A Soul for Trouble

by Crista McHugh

  “I understand.” Defeat creased lines into his cheeks, weighed down his shoulders.

  “No, it’s not that—” she started to say, but when the hope returned to his dark eyes, she forgot what she was trying to tell him. Could he really care for her?

  “What?” When she didn’t answer, he held her hand and whispered, “I’m glad you aren’t like the other women here.”

  Her heart stopped. “Why?”

  His eyes squeezed together as if he fought to stay in control of his desires. “Because for once, I don’t want to rush things. I want to know you want me for me and not because I’m a prince and you think it’ll help you escape sentencing. You already know I’ll fight for your freedom after you saved my life.”

  Her mouth went dry when he accused her of trying to seduce him. But on the other hand, he sounded like he wanted more than just her body.

  Before Arden could respond, voices filtered through the thick hedges. They wouldn’t be alone much longer.

  “Let’s examine the roses, shall we?” He offered her his hand and led her to the bushes on their right.

  She followed, lowering her head to inhale the bouquet of a deep red bloom just as a pair of lovers stumbled into the center of the labyrinth.

  Kell cleared his throat, and they both jumped in surprise.

  “Your Highness, we didn’t know…” The man’s voice trailed off when he spotted her.

  “No need to apologize. We were just leaving.” He offered her his arm. “The arbor is all yours.”

  She avoided eye contact with the lovers as she and Kell plunged back into the twisting paths of the labyrinth. Tomorrow morning, the whole palace would probably think she’d slept with the prince. But then she caught a glance of his profile and remembered the things he’d shared with her. She tightened her arm in his and smiled. Underneath his rakish swagger, Prince Kell had the makings of a true gentleman.

  Chapter 27

  The engorgement in Kell’s trousers subsided by the time they exited the labyrinth, much to his relief. The last thing he needed was for the entire court to know Arden had left him more frustrated than any woman he’d ever known. He silently cursed at stopping himself when he had her right in the palm of his hand. In the privacy of the labyrinth, it would have been so easy to steal another kiss from her, to press her soft body against his, to caresses those curves he longed to hold.

  But when he saw the relaxed smile on her face, he knew he’d done the right thing. Holding back now would only strengthen her trust in him, maybe even give him a chance of finding what Therrin had. The prospect of that warmed his blood like the finest brandy. Small battles win the war, he reminded himself.

  They’d barely crossed the lawn before Dev ambushed them. “Where the hell have you been?”

  “In the labyrinth,” she answered nonchalantly. Her ability to ignore her protector’s ire never ceased to amaze him.

  “Since you left her alone to the vultures in there,” Kell interjected, “I decided to rescue her and show her the late-blooming roses at its center.”

  The bright light from the throne room shimmered off her hair like sunlight. “It was very beautiful, Dev. The crimson ones are especially fragrant.”

  “Your consideration is appreciated, Prince Kell,” Dev said through clenched teeth. He pulled her closer to him, staring at her lips as though making sure she hadn’t been kissed. The murderous fire in his eyes dimmed, and his face softened as he looked at her. “Trouble, get inside. King Heodis suggested we stay in our rooms until he makes up his mind.”

  “For once, I’d have to agree with Dev. My father’s suggestions are to be treated like orders.” Kell brought her hand up his lips and kissed it. He didn’t want to stop there.

  She nodded, licking her lips. Damn, did she know what such a simple gesture did to him?

  “Thank you for showing me the labyrinth, Your Highness.” Dev tucked her hand in his arm and led her away.

  Two guards silently filed in behind them when they entered the palace through another set of doors. As soon as she vanished from his sight, his muscles turned to warm wax. He returned to the throne room, dropping into a chair. Normally he only reached this level of exhaustion from a full romp under the covers.

  Bynn approached him and gave a small bow. “Interesting turn of events, I hear.”

  “How so?”

  “Your father didn’t order them away in chains.”

  Kell laughed, the last of the tension leaving his body. “I knew he wouldn’t make a rash decision.”

