22. Chapter Twenty Two Rhowyn
Chapter Twenty Two: Rhowyn
As much as I wished we could go back to my room and explore the images Callum had placed in my head, we didn't get the chance. Brannoc returned with Lennox and Arryn before disappearing again. A twinge of guilt struck me at his leaving. Arryn's brow wrinkled as he eyed the spot where Brannoc had been before turning to me. I pushed a smile onto my face, glad that they both made it back safely. Callum and Baer had distracted me well enough that I hadn't had time to worry anymore over the final two of my men.
But now, Brannoc was gone, and I couldn't help but fear that he'd do something rash, that by trying to escape the confusion we were feeling, he'd stumble into danger somehow. Rationally, I knew he was a big boy, that he could take care of himself and had for a long time, but it didn't mean that I had to like it.
Needing the distraction, I hugged Lennox, giving him a peck on the cheek before turning to Arryn. “Well, did you two have any success?”
Arryn hugged me and kissed the top of my head. “We had some. Not as much as I'd hoped, but it's better than nothing.”
“Who'd you go to meet?”
“A brownie named Gorn. He didn't have much information on the dungeons, but he did say he'd put us in contact with a friend of his who could help us. However, this friend will want payment of some sort.”
“So, not a member of your rebellion?” Callum asked.
“No. I have no idea who this contact is.”
“Can we trust him?” Callum asked.
Arryn ran a hand through his hair with a sigh. “That, I do not know. I trust Gorn, but I'm not sure if we should take the chance on this unknown.”
“What did you find out?” Lennox asked Baer and Callum.
Baer smiled. “Other than the fact that despite being the largest of us, Callum is obviously the lightweight when it comes to drinking, not much.”
I laughed again at Callum's scowl directed at Baer for revealing that tiny nugget of information to everyone. “And when he's drunk, he turns into a big softie.”
Lennox laughed. “I'll have to remember that.”
Callum turned his glare from Baer and me to Lennox, where it morphed into a heat that threatened to set me aflame. Lennox blushed under the weight of it, but I could tell he was turned on. “Trust me, there is nothing soft about me.”
Shit, I wanted to sign up to watch that show. Maybe a little crowd participation as well? A repeat of what we'd done together the other night. I shifted on my feet, trying to relieve the desire that had settled there.
All my men snapped their gazes to me, their nostrils flaring, and it was my turn to blush. If I thought Callum was intense before, having all of them look at me that way, their desire pulsing down the bond and threatening to consume me ,was something I couldn't resist. My mouth parted, suddenly dry as all the moisture rushed south. Licking my lips, I watched as they all held themselves still.
“Killer, if you don't stop that train of thought right now, we're all going to have our way with you. While I would normally be on board for that, I know you want to rescue Master Jude as quickly as possible.” Glancing at the others before settling his eyes back on me, he continued, “And what we have planned will not be quick.”
Oh shit. I wanted to push them, to see what would come from having them all. I wanted to indulge in the fantasy I hadn't ever considered until then, but Baer was right. I needed to focus. Afterward though....after, we could pursue this.
Taking a deep breath and closing my eyes, needing to distance myself from the weight of their stares, I put a pin in that idea. I took a few more deep inhales before finally returning to sanity.
“Okay,” I started. “So, Baer and Callum didn't find out anything. Brannoc and I weren't much more successful. Juniper can't get us into the dungeons, but she was able to provide some information.”
“At this point, anything she can give us would help.” Arryn urged me to continue, brow furrowing as he glanced at where Brannoc should have been in this discussion with us.
“Apparently, she was in the original rebellion with my father. She doesn't know what happened to him but tried to continue his work by working in the castle, spying, and trying to gather information.”
“No shit,” Baer said, surprised by this revelation.
“Exactly. She told us the rotation of the guards, that they change every four hours to keep them from tiring, but that was about all she knew. She's never been inside the dungeon before. Not even to deliver food, which she supposedly had tried to do when I was imprisoned.”
“I can verify that,” Brannoc said from behind me, his chilling voice causing me to jump.
I swatted his arm out of instinct. “Don't do that!”
He smirked at me, the distant assassin back. Now, I knew this was his mask, and my heart hurt at the fact that I'd made him feel the need to revert back to it.
“When I first noticed her, I was outside the dungeon, trying to find a way in to retrieve you. She had tried to insist on delivering your food, but the guards wouldn't allow it, sending her on her way.” Brannoc moved his gaze from mine, unconcerned with my response to that little nugget. I hadn't known that he'd tried to get me. I mean, I knew on some level that while I was in the dungeon, the guys had been doing everything they could to find me and get me out, but I hadn't realized how close they'd been.
“Juniper did give us some more information on what she believes the Queen is up to. She doesn't have any proof, but she believes the Queen is intending to kill the new Queen to steal the magic back for herself, to extend her reign and power in one move.”
“That does sound like something Mother would do.” Lennox frowned.
“No wonder she's pushing for the transfer of power so quickly,” Arryn said, his mind whirring with this new information.
