Darmik took a big breath, letting the air out slowly. “Amer . . . Rema.”
Rema shook her head. “What are you saying?”
“That you are Princess Amer.”
“No,” Rema whispered. “That’s impossible. You have to be mistaken.”
“I’m not. I found a painting of you as a baby with the tattoo. You are the true heir.”
Rema dropped her head onto her hands, mumbling to herself. He wanted to touch her, comfort her. Instead, he waited for her to understand what he’d just revealed.
“You left me in the dungeon,” she said, suddenly looking into his eyes.
Darmik nodded. “I thought you knew your true identity. I didn’t realize they’d kept it from you.”
Rema inched backwards, away from Darmik. “Do you intend to finish the job now?” she demanded, her face harsh.
Darmik moved to his knees. “Please,” he pleaded, “let me explain.”
“I don’t think so.” In one swift motion, she jumped to her feet and grabbed a log from the pile of firewood off to the side. “I won’t give you a chance to finish what you started.” Rema swung the wood in a fluid gesture, indicating she had some basic combat knowledge.
Did she really think Darmik would hurt her? Of course she did. Looking over his actions, she could draw no other conclusion. He had allowed her to be thrown in the dungeon and be executed. She had no idea of the emotional journey he’d been on or how he felt—it took him long enough to even understand it himself.
Darmik raised his hands in surrender. “I know you have no reason to trust me, but please, let me finish explaining.”
“Stay back!” She swung the log and moved further away from Darmik and the fire. She was almost to the tunnel that led outside.
“I thought you knew your identity and used me to gain access to the castle and the throne.”
Her eyebrows narrowed, but she held her position.
“I thought you played me for the fool. I was hurt and angry. Despite all that, I realized I have feelings for you. I was about to rescue you myself when Mako beat me to it. I understood then that even if you knew your identity, I didn’t want you dead. I realized . . . that . . . I love you.” The words hung in the air.
Rema was utterly still. Darmik wished she’d respond. Did she feel the same way? Or had he managed to destroy what was between them? “Say something,” he begged. Darmik moved to stand.
“Stay where you are,” Rema said, waving the wood around. “I need a moment to think.”
Darmik lowered himself back to his knees. Neco stepped from the shadows of the tunnel behind Rema. Darmik was about to ask his friend what he was doing when Neco wrapped one arm around Rema’s neck, his other hand encircling her arm.
Rema yelped in surprise. Then the heel of her boot slammed on Neco’s foot, her elbow jamming into his stomach. Neco’s eyes bulged, and he released his grip on Rema. She swung the log. Neco ducked.
Darmik jumped up, grabbing the wood mid-swing. “Stop!” he yelled. Rema turned to him, about to strike. Darmik twisted around her body, hitting her arm. She dropped the log to the ground. He came up behind her, clasping his arms around her torso. “Calm down,” he whispered in her ear. Her body heaved up and down, her breath coming fast. “No one will hurt you.”
“Then what was that?” Her chin jerked toward Neco. “And why are you holding me?”
“Neco,” Darmik said. “Explain yourself.”
Neco clutched his stomach. “She was threatening you with a weapon,” he said. “I meant to disarm her. Apparently, she had other ideas.” He straightened up, nodding his head in her direction.
Darmik tried not to laugh. “I’m going to release you now,” he said. “Does that meet with your approval?”
Rema nodded, still breathing hard.
“Neither of us will hurt you. Please refrain from attacking us. Agreed?”
“Yes.”
Darmik slowly removed his arms. Rema remained standing there, staring at Neco.
“Rema, you know Neco from our ride to Greenwood Forest. He’s my best friend and most trusted soldier. Neco, I’m sure you remember Rema, your future queen.”
Neco smiled and bowed, while Rema’s head jerked toward Darmik. “What did you say?” she asked.
Darmik knelt on the ground before her, bowing his head as a subject to his royal ruler. He wanted her to understand the enormity of the situation—and that he was sorry about his actions and intended to pledge his loyalties to her.
“Stand up.” She grabbed his arm, pulling him to his feet. “Don’t do that.”
