A Soul for Trouble

by Crista McHugh

  Once inside the room, Dev cast wards on the door and windows. “We’re safe for now.” Her heart fluttered so fast, she feared it would try and break free of its bony confines.

  “And how long will ‘now’ last?”

  “I’m not sure.” His grim expression told her “not long.” “I need my sword.”

  “They still have it.”

  “I know, but at least I’m not entirely unarmed.” He reached into his shirt sleeve and pulled out a switchblade. “Keep this with you at all times. There are rats in the palace, and I want to make sure you have something to skewer them with if they break in here.” She took it. The cold metal sent a chill up her arm. “Dev, I’m scared.”

  “Don’t be. We’re in this together, remember. And you still have Loku.”

  “No, I don’t. I think we’ve driven him away or offended him or something because I haven’t heard a peep from him.”

  “He’s just contained. If you really need him, he’ll break free. He seems to be rather fond of you.” He brushed her hair back and looked like he wanted to add that he was fond of her, too, but she knew he’d never admit it. “Can you undress without your maid?”

  “Yes, but why?”

  “Remember how much fun it was to ride in a dress? Now consider making a quick escape in one.”

  She nodded, remembering the way hours in the saddle chafed her thighs. “I’ll change into the boy’s clothes.”

  “Good. I’ll be on the other side of the portal if you need me.” He disappeared through the wall, leaving her alone with Cinder.

  She laid out the tunic and leggings and began to untie the knot in her laces. She’d just unraveled the first layer when a knock sounded at her door.

  Dev stuck his head through the portal. “It’s warded.”

  “Arden, are you in there?” The handle jiggled, followed by more persistent knocking.

  “Answer me,” Kell’s voice pleaded.

  “I’m here,” she replied.

  “Why won’t the door open?”

  She cast a glance to Dev. “Um, maybe it’s stuck?”

  Kell rammed his body against the door. It shook, but the wood remained intact. “Arden, please, no games right now. I need to speak to you privately.” Dev entered her room through the portal. “Do you have your father’s permission?”

  “Ha-ha. Very funny, Dev. Let me in. It’s important.”

  He waved his hand in the air, and the blue outline of the ward vanished.

  Kell fell into the room as the door banged open. He pushed up on his elbows, wincing.

  “Let me guess—magic?”

  Dev simply smiled and reclined in a chair. “Say what you came here to say.”

  “I believe I said I wanted to speak to her privately. That means alone, without you.” He stood by the open door and waited for Dev to leave.

  For once, she wouldn’t have to worry about lust getting the better of him. Tension drew lines on Kell’s normally carefree face. “I’ll be safe with him, Dev. If I need you, you know how to get in here.”

  His jaw tightened. Her dismissal obviously perturbed him, but he complied by leaving through the open door. “I’ll be just on the other side of the wall.” Kell didn’t repeat his behavior from earlier this evening. As soon as they were alone, he stood guard by the door instead of wrapping his arms around her. “I won’t let Sulaino take you.”

  “Thank you. Is that all you wanted to say?”

  “No.” Anger replaced some of his anxiety, and he took two long strides in her direction.

  “Why aren’t you willing to fight?”

  “Kell, it’s not that simple.”

  “Tell me why you have all this power at your fingertips, yet refuse to use it. I thought you were better than that.”

  Tears gathered in the corners of her eyes. “Please, don’t judge me. You don’t know half the story.”

  “Apparently not.” He spied her travelling clothes laid out on the bed. “Planning on going somewhere?”

  His accusations grew more and more bitter with each word. She fought hard to keep her voice from betraying her. “I thought it best to be prepared.”

  “Why are you doing this to me? I’ve done everything I can to convince you to stay and fight with me. I’ve seen to your safety. I’ve pleaded for your life. I’ve had your every comfort tended to while you were here so you wouldn’t end up in the dungeons with the rats. Instead, you run away and hide behind Dev like a selfish little coward.” Her eyes burned as hotly as her cheeks. “Shut up. You have no idea what’s really going on here. ”

  He closed the space between them and grabbed her by the shoulders. “I even thought if I treated you differently than most women, you’d…” His voice trailed off, and he shoved away in disgust.

