His thoughts turned to formulating an escape plan. He considered the soldiers around him, noting the location of their weapons and the gaps in their armor. He examined their faces and categorized them into two groups: those who would be easily overtaken and those who had a few more years of seasoned combat behind them. He noticed the location and the severity of their injuries, if they had any. After calculating his odds, he decided he needed the element of surprise if they were to successfully escape from the prince and his men.
About an hour later, the stone walls of a small keep appeared on the horizon. The men around him relaxed, and smiles appeared on their weary faces. Dev wished he could share their relief at its sight. To him, it was nothing more than a stone cage that would hold them until Sulaino launched another attack.
As soon as the prince crossed the bailey, a man appeared at the doorway and bowed with a flourish. Obviously a nobleman familiar with the life at court. It almost surprised Dev to find the lord at home to greet them.
Kell dismounted, immediately launching into a light-hearted conversation with his host.
The two men disappeared inside the main building, followed by Lord Bynn.
Trouble stared at the ramparts and visually traced the walls. “Do you think they’ll keep him out?”
“I can only hope.”
She flinched, and he didn’t miss the brief glow of the ring in her eyes. Loku.
“Don’t listen to him. I’ll keep you safe.”
Her laughter irked him. “Funny, he was telling me the same thing.” Dev’s jaw tightened as he hopped down from his horse. Trouble already had one protector—him—and that upstart of a chaos god was trying to usurp his position. Usually, Loku tried to entice the Soulbearer with power, not security. “His protection comes at a cost.” She cocked her head to the side and slid out of her saddle. “I suppose you’re right, but it is comforting to know I won’t be completely alone if something happens to you.” Before he could reply, the soldiers surrounded them and shoved them forward. They might not be bound, but they were still prisoners.
His eyes adjusted to the dark interior faster than hers, and he caught her when she tripped over a bump in the dirt floor. A brief jolt raced through him from her touch, but he released her as soon as she regained her footing. To hold on to her any longer might lead his thoughts astray.
Inside, thick tapestries hung on the walls, insulating the large room from the chilly evening air. The prince and the two lords sat near the fire, too engrossed in their own conversation to notice their entrance.
The soldiers broke the tight ring around Dev and Trouble once they reached the middle of the room, but the shuffling of feet behind them told him they still blocked his way to the door.
Not the best time to make a run for it. Maybe later, when everyone slept.
He guided Trouble to a nearby corner. “Rest while you can. I’ll wake you if they decide to feed us more than strips of dried meat.”
She sniffed the air. “I certainly hope so. Whatever they’re roasting in the kitchen is making my mouth water.” Her stomach growled to confirm her hunger.
“If I have to steal it from the prince’s plate for you, I will.” Creases appeared in her forehead. “Please don’t make any more trouble with him.”
“Why are you defending him?”
She plopped down on the floor with a huff. “Why don’t you just come out and say it?”
“Say what?” That I want to keep you as far away from him as possible? He knelt next to her.
“That it’s all my fault we’re in this mess. If I hadn’t run off to save the prince and his men, we’d be free and on the road to Boznac now.” She bit her bottom lip and pulled her knees up to her chest.
Her theory blindsided him. “Do you really think I blame you for this?”
“Just say it and get it out of your system.”
“The prince orders you to eat, sir,” a soldier interrupted before Dev could explain things to her. He shoved a wooden trencher with steaming meat and bread at him. “He invites the girl to join him at his table.”
He bit back the warning poised on his tongue, that the prince would just use her and toss her away like he was rumored to do with every woman that crossed his path.
Trouble peered over his shoulder at the table closest to the fire. The halo in her eyes flared to life, and her private conversation with Loku lasted long enough for the soldier to clear his throat. “I’d like to stay here tonight,” she said. “Please give my apologies to Prince Kell.” The soldier walked away.
Dev released the last of the breath he’d been unconsciously holding. “I’m surprised you turned down an invitation to sit near him, seeing as how I’m being such a grouch tonight.”
“Shut up, Dev.” Her hands balled up into little fists, and he moved far enough away to avoid her right hook. Twice was enough for him to learn that she knew how to punch a man. “I have my own reasons for my decisions.”
The soldier returned with another trencher for Trouble, containing a better cut of meat than the gristle-laced hunk in his. “Prince Kell expresses his disappointment that you declined his invitation. He hopes you’ll join him tomorrow night.” The wooden way the man spoke revealed his disapproval over his prince getting cozy with a witch, even though she probably saved his life and the lives of his comrades.
Despite his attitude, she took the trencher and gave him a small thanks. With her back leaning against the wall, she began eating, never looking up from her meal.
The food tasted like dust to him, even though it smelled enticing, and he knew the reason why. How had she managed to get under his skin like this? He’d never cared what the other Soulbearers thought of him. But then, none of them had been like her. The fact that she had put others before herself shamed him a bit. He tossed a chunk of the meat to Cinder and wiped the grease off his hand.
“You need to eat, too, if you’re going to protect me,” she reminded him.
