Table of Contents
Cover
Three kings
Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Epilogue
HOLIDAY CROWN EXCERPT
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About The Author
Three kings
Royal Conquest Saga, Book 3
NIKKI JEFFORD
Three Kings
Copyright © 2019 Nikki Jefford
Cover design by Najla Qamber
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the author. Thank you for respecting the rights of the author.
This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance of characters to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
For Monster Nation and Team Queen—
Because you fuel the flames.
Chapter One
Melarue
Tiers of pink, purple, and gold emerged with the sun like frosted layers of sponge cake as we rode for Ravensburg at first light.
I wore a blouse and breeches beneath my lucky waist cincher. Aerith had insisted I get some rest before riding off into battle. Hyped up as I’d been after saving Pinemist from ogres, I was sure it was impossible to get any sleep, but I’d tried my sister’s suggestion of imagining a mental game of campaigne. Snoreville. Three moves in, I’d managed to drift off.
Teryani and Ryo led the procession out. I’d been glamoured to look like one of the royal Fae guards riding behind them. We had fifty riding at our backs in full armor.
I braced myself, waiting for the mob to attack. They crowded along the road, but none came at us. They kept to the sides as though they’d gathered to watch a parade.
“Does the false queen still sit upon the throne?” a man shouted.
His question led to a cacophony of murmurs and whisper-shouts among the crowd. They quieted when Teryani lifted her arms.
“Citizens of Dahlquist, the Elmrays have ruled this kingdom since its creation and shall continue to serve as your royal family. Do not forget that Aerith is and always will be part of this family.”
“She killed Flix,” someone shouted.
“After he tried to kill her sister,” Teryani snapped. She stood up in her stirrups, white hair flowing down her back. A golden crown sat atop her head, borrowed from the castle, along with a purple dress with slits on both sides that I was pretty sure she had nicked from Jastra’s chambers. “Four of Dahlquist’s royal guards were murdered on their way back from my castle.” Silence settled over the crowd like fog. “I am shocked and ashamed. The citizens of Dahlquist are better than this barbaric behavior.” Heads hung in disgrace all along the road. Teryani lowered slowly into her saddle. “I understand these are unsettling times, which is why I will be sending my brother, Lyklor, to rule over Dahlquist in Liri’s absence if he proves himself worthy of the title.”
Heads lifted, and a cheer went through the crowd. Hands were clasped, shoulders slapped, and the younger Fae jumped up and down.
“Long live Queen Teryani! Long live King Lyklor!”
The cretins didn’t deserve Aerith as queen. They’d never even met Lyklor, but at least they stayed out of our way. The reins tightened in my grip. I rode a gray gelding. I didn’t know what had happened to Star. I hoped she’d galloped off rather than become the property of one of these pit heads. I could still hear the screams of the guards who had died beneath the mob’s axes.
Bigger fish to fry, Mel.
A real slippery one named Malon.
Rather than snooze last night, I should have asked Jhaeros for tips on stabbing Fae royals dead.
I glared into the faces below us as we rode at a steady gait down the road. No one noticed, not with their attention on Teryani and Ryo. A couple fools even bowed as though they’d merely been waiting outside the gate to pay their respects. Cold-blooded murderers. My upper lip curled in disgust.
After clearing the mob, we continued to Ravensburg at a breakneck pace. The guards who had accompanied Ryo and me to Pinemist rode with us near the front. I was happy to have them along since both Galather and Folas had stayed behind with Aerith and Jhaeros.
After passing through the forest separating the two kingdoms, I tried not to stare too much at Ryo’s windswept black hair, strong jaw, and the healthy glow in his cheeks. I tried especially to avoid looking at his mouth, but averting my eyes didn’t stop me from remembering the kiss we’d shared back in Pinemist, which also led to thoughts of kissing Devdan. I didn’t want to like two males. It felt like my heart was being tugged in two directions and would never be whole if I had to choose one.
Ugh, love was complicated enough. Why did I have to go multiplying my emotions? Maybe Ryo would do something annoying to make my decision easier. Yeah, that might help.
We rode without conversation all the way to the outskirts of Ravensburg, stopping at an estate built in the middle of a large manicured lawn. Teryani ordered the guards to water and feed the horses at a grand stable while she, Ryo, and I continued to the manor with its white-columned entrance.
We were still crossing the lawn when a beautiful brunette burst from the front door in a flurry of red-and-gold fabric with embroidered trim. A dark ringlet hung from either side of her updo, brushing the exposed collarbones of her low neckline.
“Your Majesty!” she called out, sounding winded after ten steps.
“Lady Rosecliff, we require use of your home and stables. We won’t stay long,” Teryani said, striding ahead of Ryo and me.
“Take all the time you need,” the woman gushed, dipping into a curtsy that showed off the tops of her bosom.
“Tell me what you’ve heard,” Teryani commanded.
Lady Rosecliff straightened at once and frowned. “There is a rumor that your cousin has taken possession of Ravensburg and calls himself king.”
“Lyklor?” Teryani snarled.
