Prince of Stone (Imperia)

by Gena Showalter

  The curse would take effect at any moment. Jorlan knew it, felt it. Cold crept through his veins. He needed to speak with Katie a final time, and tell her what he’d done, how he’d tricked her into wedding him. Leaving her in the dark would do no good. To make use of his title and riches for any reason, she needed to know she had one, as well.

  Finally, Katie stirred beside him and yawned. Oh, how he’d both anticipated and dreaded this moment.

  “Good morning. I mean, good evening.” Her eyes were heavy-lidded, slumberous. She gave him a sweet smile, the yawn clinging to the edges. “I had the most amazingly vivid dreams about you. You were a little boy and you wanted so badly to give your mother a present, so you picked her a bouquet of flowers, but they were poisonous, and you broke out in a horrible rash.”

  Aye. He remembered the day well, not to mention the weeks of itching. “We must talk.” His expression grave, almost desperate, he helped her to a sitting position.

  She frowned and furrowed her brows. “Okay. What’s going on?”

  “Hours ago—” his heart drummed erratically “—I made you my life mate.”

  She froze, all traces of sleep abandoning her features. “You did what now?”

  “I spoke the words of binding, and you repeated them. We had sex, and I came inside you, completing the ceremony.”

  “No, no, no. I did not get married without knowing it.”

  * * *

  DID I? KATIE FLOUNDERED. Jorlan’s eyes were a dark slate, no longer light and twinkling. Her stomach twisted and churned, dread clamping around her like a shackle. “I told you no.”

  “I told you aye, and I meant it.”

  “No, you told me you’d convince me.” She popped her jaw. “Did you think I’d vow to love you forever after being tricked?”

  “Nay, I did not. I have accepted that you do not love me, and that we will part.”

  The color in her cheeks disappeared in an instant.

  “I am prepared for the fate that will soon befall me. What I did, I did for you. It doesn’t excuse my actions, but I am okay with that. You are a princess now, and the title will protect you when I return to stone.”

  Fury seethed inside her. “I’ve heard a similar rationale my entire life. I know what’s best for you, Kit Kat. You’re a girl. Weak. I’m a man. Strong. I expected better from you. This changes nothing.”

  “Nevertheless. ’Tis done.”

  “Well, undo it! I won’t stay married to a man who doesn’t really love me.”

  “How can you say such a thing? I love you with all of my heart.”

  “Oh, really? How can I believe that now? You enforced your will over mine.” The last word escaped on a wispy catch of breath as hurt joined her fury.

  “What you believe doesn’t matter, katya. You will not have to deal with me much longer.”

  She went still, his words reverberating in her head. Will not have to deal with me much longer. Had the time come?

  Fear choked her. Let go of fear, and grab hold of love. One ruins your life, the other improves it.

  Love the man who’d tricked her? The man she’d imagined him as a little boy—

  She gasped as the truth dawned. She hadn’t imagined anything. “The dream. I dreamed of your past. Because we’re wed.”

  “Aye.” Tense nod. “Just as I will dream of you, if ever I sleep.”

  Fighting through a vat of conflicting emotion, Katie thought back to the day she first stumbled upon Jorlan’s statue. She had already decided not to buy the house; it needed too many renovations to be profitable. Besides, she’d hoped for a smaller summer project. Then she’d spotted Jorlan’s statue. Then. That moment. She’d known beyond any doubt the house had to belong to her.

  Despite everything, she believed she did, in fact, belong with Jorlan. That he was home, rather than the house. But. That didn’t mean he’d had a right to marry her without her consent.

  “I didn’t mean to hurt you, Katie, or take away your choice. As a young soldier I learned to prepare for the worst even when you hope for the best, so that is what I did. I planned for your protection because I love you with all my heart. You will realize this truth, I know it…but I suspect it will be too late.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  KATIE STOOD IN the kitchen, drinking from a glass of water. I’m married. Married. Already starbursts of delight were working to disable her anger. Only took a few minutes to realize she kind of liked the thought of being Jorlan’s wife. A few minutes after that, she decided she loved knowing he belonged to her. My husband.

