Lost Princess

by Dani-Lyn Alexander

  “Wait.” Elijah held up a hand. “Are you telling me the stone has been separated from the pedestal?”

  Ryleigh nodded. She opened her mouth to speak, but the spit had turned to paste, and no words emerged. She snapped her mouth shut.

  Elijah jumped to his feet. “Come.” He strode from the room, leaving Ryleigh running behind him to catch up.

  “What’s going on? Where are we going?” She jogged at his side trying to match his long strides.

  “The Divination Stone must not be separated from the pedestal for any length of time. You must find it.”

  Ryleigh stopped short.

  Elijah didn’t. His dark robes flapped behind him.

  “Hey. Wait up.” She ran after him once more. “Where are we going?”

  “To the stables.” Elijah pushed through a door at the back of the castle and headed across an open field toward an enormous stable. He pulled what appeared to be a small horn from beneath his robe and blew several notes.

  Although the sound was beautiful, magical even, Ryleigh had a sneaking suspicion it was not meant to entertain. “Why are we going to the stables? Will you slow down? I can’t keep up with you.”

  He spared her a glance.

  “Please.”

  His pace slowed. “Please, Miss Ryleigh, you have to understand the urgency of the situation. You must find that stone.”

  The cold air froze her lungs. “How am I supposed to find it?”

  Elijah sighed as he entered the stable with Ryleigh on his heels. “The stone will call to you, as it did earlier tonight.”

  She tried to bring back the feeling that had overcome her earlier. The intense urge to lift the stone, to cradle it in her hand. Yes. There it was. An overwhelming need to see into the smoky center of the stone. “I don’t understand.”

  Elijah stopped beside a large gate beneath the open ceiling of the stable. He hung the horn on a hook and looked at Ryleigh, studying her attire. “You should be warm enough with those jeans and boots on, but the T-shirt won’t do.”

  Ryleigh glanced down at her Uggs. When she returned her gaze to where Elijah had been standing, he was gone, moving rapidly toward a row of cubicles. Annoyance flared. Where did he think he was going? And more importantly, where did he think she was going?

  He returned a moment later and handed her a black sweatshirt. “Put this on. It should keep you warm enough on your journey.”

  “Journey? What journey? Elijah, what are you talking about? Where am I supposed to go?”

  His lips twisted into a frustrated snarl. “I’ve just explained it to you, Miss Ryleigh. You must go after the stone.”

  “Alone?”

  “Yes. This journey is yours alone.”

  She propped the bat against the low wall of a nearby enclosure, pulled the sweatshirt over her head and inhaled deeply—Jackson. She stemmed the urge to snuggle up and hide, cocooned in the safety of his scent.

  “What about Jackson? Why can’t he come with me?” Would he come if she asked? Maybe not.

  Elijah shook his head before she finished the question, a frown of disapproval marring his usually serene features. “Jackson has a kingdom to rule. And, since he hasn’t chosen a second in command, he isn’t going anywhere.”

  She understood the reprimand for what it was. She should have been ruling at his side, instead of finishing high school and seeking a job in the human realm. But even if she had, they couldn’t both leave. She ignored his condemnation. “What about Mia? I can’t just leave without telling her.”

  “I will have Dakota Knight take her to the human realm and look after her.”

  “Will she be safe there?” She couldn’t believe she was actually contemplating this foolishness. A burning pain seared a path around her bicep, a not so gentle reminder of where her loyalty should lie. She rubbed her arm.

  “As safe as I can make her.” Elijah’s expression finally relaxed. “I will take care of Miss Mia.”

  “But—”

  “Have you trained with a bow and arrow yet?”

  She nodded mutely.

  “Very well.” With a practiced hand, Elijah slid the bow and arrows onto her back. He tucked Jackson’s sweatshirt behind her sword so she could easily reach the handle. Was he expecting she’d have to fight?

  Ryleigh swallowed the rest of her arguments. She held Elijah’s gaze. “Will you come with me?” The words came out so quietly, barely a whisper of sound, that she wasn’t sure he heard her.

