by Miles, Amy
I close my eyes as he reaches up to cup the back of my neck. He leans in and gently brushes his lips against mine, so softly I hardly know he is there. I lean up into him, unwilling to let him leave. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I crush my lips against his, rising onto my tiptoes to close the height distance.
Eamon’s hand upon my back flinches as I press into him, pushing him against the wall, molding to his lean frame. When I draw back, I can see a change in him. My Eamon is back. He smiles and clears his throat as I step back. “Wow.” He chuckles. “We should fight more often.”
The distant sky is painted with vivid greens and yellows, chasing the night away. He reaches out for me one last time, squeezing my hand. “I have to go, but I’ll be back.”
As he turns to slip back through the window, I feel the pain of his leaving. He pauses, crouching low. “Be careful. Stay close to Bastien. I know he’ll keep you safe.”
I nod as he slips from the window, disappearing into the shadows of the hedgerow that lines the foundation of the palace. Leaning forward, I strain to see his dark figure darting across the grounds. I gasp as he leaps behind a tree a mere second before a guard appears, swinging a light as he walks up the stone path leading away from the stables.
I release a breath as Eamon waits for him to pass and then darts for the woods. Being able to see the future does have its rewards from time to time.
Once I know he is safely hidden by the tree line, I sink to the floor, watching as the sun begins to rise. It feels weird to me, knowing it should be rising in the east like back home, but here the sun trails north to south. There are still so many things about this place that feel odd to me. Will I ever truly be able to call this planet home?
“You okay?” I turn and look up at Bastien. I never heard his footsteps but I could feel his approach. His handsome features are pinched, his emotions under tight reign. I sigh, knowing how hard it must’ve been for him to wait in his room for Eamon to leave. We have done this before and it didn’t end well for anyone. His eyes look dull as I shrug. “I guess you two talked?”
I wrap my arms about myself as I rise, feeling a chill that contradicts the warm morning breeze flowing in through my open window. “Please don’t do this.”
“Do what? Care?” The bite in his tone makes me grimace. I know this look, this body language all too well. I was forced to watch it while in Kyan’s camp a year ago. The steady progression of his withdrawal had nearly destroyed me then. I can’t go through this again.
“We both knew this would happen. Sariana said we can’t change fate.”
“Fate?” He snorts, shaking his head. “This is you I’m talking about, Illyria. I don’t care what some old lady saw in a vision. I don’t live my life based on what-ifs. I believe in what I can see and feel.” He takes a step forward and my breath hitches at his nearness. “I believe in you. That’s all that matters right now.”
“And Eamon?” I press.
His gaze narrows, but he doesn’t show any other reaction. “He’s a distraction that you don’t need right now. We need to get you through the next two days, and whatever happens after… well, it just happens.”
I hate the resignation I hear in his voice, as if I have already begun to slip between his fingers and he’s just waiting for the final separation. “You know,” I say, looking up at him, “the only thing I ever truly wanted was for you to fight for me.”
His jaw clenches as he turns and walks back to his room in silence. I almost think he’s going to shut the door on me, but he turns back with his hand upon the knob. “I did, every night in my dreams.”
The rest of the day passes in an absolute blur as I am whisked from one decorator to the next. Flowers are thrust before my nose, tiny squares of sweet-tasting sponge are shoved into my mouth, and my hair is yanked in so many directions I fear I’ll be forced to wear a wig to cover up the bald spots on my wedding day.
Alesta is a lifesaver. While I spent the day before sleeping restlessly in bed, she was bustling about, making preparations. Sometime around noon, Aloysius came in to find me waist deep in bolts of material, my hair frazzled and my stomach churning from too many sweets, but he looked pleased, and in his presence, it all felt worth it.
The instant he left, I wanted to die.
Despite the enthusiasm Alesta has shown in the royal wedding preparations, I can sense sadness in her. She knows how desperately I don’t want this wedding. As she sits me down before a table of endless meal selections, she squeezes my hand, offering me a smile.
