49. Lukene
J ames and I finally arrive at the palace, both of us stained with the blood of the prison guards. The gravity of our actions weighs heavily on me as we make our way inside. My instincts tell me we should go straight to the throne room to find my father and Vanna.
As we approach the door, we see a servant leaving with a mop and bucket full of dirty water… correction, it is bloody water. Dread sinks into the pit of my stomach like an anchor dragging me down. I glance at James, and the look on his face mirrors my own.
We rush into the throne room, and my heart drops at the sight of my father, Vanna, Raymon, and Sehgrid. Sehgrid, Vanna’s creep of a personal blood wielder, is dressed in his signature blood-red cloak. Rumors say he’s over two and a half centuries old.
“Lukene, we’ve been waiting for you,” my father says. When he notices the blood covering us, his expression shifts to one of concern. “Whose blood are you two drenched in?”
“Some people who deserved it,” I reply, flashing a grin that feels foreign on my lips. “Sehgrid, get out. I don’t want to look at your creepy face while I talk to my father.”
Vanna scoffs but gestures for him to leave. As he walks out, he glares at me, and I return the look with a sinister smile, full of threats of death if he messes with me. Gods, I hate that man.
“What of the treaty, Lukene?” my father asks, straightening his posture.
Looking around the room, I smell the faintest scents of blood and soap. The floor looks freshly cleaned, and the hairs on the back of my neck stand up as the candles flickering threaten a confession. Please don’t be Reign’s, I say over and over to myself.
“He wants half of Skalhar—the portion that borders his land. There is a prisoner in the Hollows he wants. He also warned that if we attempt to take Maduri, he will retaliate with full force.” I maintain a blank expression, but inside, I’m dying to check on Reign. I need to know she’s safe.
I catch James’s eye. He’s looking at the floor, lost in thought. He must feel the same unease as I do as the heavy silence fills the air. Blood was spilt here—whose and how is still unknown.
“And what of Prince Elliot taking the prisoner as his bride?” Vanna asks, holding her head high, her expression a mix of disdain and curiosity.
“He is very interested in her. He said he just needs more out of the treaty. There is a cure, and he said he can heal our land. Hope is not lost.”
My father hurls his chalice across the room, the metal clanging loudly against the stone floor as wine splatters everywhere. “We need that cure, Lukene!” he bellows, his face reddening with anger, his shoulder-length black hair swaying with each furious movement.
“We will get it. We need to abandon our claim to Maduri. What harm does it do to give him half of Skalhar? Most of that land is desert anyway.”
“Lukene, you were given orders. You have failed me and your kingdom. You were instructed to ensure that the champion either marry him for the cure or execute him—neither was accomplished. Leave us. Vanna and I must discuss our next steps.”
I want to ask about Reign, to demand what they plan for her, but instead, I bow and nod to James, signaling for him to follow me.
As we exit the throne room, we march toward my room. “Did you smell that?” James asks, concern etched on his face.
“Of course I did. I also saw Raymon’s smug look. He did something I am just not sure what.” The rhythm of my heart is as rapid as a galloping horse, while nausea ebbs in my stomach, thinking it could be Reign’s.
Once we reach my room, I burst inside. Elm, Kylo, and Lilyana sit in chairs, speaking in hushed tones, while Reign is sleeping in my bed. They all share the same expression, gaping mouths and wide eyes. The tension is thick. I can cut it with a knife.
Lilyana claps a hand over her mouth. “Lukene… why are you both covered in blood?”
“We had a long day, Lilyana. Nothing for you to worry about.” I stride over to them, my eyes flicking to Reign. She looks every bit the sleeping goddess, unharmed and serene. My restless heart settles a bit.
“Nothing happened while you were gone. She just bathed and passed out,” Lilyana replies with a shrug, but her fidgeting betrays her nerves.
James walks over to Reign. He looks down at her for a long moment before turning to face us, his face stoic as always.
Kylo on the other hand, is sweating. Nervousness laces his movements. Why would my best friend look nervous. “What aren’t you telling me?” I challenge, searching each of their faces for answers. Anxiety grips them all. No one is going to tell me anything. Fine. I’ll figure it out anyways.
