Shades of Truth (The Summerlynn Secrets)

by C. L. Stockton

  I took a step back before raising my head. “I know my father wanted Sabean to replace your father as ruler of Goran. My question concerns how far the plan progressed.”

  “We cannot discuss this here for anyone to overhear.” Serious now, Colton snagged my elbow and towed me through the nearest doorway. It appeared we’d found the music room.

  Upon a raised platform, a piano stood in front of a row of floor to ceiling windows with dramatic red drapes framing the outermost windows. A harp sat between the piano and the windows, and a rack next to the stage held violins, cellos and any other stringed instrument one could ever want.

  I hardly had time to consider anything else as Colton was already questioning me. “How long have you known about your father?”

  Checking the grandfather clock aligned beside the door we’d entered through, I said, “An hour and a half.”

  “How did you reach this conclusion?” Giving nothing away, his face smoothed. Excellent. I was close.

  “At a dance, a certain man asked after my pendant and in the next breath, mentioned a twin. I took that to mean the two were associated. Since my pendant, given to me by my father, is a symbol of the Tallons, who are connected to the Norths, it must mean the twin is also connected to both my father and the Tallons. Why else would the two be mentioned together?”

  “Why indeed.” Far from looking annoyed, Colton appeared pleased at my reasoning.

  “If Father was a Tallon and closely connected to the twin, then the twin is a North.” I fixed him with a steady look. “Does Sabean know who she is?”

  “Sabean?”

  “She told me she once saw a pendant like mine.”

  “Excellent work, sweetheart.” He smiled. “Now do you understand why your family is such a sore spot with my father?”

  “And with you.”

  “I have no problem with the Summerlynns. At least the younger generation.” Those blue eyes were a long stroke against my body.

  “Stop.”

  “Stop what?”

  “Flirting with me! I am attempting to have a serious conversation and you have to go and ruin it with innuendo and compliments!”

  “I had no idea you hated compliments. Or is it innuendo that sets your back up? I would be happy to clarify matters for you.”

  Sensing I didn’t want to hear how he thought things were, I rushed on. “What exactly do Tallons do?”

  “They protect the Norths. That’s the way it’s been for at least a century.” From the way his eyes drifted to my mouth, I knew his mind wasn’t on our conversation.

  “So the Tallons are bodyguards.”

  “Of a sort.” Running a hand through his hair (I would not dwell on the now disarrayed locks and how they would feel beneath my hand), Colton turned to look out the windows. “I honestly am no expert on the Tallons. I simply behave myself and hope I never see one.”

  “Do they ever follow you around?” I looked around the room.

  “They normally have more important things to do.”

  “Then your trip to Lisbon wasn’t exactly important.”

  “Try unexpected.”

  I frowned. “Who is your Tallon?”

  “I cannot tell you.” Colton laughed at my interested expression. “Marry me and you can have your very own Tallon.”

  “Enough reason not to.” I tapped a finger against my chin. “If the Tallons do not follow you around, what do they do?”

  “I’ve always assumed they lurk about and investigate mysterious people or circumstances. I never dreamed they’d scheme to dethrone my father.”

  “If it were that simple, your father would have killed all the conspirators and been done with it.” I folded my arms over my chest. “Instead he sent you to negotiate.” Which meant my father had something they wanted.

  Of course it was the pendant. Is that why Colton insisted I stay here in the hopes he could charm whatever it is from me?

  “It is nice to fully understand all aspects of a situation before acting.”

  “What you really mean is even a king cannot murder indiscriminately.”

  “Correct.”

  “Were you under orders to kill my father?” I had long admired the width of his shoulders, the strength in the length of his arms and legs. Now I was forced to consider how easily he could murder.

  Meeting my eyes steadily, he replied, “No.”

  I let out the breath I’d been holding. Of course not. The heir to the throne would not dirty his hands with murder. “Was an agreement reached?”

  “No.”

  “What did you offer him to walk away and forget all about Sabean?”

  “You have very little experience in negotiations if you believe I offered and he refused.” The words rolled easily off his tongue.

  I was beginning to get a whole new picture of the man Colton was. “If he hadn’t sent you to Lisbon with me, where would you have gone?”

  “Here. My father is understandably anxious for news of my progress.”

  “But it was in your best interests to accompany me to Lisbon.”

  “Yes.”

  I moved to the next topic. “Why were the twins separated?”

  He paused a moment, his eyes searching my face. “Nobody knows.”

  “We’re discussing the royal family of Goran! Of course somebody knows.”

  “No one has come forth to claim a hand in the separation.”

  “Of course they haven’t! They’d be killed for admitting they knew about it, much less participated in it!” I rolled my eyes at Colton’s stupidity. My next words caught us both by surprise. “For all you know, your father’s already taken care of the witnesses.”

  Colton stiffened. In three strides he reached me. Fingers gripping my arms and voice dangerously soft, he said, “Be careful whom you accuse of murder.”

  “I am only pointing out how suspicious matters are.”

  Colton inclined his head. “Explain.”

  “Release me and I will.”

  “Do you have reason to fear me?” His eyes narrowed as he waited for my response.

