by Tina Folsom
Abel froze, his gaze locked on Cain. His chin dropped, his chest heaved, and for a moment nobody spoke.
“Cain.” The greeting was issued on a shaky breath and wrapped in disbelief. Abel took one hesitant step toward him. “But . . . we believed you were dead.” He blinked, seemingly composing himself. “Brother!”
Abel closed the distance between them. Instantly Thomas and Haven were by Cain’s side, ready to interfere if need be. Cain motioned them to stand down.
Abel glanced at the two then looked back at Cain. “Oh God, we missed you!” He opened his arms and pulled Cain into a hug.
Cain remained stiff until Abel finally stepped back and released him. “Abel,” he greeted him coolly.
“What happened to you?” Abel asked. “We all thought you’d been killed. Heck, there was evidence!”
Cain nodded. “I know. I killed one of the assassins, but the others took me prisoner and made it look like I was dead.”
His brother’s eyes widened. “Prisoner? Who took you? What did they do to you?” He eyed Haven and Thomas suspiciously, before his gaze fell onto Wesley. Abel inhaled visibly. “What the—”
Cain raised his hand. This was getting old pretty quickly. “They’re all with me.” He pointed to his friends, introducing them. “These are Thomas, Haven, and Wesley. All three were instrumental in my escape from that hole where they kept me and tortured me. Without Wesley’s magic I would have never survived. Nobody harms the witch.”
The lies rolled off his lips like water down a fast flowing stream. Emphasizing Wesley’s witchcraft and making him seem more powerful than he was had been Haven’s idea. It would make sure the vampires wouldn’t want to cross him and draw the witch’s wrath on them.
Abel inclined his head toward the men from Scanguards. “I’m grateful to you for bringing my brother home. Consider yourselves our guests.”
“They’re not guests, they’re my guards,” Cain corrected his brother with a firm voice. To reestablish his rule, he had to make sure Abel knew who wielded the power. He couldn’t show any weakness, not even for a second.
A perplexed expression spread on Abel’s face. “But you have your guards here.” He pointed to the men who’d brought him to the palace. “Surely you can’t possibly want to have strangers guard you.”
Cain narrowed his eyes. “The king’s guards guarded me before, and look what happened: I was kidnapped under their watch. I hope you don’t mind, my dear brother, that I’ve picked new guards to protect me.” He stared his brother down, leaving him with no doubt that his words weren’t meant to ask for permission, but to issue an order he expected to be followed without questioning.
“As you wish,” Abel finally said.
“Good, then . . .” Cain stopped himself.
A scent suddenly drifted to him. It was subtle, but nevertheless caused his heart to beat erratically. His entire body reacted to it because, unlike his mind, his body recognized the scent. He felt it in every cell of his being.
Slowly Cain lifted his eyes to the top of the stairs, drawn to where she stood. Faye wore a colorful cotton dress with a pattern consisting of tropical flowers in various green, blue, and pink tones. The fabric hugged her generous bust and widened past her wasp-like waist to make room for her hips and the bare long legs that became visible just below her knees. Her toes peeked out from her high-heeled sandals. He couldn’t tell whether she wore a bra or whether her breasts were naturally firm to give them such an appealing shape. Though if he could trust his dreams, he had his answer: in his hands her breasts had had the perfect combination of softness and firmness.
Swallowing away the lust that instantly surfaced, Cain forced himself to remain standing where he was. Instead, he brought his gaze back to her face, where her eyes stared at him as if he were a ghost. Her lips parted, and even from where he stood he could see how her chest rose to take in a breath.
Faye was even more breathtakingly beautiful than she’d been in his dreams. Combined with her scent that now wrapped around him like a cocoon, he didn’t know how any man, vampire or not, would have any chance resisting her. Just looking at her he was lost. If he walked to her now, his lips would utter a confession he couldn’t dare make. Nobody was allowed to find out that he suffered from amnesia. Not even Faye.
So he suppressed the urge to run up the stairs and sweep her into his arms. He couldn’t allow himself to do that. Certainly not in front of Abel. She was engaged to Abel now, and until he had a chance to speak to Faye in private to get a sense for her feelings for his brother he couldn’t show any of the palace’s residents what he felt. He had to continue the charade and play the strong king who wouldn’t lose his composure. John had told him on the plane ride here that he’d never been one to show his emotions in public. If he did so now, the vampires watching him would find it odd and become suspicious. And he couldn’t give them or Abel any reason to believe that he’d changed or that he wasn’t who he was pretending to be.
He ran one last look over Faye, before he nodded to her stiffly. “Faye. It’s good to see you.”
The casual words made his heart clench. Would she understand that for so many reasons he couldn’t be more affectionate at this moment?
He’d loved this woman once. Not only had John told him so, but Cain had felt it in his dreams. Did she still love him? Or had the year that they’d been apart widened the gap between them too far to bring them back together? Looking at her now, knowing that she wasn’t merely a figment of his imagination, he had no doubt that he could fall in love with her all over again.
13
“Cain,” Faye murmured so quietly that he probably didn’t even hear her.