I suppose she thinks if she keeps me busy enough, I won’t really feel the terror rising up within me. Perhaps she would be right if I weren’t dealing with my own inner turmoil.
Bastien and Eamon, together again. There is no part of this situation that will end well.
Both will be heartbroken. One may not survive.
The stress of this wedding pushes me to the brink. “Enough!” I shout as I toss down my napkin. I feel ill, not just from the rich foods I’ve consumed, but from how quickly the room has begun to spin about me.
Alesta looks up in surprise. I smile weakly at her and motion for her to approach. She whispers her apologies to the servants who’ve been underfoot to the point that I’m constantly tripping over them.
“Illyria?” she whispers as she kneels beside me. “Are you okay?”
I sink back in my chair, pressing my hand to my forehead. “I can’t keep this ruse up any longer,” I mutter. “I need air. I need to get away.”
She smiles as she pats my hand and rises. “I believe the final decisions have been made. Our lady is weary from the day and would like to rest. Please see to it that all of the food selections are prepared for tomorrow’s festivities.”
The group of men and women, all dressed in fine purple dresses and suits trimmed with golden tassels and buttons, bow and hurry from the room. Alesta waits for the doors to close before she lowers down beside me once more. “I’m sorry that took so long. It was important that we blended your tastes with the king’s.”
“But I don’t care,” I whisper, feeling how dry my mouth has become. “I don’t care what he likes, what he wants, what he thinks will make me happy.”
Alesta’s gaze shifts about the room. “You shouldn’t say such things. People will hear.”
“Maybe I don’t really care.” I slump in my chair.
“You must!” She clasps my arm so suddenly I cry out in surprise, but she doesn’t let go. “If the king knew you were not under his control at all times, he would seek to change that. Who knows the damage he could do if he dug deeper into your brain.”
I watch as she shudders. “You really care, don’t you?”
She smiles. “Of course I care. You are to be my queen.”
I place a hand over hers, grateful to have a friend within the palace. “I need you to swear something for me.” She waits expectantly as I lean in to whisper in her ear. “Don’t let Bastien out of your sight after the wedding.”
“Bastien?” She draws back. “Why would you care—” She breaks off with a sigh. “I knew there was something between you two.”
I wave her off. “It was a thing that could never be, but I know him far too well. When the fighting starts, he will head straight for me. I need you to promise that you’ll do everything you can to stop him. I can’t bear for him to get hurt.”
She lowers her gaze. “I’ve warned my family not to attend the wedding. If their absence doesn’t go unnoticed, they could be punished.”
Grasping her arm, I wait for her to look up at me. “I promise I won’t let that happen. No one else will die under the hand of the king.”
I pace beside my window, wringing my hands as I watch the moon rise. Eamon should’ve been here by now. What if something went wrong? What if he was captured trying to see me again?
“Psst.” A whisper slips past the curtains. I whirl around, searching the darkness
“Eamon?” I push aside the privacy screen to look out over my window b
ut can’t see anything.
“Step back.” I hardly have a chance to get out of his way as he swings down from above and lands lightly in my room, the screen clattering as it swings back into place. As he straightens, I throw myself in his arms, relieved to see him safe.
“I was so worried. I thought you’d be here at sunset, but it’s been hours.”
Eamon cups my face with both hands and gently brushes his lips across mine. He pulls back and smiles. “Hi.”
I laugh and sink into his embrace. “Hi back.”
“What’s going on out—” Bastien cuts off as the light spilling from his room illuminates us. He goes rigid. “Never mind. I’ll leave you two alone.”
“No,” I call as he turns. “You don’t have to go.”
“He doesn’t?” Eamon arches an eyebrow.
I ignore him and step out of his arms. “Please, Bastien. You need to hear this too.”
He hesitates, obviously not wanting to be anywhere near Eamon at the moment, but he turns and leans back against the wall, in the room but with some definite distance between us. That will have to do.
