Shadow Soul (Narun Book 1)

by M. J. Bavis

  “What about the shopping?” Tony still hung onto the trolley like he owned it.

  “Leave it,” I snapped. “If it’s him, we won’t need it.”

  Tony grumbled, but I no longer heard the spin of wheels behind me.

  “What if it’s a trap?” Jill rushed to my side—not that it was very hard with my pace.

  “It’s not. It has to be him. I don’t know how, but it has to be.”

  Frantic, I searched the parking lot, narrowing on each male loitering or walking. Cars, people, women with prams. Where was the man?

  “What did he look like?” Jill scrunched her face in the low-hanging sun.

  “Average height. Short, dark hair. Clean-shaven. He looks like a marketing manager,” I described.

  Jill frowned. Tony lifted his shoulders.

  A taxi pulled up next to us. I waved it off desperate to find the stranger’s face.

  “Hop in.”

  My heart fluttered. The man sat on the driver’s seat of the taxi, reaching to open the passenger door.

  “I can only take you,” he said to me softly.

  “Sorry, mate, but we’re a package deal.” Tony dashed for the backseat, closely followed by Jill, in the time I got my crutches in the front.

  “He thought you might say that,” the man said with a sigh. “Okay, then.”

  “Leo?” I whispered, afraid of the answer.

  “He’s safe.”

  My pulse doubled its tick. “Are you serious? He’s really okay? You have him?” I wanted to let relief take over, but I couldn’t, not until I’d lay eyes on him.

  “See for yourself in about ten minutes.” The man helped me fasten my seatbelt.

  Tony popped his head between the front seats. “Who are you?”

  “I’m one of Leo’s personal guards.” The man glanced at the rear-view mirror.

  “How did he escape? Did you save him? How did you know he was taken?” I squeezed both sides of the seat, knuckles white. Please, let this be real.

  “I’d like to know where you were to begin with,” Tony butted in. “Sure weren’t ‘guarding.’”

  “Tony!” Jill pulled him back, disapproving.

  The man joined the traffic on the main road, paying more attention to his mirrors than our hunger for answers.

  “I’ll leave it for him to tell you,” he said plainly. “Right now, I need to do my job.”

  My senses were instantly awakened. Of course, Leo wasn’t safe yet. Leo wouldn’t be safe from now on: his identity was out. Sebastian and his men, not to mention every Scout, soldier, Hunter, and citizen of Gorah, would be looking for him, doing everything in their power to stop him from crossing the borders into Narun.

  I had cost him his freedom, maybe for the rest of his life.

  I checked for cars possibly tailing us; every passer-by became a suspect. Tony and Jill shouldn’t be here. If anyone saw them in the car with us…

  Jill cleared her throat, several times. “Can you at least tell us your name?”

  “Sure, Jill. You can call me Joe.”

  Jill’s eyed popped. “How do you know my name?”

  “It’s my business to know who Leo associates with.” Joe threw Jill a quick smile.

  “That’s not your real name though, is it, Joe?” Tony certainly wasn’t going to give the guy an easy ride.

  “Knock it off, Tony. You should be used to fake names by now.” I meant it as a joke, but it came out like an insult. I added a scoff to lighten the tone.

  “Tell me about it.” He paused before adding, “Where’re we headed, anyway?”

  “We’re almost there.”

  We fell silent. Leo would have the answers. My fingers tapped the cast impatiently. Could this be too good to be true?

  I kept a keen eye on the wing mirror. We were near the shore at the tourist end of town, passing hotels and B&Bs. Joe took a turn towards a several storeys high hotel. Confident, like he had done it a thousand times, he pulled up in front of the entrance and left the engine running.

  “I’ll meet you in the lounge in five,” Joe said to me. “Keep an eye out, will you?”

  I agreed and took Jill’s hand as she helped me out of the car.

  The entrance was impressive, but the real wow-factor was the lounge. Marble statues created aisles to the right and left, one leading to a seating area with leather armchairs. Lifts, a stone reception desk that was grand in its simplicity, and a seemingly empty bar were on the left. The foyer was scattered with families, the elderly, and businessmen.