  Mr. Katie James.

  Mrs. Princess Katie en Sarr.

  Ugh. What was she going to do? Forgive him, tell him she loved him and move to Imperia so he wouldn’t grow to resent her later?

  Would she grow to resent him?

  Doubtful. His happiness meant too much to her.

  She had only to speak words of love…and yet something still she kept quiet. Why? What was the worst that would happen if she admitted the truth to him—and herself?

  He died and left her behind, the way her mom had done?

  Or, he realized he’d made a mistake, that Katie wasn’t the type of woman he wanted forever, only for a season?

  Or, they lived happily ever after?

  She’d never considered herself a person who sabotaged her own success but…maybe she was. Would she really allow him to return to stone, just because she feared what would happen if he remained a man?

  What if she didn’t love him, and he turned back to stone even though she’d said the words?

  “Katie,” he said now, breaking into her musings. He stood before the bay window, staring out. “Someone comes.”

  The front door swung open, rain misting the living room. He went quiet as Heather and Frances raced inside, then closed the door with a snap.

  Startled, Katie remained in front of the kitchen sink, water glass positioned midair. Jorlan had finally explained what had happened, how Katie had tumbled through the ceiling and crashed into the floor, and he had used his magic to heal her. Frances had seen it all go down.

  Frances approached, careful to walk a wide circle around Jorlan, who stood in the corner, ready to act if Katie had need of him. “Heather convinced me to return and speak with you. I…I don’t know what happened earlier, and I don’t want you to tell me. I’m just going to finish the work I had left, okay, and never ever talk about what happened here.”

  Katie nodded and set her glass aside. “Thank you.”

  That settled, Frances strode out the door and into the back garden. Going to pull weeds during a storm? All right, then.

  Heather remained in place, wringing her hands together. “Katie, I…you… How are you doing?”

  “I’m fine, thank you.” Katie looked her over and frowned. “How are you?” The girl radiated stress, half-moon bruises under her eyes, as if she hadn’t slept in years.

  “I’m better.” Heather gave a half smile, hesitant but authentic. “I’ve spent the last few days thinking about my life, and I—” She pressed a hand over her heart. “Never mind. I’m rambling, and you have work to complete. It’s fine. I’m fine. I’ll be fine.”

  “So, I gather that you are…fine?” Something had changed about Heather. Despite the stress, she seemed to have shed a thousand pounds of emotional baggage. “I just woke up from a nap, but I could use a break. Maybe we could sit at the table and talk?”

  Heather shook her head. “Rain check? I’d like to help my mother out back. All of this—” she lifted her hand, palm down, and made a circular motion to encompass life in general rather than the kitchen “—has been hard on her.”

  “I understand.” Just how much did Frances and Heather know? Actually, what did they think they knew?

  Heather gave her a hug, another surprise. “Oh, hey.” She glanced over her shoulder. When she refocused on Katie, she lowered her volume. “We walked through the garden before coming into the house. The new statue is an odd addition.”
/>   New statue? “I didn’t get a new statue,” she said, brows drawn.

  “But, there’s one on the only empty pedestal. Well, formerly empty.”

  Formerly empty— Ohhh. Jorlan’s pedestal. “Are you sure you’re not thinking of a different section of the garden altogether?”

  “I’m sure. The new statue is different than any of the others, because it brings torment to mind, not pleasure.”

  Torment? Dread churned in her stomach. What did this new development mean? “Will you meet me there in five minutes?” she whispered. “I’m going to give Jorlan a task. I don’t what him to know about the new statue until I’ve seen it.”

  Expression tinged with sadness, as if she understood Katie’s reference, Heather nodded and skipped from the room.

  No way Heather knew anything about Jorlan’s life as a slab of stone.

  “Hey, uh, I’m heading to the bathroom,” Katie told Jorlan, who still stood before the bay window, watching her.

  “Very well. Then we will finish our talk, aye?” Just then, he looked like he’d gained a thousand pounds of emotional baggage. “I am running out of time.”