  The hint of a smile flickered across his face and in his eyes. “I cannot, Miss. This is your journey. My responsibilities lie elsewhere.” He reached for her hand, lifted it, and pressed her knuckles to his lips. “I wish you well, Your Highness.”

  “But—” The intended argument fled her mind as a dark shadow passed over them. Ryleigh had been awed by the sleek black dragons the Death Dealers rode, but the dragon that circled overhead was something else entirely. Her white scales shone, reflecting a myriad of colors each time she shifted position. Pink, purple, the lightest blue…opalescent. Regal, majestic, gorgeous. “Wh-wha-what is that?” She couldn’t drag her gaze from the dragon to look at Elijah.

  “That, my dear, is Kalayah.”

  She didn’t need to see his face. She heard the smile in his voice.

  Kalayah slid through the open ceiling of the stable, landed in the pen, folded her enormous purple wings against her back, and lowered her head.

  Elijah placed a hand on the small of Ryleigh’s back, gently urging her forward toward the dragon. “She is acknowledging you as her rider.”

  “Me? You want me to ride her?” He couldn’t be serious.

  “Of course you will ride her. She’s yours.”

  Black spots danced in front of Ryleigh’s eyes. Her legs grew weak, rubbery. The spots grew together until a veil of blackness shrouded her vision, and her legs finally gave out.

  Elijah caught her beneath her arms and held her up. “Ryleigh?”

  The concern in Elijah’s voice pushed back some of the darkness.

  “Ryleigh.”

  She struggled to shift her weight onto her legs. “I’m all right. Sorry, Elijah.” Heat crept into her cheeks as she stood, but the sweat soaking her back cooled, and she shivered. She rubbed her eyes, then looked up at the magnificent creature still waiting for her acceptance. Ryleigh turned and found Elijah staring at her, concern etched in every line of his face. “Okay. What am I supposed to do?”

  A tentative smile formed. He studied her another moment before answering. “You simply pet her head. Each time she comes to you, she will lower her head in acknowledgment. It’s her way of letting you know it’s okay to mount her.”

  She lifted a shaky hand and ran it over the smooth scales of the dragon’s head.

  Two small puffs of white smoke shot from the dragon’s nostrils and drifted toward the open sky. When Ryleigh pulled her hand back, the dragon lifted her head and waited.

  “You must hurry, My Princess. There isn’t much time. The stone must be returned to its proper place.”

  “I don’t know about this, Elijah. I have no idea where I’m going or what I’m supposed to do.”

  Elijah placed an impatient hand on her back and guided her through the gate into the pen. “You’ll know when the time comes.”

  She moved automatically beneath his touch. When he bent and cupped his hands to boost her onto Kalayah’s back, she stepped into them and climbed up. She must be out of her mind. She slid forward between the curved purple horns protruding from the back of the dragon’s neck.

  “Be safe, My Princess.”

  “But I ca—”

  Kalayah spread her wings and lifted off the ground.

  Ryleigh clung to her neck, her gaze riveted on Elijah until the dragon passed through the open roof and into the night sky. What have I gotten myself into?

  * * * *

  Jackson ran a finger over the bite mark. The injury had already healed
, but his wounded pride would take a bit longer. He couldn’t believe Noah White had gotten the best of him. He shifted uncomfortably. The throne wasn’t uncomfortable, but his current train of thought certainly was.

  He had to claim Ryleigh. It was time. Having Noah on the scene only added to his sense of urgency. Surely, she would understand it was time to take her place at his side. He played his fingers over the intricately carved, wooden armrest of the empty throne beside him. The throne Ryleigh would soon ascend. His mother’s throne. A pang of grief surfaced. The same pain that always touched him at the memory of his mother.

  Visions of him and Chayce playing on the floor at his mother’s feet flickered through his mind. The time had also come to make things right with his brother. Jackson had enough to worry about with Kai running loose and the Kingdom of Argonas without a leader. Unless they found peace within Cymmera, they couldn’t possibly pull together to defend their kingdom from attack.

