Reluctant Prince

by Dani-Lyn Alexander

  “She’s on her way here. Darius went to get her and Dakota.”

  The fear in her eyes tortured him.

  “I’ll keep her safe.”

  Ryleigh lowered her head to rest on his lap.

  He stroked her hair, smoothing it along her back. He was tired.

  The door opened. “Ryleigh.” Mia ran across the room to her sister and threw her arms around her neck. “What happened? Are you all right?”

  “I’m fine, Mia. Are you okay?”

  Jackson stood and approached Darius and Dakota.

  Darius glanced at the girls before he spoke. “Kiara’s on her way. Since the women and children will be staying here, she and Sadie will come up, and Kiara can heal you further. Perhaps Mia will look after Sadie for a few minutes.”

  “Sure, I love playing with Sadie.”

  Jackson glanced over his shoulder to find Mia and Ryleigh staring intently. “Maybe Ryleigh can tend to her for a little while.”

  Mia’s face fell.

  He didn’t want to hurt her, but there was no other choice. “Mia won’t be here.”

  “What?” Ryleigh shot to her feet. “What are you talking about? Where will she be?”

  Jackson sighed. When had his life become so difficult? Oh, right. Just about the time he’d met Ryleigh. “I’m having Dakota take her to the human realm.”

  Dakota nodded his acknowledgement.

  “What? No, I want to stay here with Ryleigh.”

  He approached Mia and took her hands in his. “This isn’t an easy decision for me, Mia. If I thought you’d be safe here, I would keep you here. I think it’s safer to send you with Dakota.” Uncertainty flashed through him. He shook it off.

  Mia already looked weaker than she had the last time he’d seen her. The black circles ringed her eyes once again.

  “You need some time in the human realm. Once you’re older, you’ll be able to stay here longer, but for now you need to go back.”

  “Can’t Ryleigh come with me?”

  Jackson was already shaking his head. “You’ll be safer if she’s not with you. Besides, I don’t yet know for certain who I can trust. Until I can sort that out, I don’t want to send anyone but Dakota with you.” He looked over at Dakota. His best friend. He knew with absolute certainty that he could trust the young warrior. “I don’t want him to have to protect both of you. It’s safer this way, Mia.”

  Tears overflowed from Mia’s eyes. “But where will I stay? Stupid Daygan burned our house down. Remember?”

  “It’s okay. For now I have someone for you to stay with. A Cymmeran soldier who transferred to the human realm to live. He and his wife were always loyal to our kingdom, but he no longer wanted to stay.”

  “Mia.” Ryleigh had remained quiet until then.

  Jackson held his breath waiting to see if she’d argue with him.

  She hugged Mia close, rubbed her hand gently down her hair. “I would never forgive myself if something happened to you. Please, do what Jackson’s asking.”

  Chapter 12

  Ryleigh held Mia tight for another moment then stepped back. “I love you, little sis.”

  Mia’s chin quivered, but she didn’t cry. “I love you, too, big sis.” She gave Ryleigh a tentative smile and another quick hug.

  “Don’t worry, you’ll be back soon.” Ryleigh squeezed her tight and then set her back. She tried to tuck the wild mane of hair behind Mia’s ear, but it popped back out. “Go, now.” She turned to Dakota and held his gaze. “Please, take good care of her.”

  “I promise I will.” He put an arm around Mia’s shoulder and led her from the chamber.

  Darius followed on their heels.

  The hardest thing she’d ever done was watch Mia walk from that room. Her heart begged her to call her sister back, to shelter her, protect her. Logically, she knew she couldn’t, but it didn’t ease the sorrow.

  Jackson stood behind her. He placed his hands gently on her shoulders, kissed the top of her head. “It’ll be okay, Ryleigh. We will get through this. And, once we do, we can work on restoring Cymmera to her former grandeur.”

  Ryleigh didn’t move, she barely breathed.

  Jackson squeezed her shoulders and moved toward the door, as if he’d already decided her fate.

  “Jackson.”

  He turned to her, his eyebrows drawn together.

