by Leigh Walker
The queen gave her son a sharp look, which even I could tell meant shut your mouth. But Austin paid no attention. He gleefully eyed Tariq and the others. “Why don’t we have a meal together, Father? I’m with you. Down with the humans, the human-lovers, and all the race traitors! Time to circle the wagon, I say. Let’s show the settlers and the rebels what we’re really capable of, once and for all. That will keep them in line better than placating them with a human princess, I’ll bet.”
The king frowned at his son. “I haven’t missed you.”
Austin’s smile didn’t falter. “That makes two of us, then.”
“Enough. These two humans—the rebel and his traitor-sister—will be sentenced shortly. I will spare my older son this debacle, but I won’t spare the settlements. It will be filmed for them to watch. They need to understand what happens to those who would betray us.” He nodded toward Tariq. “The competition will go on as planned, as you wish. But there will be one less contestant. You will bring a crew here to film their sentencing and judgment. Let the citizens see what befalls traitors to the throne.”
The king motioned to the guards surrounding Balkyn and me. “Take them to a holding cell so that we may prepare.”
Austin squeezed my shoulder before they dragged me off. “Don’t worry, my lady. It’s not over yet.”
“It’s seems a bit dire, though.” Again, nervous laughter bubbled inside me.
“Just a bit.” Austin grinned. “And so you know, I didn’t mean what I said. About dining on the humans. Maybe just Tariq, though he’s a bit perfumey for my taste.”
“Mine, too.” I giggled. I could feel the hysterics threatening.
He released me. “Off you go, then. I’ll be waiting for you. A promise is a promise, after all.”
I nodded, my heart pounding, as the guards dragged me away.
Chapter 20
Injured in Doubt
The dungeons seemed different when I was actually inside a cell. “This isn’t as bad as I imagined,” I called to my brother. “It’s quite cozy.” I picked at my thin blanket.
“I’m really not quite sure why you’re still chatting at me.” I couldn’t see his face, but I knew Balkyn was sporting a sour frown. “It’s a bit desperate of you.”
“I suppose it is, but that’s understandable, under the circumstances. Don’t you think?”
Balkyn snorted. “I think you should’ve listened to me before. Nothing good can come from mixing with them. Look at where you landed, Miss High-and-Mighty.”
“I’m next to my brother, who I thought I’d lost years ago,” I mused. “I don’t see this as a terrible predicament. I see it as a blessing.”
“We’re about to be publicly beheaded by the vampire king. Do you really feel blessed?”
I sighed. “That’s not what I’m talking about, and you know it. Can’t you speak to me as you used to? As your sister, your family?”
“I told you.” Balkyn’s voice was strangled. “You’re no longer my sister.”
“And yet here we are, together at the very end.” No matter what he said, his presence still comforted me. “You cannot accept that fate has given us a second chance?”
“I don’t know that fate has given me anything other than a headache these last five years.” Balkyn’s laugh sounded hollow.
“I saw Mother, Winnie, and Remy recently. They’re doing well. Winnie and Remy are growing up, Balkyn. There’s so smart and curious. They’re so, so good.”
He cleared his throat. “I’m glad for it.”
“What about Father? What does fate have in store for him?” I laced my hands together, praying that he would tell me something—anything.
“He’s sick, Gwyn, like I’ve told you. The last I saw him, his fever had been burning him up for weeks. There was nothing we could do.”
“I wish… I wish he were here.” Tears sprang to my eyes, and I willed them away. I wouldn’t spend the precious time I had left blubbering. “There’s plenty of medicine here, and doctors. We could get him help. He could be comfortable.”
“You know Father. He’s tough. If he’s still alive, you can bet he’s doing just fine. And if he didn’t make it…”
“Then we’ll see him again soon.” I put my palm flat upon the wall, as if I could touch my brother through it.
“Yes,” Balkyn said softly. “Yes, we will.”
Footsteps echoed down the hall. “You two—on your feet.” A gruff-looking sentinel unlocked our doors. “They’re waiting for you.”