  “No, but you’re hurting me now.”

  Immediately, his grip slackened and I took a few steps backward. “You should have said something.”

  “You never gave me the chance. Go stand over there.” I pointed at the piano. That seemed far enough away for me to explain in relative safety.

  Colton shook his head. “I am not about to stand behind a piano while you tell me how my father supposedly murdered to protect his throne.”

  “Then I will go stand behind the piano.” That should block him if he decided to lunge for my throat.

  “No. You are going to remain here and tell me why you suspect my father.”

  I judged the distance between me and the piano and me and Colton. He could grab me in two steps, three at the most. I sighed heavily. “Your father discovers he has a twin, an older one at that. Instead of being overjoyed, he instead seeks to locate and possibly kill his competition for the throne.”

  “You are being unfair. My father may have been ecstatic to realize he has a twin.”

  “Not after he’d been groomed his entire life for the throne and had already been ruler for, what, nearly thirty years?”

  “Thirty this spring.”

  “After a lifetime of being addressed as ‘King’, it would take a very strong, unselfish man to relinquish the throne, and the fortune, to allow his sister to rule.”

  “Perhaps she doesn’t want the throne.”

  I widened my eyes at him. “Really? And remain in relative poverty compared to what she could have?”

  “Being royal is not the privilege most perceive it to be.”

  “Please, if I hear one more story about a royal heir who hates being royal, I will pull my hair out.” I pointed my finger at him. “Stop complaining and rule.”

  “Easier said than done.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Anyway, your father knows about Sabean. He also learns about a plot spearh
eaded by my father, a known Tallon, to establish her as the rightful ruler of Goran.” I paused. “I suppose it all comes down to whether Sabean wants the throne. They cannot go forward without her.” I met Colton’s eyes. “Does she?”

  He sighed. “From the conversations your father and I had, he made it very clear Sabean has an interest in her royal connections. Besides, you saw the letter. Your father told Sabean that everything is ready whenever she is.” He rubbed at his forehead before continuing, “Reybourne said Sabean knows about the succession, and desperately wants to rule Goran.” My brow wrinkled as I worked to place the name. At my confusion, Colton explained, “Reybourne is the man I spent the better part of two days arguing with.”

  “Ah.” Treeman. Yes, I remembered. I remembered I didn’t like him. “You never did tell me the outcome.”

  “That’s because it does not concern you. Now, back to the original topic.” Dismissing my concerns with a wave, Colton again attacked. “The plot your father spearheaded was not completed. Something, we’re not sure what, is missing.”

  The pendant? The map? No. Colton knew about the pendant and hadn’t demanded it from me. He didn’t know about the map, but I wasn’t about to show him. “Reybourne couldn’t tell you what it was?”

  “No. The reason he originally wanted you is because he thought your father gave you instructions on how to complete his work.” He regarded me steadily. “Do you have any idea what Reybourne meant?”

  Using my best innocent expression, I said, “Of course not. Unless there is something still in the purse, I have nothing.”

  “You have the pendant. Which you failed to tell me about.”

  “I didn’t think you’d be interested in a piece of jewelry.” I certainly wouldn’t be if my father hadn’t included it in the purse he gave me.

  “It is not the pendant that interests me but the reason you kept it hidden.”

  “I don’t trust you.”

  “So you’ve said. Even so, why hide the pendant? Why not show it to me in case I knew what it meant?”

  “Because I already know what it means.” Perhaps it was time to drop more of my innocent act. I spared a glance for the piano, hoping he wouldn’t murder me after I told him what I knew.

  “Pardon?” He looked as though he’d been hit in the head with a stick.

  “Do you remember when I went to that address in Lisbon and told you I didn’t understand why my father sent me? All I said was he’d told me to go to Lisbon but nothing further. That isn’t true.” I took a deep breath before continuing. “This pendant has been in my family for generations. It is supposed to be passed down through the sons, but as my father only had a daughter, it was given to me when I turned sixteen. The meaning was also explained. He told me to use the pendant and unlock all their secrets.” That was the reason the map fascinated me. On it, my father specifically used the word secrets, the same word he used when giving me the pendant. It wasn’t a coincidence. I was meant to bring the pendant to the place on the map.

  If possible, his expression became more surprised. I didn’t wait for him to find his voice. I had too much to say. “I refused. I told him I didn’t want the pendant and the Tallons could keep their secrets. He warned me the next I saw the pendant, it would not be a choice.”

  I watched Colton take three deep breaths before speaking. “You knew all this and didn’t tell me?”

  I held up a hand. “There’s more.”

  “I am not certain I want to hear it.”

  “Do you want to know or not?” At his nod, I continued, “My father’s instructions were to go to that address in Lisbon and give the pendant to the man there. Once he saw the pendant, he would instruct me further. Only I never gave him the pendant. It didn’t feel right. How could I be certain this was the right man? My father told me only the pendant could unlock the secrets. If I lost it, or it fell into the wrong hands, I’m not certain what would happen.”

  Colton slowly began pacing in front of me as he thought over what I’d said. While he paced, I turned my attention to the as yet unnoticed tapestry on the far war. Of course the royal seal of Goran figured prominently. I stepped forward to better view the intricate design when Colton said, “Is this all you know?”