  A little boy ran towards me, slowed down to stare at my black eye, and then dashed past me. On his heels was his flushed mother calling him to stop. An older couple sat closest to us at the seating area; the man napped while the woman read a novel. Two men in pin-striped suits sat on the other side—one reading the Financial Times, the other on his iPad. A suited lady sat near them, talking on the phone.

  “Shall we sit?” Tony rubbed his neck, slightly disorientated.

  “There, by the window, near the door.” I motioned with a crutch.

  It only took a couple of minutes for Joe to walk through the gilded entrance. Clocking us in an instant, he beckoned for us to follow.

  The lift doors slid open as we reached him. We piled in, together with two young women. They took in Joe’s frame, impressed, rubbing their lips together meaningfully behind his back. Men in suits.

  Six illuminated numbers later we reached our floor. Joe cleared the hall and led us to a door.

  My heart raced a marathon as he swiped the key card.

  Chapter 42

  My eyes were drawn to the three duffel bags on the floor as the door opened. Not far from them, a pair of black, clean combat boots dug into the carpet. Rashly, I took in the unfamiliar frame of the man wearing the boots. His bulky appearance filled most of the entrance.

  He exchanged a look with Joe and moved out of the way.

  It was then I saw him. At the far end of a rather large room, sat Leo, talking to a man his age who was eating an apple.

  Leo’s attention flew to the door; one of my crutches fell to the floor. I shoved past the others and met Leo’s arms half-way in the room, barely registering the black eye decorating his face.

  I clasped onto him as tight as if Kol was still behind me, taunting to pull me away.

  “Glad to see you, too.” Leo sounded as relieved as I felt, yet I caught a strain on his voice that instantly didn’t sit right with me.

  “How did you escape?” I breathed into his neck.

  “Easier than trying to get out of your grip,” he quipped, but I wasn't ready to let go. “Kal, some air.”

  Gently yet firmly, Leo unclasped my arms. I cringed as my bad leg thudded to the ground. I hadn’t realised my feet were a few inches off the floor.

  Leo mouthed an apology and turned to the others. “Good to see you, guys.” Leo gave both Jill and Tony a hug. “I figured you might be joining us.”

  “Try and keep us away, your Highness.” Tony did a little bow and pulled a coy Jill under his arm.

  “I don’t want any of that from you three,” Leo warned, a little weary.

  “Are you hurt?” Jill pulled a face at Leo’s black eye, searching for any other obvious signs of injury. Thankfully, I already knew there was nothing seriously wrong with him, although he had several hidden bruises on his body.

  “I’m perfectly fine. Thanks for asking,” Leo replied, and gave Joe a glance.

  “So, how—”

  “Did you escape?” I finished Tony’s sentence. “I thought for sure… Wait.” I shoved Leo enough to get his attention and slapped him lightly on his better cheek. “Don’t ever do something like that again! Why didn’t you tell me who you were?”

  I heard the apple drop onto the floor a second before the youngest of the three men placed a hand on my shoulder. Tony mumbled something. Joe held the arm of the well-built man guarding the door.

  Leo rubbed his cheek, a little taken back, and told the guard to
let me go. He gave me a questioning look I had seen all too many times. I ignored it.

  “Why did you do it? Why did you risk everything for me?” My voice reflected how I meant it: desperate rather than angry. Leo touched my chin with a knuckle and embarrassment settled on my pale cheeks as I remembered who he was—and became painfully aware of everyone staring at me.

  “You know why,” Leo remarked softly, and strolled over to Joe. He whispered under his breath, and Joe signalled the other guards.

  Instantly, they cleared the room.

  “Well trained.” Tony whistled, his posture easing noticeably at their exit. “Are they your personal gofers?”

  Leo placed a hand on Tony’s shoulder. “Something like that. They’re my bodyguards, of sorts.”

  “Leo, I’m so sorry for getting you into this mess.” I struggled not to tear up. The dungeon hadn’t been kind to my hormones.

  “Kal, it was my time.” Leo went to pick up the apple that had fallen from the guard and tossed it in the bin. “Besides, I’m in charge of my decisions, not you.”