Darmik chuckled. Rema’s eyes were wide, and she shook her head, looking truly panicked.
Neco straightened up. “I’ll leave you two alone. It’s nice to officially meet you, Princess Amer.” He turned and left.
Rema shook her head. “I am not Princess Amer.”
“But you are,” Darmik said.
Rema moved to the fire and sat down, staring into the flames. She was just as beautiful as he remembered. Yet, there was something different about her. Rema was thinner and more tone. He wondered what she had been through since the last time he saw her.
Darmik sat next to her. “What are you thinking?” She usually had an abundance of things to say. Her lack of talking started to worry him.
“What did you mean when you said your future queen?” she finally asked, still focused on the fire, lost in thought.
“Well,” Darmik said, not entirely sure how to answer. “The rebels want to place you on the throne, making you Queen of Greenwood Island.”
“But you’re the reigning prince and commander. In order to place Princess Amer on the throne, they would have to overthrow your family.”
“Yes,” Darmik said. “And I agree with them.”
Her eyes finally sought his. They sat, staring at one another. “I don’t understand,” she admitted.
“My father is cruel. He doesn’t know how to rule a kingdom. Lennek is no better. I believe you’d make a great ruler. And you are the true heir. We never should have removed your family in the first place.”
“You’d turn your back on your own father and brother?” she asked.
Darmik nodded. “Yes, I would, if it’s the right thing to do.”
“Don’t you feel a sense of loyalty to them?”
“I do,” Darmik admitted. Even after everything they had done to Darmik, he still loved them. “But I’ve seen enough of their injustice firsthand. I’ve also seen enough of your kindness.”
Suddenly Darmik had a hard time breathing. He’d admitted to loving her, and she hadn’t acknowledged his feelings yet. Rema was so close. He wanted to wrap his arms around her. His eyes drifted to her soft, red lips. He wanted to kiss her.
Darmik forced himself to look her in the eyes again. “There’s something you need to know.”
Rema shifted closer to him. “Yes?”
Darmik needed to tell her about Captain. She needed to be aware of the seriousness of the situation. “There is an assassin on Greenwood Island from Emperion. He’s hunting you right now, even as we speak.”
“Am I safe in the Middle Mountains?” she asked.
“This is by far the safest place for you right now. However, the assassin won’t stop until he finds you.”
“I need to get back inside the fortress.”
Darmik agreed, but he wanted Rema to understand the entirety of his emotions before they parted. Darmik took hold of her hands. “I pledge my loyalty to you,” he blurted out. He wished they had more time together, so he could explain himself better without blundering through it.
Her eyes widened, and she started shaking her head. “I don’t want to be Princess Amer. I’m not her. I can’t be.”
Darmik squeezed her hands. “You are. Now it’s up to you to decide if you will fulfill your destiny. Or if you will run and hide.”
“I don’t know how to be the leader of these rebels. I’m not strong enough.”
“Yes, you are.” Darmik thought o
f her perseverance in the dungeon and at the execution. And her fight with Neco. That was fun to witness. Rema was strong. She just didn’t realize it yet.
Tears filled her eyes. “Maya and Kar aren’t really my aunt and uncle? Everyone has been lying to me my entire life?”
“They had to in order to keep you safe,” Darmik said.
A tear slid down her cheek. Darmik reached out, cupping her face. His thumb brushed the tear away, and he leaned forward. He wanted to feel her soft lips. He wanted to comfort her. He knew he shouldn’t, that if she was indeed to be his queen and he her loyal subject, he shouldn’t kiss her.
Rema closed her eyes and leaned forward. His lips brushed hers. All worry fell away, and all he could think about was this beautiful girl before him, so full of life.
To hell with position and formality. He was tired of things keeping the two of them apart. Darmik’s hands slid around her waist, pulling her onto his lap. Rema’s arms wrapped around Darmik’s neck. “I love you,” he murmured against her lips. Her tears mixed with their kiss, salty and precious.