“I don’t blame you for our predicament. If I feel anything about your actions last night, it’s a combination of fear, awe, and admiration.” There. He said it. Now maybe his conscience would let him enjoy the rest of his meal.
The slice of bread in her hand paused halfway between the trencher and her mouth. “What was that?”
“You heard me, so don’t pretend you didn’t. It’s my duty to protect you, and it doesn’t make my job easier when you put yourself between a group of strangers and a necromancer who wants to kill you.”
“Ah, so you were just worried about your reputation? Yes, having the same man kill two Soulbearers in less than a week would look bad on your record.” By Jussip, she knew how to make his temper flare faster than any person he knew, including Loku. Anger coursed through his body, heating his face. “I didn’t mean it that way.”
“Then what did you mean?”
Damn, she wouldn’t be happy until she got a full confession out of him. “Did it ever occur to you that maybe I want to keep you alive for reasons other than my reputation as your protector?”
“Oh,” she whispered, and her cheeks flushed.
“It took courage to run to the aid of those men last night, especially when you knew what you were facing. And it bothers me now that I resisted going. As you and Prince Kell have reminded me, I make a sorry excuse for a knight.”
Her face softened. The halo flashed again, and her eyes widened as she inhaled sharply.
“What did he tell you now?”
She flinched at the growl in Dev’s voice, and the halo grew brighter. Just perfect. Now he was pushing her even closer to Loku.
Dev took a deep breath to calm himself. “Never mind. I’m sure you’d rather listen to him than me anyway. He’ll tell you what you want to hear.”
“Actually, he told me you were sentenced to be a protector as a punishment.” For a moment, he couldn’t look her in the face. Even after a hundred years, his actions still haunted him, still reminded him of a time when he let greed and pride turn him int
o a knight who’d lost his honor. He’d only retained his title because of his willingness to protect the Soulbearer, and he’d spent the last century trying to regain what he’d lost.
“What did you do to deserve this punishment?”
The image of Minius’ face as the life ebbed from his body flashed in front of his closed eyes. He wanted to tell her before Loku gave his version of the events, but he hesitated. Her trust in him was fragile at best. What would she think if she knew he’d murdered someone?
A warm touch of her fingertips on his jaw pulled him from his cold memories. “We shouldn’t let past mistakes dictate our actions now.”
Odd of her to say that, since she’d spent most of her life trying to avoid the same mistakes her mother made. Or maybe she had some truth in her words. Maybe he could rise above the past. He slid his hand over hers and pressed it closer to his cheek. Her acceptance soothed him for now.
Two pairs of hands seized her and jerked her to her feet, ending the precious moment between them. “Come with us, witch.”
Chapter 17
Arden attempted to wriggle free from the two soldiers who grabbed her, but they held tight. Her lungs refused to move. Calling her a witch wasn’t a good sign. Sweet Lady Moon, what were they planning to do to her? Burn her as part of tonight’s entertainment?
“Let her go.” Dev plowed into one of the men, and all four of them tumbled backwards onto the dirt floor.
The men closest to the disturbance jumped to the defense of their comrades. She covered her face to shield it from the flying fists and feet. Any moment now, she expected to hear to clang of steel and feel the warm, sticky ooze of blood.
“Stop this immediately,” a man’s voice boomed over the ruckus.
The soldiers froze at the command.
She dared a peek at the situation. Three soldiers pinned Dev to the ground, and a fourth pressed the tip of a sword into his cheek just inches above the spot her fingers touched him seconds ago. Cinder stood between her and another soldier, his teeth bared.
“So that’s Dev’s imitation of a pincushion.”
“Shut up, Loku.”
Prince Kell stood over them all with a royal frown on his face. “This is disgraceful behavior for members of the royal guard, especially when we’ve experienced such gracious hospitality from our host. Is this how we return it? By engaging in a bar fight under his roof?”
“He started it, Your Highness,” one of the soldiers started to explain.
“He threatened my apprentice,” Dev countered.
“I did no such thing. I merely—”
“Enough.” One word ended the conversation, and his men stared at the floor. “Can’t you see you’ve frightened the young lady?”
A nearby cough told her not all of his men agreed that she was a young lady. Nor would she give him the satisfaction of letting him know the fight frightened her. She grew up in an inn, after all. Instead, she wiped the dirt off her palms and stood.
Kell held her gaze and waited for her to say something. When she didn’t, he asked, “Are you unharmed?”
“Aw, he’s such a gentleman. Next thing you know, he’ll be offering to cover mud puddles in your path with his cloak.”
“I seriously doubt that.” To give Kell some credit, he played the part of a gentleman well.
Of course, she scarcely believed his concern was genuine. “I was fine until two of your men grabbed me and insulted me.”
He turned to the two soldiers who’d accosted her and glared at them. “I’ll make sure that won’t happen again.”
A grunt from Dev reminded her he still had a blade on his face. “Could you be so kind as to order your men to release my protector, Your Highness? He was just performing his duty.” The corners of his mouth twitched. Kell must’ve gotten some kind of sick pleasure from seeing Dev eating dust. If she wasn’t fearful for her life, she might have joined him in his amusement. “Only if he agrees not to cause any more trouble tonight.”
