He scratched the back of his head. “I was informed they interrogated you twice in the dungeon.” She nodded. “And you refused to answer any questions, which resulted in you being caned and then having your fingernails removed.”
She shuddered from the memory of the cane slicing through the air and striking her back. Of the metal instrument pulling out her nails one by one. Hatred for Jana, Soma, and Shelene boiled inside of her. “That is correct.”
“Why didn’t you comply? Why put yourself through that?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” she replied, using the same words he had.
Kerdan chuckled, leaning back in the chair. “A princess who fights, is loyal, and can undergo torture but not break. I didn’t think someone like you existed.”
The room became confining. She stood, heading for the door, unable and unwilling to take this man’s compliment. He was cunning, ruthless, and he had a plan for her.
“Please don’t leave. Just listen to what I have to say. I promise every word I speak in this room will be the truth.”
She paused, her shaking hand on the door handle. Run.
“Allyssa, please, I beg you.” His voice turned soft, pleading, revealing a man not much older than her. “Let me explain.”
Bloody hell. She released the handle and sat back down. “I still don’t trust you.”
“I didn’t ask you to. And, frankly, I would be disappointed if you did.”
“What do you want from me?” she asked.
“When I was a child, the king was kind and a fair ruler. Russek was a peaceful kingdom. Then Jana arrived at our court, and things began to change. My mother became ill, my father started to lose his temper, and Russek fell into financial hardship. When the queen died, the king became…unreasonable. He remarried the day the mourning period ended. That’s when his obsession with conquering Emperion took root.”
Kerdan had stated the facts, leaving out his opinions, so she could draw her own conclusions. But it was easy to figure out what he was inferring—Jana had something to do with the queen’s death. Looking at the facts, there were too many coincidences for it to be otherwise. So, if the events he so plainly stated were indeed accurate, then he had a very good reason to despise the queen. However, what of the king? Did Jana poison him as well in order to get what she wanted? Or did something else change him?
Folding her hands together on her lap, she tried to process everything. “When did Jana come to your court?” Rema banned Eliza and Jana almost twenty years ago. Instead of forcing them to another kingdom, she sent them to a small cottage in northern Emperion under the guard of a dozen soldiers. They managed to disappear several years ago. Her mother should have executed them when she had the chance.
“About four years ago.”
“And how long after that did she marry the king?”
“Less than two years.”
“And Soma is skilled in the art of poison. How convenient.”
“That he is. Coincidentally, I ate some food laced with poison not long ago. I, too, almost died. Thankfully, I keep several antidotes on hand and have been studying the smell and taste of various toxins.”
A knock resounded through the room. “Captain,” someone called from the other side of the door. Interesting that the man used Kerdan’s title of captain instead of prince. “Can I please have a word with you?”
“If you’ll excuse me.” Kerdan stood.
“Are you going to leave me here, alone, in your room?” she asked.
“You’ll be safe. No one can harm you here.”
“I mean, do you trust me enough to leave me alone in your room with your personal possessions?”
“I trust no one.” His large body filled the height and width of the door, making the room feel even smaller.
“Then why not have me wait out in the hallway?”
“Because I am running out of time and something must be done.” He yanked the door open and exited.
Standing, Allyssa meandered around the room, observing the minute details, hoping to gain some insight into Kerdan and his intentions. She hoped he could be a potential ally in destroying Jana. And if they did take her down, maybe Russek would cease to invade Emperion, unless King Drenton had to be stopped as well. Would Kerdan be willing to challenge him? While he had indicated he hated Jana, his feelings toward his father were unclear.
Her right hand traced the spines of a stack of books. Military Strategies, Torturing Effectively, A Means to an End, Court Politics, and Gruesome Deaths. Several papers were piled on top of his desk. She quickly fingered through them. Some had sketches of villages and lakes in Russek, others contained locations of soldier camps along the border, most were communications between Kerdan and his officers.
