Chapter Ten #3
“Fortunate for us,” Maddox said. “You no longer face a murder charge.”
“Only the conspiracy to murder,” I mumbled before being struck by a sickening thought. “You believe me, right? I’d never hurt anyone, especially not—”
“Take a breath, sweetheart.” Maddox caressed my jaw. “I never doubted you even for a moment.”
“Neither did I,” Briar added. “Our captain told me what happened. You were paraded in front of the whole damned crowd and made a spectacle of.”
“I still don’t know how that vial got in my pocket,” I said, still in disbelief. “Someone had to have planted it on me, but I didn’t interact with anyone outside of all of you.”
“Think hard, love.” Briar moved aside a strand of my hair. “Do you recall anyone suspicious?”
“No. I just remember… wait. There was someone.” Everything came flooding back. “I bumped into them after leaving the royal family’s table. They wore a dark hooded robe, so I couldn’t see their face.”
Maddox clenched his jaw. “They must’ve slipped the vial into your pocket. It’s the only explanation.”
Callum braced one hand on the bars and gave them a little shake, as if testing their strength.
“Trying to break me out of prison, Cal?”
He smiled. One that didn’t reach his brown eyes. “Always a good idea to have a backup plan.”
“By making me an escaped convict?”
“You don’t belong in a dungeon.” He gripped the bars with both hands and pressed forward, his forehead colliding against the iron with a soft thud. “You belong at home with us.”
“I’ll be okay.” I put on my best courageous smile. Might’ve been more convincing if a dumb tear hadn’t chosen that moment to roll down my cheek.
Callum’s hand trembled as he brushed it away with his thumb.
“What happens now?” I asked with a sudden restlessness. Never thought I was claustrophobic, but the tiny cell suddenly seemed much smaller. The bars between me and my men only made that feeling worsen.
“The vial will first be examined to ensure it truly does contain the same poison used on the king,” Briar answered, his hazel eyes tightening. “If confirmed that it does, you’ll be found guilty.”
“Okay. What am I looking at here if that happens? What kind of punishment? Will I spend the rest of my life rotting in this cell?”
“Well. The sentence depends on the severity of the crime.” He adjusted his glasses and took a steadying breath. “In your case, an attempt on the king’s life, I fear there’s only one outcome. Execution.”
Maddox made a strangled sound.
“Aren’t I entitled to a trial?” I asked, desperation building. “If I present my case to the council and tell them I was framed, that someone slipped the poison in my pocket, they’d realize this is just one huge misunderstanding.”
“Little good that would do, I’m afraid,” Briar said. “In many ways, you’ve already had your trial. Prince Cedric accused you in front of a large crowd of witnesses, concocting quite the tale on top of it. The evidence against you is also staggering. The dagger and vial corroborate his story.”
“And the mention of the demon Oreo helping you,” Maddox interjected. “That certainly didn’t help sway anyone to your side.”
A shaky smile touched my lips. “Hey, you remembered his name this time.”
He didn’t return my smile. Nothing but rage showed in his expression. Maybe it was easier embracing anger instead of letting himself worry.
I looked at Briar. “So what you’re saying is I don’t have a snowball’s chance in hell of getting out of this mess. Once they confirm the poison, it’s game over for me.”
His glasses lens misted over, and he turned away to wipe at his eyes.
And then, the thin thread holding Maddox together snapped.
“You shouldn’t be in there!” He shoved against the bars with a frustrated snarl. “It’s not… I need to…” He punched one hard enough to send the others rattling.
Ban stepped forward, then hesitated and returned to his spot against the wall. He seemed to realize Maddox was just upset, not actually trying to break me out.
“Stop that.” I reached through the bars and grabbed Maddox’s hand. The skin had been torn open. “Now look what you’ve done. Bloodied your knuckles.”
His gaze locked onto mine, anger and grief lacing through his deep blue eyes.
“You reckless man.” Briar grabbed Maddox’s hand and placed his palm over his bloody knuckles. A light glow appeared. He couldn’t heal major injuries that way, but cuts, scrapes, and bumps were no problem for him. “What will I do with you?”
Maddox watched him work, saying nothing. His other hand was squeezed into a tight fist.
I was the one locked in a cell, but I worried more for them.
My men’s fate was tied to mine. In the event I fell victim to one of my possible doom endings, Rowan embraced his darker nature and used his shadow magic to hurt people, crushing them like dust. Lake became what everyone feared demi-wolves to be, violent and blood hungry.
Maddox turned his back on his knights and lost himself to rage.
And Briar, unable to cope with losing me, our men, and the home we’d all built together, did the unthinkable.
That warning had come before Callum joined our family, but I could only guess his fate wasn’t much happier.
“Seems I’m just a magnet for bad guys.” I slouched against the bars. “First, the mercenary. Now, some homicidal madman who framed me for attempted murder.”
“We believe they’re one and the same,” came a gruff voice from the stairwell. Draven rounded the corner. Hooded, masked, and armed with multiple daggers strapped to his chest and wrists. A larger one hung at his hip. “The mercenary was involved with the poisoning plot.”
The sight of him flooded me with relief. If he was okay, hopefully that meant Rowan was safe too. But then his words registered. “How do you know?”
“Reign detected him.” Draven stopped several feet away from my cell. “His magical energy was sensed outside the castle grounds. It’s why Shadow left.”
“Why did the snake leave in the first place?” Callum asked, brow heavy. “If Ev was in danger, why didn’t he stay with us?”