Ringlets bounced over Lady Rosecliff’s cheeks as she shook her head. “No, the eldest, Albedo.”
Teryani’s nostrils flared.
“No one outside the castle accepts his claim,” Lady Rosecliff rushed to say. “We are all willing to lay down our lives for our true queen.”
Teryani placed her hands on her hips and lifted her chest. “That won’t be necessary. I’ve brought my own secret weapon.”
When Teryani’s gaze landed on me, my heart swelled with pride. Oh snap. Yeah! Who needed an army of Fae citizens when they had their very own elemental elf named Mel?
Teryani returned her attention to the lady of the manor. “I do, however, have need of your wardrobe.”
“Anything I can do to help,” Lady Rosecliff gushed, batting her lashes at the queen.
Teryani really had a way with the ladies.
I had little time to observe more as we were ushered inside and upstairs to Lady Rosecliff’s chamber, w
here Teryani pawed through the female’s closet until she found a short red sheath dress.
“Ugh,” I said, wrinkling my nose when Teryani held it out to me.
“Melarue, take the dress and put it on,” she snapped.
Sheesh. Bossy much?
I grabbed the dress from her and kept my comment to myself because I knew Teryani was worried sick about Ella, who was currently trapped in Ravensburg castle.
Ryo waited in the hall, but Teryani and Lady Rosecliff—or “Winnie” as she’d told me to call her, as though we’d be hanging out for weeks to come—hadn’t left the room.
“Could I get some privacy?”
“No,” Teryani said.
I screwed up my face at her. I didn’t even change in front of Aerith. I didn’t need a Fae queen to watch me strip. I folded my arms over my chest. “I can’t change with an audience.”
Teryani narrowed her eyes and took a step toward me as though she meant to rip my clothes off herself.
“Teryani, let Mel change alone,” Ryo yelled from the hallway. “The quicker you give her space, the sooner she’ll be dressed.”
I smirked at Teryani and lifted a brow.
With a huff, she started for the door. “Come along, Winnie.”
Yeah, Winnie. This isn’t a strip club in Vegas. Not that they’d know what a strip club was. I bet Teryani would like it, though.
As soon as they were out the door, I unbuckled my waist cincher and yanked down my pants, racing to get my clothes off and the dress on before Teryani grew impatient and walked in on a buck naked elf.
Once my blouse was unbuttoned halfway, I pulled it over my head and tossed it on the ornamental rug. The sheath dress was an escapade in aerobics. I had to tug and extend my body into positions it had never stretched.
“Arg!”
“Are you dressed?” Teryani demanded from the hallway.
“Almost. Don’t come in here yet.”
“I’ve waited too long,” Teryani said.
“Give me a moment to—gah!” My chest binding wasn’t working with the skintight dress. It kept forcing the wrapping off. “This dress is too tight.”
“It’s something Sarfina would wear,” Teryani called back. “I can glamour your body to look like hers, but I can’t glamour your clothes.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know,” I muttered beneath my breath.
“I’ll help you,” Teryani said.
“No!” I yelled.
Pitberries!
With an exasperated sigh, I unraveled my chest binding, which joined my clothes on the floor. I gave the sheath dress another yank and tugged it over my body as Teryani and Winnie strode in.
Lifting my head, I glared at Teryani.
“Ever hear of knocking?” I demanded.
“The door’s wide open, and we’ve already wasted enough time traveling by horse.” Teryani looked me up and down and nodded. “It will do.”
Lowering my chin, I got a front-row view of my breasts squeezing out of the low neckline. The halves that were covered weren’t much better. The tight fabric outlined them perfectly. I could feel my cheeks turning the color of the dress and my hair.
“I am not leaving here dressed like this.”
Teryani blinked. “You know I would go if I could. If Albedo is in charge, his sorceress will have taken precautions to ward the castle from its true ruler. My cousin is not powerful enough to have blocked my re-entry portal. It had to be Isadore. We only have one chance at this.” The white-haired queen swept up to me and put her hands on my shoulders. “You can do this, Melarue. I’m counting on you. We all are.”
I met her gaze and sucked in a breath.
Mel on a mission, take two. Undercover into hostile territory.
Boy, these Fae were lucky to have me around at the ready.
“Fine,” I said. “Let’s get this over with so I can slip into something more comfortable.”
Winnie giggled, her eyes shimmering.
I’m pretty sure we had different ideas of comfortable attire.
“Wait. One more thing,” Teryani said. She beckoned me over to Winnie’s vanity. I avoided looking at my reflection in the mirror, turning my back to the glass. This outfit was so not badass. With quick fingers, Teryani loosened my braid. She brushed my hair up into a high ponytail before securing it with a red tie. “There,” she said, sounding pleased.
She walked me to the hallway where Ryo paced. As soon as he saw us emerge, he rushed over. I expected him to share my blush, maybe sneak a peek at my chest, but his perusal was fast and accentuated with a firm nod.
As we descended the staircase, I fell into step beside him and whispered, “She’s already glamoured me to look like Sarfina, hasn’t she?”
