"So what happened?"
Darren's hand faltered on Wolf's neck. "Nothing I wasn't expecting." He glanced at his dog and the smile returned. "During the hunt one of the men broke his legs falling down a ravine and his horse didn't survive the drop. We separated in search parties to try and find him – I, well, Wolf found the man attempting to fend off a pack of feral wolves by himself… Usually they don't attack humans but that winter was particularly cold and I don't think they had had much luck with game of their own…
"The soldier and I managed to kill three – but Wolf did two all on his own. He couldn't have been more than six months at that time. It's how he got his name. After that, Wolf was a hero of his own right so my father let the kennel master keep him on."
"Yet the palace cats tease him?" I raised a brow.
Darren chuckled. "Well, those cats are smarter than most humans. You should see how the cook rants whenever one of his prized chickens goes missing. And it must happen at least once a week. They are merciless."
I rubbed Wolf's belly, pleased to note the anxiety I'd been feeling had all but disappeared. Wolf was making excited yips and rubbing his back against the ground so that Darren and I had no choice but to continue patting his stomach. "This one seems pretty smart on his own accord."
Darren grinned. "Wolf has had me wrapped around his finger since the day we met. There hasn't been a day gone by that I've been in the palace and not visited this kennel. Before I joined the Academy he used to roam the training grounds during the day and watch me drill. All of the servants, even my training master, loves him, and Wolf always knew better than to go near the gardens where the courtiers were likely to complain-"
"He better not be with that filthy animal of his!"
Darren and I glanced at each other: both of us recognized Prince Blayne's angry voice coming from the entry to the kennels. He couldn't be more than two minutes away.
"Why he thinks it's appropriate to come here before seeing to his family is-"
"This way." Darren hastily stood and pulled me up, leading me to the back of the enclosure. He gave a nod to Heath and the man strode off in the direction of the heir with a smirk. A moment later I heard him and Blayne exchange words – Blayne demanding to see the inside of the kennels and Heath insisting he hadn't seen Darren all day.
"Let's go."
I turned sharply and saw a doorway I had never seen before, it had come from one of the panels in the wall. "Where did-"
Darren yanked me through the door and slammed it shut just as Blayne's voice reached the hounds' enclosure.
"You see, your highness? Darren never-" I didn't get to hear the rest of their conversation, Darren was already dragging me behind him through a musty corridor that was hard-packed stone and completely dark except for the light Darren had cast in his palm.
I crinkled my nose - the entire passage smelled like mold and cold, dank earth. "Where are we?"
"The servant's use this tunnel to feed the animals. It's the shortest route directly through the kitchens. Cook gives them the leftover scraps – it helps the hounds keep up their stamina. Blayne doesn't know about it because he had never stopped to bother himself with…" Darren cut himself off, and I just knew he had been about to say something very derogatory about the crown prince.
"Blayne would see through your disguise?" I teased.
"Unfortunately, my brother is suspicious of everyone." Darren's tone wasn't particularly enthusiastic. "And with you there in a place you would never have been otherwise, he would have almost certainly guessed it was me… Ah, here's the door." Darren did something to the wall and a door swung open to a very hot room teeming with steam and the tempting aroma of fresh roast and stewed vegetables.
"What's this – why is a beggar woman in my…? Oh, please excuse me, your highness, I haven't seen you in that costume for quite some time." A hefty man in cook's robes flushed, cheeks red as cherries.
Darren patted the man's arm cheerfully. "It's okay, Benny, just tell me if Blayne has already been down here." He strode forward and snaked two peeled oranges from a large bowl on the counter.
"You put them back – those are for my marmalade!" The cook strode forward and snatched the fruit back with a huff. I smiled to myself. The man might be a servant but he was particular about his craft, even around the prince. "And, yes, your insufferable brother has already been down here twice asking if any of us have seen you. He's in quite a tiff, that one, raging about my kitchens and putting everyone in distress even though we have double the food to cook now that the apprentices are here. I told him you were probably with that mutt, he didn't seem too happy about it – and I can see from where you've just come that I was indeed correct."
Darren grinned. "We just missed him."
"Well, he's set to check the training grounds next so you've bought yourself a half hour before he returns."
"Thanks, Benny."
"Thank me by telling me who this young lady is. I must say I like her looks a lot better than that Priscilla who is always insulting my scones."
"This is Ryiah." Darren held my hand tight. "She is – well, let's just say there will be some big changes before I leave."
The man clapped his hands excitedly. "Does this mean…?"
"Don't say anything to the others, don't even think it," Darren warned. "I need to speak with Father first. If he hears a rumor, it will destroy any chance I have of convincing him and you will be stuck with Priscilla forever."
The man drew two fingers across his lips, indicating he would keep silent. "The day that horror can't dictate my scones will be the day I take a wife."
Darren snorted in disbelief. "Well, Ryiah and I had better be off so we don't catch Blayne in one of his moods."
"When is he not? It was nice to meet you, Lady Ryiah. I can tell you that anyone who takes Miss No-More-Raisins-In-My-Scones' place is a welcome addition to my kitchen. Especially such a pretty red-headed one as yourself."
