Chapter 13
ZADYN
“This will keep us linked,” Mar explains, taking a dagger and slicing a clean line across her palm. She squeezes a few cobalt drops into one of the six interlocking circles she’s drawn in the sand.
“We’ll be able to communicate at all times as long as the connection remains intact. I will serve as the anchor.”
She passes me the dagger. I barely feel the slice as my blood fills in the circle at my feet. We go down the line until five red circles and one blue enclose the star etched in the center.
Mar’s eyes close, and our blood begins to bubble with life. Almost instantly, I feel a channel open up in my mind.
Can you hear me? Her voice is clear and bright in my head.
Yes, we echo as one.
I can hear all of them.
Loryn carefully uncovers the celmilline and turns to Ilayna. She shivers in the early morning breeze, holding herself.
“Keep it on you at all times,” he says. “Once you’re inside, you take hold of this and imagine the wards easing down. Understand? The rest I will take care of.”
She nods dutifully, taking it from him. “I understand. I have to get back. The carriage is picking us up at noon.”
“Go. Be safe,” I tell her before she disappears through the tall, wild palms.
“How will we know the wards are down?” Jace asks Loryn, adding another dagger to the collection strapped around his hip.
“I’ll be able to tell. On my signal, you go.”
“Loryn, thank you.” I pull the pouch of gold coins from my pocket and press it into his palm. There’s enough there to pay for the celmilline and a fresh start.
“I am forever in your debt. Once the wards are down, take that boat, and don’t stop until you hit Tir. Gods be with you.”
“Good luck.” He takes the pouch and casts a wistful look down the beach at the tiny rowboat and supplies we secured for him.
“We ready?” I ask, turning back to the group.
Dover leans down to kiss Mar. Her gray eyes peer up into his, pregnant with emotion. “Come back to me. In one piece, please.”
“I always will.” He gives her a reassuring smile as he backs away.
And with that, Dover, Jace, and I start toward the castle. Armed to the teeth and ready for the bloody battle that awaits us.
We wait in the brush lining the pebbled drive, listening for the sound of horses. Finally, the rattle of squeaking wheels interrupts the unbearable quiet, and the carriage carrying twelve courtesans, including Ilayna drives by.
Wards are down, Loryn says.
Showtime, boys, Dover replies.
We lurch forward as one, dashing for the carriage before it disappears through the glittering gates now visible to us for the first time. Jace latches onto the back and pulls himself upward, extending his hand for Dover while I shift into a falcon.
We’re in, I confirm for Mar and Loryn as the gates close behind us.
Let the fun begin. *
The wedding guests have already arrived. Empty carriages line the perimeter of the massive courtyard, filling in the gaps between fluted pillars.
I expected lines of military poised and ready for intruders. I half expected hordes of Stryga standing guard. I’m shocked to find only a few armored troops posted outside the towering doors.
It’s bold, I’ll give them that. Either they’re negligent, or it means they don’t need to be cautious and they know it. Something tells me it’s the latter.
I shift, my features rearranging themselves and taking on a new appearance as Dover and Jace leap off the carriage.
The females stir within, their concerned voices rising.
I reach for the door and swing it open, but it isn’t me they see before them.
Their eyes go wide as they take in the blue-green irises and unkempt jet-black hair.
“Prince Kai,” a few of them whisper, flashing me flirtatious smiles.
“Now, ladies”—I muster up one of Kai’s mischievous grins—“no matter what you hear, I want you to remain calm. Trust me when I tell you everything is alright. Can you do that for me? Pretty, pretty please?”
I’m answered with eleven enamored sighs. Ilayna gives me a curt nod.
Laying it on a bit thick, are we? Dover teases.
Better safe than sorry. On my count, I say as the driver and footman dismount, and two guards approach the carriage to escort the girls inside.
One. Two.
Dover and Jace pounce, leaping from behind the carriage like wildcats, attacking the approaching men.
Three, I guess.
Jace takes down the two guards within a fraction of a second, slamming their helmets together with a sickening crack. The coachmen flee the way they came, tearing out onto the path leading up the long drive. That’s when I notice the two stable boys trying to sneak away.
“You there.”
They freeze, horrified as Prince Kai paces up to them. “I want you to park the carriage close by. Then I want you to go to the stables, tie each other up, and gag yourselves so that you can’t speak. Wait there until I command you to come out. Understand?”
They nod and start toward the carriage as Dover helps the last of the females down the steps.
“Kinky.” He chuckles. We turn to see Jace undressing one of the unconscious guards. “And kinkier.”
Jace shoots him a dirty look as he slips on the polished golden breastplate and helmet. “Help me get rid of Tweedledee and Tweedledum.”
I grab one of the guards, and he takes the other, stuffing them into the empty carriage before the stable boys lead the horses away.
How are we looking? Mar asks.
So far, so good.
Don’t jinx it, Jace mutters.
With another flash of light, I shift again—same color eyes and raven hair, trimmed a little neater on the sides.
Standing a few inches taller, I shove through the doors in a hunting outfit only Kylian would wear.