“Yeah,” Ryo said.
Well, that explained why he wasn’t ogling me.
“Remember,” Teryani said, “the glamour only lasts a couple days. You will have to get the castle gates open before two days have passed or—failing that—have Ryo renew your glamour.”
“No problem,” I said, lifting my chin. “We’ll have infiltrated the castle and have the gates open by nightfall. Right, Ryo?”
Rather than answer, he frowned.
Well, he wasn’t getting any points for enthusiasm. But anyone could express bravado. Ryo had left the safety of Dahlquist to secure Teryani’s kingdom. We were walking into the unknown. Maybe it was a trap. Maybe we’d fool everyone. Or maybe we were walking straight into the lion’s den.
Despite his frown, Ryo stood tall, chin lifted. When it came to bravery, I could find no fault in the dark-haired Fae. His lips still looked way too kissable. Maybe it was a good thing I looked like his sister. We had more important things to worry about.
Storming the gates of Ravensburg wasn’t exactly threatening in a red dress, on foot, with no weapons. All I had in my arsenal was a lungful of sass. Too bad I couldn’t bring out the fire, but that would be a dead giveaway.
“Let me in, you imbeciles,” I yelled at the faeries guarding the castle gate. “I demand to see my cousin at once.”
“And who is that with you?” they asked, eyeing Ryo suspiciously.
Ryo had glamoured himself to look like a royal guard of Dahlquist, not much older than I was. He now had silky brown shoulder-length hair and the buff no-nonsense look of a Fae sentinel.
“My loyal guard,” I snapped.
I’d been experiencing performance anxiety the whole ride over before dismounting in a thatch of nearby woods. Playacting wasn’t my specialty, but my impatience was very real. All I had to do was act like a diva to convince Albedo and Malon that I was Sarfina, right? How well did they really know their estranged cousin to begin with? We were about to find out whose side Lyklor was on. I didn’t need him to tell me the truth. Actions spoke louder than words, and if he was part of this plot, he’d go down with his cousins. A tight weight pressed over my chest. I’d been drawn to the blond princeling the way my heart had pulled me toward Devdan and Ryo. Usually my instincts weren’t wrong in that department. My heart loved itself some good old complexity and torment, but so far it had never led me astray. Well, it wasn’t as though I needed a third male unbalancing my already teetering emotions. If Lyklor had given in to Albedo, they wouldn’t hold the castle for long. Teryani and the guards were waiting in the woods for my smoke signal.
All I had to do was convince Albedo that I was his loyal cousin Sarfina escaped from the dungeons of Dahlquist thanks to the guard I’d bribed to release and escort me to safety. Once they went to sleep, Ryo and I would knock out the guards at the gate, send up a signal, and let Teryani and our troops in. Hopefully, her castle crew would fight with us once they saw their queen returned within the walls of her palace.
“Let the princess and her guard in,” a muscled male with a brown bun and bronzed skin said.
About time.
Once through the gate, Mr. Bronze lifted a hand. “Wait here.”
“You’re joking,” I sniped, proud of my snotty Sarfina res
ponse. The guard pursed his lips and looked over my head at the other guards, issuing a silent command before striding away. “I guess we’ll wait here,” I said sarcastically, folding my arms beneath my bosom.
I heard my own voice speaking, which made me all kinds of uneasy, but Ryo had assured me that what others heard was the voice of his sister. Before leaving, I’d had a tiny panic attack that no one would believe I was the Fae princess. Teryani said I was clever enough to pull it off and that being difficult came naturally to me, which would make for a convincing performance.
Sure, but what about pretending I was on Albedo’s side? Or smiling at Malon when I wanted to stab him?
I paced the courtyard, glaring at a guard when he met my eye. I didn’t dare talk to Ryo. Sarfina wouldn’t get chummy with a guard, even one who had released and escorted her to safety.
The courtyard guards stiffened as a tall male with stringy black hair strode toward me in a black cape clasped with a spiky onyx brooch. A crown jutted from his head.
“Cousin, you made it,” he said in a voice as jagged as ice.
This must be Albedo. I hadn’t had the pleasure of meeting him at the feathers and lace ball back in Dahlquist. Lucky for Albedo, or he might have ended up as charred meat like his brother.
“Barely,” I said, tossing my ponytail over my shoulder.
Shrewd eyes stared into mine. He had a long, sharp nose over a thin face, and pale lips that looked as though they’d never smiled.
“What happened?” he asked.
“After you and Malon took off, Aerith threw me in the dungeons.” I lifted my nose in the air for effect. “I assured Thistle here that he would be compensated for letting me out and escorting me to Ravensburg.”
Albedo cast the barest glance at Ryo. “He will be rewarded and given a place in the royal guard.” He nodded. “Now come, Cousin, join us in the parlor. We want to hear all your news.”
Uh, I wanted to hear his news, not report news.
Resisting the urge to glance back at Ryo, I followed Albedo into the castle.
“It is not Dahlquist, but it’s a start,” he said. “I am king.”
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