Chapter 5 #2
The brilliant pain of my nose breaking nearly shatters the image, but not quite. The bloody forest is for a second replaced by a musty stone room, the flicker of torches replacing the soft light of dawn, and stained stone the bloody earth. Another blink and I’m back in the forest.
“Let’s try this once more, shall we?” The killer walks over to me and runs his dagger over the right side of my neck.
It’s not the burn that makes me jerk, but my uncle’s blood running down my skin.
Still warm but rapidly cooling. Marking me worse than the blade ever could.
He chuckles and cleans the steel on the remains of my shirt.
“What do you want?” I croak out.
“That sounds much better.” He grins. “You will promise to be a good prince and tell no one about what happened here, our little conversation, or our deal. The words will make you choke otherwise. Once you take over the throne, you will be our obedient slave and do whatever we command without exception, and in exchange, I promise to never harm you or the boy.” He nods in Leo’s direction.
“I…” I start. He can’t be serious.
The breath is driven out of me, and I sag. The shackles are now the only thing holding me up. Pain radiates through my wrists.
“Uh, uh, uh … not so hasty.” He walks back to Leo and sets his blade against his neck, and I instantly shut up. Agreeing to their plan is madness, but I can’t let Leo die.
They’ll torture me until I agree anyway. Hopelessness washes through me. Too many have died already—for me.
I nod. I’ll find a way out of this once we are safe.
“Well, you know deals don’t work that way.” The man strides over to me, gripping my arm. “Do you agree to the deal previously stated?”
“I agree.” A burn crawls over my skin, molding itself to the pattern of my gift. If I hadn’t seen it form, I wouldn’t know it’s there. My gaze jumps up.
“At least she’s good for something.” I follow his gaze to a wispy girl with red hair, standing half hidden behind one of the warriors.
Did she do that? What kind of gift does she have to accomplish hiding a promise so perfectly?
Then my eyes go back to Leo. There is hope mixed in with the tears now, but the accusation didn’t lessen.
Had I agreed earlier, his father would still be alive.
Hell, if they had handed me over instead of protecting me, maybe everyone would still be alive. And we both know it.
Whatever held me up snaps, and there is rough, cool stone beneath me, my fingers sliding over it while I try to find my way out of the memory.
The man who had been talking to me grunts something, and the girl gasps. Pain explodes over Leo’s face only a heartbeat before the bloody tip of a blade pierces his chest.
“No!” The scream reverberates in my head, but I’m not sure if it ever leaves my mouth. The big warrior, the girl still by his side, pulls his sword back, and Leo slumps to the floor, his eyes unseeing.
“What did you do to him?” a stern, familiar voice demands to know.
“The crown prince’s orders,” another replies.
“You are damn fools. Do you have any idea who that is?” He curses. “Get out of my sight, before I teach you a lesson you’ll never forget,” the voice orders. Someone leaves, the steps fading. “Let’s get you up, Your Highness.”
“Not my title anymore,” I reply, or at least I try to, but what comes out is barely recognizable. My old mentor understands me anyway.
“How about we argue about that once we have you cleaned up and back in working order?” he asks while pulling me to my feet. “Get those things off him,” Corin snaps to someone behind me.
“But His Highness ordered—” the voice replies.
“And I will take the blame if it comes to it, but get them off him. Now.”
One of my eyes is already swollen shut, and my whole body hurts, but even worse is the throbbing in my chest, like someone poked around in a festering wound.
Corin, my father’s head of guards and the one who trained me since I was a little boy, pulls my arm over his shoulders to steady me. A relieved sigh leaves my lips once the suppressants are off.
“Is Ara alright?” I ask Daeva.
“Good to have you back. Forget what I said earlier. If your brother ever comes close to me, I will eat him, one piece at a time. How long do you think we can keep him alive if you heal him in between?” she asks, but doesn’t press for an answer when she feels my turmoil.
“Solaris is a pain in my ass, but he promises she is upset but unharmed.” Hearing Daeva’s voice and knowing that Ara is fine soothes me more than anything else could.
Corin accompanies me into the healing quarters. We are quiet while the healer on duty patches me back up.
I’m exhausted—physically, mentally, and emotionally. There is nothing left to give. I’m not even sure if I would have been able to heal myself.
The healer leaves the room, and the guard master’s intense stare is on me.
“Frederick is a moron—I never said that, of course—but what did you do to provoke him like this?” he asks.
“He wanted to have something, and I told him no,” I say. “Well, not just verbally.”
“Hmm, that’s what I thought.”
“Did you now?” I rub my face, grateful that it’s only the memory of pain lingering there.
“Oh, I have eyes, and I was at the ball last night, even if I was watching from the sidelines.” He shakes his head at me. “Only make sure she is worth all of this.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“You wouldn’t be the first to be discarded for the shinier object or the better offer.”
“She’s not like that…” I shake my head and sigh. “But I messed up.”
“Don’t we all from time to time?” He grins at me. “When I sleep in the barracks on my missus’s orders, crawling and groveling always helps. Not that I ever imagined seeing you on your knees.”
“What should I say?” I shrug and give him a lopsided grin. “She cut me down before I had a chance to counter.”
“No surprise, considering who raised her.” He pats my shoulder. “Sounds like you’ve found your match, son.”