I turn back to Eamon. “Why were you late?”
“There was a skirmish over in Merolina, a city about fifty miles south of here. Carleon ran into some trouble and we had to bail him out.”
“Is he okay?” I can’t bear the thought of something happening to Carleon.
“Yeah. Kyan managed to wipe the guard’s memories with the help of Balan and Delyth.”
I remember the first time I met Balan. I was mesmerized by his ability to transport people from one place to another in the blink of an eye. He’d been one of the reasons we managed to survive Drakon’s attack when he discovered Kyan’s base in the mountains. Balan fought bravely then and ever since. I’m grateful to have him here.
“What about the girls?” Bastien asks, giving me a knowing glance. Of course he knows I’m terrified that Aminah and Zahra are here. They were never cut out for this life. They are peaceful… Well, at least Aminah is. Zahra can be a fighter when provoked.
“They’re fine. Kyan and Toren are keeping them close to base. They won’t be coming out to play until the wedding.”
“After the wedding,” I amend. Eamon glances toward me, obviously not the least bit happy with my correction. “If you bust in before I’m married, then I lose my title to the throne if… when Aloysius dies. You can’t attack until after the ceremony.”
“But that doesn’t give us enough time to rescue you,” Eamon protests.
“I’ve tried telling her that. You know Illyria. Stubborn as an old mule,” Bastien growls, his arms tightly crossed over his chest.
Eamon glances at him and then back at me. “If we don’t make it to you in time, he could—”
I hold up my hand. “I know the risks. It still has to be this way. You know that better than anyone, Eamon.”
He grits his teeth and looks to Bastien for help, but he merely shrugs. “When have you ever been able to talk her out of anything?”
Eamon’s lip curls into a scowl. “Good point. Fine, we do it your way, but… I want you to be the one to tell Kyan.”
Dipping low into the closet, I uncover my bag, ripping into it to pull out my cammo pants and black tank top. “Heaven,” I whisper as I run my hands over the material.
In less than a minute, I have tossed my see-through dress aside and don my familiar clothes. It feels wonderful to be concealed for the first time since I arrived. Standing before the mirror, I pull the clips from my hair, watching as black waves fall over my shoulders, loosely tousled and curled at the ends.
“You look stunning,” Bastien whispers from behind as he emerges from his room.
I knew he wouldn’t sleep, not while Eamon remained in my room. We talked for over an hour, lying side by side in my bed. It felt oddly comforting, almost like it used to be between us.
I glance down at my tank top and grin. “At least it leaves a bit to the imagination.”
Bastien nods. “I like this better.”
“Me too.” I sink down onto my bed and begin lacing up my boots.
“And Eamon?”
I wince, knowing this was bound to happen. “Don’t worry. Nothing happened. We just talked.”
He lowers his gaze, turning so I can only see his profile. “I wasn’t trying to pry…”
I laugh. “Of course you were. I’ll bet you stayed propped up right next to the door, trying to listen.”
“A tempting thought,” he says dryly, “but it’s not my place to monitor you. Your relationship with him is none of my business.”
The heaviness in his voice hurts. “I’m sorry,” I whisper.
“For what?” He moves closer in the dark. “You did nothing wrong.”
I stand and face him, unsure of what do with my arms. They feel awkward at my sides yet oddly placed if I cross them. I settle for stuffing my hands in my pockets, grateful to have them once more. “Then why does it feel like I did? I hate that I keep hurting you, that no matter what I do or say it’s never enough. It’s not fair.”
Bastien closes the gap between us and gently lifts my chin up toward him. “I’m here because I want to be. Don’t worry about the rest. I can handle it.”
My hands clench into fists within my pockets. “You always do this for me. Having you and Eamon so close isn’t a good idea.”
To this Bastien nods. “I agree. Things get… complicated, but that’s not something I want you to worry about. I’m fine. You need to focus on finding a way to break Aloysius’s mind control.”
