Читать книгу Reluctant Prince - Dani-Lyn Alexander - Страница 4

“Come on, Mia. I can’t be late.” Ryleigh engaged the lock and dropped the keys into her bag. She resisted the urge to check her watch again as she started across the parking lot. What good would it do?

“I’m coming.” Mia rounded the back of the car and ran to catch up. “Sorry, I had to tie my shoe.” She tried to shove the mass of curly, brown hair behind her ears, but it kept tumbling back into her face, covering big, blue eyes that were still red rimmed and puffy.

A bolt of sympathy shot through Ryleigh, and she hugged her sister. “It’s okay, honey, not a big deal. I’m just a little nervous. You remember what to do, right?”

Mia rolled her eyes. “Yes, Ryleigh, I remember. Sit in the lobby, don’t move, don’t talk to anyone, and stay out of trouble.”

They both grinned as they hurried toward the building.

Mia sobered. “Do you think you’ll get the job?”

“I don’t know. But even if I don’t, it’ll be okay.” A car backed out in front of her, and she grabbed Mia’s arm.

“How can you be sure?” Mia’s tears started again.

Great. She couldn’t leave her sitting alone in the lobby blubbering. Grandmother’s watch showed only five minutes to make it to the third floor. Taking both of Mia’s shoulders in her hands, she turned her until they stood face to face. “It will be okay, Mia. I promise. You have to trust me.”

“I don’t want to live with someone else.”

Ryleigh’s heart broke. “I know.” Seconds ticked off in her head. “Please, trust me. I’ll make sure we stay together. Okay?”

Mia nodded, once again tumbling curls into her face.

Ryleigh tucked them back behind Mia’s ear. How would she ever make things right? “Come on. After this, I’ll take you for pizza.”

Her sister smiled hesitantly, and they resumed their rush, Mia struggling to keep up. Whether she got the job or not, she would take Mia to Tony’s for pizza. Not that they could afford it, but Mia needed time to be a kid. Actually, Ryleigh did too.

Ryleigh led Mia to the small seating arrangement in the corner past the main reception desk. “Now remember—”

“I know, I know. Just go.” Rolling her eyes, Mia curled into the chair.

“Love you, little sis.”

“Me too, big sis.”

The twelve-story building had plenty of traffic moving through the lobby. Mia would be all right, but Ryleigh still worried. Mia was fourteen, but her tiny frame made her seem more like ten or eleven. Tucked into the large armchair, with an oversized book open in front of her, she appeared so fragile. Getting this job was too important to mess up, and taking Mia upstairs with her might appear unprofessional. She jabbed the button for the third floor. No way would she let anyone take Mia from her. She’d find a way to support them, somehow.

Exiting the elevator, Ryleigh tried to read the crumpled napkin she’d jotted the suite number on while running out the door that morning. Of course, now she couldn’t make out her own handwriting. Four o’clock on the dot. She was late. She raced down the corridor as quickly as her pumps would allow.

When she turned the corner at the wall of smoked glass bordering the lobby, she stopped short, overwhelmed by the luxury of the grown-up world she was about to enter. Maybe she should bring Mia up there to sit. There was plenty of room. Surely, they would understand she had to keep Mia with her. Another glimpse at her watch propelled her through the door marked Jacobs & McClain.

The rhythmic clack, clack, clack of her heels as she crossed the wood floor should have been enough to announce her arrival to the receptionist. At the receptionist’s desk, she cleared her throat twice.

The woman turned her paperback over. “Yes?”

Ryleigh cleared her throat again and discreetly wiped her sweaty hands on her skirt. “Umm…” Great start. “I…umm…”

The woman tapped a beautifully manicured, blood red nail against the back of her book and tilted her head.

The rude gesture quelled Ryleigh’s nerves and pulled her back ramrod straight. “I’m here to see Mr. Jacobs.”

“Do you have an appointment?” The receptionist lifted a perfectly arched eyebrow.

The stakes were too high for her to choke now. She mirrored the woman’s haughty tone. “Of course.” Was this how you had to act to work here? She hoped not. Ryleigh couldn’t treat people with the bored indifference this woman had mastered.

