Hollow Earth (Hallowed Realms Book 2)

by Amy Miles

  “I didn’t think so. Your son is not the boy you once knew. Hadley may have suited him before the Wall, but he is a changed man. Forcing him into Hadley’s arms will destroy him.”

  The queen’s eyes flashed with an array of emotions. Each one too fleeting to grasp onto. “My son will do as he’s told.”

  I smiled. “Then you do not know him at all. You may trick him into makin’ a bad decision for the good of his people, but I assure you, Queen, that you will not have his obedience.”

  When a cold smile twisted her beautiful features, a familiar chill ran down my spine. There was the woman I’d come to loathe. “Maybe not. But he will listen to you.”

  “No.” I backed a step. “I canna do that to him.”

  “Aye. You will.” She closed the gap, matching me step for step. “Aed will agree to marry Hadley after you are gone. That girl, Alana, will be out of reach one way or another, by my hand or yours. Those are my terms.”

  “I would never—”

  “Not even to spare your family?”

  I stopped short. “Leave them out of this.”

  “I wish I could, but you see, they were only safe from the king’s wrath while you were under Aed’s protection. As soon as you make your escape to Hollow Earth that bond is broken. I’m afraid they’ll be left defenseless in your absence.”

  My lip curled with disgust. “You would stoop that low?”

  “I warned you I would protect my children, no matter the cost. Agree, and you will have everything you’ve ever wanted. Freedom. A small army of men to walk with you into hell. Your family spared from banishment. And…” The queen leaned in. “Your cousin, Eivin’s treasonous actions to hide the girl will be overlooked.”

  “Eivin,” I gasped.

  “Aye. I know all about him, too. Do you honestly think anything happens in my kingdom that I am not made privy to?”

  It was a good thing there was a chair behind me because my legs gave out on me under the weight of her words. I’d never even paused long enough to consider how Eivin might fair in all this.

  “Do we have a deal?”

  I glared up at Aed’s mother with unadulterated hatred. “Aye. I’ll do your bloody biddin’, but if I survive my time in Hollow Earth, I’m comin’ back for ya. You can believe that.”

  Chapter 20

  Devlin

  When I woke the next morning it was to a note set on the table. Seamus was stirring, but Tris was gone.

  Bleary-eyed, I stumbled my way up to standing, twisting as I walked to try and work the kinks out. Her note said she’d gone to the markets to get what she needed for Seamus before the prince changed his mind. Smart. It wouldn’t surprise me one bit if he showed up demanding the seal back. Still, as much as I wanted to hate him, he had put his neck on the line for us. I wasn’t ready to say I misjudged him based on our past, but maybe he wasn’t as bad as I’d made him out to be. Maybe.

  “What time is it?” I heard Seamus ask. I put the note down and went over to him.

  “I can’t say for sure. They don’t seem to have bloody clocks here.” I glanced out the window and gauged the colour of the sky. “Early. The sun isn’t up yet. Not many out on the streets.”

  “Where’s Tris?” he asked, sitting up. His complexion was back to normal, and save for a massive case of bed head, he seemed better.

  “She’s gone to fetch you some more medicines.”

  He nodded and rotated his shoulder. “I don’t see why. I feel fine.”

  “I’m going to side with Tris on this one. If she says you need more healing, you’ll listen.”

  “Aye,” he grumbled, letting out a monstrous yawn. Seemed as though neither of us had slept well.

  “Oy! How was the ball? Did you find Taryn?” With his messy bed hair and tired eyes, he looked like a kid on Christmas who suddenly remembered what day it was.

  I couldn’t help but smile. “I did, mate.”

  We sat down at the table so I could catch him up to speed. For several minutes Seamus listened with rapt attention as I told him everything that had happened at the ball. He only stopped to ask a quick, clarifying question here or there…until I got to one point in the retelling.

  “Wait. Alana is here. In Netherworld?”

  “Aye.” I rubbed my hands over my face, weary from thinking about it all again. “Taryn can’t understand how she’s here either. All we know is that Alana’s boat was attacked by the lorcan and, because of that, she never made it to the Isle of Glass.” I locked eyes with Seamus to make sure he was playing close attention.