I looked away shyly and Darren elbowed Benedict. "Enough flirting with the lady."
The cook winked at me. "Ohhh, I think he's jealous. Good, you'll need to keep this one on his toes – he gets too sure of himself if there is no one to challenge him."
Darren's gaze slid to me and he grinned. "Oh, she challenges me all right. Since the day we met."
I felt myself blushing from head to toe.
"Until we meet next time, Benny?"
The cook nodded and Darren led me through the back of the servants' hall to the fourth floor of the palace.
"Ryiah?" Darren had just asked me a question.
I startled. "Huh?"
"I said, did you want to see the Council's chamber? Usually it's off limits but I know they are in the war chambers with the commanders and my father right now-"
"Of course I do!" I squealed.
Darren raised both brows, trying to hide a grin. "If I knew I could get that response, I would have done this a lot sooner." He led me down a narrow corridor to the right, and up another flight of stairs past stained windows and powerful tapestries of previous kings. We must have walked another ten minutes before we finally found ourselves in front of an elaborate set of doors, stained black with metal engravings that stated, "Council of Magic: Official Chambers" and then in smaller writing, "Do not interrupt – meetings are by appointment only, please see Artemis to schedule."
"Who's Artemis?"
"One of the palace scribes. She's not a particularly cheerful woman. I wouldn't recommend sitting next to her at any of the dinners if you can help it." He grinned, opening the door slowly to tease me. "Are you ready for-"
"You have no right to enter this chamber! What are your names? Explain yourself at once!"
Darren's hand froze on the door. His face lost all of its color. I peeked over his shoulder and spotted the Three Colored Robes and King Lucius, along with a group of what look liked the king's advisors standing around a map of Jerar and its surrounding territories. Two guards strode forward and Darren swore under his
breath. "Run."
The two of us took off, racing down the hall, ducking into random passages as Darren led us on in a mad dash to avoid the two men chasing us. Darren kept changing stairwells and halls so quickly I lost track of where we were.
"Almost – just a little bit further!" Darren turned down a wider hall than the rest. Gold, real gold sconces lit the passage and there was a lush rug padding our steps. I followed, clutching my ribs – I had forgotten how much faster Darren could run; my heart felt like it was about to explode from my racing pulse…
"In here!" The prince turned a key and then yanked me into the room behind him. He threw off his cloak and the wig and tossed them into a trunk at the foot of the bed. At that same moment there was a loud knock on the door. The guards had arrived.
I ducked behind the doorframe and Darren swung open the handle with a bored expression.
"Your highness."
"What is it?"
"I'm so sorry to disturb you, your highness, but we think an elderly lady and a young woman might have passed by here – we just want to make sure that you didn't see them."
"An old woman and her granddaughter?" Darren spoke a little too loudly. "You must have been nipping at Cook's wine, Torrance, no one has been anywhere near this hall but me."
"My apologies, your highness, we were on orders to check all the rooms."
"The only one with a key to this chamber is myself – and, of course, Father."
One of the guards muttered something unintelligible and then cleared his throat. "Of course, your highness, please excuse me for the error. You said you never saw them?"
"I didn't. But if I do I will be sure to send word."
"Yes, if you do please let us know…"
Darren leaned against the doorway and folded his arms. "Tell me, Torrance, what did you think?"
"The old woman? It's hard to say who she was."
"Didn't you say there were two of them? What was the younger one like?" I couldn't see Darren's expression, but I could tell from his tone that he was grinning. If I had been standing closer I would have kicked him. What was he thinking?
"I'm sorry, your highness, I-"
"I'll bet she was pretty." I could practically hear his laughter. "Did you think she was pretty, Torrance?"
"I'm not sure, I barely caught a glimpse, your highness."
Darren sighed. "That is all, you may go. And you too, Cyrus."
As soon as Darren had shut the door I glared at him, arms crossed. "Are you mad?"
His eyes danced. "I'm allowed to have a little fun at your expense, Ryiah."
"If they find out it was me-"
"They won't." The prince took a step forward, still smiling.
"But…" I never got to finish my thought. Darren's mouth was on mine and all protests were lost in the blink of an eye.
And then we were on fire.
I broke for air, gasping. My heart was racing and my legs were shaking and my head was spinning and I couldn't think, I couldn't-
Darren's hand grazed my waist as he pulled me back to him. "Ryiah," he said.
The two of us stumbled across his chambers. Behind me I heard the thud of something loud. Books falling to the floor. Darren pressed me against his bedside table and kissed me again, slowly, one hand cradling the back of my neck as he laid me down. Unable to stop I slid my hand under his shirt and felt him swallow. His chest was hard with smooth ridges and curves against the lean muscle. My hand trembled. I wanted to run my fingers across every inch of him and it scared me how badly I wanted to do it now.
Darren's hand ran down my ribs, my waist, my thigh, and then hooked up under my knee. I had to bite my lip as he pulled me even closer, not caring that the hem of my dress was riding dangerously high. Every part of me was burning higher and higher and higher and I knew we should stop but I couldn't bring myself to move even if I wanted to because, gods, Darren's hands were on my skin and in my hair and my entire body was a quivering mess.