I strip off the leather gloves and step inside with the ridiculous swagger of a king, announcing my arrival.
Ilayna leads the pack of courtesans away, but before they can veer off in the opposite direction, I take hold of her arm.
“Ilayna, you should go. Now. I don’t want you swept up in what’s about to happen here. Take one of the horses and ride to safety.”
“Zadyn, I—”
Please.
But the girls—
Will not be harmed. They knew nothing about this. If you get caught…just go. Please.
She takes one more look at the courtesans and nods, slipping the celmilline into my hand and squeezing tight. “Gods be with you.”
Servants cower and bow as I stride through the halls as Kylian, my heels echoing off the marble expanse. No one asks questions. Who would dare challenge a sadistic king who publicly beats his own brother for sport?
Let’s split off, I say to Jace and Dover. I’ll check Kylian’s rooms, you take the east wing. Jace nods, his face concealed beneath the golden helmet.
“Sire.”
I freeze at the sound of that voice.
Jace tenses beside me. Before Dover can turn, Jace grips the back of his neck and shoves him forward, guiding him away. I pray Mal didn’t get close enough to recognize him.
Keep it together, I warn Jace. I can feel his blood boiling like a riot in my head.
Watch him, is all he says as their footsteps disappear around the corner.
I turn to face Mal’s harsh green-eyed gaze. “What is it, Mal? I’ve matters to tend to.”
“I didn’t expect you to be out hunting this morning.”
I continue walking, not giving him the time of day. “A male can’t let off some steam the morning of his wedding?”
“Apologies, my King. I was not informed,” Mal says, his voice calm and removed as he trails me up the stairs.
I’ve committed the layout of this place to memory from the renderings Dover helped me map out. I stop before Kylian’s door, praying to find Serena alone behind it.
“If you must bore someone to death with your prattling, save it for my mother. I’m not interested. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve a wedding to tend to.”
“Sire.” I pause, my hand on the door handle. “That’s a linen closet.”
Fuck.
His eyes narrow suspiciously. I get in his face, doubling down.
“I know that, you imbecile. I intend to bathe before my wedding, and I do not have time to wait for these useless servants to fetch me fresh towels. Now go make yourself useful before I lose my patience.”
Mal looks unconvinced, his stone face unreadable. But then he steps back, etching a deep bow before retreating down the steps.
I wait until his fiery hair disappears before continuing down the hall.
A linen closet? Nice. Really believable, Dover chuckles.
Shut up.
You’re two doors off.
I approach the correct door. Hopefully. Pressing my ear against the wood, I wait to pick up any sounds within. Then I burst inside, scanning the empty room for any sign of her. I try every door in the wing.
Nothing.
Zadyn. What in the seven hells is going on? Jace snaps.
She’s not here.
I dart back down the stairs to the main hall. But before I can reach the bottom, Mal appears in front of me.
“Hello, my King.”
His wicked eyes gleam, and before I can react, a bolt of lightning shoots out to strike me in the chest.
Zadyn? What’s happening?
I groan as my back and head connect with the unforgiving stairs. Mal’s footsteps stop beside my ear as he grips my collar and yanks me an inch off the steps.
“What do we have here? A crasher? Mind showing me your invite?”
“Sure. Here it is.”
Gripping his wrists for leverage, I pitch forward, head-butting him until he tumbles back.
Jace and Dover appear at the bottom of the steps as Mal rights himself. A silver stream of light bursts from his palm, but Jace ducks, tackling him back into the wall.
“Fucking traitor!”
Jace grabs him by the collar and tosses him down the stairs before hauling me to my feet. The three of us race back up the steps and down the hall as the faint sound of music drifts toward us.
It’s starting.
We exchange a worried glance.
“Dover, where are we going?” Jace’s voice is edged with panic as we careen around a corner.
“The back stairs will lead us to the chapel.”
“Wait.” Jace skids to a stop, his eyes catching on the exposed corridor across the way.
Through the window, I see a figure in white drifting down the hall in the wing across from us. She moves like a specter—there, but not fully present. Unreachable and unobtainable.
Time slows as she floats forward like an ivory queen in a shimmering silk dress, escorted by two golden guards. My heart hammers. She’s concealed beneath the veil, and I pray she turns—pray she can somehow feel me. I need to see her face.
I need…I need her.
But she doesn’t turn. I watch helplessly as the girl I love disappears down the hall to attend her own wedding.
Come on! Dover shoves us forward, breaking our trance.
We hurry down the steps, the chapel doors coming into view across the way. But as we reach the bottom, a line of golden soldiers is waiting to greet us. I manage to break through, twisting back to see Jace and Dover caught in the madness. I freeze, my hand on the door.
“Go!” Jace shouts. “Go now!”
A twinge of guilt tugs at me as they hold the line. But I can feel her on the other side of this door. I feel her in my blood, in my bones, calling to me. So I don’t waste another second before turning and throwing open the chapel’s heavy doors.
* Cue: Trouble by Pink