  “Isle of Glass? What’s that?”

  “It’s where her soul was bound for,” I said. “The place she was to spend eternity in.”

  He nodded as though he understood, though I knew he was likely as confused about it as I was.

  “She’s not supposed to be in Netherworld, Seamus,” I told him to drive the point home. “And the universe knows it.”

  Seamus’s eyes widened as I told him of how Alana was disappearing and what her fate would be if we didn’t hurry. Not that long ago, he would have shaken his head at my tale and told me I was having a laugh. So much of our realities had shifted lately, that I knew he wasn’t doubting a single word I said.

  “Right. How do we get her there?”

  I pushed out of my seat. “You don’t do anything, mate. Your only job while here is to get better.”

  He stood up with me. “I am better. Can’t you tell?” He spun around to show me.

  I frowned and was about to tell him Tris had not said he was fit to travel when she came through the door and answered Seamus for me.

  “What are you doin’ out of bed?” she shrieked.

  I looked at Seamus in an ‘I told you so’ sort of way.

  “I’m sick of lying down. I’m feeling much better. That soup thing you gave me did the trick. I’m healed!”

  Tris huffed and set down the armload of Chinois Root and a few assorted herbs she was carrying. “You are most certainly not healed. You are on a high, yes, but trust me, you will crash again as the root leaves your system through natural digestion.” She folded her hands across her chest. “I told ya, this is goin’ to take weeks. Maybe more. Ya have to save your energy.”

  Seamus looked at me and then back at Tris. “Answer me this. How long will I feel this good, before I get worse?”

  Tris rolled her eyes at his stubbornness. “For reapers, they feel good for a day or so, then bad, and so on until the poison has been fully absorbed by the root.”

  “What about for humans?” he asked.

  Tris shook her head, but she walked over to Seamus and put her hands on his chest. When she spoke, her voice was soft and tender. “I don’t know. That’s why ya need to be stayin’ put. You’re the only human ever to be treated by our medicine. I have no idea what to expect.”

  “Right. That settles it then.” I patted Seamus on his good shoulder. “You don’t budge.”

  “The bloody hell I won’t,” Seamus hissed. “Alana is my friend. I’m not going to sit here and let her die. Again!”

  “Alana.” At the mention of my sister’s name, Tris sat down. Her entire posture retreated inwards. Almost like she was trying to disappear.

  “She was my twin sister. Taryn was her banshee,” I explained.

  “I know who she is,” Tris whispered.

  “You do?” I pulled up a chair and sat down while Seamus paced, seemingly oblivious to Tris’s sudden mood shift. “How do you know my sister?”

  She didn’t look at me but lowered her gaze to her lap. “I don’t. I only know of her through Seamus’s fever dreams.”

  “My what?” Seamus asked, finally paying attention.

  Tris’s eyes stayed locked on her hands. “You called out her name in your sleep. Often.”

  “I did?”

  “He did?” we asked at the same time.

  Tris looked up at Seamus and gave him a small smile.

  “Yes. You did.”

  While I would
have loved to have comforted Tris to let her know that there was nothing to worry about, I knew Seamus did have feelings for her once.

  “I guess that makes sense,” Seamus said. “She was like a sister to me. And she was so sick herself at the end. Maybe my mind connected our pain together?”

  Tris didn’t seem to buy it.

  “Do I detect some jealousy?” Seamus was smirking now. He’d finally understood why Tris was upset.

  “Is there any reason for me to be?” Tris said, sitting up straight.

  “Why don’t you let me show you that there isn’t?” He cradled her face with the palm of his hand. It made me feel uncomfortable, knowing the type of kiss he was about to plant on her.

  “Right. I’m going to head back to the manor house. You two stay here and…heal, and I’ll be back as soon as I get Alana to the Isle of Glass.”

  I looked at the two of them, realising suddenly this may be the last time I saw them. This was likely going to be a suicide mission. I was making this trip sound like I was going to pop off to the store for some bread and jam.

