Chapter 9
KYLER
After a much-needed bath, I pad toward the library Gavin pointed out.
The stone feels cold on my bare feet, and I realize my boots, along with the rowboat, are long gone.
But at least they went to a good cause. Perhaps the prince will provide a new pair for me.
Nothing I can afford would be appropriate for a prince’s lover.
I shake my head. I can’t expect gifts. This is a charade.
And I’ll get two favors for my efforts. It’s like the fates smile on me when I save Gavin.
Freedom feels within reach, but my joy tumbles away just as quickly as it comes.
Searing pain rips through my right hand and pulses up my arm.
With a yelp, I drop to my knees. I’m only a few steps away from the library.
Pushing back to my feet, I run and slam the door shut as soon as I enter the room.
The boom of the action echoes, and I hope no one hears it. At least no one curious.
I press my back to the door and slide to the ground. Spiraling my left thumb over the palm of my right hand, I activate the communication spell. When my palm glows, I slap the hand to my ear.
“I’m here.”
“What’s your status?” Captain Vex’s gruff voice is as clear as if he stands in front of me.
“I’m working on it. I need time.” What’s the hurry?
“Have you seduced him?”
I snort. “I’m sure I have him.”
“Keep it up. And get me that stone.” Vex sounds too giddy.
“Yes, captain.”
“And I’ve changed my mind. I still want the thousand silver coins.”
“What?! We agreed to the change. I’m risking—”
Captain Vex laughs. “Who are you to make demands, child? Don’t defy me or I’ll have your pretty little tail. Don’t fuck this up like before.” He ends the communication, and my body relaxes on its own. The hum of fear is no longer there.
Before. Captain Vex still holds it over my head. I was a child. I’d been sick. Shaking my head, I push back the memory, never wanting to relive it.
“Fuck.” I thump the back of my head against the door. “Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.”
I’ve gotten myself into quite a mess and I’m not sure of the best way to proceed. So I do what I’ve done since that first scheme got me whipped. I play my part.
What sounds like a door shutting on the opposite side of the room has me moving.
Have I been heard? I hurry to the far door and fling it open, but no one is in the hallway and I don’t hear anyone walking away.
I stand in the doorway for what feels like forever before I shut the door again.
Not sure how much time I have before Gavin comes for me, I take in my surroundings.
The library is just like the bedroom, wall to wall bookshelves.
But here, there are several rows of freestanding shelves, too.
A big stone fireplace radiates cold air.
I step further into the room to investigate more.
Several plush velvet chairs and lounges circle around the fireplace.
I think about putting my hand through the white-blue flames to see what they feel like, but the door opens. When I look up, it’s Gavin.
“It’ll still burn if you touch it.”
I pull back with a nod. Gavin is dressed after his own bath, much to my disappointment. Simple clothing like what I wear. He has a green book in his hand.
Gavin strolls to a bookshelf. “Do you like to read?”
“Can’t read.” Shame washes over me. I can’t look at Gavin. Can’t take whatever pity shows on his face.
“Do you want to?”
“Can’t.” I stroll up next to him and pull a thin book from the shelf.
The leather binding has gold lettering and a spiral on the cover.
I stare at the letters, trying to will my brain to put it all together, but as usual, I fail.
“I’m too dumb. Captain Vex tried. A few of the crew.
Everything just jumbles together. It morphs strangely in my head.
I can’t.” I flip to a page. “I know my letters. Separately. But I can’t string them together to make sense.
” I lift the book closer to my face. Again, trying to will my brain to have everything make sense.
Nothing. “Vex used to hate it because it meant I couldn’t help with inventory.
But we devised a plan when I was younger.
” I stop. Why am I telling Gavin all this?
I slam the book shut and slide it back on the shelf.
“Which was?”
I huff out a breath from my nose. Of course, Gavin wants to know. “I draw little pictures and make slashes for how many.”
“Clever.”