  Ryleigh would take her place as his second in command. The position was rightfully hers, anyway. Even if she didn’t accept Jackson—his gut clenched at the thought—she was a descendant of King Raya, the original Ruler of Cymmera. As such, she had every right to ascend the throne.

  He would ask Chayce to be an advisor. Strategy in battle was one of his strongest skills, and an advisory position would suit him well. Together, the three of them would work to re-build Cymmera, return her to her former glory, and eliminate the looming threat Kai posed. He pushed off the throne and strode through the empty chamber, his new-found confidence lending him strength.

  The two guards bowed as he passed through the doors, a reminder of the prisoners he still had to see. They’d had a bad start, and it would be up to him to correct that. It wasn’t Noah’s fault he was here. Jackson swallowed his indignation. And it wasn’t Ryleigh’s. Quite the opposite. Ryleigh had begged him not to acquire these soldiers. The blame for their presence lay squarely on Jackson’s shoulders, and he would do the right thing by them.

  First things first. He had to find Ryleigh and straighten out the mess he’d caused. He had to be sure she’d take her place now, but he felt fairly confident he could persuade her.

  A small group of women bowed, and he nodded absently as he entered the dining hall. He wasn’t surprised to find Dakota at one of the long wooden tables. He could usually be found in the dining hall at meal times. Jackson was even less surprised to find Mia at Dakota’s side, since the two had become practically inseparable since Mia returned. What did surprise him, was finding Chayce sitting at Mia’s other side.

  Oh well. He’d hoped Mia could tell him where to find Ryleigh, but he could just as easily talk to Chayce first. May as well get it out of the way.

  The three sat hunched over an open book, empty plates pushed to the sides. Mia pointed out something, and Chayce and Dakota both leaned closer.

  Jackson pulled out a chair across the table from them and sat. “Hey, Mia.”

  She lifted her gaze but kept her finger firmly in place on the open page. “Oh, hi, Jackson.”

  Chayce stiffened at her side.

  Jackson ignored the reaction. “Hey, Chayce.”

  “Jackson.” He leaned back and stretched his arm across the back of Mia’s chair.

  Dakota’s jaw clenched tight.

  Uh oh… “What’s going on?”

  “I’m just showing Dakota and Chayce the book Elijah gave me. It has the complete history of Cymmera with paintings and everything.” Mia slid the book toward him.

  A painting of the castle as it had once been. The white stone and dark green roofs rising up from a sea of colorful plants and flowers, sitting atop a plateau in the center of the deep, crystal blue water of the moat. A bank of fog surrounded the mountaintop, giving the impression of an island sitting atop a cloud. It was even more gorgeous than he remembered.

  The pain of the memory glistened in Chayce’s eyes.

  “We need to talk.” Jackson spoke softly, all of the previous anger gone.

  Chayce kept eye contact for a moment, but the hostility no longer existed in his stare. He leaned closer to Mia. “I’ll see you later.” He gave her a quick one-armed embrace, then stood.

  “Sure, see you around.” She grinned her usual contagious smile and returned her attention to the pages before her.

  Dakota’s jaw flexed.

  “Knight.” Chayce nodded toward Dakota, apparently oblivious to the other man’s discomfort.

  Dakota acknowledged him with a nod before once again giving Mia his full attention.

  Jackson pushed back his chair and stood. He stared at Dakota for another few seconds, hoping his friend would look up. He didn’t. “Mia?”

  She tucked her hair behind her ear as she glanced up.

  “Do you know where Ryleigh is?”

  The hair popped out and tumbled forward to cover her big, blue eyes. “She was in our chambers a little while ago. She’s probably still there.”

  “Thanks. I’ll see you guys later.”

  Dakota finally looked up, and Jackson shot him a quick, questioning look.

  Dakota simply shrugged and glared past Jackson toward Chayce. “I’ll talk to you later.” The statement was filled with promise, and Jackson had no doubt he’d get an earful once they were alone.