Heart in my throat, I climbed from my cot. It’s almost time. Two additional guards went in to help my brother. They practically carried him up the stairs. My heart thudded as we climbed out of the dungeons. Each step I took, I wondered—how many many minutes of my life remained? I panicked, because I didn’t want to waste a second. Dallas. I needed to feel him with me now, to give me strength.
We made it up the stairs and into the hall. I followed the sentinels, concentrating—not on my surroundings—but remembering Dallas’s touch as he brushed the hair from my face. How he’d held me during the one precious night we’d spent together. How much I loved the way he smelled, the feel of my face pressed against his chest. I remembered, and I tried to be brave as we were marched back to the throne room.
The king and queen waited, as did Austin and the vampire court. Tariq and a film crew stood ready in the wings, their cameras already set up and rolling. The royal emissary was pale except for two hectic spots of color in his cheeks. His eyes darted around my brother and me, as if he still couldn’t quite believe what he was seeing.
The room had been slightly rearranged. Various tall ceremonial weapons were lined up, on gleaming display near the thrones. A large, blood-red Oriental rug had been placed in the center of the room. Balkyn and I were led onto the rug, squarely in front of the king and queen.
A sentinel stepped forward as trumpets sounded. “Introducing His Royal Majesty, King Reginald Black, Crown King of the United Royal Settlements. Introducing Her Royal Majesty, Queen Serena Black, Crown Queen of the United Royal Settlements.”
The king and queen each bowed slightly, then the king stepped forward. “We are here to sentence these two humans for treason. The prisoner is a rebel. Do you admit to your crimes, rebel?”
Balkyn lifted his chin. “I admit to no crimes. But I’ll die a rebel and with no regrets.”
The king’s eyes flicked over him with distaste. He turned to me, and the distaste turned to clear disgust. “And what say you, Miss West? Do you admit that while you were a guest in our home, you knew that your brother was both a rebel—a sworn enemy of the royal family—as well as a prisoner here?”
I lifted my chin. “Yes, Your Highness. Balkyn West is a rebel and a prisoner. And he is my brother, until my last breath.”
“Do you admit to lying to your hosts, the royal family, about this? Do you admit to hiding the truth?”
“Yes, Your Highness, I did lie. I lied to protect not only my brother but also myself. It was a coward’s choice. I accept my punishment fully.”
The queen stepped forward and cleared her throat. “Did you also lie to protect someone else, child?”
“Well—well, yes, Your Majesty.” I didn’t dare speak his name, lest his father’s fury become focused on him. “But the point is, it was my idea to lie. I didn’t want anyone in the palace to know the rebel prisoner was my brother. I didn’t want to hurt my chances in the competition.”
The queen turned to her husband as if to say something, but the king ignored her. He stepped past her to the front of the dais. “Enough of your excuses,” he said. “It was a selfish choice, Miss West. Worse than that, a traitorous one.” He stared around the room, taking everyone’s measure. “I’ve heard everything necessary. It’s time for their judgments.”
I glanced at Balkyn, who stared straight ahead.
“Husband, wait—” the queen said.
But the king would not wait. “I sentence both of these humans to death.”
I sucked in a deep breath. Balkyn reached for me and took my hand in his. Shocked, I looked his way again. This time, his gaze met mine, the ghost of a smile on his lips.
“Guards, prepare them.” A sentinel put his hands on my shoulders as the king reached for a large axe, etched in gold. Although my brother’s hand around mine warmed my heart, a wave of dread crashed through me as the blade of the axe glinted in the afternoon light.
The king descended the steps and stopped before us. “Kneel.”
Time stopped for a moment. My heart thundered. This was all happening so fast…how could I prepare for my life to end?
How could I say goodbye?
But there was no time. Hand in hand, Balkyn and I dropped to our knees. Balkyn bowed his head, waiting. I did the same. I didn’t want to spend my last moments looking at that axe.