“Not really. It’s expensive because it takes up more space than if I could just write out the words.”
Gavin sits in one of the lounges. “I could teach you if you wanted.”
“What part of I don’t get it, do you not understand?” I take a step back and sit in the chair beside him.
Gavin slowly turns to face me. “Do you think I’m dumb?”
I scrunch my face. “Everyone knows Prince Gavin is a scholar and respected researcher.”
“The letters jump around for me. They seem to twist and turn. It takes a lot of concentration when I’m tired, but I still can’t stop devouring books.” He gives me a slow smile. “You’re not too dumb to learn. There are different methods and you just haven’t gotten the one that works for you.”
“You’re like me?” I whisper. It isn’t entirely true. Gavin is a prince with everything at his disposal—tutors that groomed him into the man he is today. I’m a bottom feeder. A street urchin. Useless.
Gavin nods. “I had a lot of trouble learning as a kid. My mother said it was because I had too much energy, but my teachers knew. They helped. I can—”
“No.” I stand. “I’m too stupid.”
“You’re not.” Gavin grabs my hand, pulling me close. “Let me teach you. As a thank you for going along with my crazy scheme.”
“You’re already paying me in favors.”
“I still want to get to know you, Kyler.” Gavin runs his thumb over my knuckles. So gentle. “I want to help if I can.”
I pull my hand from Gavin’s grip. “People in authority never help anyone but themselves.” Not that I have any room to talk. But for me, selfishness keeps me alive.
Gavin’s top lip twitches. But he seems to stifle a laugh rather than growl.
This is a job. Neither of us can get attached.
So I let harsher words fall from my lips.
“Other than your books and research, have you wandered the realm? Do you know how people suffer? Or are you too caught up in fucking whores to look around? Lane is crumbling under His Majesty and the lot of you just let it happen.” I shake. I can’t believe I just said that.
Before Gavin says anything, a door clicks loudly.
We both look up to see another man walk into the library.
He wears a regal, deep violet silk jacket.
Cream-colored breeches grace long legs. Leather boots go to his calves, showcasing thick thighs.
His hair hangs in a sheet of black down his back as he walks across the room and sits in one of the empty lounges.
He looks so much like Gavin, right down to the silver horns.
This has to be Prince Leander. Surely this isn’t His Majesty.
“Those are treasonous words.” He lifts a graceful finger and crooks it at me. “If not the truth.” His voice is smooth, not as deep as Gavin’s, but just as wonderful to my ears. Fucking dragon shifters.
“Leave him alone, Leander.” Gavin practically growls.
When I hesitate, Leander adds, “I won’t bite.” He directs his next words to Gavin. “I’d like to see what else he has to say, dear brother. He’s a pretty one.”
“I’m Kyler. Gavin and I have known each other for a while.”
“Have you now?” Leander lifts a brow as he pats the seat of the lounge.
Not seeing a way out, I sit next to him. Leander radiates warmth as much as Gavin does. Warmth—what I gravitate toward. It feels so nice. But was this who was in the library earlier? Had Leander heard my conversation with Captain Vex?
“Why are you here, Leander?” Gavin asks in a tone much less friendly than he’s been with Ambrose.
“I fund your research. You’re supposed to be my eyes and ears. And you haven’t reported in some time.”
“I was going to come to you after dinner.” Gavin grips his knees. “Kyler, love, come sit with me.”
I push to my feet. I’ve gotten into too much trouble today for my tastes.
All I want is to find some place to lie down and sleep.
But to get my prize from Prince Gavin, I have to play a part.
Until the end. Until I get the phoenix stone.
Until the princess ends the arranged engagement.
I can push her to the action. I know it.
Gavin sulks until I sink into his lap and wrap my arms around his neck. He smells like apples again. And vanilla. And something woodsy I can’t place, but enjoy.
Leander leans toward us and drops his voice. “What news do you have?”