  “Yes, of course.” But inside she shouted, No! No, you aren’t. You aren’t returning to stone, and that’s that. She stood in place, her heart galloping. He was a good man, and he deserved better than a woman who’d been hiding from her fears rather than fighting them. He deserved…love. And that was what she would be giving him from now on.

  I love him. I do. I love him with my whole heart.

  The truth shone within her, a bright light that chased away shadows of fear. From now on, I will give him better. So, she would do it. She would tell him the truth, damn the consequences—and there was no way she’d put a quarter in a jar this time; she’d meant that curse!

  “Katie,” he prompted.

  “Jorlan, I do, okay? I love you.” There. She’d said it, officially breaking the curse. And now she might pass out.

  “I…you…I feel no different,” he said with a frown.

  No “I love you, too”? My fears were accurate? Floundering now, Katie raced to the bathroom; his gaze bored into her back.

  She locked the door and sneaked out the window.

  Outside, rain pelted her. Thunder boomed. She got soaked as she raced to the center of the garden. Heather was there already, waiting quietly and just as soaked.

  “This is it,” the redhead said.

  Katie drew in a sharp breath. Dark clouds hovered over the rounded curves of a beautiful stone woman who wore an opulent robe. A large, circular locket hung at her neck. One of her arms was extended, as if to ward off the approach of a predator.

  Katie’s heart raced faster as she wiped the rain from her eyes and studied the statue more closely. Heather had said the statue brought “torment” to mind, and Katie agreed. Fear, agony and anguish pulsed from the stone.

  Was this another victim of Percen? Should Katie kiss this one?

  Heather gasped, drawing Katie’s attention.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked, only then spotting the man she’d never met. He stood a few feet away, and wore an old-fashioned, buttonless white shirt and fawn-colored pants that fit him like a second skin. Brown leather boots adorned his feet.

  He had dark hair, cold blue eyes and a myriad of scars.

  “Percen,” Heather said, conveying all sorts of emotion with that one name. The headliners were dread, happiness and fear.

  Wait. This was Percen, Jorlan’s brother? The one who’d cursed Jorlan to an eternity of misery?

  Percen ignored Heather; as the storm intensified around him, and his pale, unsmiling gaze swept over Katie.

  Should she run screaming for Jorlan’s help, or stay and take Percen down?

  Stay. Definitely. She would protect Jorlan, whatever the costs.

  “Come to me,” Percen said, waving her over. “You want to come to me.”

  “Whatever you’re planning…don’t.” Heather barked the order with a fierce determination she’d never before displayed. “You promised not to harm Katie.”

  “Nay. Wrong. I vowed I would not kill her. I said nothing of hurting her. And after I make this concession for you, what do you do to me?” he ground out. “You come here to aid my enemies. Therefore, you will sway me no longer.” Once again, he beckoned Katie over. “Come.”

  A strange fog rolled through her mind. Yes, yes. She would go to him.

  She must go to him.

  Yasss. Must. Go. To. Him.

  Heedless of anything else, she closed the distance. Heather pulled on her arm, trying to stop her, but failed.

  “Katie, listen to me,” Heather said now. “He plans to use you to destroy Jorlan. You must fight Percen’s magical influence.”

  Magical influence. Yeah, that tracked. Only one problem: Katie couldn’t seem to make herself care.

  “If you do this, you will lose me,” Heather cried to Percen. “You will lose me forever.”

  For a heartbeat…heartbeat…heartbeat of time, he wavered, his mouth opening and closing. Then his features hardened with resolve. “As I never really had you, I accept your terms. Go get my brother,” he said, his voice cruel. “Katie and I have work to do.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  A SCREAM ECHOED off the house’s walls.

  Jorlan reacted immediately, reaching for a weapon and racing from the bedchamber, where he’d awaited Katie’s emergence from the bathroom.

  Katie, the woman who loved him. He grinned, only to lose his good humor a second later. Had she gotten hurt again?

  He knocked on the wooden entrance, shouting, “Katie.”