“You’re no coward, sister,” Balkyn said quietly. “The last words I speak on this earth should be the truth.”
I squeezed his hand. “I love you, brother. I’ll see you on the other side.”
The room grew silent as death. I held my breath, waiting for the blade. But then heavy footsteps thundered across the stone floor. “Not so fast! A word, Father,” a familiar, beloved voice said.
I tentatively peered up, wondering if I was already dead and heaven was real, after all.
Dallas swept into the throne room, his cape flying behind him. Despite all my proclamations about being ready to say goodbye and carrying him in my heart, I almost fainted in relief at the sight of him. “I’ve just come from my trip to Settlement Fifteen, which I cut short when I heard news of what’s happened here. You can’t do this—you can’t sentence Miss West and her brother to death. And you certainly can’t televise it.” He snapped his fingers at Tariq, who in turn motioned for the cameras to stop filming.
“Don’t you dare turn those cameras off!” The king raised himself to his considerable height.
“Trust me, Father, you don’t want word of this getting out. There’ll be a massive revolt. I’ve seen it for myself.”
The queen quickly descended the steps, coming next to her husband. “Listen to him. He has news.”
“He’s trying to protect the girl, which is what brought all the trouble in the first place.”
She narrowed her eyes at the king. “Let him speak. You cut me off earlier. It might be in your best interests to hear out at least one of your family members. We might have something important to tell you, darling.”
The king looked a bit cowed. “Fine. Tariq, leave us.”
Tariq and the cameras were gone in an instant, without a peep of argument.
The king turned to Dallas. “You have one minute. Speak.”
The muscle in Dallas’s jaw jumped. “First, I’d like to get Miss West off the floor.” He practically shoved the guard behind me out of the way and reached for my hands. He gently pulled me to my feet. Emotions swirled in his eyes—regret, relief, anger, sadness. “Miss West. My apologies for my father’s behavior.” He briefly took me in his arms and kissed the top of my head.
When I looked up, the king had turned red. He still gripped the axe tightly. “There’s no need to apologize to her. She’s a rebel-lover, son. A traitor.”
“Just because her brother’s a rebel—and her father, I might mention—it doesn’t make her a traitor. Whether or not she loves them is none of your bloody business.” Dallas held out a hand to Balkyn. My brother looked up at him, a mixture of surprise and regret playing out on his face.
He accepted the prince’s hand and shakily rose to his feet.
I supported Balkyn against me as the prince turned to once more face the king. “Put the axe away, Father. There will be no executions today.”
The king visibly stiffened, still clutching the weapon. “You haven’t said one thing to change my mind, son.”
Dallas sighed. “Then let me speak. But put that axe away first. You’ve scared the woman I love enough for one lifetime. I won’t tolerate it another moment.”
Chapter 21
I Was Lost…
It took every ounce of self-control the king possessed to civilly return the axe to its display case. He stiffly sat on his throne, waiting for his older son to explain himself.
The queen patted his hand, as if she were proud of his restraint, but the king refused to acknowledge her touch. He looked longingly at the axe.
“As you know, I was headed to Settlement Fifteen with Miss Kensington this afternoon,” Dallas said. “I was astonished by what I saw as we traveled through the settlements. The citizens were out by the thousands. Many of them had signs. All of them were cheering. And they were cheering for Miss West.”
My jaw dropped. “For me?”
“Yes, for you.” Dallas motioned for a guard to bring a chair, and he gently helped Balkyn into it. Then he took my hand, lacing his fingers through mine. “The network didn’t want us to tell the finalists, but the nation is united. You’re the people’s choice. They want you as their princess, Gwyneth. The polls are showing almost unanimous approval for you, outside of the other girls’ home settlements. There’s been rallies all week, candlelight vigils… It’s quite impressive.” He smiled, and it was like the sun coming out after a long, cold winter. “After your episode aired, when the people saw you at the clinic, and they saw us together, they knew. It was obvious to everyone that I’d made my choice. Mira didn’t want the other girls to know. She didn’t want them to get dispirited, and she also wanted to make the final days of the contest dramatic. She wants the ratings to be sky-high, of course.”
