“Yes,” Tully said. “I was hoping news about Storm might trigger a response. Even though I’m her favorite, she blamed herself for the way he’d turned out.”
“Tell her about Storm?” the oracle asked, a hint of excitement in her voice.
“He’s dead. My brother…” Tully shook his head. “I still find it hard to believe it’s true.”
He sounded shaken. Either he was the consummate actor, or he’d cared about Storm in his own twisted way.
“Do you think knowing he was dead and would no longer hurt our people could give her some sort of closure?”
“How did he die?” the oracle asked with barely concealed excitement.
Bitch. I doubted she heard Tully’s question.
“He attacked Captain Ren’s ship to rescue the Tuh’ren.”
“I want to talk to the captain, and the queen mother needs her rest, sire. As her healer, I must advise against telling her about your brother. She carried a lot of guilt at the way he turned out, and knowing he’s dead might push her over the edge, not help her find closure.”
The lying sack of bones. I wanted to rake my nails across her face. She hated Storm’s mother. At least it had seemed that way during their brief interaction. She probably planned to tell her with glee and in excruciating detail how Storm died once she talked to Captain Ren. I just knew it. What a snake! How had she fooled the royal family all these years? And why did she hate Storm’s mother so much?
“As for the Tuh’ren,” the oracle continued. “I’ll have my people escort her to my tower.”
“No. Alexandria is moving downstairs,” Tully said.
“Downstairs in the dungeons?” the oracle asked gleefully.
The bitch got off on people’s suffering.
“No, with me,” Tully shot back.
“You? But your grandfather—”
“Has nothing to do with this,” Tully finished. “He doesn’t know she’s here, and you will not send word to him that we found her. It will be a nice surprise when he returns. I succeeded where his people failed. The Tuh’ren will be staying with me in my chambers.”
Like hell I was. He touches me, he loses a finger.
“You mean to mate with the lass?” the oracle said.
“Of course not.” Tully sounded like the thought was preposterous. God, I hope he found me repulsive. “She must be turned into a Kelpie before I mate with her.”
Crap!
“We’ll start the process after I finish mourning my brother. Storm might have been mistaken in his beliefs and chosen the wrong path, but he was still my brother. A one-week mourning period is his birthright as a prince of the kingdom. After that, she will undergo the change.”
I had a week to get off my ass and find a way off of this pile of rock.
“I beg you to reconsider keeping the Tuh’ren so close to your mother, my prince. You don’t know what she’s capable of. I’ve had visions.”
“You always have visions, Oracle, and not all of them come true,” Tully said. “You saw Storm’s return, yet he is dead. You saw his dragon friend desBanan the palace, yet the mercenaries we hired killed him. The girl is all mouth and sass. Even Conyn said she was feral. She needs a firm hand, and she’ll learn her place.”
Levi was dead? Tears rushed to my eyes.
“At least, allow me to calm the Tuh’ren down with my elixir first,” the oracle begged. “Look at her. She’s in tears. You don’t want another hysterical woman on your hands.”
“None of your brews and concoctions for her, Oracle. I’ll break her myself. Leave us.”
Was this what he’d meant by taming me? Break me and change me into a Kelpie? Storm had said it would be painful, but he would help. The way he’d linked with me and shared his emotions and energy on Captain Ren’s ship, I was sure he’d meant to share my pain. My eyes welled and spilled.
I didn’t want to change with his royal bridle. I wanted Storm’s. It was mine. My claim released it, so it belonged to me, which meant I had to escape and make my way home to Vaarda. I was breaking out his mother from the tower, too, and taking her with me. The oracle wasn’t really taking care of her. She was her jailor and tormentor. Just like Tully planned to be mine. What if Storm hadn’t made it?
Angry with myself, I wiped the wetness from my cheeks. No more second-guessing myself. Storm was alive, and so was Levi. They were invincible. They’d survived a hanging, so a few wounds wouldn’t stop them.
