announced the arrival of the Crown.
“King Lucius and his royal highness, Prince Blayne.”
The king and his eldest son entered, their icy blue eyes spawning a sudden chill as they made their way to the front of the room. They bore matching blood-red cloaks and tight-fitted brocade that highlighted their health as well as the golden thread and gems that lined their heavy, chained fastenings. The room went silent in their approach—although it hardly seemed possible from the heavy pounding in my ears.
I watched as they settled into their chairs, waiting.
There was an odd moment where everything was still, and then the herald continued.
“Prince Darren, second-in-line to the throne.”
I started toward the front, eager to catch a better glimpse.
“And his betrothed, Lady Priscilla of Langli.”
The loud clang of metal brought the eyes of everyone—including him—to me. I stood frozen in place, pale and unmoving as ice, while a red-faced servant bent to pick up his serving platter from the hard marble floor. It had been unceremoniously knocked from his arms just moments before.
I didn’t hear the loud gasps coming from the crowd around me. I barely noticed the red stains that now covered the hem of my blossoming skirts. My eyes were glued to the indifferent prince staring back at me.
He was still betrothed?
What about us?
Why was he looking at me like that?
Like I was nothing. No one.
Like that moment in the Caltothian forest had never happened. Like this was all a mistake.
Two pairs of hands took hold of my arms and gently led me to the back of the room, out of the attention of others, while I watched the dark-haired stranger and his lady resume their procession.
“Ryiah?”
I watched as the young man took his seat beside the king and his heir, with Priscilla close by. Not once did the stranger’s gaze stray from her face, nor did he hesitate to kiss her hand and laugh easily at something a nearby courtier said in response to the lady’s question.
“Ry, if you want to retire early, I’d be happy to join you.” Ella’s voice was strangely muted, like she was speaking through glass. Her voice was distorted and muffled, more like one long humming stance than a question.
What is happening? Why was he smiling at her like that? I kept staring, waiting for a break in the façade. Just the barest hint that he wasn’t enjoying himself, that he felt something—anything—other than the nonchalance that was plastered all over his face.
“You should just take her now.” My brother’s hushed whisper seemed even further away. “Before she does something rash.”
His father forced him into this. My breathing became calm, steady. That was it, of course. Darren needed more time to talk the king around. It wasn’t something either of us had prepared for, but we would find a way.
Warmth returned to my limbs, and I found that the numbness in my legs and arms had receded. I hugged my arms to my chest. He loved me. So I would wait. I had already waited three years, what would a little more time be?
“Please excuse me.” My voice caught. I didn’t bother to look to my brother or friend as I pushed my way through to the hall. Faces passed by in a blur, though it was only as I entered my chambers that I realized why.
Tears.
I might be willing to wait, but I could not very well stand by while Priscilla paraded the boy I loved in front of me.
I could not pretend.
I WAITED, counting out the opening and shutting of chamber doors until I was certain the last apprentice had returned from the palace’s late night ball. I waited for an additional toll from the great bell tower and then stealthily exited my chambers, careful not to slam the door and draw the attention of any loitering servants or guards posted nearby. Most were too busy cleaning up after the feast to notice, but one could never be too careful.
I drew my cloak close and passed the women’s hall, continuing on past the men’s and then finally up the many flights of stairs and twisting corridors—retracing my steps once or twice—in an effort to locate Darren’s chambers.
“Excuse me, miss, no one can pass this point without an official summons.” Just as I reached the final hall, I found two guards b
locking its entrance. The one who had spoken was eyeing me with a skeptical expression and the other was tapping his scabbard. Tick. Tick. Tick. Neither looked particularly willing to let me pass.
I’d been expecting as much. I let the hood fall from my face so that they would recognize me as one of the apprentices. “Please, if you could tell Prince Darren it’s Apprentice Ryiah. I am sure he will make an exception.”
The first guard yawned loudly. “Lady Ryiah, if we interrupted the Crown for every person seeking audience, we would be out of a job.”
“Yes, but I’m not—”
“Let her in, Sirus. I can vouch for this one personally.”
Every hair on my neck stood on end. I knew that slick voice like the back of my hand. Blayne. Bells of alarm rang out loudly in my ears, but I tried not to let the panic show in my face. Why was he coming to my aid? He hated me.
Something was wrong.
The guards lowered their weapons and stepped to the side as the heir to Jerar escorted me forward. I tried not to flinch as he tugged me along, a deep sense of foreboding consumed me as we reached Darren’s chamber. The last time the two of us had crossed paths, Blayne had made it perfectly clear what he thought of the lowborn girl who shared a friendship with his brother. And then I’d attacked him. Even if Darren had informed his brother of his intentions, I highly doubted Blayne had forgiven me for that.
I hesitated at the door, wondering if Blayne planned to witness my confrontation with his brother.
“Go on. Knock.” The words came out silky and dangerous, with a hint of disgust that was fully evident now that we were past the guards’ hearing. I chanced a glance at Blayne’s face and saw the malignant curve of his lips.
Rapping twice against the dark wood, I waited, my stomach in knots. I heard the soft pad of boots against carpet, and then the door swung open to reveal Darren, half dressed in dark breeches and a loose cotton shirt. Dark bangs fell to the side of his face—but it wasn’t enough to shield the guilt that flared in his eyes for just a moment before quickly melding into cool indifference.
The Black Mage: Complete Series Page 43