Darren's breathing wasn't so steady either. His mouth fell to my shoulder and a whimper escaped my lips. Was that really me? I started to pull away, embarrassed, but Darren took my chin and kissed me hard, biting the bottom of my lip until I gasped.
My nails dug into his shoulders and I kissed him back, melting and burning and unable to keep my hands to myself. Gods, I was losing myself in what it felt like to be near him. Darren was dangerous, driving me to forget everything and everyone but this moment and I didn't ever want it to end.
Any semblance of control was broken. The non-heir choked my name, picking me up and throwing me onto his bed. Soft pillows feathered my fall. Darren's face was flushed and his eyes were wild as he pushed my wrists up against the frame.
I held my breath, my eyes locked on the two dark smoldering stars bearing down on me.
"You have no idea what it is I want to do to you," he whispered.
The only sound in the entire room was the frantic beating of my heart, slamming against my chest until I was sure it would break.
And then there was a loud knock on the door.
"Open up, brother, I know you are in there. The guards saw you."
The two of us jumped. Darren practically fell from his bed as I darted to a corner of the room, the two of us in a mad panic.
Darren motioned for me to hide behind one of the heavy brocade curtains hanging at the opposite end of the room. Then he cleared his throat loudly and made his way to the door, cracking it open it only a smidge to glare at his brother on the other side.
"What do you want, Blayne?"
"I have been looking all over for you. Father expected you to report to him as soon as you arrived."
"I was busy."
"Busy?" Blayne's tone was instantly suspicious. "Doing what? Avoiding your duties to the Crown? Priscilla said she hasn't seen you all day either. This better not be about that lowborn, brother. I have no more patience for whatever silly infatuation you've got parading around in that thick skull of yours."
The non-heir stiffened. "Ryiah is not lowborn anymore, and even if she were-"
Blayne ignored him and rattled on: "What you need is a good lay, Darren. I've seen how that redhead looks at you. Tell her whatever she needs to hear and the rest will take care of itself. Then you can get back to what's important. Like your role in this kingdom – or have you been training so long as a mage that you forgot you were also a prince?"
Darren's knuckles on the door's handle whitened. "I know my role," he said shortly, "and where my duties lie. I will report to father within the hour."
"Well, see to it that you do," Blayne snapped. "I can't be the only who takes my role seriously. What Father sees in you I will never know."
A moment later Darren shut the door, as soon as he was sure Blayne had left the hall.
"I'm sorry you had to hear that."
I stepped out of the curtain, sick to my stomach. Even without the knowledge I'd been present Blayne had still managed to make me feel worthless. "Tell her whatever she needs to hear and the rest will take care of itself." His words made me realize how close Darren and I had come to fulfilling his twisted prophecy.
This time when the non-heir took a step toward me, I flinched. Darren's shrewd gaze missed nothing.
"You are upset."
"I-I'm not upset," I stammered. "I j-just didn't think things would h-happen s-so fast."
Fury darkened the prince's face. "I would never ask you to do anything you didn't want to, Ryiah. I'm not my brother. I would never try what he and Ella-"
"I-it's not that." I was stuttering and I knew my cheeks were now as red as my scarlet red locks. "But..."
"But you can't stop thinking about what my brother said."
I couldn't look at him.
A hand entered my vision and tipped my face. Darren's eyes met mine and there was a grim smile. "Blayne's wrong," he promised quietly. "I'm in love with you, Ryiah. Nothing is ever going to change that."
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
With my best im
pression of nonchalance, I exited the castle's formal ascension chambers and followed the remaining throng of apprentices into the grand ballroom. Everyone was chattering on in excited voices and even the ornate torches seemed to reflect the evening's enthusiasm, flickering wildly along the hall and dancing off the many-colored windowpanes surrounding it. The orchestra was already playing an upbeat march and the heralds were having particular fun announcing the newly graduated mages to the awaiting crowd of nobility.
As we poured into the brightly lit room I found myself scanning the mass for the one apprentice who had been noticeably absent throughout the entire ceremony. For the past week I had barely slept, tossing and turning, dreaming of that moment Darren finally appeared and put all my fears to rest. Five days had never passed as slowly as they had the past week. I was convinced that mountains moved faster than the sun, which appeared almost stagnant and solely there to test my will.
"Ryiah, don't you want to grab something to drink?"
I started, drawn out of my thoughts by the suddenness of my friend's voice.
"Ella," my twin's voice was filled with irony, "can't you see? She's waiting for him."
I glared at Alex. "You don't need to be so cruel."
My brother made a frustrated noise. "You don't need to be so naïve either, Ryiah."
"Like all those girls you courted before Ella?" I stood my ground. I would not let his doubt get to me. Not tonight. "Darren's not a hopeless flirt like you!"
"Ry – Alex, stop it!" Ella shoved herself between us to glower at my brother. "Alex, your sister is old enough to make decisions for herself. The least you can do is support her."
My brother stared at her incredulously. "Don't pretend to agree with her, El. You told me last night-"
"It don't matter what we think," she interrupted hastily, "this is about Ryiah and Darren. No one else matters."
The Black Mage: Apprentice Page 21