Like a mirage he stood there in the entrance hall, several of the guards around him, three strangers by his side. But she had no eyes for anybody but Cain.
He was alive.
She couldn’t believe her eyes and blinked, but when she opened them again, he was still there, still standing in the entrance hall of the palace as if he’d never left. His scent drifted to her, confirming that he wasn’t simply a lookalike, but the real thing: Cain, her king and her lover.
His greeting echoed in her mind again. Faye, it’s good to see you.
The words seemed so distant, so unreal. As if they weren’t his. As if he were greeting a stranger and not the woman he loved.
What had happened to him?
So many questions invaded her mind, making her dizzy. She didn’t know what to do first, what to ask first, what to say, how to react. All she wanted was to throw herself into his arms and feel his heart beat against hers. Feel his lips kissing her and assuring her that everything would be all right now.
Her feet carried her down the stairs, bringing her closer to the man she’d grieved for and shed tears for every day since he’d gone. A few more steps and she’d be with him again.
“Isn’t it wonderful, Faye? My brother is alive!” Abel’s voice suddenly penetrated her haze.
Faye froze, her feet refusing to take another step.
Oh God! She’d accepted Abel’s proposal not twenty-four hours earlier. Despair slammed into her. Why hadn’t she waited just another day? What would she do now? Her eyes drifted from Cain to Abel. Had Abel already told his brother that his fiancée was now promised to him? Was this why Cain was making no attempt to take her into his arms and kiss her?
Her heart raced, her pulse beating into her throat, robbing her of the ability to speak. She wanted to turn back time, to make everything that had happened in the last twenty-four hours undone. Tears welled up in her eyes. They should be tears of joy, but instead they were tears of regret. Regret of having given up hope too soon. How could she ever forgive herself for that?
“Cain,” Faye whispered again.
She was certain he’d heard her now. His eyes met hers, but she couldn’t read them, couldn’t see the love he’d professed so long ago. Had he stopped loving her?
“What happened?” she heard herself ask.
“I was kidnapped and held captive,” Cain responded, having misunderstood the true meaning of her question.
She didn’t correct him, knowing that this was not the time or place to talk to him about their relationship. Not in front of Abel who was watching them like a hawk.
“We thought you were dead,” she said instead. “We grieved for you.” She purposefully didn’t say I. She couldn’t, knowing she would break down if she revealed the depth of her despair.
“I’m back now.” He motioned to the three strangers. “These three men helped me escape. Meet Thomas, Haven, and Wesley.” His words were as businesslike as if he were talking to a stranger.
Only now did she take in the strange scent emanating from the man he’d introduced as Wesley. She leaned closer. He looked entirely human, but she knew he wasn’t. He was a preternatural creature.
“Wesley is a witch, but he’s not our enemy,” Cain said, having anticipated her question.
She accepted his words silently and nodded.
Cain turned away from her and addressed Abel instead. “My men and I would like to get situated. I need accommodations for them.”
“Of course,” Abel agreed readily. “I suggest the guest suites up on the third floor. They are—”
“Not the guest suites,” Cain interrupted, his voice icy. “The rooms of the king’s personal guards next to my suite.”
“But they’re occupied by your guards,” Abel protested.
Cain pointed to Haven, Thomas, and Wesley. “These are my personal guards now. They’ll be by my side, protecting me.”
Faye noticed how Abel’s mouth set into a thin line, displeased that Cain wasn’t agreeing with his suggestion. “As you wish. I’ll make sure the guards vacate the rooms immediately.”
“Good. Then send John to me. I’d like to speak to him.”
Abel rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m afraid I haven’t seen John.”
Cain raised an eyebrow. “John isn’t the leader of the king’s guard anymore?”
“No, no, he is,” his brother hastened to assure him. “But he disappeared a few days ago. Nobody knows where he is.”
“Find him!” Cain ordered. “Now escort us to my quarters so we may talk in private. We’ve had a long journey and are anxious to get settled in before we begin our investigation.”
“Investigation?” Faye asked in surprise.
Cain turned his head to look at her. “Yes, about which member of this clan ordered my abduction.”
Faye pressed her hand against her chest. “But you must know who kidnapped you. You’re back. You escaped them. You must have some idea.”
“It’s not as simple as that. The people who held me captive were hired by somebody. When I was able to overpower them with the help of my friends here, none of them survived, so I couldn’t question them further.”
Faye shivered involuntarily at the thought of how much danger Cain had been in all this time while she’d lived a life of luxury. “They deserved to die for what they did to you,” she pressed out.
Cain gave a tight nod. “Just as the person behind it deserves the same.”
Without waiting for her reaction, he turned and crossed the entrance hall.
“Are you coming, Abel?” he called over his shoulder.
Abel tossed her an odd look, then swiveled and followed his brother and the three strangers flanking him.
14
Cain marched toward the stairs that led into the underground part of the palace, recalling the drawing John had made for him on the plane so he would be able to find his way around without looking like he didn’t belong here.
Still feeling shaken by the awkward exchange with Faye, Cain pushed away the thoughts of her for the moment. First, he had to concentrate on other things, the most important one being to make it clear to his brother that he would resume his reign with immediate effect.
