by Elle Clouse
She closed her eyes. Her head hurt, her ankle ached, and she felt incredibly tired, confused, lied to, and worn out. Tears welled up in her eyes. “It was you the entire time...”
He squeezed her hand. “Yes,” he said reluctantly.
“I thought I’d never see you again.” A tear streaked down her cheek as she searched his face. “I didn’t even recognize you.”
“It’s been years. I’ve changed.” He looked away. “I’m sorry I lied to you. You caught me off guard. Very off guard.”
“Who...those men?”
“Mercenaries. Hired by an unknown party.”
“Ian,” she whispered. “And Ayden.”
His face was emotionless. “I won’t argue with you. However, we have no evidence at this moment.”
She took a ragged breath. Their exchange, however short, was already tiring her. He peered at her with concern.
“You developed a fever from your injuries. The physician has been here and dressed your ankle properly. It will take a little time to heal. You must rest.”
Kiera nodded. “You’d been down there for fifteen years? You killed a man?”
Someone to her right cleared their throat. “That’s not entirely accurate.”
Kiera turned to see Flann sitting at the other side of the bed, an old book in his lap. “What do you mean?” she asked.
She caught the warning glare Lachlan shot at him.
“I believe my prince wishes to explain it himself. If you’ll excuse me, I will inform the physician you have woken.” Flann closed his book, set it aside, and left the room.
Kiera looked at Lachlan. “Lachlan?”
He brought her hand to his lips. “I will explain in due course. Sleep for now. I’ll be here. You must be tired.”
Every blink threatened to close her eyes for good. She didn’t want to sleep more; she wanted to talk to him. He had been in that cavern since shortly after she’d left Cearbhall. He had been sentenced for a crime he may or may not have committed. There was a wolf creature under the castle.
“Where... Where is the creature?” It came out no louder than a whisper.
Lachlan clenched his jaw.
“Tamed for now.”
HE SAT AT HER BEDSIDE all night watching her sleep, fitfully at times and as calm as death at others. Occasionally she called for her mother by title or by name. She never mentioned her father.
She woke for short periods and he spoke with her. Each moment was a fight for her to stay awake. Guilt ate at him for not being honest about who he was, but now he had a bigger secret to keep from her.
He remembered when he had first scented her in the castle. He’d howled that night, wishing he were free. It had been her presence in the castle that allowed the fog of rage to lift. His father had told him he would calm as the years passed, that he would be able to control both the beast and the transformation. But it seemed time was not what he had needed after all.
He was glad he had not been able to escape that night. He would have scared her beyond reason. When she had first seen him in the castle dungeon, she was terrified. He shuddered at the thought. How would he be able to tell her his secret without her feeling betrayed? And how could his brothers atone for what they had done to her? How could she not remember the last time they were together?
He sighed when he thought of his brothers. They had been close as boys, and he knew they had been heartbroken when his curse began to manifest. They hadn’t wanted him to seclude himself in the caves, but one too many close calls and one unfortunate mistake had sealed his fate.
But Ian and Ayden had carried Kiera down to his personal hell to sacrifice her to a creature they thought insane. He didn’t know how to proceed from there.
The next morning, Lachlan left Kiera in the care of the royal physician and sought out his father. He needed to reacquaint himself with the castle and the staff. Flann helped him enter the castle and his old suite unseen, but his presence would not go wholly unnoticed, because the story of him studying abroad was a cover, and most assumed he was dead. But he would use his supposed death to his advantage as long as possible.
His father’s suite hadn’t changed in the last fifteen years. Spartan as ever, the room had dwindled down to only necessities when the queen died. Flann sat at his king’s side. As Lachlan entered, Flann rose to leave, but Lachlan bade him stay. The old manservant was as much part of the family as any blood relative. It was reassuring to see him again.
“I knew I’d see you once more,” the king said, and Lachlan took a seat near his bed. The king’s skin was as pale as the sheets he lay upon, the vital spark of his life barely visible.
“You say that as if you were not long for this world, Father.” Lachlan took his father’s frail hand.
“I am not. I’ve almost accomplished everything I’ve ever wanted in life, save one.” The king gazed off, sighing. “I would have liked to have had a grandchild.”
“I know, Father.” Lachlan wanted more than anything to give his father what he wished. His thoughts returned to Kiera asleep in his chambers. “I will oblige in due time when I am wed.”
“You must have found her or I wouldn’t be seeing you here today. Was it that princess?”
“Princess?” Lachlan remembered the guard had called Kiera Princess Fedelma before Lachlan had confessed his true identity. Ever since, she had been sleeping off her fever. He hadn’t a chance to talk to her about it.
The king waved his hand. “What’s her name? The one the boys left for you.”
“You knew they threw people down there?” Lachlan was flabbergasted. “Kiera could have been hurt.”
“Kiera?”
“The girl they left for me. That was Kiera. The scribe’s daughter.”
The king blinked in surprise. “No wonder she looked familiar. She said her name was Fedelma. I long suspected your brothers were discarding people down there, but we needed solid evidence to accuse them. When the princess disappeared, I grew worried, but Flann told me of your requests, and I knew she would be safe. You wouldn’t have hurt her; she’s your center.”