  She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. She closed it, studied him. Did she love him? She’d known him such a short time. She admired him, certainly. His strength, his courage, his compassion, his drive and determination to bring his kingdom back to life, to avenge his mother’s death in his own way. Yes. She could honestly tell herself she loved him. But was it the kind of love that would last forever? Even if it was, was she ready to embrace this new life she’d been thrown into?

  He waited, so still, watching her, but allowing her the space she needed to approach whatever subject she’d stopped him to discuss. He was beyond gorgeous. The shaggy dark hair, intense nearly black eyes, chiseled body now adorned by the mark of The Death Dealer.

  She shook her head. “I can’t do this, Jackson.” She wasn’t sure he’d heard her at first. She’d spoken so softly, and his expression hadn’t changed at all.

  Then he moved toward her, stopping just before he reached her. “What do you mean? You can’t do what? Let Mia go with Dakota? She’ll be safe….” He seemed to think better of the statement. “Well…at least, as safe as we can keep her. Matt Jacobs is a good man. He’ll help Dakota protect her.”

  “Jacobs?” She lifted an eyebrow. Surely, it couldn’t be…

  Jackson’s sheepish grin was all the answer she needed.

  “Yes, the same Mr. Jacobs from your job interview.” He held his hands up, palms toward her, and rushed on before she could form a response. “But he didn’t know. Honest. We realized it was his office you were going to, but we didn’t tell him. A Death Dealer’s mission is kept quiet. Only a select few are aware of the target…” He stopped, frowned.

  “What?”

  “Kai. It was Kai all along. From the very first Kai was the traitor.” Jackson shook his head, pain burning in the turbulence of his black eyes.

  What would it be like to endure not only the loss of your parents, which Ryleigh knew all too well, but also the pain of betrayal by someone you’ve always trusted? And now she was going to hurt him as well, add to all that he’d already suffered. She sighed.

  “I’m sorry, Ryleigh. There’s so much to do. I must check that everyone has gotten to safety and speak to Darius about an attack on Argonas. Then I have to plan my father’s funeral.” He made no move to leave, though.

  Guilt stabbed at her. How selfish could she be? This was not the time or place for this discussion. “You know what? It’s not important right now. We can discuss everything once all of this is straightened out.”

  They would have to work something out.

  Mia couldn’t survive here yet, so Ryleigh couldn’t stay even if she wanted to.

  He would just have to understand. But not right now.

  She smiled. “Go ahead. Do what you have to do.” She moved away from him to stand by the wall of windows and reached up to pet Nahara.

  The door opened and Jackson issued orders to send for Darius and Elijah. She looked out the window, surveying Cymmera. She tried to imagine what it would have looked like before Queen Dara’s death. Had there been birds and animals? Surely, there must have been, but what had they looked like? She glanced at Nahara and chuckled softly. Probably not like anything she’d ever seen.

  Jackson moved beside her and put his arm around her shoulders. “It’s still beautiful, isn’t it?”

  “Yes.” She couldn’t deny that. Even now, it was breathtaking.

  He turned her to face him and pulled her into his arms.

  She rested her head against his chest, enjoying, however briefly, the feeling of safety that surrounded her while she wa
s in his arms.

  The door opened. “Your Majesty.”

  Jackson held her for another moment then kissed the top of her head before facing Darius and Elijah. “Has everyone been moved to safety?”

  “Yes, sir.” Darius stepped forward, tapping a scroll against his leg. “The women and children are in the most central part of the castle. The citizens of the outlying villages have been evacuated and set up in temporary camps, but we can’t leave them there indefinitely. The young girl who survived the initial attack has arrived. She’s been brought to Kiara.”

  “Very good. Was she harmed?”

  “No, sir. Not physically.” Sadness filled Darius’s eyes as he handed the scroll to Jackson.

  He unrolled and glanced at it before shoving it into his back pocket. “Okay.” He turned to Elijah. “Funeral plans for King Maynard?”

  “All of the arrangements have been in place for a long time, Jackson.” Elijah spoke softly. “Everything is ready. We will begin when we leave here.”