  I didn’t buy his smile, something gnawed at him. Was it me?

  I was too scared to ask.

  I perched on the bed, next to Jill. She hooked my arm into hers.

  “So, what happened, mate?” Tony enquired.

  Leo motioned for him to sit as he pulled up a chair. “Sebastian and his merry men were taking me to Gorah when my men found us. Three of his men were killed, a few captured, but Sebastian and one other got away. My men insisted they take me to Narun, but” —Leo’s jawline tightened— “Sebastian won’t give up, and he knows what to use as leverage.” Leo’s gaze flickered to me. “Plus, the word will be out; Sebastian won’t make the same mistake twice. He will have notified the King of Gorah. There are Scouts everywhere.” Leo ran his hand through his hair. A line formed between his eyes as things unmentioned weighed on his mind.

  The guilt inside of me was becoming a boulder.

  “How did your bodyguards know you were taken? Milla said we had to get word to Narun.”

  “It’s complicated,” Leo said. “Since I’ve been in hiding, I’ve always had my men with me, except when I came to find Kalika. It would’ve drawn too much attention, so I talked them out of joining me, though I updated them on a weekly basis. They were always nearby. When Kalika was kidnapped I told them I was going after her. There was no time to wait for them, so I put in place a signal in case I was captured.” Again, his eyes refused to stay on mine for long.

  “The phone number you gave Tony.” It made sense now.

  “But it was a dead line,” Tony grunted.

  “It served its purpose. Dialling it activated a device on me that my guards were able to track—by that time Sebastian had finished searching me for trackers.” Leo straightened up, wincing slightly. The bruise on top of his ribcage bothered him. “They were already on their way anyway as I told them of the possibility of me revealing my identity.”

  I sniffed angrily. “And they let you do it?”

  “They weren’t thrilled, but it was my call.”

  “We’re so glad you’re back, Leo,” Jill hurried to say before I had a chance to answer back. “We’ve been so worried.”

  Our attention shifted as Joe appeared in the doorway. “Sir, fifteen minutes.” He didn’t wait for an acknowledgement before leaving us.

  “Fifteen minutes for what?” I verbalised everyone’s thoughts, although I was pretty sure my hunch was correct.

  “Until I have to go.” Leo sighed. “We’ve already stayed in one place too long. Bridleton will be their first port of call.”

  “You’re still leaving?” Tony and Jill said in unison.

  “I have to.” Leo stood up. “It’s not safe for me to stay here. For anyone’s sake.”

  “That sucks. Big time,” Tony mumbled.

  Jill skipped over to embrace Leo. “Will we ever see you again?”

  “Of course, you will.” Leo released her from the hug. “I just need to go back home for a while and once things cool down, I’ll send for you. How’s that sound?”

  “You won’t be able to come back, will you?” Tony sulked.

  “Not for a while, bro.”

  I had taken away his freedom.

  Jill wrapped her arms around Leo once more. I never realised how close they were.

  Joe popped his head in to give a ten-minute warning, now more pressing. I stared down at my hands, perched on the edge of the bed.

  “Actually, you guys, do you mind if I have a minute alone with Kalika?” Leo said, causing my pulse to beat out of sync.

  It was only Leo. Why was I nervous?

  Tony and Jill stepped outside without objection. I waited for the door to click shut before glancing at Leo. He stood there watching me, edgy.

  Goosebumps made their entrance and for a second it felt it wasn’t Leo in front of me; it was the heir to the throne.

  I cleared my throat. “I’m truly sorry for the situation I’ve cau—”

  “No,” Leo cut me short, unapologetically blunt. “Don’t talk to me like I’m the Prince. Talk to me like you know me.” He took a step forward but then hesitated.

  “But you are the Prince and I need to apologise for how I treated you all this time. If I’d known who you were, I never would’ve been such an idiot.” I dropped my hands to my lap, internally cringing at the things Leo knew about me. “If that wasn’t enough, I’ve messed up your life and compromised the future of Narun. You should have me arrested.”

  “I should, shouldn’t I.”

