Deadly Secrets: Paranormal Reverse Harem (Dark Realms Book 1)

by Abby James

  “Why would I feel threatened by a child?”

  “Why indeed?”

  If he wasn’t so integral to her plans, she would find a way to end his life. There were very few skills Merriala did not possess but patience was one of them. She would need it now, no matter how much it tested her temper. “Has there been news from the north?”

  “King Idrus is moving his men toward the borders. The scouts have been caching for months now and infiltrating the northern towns. Sargon has made his own plans, despite the council. I’ve tried hard to persuade them to take disciplinary action against him, but they are weak fools. None have the courage to touch him.”

  “We need to know the extent of his plans,” she said.

  “Isn’t that your job?”

  She pushed him away. For now she had grown tired of his constant prods. She got off the daybed and went to fix herself another drink, the one she’d left on the side table no longer to her liking. “You know damn well his feelings toward me. He would reveal his secrets to you before me.”

  “So we have to think of another way. His men are tight. They won’t let anyone near him.”

  Merriala froze before she dropped the first ice block into her drink. “The boy. Rayce’s son.”

  “What, are you mad?” Archard got off the daybed and came toward her.

  “He is innocent, and innocents are malleable. He just needs the right teacher. If I can install distrust of Sargon…”

  “And a devotion to you.”

  “Exactly. The people loved his father, which makes him the perfect candidate for commander. The people will welcome back the son of a hero. Since Sargon defeated Renus, there has never been another capable of engendering such devotion. But I believe in time this boy will.”

  “What are you talking about, woman? He is too young. By the time he has developed enough skill to defeat your son, King Idrus shall be ruling Turmenian. Besides, he’s in the military now. It will be hard to get close to him without Sargon knowing about it.”

  Merriala paced away from Archard, while keeping her back to him so he would not read her expression. It was important she kept all options to herself. King Idrus was her greatest hope. But if he failed, then she would need someone at home to fulfill her desires. If she could chain Sebastian to her, then he would be her ears and, perhaps in time, give her the power she craved. Besides, she’d missed her chance with Rayce. Perhaps she could find a little distraction with his son.

  “He will be of great use to us. If not as commander then as ears.” She turned slowly to face him. “I would like to meet the girl.”

  “Damn it, woman, stop turning this into your vengeance.”

  Her hands clenched tight around the glass she held. That was the only outward sign she would allow.

  “This is not about me. Sargon will be interested in meeting the daughter of Rayce.”

  “And I hear she is very beautiful.”

  Ever the perfect courtesan, Merriala kept her smile even, although she wished to tear out his tongue.

  “I must remove anyone who has influence over Sebastian. Familial links are dangerous to my plan.”

  Archard appeared to be thinking. “That sounds like a shallow attempt to hide your true motive. But you have a point.”

  He paced over to the window and stepped onto the balcony. She followed, hating the fact that he drew her out here. Looking out, she could see a much smaller block some five minutes’ drive west. Her apartment. When she stood on the balcony, she saw what she had, while standing where she wanted to be, that elusive place she’d ached for all her life.

  “I see your logic. But do not tell me you fear your son falling for the girl, that Rayce’s daughter would supplant you in your son’s affections.”

  “If he cared for her as much as he cared for me, then I would have nothing to worry about.”

  “What makes you think he would go for her over one of Madame Lorraine’s courtesans?”

  “He’s always liked courage over beauty. And those other two he shoulders himself with are just as bad. They will encourage him.”

  “Removing her will be an impossible feat. Miss Tule will guard her closely.”

  Merriala spun and walked to the window, not trusting herself to keep her temper. A sharp nail across his face would wipe that smirk away.

  “But it does have possibilities. We must do it before the three are aware of the girl, or she too will be watched.” Archard ambled over to the drinks cabinet. When he next spoke, he kept his voice casual and light. “Have you detected any sign in Sargon or the other two to suggest they have tapped into the source?”