The woman checked her appointment book, and Ryleigh tried to dismiss her growing apprehension. With her grandmother gone now, she needed this job to support herself and Mia. Her breath hitched. Had it really been only a week since her grandmother’s death? She fought tears, as well as the urge to run away, and struggled to regain control. She had to pull herself together. Mia had no one else left.

“Follow me.”

Ryleigh jumped.

Beside her, the receptionist stood tapping her foot against the deep, rich wood floor.

Ryleigh flushed and lowered her gaze. What was she doing here?

She followed the ice queen down a long corridor, the thick carpet and pinching shoes making it difficult to walk.

The woman stopped before a set of large double doors, and when she shoved them open dramatically, Ryleigh couldn’t suppress an equally dramatic eye roll. Although she managed to halt her eyes mid-roll, the smirk on Mr. Jacobs’ face told her it had been too late.

“Hello, Ms. Donnovan. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” He came around the desk and extended his hand as the witch closed the doors behind them. His thick, dark hair and trim build surprised her. For some reason she’d expected an older man.

“It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Jacobs. Thank you for your time.” Praying he didn’t notice how sweaty her palm was, she shook his hand.

He gestured to one of the chairs in front of his desk, and she sat. He surprised her again by taking the chair next to hers and turning it to face her. His warm smile was a stark contrast to the cold greeting she’d received from his receptionist but did little to dispel her nerves.

She brushed her hair behind her ear and dropped her hand to her lap, hoping Mr. Jacobs hadn’t noticed how badly it shook.

“She’s a temp,” he said conspiratorially, as if that explained everything. Well, perhaps it did, if the position Ryleigh was applying for was the one the temp now held.

“I’ve gone over your resume.” He opened a folder and flipped a page. “Your references are quite impressive, and your work history is commendable. You’re young to have been at the same company for three years.” He frowned and thumbed through a couple of pages.

The owner of Spencer Associates had been kind enough to hire her when she’d been only fourteen years old. Her responsibilities had included filing, vacuuming, and emptying garbage pails for the company her parents had both worked for before a terrorist attack had cut their lives short.

“I don’t see your graduation date listed here.”

Ahh, the dreaded question. She hoped to avoid answering.

Mr. Jacobs lifted his gaze from the paperwork in his lap and watched her expectantly.

“Well…umm…” She cleared her throat to dislodge the lump.

He leaned back, resting his elbows on the arms of the chair.

Taking a deep breath, she squared her shoulders. “I haven’t actually graduated, yet, but the school is willing to work with me on a work study program. I only need two more classes to graduate. They’ve scheduled those classes first thing in the morning, so I’ll be finished by nine o’clock. I can be here no later than nine-thirty.”

He shook his head, his eyes cast down at the application in his hand.

“I really need this job.”

Mr. Jacobs stood. “I don’t know. Our workday starts at eight thirty.” He moved behind his desk. At least he hadn’t said no. But he didn’t sit down either. That couldn’t be a good sign.

She plowed on. What did she have to lose? “I’m a hard worker, and I’ll stay later to make up for the hour I’m late in the morning.” The pleading note in her voice irritated her. She was only one step away from begging.

“It’s not that. You have great references, and I’m sure you’re a hard worker, but a lot of work gets done in that first hour. Calls have to be returned, emails answered.” He tossed the application onto his cluttered desk and rubbed his neck. “I’m sorry, Ryleigh. I understand you need the job.”

Ryleigh stood. This couldn’t be happening. With only a few months left until graduation, she didn’t want to be forced to drop out, but what else could she do? “Look, Mr. Jacobs, can’t you just—” Vertigo assailed her. The room rocked, and she grabbed the desk.

Mr. Jacobs grabbed the back of his chair. His eyes mirrored her panic. Books flew from the shelves. Glass shattered.

She had to get to Mia.

She turned to run. The building bucked, and she toppled, slamming her knee into the hard wood floor. Pain shot up her leg. She grabbed the chair to pull herself up, but the next wave threw her back down. She tried to regain her footing, but someone yanked her to the ground.

“Stay down.” Mr. Jacobs shoved her forward. He crawled beside her, half pushing, half dragging her toward the door.

Debris pelted her back, shoulders, and head. How could she have left Mia? Tears blurred her vision.

