“This is the place.” Lucien’s voice cracked through the wavering darkness. “We put the crate in here.”
Jax and Perry leaned into one another more fiercely, eyes wide as George bent to press the brass handle. To their surprise, the door clicked open to reveal the inside of a sparsely decorated room, likely meant for an accompanying servant if the upstairs had been in use by a royal guest. From the dying sunlight streaming in through the window, Jax could make out a small bed against the far wall and a chair situated next to a fireplace…a smoking fireplace.
“Someone just doused the fire,” she said with a gasp. Her gaze landed on the center of the room, taking in a massive wooden crate, big enough to sneak a person into the citadel. “Someone’s been living here.”
“Brilliant observation, Jax.”
Jax felt the floor rip out from under her as she recognized that taunting voice. The voice behind the handwriting on that threatening note, that looked so familiar to her, yet she couldn’t quite place it.
A figure emerged from the shadows of the far corner, the last of the dying sun searing across her malicious amber eyes.
Aranelda.
Chapter Sixteen
Air refused to fill her lungs as Jax struggled to comprehend what she was seeing. “How?” she finally managed to say. “You died. My men placed your body at my feet.”
Arnie sauntered forward, her delight in Jax’s confusion written all over her scarred and battered face. “You know, I’m a bit surprised you thought a little bash in the head would do me in. Your men saw me sink to the bottom of Lake Saltrine, yes. I knew they would believe I was dead and return to the palace, but I never thought you’d fall for it too.” She laughed with maniacal glee.
“I saw your body,” Jax said, her words a mere whimper to those gathered behind her.
Her former lady-in-waiting’s sinister eyes narrowed. “Did you forget the secrets we discovered during our summers at the lake?”
Jax felt like her head might burst as she frantically searched her memories, returning to those summers they spent as children exploring the waters. They’d swam through every inch of the Saltrine, discovering its mysteries. “The smugglers’ caves.”
“There’s our clever Duchess.” Arnie’s grin oozed with satisfaction. “Yes, I swam and hid myself in one of the underwater caves, nearly freezing to death, mind you, but I managed to keep myself alive. Once your men returned to the palace, I found the stash of traveling clothes and supplies dear sweet Marquis had laid out for us during one of his visits home to his charming little family. It still makes me giggle, thinking how he thought I loved him. Men really are hopeless without a woman to guide them, aren’t they?” She tittered like a young, innocent girl.
“I saw your body!” Jax roared, coming to life in her fury. “I sent your remains to your family!”
Arnie waved a flippant hand, twirling her long, chestnut hair. “You saw a body. The Virtues must have been smiling down on me,” she said with a giggle. “In a most fortunate turn of events for me, as I was leaving I happened to run into a young woman traipsing along the riverbed. Unfortunately for her, I decided spur-of-the-moment that she’d make the perfect decoy.” She shrugged, throwing back a causal glance. “So, I bashed in her face and dressed her in my old clothes. I tossed her in the water to cover my tracks, should your men return to search for a body. I’m surprised you didn’t think to give her a closer look.” Arnie crossed her arms with a pout on her lips. “I’m actually offended you thought it was me. I have much better bone structure.”
Jax flinched at the insanity dancing behind Arnie’s wild eyes. “How do you live with the blood on your hands?”
The murderess examined her fingernails, a bored expression settling across her mangled face. “I manage.”
“So, what? You escaped Saphire and magically struck up a plan with Maegus?” Jax spat out, unable to fathom the deception of her once-beloved friend.
Arnie sneered. “Maegus. What a pathetic excuse for a man. Absolutely no ambition, even with our friend the Duke here practically handing him his own country.” She appraised Lucien with a frown. “Yes, lucky for him, I stumbled right into his secretive little camp just as I was crossing over the Cetachi border. My plan was to lie low once I fled the civilized duchies, to live simple and free for the rest of my days. But,” her feline gaze slid back to Jax, “you know me. I enjoy playing the game.”