  “Of course not,” Merriala snapped. “You’re a fool to believe in fairy tales.”

  Merriala had never believed the secrets that stemmed from the ancient teachings. That is, until she’d made King Idrus her target. Given the territories had once been one great nation, ruled by the ancients, it was no surprise Polaris had their own writings dating back to the ancients. But unlike Archard and any others who’d become slaves to the text, pouring hours and their life into the tomes, hoping to learn the truth and the location of the source, King Idrus had proof and that’s what made him the most powerful ally. And since Merriala was not about to share King Irdus’s secret with Archard, she had to remain ignorant in his eyes.

  “You dismiss the writings at your peril.”

  “Honestly, Archard, a man of your intelligence, so willing to believe in the babble of some ancient who could barely write a coherent word.”

  Archard’s knuckles whitened on his glass. Merriala saw the warning sign and diverted her tactic. She needed him on her side, compliant and willing. God dammit. Men were dogs, but a woman needed them if she was to make any progress in this world. Lucky for Merriala, she was a professional at bringing a man to his knees and keeping him at her side. She strolled toward him. “Archard, darling.” She scooped him into her arms. “Of course I haven’t studied the ancient text as well as you. It bores me to do so. But my son is no different to how he has always been.”

  Once he appeared mollified, Merriala let him go, but sparked by her closeness, Archard grabbed her wrist and yanked her closer again. He siezed her cheeks with his fingers, squeezing until it hurt. “If the old texts are true and your son manages to find the source, nothing we do will make a difference.” Then he kissed her hard.

  Merriala surrendered to his kiss, with as much fever as he gave, aroused by the secrets she held. Sargon may well be too late.

  Chapter 16

  My eyes flicked open to a white ceiling, far above me. I listened for the sound of Mum or Marion moving around in the kitchen. The faint smell of frangipani wafted on the gentle breeze from the open window. Frangipani never grew in Ladec and neither had my ceiling been so far above me. I glanced down the length of the bed to the vast opening that led into the bathroom and the blue and white tiling covering the wall behind the bath.

  I was back in my room at Miss Tule’s. Somehow I’d found my way home, or should I say Sargon and Ryker brought me home. I pulled my covers down to find the only thing I wore was my underwear. On the floor was the outfit Picard had stolen for me so I could disguise myself amongst the female fighters. I sure as hell hoped I’d been the one to take my clothes off, or Marnena. Miss Tule could not punish me that much as to allow the guys carrying me up to my room to undress me. The way Ryker had been eyeing me, I wouldn’t be surprised if he’d asked for the favor.

  Marnena burst into my room without bothering to knock. I covered my breasts as she bustled over, then felt stupid for doing it as she’d already seen me naked.

  “Well, you have certainly created a tsunami and on your first day too. I’ve never seen Miss Tule become so still in all my working years.”

  “Is that a bad omen?”

  “She’s apt to grow silent when her anger becomes too great.”

  “Is she going to punish me?”

  “Worse. She would have you thrown out of the academy.”

  �
�Thrown out? She can’t do that. Nothing happened. We didn’t mean anything by it.”

  “Harmless, you say. The commander-in-chief turns up on Miss Tule’s door with you in his arms and gives Miss a lecture on how to control her pupils.”

  “Damn. Was he mad?”

  “He? What do you care if he was mad? It’s Miss Tule you have to worry about.”

  “You said, she would have thrown me out, but she’s not, right?”

  Marnena glared at me as she scooped to pick up the fighter’s uniform. She held it aloft and shook her head, tutting to herself as she placed it on the end of the bed.

  “Did you take that off me last night?”

  “Who else?”

  I breathed a sigh of relief. “Back to the question. She’s not throwing me out. What about Maya?”

  “Maya is not your concern at the moment.”

  “Oh, my god, she didn’t ask Maya to leave, did she? It wasn’t her fault. It was Picard’s. He was the one who took us there.”