Walking over to Reign, I pull a chair up beside her bed. I watch her breathe, the gentle rise and fall of her chest reassuring me. Reaching out, I lightly grasp her hand, warm and soft beneath my touch. I inspect her wrists, searching for any signs of restraint.
She stirs, her bright eyes fluttering open. “Luke…” She breathes my name like a sigh of relief, her gaze taking in my bloodied form. A crease forms between her brows as she processes the sight. “Why are you covered in blood?”
“It is not my own. No need to worry.” I grin, leaning forward to brush her hair from her face, tucking it behind her ear. She is so beautiful, so perfect. Then it hits me. She is too perfect… where is the wound above her brow?
“Reckless,” I say softly, grasping her hand in mine and rubbing my thumb over her knuckles. I hear her intake a shaky breath. She’s tense. Oh, Reckless, what did they do to you? “What healer touched you?”
She has never been good at covering her emotions. Not like me anyway. I see the apprehension slip up, then she tries to hide it. “I didn’t see a healer.” She chuckles, while pulling her hand back.
Sitting up straighter in my chair, my shadows start to leak out of me slowly, little tendrils, slithering around. “I am going to ask you once more—who healed you… and why?”
“She needs her rest, Luke,” Kylo says.
I slowly turn my head to the side, so Kylo can see half my face, and I glare at him. Slowly, I shake my head, so he knows to shut his mouth before I lose control.
“Reign?”
“Dola. She saw the wound on my head and healed it for me.” She gulps and rolls her bottom lip between her fingers.
“Oh Reckless, you should know by now not to lie to me. Tsk. Tsk. Tsk.” I stand and look at Elm, Kylo, and my sister. “Someone tell me what the fuck happened. I won’t ask again.”
No one answers. Okay. I guess some persuasion is needed. Shadows burst out of me, twirling around the room. If someone doesn’t tell me in the next few seconds I am going to destroy the room.
Kylo steps forward. “Put them away, Luke.” He sighs. “Vanna?—”
“Don’t!” Reign yells, her voice trembling.
I can’t look at Reign. I know I am not going to like what I hear. “Go on.” I encourage him.
He looks at Reign, giving her an apologetic look. “Vanna had Reign whipped. She was going to have Raymon take her to the dungeons and let guards ‘have their way with her’. However, Lilyana convinced your father that the whipping was enough.”
Rage. Blind rage pulses through my veins. Shadows pour out of me. I hear James yelling, but I can’t make out the words. I storm out of there, my shadows are angrily whipping around me, ripping canvases and sconces off the wall as I stomp past. Let my father and Vanna see the monster they helped create. Let them see the monster within me, the night terror I am, the cold-hearted killer they molded.
Each step I take toward the throne room quakes with malice, making the candles’ flames cower back and die down. Bursting through the doors, I shoot shadows out everywhere. I slam Raymon into the wall. I layer my shadows so thick, he can’t even use his magic.
“You whipped her!” I growl, while looking at my father, then Vanna.
Vanna stands, a stern look on her face. I shake my shadow from side to side, in front of her face, like a finger telling her not to do whatever it is she is thinking.
“Lukene… think! Think about what you’re doing.” James yells as he runs in behind me, lightning crackling around his wrists and hands. Knowing James, the thunder is for if I need him to use it, but it will look like he is trying to stop me. Smart. Cunning.
“If you hurt him, I will kill your little Drifter, Lukene. I will make her suffer greatly before I kill her. I will torture that boy toy of hers, Elm. I will make her watch everything. Then, I’ll kill her slowly.” Vanna smiles.
“Lukene, stand down,” My father demands, the words bellowing from his chest.
“Vanna.” I sinisterly smile. “If you try to take her from me, like you took my throne, I will kill you. I vow right here, right now, that I will end you.” I swirl my shadows around her. Her eyes don’t give anything away, but her fingers are slightly trembling.
I feed off her fear. I revel in it. Bringing in a deep breath, I make my shadow into a whip and lash Raymon across the face, splitting it from his left eye to the right side of his lower jaw. He screams out, and the sweet melody fills my blackened soul with sinful joy.