“It does make more sense. Genevieve is more controllable and therefore easier to manipulate into thinking she has the power in the situation. It's why the Queen is trying to force the transfer, despite knowing that Master Jude can't complete the task,” Callum chimed in.
“There's more,” I told them, their gazes swinging to mine again.
“What more could there possibly be?” Lennox asked.
Looking at Brannoc, I searched for the courage to continue. The guys wouldn’t like this next revelation at all. With his nod, I continued, “Juniper believes that imprisoning Jude is a trap. I'm inclined to agree with her. She must know I have been selected by Avalonia to become the next Queen. She knows I need the ceremony that he can perform in order to start that transfer, but she's hoping she can capture me and control it to her own advantage.”
“Fuck that,” Callum growled out, voicing the anger that rushed down through all the bonds. “In light of this, you will not be involved in the rescue.”
“Excuse me!” I snapped back at him. “You have no say in this. I will be taking part, and there's nothing you can do to stop me.”
He moved until he was towering above me, his fists clenched at his sides, but I refused to back down. “I will do whatever it takes to keep you safe. Even if that means going against your wishes. You are and always will be my utmost priority despite your foolish attempts to throw yourself into harm's way.”
Oh, hell no! This asshole was not about to pull this shit with me . “And just how do you think you'll stop me?”
“I'll lock you up here if I have to, but you will not be going on this rescue mission.”
Shocked at this, I peered at the others, seeing varying degrees of agreement in their faces. “You guys agree with him?” I couldn't keep the hurt from my voice.
Baer rushed over. “He's right, Rhowyn. It's too risky. Don't ask me to put you in such a terrifying position.”
I could understand their terror, but I wasn't going to let them control me. “How can I be the Queen I'm meant to be if you suffocate me? I was Chosen because I'm not the kind of person to just sit by and let others do my dirty work for me. If any of you think I won't be going, then you obviously don't know me.”
My hurt was now leaking through, realizing how true that last statement was. Did they really know me? Did they really like me for me, or did they just want the version of me they wanted me to be? Were they falling for me or the subservient Queen who was essentially a coward?
Anger surged through me, my walls rising again and hardening my heart to this kind of pain. This was why I didn't let people in. How could I have been fool enough to believe that they could love me for me? No one had ever thought I was enough just the way I was. Not my mother. Not my father, whom I believed trapped me in this glamor. And now, not even my consorts. And for some reason, their betrayal hurt the most. I'd let them in, believing I could have it all for once.
I should have known better. I wouldn't make the same mistake again. I still needed them, but I didn't have to let them past my defenses again. Fool me once; shame on you. Fool me twice; shame on me.
“Princess, don't look at us like that. We just want to keep you safe,” Lennox pleaded with me.
“Like what?” I questioned him harshly. “Like I'm finally seeing y'all for what you are?”
“That's not how it is, Killer.”
“Then how is it?” I snapped at him. “Because from here, it looks like you men just want to control me, the fragile little woman who needs the big, strong men to do everything for her.”
“If it keeps you safe, I'll do whatever it takes,” Callum growled out.
“Shut up, Callum!” Baer snapped at him. “You're not helping.”
“I'm just telling the truth. She should know now.”
I laughed at Callum's words, the tone harsh even to my own ears. “Oh, I'm figuring it all out now.” I moved until I was right in front of Callum, my finger poking into his chest with my next words. “You obviously don't know me, asshole. I'll rescue my grandfather, with or without your help. It would be easier if you did, but I don't need you. I don't need any of you.”
Pushing back from him, I distanced myself from them physically and mentally, crossing my arms over my chest. “When are you supposed to meet Gorn's contact?” I asked Arryn.
He glanced to the other guys. “He's supposed to make contact with us.”
Nodding, I considered this information. “I want to go with you to meet him.” At their hesitation, I sighed, rolling my eyes. “Take me with you to meet this contact, and I'll consider staying behind on the actual rescue mission.”
As if unsure about whether I was telling the truth or not, Arryn considered me, the guys carrying on an unspoken conversation while they tried to figure out if they could trust me. Good. At least they knew that much about me. I had no intention of staying behind. I'd already considered it and discarded the idea like the trash it was.
“Okay,” Arryn said, still hesitant and unsure.
“Perfect,” I said. “Now, I'm going to rest until this contact finds us. Y'all should rest, too. I'll want you guys to move as quickly as possible after we get what we need from this contact.”
“Princess...” Lennox pleaded with me again as I turned my back on them and stormed to my room.
“Let her go, Lennox. She'll realize soon enough that we're right.” Callum's words reached me just before I closed the door.
Tears of anger burned my eyes. I didn't know how, but I'd find a way to follow them. I just needed the information from the contact first. I'd make them think that I was compliant, that I would stay behind willingly if it ensured that they took me to meet this mysterious informant.
My resolve hardened to what I'd need to do. I didn't like being anything other than who I was, but to do what needed to be done, I'd do whatever I had to. I'd rescue this land from the Bitch Queen, but now, I couldn't stay with people who didn't love me for me. I'd have to return to Earth as soon as things stabilized. If they wanted to rule this land, they could have it. I wanted nothing more from them or this realm.