Lost Heir (Blood Weaver Trilogy #2)

Chapter 1

1

I t was a sleepless night. My cot, nestled within the confines of my tent in the Valorian camp, offered no comfort as scenes from the previous night's battle against the Crimson Clan replayed in my mind. My spirit was troubled and unease settled deep within me. Ronan had deceived me, yet despite his betrayal, concern for his well-being gnawed at me as a persistent ache. Even though I was the one who put him in his current situation as a hostage for Valoria, the weight of that decision lay heavily on my heart.

As dawn painted the sky in strokes of light, I escaped the confines of my tent only to be met by the messenger I had dispatched under the cloak of night. His approach was marked by a deference, his bow a silent acknowledgment of my returned status. “Your Highness,” he greeted, extending a letter retrieved from the secrecy of his vest. “Apologies, Your Highness. I could not find the fae Orion, nor Miss Selene.”

The letter, a failed attempt at communication from the night before, felt heavy in my hands. “She wasn’t at the Rose Petal Lounge?” My voice betrayed my concern, a wary tremble beneath the surface.

His head shake confirmed my fears. “No, Your Highness. She was not there.”

A storm of worry churned within me, thoughts spiraling into dark possibilities. Did Orion go back on his word, or was this all a trick from the start? The uncertainty was frightening. Without confirmation of Selene's safety, I couldn’t even think about leaving for Valoria; her liberation from Madam Rose's grasp was paramount.

“Lyanna?” Caelan’s voice sliced through my turmoil, his presence a sudden beacon as he made his way toward us across the camp.

“Thank you for your help,” I told the messenger, my gratitude for his efforts a brief interlude in the storm of my thoughts. He departed with a bow, leaving me alone with Caelan.

Caelan, with his untamed silver hair and a smile that spoke of undisturbed slumber, stood in stark contrast to my unrest. The imagined dark circles under my eyes felt like badges of my sleepless vigil.

“Are you unwell?” His concern pierced the morning air, his smile fading as he drew closer.

I mustered a smile, a feeble shield against my worries. “I’m fine, just a bit worried.”

His frown deepened and his hazel eyes scanned my face as if searching for clues. “What’s wrong? Whatever it is, we can solve it, I promise—”

“It’s Selene,” I interrupted, the urgency in my voice cutting through any pretense of calm. “I can’t get ahold of her, and I’m worried. I can’t leave for Valoria without knowing her whereabouts.”

Caelan cleared his throat. “About that … She’s here. ”

My brows shot up. “Pardon?”

He ran a hand through his hair. “Marcellus bought her last night. It was why he was missing from the battle.”

“Wait. He bought her, or he freed her?”

Caelan bit his lower lip and paused before answering. “He bought her,” he clarified.

I felt the blood rush up to my head as if I was upside down. Fury was evident in my heated glare. “Where is he?” I demanded as I attempted to push past Caelan.

“Wait!” He stopped me, his hands going to my upper arms. “If you go to him while you’re still upset, it could turn ugly. Remember his reaction last night? He still needs time to process your return.”

I shrugged off his hands. “I don’t care! He’s not a child anymore, Caelan! You need to stop coddling him as if he still was. This is why he’s so damn spoiled!” I pushed past him, toward where I assumed his tent was located. Going from tent to tent without asking permission, I checked all within the vicinity, barging in on soldiers undressing and doing things I probably should not have witnessed. Finally, I found Marcellus’s tent.

Barging in, I saw him standing on one side and Selene seated on the edge of his cot, looking nervous. “Selene!” I yelled.

She breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of me, but when she started to stand and approach me, Marcel cut into her path.

“What are you doing here?” Marcellus asked, his voice dripping with disdain.

I scoffed. “What am I doing? What are you doing?” I shouted. “Did you really buy her instead of freeing her?”

He lifted his chin and peered down at me. “As if I have to answer to you. You’re nothing but a Crimson whore who— ”

Just then, Caelan darted past me and slapped Marcellus across the face.

I flinched, surprised by the swiftness of his movements. He glared Marcel down. “How dare you speak to your older sister in that manner!” Caelan yelled.

“She is no sister of mine,” Marcel gritted between his teeth, holding the side of his face. “I didn’t peg you as the type to want Ronan’s sloppy seconds.”

Caelan went to slap him again, but I caught his wrist and stopped him. “Enough. His words don’t bother me, and they shouldn’t bother you. They’re nothing but the ramblings of an insecure little boy.”

“How dare you!”