Everything in here revealed a piece of the prince. She leaned forward, clutching onto the edge of the desk. He must have wanted her to see this, so he could gain her trust this way. She turned around, knocking a small book off the desk. It landed open, the pages facedown. She squatted and picked it up. Several pages were bent, so she straightened them. The corner of a piece of parchment poked out from the middle. It was a single sheet, soft and well-worn with elegant but faded handwriting. She carefully removed the letter and read it.
My dearest son,
It is with a grave heart that I write this letter. I fear that my time in this world is coming to an end. I had hoped to live long enough to see you settled and with children of your own. Alas, that will not happen. I am being taken from you and your father when danger lurks all around us. Be aware of Jana and her mother, Eliza. I am convinced they have ill intentions toward our family. I don’t have any evidence—it is just a feeling I get when I’m in their company. I’ve asked your father to banish them. He has not yet decided their fate.
I beseech you to do your duty as the prince of Russek and ensure that our people continue to survive in peace—for one day, you will be king. Know that even when I am not with you, I will be watching over you.
I am so proud of the man you have become. Always remember that I love you.
Your mother, Queen Elenk
Allyssa put the letter back where she found it, placed the book on the desk, and quickly moved away, her heart pounding with all she learned. The letter validated what Kerdan implied. They had a common enemy. And the prince, it seemed, like Allyssa, would do anything to protect his kingdom.
The door opened, and Kerdan waved her out of his room and into the adjacent office. A dull rumbling sounded. “What’s that noise?” she asked as she exited the office.
“A unit of my men has been ordered to the border in preparation of war.”
“War against my people.” She clenched her hands into fists.
“Yes.” He folded his arms, waiting.
Now was the time to test the prince, to see if he truly wanted an alliance with her. “There will be bloodshed on both sides.”
He gave a curt nod.
“Emperion will not fall to Russek,” she insisted.
“Jana believes you are the key to ensuring it does.”
“I’ll die before I let that happen.” She stepped closer to him. He didn’t offer her anything, so she said, “I will stop this war, one way or another.” There, she’d said it. Her declaration to work with him.
He leaned down so his lips brushed her ear. “Jana has managed to worm her way into the king’s heart. He does her bidding.” And then he made his own declaration. “If we want to stop the war, we must stop the queen.”
Chapter Sixteen
“Why is only every third torch lit?” Allyssa asked, walking beside Kerdan. They’d just returned from the military garrison, and she hadn’t managed to shake the cold from her bones. “Is Russek so poor you can’t afford to care for this castle?”
The prince huffed. “Our money is directed to our army, not unnecessary luxuries.” He walked in silence a moment before adding, “Besides, I can see well enough.”
“So can I.” She pulled the scratchy jacket away fro
m her neck. “It’s just rather depressing and gloomy around here.” She could never live in a place like this.
“Stop fidgeting with your jacket.”
She was about to tell him to mind his own business when movement up ahead caught her attention. Soma slunk out of an adjacent hallway, leaning against the wall, casually waiting for them. Kerdan cursed under his breath, but she didn’t hear what he said because her mind flooded with hatred for this man who’d killed Grevik and brought her to Russek, which resulted in her being tortured. He deserved to be rotting in a dungeon, not leisurely strolling around the hallways.
“Relax,” the prince mumbled. She unclenched her fists and took a deep breath.
When they neared the assassin, Soma’s lips curled into a cruel smile, his eyes darkening. “My, my, my,” he purred. “I didn’t expect to find the princess out and about.”
Kerdan didn’t even blink—he kept walking, ignoring the vile man. Soma pushed off the wall and started walking on her free side. She shuddered, not wanting to be so close to him.
Kerdan abruptly stopped. “What do you want?” he demanded.
“What have the two of you been up to?” Soma looked her over, his eyes lingering on her soldier jacket.
“Who wants to know?” Kerdan leaned forward, his large frame making the assassin appear frail next to him.