The squeaks from the gate followed as it opened and closed. I waited, then inched closer to the door and peered outside to make sure they were gone.
Tully and Lord Conyngham were still around, talking in low tones. Then the prince walked toward his mother’s room. Lord Conyngham turned suddenly and stared straight at me.
He’d called me feral. He smiled. Really? I was a prisoner about to be turned into a Kelpie and mated to the man I loathed, but he found something to smile about?
I gave him the finger, and the smile died from his lips.
Yeah, didn’t like that, did you? Here comes another.
I gave him a second one and flashed a huge grin, then backed away from the door. Any second, I expected him to burst into the room. Instead, I heard him move away. I sat on the bed with my back to the wall, wrapped my arms around my knees, and stared at the door, waiting for Tully. I knew he was coming for me.
CHAPTER 4
Footsteps approached, and I scrambled to my feet. The door flew open.
“Let’s go,” Tully said.
He looked like he was about to punch something.
“Can I say something first? Please?” I bowed. “I don’t know how people show respect to the throne, but if you can forgive a naïve Tuh’ren, we can start over again.” I peered at him and found him scowling. “I know sick people, Prince Tully, and I think I can help your mother.”
“My mother does not need your help,” he barked.
“Please. Hear me out. I spent the last several years taking care of a little girl whose mother was seriously ill, and every evening I’d take her to sit with her mother and share everything she’d done that day. On the days when she could hardly sit up or eat, and didn’t want her daughter to see her, I’d visit her and talk to her.”
“What is your point?” Tully asked, suspicion in his eyes. They were silver like Storm’s yet so different it was jarring.
“Hearing about her daughter’s accomplishments didn’t just make her happy, it gave her something to look forward to. The doctors had given her two years to live. She lived for six. Please, allow me to keep your mother company up here and help her.”
The shock on his face was comical.
“How? My mother is gone up here.” He tapped his head. “She doesn’t remember anything. Not me. Not the palace. And nothing can change that.”
What had Ryun told his students about Tully? He had a big ego and did the same thing over and over, hoping for a different result.
“I overheard what you told the oracle. You want to reach your mother. What if we focused on you?”
He frowned. “What do you mean?”
“You stopped your brother, so he’s no longer doing terrible things in the high seas. That makes you a hero.” I almost threw up in my mouth. “I could tell her about that and anything else I learn about you. I’ll do it every day, until I reach her.”
I had no idea how many days she’d need to get rid of the poison in her system, but I needed her lucid if we were to escape.
“Please, let me spend the week with her while you mourn your brother.”
Tully frowned. “She used to love hearing about my day when I was young, so she might enjoy that.” Suspicion flitted across his face. “But why would you care about her when you are my prisoner.”
“She is a prisoner, too.”
Anger flashed in Tully’s eyes.
“She’s getting the best care possible. The tower is for her own safety and the safety of the others. She already burned down her chambers downstairs. Why am I
explaining myself to you?”
Damn it.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you.”
Yeah, like I cared if he was offended. I wanted him to leave me up here. The idea of being in his chamber turned my stomach.
I tapped my head. “I meant she’s a prisoner of her mind, but I can set her free. If you like, you can visit her, say in three days, and see the progress we’ve made. If there’s no progress, then I’ll stop.”
He glanced at Conyngham, who’d been quiet since they entered the room.
“Do you think she can fix my mother when the oracle has tried for years and failed?”
“The question is why is she doing it? I don’t buy her motive.”
Lord Snooty shot up on my Hated Islanders list, right behind Captain Ren.
“I’m offering to help her because I hate to see people suffer, Lord Conyngham, and she’s suffering.”
And she was Storm’s mother, damn it. That alone was enough for me to want to help her. When they meet, she’d better be okay or he’d rain all kinds of shit on this kingdom.
“I want to help, but if you’ve given up on her ever getting better, then let’s go downstairs. I’m sure your chambers are much more comfortable than this place,” I added.