“Why was she here saying she was a princess?”
“Looking for a husband.” The king motioned for the declaration. Flann handed it to Lachlan.
Lachlan inspected the letters. “This is forged. She forged it herself.”
The declaration was perfect down to the smallest detail. If he hadn’t been so familiar with her handwriting style, he never would have guessed that it was fake. They had been taught to read and write side by side by her father. Her style resembled her father’s, which was unique among scribes—bold and elegant, more art than writing.
“Very odd indeed. What a tangled web you young people weave.” After a moment, his father started to snore. Lachlan wished he hadn’t fallen asleep.
“He loses his strength so quickly, my prince,” Flann explained.
“Can you tell me what has been going on in the last fifteen years?” Lachlan watched his father sleep. He couldn’t believe he had missed so much time.
Flann folded his hands in his lap. “Ayden joined the temple at eighteen, as soon as they allowed him to take the vows. I believe he was heavily influenced by Bishop Carver, who took Scribe Clark’s position as royal tutor. Bishop Carver disappeared a few years later under unusual circumstances, and Ayden took his duties in the temple and as royal tutor, should the need arise.”
Lachlan’s stomach churned. Carver had been a thorn in his father’s side, and although Lachlan’s own dealings with the man had been few, they had been unpleasant. He specifically remembered Scribe Clark gathering information for the king regarding Carver’s blackmailing and manipulations.
“Ian completed his studies under Carver,” Flann continued, “but decided against further education at any of the universities within the empire. Aside from the annual hunt, Ian has kept to himself. He’s made no inquiry on any of the ladies of the court. This decree was the first time Ian showed any inclination to marry.”
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“Ian never was very ambitious.” That much hadn’t changed.
“What Ian lacks, Ayden more than makes up for. You will soon notice that most of the staff has either left or disappeared. People vanish after upsetting Ayden in some way. Only Mrs. Neilson—the housekeeper—and I have managed to stay out of Ayden’s sights.”
“All those people.” Lachlan recalled all the people who had been thrown into the cavern. His stomach churned at the sheer loss of life, and he was responsible.
“Any blame can be laid upon Ian and Ayden, my prince. They alone hold the key to that dungeon. They full well knew what their actions would mean.”
“And no one could stop them?” Lachlan fixed Flann with a stern gaze. “Nothing could be done?”
“It took some time to realize what was happening, but when we did, the guardsmen and staff remaining were living in fear of your brother or were paid for their loyalty. Your father decided to wait for the right opportunity.” Flann motioned to the decree.
“He knew it was Kiera.”
Kiera was his salvation. The entire kingdom’s salvation.
A proud smile lit Flann’s face. “You look just like him, my prince.”
Lachlan took comfort in the compliment, but he knew he had a lot of work ahead of him before he could be compared to King Roudri.
KIERA AWOKE AND LAY in bed for long moments before she forced herself to sit up. She wrapped herself in the shawl draped at the foot of the canopy bed.
Her head no longer ached. She stood and sighed in relief as she pressed her injured foot to the floor. Although tender, it had healed most of the way. She wobbled to the window to look out at the castle and the surrounding city. The large hearth lit the room but did not pollute her spectacular view. The city slept under the sliver of moonlight. Wisps of smoke drifted from every home, cook fires warding off the chill air.
She turned and surveyed the bedchamber. Toy chests stood in every corner, and paintings of cherubs and mythical animals adorned the walls. The painting over the mantle showed the royal family when Lachlan was a youth. She could see the man he would grow into within the chubby, innocent boy portrayed on the canvas. These were Lachlan’s rooms.
He entered through a service entrance and strode toward her. Gone was the awkward, uncertain boy she knew. His replacement was a determined man who made her breath catch.
“How long was I asleep?”
“A full day.” He looked at the painting of his family.
“We have been out of the cave for a whole day, and I still haven’t seen the sun.” She looked at the grandfather clock and realized that it was evening again, not early morning.
“You must have needed the sleep. You turned your ankle pretty bad, and the fever was stubborn.”
“Those men, the mercenaries. They were going to...” She took a deep breath to push the welling tears down.
Lachlan pulled her into his arms, enclosing her in safety. “They didn’t. I will protect you.”
She let out a sob, and he gently petted her hair, planting a kiss atop her head. She buried her face in his tunic. “Where were you, though?”
“I’m sorry. I thought to lead them away. I came as soon as I could.”
Her tears streaked moisture on his shirt, but she didn’t care. He pulled her tight against his chest as another sob escaped her. He continued to hold her even after her cheeks were dry, and Kiera did not move to break the embrace. She had missed him, but until now, she hadn’t known how much. She had found her long-lost friend at last.
“What made you come back?” he asked after a long while.
She finally allowed herself to pull away. He had to ask the one question she was dreading.
“I was here with my cousin Brogan and some friends. I need to find them. I need to make sure they’re still alive.” If Ian and Ayden had sent mercenaries after her in the dungeon, they would also try to take care of the troupe.
“Where was Brogan staying?” Lachlan searched her face.