Marcel attempted to step up to me, but Caelan stood in his way. His glare was icy and deadly. “Don’t even think about it,” Caelan warned. “I have patience, but you’re testing it right now.”

“Your Highness, please ,” Selene pleaded as she tentatively approached. “She’s my best friend and she’s worried. Please understand!”

I wanted to tell Selene to stop begging him, but I felt as if it would only make matters worse, so I kept quiet.

Marcellus turned his chilling blue eyes towards Selene. She stared back unflinchingly and slowly, Marcel softened his gaze and nodded.

I went around them to Selene and pulled her into an embrace. “What happened?” I whispered into her ear.

She sniffled and clung to me. “Orion came to fetch me, but Madame Rose had already sold me. Orion didn’t stand a chance.”

“Do you know where he is?” When she shook her head, I pulled back. “Okay. As long as you’re okay,” I murmured .

“Of course she’s fine. I would never hurt her!” Marcel yelled indignantly.

I scoffed and rolled my eyes. “You claim you wouldn’t hurt her, but what do you think you’re doing by bringing her to Valoria? You’re bringing her to a den of vipers!” I nudged Selene behind me protectively.

“I’ve already sent word home,” my brother sniffed. “She’ll be my concubine—”

“The hell she will!” I shouted and charged toward him, but Caelan and Selene caught me before I could throw the first punch. “How can you be so damn selfish, Marcellus? She had a hard life at the pleasure house, and now you want to make her not your wife, but a concubine? You’re so egotistical!” My voice trembled toward the end, and I felt as if I was at the brink of tears. “Did you ever ask her what she wants?”

Marcellus’s face hardened at the accusation and his eyes flicked to Selene where she stood quietly behind me. He pondered my question for a few moments and then cleared his throat. “What do you want, Selene?”

I peered over my shoulder at her and nodded. “Speak freely, Selene. Don’t be afraid. Tell us what you want, not what others want for you.”

She bit her lip before speaking. “I—I want to be free, Your Highness.”

I sagged in relief and turned my attention back to my brother. “You heard her. Now tell me, Marcel, what are you going to do?”

His brows furrowed as he stared intently at Selene. “I’ll give you your freedom … as long as you return to Valoria with me.”

“You can’t—” I attempted to argue, but Selene clutched my wrist, stopping me .

“I agree,” she said quickly. “Wherever Leila goes, I’ll go.”

I whirled around to face her. “Selene, this is your chance at freedom. Return to the Luminar Sea and be reunited with your people, with your home—”

“You are my home, Leila. Please. Let me stay by your side.” Her green eyes pleaded with me as she reached for my hands and squeezed. “Please,” she repeated.

“We can keep her safe, Lyanna,” Caelan interrupted. “I’ll see to it.”

My gaze locked on Selene’s. I wanted her to change her mind, but then I remembered I’d just told her to decide her path based on no one’s choice but her own.

“Fine. But you can forget about making her your concubine,” I said to Marcel.

He kept quiet, though he sent me a nasty glare.

“Come on, Selene, you can ride with me—”

“Can I talk to the prince for a moment … alone?” Selene asked, looking at me intently. “I won’t be long.”

I was hesitant to leave her, but she was her own person and she deserved to make her own decisions. I couldn’t control her, no matter how badly I wanted to keep her safe. “Fine. Just … be careful,” I warned, giving her one last embrace before exiting the tent with Caelan following closely behind.

We crossed the vast camp and headed back toward my tent, the sun beaming down on us with buttery rays that attempted to chase away the early morning chill. Along the way, Caelan stopped me by gently touching my elbow. “Are you okay?”

I ran a hand through my hair. “I guess,” I muttered. “Selene is her own person. She’s been controlled by Madam Rose for so long, I couldn’t bear it if she was turned over to yet another master. She deserves her freedom. ”

He nodded. “I’ll prepare a carriage for you both. And I promise, Lyanna, I’ll make sure nothing happens to her. You have my word.”

I gave him a tight smile. “Thank you, Caelan.”

He smiled down at me, his hazel eyes drifting to the crescent moon birthmark on my forehead. After releasing the magic that kept it hidden last night, I noticed he couldn’t stop staring at it.

I self-consciously touched my forehead. “Does it look funny?”

He chuckled. “No. Not at all. It looks beautiful, Lyanna. You are beautiful.”

I didn’t know what to say so I kept quiet. I knew how he felt about me. He’d admitted as much when he knew me as Leila. But I couldn’t string him along. Eventually, I would have to tell him how I felt. Eventually.

Just not right now.