Reluctant Prince Read online

  The tremors were not another earthquake, but her own body trembling. A fit of coughs wracked her. She had to get out of there. Maybe Mia had already gotten out. Surely, someone would have helped her escape.

  She rubbed her eyes, but they burned too badly to keep them open, anyway. Keeping her left hand against the wall as a guide, she crept forward. If she just followed the wall around, she should come to the front door. It was getting harder to breathe, and when she tried to take a deep breath, she choked. The chaotic noise receded into static. Was she the only person left in the lobby? In the building?

  Another obstruction impeded her escape. She felt around the edge of it. Was it a chair? If it was, it was upside down. Soft cries reached her, and her heart soared. “Mia?”

  “Ry—” Mia sobbed. “—leigh?”

  “Oh, Mia!” Ryleigh crawled under the chair and dragged her sister into her arms. “Why didn’t you get out?” She held Mia at arm’s length and struggled to assess any damage. No use, she couldn’t see anything. “Are you hurt?”

  “I was afraid you wouldn’t be able to find me.” Mia held Ryleigh tight.

  As she clutched her little sister, relief flooded through her. A new round of coughing interrupted the reunion, though, and Ryleigh set Mia back from her. “Come on, we have to get out of here.”

  “Kay.” Mia had her own coughing fit.

  Ryleigh held Mia’s hand as they crawled forward. “Stay right with me, and don’t let go.”

  The smoke opened a clear pathway, but a dark form blocked it. No more than a silhouette, insubstantial, yet it wasn’t an apparition.

  She struggled desperately to suppress a cough and pulled Mia back beneath the chair.

  “Wh—”

  Ryleigh covered Mia’s mouth. “Shh.” The tiniest hint of sound escaped her. She didn’t dare speak, not even a whisper. She barely even breathed as she sank back into the shadows, dragging her sister with her.

  The figure grew as it solidified. Backlit by light spilling from the front of the building, it appeared to be all black. Smoke swirled around it. Him.

  She gripped Mia tighter and tried to beat back the fear, tried to suppress the shudders rushing through her. It didn’t make any sense. He was probably there to help. Yet, when she tried to move forward, her instincts wouldn’t allow it.

  Her gaze met his, just for an instant. His eyes were bottomless black pits that stopped her heart.

  He vanished.

  The inexplicable paralysis finally released her, and she dragged Mia with her as she bolted for the door.

  * * * *

  Jackson clutched the stone wall of his chamber and gasped for air. What had just happened? He had returned to Cymmera, of that he was certain, but how? He hadn’t accessed the gateway. At least he didn’t remember opening it. A vision of her assailed him, beat at him, reminded him that he’d failed.

  Oh, man. He was in trouble. He pushed away from the wall.

  Images of his target taunted him.

  He shoved a chair aside and tore through the pictures scattered across the table in a desperate search for salvation. There. He pulled the shot from the mess but found only condemnation. The long blond hair flowing behind her in the snapshot had not been visible to him, but there was no mistaking the deep blue of her eyes.

  The pounding of a fist against the heavy wood door released him from whatever spell she’d cast.

  “Jackson.” Another loud thud punctuated his name.

  He struggled to get his bearings, tried to slow the racing of his heart. “Yeah, one minute.”

  “Now. Your father wants to see you, immediately.”

  Kai, his father’s most trusted warrior. He was in more trouble than he’d originally thought. Was it possible the king would sentence him to death for ignoring a direct order? Surely not without offering him a fair trial, or at least granting him the opportunity to explain. But what could he say? What explanation could there be for failing to deliver the girl? None.

  “I won’t knock again.” The warrior would soon break down the door and drag him before the throne.

  He crumpled the offending photo, the evidence of his disgrace, into a ball. Instead of tossing it in the trash as he’d intended, he shoved it into the small leather satchel he wore at his waist. With a deep breath, he released the latch and pulled open the door.

  “Come.” Kai turned his back on him and strode purposefully down the corridor, their footfalls echoing through the silence of accusation.