“You might’ve mentioned that before.” Austin grimaced, his gaze veering between his father and his brother. “Things were about to get a bit…close.” He eyed the sharp edge of the axe.
Dallas’s face turned stormy. “Do not speak to me. You’ve failed me for the last time, brother.”
Austin rolled his eyes. “You are getting a bit dramatic in your old age. Her neck’s still intact.”
“Barely.” Dallas’s voice was ice.
“Don’t be so harsh,” I whispered. “He did try to save me.”
“He did a very bad job, so far as I can tell.”
“I’m losing patience.” The king struggled to sit still in his seat. “Despite what you’ve said, I see no reason to spare these two. In fact, her popularity will bring more attention to the topic. Treason won’t be tolerated, not by anyone.”
“Beheading the settlement’s choice won’t be tolerated either, Father. Not by the citizens and not by me.” His gaze raked over the king. “Remember why you agreed to this contest in the first place. You did it to bring excitement and unity to the settlements. You’ve succeeded. If we stop now—if we make an example of her in such a brutal way—there’s no turning back from an uprising. We can’t betray the settlements like that and expect them to take it.”
The king shot to his feet. “But we’re the ones who’ve been betrayed. She’s a rebel sympathizer, living in our home. Son, your feelings have blinded you. This girl has deceived you.”
“I knew about her brother all along. I’m the one who put him in the dungeons.”
“That doesn’t matter.” The king hesitated. “What I mean is, she’s deceived you into wanting to protect her. She’s using you, son.”
Dallas pulled me protectively against him. “That’s not true. Gwyneth and I are in love.”
Austin stepped forward. “She does love him, Father. The loon admitted as much to me.”
The king pointed at his sons. “You’re both young and naive. Egotistical, too. You’re also wealthy, powerful, and good looking. Of course you think she loves you. You don’t understand that a person can have no feelings for you and act as if they do. People in power are used all the time. This girl’s no different. She wanted to protect her brother. When it comes down to it, that’s where her loyalty lies.”
The queen cleared her throat. “I have something to say.” She smiled at Dallas, then frowned at her husband. “
You’re wrong, dear. And I have proof.”
“I’m not really sure how you prove such a thing, but—”
“I have a letter she wrote to our son.” From the depths of her skirts, she pulled out the envelope I’d addressed to Dallas. Her sapphire gaze found mine. “Forgive me for going through your things, child. But when I discovered that your brother had been down in the dungeons for some time, it made me question what I’d seen growing between you and my son. I doubted you.”
Unable to speak, I nodded.
“But I no longer doubt Miss West.” She held up the letter. “She tells our son in this note that she does, in fact, love our son—more than life itself. She also says that she would have him choose someone else, someone we would approve of, Reginald. She said that she didn’t want her love to destroy Dallas’s relationship with you, as she feared the news about her brother might. She vowed to protect him. That is love. It is not your son’s ego. There’s no guile to it.” She handed the letter to Dallas. “I believe this is yours.”
“Thank you, Mother.” He tucked it away. “So, Father, what say you?”
The king’s gaze traveled over my brother, then to me, my hand entwined with his son’s. “I would not choose this for you.”
Dallas straightened his spine. “But will you support my choice?”
Everyone stared at the king. The queen’s eyes shone brightly as we waited.
The king nodded stiffly. “Your bride is your choice. If she loves you and does not deceive you, I will support you, son.”
Dallas hugged me as Austin clapped. The queen beamed at her husband, then at us.
“But there’s still a problem.” The king made sure our humble celebration didn’t last long. “Her brother. No rebel who attacks my family shall be allowed to live. I’m afraid I can’t spare him.”
“Your Highness, please.” I fell to my knees, begging. “He fought you before he knew you, to protect our land and our family from invaders.”