  No response.

  “Speak,” he commanded, “or I will destroy the door.”

  Nothing.

  Very well. He kicked the wood. Nothing kept him from his woman! Just like that, timber shards went flying. “Katie—” He stopped abruptly. The small room was empty, the window open. Rain misted the air.

  A terrifying thought slammed into his mind. Someone had abducted Katie, and that was why she’d screamed.

  “Jorlan?” Heather whizzed past the door, only to backtrack. Panting raggedly, she halted in the doorway. Water dripped from her clothing, and panic painted each of her features. “You have to help Katie. Come quick. Please! Percen has her, and he’s going to hurt her if we don’t do something.”

  Jorlan’s panic graduated into fury. “Where is she?” Nothing else mattered. Other questions would have to wait, such as how Heather had known about Percen.

  Tears streamed down her face as she lead the way. “I should have told you about Percen’s arrival sooner, but I was afraid you’d scare him away. Now I want him to go. He doesn’t deserve me. He doesn’t,” she rambled.

  They exited into the backyard and flew into the garden, the rain drenching Jorlan in seconds. The icy cold infiltrated his bones, keeping him alert and ready for anything.

  When they reached his spot in the garden, he froze midstride. His mother stood upon his pedestal. Lightning flashed, highlighting her shock and horror. The same emotions Jorlan currently entertained.

  He dropped his weapon and sank to his knees. Centuries had passed since he’d last seen his mother. He’d missed her terribly, had yearned for a reunion but not like this. Never like this.

  “What are you doing?” Heather tugged at his arm, frantic. “We have to hurry.”

  How could his brother curse their mother to this life that was no life at all? Jorlan had to save her before he returned to this life that was no life at all.

  “I know you are aware,” he told her. “You might be trapped in the stone, but you can still use your magic. Which you did, helping me save Katie.”

  “Hurry, Jorlan.” Heather tugged with more force. “We have to find them, before it’s too late.”

  He pushed to a stand. “I’m sorry, Mother. I must aid my life mate, Katie. You will love her. I will come back for you, and find a way to free you.”

  “There is no need.” A smug, smi
ling Percen materialized a few feet away, an immobile and silent Katie just in front of him, a sleeping Francis splayed on the ground.

  “Momma,” Heather gasped, rushing over.

  Only two weeks ago, Jorlan would have given anything for a chance to confront his brother. Here, now, he cared only about Katie.

  Her clothes were plastered to her body. The sorcerer had his hands on her shoulders, stroking her like a kitten. Her amber eyes were glazed and detached.

  The bastard had entranced her with a spell. If Jorlan attempted to snatch her from his brother’s grasp, she would fight him, no doubt about it. Still, relief poured over him in great waves. She was alive. As long as she stayed that way, he could handle whatever Percen threw at him.

  “Too shocked to comment?” Percen taunted.

  “Release her from your snare.” He longed to rush his brother, to cut the bastard down, but he feared harming his life mate in the process. “Must you hide behind a woman?”

  “Nay.” Percen pursed his lips. “I need not hide behind anyone. I thought I would enjoy watching you watch me as I destroy your only chance of obtaining freedom.”

  “Your hatred for me is so great, you will slay an innocent just to punish me?”

  “I would slay an entire world of innocents just to punish you.”

  “You…you monster.” Tears streamed down Heather’s cheeks as she patted her mother’s cheek. “How could you do this?”

  For a moment, only a moment, Percen’s anger gave way to devastation and hurt. But he rallied fast, grating, “I am what my brother has made me.”

  “Soon, I will make you dead.” Truth. All the hatred he felt for his brother surfaced. “If you are brave enough, let us fight to the death and leave the others out of our war.”

  His brother hesitated for a long while, probably weighing his options. Finally, he shoved Katie aside. “Aye, ’tis time we at last ended this, and what better way than death.”

  Jorlan didn’t give him time to defend or plan. With an unholy roar, he sprang into action, leaping across the distance, drawing back his elbow and planting a fist into his brother’s jaw.