  The thought of escape taunted him, but he would never make it out of the castle. He had only recently completed his warrior training under Kai’s watch and would be no match for the seasoned soldier. Besides, Kai was a stickler for the rules. If he tried to run, the warrior would surely take him down, protégé or not.

  Two guards stood sentinel, one on either side of double doors. When Kai reached the entrance, they each grabbed a large iron ring and pulled the heavy wooden doors open before Jackson formulated an even halfway plausible excuse.

  He nodded to each of them as he entered the throne room.

  They stared straight ahead, stone-faced.

  Uh…oh.

  Kai stepped to the side and faced him, leaving Jackson alone to approach his father.

  King Maynard rose to his full height, close to seven feet. An intimidating man by nature, made even more so by the deep scowl lining his face.

  “Your Majesty, sir.” Jackson lowered to one knee, folded his hands over the other knee, and bowed his head in the traditional greeting for the king.

  “Stand.”

  Jackson stood. He would offer no explanation before one was demanded of him. He would show no weakness. A bead of sweat ran down his back. Well, there was nothing he could do about that. At least it wasn’t visible to the other two men. He would show no outward signs of distress.

  “Explain,” the king bellowed.

  Jackson jumped. So much for not showing weakness. “Sir.” Damn, damn, damn. Oh well, when in doubt go with honesty. “I have no excuse, sir.” He forced his head to remain high, his gaze to hold the king’s.

  The king’s scowl deepened. “Were you unable to find the girl?” His father’s gaze flicked to Kai before he returned his full scrutiny to his disobedient son.

  “No, sir. I found her.” Jackson finally gave in and swallowed the lump of fear. It was either that or gag on it.

  “Then where is she?”

  “I don’t know, sir.”

  “Are you being purposefully evasive?” Weaker men had wilted under the stare the old man pinned him with.

  Jackson held tight. He wasn’t sure exactly what was going on, but he had always trusted his instincts, and he would do so again now. He pulled his back even straighter, lifted his chin a little in defiance. “No, sir.” He met Kai’s frown of disapproval while he addressed his father. “Permission to speak with you in private, King Maynard?”

  “You know that’s not possible.”

  He still had to try. Acquiring the girl had been his final task before he would replace Kai as his father’s second in command. Since he would now be first in line to take over the throne, everything he did was monitored. “Yes, sir.” He took a deep breath. How to explain this. Okay. “I found the girl, sir, but I encountered a slight problem.”

  “What was that?” The king shifted, pacing the platform where two thrones sat side by side. The clink of his sword handle against the chainmail covering his tunic echoed in the high, domed ceiling.

  “I couldn’t take her, sir.”

  “Obviously, but why not.” He stopped and stilled the swinging sword. “Spit it out already, boy.”

  “I don’t exactly know, Your Majesty.” He finally lowered his gaze to the floor. “I saw her. She was cloaked in shadow and smoke, sheltering a younger child. Her eyes met mine, and they spoke to me. I can’t explain it, sir, but I don’t think this is the way.” How could he possibly explain the wave of feeling that surged ov
er him at the sight of her to men who’d been without emotions for hundreds of years?

  “Permission to speak, sir.” Kai interrupted King Maynard’s silent contemplation.

  “Yes, Kai.”

  “With all due respect, Your Majesty, Jackson has proven himself not only to be weak, but disloyal as well. He was given a direct order, and he disobeyed it. It’s not as if something prevented him from completing his assigned task, he simply chose to ignore the directive of this kingdom. Unfortunately, his actions warrant the most severe penalty. It is my suggestion that he be condemned to death.” Kai clutched his staff in a two fisted grip.

  Ouch. Jackson flinched. That was a bit harsh, but not completely out of line. The punishment for disobeying a direct order was execution.

  “You will have to explain yourself further, Jackson.”

  “Sir.” Kai spat the word. “There is no excuse for disobedience. The ability to follow orders is one of the most fundamental qualities in a soldier. Without obedience he is useless to us. And what of loyalty? Has he none?”