The words stung Jax, causing her to recoil from her former lady-in-waiting.
“You see,” Arnie continued, “it was I who dangled a new plan in front of Maegus’s greedy hands. Instead of kindly turning over Cetachi to Lysandeir once all was said and done with their little scheme, I convinced Maegus that we should take Lysandeir for ourselves, establishing the largest and most fearsome duchy in the realm.”
“Why did you have to kill those poor people, Arnie?” Jax’s eyes filled with tears as she saw the true madness of her former friend.
“Ah, yes, Maegus had a harder time accepting that portion of the plan. But on a stroll through the palace, I was finally able to convince him what needed to be done in order for the summit to swing in our favor.”
The whispering threats Roust overheard in the north tower must have belonged to Arnie convincing Maegus of the need for bloodshed, Jax guessed. Her flesh rippled as she pictured Arnie roaming the halls, unleashed upon the world.
Arnie continued her vengeful rant. “Believe me, I did not relish watching someone else do my dirty work for me.” She stood mere inches away from Jax, her scarred face fully revealed by the torchlight radiating from George’s fist. “Their deaths are on your hands, Duchess. I wanted to strip you of all your dear friends and allies so that you would be left totally alone. So you would know what it felt like for me when you deserted me in that dungeon.”
“You killed my parents,” Jax whispered through a steady stream of angry tears. “You deserved to be locked away for the rest of your life.”
“Well, I think you deserved to watch as your allies cowered behind Lysandeir, in fear of death should they associate with you. I wanted you to feel utterly abandoned, because killing off your mother and father didn’t seem to do the trick.” The crazed look in Arnie’s eyes exposed her unhinged mind.
Perry stepped forward, reaching for her arm to pull her back. “Jax, you cannot reason with a madwoman.”
She shook away his hand and stayed right where she was. “But things did not go according to plan, did they, Peach?” she said, taunting Arnie with the use of her old pet name.
That haunting amber gaze darkened. “No, the stupid fool killed the wrong woman. After he told me, I knew he couldn’t be trusted to see this through. His death sentence was sealed right then and there. So, after he managed to off the Pettraudian valet and leave my little note for the Duke, I killed him,” she stated without a trace of remorse. “I was planning to pay Duke Lysandeir a visit after dinner and ensure he knew to whom he owed his true allegiance.”
“I never would have sided with the likes of you,” Lucien spat with renewed vehemence. “You ruined everything by poisoning Maegus into being your executioner, just so you could take petty revenge.”
Darian stepped from the shadows. “You both failed, because I will do everything in my power to keep Cetachi free from your toxic clutches.” He paused, feeling the weight of his words. “Even if it means allowing it to become the thirteenth dukedom in the Realm of Virtues.”
Jax felt an inappropriate flash of triumph at his declaration, but knew this was not the time to discuss the region’s future.
Arnie, however, saw matters differently. “Not when I’ve come this far to take it for myself.” Faster than anyone else around her could react, she made a desperate lunge for Darian, a dagger glistening in her hand.
Perry yanked Jax out of the way, while George and his men rushed forward. But it was Lucien who catapulted his body, putting himself between Darian and the whirling blade. It landed with a sickening thud, burying itself deep in his
fleshy stomach.
Jax watched in horror as blood erupted across the man’s tunic. He took a few staggering steps before falling to his knees, his purple eyes glazing over.
“No! You fool! You’ve ruined everything!” Arnie’s carnal screech ripped through to Jax’s very core. It sounded like the woman was being burned alive as she screamed and scratched at her own ruined face, her fingertips shredding her flesh. The guards lunged forward to stop her madness, but Arnie lashed out at them, backing up toward the only window in the room.
“Stop her!” Jax cried out, but she guessed Aranelda’s plan a second too late. The crazed murderess hurled her body through the window, glass shattering and spearing toward the floor. Her screams echoed over the mountains as her body plunged down the icy chasm, crashing on the rocks hundreds of feet below.