  Marnena made a disgusted sound at the back of her throat. “That scoundrel. Maya should know better.”

  “But she’s still with Miss Tule, right?”

  Marnena straightened with a sigh. “Miss Tule wants you in the training room in ten minutes, so I suggest you get in the bath. You need to look your best if you don’t want to raise her ire any further.”

  “But I left my clothes in the dungeon.”

  Marnena closed her eyes and shook her head. “Honestly, girl, how you’ve managed to stay within these walls after that stunt is a miracle.” She shooed me with a wave of her hands. “Now go and get yourself ready. I have no time to teach you personal care today.”

  I said over my shoulder as I walked into the bathroom, “Good thing I already know all about that.”

  Giving me mere minutes to wash, Marnena came in with another jumpsuit on a hanger, which she hung on the hook near the door. She threw me a towel, which I only just managed to stop from falling in the bath water, and said, “I will do your hair and apply your makeup.”

  Given the trouble I was in with Miss Tule, being snarky about the fuss with my hair and face was perhaps not a good idea. I climbed into the jumpsuit and sat patiently while Marnena swept my hair into a masterful tie at the back, which she did with more pulling of the hair than warranted the style. Even her application of makeup was done with little thought to whether she was hurting me or not. It seemed she was angry on behalf of Miss Tule. I kept quiet and accepted her idea of punishment.

  Despite being angry with me, Marnena made sure I looked my best. Once again, the woman staring back at me was not the girl who wore overalls covered in grease and an inch of red dust on her face.

  Marnena’s pinched mouth said she was marginally happy with the end result. “Of course, if I had more time…”

  “Compared to how I looked in Ladec, this is a huge improvement.”

  She glanced at my reflection in the mirror. “Softening me with flattery will not work.” She began collecting the implements she’d used to transform me. I wrapped my arms around her generous waist. “Thank you, Marnena.”

  I sneaked a look at her expression in the mirror and caught the smile twitching to appear on her lips.

  “You remember the way?” she said as she unpeeled my arms from her waist.

  My stomach growled. “What about breakfast?” When was the last time I’d eaten? “I can’t believe I missed lunch and dinner yesterday.”

  “Miss Tule wants you straight there. Skipping breakfast is the start of your punishment.”

  As if understanding the word, my stomach growled again, but I could tell by the way Marnena ignored me and started cleaning, she wasn’t going to cave and allow me to make a quick dash for the kitchen.

  I headed out into the hall but couldn’t resist a look over the balcony to the pool below, blue and inviting.

  “Are you dallying, Malachi?” came Marnena from inside my room.

  I rolled my eyes but couldn’t stop the smile and jogged down the steps, retracing the path I’d walked yesterday. About to open the doors, I caught my hands trembling. I crossed my fingers to steady them. Miss Tule couldn’t kick me out. I’d only been here a few days but already this place was my lifeline. A small echo of the fear I felt the day I walked out of my home for the last time pulsed through my body.

  I knocked. Right now I needed to act contrite, which meant not assuming I was welcome anywhere anytime.

  After seconds passed, I was about to knock again, when Miss Tule called from within, “Enter.”

  She was standing on the portico and didn’t bother to turn as I entered. I crossed the room toward her but slowed as I neared. Even from behind, her body language spoke for her, forming a wall of displeasure I didn’t want to cross. Now was probably not a good time to ask her about my grandparents.

  “If it was up to me, you would be out,” she said without turning.

  “I am sorry I have disappointed you.”

  She looked over her shoulder, then slowly turned around to face me. Her look was dismissive, as if she found much disdain in my apology.

  “And I am grateful you are willing to give me another chance.” I meant every word. Faced with the prospect of leaving Miss Tule, I found myself desperate to stay. Not only had I grown fond of Maya, but there was a mystery to Miss Tule’s academy I found irresistible.