Subdued light illuminated the corridors in the basement of the building, making it look like he’d stepped into a modern five-star hotel. When the corridor parted in two, one path leading to the left, one to the right, Cain hesitated, trying to find his bearings.
“Something wrong?” Abel asked.
“It feels unreal to be home again,” Cain deflected. “Why don’t you lead my friends to their new accommodations while I take a moment?”
His brother cast him a strange look, but nodded and motioned his friends from Scanguards to follow him down the corridor to the left. Cain let a few seconds pass before he followed them. He knew there would be many moments like these where he’d have to employ a ruse to cover up his amnesia.
When he reached the solid double doors that Abel had opened, Cain peered inside the massive foyer, which looked like the VIP reception area of an exclusive resort. The walls were painted red and adorned with priceless paintings. He recognized a Matisse and a Monet and had no doubt that they were genuine. A flower arrangement dominated the massive table in the middle of the room.
There were three doors.
He watched as Abel pointed to the one on the left and addressed Thomas. “The leader of the king’s guards occupies this room, the second in command the room to the right.”
“And the middle door?” Thomas asked.
Abel’s gaze wandered to where Cain stood. “The king’s suite. But I should let my brother show you around. After all, this is his domain.”
Cain entered. “Later. First, we need to talk about the throne.”
Abel took a step toward the door of the king’s suite, making a motion to open it. Cain stopped him. “With my guards present.”
Abel turned. “Surely, you don’t want to discuss confidential matters in front of your guards.”
“I have no secrets from them. As a matter of fact, I believe that too many secrets may have contributed to my abduction. And I have no intention of letting the same thing happen twice.”
“What are you saying, brother?”
“I’m saying I want things out in the open. I understand that you would have been crowned king in a week, had I not returned. You must be disappointed.”
Abel shook his head, letting out a breath. “Disappointed? Cain, as you remember well, I was disappointed when the clan chose you as the new king instead of me, though we’d planned it otherwise, hadn’t we? Nevertheless, I stood by you and took the role you wanted me to take. Have I not served you well?”
Cain inclined his head, remaining impassive, not wanting to let on that he had no idea what plan Abel was talking about. What had they planned?
“No matter what my hopes were, I’m overjoyed to find you alive and well. The crown is yours. It’s always been. As for Faye . . .”
Keeping his stoic face, Cain didn’t show that he already guessed what Abel wanted to say. “What about Faye?”
Abel glanced at Thomas, Haven, and Wesley who stood watching the exchange silently. “Are you sure you want me to talk about personal matters in front of your men?”
“Talk.”
Abel shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “Well, you might as well hear it from me, before the rumor mill spreads it. Faye and I are engaged.”
His brother paused, clearly to wait for Cain’s reaction. Cain complied, feigning shock.
Abel lifted his hand. “You must understand. She grieved for you; we all did. We had no idea you were alive all this time. She was lonely and sought comfort. And you know of course that the position she was in was a temporary one. She knew she would lose her home, her privileges, everything, once I would be crowned king. You can’t really blame her.” He shoved a hand through his hair.
“Blame her for what?” Cain ground out, not liking the direction the conversation was taking. What was Abel trying to tell him?
“Listen, Cain, I shouldn’t really be the one to tell you this. Let her explain things to you.”
Cain made a few steps toward his brother, grinding his teeth. “Blame her for what?” he repeated.
“Damn it, Cain, don’t make me say it. I’m s
ure, deep down she’s a good woman, but—”
Cain gripped his brother by the shirt. “But what?”
“I’m just a man. I have no defenses against a woman like her. You know she can seduce anybody she wants.” Abel’s eyes bored into him. “Damn it, do I have to spell it out? She threw herself at me once it was clear that I would be the next king. She wants to be queen, no matter what. And fool that I am, I couldn’t resist her. To make love to a woman like her . . .” He let the sentence hang in the room.
Cain’s hands curled into fists. His brother had made love to the woman who was meant to be Cain’s. Jealousy reared its ugly head once again, launching a spear into his heart to make it bleed. Faye had been the one who’d made a play for Abel so she could be queen after all. Did this mean that the reason she’d wanted to marry him, Cain, was not because she’d loved him, but because she wanted to be sitting on the throne beside him? How could he ever trust a woman like her?
With a curse, he let go of Abel and turned away from him. “It’s late. The sun will rise in an hour. We’ll discuss court business tonight. Leave us now.”
Only when he heard the double doors close behind his brother and his footsteps grow distant did Cain turn to his friends.
“You should listen to her side first, before you make any rash decisions,” Thomas cautioned. “Your brother has reason enough to make you doubt her. Not only are you back to take away the throne that was within his reach, but you’re also taking the woman back that he is most likely in love with. Wouldn’t you too turn to dirty tricks to at least keep one of those things for yourself?”
Thomas had a point. And if Cain were ruled by logic right now, he would admit it. But even if Thomas was right, it still didn’t change one thing. “My brother slept with my fiancée.”
Haven took a step closer. “Hey, don’t do that. You slept with plenty of women during the last year! So don’t judge her.”