Chapter Seventeen
Gurgling gasps from Lucien’s dying lips shook Jax from her trance, tearing her eyes away from the bloody shards of the window where Aranelda had just stood. “Send for help,” she commanded two of the guards who were staring in dismay at the struggling man.
“It’s no use.” Lucien choked back a grunt of pain. “Please, summon my children.” Jax caught him as he teetered forward on his knees. “I’d like to see them. I need to apologize for all I’ve done.”
“Why did you do it?” Darian’s voice trembled at the sight of the fatal wound that had been meant for him. “Why did you stop her?”
The Duke winced as he sucked in a ragged breath. “Because of what you were willing to do.” He sputtered, his cough spewing blood down the front of his tunic. “You were willing to give up your power and control to keep your lands safe. That struck a long-forgotten chord in me, I guess.” He closed his eyes to better bear the pain. “And I suppose I wanted a shot at redemption for all the crimes I’ve committed in my sorry life.”
Darian’s brown irises filled with tears, nodding in silent thanks.
“What’s going on? What’s happened to Father?” Jax heard a chorus of questions ringing throughout the stairwell, rushing footsteps heralding the arrival of the Lysandeir triplets. She placed a comforting hand on Lysette’s as she entered the room, her eyes widening at the sight. The man lying before them had been their tormentor, but at the end of the day, he was still their father.
“Come, let’s leave them to say goodbye.” Jax gathered her friends and left the ugliness behind.
She sat nursing a glass of honeyed mead, her thoughts miles away from the conversation buzzing around her. Duke Mensina, Annette, and Darian lounged on the sofa, their softer voices lost amongst those of Duke Pettraud, Perry, George, and Roust. Jaquobie had excused himself from their little gathering to find and comfort Lysette, leaving Jax and Uma to relax in silence in the armchairs by the roaring fire.
“I know I’ve said this a million times tonight, but I just can’t believe it.” Uma’s cheeks glistened with tears as she examined the firelight.
“It’s all my fault.” Jax felt a sharp heat spike through her chest as she admitted it out loud. “Deep down, I wanted Arnie to be dead. I wanted it all to be buried in the past, so I didn’t bother having Master Vyanti confirm the body found by the lake was hers. He asked to examine the remains, you know,” she paused, not having the courage to meet Uma’s gaze. “But no, I wrapped her up and shipped her off to her family to be done with it. If I had just listened to him, we would have found out she was still at large.” She took a long sip of the strong liquor. “My own wishful thinking was what got us here.”
“You are not at fault,” Uma protested, leaning forward to grasp her hand. “What Maegus and Arnie did was of their own volition. You cannot blame yourself.”
“But I will.” Jax gave her friend a small smile, thanking her for trying to make her feel better. She surveyed the room, her companions growing livelier, at last coming out of their shocked states. “What a disaster of a peace summit.”
Uma shrugged with a slight grin. “Oh, I don’t know. I think a few good things have emerged from all this misfortune.”
Following Uma’s gaze, Jax’s eyes rested on her aunt and Darian and the tender way they held each other’s hand.
Jax had been the first to concede that a dukedom was not always free of corruption, but Darian surprised her by stating Maegus’s treachery had proven to him that sometimes people were fooled by the person they voted for. In the end, they had come to a compromise that they planned to present jointly to the summit the following morning. Darian would assume the mantle of Cetachi, but his advisors would be made up of people elected by each tribe and region. These advisors would be charged with creating the day-to-day policies to protect and serve the Cetachi people; Darian’s role as Duke was merely to oversee the carrying out of those policies. As to how he would navigate the larger political waters of the realm, Annette would be by his side to assist. While a formal engagement had not been made, both were eager to see if the chemistry between them blossomed into something more. Considering how fondly they stared at one another, Jax felt certain that the two had found their match.
“How do you think the other duchies will react, now that all of Lysandeir’s bargains are off the table?” Uma’s question pulled Jax back to the present.
“I think they will all fall in line, especially once they hear about the example I’m setting.” Jax’s lips formed a devilish grin.