  “Tris, keep him hidden. Keep yourselves safe. I don’t know what is going to come of this, but I need the two of you to stay out of danger. Promise me that. I have to worry about Alana. I can’t be thinking about my best mate doing something daft.”

  “I will.”

  “I can take care of myself, mate,” Seamus said. He wrapped his arms around Tris. “And I’m about to take care of her if you’d ever leave.”

  Right. Cue taken.

  “See you soon,” I said, hoping against hope that I would.

  Closing the door, I hurried across the street. I didn’t want to hear any of what the two of them were about to do. Though it did make me long for a time when Taryn and I might have such a moment together. Our kiss last night wasn’t enough. I had a feeling, however, that no amount of time would be enough with her. There was a bond we shared I had a hard time articulating. When we were in the same room, it wasn’t close enough, and when we were apart, it felt like I was missing a limb. I was drawn to her in a way I had never been to anyone before. She hadn’t confirmed it yet, but I believed Taryn felt the same about me. Thinking of seeing her again had me pushing myself to get to the manor house fast.

  When I made it to the main road, the markets had already opened. It took me several minutes to politely turn down the vendors’ offer for fish or freshly baked bread. Even if my stomach disagreed with my mouth. One such vendor was having a rough time moving her cart from out of the middle of the street. A wheel had become dislodged. I stopped to help her mount the wheel back on and create a makeshift hitch pin to replace the one that had broken. It took me the better half of an hour, but she thanked me for my efforts by giving me a small loaf of bread. My stomach was eternally grateful.

  I was trying to figure out how I was going to sneak my way back into the house without the cover of darkness to hide me when I heard a voice call out from behind me.

  “Oy, wait up!”

  A hand grabbed onto the back of my shoulder, and I whipped around. My fists curled, ready to strike. I was a human in a world of banshees. I knew my being here was beyond dangerous.

  “Put ya mitts down, ya idiot. It’s only us.” Seamus was there, and Tris was right behind him. She carried a small basket with her. I could tell by the greens popping out of the top that Seamus’s meds were inside.

  “What are you doing here?” I hissed, leaning in close. “I told you to stay with Tris so she could take care of ya.”

  “She has taken good care of me,” he said, wiggling his eyebrows. I groaned, but his face grew serious. “Look, I know she’s your sister, but she was my best mate. Let me help. If I get worse, I’ll go back. Tris will cut me where I stand if I don’t. Promise.”

  I sighed and looked at Tris.

  “Don’t look at me,” she said. “He’s your stubborn mule of a friend.”

  “Aye. He is,” I huffed.

  “The moment your fever returns, we’re turnin’ back, as agreed,” she said, jabbing her finger into Seamus’s chest.

  “Yes, dear,” he replied, kissing the top of her head.

  With Seamus and Tris now in tow, we walked together towards the manor house. Each of us trying to come up with ways we could sneak inside. So far, Tris’s plan of having an injured reaper in need of a bed for her to heal him seemed like the best attempt. I stopped short, however, when I saw who was standing at the front door.

  “Taryn?” I whispered.

  She was at the front door, pacing back and forth. I wanted to call out to her, but there were two guards on either side of the door. Was she in trouble? And if so, why wasn’t she being guarded in her room? Why had they let her outside? Before I could ask Tris what we should do, she was already off and running down the road towards her friend.

  The guards at Taryn’s side perked up, but she waved them aside and they stood down.

  What’s going on? Since when did the royal guard listen to their prisoners?

  My panic dissolved when Taryn smiled at me and then shouted at her friend.

  “Tris!” She started running towards us, but the guards didn’t move from their spot.

  Tris pulled Taryn into an embrace, which they held for a few moments. Taryn was stiff at first as she was not one to like affection, but then melted into the embrace of her friend. I pulled Taryn in for a quick kiss myself, unable to contain myself from making contact with her.

  “Why aren’t you locked up?” I asked.

  “Is that where you prefer me?” she replied with a smirk.

  “Not at all. I love seeing you like this,” I said, taking an extra long look at her in her battle leathers. She was stunning in anything she wore, but she was like an Amazonian goddess when she wore them. The longing faded into concern. “Wait. Why do you have your leathers on? Has there been an attack? Is it Alana?”