  “I’d what? Sleep with you and suddenly be converted to your cause? Sweet Lady Moon, it was all a trick. Everything. You actually made me think you cared about me.” Revulsion clawed at her skin, making her feel as soiled as a two-lora whore. She reached into her hair and yanked the comb out. “Take your gifts and your lies,” she said as she hurled it at him. It clattered on the floor. “I’m finished with your games.” He bent down to retrieve the comb, tracing the individual tines with his finger. “It’s not a game, Arden,” he replied in a husky voice.

  A stray tear broke free. She swiped it off her cheek. “Yes, I know. Politics, I believe is what you called it. Go away, Kell. I don’t want to even look at you right now.”

  “As you wish.” His eyes never left the floor. “I’ll go try to talk some sense into my father.

  I promised I’d keep you safe, and I won’t let them give you to Sulaino, even if you decide to leave.”

  He quietly let himself out of the room, leaving her alone with the strange ache building in her chest. More tears slipped out of her eyes, and she no longer fought to contain them.

  Dev ran into the room and pulled her into his arms. “Don’t cry, Arden. Everything will be all right.”

  She buried her face into his chest and sobbed. Dev held her close and stroked her hair.

  After several minutes, her pain lessened enough for her to speak. “I can’t believe I trusted him.”

  “Some lessons in life are harder to learn than others.” She wiped her nose with the back of her hand and looked up at him. “You’re the only one I can trust. Please don’t betray me, too.”

  He wiped the last tears from her cheek with his thumb, the color of his eyes reminding her of the fir trees that remained green even in the bitter cold of winter. “No, I’ll never do that,” he said solemnly. “You’re stuck with me until one of us draws our last breath.” Hope, an emotion she’d almost forgotten, bloomed inside her once again. She tucked her head under his chin and let him hold her a bit longer. As long as she had him, she wouldn’t have to face her demons alone. “Thank you, Dev.”

  Chapter 31

  Dev waited until Arden’s body stilled before he released her. He spent the last hour fighting the urge to castrate Kell. The only thing that held him back was the sobbing woman in his arms. How did she manage to stir such strong emotions in him? Anger, jealousy, fear, lust.

  All things he’d buried deep inside when he swore his oath to protect the Soulbearer over a century ago. And yet, she managed to resurrect them to a height he never thought possible.

  “I’m sorry, Dev. I didn’t mean to keep you here so long.” He knew the tone in her voice well enough now to hear the tinge of anger in it. “Don’t be too harsh on yourself. Kell didn’t come by his reputation by waiting for women to throw themselves at him. At least you learned his true intentions before you fell into his trap.” She nodded, staring at the floor. Her bottom lip quivered.

  Damn, he didn’t mean to upset her again. Awkwardness twitched in his muscles like dozens of worms. “You should get some sleep.”

  She nodded again. “I need to change first.”

  She sounded so innocent that something ached deep inside him. Shit, this couldn’t be happening.
Not like this, and definitely not now. He didn’t need this kind of distraction. He needed to remain numb and detached if he was going to figure out a way to get them out of this mess, not wanting to rip apart anything that tried to hurt her. He backed away from her to clear his mind. “I’ll step out for a moment, then.”

  He rubbed his eyes. The skin around them felt too tight. The long nights sleeping in the chair next to her bed were taking their toll. He glanced at her bed and longed to lie with his body curled around hers. His sleep seemed so much more peaceful when she was near him.

  Damn it. Pull yourself together, man. You’re beginning to sound like one of those whiny, lovesick fools the bards always sing about until you want to puke.

  “Dev, could you help me for a moment?”

  He jerked his head around.