“Here, in the castle along with two women: Brigid and Erann. Our coachman, Phelan, was staying in the carriage house.” The idea of losing her only family or her friends made her chest tighten.
“I will have Flann find them.” Lachlan used a finger to turn her face up toward him. “You are still very weak, Kiera. You shouldn’t be on your feet just yet.”
She gazed into his eyes and wondered how she could have forgotten them.
“I’ve been trapped in a dungeon for weeks and sleeping since our escape. I am not going back to bed just yet.”
“Have a seat at least and rest your ankle?”
Kiera looked around the room and spotted a game table with a chessboard painted on top and drawers beneath that likely contained the pieces. She let Lachlan help her cross the room and sat down in an armchair. “Is what you said true? You are responsible for a man’s death?”
His jaw clenched, but he took the other armchair opposite the game table. “Do you not remember? It happened just before you left for Talesin.”
She tried to recall her lasts weeks in Cearbhall, but her mind drew a blank. She only remembered the last day of the harvest festival, her father’s funeral, and packing to leave.
“I don’t. It’s all a big blur.” A headache threatened as it did every other time she tried to look back, and she rubbed the bridge of her nose. The memories had not returned when she saw the castle. They had not returned when she saw Lachlan. Were they gone forever? “What happened? Was there a trial? An investigation?”
“There was an inquest,” he confirmed. “I wasn’t able to control...the situation...and a man died. I volunteered for my imprisonment to atone.”
He rubbed his face, but she saw the anguish. Was fifteen years in darkness enough to make up for a life?
“The inquest did not find you guilty?” Kiera watched his expression glaze over. He gave the slightest shake of his head, but she received no other response. “If the inquest found you innocent and you still spent fifteen years in the dungeon, surely the gods have forgiven you.” She reached over and squeezed his hand.
He looked up and feigned a smile. Her concern would have to wait for when he was done punishing himself. He was set to inherit a kingdom his brothers had run into the ground, and she didn’t need to make things worse by making him relive old traumas.
“NONE OF THOSE MERCENARIES you hired have come back to collect,” Ayden said as Ian practiced his archery in the garden. Ayden didn’t like to sully his hands with such menial things and instead lounged in the shade. He found it best to let a hired man deal with the rudimentary skills, to do the dirty work. “I can only assume that means they have all failed.”
Ian grunted. The morning sun glinted off the sweat on his brow.
“At least they are not going anywhere. Maybe he’s ravaged that girl so she’s mad too. Wouldn’t that be delightful?” Ayden’s lips curled into a grin. He possessed the only key to the door, and that dungeon was designed to keep Lachlan’s kind in. He watched Ian aim his bow at the target tacked to the tree.
“You are sickening sometimes.” Ian let his arrow fly, and it pierced just shy of the mark. He admired this shot.
“I fear that Father is not long for this world, dear brother.” Ayden inspected his fingernails. “I fear a bit of sour milk could do the old man in.”
“Don’t.” Ian paused from nocking another arrow to look at his brother.
“He said it himself; he’s not long for this world.” Ayden put on an innocent air, perfected from years of practice.
“If I find out that his demise had anything to do with you, I’ll...”
“You’ll what? For all your bulk, you are all talk. You won't do anything, just like when we left that girl down in that cave, just like every other time we’ve done something nasty.” He raised a brow. “You are just as guilty as me.”
Ian glowered but kept his mouth shut. He threw his arrow back into the quiver and stormed off, bow and quiver in hand.
“Well.�
� Ayden strolled off to the servants’ quarters to find his favorite kind of distraction. Ian might be angry at him, but he saw no reason to waste a perfectly good morning.
Chapter 10
The snows were going to fall soon. The leaves were already a riot of gold, crimson, and amber, and at night the air grew chill, the days growing shorter as winter arrived.
The warmth on her skin was sublime, and like a cat caught midstride, she lay down where the sunbeam dictated. She knew it was childish, but she took every opportunity to soak up the warmth. She wanted to enjoy the last of the nice autumn weather.
Kiera was advised not to leave Lachlan’s room. The princes had told everyone she had run off to avoid an unwanted marriage. Now she must stay hidden or spoil Lachlan’s return to court. The confines of her current captivity had more books, games, furniture, clothes, amenities, and better food, and Flann attended to her every need, as he was the only servant to be trusted. Lachlan tried to spend as much time with her as he could even though he had Fifteen years of declarations and law making to learn.
Kiera startled from her sun nap when she heard the door to the chamber open. She looked up to see Lachlan smile at her and lie down beside her. He pulled her into his arms, and she relished the closeness and the security. Her head rested against his chest, and as he held her close, his scent invaded her senses.
“Do you remember talking that old farmer into taking us for that hayride?” She rested her hand on his chest.
“We were picking straw out of your hair for days.” He nuzzled her locks, sending a shiver down her spine.
They had spent so many hot summer evenings curled up like this in naps. Now she was keenly aware of every contour of his body against hers, his hand resting on her hip, his fingers in her hair.
“How much longer until you announce your return? I’m getting restless. I want to get outside and enjoy the last of autumn.” She could hear his heartbeat in his chest, the rhythm trying to lull her back to sleep.