  “What did Dev give him? Judging by the elf’s arrogant expression, you’d think it was some sort of blackmail.”

  “It looked like a seal of some sort. Probably something Empress Marist gave him to legitimize his title.”

  Bynn pulled up a chair and sat next to him. “Whatever it was, the king seemed pretty annoyed by the discussion when they emerged from the back room.”

  “My father is always annoyed when someone tries to tell him what to do.”

  “In the meantime, how did Arden like the labyrinth?”

  “Oh, so now you’re calling her by her name?”

  Bynn looked away and chuckled. “Yes, I admit I’d been a little hard on her.”

  “Exactly what I’ve been trying to tell you this whole time. When are you going to get it through your thick skull that I’m right nine times out of ten?”

  “When I forget about the one time you’re wrong.” He lowered his voice. “So, how was she?”

  His brows rose simultaneously. “Excuse me?”

  “Come on, Kell. You only take women into the labyrinth for one reason.”

  “This time was different,” he replied with some hesitation.

  Bynn’s jaw dropped “She really has you wrapped around her finger, doesn’t she?” Kell’s chest tightened. “Maybe it’s the other way around.”

  “No, I’ve seen this before in other men. I just never expected it from you.”

  “What?” His heart raced, waiting for the answer he feared was coming.

  “You’ve fallen for her.”

  He pushed the lump in his throat down into his stomach, where it sat like a brick. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

  “Then why else would you not take advantage of her like you’ve done with dozens of other women?”

  “Because I have to handle her with care.”

  Bynn nodded. “Yeah, because you’re so smitten with her, if she told you to jump off one of the turrets, you would.”

  “Now you’re really exaggerating.”

  “Say what you want, but I know you well enough to notice the change. If she left tomorrow, how would you feel?”

  Like a vital piece of me was missing. He cursed when he realized Bynn was dead-on. As much as he tried to downplay it, she’d gotten under his skin, and he wouldn’t let her go without a fight.

  Bynn clasped his shoulder. “What are you going to do about it?” The reality of the situation sobered him like a funeral. “Find a way to keep her here.

  Winter will be upon us soon enough, and no ship will leave Boznac during the storm season.”

  “And do you think it’s safe to keep her here?”

  “People’s opinions change over time. Look at you.”

  “True, but I don’t think Elslyn will ever forgive Arden for looking better in that dress than she did.”

  Laughter pushed away some of the dark clouds that swarmed around him. Between the necromancer and Arden, his life had suddenly become far more complicated than he cared to admit.

  ***

  The small wooden box beside Sulaino glowed like a candle. He threw the lid open and tore off the wax seal on the letter with his one hand. The contents filled him with enough giddiness that he ignored the throbbing ache in his stump of an arm for a few moments.

  He turned to the man hanging spread-eagle from the chains on the wall. “What do you think of this, Lord Yessling? The little Soulbearer is within the palace walls. Talk about making my life easier.
I can kill her, absorb the chaos god’s powers, and destroy Heodis all in the same place.”

  Lord Yessling grunted through his gag and rattled his chains. Although the man had quite a reputation for his harem of women, he was annoyingly loyal to the crown.

  Sulaino nodded to one of the farm girls who’d been sold to the nobleman. She flicked the cat-o-nine-tails across Lord Yessling’s chest. A mixture of fear and retribution lit up her dull eyes when he cried out, and she waited for permission to do it again.

  He stood and approached his host. “Lord Yessling, although I do admit I’ve been a pampered guest these last few days, I’m afraid I must be leaving soon. You see, I’m needed at the palace.” He showed him the letter.

  His host’s eyes widened when he saw the signature at the bottom. He tugged at his chains with renewed vigor. The gag continued to muffle his words, but Sulaino had a good idea what he was saying.

  “Don’t think we’ll get away with this, huh? Do you have any idea how long I’ve been planning this? What you see here is only a fraction of my army.” More grunts came from behind the gag, and this time, Sulaino removed it.