“If your men behave, I trust he will.”
With a nod, Kell consented to her demands. The soldiers backed away from Dev, throwing a slight shove as they did so.
Her protector stood and moved between her and the prince. The rigid set of his shoulders matched the way his fingers curled into fists. “Where were they planning on taking her?”
“Since she’s the only lady in our company, I thought it only appropriate that she have a private room. I’d asked my men to escort her there.”
“Oh, a private room. You lucky girl.” Loku’s sarcasm made the muscles in her neck twitch. “Now, the next question should be if you’ll be alone there.”
“Escort?” Dev’s half laugh pierced the space between the three of them. “Is that what you Ranellians call it?”
“Perhaps my men were a little rougher than I intended, but in their defense, they are soldiers and unfortunately only know one way to handle prisoners.” Dev’s knuckles crackled, and his lips pressed into a thin line.
Before he could launch another string of insults at the prince, she intervened. “I appreciate your concern for my comfort and reputation, Your Highness, but I’ll be quite fine spending the night here.”
“I’m afraid I can’t allow that.”
“Then I’m coming with her.” Dev closed the gap between them so she smelled his scent of leather and spice.
She took a deep breath and savored his familiarity. “Mmm, I wouldn’t mind that.”
“Of course you wouldn’t. You’d love to share your bed with Dev, you naughty girl. Maybe I don’t need to visit you in your dreams tonight, eh?” Blood gathered in her cheeks. “I didn’t mean it that way. I just meant it would be nice having him nearby so he’d, um, stay out of trouble.”
“Liar.”
“I’m afraid the space reserved for her isn’t very large. You should be quite comfortable down here, provided you don’t start any more fights with my men.”
“And what guarantee do I have that they won’t start anything with me?” Arden rolled her eyes. Would these two ever learn to let things rest? “I’ll agree to go peacefully under three conditions.”
“Which are?” The evident amusement on the prince’s face irked her. It felt like he was indulging some headstrong child.
“One: Dev will be alive and well in the morning when I come back.” One dark brow rose. “Fine. If he causes trouble, though, my men have every right to defend themselves short of killing him.”
Damn, she didn’t expect him to be good at negotiating.
“And you’re some kind of expert in this field?”
“Two: I get to take Cinder with me.”
“He’s a wild beast, more fit to spend the night outside the keep than inside a room.”
“If you deprive me of one protector, I demand another.” Kell approached her. “You don’t trust me?”
Her heart skipped a beat. The way his dark eyes studied her face as they were searching for her secrets made her tongue feel thick and clumsy. “Not completely, Your Highness. The whole kingdom knows of your reputation, which brings me to my third condition. I refuse to stay the night in this private room if you’re in it.”
A snicker broke loose from the crowd behind Kell. The sly grin fell from his face. A little thrill rushed through her. Take that, Your Highness.
“I wonder if any woman has ever refused him before?”
“I don’t care. I’m not as easy as the women at court appear to be.”
“But aren’t you curious to see if he’s as talented as the rumors say he is?” A flush spread through her whole body. “Don’t be ridiculous. What interest would he have in a common-born witch like me?”
“Your body betrays you. Admit it, my Soulbearer, you have a wanton woman buried deep inside you wanting to break free, and you don’t seem to care if it’s Dev or Kell who satisfies that need.”
Anger throbbed deep inside her. She lowered her eyes, afraid Kell would see the flashing of the halo while she told Loku exactly what he cou
ld do with his crude accusations.
A forced laugh broke the silence. “You don’t have to worry about that, Arden, and as long as your wolf doesn’t tear holes in the cushions, he’s welcome to stay there, too.” He crossed his arms. “Satisfied?”
“I suppose so.”
“I’m not.” Dev blocked her from following the prince. “I need to know where she is in case we’re attacked or the keep burns down. Her safety is my only priority.”
“As was getting her to Gravaria, if I remember correctly. I promise that I’ll personally see to her safety if those things occur.”
Dev’s eyes narrowed.
“The prince is smarter than we gave him credit for. It seems he knows exactly what Dev was planning to do.”
“I don’t care at this moment. I just want to go to sleep. I’m still exhausted from healing Dev this morning.” “Dev, I’m not completely helpless.” She placed her hand on his shoulder and let the heat from her fire magic penetrate his skin.
His winced from the sting of it but nodded his head in agreement. “True, and you’ll have Cinder with you.”
“Exactly. Rest tonight. Tomorrow starts fresh.”
“Good.” The smile that reappeared on Kell’s face seemed less forced this time. “Now that we’ve resolved this situation, I agree that we could all benefit from a good night’s sleep.
Arden, please allow Lord Pryan’s steward to show you to your room.” She followed the dour-faced man out of the great hall, casting one more glance at Dev before she passed through the doorway. Please don’t let this be some kind of mistake.
“There’s only one way to find out,” Loku answered.
They climbed the wooden stairs to a narrow hallway. The sprigs of dried lavender hanging from the rafters did little to conceal the dank odor that clung to the stone walls. She doubted the noblemen would be sleeping in this part of the keep tonight.
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