I remove one hand from my pocket and brush my hair back from my face. “Will things ever be easy again?”
His gaze shifts beyond me, unseeing. “Someday it will.”
“But not today,” I mutter.
“No.” He looks back at me. I can see the hidden depths of his pain. “Not today.”
Staring at him now, I can’t imagine my life without him. He has always known my thoughts and emotions, been the backbone I needed when I was too weak. He roots me in reality, but that ability reminds me that I’m not free to love him.
“You’d best pretend to be sleeping when Alesta arrives. Otherwise, she’ll think you were in on my escape plan. You know she’ll be furious about messing with her wedding day schedule.” I move toward the window, turning back with one leg up on the sill. “Oh, and try not to look too gorgeous when you first wake. It’s really not fair to her.”
Bastien cracks a smile. “It’ll be tough, but I’ll see what I can manage.”
I grin and leap from the window and out into the night.
As I hurry along the path leading to the stables, glancing back over my shoulder from time to time, I can’t help but think of one thought: today I’m getting married. I had hoped that when this day came, it would be filled with joyful nerves and butterflies of excitement, not dread and fear.
Dawn isn’t far off as I hurry down the steps and toward the stables. I can hear the whinnies of the Inara and grin. Bastien’s plan was brilliant. Of course the guards would allow me to breach the palace walls to go for a ride, even one so close to my wedding. My beach is private, secluded. No harm would come to me there.
We decided it best to leave Bastien behind or risk raising unnecessary warning flags should we be seen together. To this point we have given Aloysius no reason to doubt either of us and now is not the time to give him the chance.
Edana waits for me in her stall, her head bucking as I reach out to smooth my hand over her nose. She nuzzles against me and I laugh, stepping aside to grab a fruit for her. “You don’t want to eat too much or you’ll spoil your breakfast.”
It takes me a few moments to figure out how to attach the saddle. Watching one of the stable boys do it is hardly a good enough lesson to learn by. As the first droplets of color dot the sky, I steer Edana out of the stable and break into a run.
My hair whips behind me and I laugh as I leave the palace behind, feeling free for the first time in days. Edana
eats away the distance in only a few scant minutes. Nervous tension roils in my belly at the thought of seeing my friends again.
Aminah is sure to crush me in a hug if she comes. Zahra might even be happy to see me. Although, if she tries to go for a hug, I’ll be shocked. And Kyan… I need him more than I realized. He’ll know what to do. He always does.
The gates loom before and I lean low over Edana’s back, waiting for the gates to open. As we draw near, I realize that two guards stand before them, hands outstretched. I pull back on the reins, my teeth rattling as Edana digs in her feet.
“What is the meaning of this?” I growl as we slide to a halt only a few feet back from the towering metal gate. “I order you to stand aside.”
The guards look at each other before answering. “I’m afraid I can’t allow that, my lady.”
“By whose authority?”
“Mine,” a raspy voice calls from my right side.
Edana paws at the dirt as I shift uneasily in my saddle. Drakon emerges, his hands clasped behind his back. His face is battered and bruised, his upper lip split and laced with stitching. Apparently Malek had a good time teach Drakon his lesson.
His gaze sweeps over my attire and I can feel his smug grin hit like a punch to my ribs. “I should have known you would try to escape to your rebel friends.” He steps forward and grabs my reins, yanking them from my hand.
The guards rush forward and I scream as their hands clap upon me, unseating me. Drakon smiles as I buck in their arms. I can feel his touch as he prods at my mind and snarl as I mentally shove him back. “Don’t touch me.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.” His eyes glint black in the rising dawn. “However, I think the king will be very interested to hear where it is you were heading, don’t you?”
Twenty-Two
I strain against Drakon’s grasp, clawing my nails against his arms as he drags me across the slick palace floor. I grunt, digging in the soles of my boots, giving myself only a small amount of traction to resist. “Let go of me.”