“I do.” Again, Soma’s eyes roamed over her body, her throat. She took a step away from him, revulsion coating her skin.
“I don’t think so,” Kerdan said, folding his arms across his chest. “I bet the queen is upset things aren’t going her way, so she sent you to spy on me.”
Soma’s eyes flashed with fury. “Why do you want Allyssa? She is a small, pathetic thing of no value to you.”
“Why I want her, and what I’m doing with or to her, is none of your concern.” Kerdan looked sidelong at her before continuing. “Why have you taken such an interest in the princess? If she holds no value, why do you watch her?”
Soma’s cruel smile returned, contorting his face. “The strong-willed ones are always much more fun to play with.”
Not wanting him to sense her fear, she said, “I’m ashamed you’re my cousin.” The fact that they shared anything at all, especially blood, repulsed her. She turned and strode down the corridor, away from the assassin, needing to rid herself from the abhorrent man.
“Stop,” Kerdan called after her. She couldn’t stop. Couldn’t even look at Soma one more time. “I’ll throw a dagger in your back if you don’t stop.”
He didn’t mean it. He was only threatening her to prevent the assassin from running to the king and queen and telling them she was walking around the castle of her own free will. Why didn’t the prince leave Soma and join her? She stopped, her body shaking, but she refused to turn around.
The assassin chuckled. “I’ll do it for you.”
She heard the tiniest wisp of a knife being withdrawn. Years of practice with her father and Marek made her body react before her mind could even comprehend what was happening. She ducked, and a knife flew inches above her head, slamming against the wall next to her and clattering to the ground. Without thinking, she lunged, grabbing the weapon. She aimed for Soma’s stomach and threw the knife. He whirled to the side, the knife barely missing him. He clutched the hilt of his sword, about to unsheathe it, when Kerdan gripped his arm, stopping him.
“The princess is my prisoner. You have no authority to touch her.”
Soma released the hilt of his sword, shaking Kerdan off his arm. “She attacked me,” he snarled, his face alight with unsuppressed rage. “She will pay for her crime.”
Kerdan seized the front of Soma’s tunic, roughly shoving him against the wall and pinning him there. “Do not lay a finger on her.”
The assassin started laughing. “Careful, stepbrother. I have talents that not even you can fight against. Angering me is not in your best interest.”
Kerdan released him and moved several feet away, clenching and unclenching his hands. “Are you threatening me? The crown prince?” Allyssa realized he was trying to restrain himself from killing Soma right then and there. “I think it is you, little stepbrother, who should be mindful of your actions because I can, and I will, throw you in the dungeon if you ever threaten or try to kill me again.”
Soma straightened his rumpled tunic. “Give me the girl, and I will gladly leave you alone.” He peered at Allyssa, his dark eyes malicious. She wanted to aggravate him so he’d attack and Kerdan would kill him. He deserved to die.
“The journey here took weeks,” Kerdan replied. “You had many nights with the princess. What could you possibly want with her that you haven’t already had the opportunity to do?”
“Allyssa deserves to suffer,” Soma growled. “She’s a filthy, no-good whore.”
Her name on his lips was more than she could stomach. How dare he call her such a thing? She moved closer, wanting to do something to cause him pain, to hurt him the way he’d hurt her.
Kerdan’s shoulders stiffened. “Well…now she’s my no-good whore.” He placed his large hand on her stomach, shoving her backward, away from the assassin. “You need to stop blaming the princess for your family’s misfortune. All you have endured—it’s your mother’s fault.”
“Don’t speak of things you know nothing about.” Soma abruptly turned and walked away.
“Just so you know,” Kerdan shouted after him, “I blame you for my family’s misfortune.”
Allyssa went to put her hand on his shoulder to comfort him, but she stopped herself. Regardless of having a mutual goal to destroy Jana, they were still enemies. Not friends. She needed to remember that, stifling any feelings because that thought, that desire to help him, scared her more than the encounter with Soma.