“Because that wasn’t the only magic trail Reign detected,” Draven said, taking position against the wall, leaving a foot between him and Ban. “Five different traces were sensed, all of equal or greater power. One led to the cottage.”
“Lake.” My knees nearly gave out. “Is he okay? Did—”
“Shadow reached him in time. Both are safe but lying low at this time. He sent me to check on you.”
Rowan had rushed home to protect our wolf. To protect his family. It also explained why he hadn’t come with the others to visit me. He didn’t want Lake being alone. I didn’t want that either.
Those sweet boys.
“Explain what happened,” Maddox said, one fist still clenched. “Reign detected the mercenary, along with others. Then what?”
“Time was of the essence, so we divided our forces,” Draven answered.
“I kept watch outside the castle. The twins tracked one to the harbor, Reign pursued the one headed toward the weeping willow, Captain Remy followed one toward the dark wood, and Shadow left for the cottage, knowing he could travel the quickest.” He averted his eyes.
“We didn’t realize one had slipped through our defenses and entered the ballroom. ”
“You did the best you could,” I said, hating the disappointment in his voice.
“It wasn’t enough. You now stand behind bars for a crime you didn’t commit.”
I breathed out a short laugh. “I’m glad you know I didn’t do it, seeing as to how you refused to eat my food when we first met because you thought I poisoned it.”
Ban grunted.
“I know, right?” I sighed. “He’s a meanie. But he’s a meanie who likes chocolate chip cookies. One day, I’ll get him to admit it.”
Draven’s eyes narrowed. “This is no time for jokes, boy.”
“Perfect time for them, actually.” My stomach felt queasy. “It’s either laugh, cry, or throw up at this point.”
“You mentioned several magical energies?” Briar asked, getting us back on track.
Draven nodded. “Reign believes all are from Nocturne. Their energy is similar, all humming with powerful dark magic.”
“I fail to make sense of this.” Briar took off his glasses and hastily wiped at the lenses.
Usually, he adjusted them when anxious, but this went beyond that.
He was downright fuming. “Nocturne is an order of ruthless mercenaries who will track down and assassinate anyone for the right price. And we already know their target. Why waste time with this farce? Poisoning the king and framing Evan for it. It’s absurd. ”
He was being careful with his words. Ban didn’t know my true identity or that the mercenary had been after me all along.
Draven picked up on it and turned to the guard. “You’re dismissed for now. You can return once we’re finished speaking.”
Ban glanced at me, then back at him. He grunted.
“He can’t leave me unattended,” I said, somehow knowing what he was trying to say.
“He’s not unattended,” Maddox told the mountain of a guard. “The captain and first lieutenant of the Second Order are with him.”
Another grunt.
“I trust Ban.” I looked between my men. “He can stay.”
The guard’s expression softened.
“Very well.” Draven crossed his arms, reminding me of another stubborn man I knew. His head then snapped toward the staircase. “Not that it’s of any consequence. We have company.”
A heavy thud of boots clambered down the stone steps. Knights from the Royal Order then appeared. I counted six men, each of them armed with swords. One had a small battle axe strapped to his side.
Maddox and Callum stepped in front of my cell, blocking the door.
“Leave the dungeon at once,” the knight in front said in a tone that matched his cold expression. “The prisoner isn’t allowed to have visitors.”
“Prince Sawyer granted us permission to see him,” Maddox responded.
Sawyer. Did that mean he doubted the accusation against me? I hoped so. The thought of him or Kuya thinking me capable of such a wicked thing had struck deep.
“And now Prince Cedric has ordered you to leave.” The knight slapped a hand to his sword. “Step away from the prisoner or be charged with treason.”
“Treason?” Maddox spat at him, voice deeper than I’d ever heard it.
“You must be out of your head. A head you only have because of me. Or have you forgotten how my knights and I came to your aid in the dark wood before you became a demon’s meal?
While you were cowering behind a shrub, we drove the beasts back. ”
The knight flinched. “I-I’ve not forgotten, Captain Maddox. It’s only… well, we have orders. So, I ask you to please obey. No one has to get hurt.”
Definitely not as cocky now, was he?
Callum rested a hand on his sword, causing the knights to recoil. They knew the shit they’d be in if he actually drew that sword.
“The only ones hurt would be you and your men.” Maddox tipped his chin up. “Of that, I assure you.”
“Hey, big guy.” I reached through the bars and gently tugged on his sleeve. “I know how strong and tough you are. You don’t have to prove it. Just do as they say, okay? I’ll be fine.”
When Maddox looked at me, his face crumpled before smoothing again. He stepped closer and cupped my cheek. “We’ll return at first light. Behave until then.”
“I always behave.” I nuzzled his hand, trying to ignore the burning in my throat. “Don’t worry about me.”
“An impossible request. I fear what those clumsy little legs of yours are capable of, even when confined to a locked cell.”
“Rude.”
He cracked a faint smile. “Take care of my heart. I’m leaving it with you.”
“And you take care of mine.” I touched his chest, feeling his heartbeat beneath my palm. “Each of you owns a piece.”
“I have the largest piece.”
“Still so selfish, Captain.” Briar sighed. My favorite pair of hazel eyes then focused on me. “Try to get some sleep tonight, love. As our captain said, we’ll return in the morning and get this mess sorted.”
My chest ached as I watched them leave. I knew none of us would be sleeping that night. They’d be racking their brains trying to come up with ideas to free me, stressing and making themselves sick.
Sighing, I pressed against the bars. I hated being a damsel. For once, I wanted to be the one who swept in and saved the day.
But I couldn’t even save myself.