  “I hope Prince Kell carves you up bit by bit, beginning with your other hand and ending with your head,” Yessling growled.

  He examined the partially healed stump. “Thank you for reminding me to let Prince Kell know how much I appreciated his attentions.”

  Yessling answered by spitting in his face, earning him another lash from the whip.

  “I shall be taking my leave of you this evening. I appreciate the use of your keep and your girls while I recovered from my injury. So much, in fact, I’d like to take you with me.” He grabbed a knife off the table and slit the nobleman’s throat. The sound of gurgling blood played a delightful melody to his ear that beat in time with the last twitches of Yessling’s body. Death could be so beautiful at times.

  He consumed the decadent lord’s soul, relishing the taste of years of lust, gluttony and sloth that fed it. Yes, naughty souls always tasted better. Magic bloomed inside him, and the skin sealed over his stump.

  He pressed his finger against Yessling’s forehead, casting a familiar spell. The black lightning zapped through the corpse, and a pair of glowing red eyes looked up to meet him.

  “Welcome to my army, Lord Yessling.”

  The girl screamed and ran for the door. Another spell knocked her to the floor before she reached it.

  “Going somewhere?”

  Tears streaked down her cheeks. “You told me if I obeyed you, you’d let me live. Please let me go.”

  Sulaino knelt beside her and caught a tear on the tip of his finger. Her fear aroused him, but he’d already overindulged his desire for women’s flesh in the last few days. He needed tainted souls to destroy Heodis. “Did you enjoy whipping Lord Yessling?” She trembled, but nodded.

  “Good girl. And don’t you agree he’s met a fitting end?” She glanced over at the undead stretched by the chains. “That bastard deserved everything that came to him.”

  He smoothed her tangled brown hair. “Would you like to continue to help me?” Her face paled, and she recoiled from his touch like he’d burned her. “Please let me go home. My family—”

  “Your family sold you to him. Do you really think they’d take you back now?”

  “We could kill them.”

  The vengeful snarl of her mouth intrigued him. Corruption marred her soul long ago. He licked his lips. She’d probably taste just as delicious as Yessling. “I have something else in mind.”

  He plunged the dagger in to her black heart and sucked in every last morsel of her soul while the light bled from her eyes. A belch escaped his lips when he finished.

  The undead Yessling stared straight ahead, his waxy face emotionless.

  “Are you ready to leave?” Sulaino asked as he stood.

  Obedient silence answered him.

  He unlocked the manacles that bound his new servant’s wrists and ankles. “I have room for a few more souls before we depart. Let’s go find your naughtiest girls.” Chapter 28

  Dev jiggled the knob again and pounded on the door when it refused to budge. “The king said I could stay in the same room with her.”

  “I’m not sure what the king told you, but my orders are from Captain Larenis, and he’s said to keep you two separated.”

  Damn guards. He paced the room, trying to decide if picking the lock later tonight would be worth it. If he heard snoring on the other side, he’d go for it.

  A knock came from the wall that divided them. “Dev?” a faint voice asked.

  He rushed to source of the sound and pressed his ear against it. “Trouble, are you alone?” Muffled laughter answered him. “Don’t worry. It’s just me and Cinder.” He relaxed a bit and leaned against the wall. “Do you know how to cast a ward?”

  “I can learn.”

  “Forget it. I don’t want you taking any more lessons from him.”

  “Are you two going to shut up and sleep, or do I need to move one of you to a different room?” the guard shouted from the hall.

  “Don’t worry, Dev. I’ll be safe tonight.”

  He listened for anything else from her, but silence filled the void. He’d gotten so used to her body lying beside his, he feared he couldn’t sleep without her. He sank onto the bed and listened to the guards. When the clock chimed, the brisk footsteps and increased rumble of conversation told him a new set of guards stood outside. So much for catching them asleep.