  She sat on the bed with her arms behind her, reaching for the knot in her laces. “I’m having trouble untying my dress, and I don’t want to have to call Katie at this hour.” It took three swallows to open his throat up. Did she have any idea what she was asking him to do? To help her remove her clothes and not explore the creamy flesh that lay under them?

  She’s just been betrayed by Kell. I don’t need to pick up where he left off by trying to get under her skirts.

  He took a steely breath and kept his eyes on the knot. If he focused there, maybe he wouldn’t notice the rest of her body. The smell of roses wafted from her skin. Longing threatened to seize control of him. Steady. Keep your game face on, and don’t let her know how close you are to slipping the fabric from her shoulders and tasting her skin.

  “Done,” he announced and stepped back toward the portal. The sooner he got away from her, the sooner he could regain what few threads of self-control he had left.

  “Thank you.” Her swollen and red-rimmed eyes watched him with confusion.

  The way she held the loose bodice to her chest under the light of the three moons made her look even more like some helpless waif on the street. Protective urges like he’d never felt before clawed their way to the surface. His heart began to beat faster. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

  “No.” The one word froze him halfway through the portal. “You need some real rest tonight, Dev, especially if we need to make a quick escape or battle undead tomorrow. Why don’t you sleep in your bed instead of the chair?”

  “I need to protect you.”

  “But you placed wards on the windows and the doors. No one’s coming in tonight unless they know how to break them.”

  Thank Jussip she could think more clearly than him at the moment. “You have a point.”

  “Please, rest, and don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine in the morning.” Realization jolted through his body. She was pushing him away. Probably for the best, he told himself as he nodded, but it didn’t dull the sting of her rejection. “If you need me, I’m right on the other side.”

  “I know.”

  He entered his empty room and stared at the perfectly made-up bed. He pulled back the covers and crawled under them fully clothed and armed. The hard metal of his concealed weapons dug into his ribs, making it difficult to find a comfortable position.

  ***

  Sulaino drummed his fingers on the message box, waiting for the glow announcing a new message. Three hours had passed since he gave his terms to Gandor. The snotty little prince seemed all too happy to give him what he wanted. Greed did odd things to men’s minds.

  Gandor seemed so focused on claiming his father’s crown that he never realized the golden-haired witch’s worth.

  “Shame on him for being such a fool, but lucky me.” He plucked a late-season grape off a plate. The first frost of the season crystallized the sugar inside, creating a sweet syrup when he popped it into his mouth. “What do you think, Yessling?” The former lord answered with a blank stare.

  He laughed. “Oh, I forgot. You’re undead now. No more talking. I think I’m coming to enjoy it.”

  The message box began to glow like an oil lamp.

  “Oh joy!”

  The contents of the note met his expectations. The king refused to hand over the Soulbearer, but a mutiny was forming right under his nose because of it. He’d have her before the deadline he set.

  Sulaino laid the paper aside with a grin. He could afford to be patient now. One more day, and everything would fall into place.

  He stepped outside and began to cast. Thick fog rolled in from the river banks, shrouding his entire forces from the prying eyes of Heodis’ forces. Tomorrow night, the people of Ranello would know the true meaning of fear.

  ***

  Arden looked out the window, watching the fog cover the three moons. Was Sulaino leaving? The continued icy dread that filled her heart answered her question. He was still out there, waiting for her.

  She’d managed to cry herself to sleep earlier and woke up alone her bed. Well, technically, not alone. Cinder’s coarse fur remained within reach if she needed reassurance.

  She ran her fingers through it and savored the warm heat radiating from his body.

  Dev’s behavior tonight bothered her more than an inn full of rowdy drunkards. Whether he was angry or disgusted by her reaction to Kell’s betrayal, he couldn’t wait to get away from her. Of course, she didn’t blame him one bit. All this time, he’d warned her to stay away from the prince, that he only meant to use her, but she’d blindly ignored him. The bitter truth was hard to swallow when she learned it.

  Cinder’s head popped up, and his ears perked forward. A low growl rumbled through his body.

