“Fine!” Dusk cried. “I was the one that did it! I blew up the ship. I talked them into helping me with the Legion. They’re nothing but hired bodyguards. Just let them go!”
“No, I don’t think so.” The man reached up and replaced Lex’s gag before forcefully throwing him to the floor. “You see, I have it on good authority that this has been a group effort for a very long time.” He motioned to one of the other guards to hold Lex as he stepped forward. “You were seen at Windshear Pass by more than one of our soldiers. Not to mention, the queen has a certain contact in Ditania that let us know you were coming. We didn’t know when you’d show up or where you’d go, but after the ship’s captain stumbled back into town with information on your heading, we just waited patiently.”
“You don’t need them! They’re nobody! I’m the one with the crystal, I’m who you want!”
“Nobody? Nobody?!” the man laughed. “My boy, do you think I’m stupid?” He searched Dusk’s face for a moment. “Tell me boy, who are they? And don’t lie if you want them both to live. What did they tell you?”
Dusk hesitated.
Rafael brushed a stray lock of hair off his forehead before he stepped over to Tara and gave her a kick. “Who is she?!” When there was no answer he kicked her again, harder. “Who?!”
Dusk knew he had no choice but to play the commander’s games. “C-captain Tara Tordovic of the Royal Guard,” Dusk muttered, ashamed of himself. “And the Shadow Wolf.”
“Well well,” Rafael chuckled, looking down at Tara. “So you did tell him.” He turned his gaze back up to Dusk. “But did you know she was ordered to assassinate the queen some years ago and failed? In fact, that’s why she lost her posting and had to join the guard. Pathetic.”
Dusk didn’t answer. He hadn’t known.
“I didn’t think so. If she had mentioned that, I’m sure it would have been obvious that any guard in all of Inahan would know her face. We knew she was here the moment you three stepped foot into the city.” He shrugged. “And you came right to the Legion’s hideout that we already planned to bust. So convenient really.”
He stepped over to Lex, grabbing him by the face. They glared at one another for a moment before Rafael looked back to Dusk.
“How about this one?”
“That’s Lex,” Dusk replied. He paused, realizing there was really nothing more to say.
“You must know more about your little boyfriend than that?”
“I…” Dusk glanced at Lex who looked panicked. “That’s… that’s all.”
“Oh no,” Rafael began to laugh. “This is too perfect! I thought maybe you’d somehow overcome your differences or found romance in the most unlikely of places, like some silly fairy tale. But he never even told you the truth!”
Lex lurched forward, mumbling through the gag only to be jerked back to the ground.
“I know your past,” he chuckled, gesturing at the faded marks on Dusk’s arm. “I was surprised to hear you were traveling with this idiot. A spoiled brat that ran away from home and father because he didn’t have the guts to stand up to him.” He aimed a solid kick at Lex, throwing him to the floor. “We all knew he was a coward, but now he’s a liar too.”
“What are you talking about?” Dusk snapped, feeling confused and angry all at the same time. He didn’t know if he could hold himself back if the commander kicked Lex again.
“This,” Rafael said, pointing to Lex, “is Alexander de Ronja IV. He owns you.”
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The Crystalline Chronicles Series
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About The Author
Blake R. Wolfe
Blake spends most nights with his laptop pulled close, clacking away on the keyboard to get the next great idea written down. Surrounded by piles of notebooks and journals, he does his best to keep his brain on the task at hand.
Blake has published across multiple genres, but prefers the fantasy realm to all others. He is a beach bum during the summer, a wannabe yogi, and an avid Muppets fan. Seriously.
You can find the rest of his work on his website at https://www.blakerwolfe.com
Edited By:
Taiylor R. Wallace
https://www.sonderediting.com
The Crystal Key: An LGBTQ+ Fantasy Series (The Crystalline Chronicles Book 3) Page 22