  Jackson spared the warrior a glare, but what could he say? Kai was right. Their laws were quite clearly defined. Jackson disobeyed a direct order from the King. The penalty for his crime was exile or execution. There was no grey area. How was he going to worm his way out of this?

  “I understand that, Kai, and will take your argument into consideration, but one of the most fundamental qualities in a future king is the ability to make decisions. I would like to understand Jackson’s reasoning before condemning him.” His father’s tone left no room for argument.

  A small surge of satisfaction shot through Jackson.

  Kai snapped his mouth shut and settled the frown back into place.

  King Maynard returned his attention to Jackson, effectively dismissing his advisor. “Do you understand the position you are in?”

  “Yes, Father, I do.”

  “You were included in the council with the seer. He has foretold of the girl existing in this kingdom, has seen her surrounded by light. Are you questioning the prophecy?”

  Hmm. He hadn’t thought of that. “Perhaps I am. Is it possible Elijah was mistaken?”

  Kai huffed.

  King Maynard glared at him. “Send for Elijah.”

  Kai gritted his teeth, went to the door, and sent a guard to retrieve the seer.

  “Father, I’m sure this is not what’s meant to be. When I saw her, every instinct I had screamed at me not to take her. I respect your orders, and the visions of the prophet, but you’ve always taught me to respect my instincts as well.”

  His father fingered the small, jeweled sheath at his waist. The razor sharp dagger it held had been the death of more than one traitor. “We’ll see what Elijah has to say.”

  Jackson waited impatiently for the man who now controlled his destiny. Could he make them understand that force wasn’t always the way? They had lived in shadow for too long. Violence had become the answer to everything. Maybe it was time to change.

  “Your Majesty.” Elijah bowed in the traditional greeting. “Has something happened?” He turned his piercing, ice blue eyes on Jackson. “Was the girl not where I told you she’d be?”

  “She was there, sir.”

  “Did the earth not shake?” His delicate hand fluttered to his chest.

  “It shook. There was much destruction.”

  Being a powerful sorcerer, Elijah had sustained the tremors much longer than they’d intended. “Then where is the girl? Has something happened to her?”

  “No, sir.” He was tired of tiptoeing around. He squared his shoulders. “I mean no disrespect, Elijah.” He bowed his head in deference to the other man. “But is there any possibility you are mistaken about the girl?”

  Elijah stared at the crossed swords hanging on the wall behind the throne.

  The throne Jackson would one day ascend and rule the men who now held his fate in their hands. Unless he was executed.

  “No.”

  Damn!

  Kai smirked.

  “I have seen the girl, surrounded by light. There is no doubt she existed in Cymmera.”

  “Okay, then.” He had to think, had to buy himself time to make sense of this mess. “Is it possible she came willingly?”

  The prophet’s eyes widened. “I would have no way to know that, sir. I only know she will exist here, and she will return light to our kingdom.”

  A shred of hope bloomed within Jackson, and he reached for it desperately. “Perhaps that’s the problem. What of the young child she protected?”

  “I have not seen a child.” Elijah massaged his temples.

  Was he was battling a headache or attempting to retrieve the vision?

  Kai slammed his staff against the stone floor. Sparks ignited with the impact. “Enough of this. The seer has spoken. It is time for punishment.” Anger colored his cheeks.

  “Your Majesty.” Jackson ignored Kai’s outburst. “I am not questioning the vision. I’m simply asking if it’s possible the girl enters Cymmera of her own free will.”

  “Why would she do that, Jackson?” Kai’s voice echoed through the chamber. “How could she do that? Your disobedience and disloyalty to this kingdom are considered treason, and you should be punished accordingly.”

  Jackson cringed, not because the warrior was wrong, but because he spoke the truth. Now if he would just shut up so Jackson could think, he might be able to find a way out of this mess.

  King Maynard swiped the back of his hand across his forehead. “Enough, Kai. If you interrupt again, I will ask you to remove yourself.”