  If he really wanted to escape, he could knock them out with magic and blow away the door. He had diplomatic immunity, after all. But Trouble didn’t, and that’s where things got tricky. Whatever he did, he had to make sure she wouldn’t pay the price for it. By Jussip, when did things become so complicated? But he already knew the answer. It all started when he ran into a yellow-haired barmaid in a tavern on the other side of the kingdom.

  He lay there until the clock chimed again, trying to find a way to get into her room. Too bad he couldn’t just walk through a wall.

  He bolted up in bed. That’s it. As much as he hated ritual-type magic, this was the best solution he could come up with at the moment. He grabbed a piece of chalk from his bag and drew an outline of a door on the wall between their rooms. Then he sat cross-legged on the floor and started casting.

  ***

  The grey light of dawn shone through the windows when the outline of the door finally shimmered to life. Dev stood and stretched, wincing as he discovered new knots in his back and shoulders from sitting still for so long. He extended his hand toward the wall, smiling when it passed through without difficulty.

  He crossed the portal and found Trouble sound asleep in her bed. Cinder stretched out next to her and only raised his head when he entered the room. He frowned. “Don’t get used to this,” he whispered to the wolf. “When we get back to Gravaria, you’ll be sleeping on the floor where you belong.”

  He grabbed a chair and carried it to the side of her bed, muttering under his breath the whole time about how she was spoiling his wolf. How much effort would it take to shove him off the bed and take his place?

  Cinder bared his teeth as if he knew exactly what Dev had been thinking.

  The damn wolf was too smart for his own good. “Fine, you can stay there tonight. But tomorrow…”

  He placed a paw across her stomach in a possessive gesture.

  Great, so now he had to compete with Cinder as well as Kell and Loku. Trouble certainly lived up to her name.

  He flopped in the chair and stretched his legs out in front of him. It might not be his ideal choice of sleeping positions, but at least he knew he could keep an eye on her.

  “Very clever, creating a portal like that.”

  The deep voice almost caused him to knock his chair over. A pair of glowing yellow-green eyes stared at him from Trouble’s face. “What do you want, Loku?”

  “What do we all want? Gold? World domination? A warm body to cuddle next to every night?”

&
nbsp; “Cut the crap and get to the point. You usually don’t have conversations with me without a reason.”

  “Would it bother you to know that Kell almost declared his feelings for her tonight?” Dev’s jaw tightened, but he kept his mouth shut.

  “Of course, I suspect she would have let him kiss her again if he tried. Maybe even more.” His gaze travelled the length of her body. Temptation spread through his veins and gathered in his groin. He wanted to be the one tasting her lips, not Kell. If he wasn’t sworn to protect her, he’d crawl into the bed and get some relief for the continual string of hard-ons he’d had since he met her.

  “Tough to resist, huh?”

  The taunt reinforced his resolve not to touch her. “I’m her protector, not her lover.”

  “So true. And if you keep pushing her away, she’ll end up in Kell’s arms.” The thought chilled him to the bone. “What makes you think I would care if she did?”

  “Where do I begin? Shall I start with your response that night I came to you in your dreams? Or the way your jaw clenches every time you see her with Kell?”

  “I won’t cave to my baser instincts.”

  “You’re a man, not a marble statue.”

  “Why are you so interested in my feelings?”

  “Besides the fact that I’d love to see you head-over-heels stupid for her? Maybe because if I have to share with anyone, I’d rather share her with you.” Now the chaos god wanted to play matchmaker. How sweet. “I’m not falling for your head games, Loku.”

  “Very well. I suppose Kell wins.” The eyes closed, leaving Trouble subject to her dreams.

  Dev stood and paced the room, too wound up to sleep. Could she really fall in love with Kell? The tightness in his chest told him the chaos god knew more about her thoughts than he did.

  ***

  A cold fog clouded Arden’s vision. Shards of ice hung in the air, glistening like diamonds in the faint beams of light that broke through. A chill crept along her spine, threatening to drive away any happy thought she had. Then the scent of rotting flesh rolled in.