The tower was no place to keep the mother of the future king. What had the oracle called her? The queen mother. Not that I believed for one second the queen mother was ill. The stairs were steep and long, and anyone could easily trip and fall. The fact the oracle hadn’t pushed her to her death went to prove the woman was enjoying tormenting her.
Tully looked around the room. “You’re willing to stay up here in this drab, cold room to take care of her? Or is this a ruse to escape me?”
Nailed it on both accounts. He wasn’t as stupid as he looked. “To take care of her. Or we could take her downstairs if you prefer.”
Panic flared in his eyes. “No, not downstairs. She used to hide from her maids and forced us to shut down the palace while the guards searched for her. Grandfather insisted she cannot be allowed downstairs.”
And you went along with it? Spineless.
“Then there’s your answer,” I said in an upbeat voice. “Since she can’t come downstairs, I’ll stay up here with her.”
Tully still looked undecided. He glanced at Lord Conyngham. “What do you think?”
“Let her. You have no use for her anyway until she turns.”
“That’s right, Conyn,” Tully said, and I sighed with relief. “I’ve decided you can stay.”
Yes. “Can I add one request?”
“You are in no position to ask for anything, Alexandria.”
“Just one. The queen mother cannot have contact with anyone, except me. Not even the oracle.”
Suspicion flickered in Tully’s eyes. “Why?”
“Because the evil oracle has probably been feeding her poison right under your stupid nose,” I wanted to say. Instead I went with, “I don’t want anyone to interfere with my method of treatment.”
“My mother has maids. They stay. And the guards will keep an eye on you at all times.”
Damn it. I didn’t want jailers.
“The Royal Guards don’t like coming up here,” I said. “They’re scared of the oracle.”
“My guards are fearless.”
Sure, whatever you tell yourself to sleep at night, pal.
“I can supply people to guard the queen mother, Tully,” Lord Conyngham said.
Tully chuckled and slapped Conyngham on the back. “Conyn, those ill-dressed men of yours do not deserve to be called guards, but the oracle despises you and your men, so she won’t dare come up here when they’re around.” He rubbed his hands. “It’s settled. I’ll tell the oracle. She’s not going to like it.” He grinned with malice. The sick bastard.
“Can I go to her now?” I asked.
“No. You stay here until her maids arrive.” Tully studied me intently, then smiled. He glanced at Lord Conyngham and said, “I think I finally get it.”
“Get what?” Lord Conyngham asked.
Tully reached out to touch my cheek, but I cringed before he made contact. Anger flashed in his eyes.
“Why my brother was mesmerized by her when they first met. She didn’t have a unique scent I could detect. In fact, she smelled terrible.”
The insult didn’t bother me. First, I didn’t give a rat’s ass about his opinion. And second, the scent of chlorine in fresh water was not something Kelpies were familiar with, so yeah, whatever.
“Yet he couldn’t take his eyes off her, or so my people told me.” He studied me. “There’s something about her. Those eyes. That face. She is exquisite, is she not?”
No, I’m not. When had the conversation moved from his mother to me? I wanted to put some distance between us, but then he’d know he was creeping me out.
“And the daring way she looks at you, talks, and acts makes one want to tame her. What do you say, Conyngham?”
“Mouthy women are not my type. I like them sweet and manageable.”
Neanderthal.
Tully slapped him on the back. “That’s why you are not mated, my friend.”
“Neither are you, my prince,” Lord Conyngham shot back.
Tully laughed harder. “I was busy trying to stop my brother from destroying my kingdom.” He frowned. “I’d always hoped he’d see the errors of his ways, but no, he had to go and die a criminal. That alone made me want to find his body and display it in the square for the people to see what happens to pirates.”
What the hell? Had Tully faked grief in front of the oracle? This was why he’d looked pissed. He’d hoped to reform Storm.
“At least something good came from his death. He left me a gift.” Tully’s hand whipped out and grabbed my chin before I realized his intention.
I tried to break his hold, but his hands dug deeper into my jaw, forcing my mouth open. He moved closer and lowered his head.