Uma’s brow wrinkled. “What example?”
“Uma, my dear friend, I would be honored if you would formally accept the position as my lady-in-waiting.” Jax beamed with delight, clasping both of Uma’s trembling hands.
“What? Jax, you’re not serious, are you? I can’t be a High Lady,” Uma sputtered. “Have you forgotten? I’m common-born.”
Jax proudly raised her chin. “From this day forward, you can be whatever you want to be, dear one. At the heart of his doctrine, Darian was right. Everyone deserves the opportunity to make something more of themselves. The color of your eyes shouldn’t stand in the way of your personal achievements. For Virtues sake, we’re about to have a brown-eyed Duke.” She chuckled, as the change still tickled her. “It may not happen overnight, but a new era is upon us.”
“What does that mean for you? For the ducal families?” Uma’s concern was very real in Jax’s mind also.
“We’ll continue on as is, for now. But I intend to follow Cetachi’s lead and allow my people to elect village leaders and representatives to send to the palace. My eyes have been opened, and I don’t intend to close them now,” Jax said, feeling truly content for the first time since discovering poor Marquis’s body in her garden all those weeks ago.
“Hendrie will be pleased to hear that.” Uma’s eyes twinkled as she looked at the young man with a besotted gaze.
Jax sighed with contentment, reveling in the room filled with love.
The chamber was full of anxious gazes and murmured whispers as the summit reconvened the next morning. Because of the events in the west wing tower, dinner had been served to all the guests in their suites. This morning’s meeting was the first time they had been allowed out to see their colleagues, and by the incredulous looks and opened mouths around the room, word of what had happened to Duke Lysandeir and Maegus Welles was spreading.
Jax looked at Landon’s tired face, his red hair not seeming to shine as brightly today. He stood at his father’s seat, waiting for silence to settle over the throne room. “It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of my father, Lucien Alexander Loughlin, Duke of Lysandeir. The circumstances surrounding his death are a little raw, so please bear with me if I stumble.” He took a deep breath, reinforcing his composure. “My father was a flawed man. But then again, so are we all. I ask, in honor of his memory, that we continue forward with our summit, as I will assume my father’s throne and vote. I believe Duchess Jacqueline and the elected Governor, Darian Fangard, have a proposition they would like to push to an immediate vote.”
Jax bowed her head to Landon and stood regally at her seat, Da
rian at her side. Together, they outlined their plan for Cetachi’s future, as well as how Saphire would adopt these policies within its own borders. “We suggest reconvening this council of representatives in a year’s time to report on our progress and discuss the next steps for bringing all of the realm into this new era of opportunity and prosperity.”
With votes of support from Mensina, Saphire, Lysandeir, Pettraud, Crepsta, and Tandora, the measure passed into history.
Epilogue
Jax clung greedily to her fur cloak, the biting winds snaking through the massive stable doors. “When we reunite this time next year, remind me to advocate for someplace warmer,” she said through chattering teeth. “What a glamorous sendoff.” She rolled her eyes with feigned sarcasm as Darian escorted her over the straw-covered floor to her carriage.
“At least the worst of the storm has passed, and the roads are clear for your journey back, Duchess.”
“When are you returning home, Duke?” Jax said, her eyebrows arched playfully.
“I’m accompanying your aunt back to Mensina, where she will collect her things before departing permanently for Cetachi.” Darian ran a hand through his auburn hair, shaking his head in disbelief. “It’s still a bit surreal to be called Duke. Me, the son of a baker.”
She smiled with sincere warmth. “Who is now a champion for opportunity. You should be proud, Darian. You are the face of this new world.”
“So are you, Jax,” he protested, her nickname no longer a stranger to his lips. “Without you, none of this would have happened.” He gave her arm an affectionate squeeze. “You may have thought your mind was made up, but it’s always open, listening and learning. The ideal trait of a ruler.”
“So, you don’t think I’m completely inadequate at the job I was born into?” she teased, remembering his attacks during that first morning of the summit.
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