  Jackson followed Chayce across the room, but when his brother started to pull out a chair, Jackson stopped him. Anything they said would echo through the mostly empty room. “I’d like to talk somewhere more private.”

  Chayce stared at him, his eyes filled with challenge.

  Ignoring it, Jackson headed toward the throne room. No one would have any reason to be in there—unless something went wrong again—so it should offer the most privacy. Chayce’s footsteps echoed behind him a moment later. He slowed and allowed his brother to catch up, but they didn’t speak until they’d entered the room and the guards closed the heavy doors.

  “What is it Jackson?”

  Jackson stopped halfway across the chamber. He studied the large tapestry hung high on the wall behind the thrones. Deep red fabric surrounded his family crest. The royal family of Cymmera, a family Chayce was a part of. Two sets of crossed swords hung just below the tapestry. The swords his mother and father had carried, had used to defend their home. They would have expected their sons to join together and rule the kingdom they’d loved. Jackson sighed and turned to face his brother. He’d hoped to make this conversation pleasant, but so be it. There were obviously issues to resolve first.

  Chayce stood with his feet apart, arms folded across his chest, jaw set in a hard line. “Unless this involves going after the man who killed our father, we have nothing to say to each other.”

  Temper flared. Jackson quickly tamped it down. “In a way it does.”

  Chayce’s stance relaxed somewhat, his arms falling to his sides, but his black eyes remained hard, expressionless, his mouth a firm line of disapproval.

  Jackson searched for patience. “I…no…We need to start taking control around here.” Jackson swallowed hard, desperate to dislodge the words that were caught in his throat. “Look, Chayce…I apologize. I should have gotten a better grip on things before now. It’s been…difficult to manage all of my responsibilities and still—”

  Chayce opened his mouth.

  Jackson lifted a hand to cut him off before he could speak. “Please. Let me finish first. Then I’ll listen to any arguments you might have.” Or stand here and seethe while you whine about things not going your way. Jackson massaged the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger—a gesture he’d seen his father repeat a thousand times, only now, Jackson understood the frustration behind it.

  “We’re going to go after Kai—”

  “It’s about time y—”

  “After we strengthen our own kingdom.” He braced himself for the barrage of angry comments to pummel him.

  None came.

  Chayce’s posture relaxed even more, his gaze fixed on
the two thrones behind Jackson.

  Jackson waited, allowing him a few minutes to collect his thoughts.

  When Chayce spoke, his voice held something other than anger for the first time since before their father’s death. “Explain.” A bit of interest, however slight, tinged the words.

  Jackson pounced. He’d only have one chance to gain his brother’s approval. “We need to get Cymmera under control before we can conquer another kingdom. I know you want to invade Argonas, but have you thought any further than that?”

  Chayce frowned.

  Apparently, he hadn’t thought past getting what he wanted. Oh, well. Even though the younger boy had lived several centuries, he was still only the equivalent of a teenager. It would serve Jackson well to keep that fact in mind.

  “Our own kingdom is in upheaval. We have no clear chain of command. We live under the constant threat of invasion. We’ve already lost two cities, had countless citizens massacred. Our people are scared, and we’ve…I’ve done nothing to reassure them.”

  He paused for a minute but couldn’t read anything in Chayce’s expression. The other man stood, still as stone, and waited.

  “Things are going to change now. I needed time to come to terms with all of this, Chayce. Can’t you understand that?”

  The plea for understanding went ignored.

  “Fine. Here’s the deal. Ryleigh is going to take her place at my side.”

  Chayce stiffened. His eyes remained hard. His jaw tightened even more, and Jackson wondered fleetingly if it could shatter under the pressure of his clenched teeth.

  “Ryleigh will ascend the throne as Queen of Cymmera, her rightful role. She will be my second in command and rule in my place should I become unable.” All right. So he probably should have discussed this with Ryleigh first, but, in a perfect world it would be this way. And who knew? Maybe things would finally fall into place once he put his foot down. He shook his head, hoping to eliminate the sound of Ryleigh’s laughter echoing through him.