Was he planning to kiss me? Ew, no.
I gripped his wrist and tried to break free, but he snagged one of my hands and twisted it behind my back. At the same time, he yanked me against him. I could not knee him from that position.
Helpless, I twisted and wiggled, but it only made matters worse. He became aroused. I wasn’t sure whether my body pressed against his turned him on or he got his kicks from subjugating women. Whatever the reason, I froze.
“Fight me all you want, Alexandria,” he said, crushing my fingers.
Pain shot up my arm.
“I like a challenge, and I always win.”
My gaze met Conyngham’s before he looked away, but he didn’t intervene.
“Just because you found out that my mother is my weakness and exploited it does not mean I’ve forgotten our first meeting or your disrespect downstairs. Now that my brother is dead, I will need something to distract me, and you are perfect.”
His lips crushed mine in a punishing kiss. The food I’d eaten in his mother’s room shot up my throat. I bit him hard. Laughing, he lifted his head and smiled, a crazy light burning in his eyes. He was excited by the bite and my resistance.
“You taste awful,” he said, not masking his disgust. “The sooner you are turned, the better. You have three days to help my mother and impress me. Mess up and I’ll lock you up in the dungeon while you turn.”
He let go of me with a push. I staggered backward. The back of my knees hit the bed, and I fell on it. I scrambled away from him while still fighting my gag reflex.
“There are other reasons why Mother is kept up here and away from our people,” he continued, while Lord Conyngham leaned against the wall and stared into space. “The sickness of the mind is hereditary as we’ve seen with Tuh’rens. Mother had passed on her madness to Storm, but I got lucky. We don’t need people to be reminded of that.”
Maybe he didn’t want his people to think he was crazy, too. Maybe the “mad king” really referred to Tully, not his grandfather.
“You didn’t live with
my brother long enough to know he was a twisted man, who did horrible things to our people every time his ship crossed paths with mine. We’ve lost many people because of him.” He gave me a smug smile and stepped back. “Don’t leave this room until the maid comes for you.”
Numb, I watched them leave. Storm. Crazy. What a thought.
But doubt crept in. I’d barely met Storm and hardly knew him, except for what his people had told me. He was their hero, so he’d never do wrong in their eyes. And yes, I was attracted to him, but what if the chemistry between us blinded me to the truth about his madhatteriness. What if…?
I shook my head. No. Storm wasn’t crazy, damn it! And neither was his mother.
This was going to be worse than I’d thought. Doubts creeping in now and believing anything Psycho Tully said were beyond stupid.
I blew out a breath. I had three days to do this. Three days to evade Prince Tully’s sloppy kisses and mating plans because after that, I’d be under his thumb with no one to protect me. Not the oracle who was going to be pissed once she learned what I’d done. Not the guards who feared her. And definitely not Lord High and Mighty Conyngham, Tully’s bestie. He’d watched Tully rough me up without interfering. He’d been so much nicer on the boat. Now, I wished I’d tried to win him over. He’d be on my side.
I rubbed my aching wrist, my mind racing. Tully was not as stupid or naïve as I’d thought. He was a calculating, sadistic bastard who would enjoy hurting me. And I doubted he planned to mourn Storm’s “death” as he’d claimed. He did and said things for appearances. The same way he hid his mother so people wouldn’t see her and think he’d inherited her craziness. I’d bet very few people knew the real Tully.
I pushed aside the pity-fest. Instead of thinking about my situation and doubting Storm, I focused on his mother. The oracle barely fed her one of her brews. If it had downers to subdue her, charcoal could adsorb some of it and speed up her recovery.
The fireplace in my room was empty. I walked to the door and pushed it open. The maid hadn’t arrived yet, and the gate was closed. I checked the fireplace in the main tower room, but it was all ashes.
Should I dare defy Tully and check on the queen mother? Even as the question flashed in my head, I already knew what I had to do. Time was not on my side, so I’d better hit the ground running.
Storm Unleashed: Phantom Islanders Part III Page 5