Darmik wanted all of her. He kissed her chin, her soft neck. She gasped. The cape slid from Rema’s shoulders, puddling on the dirt ground. Their bodies pressed against one another. Her blonde hair surrounded him, filling him with her sweet scent.
Their lips met again. Darmik deepened the kiss as his hands moved to undo the tie of her dress.
Neco cleared his throat. Rema pulled away, breathing hard.
“Yes, Neco?” Darmik asked. His friend had better have a good reason for interrupting.
“Sorry to disturb you,” Neco said, avoiding eye contact. Rema grabbed the discarded cape, wrapping it around her shoulders. Her cheeks were a rosy red. “There’s a great deal of activity at the rebel compound. I’m betting Princess Amer’s absence has been noted.”
Darmik stood, pulling Rema up. “We better get you back.”
“Are you going inside the compound with me?” she asked.
“No,” he replied. “I need to get back down and throw Captain off your trail.” She nodded. “What do you plan to do with this newfound knowledge of your true identity?” Darmik asked.
“I don’t know,” Rema admitted. “But once I figure it out, I’ll let you know.”
Rema
Darmik escorted Rema back to the boulder where he found her earlier in the evening. It already felt like a lifetime ago. So much had happened over the course of the past hour.
“The compound is right through there,” Darmik said, pointing somewhere behind her. “Head straight, and you’ll run right into the wall. From there, you should be able to find the door you exited through.”
Rema knew she should be paying more attention to what Darmik was saying, but she couldn’t focus. Her entire world had been turned upside down.
“Rema,” Darmik said, placing his hands on her shoulders. “Are you listening to anything I’m saying?”
She looked up into his dark eyes. “I’m sorry, what?”
Darmik raised his eyebrows. “I need you to get behind that wall before they send out a search unit.”
Of course, she couldn’t let the rebels discover Darmik or Neco. Who knew what they’d do to them? Mako would never believe Darmik was loyal to Rema instead of King Barjon. She had a hard enough time believing it herself.
Darmik’s hands slid down her arms, grasping her wrists. “Please be careful.”
She nodded, understanding that the King’s Army was searching for her, an Emperion assassin was hunting her, and she was embedded with rebel forces who believed her to be their savior. Yes, she would tread very carefully.
“I need my cape back.”
“Of course.” Rema unclasped the cloak, sliding it from her shoulders. The freezing night air swirled around her body.
She handed Darmik his cape and their hands brushed, sending unexpected warmth through her fingers, up her arm, and into her core.
“You better go,” Darmik said, his voice gruff, “before you freeze out here.” He threw the cape over his arm.
Rema nodded, clasping her arms around her torso. She didn’t want to leave Darmik. Right now, he was the only one being honest with her. Once she returned to the rebel compound, she had no idea what she was going to do.
Darmik leaned down, kissing her cheek. She closed her eyes, reveling in the warmth of him.
“Stay safe,” Darmik whispered. Then he was gone.
An animal howled in the distance. Rema turned and headed in the direction of the fortress.
She desperately wanted to sort through the events that had just transpired, but Rema needed to get inside—to safety. Her feet were going numb, and she couldn’t feel her fingertips or nose. She decided to run. Her boots crunched on the dirt ground as she dodged greenwood trees and large rocks.
Just up ahead, Rema caught a glimpse of the castle’s stone wall. Her breath came out in white puffs. She slowed, scanning the wall for the door she had left propped open. Not seeing it, Rema decided to jog along the wall until she either found a way in, or someone spotted her. On top of the wall, there seemed to be twice as many armed men as usual.
Rema stumbled, falling forward on her hands and knees. A guard from above must have heard her because he called out, “Identify yourself!”
Glancing up, there was an archer with an arrow pointed at her.
“I’m,” she stuttered. Who was she? Rema didn’t even exist. She was Princess Amer. But that person was foreign to her.
“You have three seconds until I shoot.”
“I’m Rema.” She stood up, brushing the frozen dirt and ice from her numb hands.
“Over here!” the man shouted. Several torches appeared, lighting the night. “Commander! We found her outside the wall!” Shouts rang out. Rema remained where she was. After a few moments, a group of soldiers came running up.