  Taryn raised her hand up and rested it on my chest.

  “Alana is fine. For now.” She gave a nervous glance at Seamus and Tris.

  “They’ve been brought up to speed,” I said.

  Taryn nodded. “Right. Follow me. We canna delay.”

  She took my hand and pulled us towards the door. I won’t lie and say I didn’t relish the feeling of her hand in mine, or that she had actively sought it out.

  “Taryn, not that I don’t love being dragged around by you, but what’s happening?”

  She didn’t answer as she took us inside the manor room. From there we went down a hall and into a room that appeared to be an armory of sorts. Swords hung on the wall, shields, and whips, and leather gauntlets were out for display.

  “Queen and I have come to an arrangement. She will let me take a few of the royal guard with us to return Alana to the Isle of Glass.”

  “What? That’s wonderful!” I shouted. Then I realised that the offer had to come with a catch. “In return for what?”

  Taryn tried to busy herself with putting swords in the sheath that criss-crossed over my back, but I could see she was hiding something.

  “What aren’t you telling me?” I reached out my hand to quiet hers.

  She refused to look at me for a moment. Then she lifted her gorgeous teal eyes and said, “I agreed not to marry Aed.”

  A wave of euphoria washed over me. She didn’t have to marry Aed! She was free of his hold on her. It was wonderful news. I couldn’t understand why she seemed so upset about it. Unless…did she have feelings for him? Before I could ask her, Tris was beside her.

  “Taryn, no!” Tris gasped. “Tell me ya didn’t?”

  “I did. It was the only way, Tris. I couldn’t leave Alana to disappear. She was in my charge.”

  “But givin’ up Aed’s hand to do so?” Tris sounded hysterical.

  “Why are you so upset, Tris? This is a good thing. She doesn’t have to marry that arrogant asswipe,” Seamus said for me.

  Tris spun on Seamus and frowned. “Without Aed’s protection as her husband, Taryn’s life is in jeopardy,
or have ya forgotten? It was his proposal that saved her head from bein’ chopped off. What makes ya think they won’t resentence her to death now that she is no longer betrothed to him? Or her family? Oh, they are in danger now. Taryn, how could you?”

  She’d sacrificed herself for my sister.

  “Taryn…” I pulled her in closer to me, wrapping my arms tight around her waist. “Why did you do that?”

  “I couldn’t let her die on ya twice. She deserves to make it to her home. That Isle of Glass is where she’s meant to be, and I’ll be makin’ sure she gets there.”

  “So you’ll die to make that happen?” I was trying to contain my own emotions. She was putting her own life on the line so that my sister had a chance to make it to her final resting place. It was a lot to take in.

  Taryn shook her head. “I don’t know what’ll happen. It doesn’t matter now. We need to save Alana. I canna do that from here. Or without the queen’s help. This was the only way.”

  “Has anyone told you what a stubborn fool you are?” I whispered.

  “Aye,” she replied softly.

  “I won’t be letting you die,” I said. “Not without me.”

  She smirked. “We’ll see about that.”

  Unable to resist her lips a second longer, we both leaned in for the kiss we’d been waiting to steal. “In case we both die,” I murmured between kisses. “I want to get in as many of these as I can.” I knew I probably should have been more aware of the looks we were getting from Seamus and Tris, but I didn’t care. It was my turn to savor Taryn, and I wasn’t about to let that go to waste because we had an audience. They could all bugger off for all I cared. She was in my arms, and nothing else in the world mattered.

  “Would someone mind telling me why the human thorn in my side is kissing my betrothed again?” Aed hissed as our kiss was cut short.

  Panting, Taryn looked over at Aed, who seemed supremely pissed off. This should be interesting.

  Chapter 21

  Aed

  Taryn released her hold on Devlin and stormed over to me. She yanked on my arm, tugging me away from the battle preparations. And from Devlin. That guy was starting to annoy me. “Ack. Ya daft fool. Ya canna be here. If the queen finds out…”