  Still studying the tapestry, I answered, “Yes.”

  “I must speak to my father.”

  “No!” I turned, horrified he’d even suggest such a thing.

  “He is not that bad.” His tone was amused.

  “He already wants to murder me. Telling him I have a pendant with the potential to destroy the Tallons only makes it worse!” Since the Tallons were behind Sabean’s claim to the throne, King Richard would jump at the chance to destroy them.

  “He does not want to murder you,” Colton scoffed. “Not anymore.”

  “Fine. I will make myself scarce. Is Bolien too close?”

  “Try and remain in the palace.” He studied my face. “You’re really worried about this.”

  “Obviously!”

  “My father is not going to murder you.” Colton stepped forward. I stepped out of reach.

  “Of course your father isn’t stupid enough to murder me outright. It would be an accident or something else so I am killed in an entirely explainable fashion so you won’t cause a fuss.”

  “Cadrian.” He rolled his eyes. “You are being silly.”

  “Murder is not silly.” I muttered, “Especially my own.”

  Impatiently, he held his hand out. I looked askance at it. “Come here,” he explained.

  “Why?”

  “Because I have spent the last twenty minutes patiently listening when all I really want is to kiss you.”

  “Oh.”

  Predatory now, Colton stalked me. “I am surprised you didn’t ask why, since you seem concerned with my motivation lately.”

  “I already know why,” I said, backing away to slow his approach. That was anger swirling black in his eyes and I would not be touched in anger.

  “Do you?” Though he attempted to appear more interested in what I was saying and not in what he wanted, he wasn’t quite successful. I placed a chair in his path, but the distance between us was closing.

  “You only want to kiss me because you’ve had a bad shock and kissing me prevents you from strangling me.” I knew he was allowing me to remain free. If completely serious, I would be in his arms already.

  He grew tired of the game. “I refuse to chase you around the music room.”

  “Then stop threatening to kiss me.” I had reached the piano by this time and put the solid mass between us.

  “Since when are you afraid to be kissed?” He threw his hands in the air.

  “You are angry.”

  “I am not angry at you.” At my raised eyebrows, he frowned. “I am angry at you.”

  “And kissing is going to solve that?”

  “No but it will remind me why I keep you around.”

  I turned to stare out the window. “There are a hundred other women in this city who will happily kiss you if that is your aim.”

  “Only a hundred?”

  “More like thousands, as you very well know.” Arrogant man. “Let me go and pick one. Or three.”

  “It will not work.” His voice was closer.

  “Why?” Caught between a whisper and a sigh, my voice was barely recognizable.

  “Because it’s you I want.” The kiss followed his words so swiftly, I tasted their bitterness. His lips melted any protest I may have made and, wasting no time, he thrust his tongue into my mouth. My arms twined around his neck and I stood on tip toe to leverage my mouth harder against his.

  We might have kissed for hours or even days if Colton hadn’t lifted his head. Our eyes met, and this close, there wasn’t room for secrets. His were a brilliant sapphire, their depths extending deeper than I could see. I saw my future, only it didn’t look like anything I knew.

  Instinctively, I moved away. Colton’s arms tightened, keeping me locked in his embrace.

>   He rested his forehead against mine. “I need time to think.”

  “I understand.” Now that I’d told another about the pendant and what it meant, my time to act was limited. I would decipher the map, and take the pendant to that location. “I will leave tomorrow.”

  “I said time, not space. Stay.”

  “Why?”

  “Why?” He echoed, his face unreadable. “Do you believe I kiss every woman of my acquaintance?”

  “Maybe.” I hadn’t had very many opportunities to witness his behavior with other women.

  “Then I don’t know why you should stay.” Without a backward glance, he left.

  Angry, I kicked the nearest item, which happened to be a wooden chair.

  “That sounded painful.” I whirled to find Rob leaning against the door.

  “When did you get here?” I wasn’t quite certain how much Rob knew about my father and Sabean, but if he heard our argument, he would have lots of questions.

  “While you were abusing the furniture.” When I raised my eyebrows he added, “I heard yelling and came to ensure no blood had been shed.” He examined the floor. “I see it hasn’t.”

  “Not for lack of trying.”

  “We never keep weapons in the music room. If you want to kill him, may I recommend the back library? We keep the sharpest swords there.”

  “I will keep that in mind.” I again stamped my foot, still incensed at Sorin’s abrupt departure. “Your brother is the most frustrating, arrogant and infuriating man!”

  “Yet you love him.” So Rob did know.

  “Rather foolish of me.” I sighed.

  “I wouldn’t call it foolish, but certainly ill advised.” He tempered the words with a smile. Thankfully, he didn’t have Sorin’s smile. “Now come before you further desecrate the music room.”

  “I’m not desecrating,” I denied. “It was one lousy chair.”

  “Tell that to my mother. It is her favorite chair.” He burst out laughing as I froze. “It’s a joke. You looked as though you needed a laugh.”

  “That only works when something is funny.” I rotated my shoulders.