  I bypassed the sarcasm. “Leo, why didn’t you tell me?”

  He paced over, and sat next to me, placing his fingers on the handle of the crutch beside me.

  “I wanted you to come with me because you wanted to, not because the Prince of Narun asked you to.”

  “You should’ve told me.”

  “A title doesn’t change who I am. I’m still the guy who drives you off the wall. And this—” Leo stopped short. “Look, we don’t have a lot of time. I need to know what you’re going to do.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “If you’re staying, I need to set people in place to protect you. I need you to be safe.” The muscles in Leo’s forearm flinched under my touch.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “What I just said. Rewind.” He was frustrated; I wasn’t sure why.

  “Leo, am I allowed to come with you? You know I have a lot of baggage. And I exposed the…you. It was my fault you were captured, and I could’ve started a war!”

  Leo took my chin between his thumb and forefinger and lifted my head, forcing eye contact. “That wasn’t your fault! Kal, you’re so—stubborn! I don’t blame you for any of this. I chose to come out in the open; it was time. I believe in the greater purpose, and if it was my destiny to be taken saving you, then that’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make. And so is the King. He too would lay down his life for one of his people.”

  The door swung open. “Five minutes, sir. We really need to—”

  “Just leave us!” I hadn’t seen Leo snap at anyone but me before. He got up, his defined back towards me, rubbing his forehead.

  “What’s wrong?” I said after staring at the back of his head for a moment. “Why are you so angry?”

  “I’m not angry, I’m—I don’t know.” Leo locked eyes with me again. “Just tell me if you’re coming with me or staying and put me out of my misery.”

  That was bugging him? I pushed myself up, balancing on one foot. “Leo, do you really need to ask? I told you before I’d return to Narun. It just depends on whether I’m allowed to…and if you want me to.”

  He scoffed. “Kalika, nothing’s changed.”

  Our past conversations whirled in my head. “A lot has changed; everything has changed. I have so many questions, but we haven’t the time to get into it. We need to get you back to Narun. We need to go.”

  The intensity evaporated from Leo’s shoulders. “We?”
His fingers looped around my wrist. “You’re coming with me?”

  “Of course, I’m coming with you! From now on, I’ll do whatever you say.”

  He let go of my arm, a scowl forming on his face. “Why? Are you coming with me because I’m the King’s son, or are you coming with me because you want to?”

  “I’m coming with you because I never should’ve left Narun to begin with. Because I made a ginormous mistake that ultimately led me to the point where I couldn’t be more broken but—” I took a sharp breath between my teeth. “But I get it now. The thing about hitting the bottom is that it makes you look up. It strips you bare but gives you the chance to climb up and rebuild yourself. So, I’m starting over—again—the right way, because I know now where my place is. I don’t know what the future holds but I’m open to…to whatever it brings.”

  “Great. In that case, I’ll reassign you as my personal maid on arrival back home. That’s an order.”

  My heart fluttered at the familiar grin. I shook my head before the strange feeling took over.

  “You wish,” I muttered unimpressed.

  “Well, my wish is your command. After all, I do out-rank you.”

  “Whatever.” I hopped once on the spot, leaning onto a crutch. “Royalty or not, you’re not getting any special treatment once this leg heals.” I looked for my other crutch. Where had I dropped it?

  “That’s the spirit.” Leo pulled me over too fast and I stumbled, needing him for balance. Slightly awkwardly, he held me at arm’s length.

  I took in his face. His eye was all shades of black and blue down to his cheekbone.

  At least we matched.

  In my head, I vowed to train hard when we got back. I would become stronger. If there was a way to train my gift, I would do it. I would do whatever I could to protect Narun, and Leo, to my death.

  I lifted an arm onto his shoulder, hesitated, and pulled myself against him. Leo eased as my head tucked under his chin.

  “I know what you’re thinking.” His breath warmed my ear. “But the best chance they have at getting to me is through you. So, I’m going to do whatever I can to keep them from getting to you. If you want what’s good for Narun, don’t do anything stupid. And for crying out loud”— Leo pulled at my hair gently— “start listening to me.”