“Touch him again, and I swear… I swear, Lukene, she is done for,” Vanna yells, her face now reddened with pure anger.
“If you want me to continue to be the Commander of the guards, or if you want me to do your biddings, or take over other kingdoms… you will drop this thing you have against Reign. If anything happens again, Vanna,” I fill my lungs with air, cocking my head to the side, and smile a wide smile as I say, “I will bury this kingdom in shadows. I will bring it all down. My legacy will be that I toppled the great kingdom of Umbrahdor.”
I pour more magic out of me, blocking out almost every ray of light in the room. My shadows twirl around the room, rapid like a hellstorm. They create wind so furious it blows her hair all around, sending cups and whatever else they have in the room flying. “Do not touch her again. This is my first and final warning.” My voice is cold, like death itself.
With that, I suck in all my power. Raymon immediately drops to the floor with a huge thud, while the light seems to shine brightly now, making my father and Vanna squint.
“Now. Decide what our next move is with Armadon. Summon me when it is decided,” I snap. Without dismissal, I leave the room, James follows.
The walk back to my bed chamber is silent until James decides to speak. “Luke, that was the stupidest thing you could have done.” He shakes his head. “You just dangled Reign in Vanna’s face like a worm to a fish. Do you expect her not to bite?”
“She won’t. The consequences will be too great,” I reply just as we arrive to the room. I reach for the knob, but James knocks my hand out of the way.
“Are you willing to put her life on the line like that, Luke. This is Vanna we are talking about… She is cunning. She is always ten steps ahead.”
Staring at him, I see the angst he has. He is worried—ever the father figure. “James… I will protect her.” With that I walk into the room.
“Everyone out,” I demand.
Everyone stands from their chairs. Reign stands from the bed. They all start toward the door, including Reign. I grip her arm. “Oh Reckless, you aren’t going anywhere.” She stares at me with uncertainty and a bit of fear. The fear I see in her eyes stings a bit. I’d never hurt her.
When everyone leaves the room, I release her. She stares at me with uncertainty. I gulp. “Let me see it.”
She reluctantly shakes her head. “Reign, let. Me. See. Your. Back,” I slowly say in a demanding voice.
She huffs, closing her eyes momentarily. “Fine. You want to see it?” She rips her top off and turns around.
A lump forms in my throat and my chest feels heavy at the sight of eight new angry red marks on her back. They are healed over, but fresh. My anger stirs again.
“Reign…” I huff out, but it sounds strangled. Before she turns back around, she puts her shirt back on. “Why would you try to hide this from me,” I ask.
“Because I didn’t want you to go all dark prince on everyone. It’s fine.” Her breathing picks up as she speaks. I step closer to her, gripping her shoulders. I pull her into me, wrapping my arms around her, hugging her tightly.
“It’s fine,” she replies.
“It’s not fine, Reign.”
“I had worse in the Hollows.” She pulls away from me and lays back down on the bed.
“I killed them all,” I blurt out.
She immediately sits up, eyes wide. “You killed the king and Vanna?”
“No! Gods and goddesses, no. I threatened them. But no. I killed Big Al and any guard he said hurt you.” She is still like a statue for a second, eyes unyielding. Then she crashes against me, throwing her arms around me in a desperate embrace.
Her chest is moving unevenly, and I can hear her soft sobs as she whispers, softly. “Thank you.”
We stand like that for a bit, embracing each other. Finally, I pull back, cupping her face, I wipe her tears away with my thumbs and gently kiss her forehead. “I am sorry I wasn’t here. No one will ever touch you again. Ever. I just made sure of that.” With silver beads in her eyes, she slowly nods.
“How are you feeling?” I ask, while I rub my hands up and down her arms.
“Honestly, I am fine. I promise. Dola healed me.” She cups my face with one hand, leaning up, she plants a soft kiss to my lips.
“Well, if you are up for it, I’d like to take you somewhere.”
“Where?” Her curiosity is adorable.
“It’s a surprise. Get dressed.” She smiles, then turns to go get ready.