I can’t help the chuckle. “You don’t even know me and you trust I won’t tell anyone whatever it is you’re about to talk about?”
Leander smiles. He nods at Gavin and gives him a knowing look.
“Damon wears a cuff I spelled,” Gavin starts. “If you had intentions to harm me or the royal family, you wouldn’t be here right now. We’d never be together.”
I only intend to win my prizes. In and out. I simply nod and, to play my part, I say, “I love you. I’d never cause you harm.”
“I know.” Gavin kisses the top of my head, then threads our fingers together.
“I couldn’t get anything from the pixies.
They don’t know anything. His Majesty sent me away before I could research pixie dust for our endeavor.
” Gavin sighs. “The centaurs lend us their backing, but only if we allow one of their scholars to join the council. I told them yes as long as they drop the feud with His Majesty.”
“Good. Good. And—”
“That’s all I could do before His Majesty recalled me home.
I won’t be able to do much if I can’t get out of the marriage.
I’ll be fucked.” Gavin rubs my back. I wonder if it’s to comfort himself, or reassure me for whatever reason.
I’m glad someone is finally doing something for the people of Lane.
“We’ll all be fucked. We need you here in the end in case father makes a move.”
“I know.”
“You need to take out the pirates.” I can’t help injecting myself into the conversation.
“Especially Captain Vex, now that Reynolds is out of the way.” If I can get rid of Captain Vex before the end of the summer, it’d save a lot of people.
“He tried to destroy my uncle’s ship, but we were faster.
” Sea stars, why am I sealing my own fate?
Leander puts his head in his hands. “We—I can’t touch Vex. His Majesty made a deal with him.”
“What?” Gavin and I say in unison. Gavin stands, bringing me with him.
I drop my legs to stand on my own. “Why would he make a deal with Vex? With any pirate?” Is the king mad?
Leander bares his teeth and growls. “Vex is Academy trained in the forbidden old ways. He’s ancient and knows more than any Grand Mage alive. He’s practically a god. My intelligence says he offers people favors and in return, they become a part of his crew. He also has something His Majesty wants.”
I tremble. “A mer?”
“Precisely.”
“Why does His Majesty want a mer?” I whisper. I hadn’t known Vex was as powerful as all that.
Leander relaxes back into the lounge. “I’m not entirely sure.
Rumors say the merman is a vicious little thing.
Captain Farol said he was stabbed by one not too long ago.
He probably deserved it. Can you imagine?
Mer in Lane again. I haven’t seen one in merform since before you were born, Gavin. ” He looks right at me and smiles.
All the heat drains from my body. Suddenly, the room feels as cold as winter. Leander knows what I am, no doubt about it. But how? Damon and Ambrose both knew. Now Leander. Things are getting out of hand.
Gavin groans and leans his head back, seemingly not noticing Leander calling me out. “His Majesty probably wants a mer to hold it over my head and then withhold the creature from me. Or he wants the healing tears. I haven’t found that their scales are of any use. There’s so much we don’t know.”
I can’t stop my shaking. They’re talking about me as if I’m not here. At least Gavin is trying to keep the secret.
Leander steeples his fingers together and leans in. “I’ll work on discovering why His Majesty wants a mer and the phoenix stone. You work on your goal, brother.” He looks directly at me again. This time with kindness. “I’m sorry about Vex.”
Somewhere, a gong sounds.
“Dinner. I’ll see the two of you shortly.” Leander rises gracefully from the lounge.
“Actually, we’re having a quiet meal in my chambers. I’d like to ease Kyler into court life.”
Leander nods, and I can only watch after him.
“I guess the ruse is up,” Gavin says.
“What do you mean?” My words are too sharp.
“Leander’s not dumb. He knows we’re not a pair. He won’t out us though. Getting out of the marriage is good for more than just me. I can’t help Lane if I’m in Avondra.”
“I realize that now.” I swallow. “Sorry for what I said earlier.” Skies and barnacles, I’m in over my head.