  Jackson swallowed hard. “No.”

  “No? What do you mean, sir?” Elijah frowned.

  “I want you to hold off on the funeral.”

  “I don’t understand?”

  “We’re going to wait. There are other matters to attend to first.” Jackson adjusted the belt holding his weapons. “I’m sorry. I know it won’t be easy. The King should be interred immediately, with a proper funeral procession, and it twists my gut not to observe that tradition. But I can’t. Not yet.”

  “What could be…” Elijah lifted his hands in a gesture of surrender. “I’m sorry, sir. Of course, as you wish.”

  “Good. Thank you, Elijah.”

  “Of course, My King.”

  A chill coursed through Ryleigh. King. Wow. Jackson was now the King.

  “We must remove the threat to our Kingdom, especially now that Kai has aligned himself with Daygan. The two of them together are too strong a threat to allow. They will expect us to observe the traditional three day mourning period. If we ambush them before that time, perhaps we can defeat them.”

  “Chayce is readying the army as we speak. There is a question, though, of who will be the new leader of the Death Dealer squad. With your father and Kai both gone…” Darius shook his head.

  “I’ll take care of it. Just tell them to prepare for battle.”

  “Yes, sir.” He turned to leave.

  “Darius.”

  He stopped and turned back to Jackson. “Yes.”

  “We are already short one team, and Dakota is in the human realm with Mia. I know it’s been a long time, but would you consider riding at my side?”

  “I would be honored, Your Majesty.” Darius approached Jackson, pulled him into a hug and clapped him on the back. He spoke softly. “I’m so sorry about your father, Jackson. He was a good man, a good friend, and he was very proud of you. He’d be proud now watching you.” He stepped back, squeezed both of Jackson’s upper arms and left. Jackson watched him.

  Elijah moved forward and placed a hand on Jackson’s shoulder. “He’s right. Your father would be quite proud, as he always has been.”

  Jackson shrugged and looked down. “Elijah, I must ask you something.”

  Elijah waited while Jackson gathered his thoughts.

  “Did Kai know about the family tunnels?”

  Ryleigh held her breath while she waited for his answer. She’d been told only members of the royal family knew about the tunnels. If Kai hadn’t known, who had betrayed them to Daygan?

  “Not to my knowledge, sir.” He scrubbed his hands over his face then lowered them and gazed out the windows. “I just don’t know for sure, Jackson. I’m sorry.”

  Jackson simply nodded and clapped Elijah on the back. “Okay. I’ll let you know when I’m ready to proceed with the funeral.”

  “Yes, sir.” Elijah bowed and left.

  Jackson flopped onto the couch, leaned his head back and closed his eyes.

  “Are you okay?” Ryleigh moved up behind Jackson and massaged his shoulders. The knots tightening his muscles remained bunched, taut.

  “I am. I just need to get through this.”

  She tried to rub the tension from his neck.

  He didn’t speak for so long she thought he’d fallen asleep. She climbed over the back of the couch to sit beside him.

  “I can’t help but think there’s still a traitor among my people.”

  She stared at him, at the tension lining his face.

  He’d aged in the short time since she’d met him, matured. Betrayal was a heavy burden to bear.

  She didn’t discount his intuition, but perhaps Kai’s disloyalty had made him overly suspicious. “What makes you think so?”

  “When I overheard Kai talking to someone…I don’t know…there was just something so familiar about the other voice. I know I’ve heard it before, even though it was distorted coming through the portal.” When his eyes opened her heart broke. Pain and suspicion hardened them, making them even blacker. “Kai didn’t know. I’m almost certain Kai didn’t know about the tunnels. My father stressed the importance of not even acknowledging their existence from the time he first told us about them. There were rumors, of course, as there always are. But none were to be confirmed, ever, for any reason.”

  “So, you think there’s another traitor? Someone in your family?”

  “There almost has to be, doesn’t there?” He stood, shoved his hands through his hair. “I must ready my things for battle then prepare for my father’s funeral. I will ask Kiara to bring you something to wear if you’d like to attend.”