“If it’s an earthquake, it should stop any minute. Just keep crawling toward the door.”

Desperately wishing she could cover her ears to block the screaming, she clawed forward. Her knee dragged behind her, pain pulsing with each movement. Falling apart wouldn’t help matters. She had to get to Mia.

Ryleigh crawled through the doorway, into utter chaos. People trying to push through the mess, others huddled in corners shielding their heads. An injured woman cried as she rocked back and forth clutching her arm. A man crouched over her.

Fear and disorientation held Ryleigh immobile.

Mr. Jacobs pulled her.

Pressing her back to the wall, she sat with her knees pulled up to her chest and finally slapped her hands over her ears. It didn’t block the screams. A chair shattered the smoky glass window.

Mr. Jacobs tried to shield her from flying glass, broken ceiling tiles, and projectiles that had once been office supplies.

She threw her arms over her head and curled into a ball, making as small a target of herself as possible. Painful sobs wracked her body. Was this a terrorist attack like the one that killed her parents? An earthquake? They didn’t have earthquakes on Long Island. Smoke assailed her.

She tried to move.

Mr. Jacobs wouldn’t budge.

“I have to get downstairs,” she yelled.

He pressed her back against the wall every time she tried to free herself.

The building groaned against the violent tremors surging through it.

Everything stilled, but the nauseating sensation of movement remained. Sounds were muffled as if she were under water. She rubbed her ears. It didn’t help.

Mr. Jacobs moved away from her. “Are you hurt?”

She barely heard him over the ringing in her ears.

“Ms. Donnovan?” He shook her shoulder. “Ryleigh.”

She had to get to Mia, but she couldn’t even manage a response. She crawled a foot or two when the enormity of the situation slammed through her. She couldn’t draw any air into her lungs. Her legs shaky, she tried to stand. Reaching out blindly, she clutched a chair, but it rolled away from her, and she sprawled amid the debris.

“Ryleigh.” Mr. Jacobs helped her up then lowered her into a chair. “Just sit for a minute. Don’t try to move.” He walked away.

She concentrated on breathing, gradually controlling her racing heart. She could do this, had to calm down. Even if Mia wasn’t hurt, she had to be terrified. Ryleigh was terrified. She never should have left Mia alone. She touched her throbbing temple and pulled back a hand sticky with blood. No wonder she couldn’t think.

“Here.” Mr. Jacobs pressed a dry cloth against her head. “Are you all right?”

“I think so.”

“Hold this on your head.” He went to aid a wailing woman clutching her arm tightly to her body. Sobbing, mixed with soothing sounds of those trying to help, replaced the screaming.

Ryleigh wasn’t sure which way to go. She had to get her bearings. It felt as if days had passed since she’d rushed into the unfamiliar building, and she had no memory of the layout. Glass covered the floor where the smoky walls had once stood, so she limped that way.

“Miss.” A hand fell on her shoulder. “Are you all right? Do you need help?”

Ryleigh shook her head and kept walking, stepping carefully in the ridiculous pumps she’d chosen that morning. One shoe snagged on something and pulled free of her foot. She kicked off the other shoe and made her way into the corridor.

A crowd was moving one direction, so Ryleigh joined them. Some cried softly as they trudged through piles of debris. Others helped injured co-workers and friends, and some plowed through everyone in their haste to get out. A big man with a crew cut shoved her aside, and when she reached out to steady herself against the wall, she dropped the cloth she’d had pressed against her head.

Her head cleared a little. Okay. She could do this. Though the elevator stood open, the shaft was empty. Everyone bypassed it and entered a stairwell at the end of the corridor. Would Mia try to come up and find her? Goosebumps covered her. No. She would stay where she was or leave. She’d never try to come up. Would she? Adrenaline shot through Ryleigh, and she increased her pace, heedless of her bare feet. She’d only gone down two steps when the world rocked again. Clutching the railing tightly, she pressed her body against the wall as chaos erupted around her.

“Get out of the way…go, go, go…move…here, let me help you…no, wait, don’t move…stop pushing.” Rumbling. Tearing. Screaming. People pushed and shoved. The woman in front of her panicked and tried to run. She fell, and several people tumbled down the stairs in a domino effect. Fragments rained down on them. Holding onto the banister for dear life, Ryleigh crouched and tried to shield her head.