  She paced toward me with no softening in her features as she came. Less than a foot away, she narrowed her eyes like sharpened blades. “You will not find me as insincere.”

  I shook my head. “No, I mean what I say. This is where I want to be. So far I have seen nothing but respect for you, from Maya, Picard, the commander-in-chief, important people. I don’t understand what you are doing here, but I know there is something special about you and this academy. And that is something I wish to remain a part of. I promise I will follow your lead, learn and train hard and be the best you have. Please don’t kick me out. Please don’t abandon me.”

  She smirked, then stepped back as if she couldn’t stand to be close to me any longer. “The best? Do you really think you are capable of that?”

  “No. But I will strive to be the best.”

  She folded her arms across her chest. “Words are easy.”

  “Then let me show you by action.”

  “That you will, my girl, that you will. You will have to work harder than anyone else. My expectations will be greater than for any of my girls. And I will be waiting for you to fail.”

  I hitched my breath.

  “But if you don’t, then you will be extremely valuable to me. Come.”

  She strode across the room toward a picture painted on the whitewash walls of a door. Beyond the door, expanding across the entire wall, was a mural of the city and the Arena at the far top sitting upon a hill. Strangely enough, she headed straight for the painted door.

  She pulled up her sleeve to reveal a chain adorned with a row of keys. She uncapped one and inserted it into a small chip in the wall where the keyhole was painted. From a few paces back, the chip had been invisible, and still would be now if I’d not seen her enter the key.

  After one turn, she pushed on the wall and the brickwork moved inward, sounding like brick sliding on brick. Without stopping to see my gaping jaw, she entered into the darkness. I followed, my hands outstretched in case I bumped into her or something else in front of me. Stale, cool air washed toward me and flowed out the door behind me. Within seconds, a soft yellow glimmer lit the dark. The yellow deepened in color, growing steadily brighter until the room was illuminated in a warm glow.

  Books lined the walls in columned bookcases. Between each bookcase was a statue of a figure dressed in warrior clothing carrying a sword. The light that lit the room shone from round balls that sat above their heads.

  “This is the library.”

  Miss Tule ran a finger along the top of a desk as she walked the row. “You will start your training here.”

  “You want me to read?�
�

  She headed for the closest bookcase and pulled down a large tome. With both hands, she carried it to the end desk and set it down with as much care as if it were a newborn. “These texts are older than Fortescue. They chronicle the history of the people who once lived in these parts, collected meticulously over the ages. The early rulers of Fortescue, and the councilors through the years, have failed to see the significance in keeping these records. Some are kept elsewhere, in private collections and in the council vaults. But those in the council vaults are rarely accessed.” She opened the book and jabbed at the page. “You will start here. You will learn the history of the ancients, the Arena, then forward to the great wars and the formation of the four territories.” She started pacing, hands behind her back. “You will learn our political system, trading practices, class structure, religion and that of our neighbors. You will learn strategic warfare, embattlement structures, weapons craftsmanship, concealment and desert survival.” She stopped pacing and took a deep breath. “You will learn deportment, fashion, manners, the art of conversation, the art of flirtation and the art of poisons.”

  “This is to prepare me to be a servant?”

  “No, this is to prepare you to be a weapon. Some of your physical training will take place under my tuition. But thanks to your escapades yesterday, you will receive extra training outside of the academy.”

  “I will? Where?”

  “You’ll know soon enough.”

  “Why are you doing all of this? What is the point of all of this?”

  “The point?” she shrilled. She cut the distance between us in half by one stride. “War is coming, child, and you need to be ready.”

  Chapter 17

  The sword sliced through the air with minimal disturbance. A small swoosh followed its wake, that was all. Sargon arced it high and brought it down in another smooth stroke, savoring the feel. Once in his hand, the hilt was nothing more than an extension of his arm, finishing in a fine point of carbon steel, tempered to harden the integrity of the blade without damaging its flexibility.