***
The lock rattled, and the door flew open. Kerdan stepped inside his bedchamber, dragging a man with a sack covering his head and a dirty blanket wrapped around his body. He slammed the door shut and removed the sack.
Odar stood there, heaving deep breaths. Stunned, Allyssa slowly rose from her chair. Kerdan pulled the dirty blanket off and untied the rope that secured Odar’s wrists together.
Odar scanned her from head to toe, his eyes wild with rage. “Are you hurt?” he demanded. She shook her head. His eyes flashed, and then, in one fluid motion, he swung and punched Kerdan in the jaw. Before the prince could recover from the hit, Odar threw himself at him, and they tumbled to the ground, grappling with one another.
“Stop it!” she ordered, but neither man listened.
Odar rolled over, pulling Kerdan on top of him and wrapping his arm around the prince’s neck, squeezing. Kerdan twisted the bottom portion of his body, punching Odar’s side and breaking the chokehold.
“Run!” Odar yelled at her. “Get out of here while you can.”
Kerdan jumped to his feet and flung his arm around Allyssa’s torso, his chest heaving up and down against her back.
Odar scrambled to his knees, trying to catch his breath. “Don’t touch her,” he pleaded, his voice cracking, tears in his eyes. She had never seen him so vulnerable.
The prince chuckled. “So, she is your weak spot.”
Odar slowly got to his feet, his hands fisted at his sides.
“Enough,” she said. “I am nobody’s weak spot.” She craned her neck back, staring at Kerdan. “Let go.”
He released her. “Make sure your friend doesn’t attack me again.”
“Of course.” She focused on Odar, trying to ignore the towering man behind her. “Stand down, and give me a chance to explain.”
A mask of calm washed over Odar’s face, instantly transforming him into the cold man she’d first met in Emperion masquerading as Jarvik. She felt, rather than saw, Kerdan tense behind her. Unable to have the necessary conversation with the prince watching her every move, she turned to him and said gently, “Can I have a moment alone with Prince Odar?”
“That’s why I brought him here,” Kerdan replied, rubbing h
is jaw. “Although you should have warned me of his jealous nature beforehand. I could have avoided this unnecessary bruise.”
“What’s going on?” Odar demanded, looking from Allyssa to the prince and back again.
Kerdan moved to the door. “You have fifteen minutes,” he said. “Don’t let anyone in the room. When it’s time for Odar to go, I’ll return to escort him back.” Without waiting for an answer, he left.
They were finally alone. For the first time since Odar entered the room, she allowed herself to study him. Dark circles encased his eyes, and his clothes hung on him, indicating he had lost weight.
“Just tell me,” Odar ground out. “I want to know what the bastard did to you. Don’t even think of trying to spare my feelings.”
“Spare your feelings?” she asked, appalled by his comment. “What about my feelings?” He had the gall to look confused. She walked right up to him and slapped his face, the sound of her hitting him loud in the quiet room.
“What was that for?”
Tears filled her eyes. “Do you have any idea what I’ve been through? I’ve been in the bloody damned dungeon while you’ve been doing who knows what with Shelene!” She hadn’t meant to yell at him like that, but she couldn’t help it.
He held up both his hands. “Let me explain.”
She wiped the tears from her face. “I know you don’t care for her.” The look of relief on his face was apparent. “I know you did it to save yourself from being thrown in the dungeon.” Her voice cracked. She didn’t want to talk about what she went through, what was done to her, all the while he ate and drank with the people who tortured her.
“I did it for you, not me. I hoped to have access to information and ensure you weren’t executed. However, Jana doesn’t fully trust me, so I couldn’t help you as much as I anticipated.”
“It doesn’t matter now.”
He wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly against his body. “I’m so sorry,” he mumbled into her hair. “I had no idea this would happen. I’ll never forgive myself.”
Cage of Darkness (Reign of Secrets, Book 2) Page 13