  “What is it, boy?” she whispered.

  He crouched as still as a statue, staring at the portal.

  She sat up and grabbed the switchblade Dev had given her. Something didn’t feel right, but she couldn’t place her finger on it. After slipping her feet into the suede slippers by her bed, she tiptoed closer to the portal. “Dev?”

  Chaos erupted on the other side of the wall. The sounds of furniture creaking and muffled voices filtered through the portal. Cinder bolted past her, disappearing into Dev’s room. A man cried out in pain.

  Her heart beat faster than a hummingbird’s wings. It was the only thing in her body that dared to move. Fear paralyzed the rest of it.

  The struggle continued in the other room. Then Dev’s voice shouted, “Trouble, run!” The mortar holding her feet to the ground cracked. Dev was being attacked, and she was standing there like a coward instead of running in to help him. Sour disgust rose into her throat.

  She flicked the blade of her knife open and ran blindly into the next room.

  A grunt greeted her as she buried the blade into the first body she collided with. Thank the Lady Moon it wasn’t Dev. A pair of hands grabbed her from behind, but she slashed any piece of exposed flesh she could get to.

  Three men struggled to restrain Dev to the bed. A pair of dull silver manacles circled his wrists with a chain between them, but that didn’t stop him from punching one of his captors.

  “Trouble, get out of here.”

  “No.” She punctuated the word with another stab into an attacker. Warm, sticky blood coated her hands, and the smell turned her stomach.

  “Stop messing around and get the witch,” Larenis commanded from the doorway. “And remember, she needs to be alive.”

  A crack, followed by a thud, came from the bed. Dev’s limp body lay unmoving on the sheet. Her throat closed up . No, not Dev.

  Now that they’d subdued him, they turned on her. Three of them pushed her toward the corner, cutting off her escape. The faint moonlight glittered off their weapons. The acid stench of sweat mingled with the metallic smell of blood in the small room. Their chests heaved, but they all stood still as if they waited for the signal to attack her.

  Flames replaced the fear inside her, spreading through her limbs like a wildfire. They may have swords, but she had magic. She’d burn the palace to the ground if she needed to.

  Another cry of pain pierced the silence. A soldier struggled to wre
nch free from Cinder’s jaws, but the wolf held tight. Seeing his determination to keep fighting strengthened her resolve.

  “Get the girl and kill the wolf,” Larenis barked from a safe distance of the brawl.

  Coward, her mind hissed.

  One of the men lunged at her. She held her breath and twisted to avoid his hands, only to find herself face to face with another’s blade. He slashed at her. A squeal escaped her lips as she jumped back.

  Cinder released his victim at the sound and ran toward her.

  “Look out,” a voice warned just before the wolf sank his teeth into the thigh of one her attackers.

  “Get it off me!” The man’s sword clattered to the ground, and both hands gripped Cinder’s head.

  “Gladly,” one of his comrades answered, plunging his blade into the wolf’s chest.

  Time stood still. Her vision blurred with tears. “Cinder!” her voice screamed, but it seemed to come from a distant place. Blood rushed in her ears, growing louder as her rage built inside her. Her magic begged for release. A string of curse words erupted from her mouth in sync with the bolts of blue lightning from her fingertips. The soldiers flew across the room when it hit them, leaving holes in the plaster walls from the impact before crumpling into unconscious heaps.

  Arden sank to her knees. Everything around her faded from view except the bleeding wolf at her feet. Damn stupid, loyal wolf. Sobs choked her throat. She ran her hands through the blood-soaked fur, searching for the source of the red river flowing across his body. “I’m not going to let you die,” she whispered.

  Her fingers sank into the squishy flesh of the wound, and her stomach heaved. This was more serious than Ortono’s wound. Cinder’s chest still moved up and down but grew fainter with each breath. Time was running out. She focused on the wound and saw the layers of torn tissue in her mind. Her magic took hold of her, flowed into Cinder.