Audek stepped forward. “Rema,” he said. “You certainly gave everyone quite a scare!” He removed his cape and draped it around her. “We need to get you inside. You’re freezing.”
Audek wrapped his arm around her shoulders. They walked along the wall, toward the fortress’s main entrance.
“So,” Audek began, “you and Savenek have a lovers’ quarrel? Had to throw a tantrum like a typical girl to get everyone’s attention, did you?” Audek chuckled.
Although she was practically frozen, Rema pulled her right arm back and punched Audek in the stomach.
The punch didn’t carry much weight—Audek barely made a noise.
“Is that what he told you?” Rema demanded. “That we had a lovers’ quarrel?”
A few of the soldiers nearby glanced at Rema.
“Well, no,” Audek admitted, lowering his voice so no one could overhear. “I just saw you two arguing and then you disappeared.”
They passed through the entrance in the wall, the heavy, iron door grating along the ground as it closed behind them.
Rema’s teeth chattered so loudly she could scarcely hear anything else. Now that she was safely inside, Rema stopped walking “That’s not why I ran off,” she said.
Audek dropped his arm and turned to face her. “I was only toying with you.”
“Well, don’t,” Rema said. “There was a massacre in Jarko—where I’m from. Savenek refused to tell me anything about it. I just wanted to know what towns were attacked to see if anyone I know was killed. He refused.”
“Rema,” Mako said as he approached, Savenek close behind him. “Let’s get you inside.”
She glanced around at all the soldiers who had been looking for her. If she truly were a commoner, Mako never would have assembled a search team such as this.
How had she been so blind?
Maya and Kar had kept her sheltered, rarely allowed to leave the property. She never went to market like other children. Her parents were killed during the takeover. Before today, she didn’t even know her own parents’ names. And her blonde hair and blue eyes were from her Emperion ancestry.
Rema felt the
key necklace warm against her chest. The most incriminating evidence—her name. Amer spelled backwards.
Mako took hold of her arm, ushering her into the fortress. He barked out orders to everyone, but the words didn’t register to her.
Rema’s entire life was a lie.
Maya and Kar weren’t even her aunt and uncle.
Rema was Princess Amer.
Her vision blurred, and her legs gave out.
****
Rema opened her eyes. She was in her bed, blankets piled on her body, a warm fire roaring in the hearth.
“You’re awake,” Vesha said, coming to stand next to her. “How do you feel?”
“Warm,” Rema said. She wiggled her fingers and toes, able to feel all of them properly working. “What’s around my feet and hands?”
“My mother put a salve on them, and wrapped them in hot towels.” Vesha sat on the edge of the bed.
Rema lay there, staring at her friend. Did Vesha know Rema’s true identity? Or was she in the dark, too? Given that Vesha was actually sitting on her bed, she doubted Vesha knew Rema was the true heir to the throne.
“What happened?” Vesha asked, scooting closer. “One minute you were dancing with Savenek, the next Mako announced you were missing. They found you outside the compound. How did you get out there?”
“I went on a walk,” Rema said. “That is all.” She didn’t want to tell her about Darmik. Mako might see Darmik as a threat and order him killed. Besides, Mako kept plenty of secrets from Rema; she certainly could keep one from him as well.
Vesha glanced to the door. “But why?” she asked. “Savenek was making a big fuss. He kept telling everyone not to worry and to leave you alone. Mako’s been beside himself.”
Before Vesha could say anything else, Rema interrupted her. “Can you please explain how I got in bed?” she asked.
“You blacked out. Mako carried you here.”
How embarrassing—she must have passed out in front of everyone. “Well, I’m fine now. I’d like to get out of bed.” It was still dark outside, but Rema wasn’t tired. She desperately wanted to speak to Mako and confront him.
Vesha pulled the covers back. “Are you certain?”
“Yes.” Rema felt perfectly fine. If anything, she was a bit hot. Swinging her legs to the side of the bed, Rema looked at the bandages. “Can you please help me?”
Red (The True Reign Series) Page 18