  As second in command and Jackson’s trainer, it was well within Kai’s rights to be present during this meeting. As the king’s closest advisor, Kai had every right to voice his opinion. It was his sworn duty to protect his kingdom at all cost. Still, the fact that King Maynard issued the threat should hold any further comments from Kai in check.

  “Continue, Elijah.”

  “Please, Jackson, explain yourself.” Elijah stood, feet apart, hands clasped behind his back.

  This was to be Jackson’s first solo collection and his final test before being ordained a warrior for the Kingdom of Cymmera. He’d parted the veil, opened a doorway to the world of the humans and stepped through, drawing his sword as he went. When his gaze met the target’s over a small child’s head, he’d been bombarded with a force of emotions he didn’t understand and aborted his mission.

  The shock of the memory squeezed his lungs, made him short of breath, and he gasped as his gaze shot to Elijah.

  The seer glared at him, stern, but not accusing. “What is it Jackson?”

  He shook his head, struggled to clear the fog of the vision. “I don’t know. I feel something very strong when I see the girl, but I couldn’t kill her. Is it possible she’s meant to move between the realms?”

  He was shaking his head no before Jackson finished the sentence. “I won’t say it’s impossible, but it’s highly unlikely. A human has never before been able to transfer between realms.”

  “Hasn’t been able to, or hasn’t been given the opportunity?”

  “What do you mean by that?” King Maynard ripped the sword from its sheath, slammed it onto a table beside the throne, and sat.

  “Perhaps we rush too quickly to violence. Each time Elijah has a vision, a team is sent to kill the targets and transfer them to Cymmera. They live here, but lose the ability to return to their own realm. Maybe there is another way, a way to bring a human to Cymmera without killing them in the human realm. Besides, Elijah said he’s never had a vision where the objective brought light to the kingdom. Perhaps the girl is different. Are you sure she’s fully human?” That could explain the emotions that tore through him at the thought of her.

  Maybe she had bewitched him.

  “This is the future king?” Kai’s face turned purple. Spit flew from his mouth. “This is a disgrace. His ideas are blasphemous, and his punishm
ent should be swift and severe. Your Majesty.” Kai moved forward and faced the king. “I have followed you for thousands of years, have served as your second in command for much of that time. I am telling you now, I will never follow your son.” He spun and faced Jackson, challenging him, his disgust and disappointment burning in the black of his eyes. “You are supposed to be a Guardian of Cymmera, a Death Dealer. I trained you myself, and yet you cannot perform the most mundane task. The simple acquisition of a human girl.” He spit at Jackson’s feet. “Your weakness disgusts me.”

  King Maynard shot to his feet. “That’s enough. Jackson, approach the throne.”

  Jackson swallowed. Hard. He held his father’s steady gaze. How could he convince him of his innocence? He couldn’t, because he was actually guilty.

  “You have been assigned to carry out the execution and transfer of the girl from the vision, yet you have not done so. You are hereby accused of treason. How do you plead?”

  “Not guilty, Your Majesty.”

  “What is your defense?”

  He maintained eye contact with his father. “I haven’t had sufficient time to prepare a defense, sir.” Sweat sprang out on his forehead, trickled down his hairline. The cool, damp air chilled it.

  “If I allow you the opportunity to rectify your mistake, are you willing to do so at this time?”

  “You can’t be—”

  “That will be all, Kai. You’ve voiced your opinion, and I have taken it under consideration. Thank you.” He lowered himself to the throne effectively dismissing his advisor.

  Kai glared at Jackson.

  His father had offered him the chance to redeem himself. A small spark of hope flared deep within his heart. He would simply acquire the girl, and this incident would be over.

  Well, probably not over. He would have to make amends with Kai, prove his loyalty to his mentor somehow.

  Jackson opened his mouth to speak, to thank his father for trusting him to complete his assigned task, and froze. He gripped the small leather satchel at his side. The memory of her eyes flooded his heart, effectively dousing the small flicker of hope that had begun to smolder there.