It didn’t last as long this time. At least it seemed shorter. The instant the shaking ceased, she jumped up and hobbled down the stairs. She reached the pile of people on the first landing and climbed over, around, and through them. When she turned the corner, the second stairway was empty. Fighting through the pain in her knee, Ryleigh ran.

Gripping the railing, she fled down the remaining two flights and burst through the last door into what had once been the lobby.

“Mia!” She choked on thick, black smoke then dropped to her hands and knees. Think, think, think. Which way had she turned to enter the elevator? Keeping her right side against the wall, she crawled in the direction she thought the elevators should be. The sprinkler system rained from the ceiling. Alarms blared. Moving forward blindly, Ryleigh held her breath and prayed fervently to find Mia unharmed. She felt along the base of the wall, hoping to find any landmark that would help her get her bearings.

Her hand fell into open space, throwing her off balance, and she flattened herself against the floor. Smoke poured from the empty elevator shaft on her right. She inched forward, half dragging, and half crawling in the direction she thought would bring her to the lobby.

The wall turned to the right. She reluctantly left her safety net and crossed the lobby. She pushed up to all fours and forced herself through obstacles blocking her way to Mia. Her eyes burned, and she struggled to see through narrow slits. Everything hurt. Her head pounded in time with the throbbing in her knee. Her feet hurt too bad to try to walk. She’d jammed her hand on something in her fight to escape the stairwell. Her fingers were probably broken.

Recklessly, she made her way across the floor until something solid stopped her short. She sat up and tried to look around, ran her hand over the obstacle, and realized she’d run into the wall on the opposite side of the lobby. But where was the seat she’d left Mia in? She should have already passed it.

The shaking started again, and she braced herself against the wall.

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 over 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 punishment 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.

He held his father’s intense stare. “No, sir.”

Disappointment filled his father’s eyes.

Jackson finally lowered his gaze. His shoulders slumped in defeat. “I’m sorry, sir. I cannot.”

He didn’t bother to look at either of the other men. Their opinions didn’t matter to him as much as his father’s. He knew what he would find anyway. Elijah would be confused and Kai would be repulsed. Well, no matter. There was nothing left to do but accept his punishment.

But what of the girl? What would happen to her if Jackson was sentenced to die now? Surely, she wouldn’t be allowed to live. His father would simply send another Death Dealer to enforce the prophecy.

“Very well, then.” The king spoke through clenched teeth. “You leave me no choice.” He paused.

Jackson lifted his eyes to meet his father’s. “Sir, if I might ask for a little time. I would like the opportunity to properly prepare a defense.”

King Maynard slammed his hands against the arms of the elaborate throne and sprang up off the seat. “You think there is a defense for this insanity?”

“I do, sir. I’ve tried to explain, but I am too unfamiliar with what I’m experiencing to understand or accurately explain it. I would like a little time to do some research.”

“What kind of research?” He massaged the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger.

“I believe the girl is meant to be here voluntarily. Please, sir, allow me a little time to prove it.”

Kai surged forward. “Damn it, boy. If you have a thing for the girl, take her as a mate once she’s been reborn in Cymmera, but give up on the voluntary transfer. It’s not possible.”

He bit back a response and waited for his father to sentence him.

King Maynard rested a hand on the back of the empty throne beside his. “Very well, Jackson.” He heaved in a deep breath and blew it out slowly. “You are hereby banished from Cymmera pending the outcome of your trial.”

He would be allowed to live?

“I will allow you three months in the human realm to do whatever it is you need to do to prove your case.”

Relief flooded Jackson, not for himself, but because he’d bought the girl some time.

“However.” He lowered his hand to his side and straightened. “You will be completely stripped of your powers and unable to transfer back to Cymmera until such time has ended. At that time your trial will commence, and you will be called before this throne again.”

“Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.” He bowed before his father, his king.

“You are dismissed.”

Kai’s glare seared a hole in his back.

How would he ever prove something he didn’t even understand? The threat of death loomed over him, followed him out of the chamber.