  “Of course, Jackson. Thank you.”

  “Will you wait here for me?”

  “Here in your chambers?”

  The cocky grin once again spread across his face, erasing the weariness that had settled there. “No, though you are welcome to. But I meant will you wait in Cymmera for me?” He traced her lips with his finger.

  “Yes.” She nodded, breathless from his touch.

  He leaned over.

  Anticipation flooded through her.

  He kissed her on the cheek, pulled away, grinned, and left the chamber.

  Ugh…the guy was just plain frustrating.

  Ryleigh moved through the room, restless.

  Jackson was going to attack Argonas, possibly going into battle against a man who knew all of their tactics intimately.

  A jolt of fear pierced her heart. What if…She couldn’t bring herself to finish the thought.

  He’d come back. He had to.

  The thoughts weighed too heavily for her to contemplate. She needed air. She slid the wall of windows open.

  Nahara nudged her.

  “Come on, girl. You want to come with me?”

  Nahara nudged her again.

  “Okay, let’s go.”

  Together, they walked out onto the platform.

  Ryleigh crossed her arms and rested them on the low wall. She lowered her chin onto her arms and looked over the Kingdom. She watched for Jackson. Would the Death Dealer squad pass by on their way into battle? She searched the sky for any glimpse of him.

  A lone figure caught her eye. All black. It moved across the barren field toward the castle. Who was that? How had he gotten past the guards?

  The figure was definitely male, at least she was pretty sure it was. He was big, with broad shoulders beneath his black cloak.

  She squinted, tried to bring him into focus. She strained her eyes to see his face. Something familiar about the way he moved.

  He lifted his head. Daygan.

  Her heart hammered. No. How could that be? Indecision paralyzed her. What should she do? She didn’t know where to find Jackson. She could run to the door and tell one of the guards stationed beside it, but what if Daygan disappeared before she returned?

  Jackson’s paranoia ratcheted up her fear. Who could she even trust? What if someone had shared their plans with Daygan? May
be he knew there weren’t many soldiers left in the castle. Had he left his savages to handle the invading army?

  If she lost sight of him, he might reach the women and children.

  An image of Sadie flashed through her mind.

  And what of the little girl who’d already witnessed a massacre?

  The dagger Jackson had given her weighed heavy in her boot. “Come here, Nahara.” Ryleigh whispered, even though she didn’t think it possible Daygan could hear her.

  He neared the wall.

  She would lose sight of him soon. She reached for Nahara, climbed onto her back. “Come on, girl. Fly.”

  Nahara leapt from the platform.

  Ryleigh clutched tightly to the fur of her neck.

  She dove silently toward Daygan.

  Nahara’s shadow passed over him.

  He turned, startled, just as Nahara landed softly.

  Ryleigh jumped from her back and stood facing Daygan. “What are you doing here?” The dagger burned against her skin.

  “You’ve come alone? Where is your King?” His creepy laughter crawled over her skin.

  “Of course I’m not alone, Daygan.”

  Daygan scanned the sky and the surrounding area before he called her bluff. “I must thank you. You’ve just made my job so much easier.” He moved slowly toward her, still searching the area for any sign of an ambush.

  An idea formed. She could possibly defeat him. She struggled to remember what Jackson had told her. Panic made it difficult to bring the story into focus. She had to concentrate, had to time it exactly right. She would only have one chance.

  She let Daygan get closer, drew him in. She clasped her hands together and lifted them over her head. Energy flowed through her. Too much. Too much power gathered, making it difficult to contain.

  A glint of fear widened his eyes, before hatred hardened them again. He lunged for her.

  * * * *

  A flicker of movement in his peripheral vision caught Jackson’s attention. He glanced over his shoulder. His heart leapt into his throat.

  Ryleigh.

  He pulled Ophidian up short and turned him back toward the castle. He didn’t bother looking back to see if the other Death Dealers followed. He crouched low against Ophidian, spurred the dragon to move faster. Wind roared over him.