Reluctant Prince (26 page)

Blackness crept into her peripheral vision.

She fought it. Struggled to focus.

The black eddy continued its stealthy invasion. It had all happened so fast. In a matter of seconds.

The darkness closed over her. Even the pain couldn’t hold her to consciousness. There was no way Daygan should have known where to find them. Had Elijah betrayed them after all?

Screams followed her into the black.

Then…nothing.

* * * *

Kai jumped from his dragon and strode purposefully toward Jackson. “What did you think you were doing, disobeying a direct order?”

Jackson launched himself from Ophidian’s back. “I was trying to save the man you were willing to leave to Daygan’s savages.” Rage poured through him. Out of control. Fear for his father kept trying to creep in, but the anger shoved it ruthlessly aside. “How dare you order a Death Dealer to leave a man behind? Any man? Nevermind your King.” Tremors tore through Jackson’s body. His hands trembled with the effort to gain some semblance of control. He clenched his fists tightly at his sides then pressed them to his temples.

Dakota leapt from his dragon and ran toward Jackson. “Can I help?”

Jackson struggled for balance. Years of discipline helped, but controlling emotions he wasn’t used to was proving nearly impossible. He ignored Kai’s seething and pulled his father from Ophidian.

Dakota reached him and helped ease King Maynard to the ground.

“Call for a healer.” Even as he issued the order, he remembered everyone had been evacuated.
Shit.

Alec Ranger dropped to his knees beside the King. “I’ll do what I can. Someone find Kiara.”

“I’ll go.” Dakota ran from the stable.

Jackson held his breath.

Ranger moved his hands over the king’s back. Each of the healer’s palms emitted a faint blue light. The light poured into the hole surrounding the arrow still protruding from King Maynard’s back. Ranger’s gaze shot to Jackson. Terror filled his almost black eyes.

Jackson had never seen such fear on a Death Dealer’s face.

“How bad?” He didn’t want to know. Jackson spared Kai a quick look, and anger surged through him. He reached for it. It was easier to hold onto than the fear.

Kai held his stare, challenge dancing in his black eyes.

“It’s bad, Jackson.” Ranger slid his hands to the shaft of the arrow. “The arrow nicked his heart, which is a problem, but I’m dealing with that. It’s the poison I don’t know how to treat.”

“Why not? You’re a healer for the Death Dealer squad. Surely, you’ve been trained to remove toxins in the field. It’s a common enough injury.” Jackson swiped the back of his arm across his brow. Sweat still dripped into his eyes. He pressed his fingers against them.

Ranger snapped the shaft in half, leaving the arrow firmly embedded in King Maynard’s back. “I know, and even though I’m a fairly strong healer, I can’t remove the poison. It’s something new. I’m not familiar with it. I’m trying, Jackson, but I don’t know how much I can do.” Regret was etched in every line of Ranger’s face.

Dakota ran back into the stable. “I’ve sent one of the junior patrols through the tunnels after Kiara. I told him it was urgent, he’ll go quickly.” He stood in the doorway, staring at Jackson.

“All right.” Jackson shoved his hands into his hair. He squeezed his head between them, the pressure holding him together. “Let’s get him to the castle.” He would have to go after Kiara himself. He’d sent her with Elijah through the family tunnels, and no one else would find her. What more could possibly go wrong? He clamped his teeth tightly closed to keep the string of profanities from erupting.

“Have you forgotten something?” Kai’s face had turned nearly purple.

“What’s that, Kai?” Jackson bent to help Ranger and the other men lift his father, dismissing the irate warrior.

Dakota crossed the stable to help.

Kai swore through clenched teeth. “Have you forgotten who’s in charge here?”

Two other men came forward to help carry the King.

Jackson gestured for one of them to take his place. It was time to settle this once and for all. “In charge? In charge? That’s your biggest concern right now? Who’s in charge?”

Kai stood silent.

A damn burst somewhere deep within Jackson. There was no stopping the flood. Who knew? Maybe he didn’t want to. “How dare you? You are a Death Dealer, a warrior, my father’s closest advisor. You think you’re going to take King Maynard’s place, and yet, you would leave a man behind? Leave him to Daygan’s savages?” A pulse pounded in Jackson’s temple. Blood rushed through his head.

Kai took a deep breath. When he spoke, it was with a detached calm that only infuriated Jackson further. “Important decisions are not always easy to make, Jackson. Ruling a kingdom based on emotions gets men killed. I was not willing to risk my entire squad to save a man who was beyond saving.”

“That man is your King.” Jackson seethed. Spittle sprayed. He swiped the back of his hand across his mouth.

“And my king trusted me enough to put me in charge if something happened to him.” Satisfaction and eagerness lit Kai’s eyes.

Jackson charged him.

“Jackson.” Dakota jumped in front of him, pressed both hands against his chest, and tried to block him.

Ranger joined him, shouldering Jackson back. He pointed toward the men carrying King Maynard and yelled. “Get him to his chamber.”

The men hesitated.

“Enough.” Dakota addressed both Jackson and Kai, looking back and forth between the two. “King Maynard is injured, Daygan’s savages are invading Cymmera, our women and children have been evacuated and are basically being protected by children, and every one of our soldiers is probably fighting for their lives right now. One of you needs to take charge and stop this shit.” He stared pointedly at Jackson, silently urging him to claim his rightful place.

Jackson shoved Dakota’s hands away.

His teammates stared at him.

This was not the time. The mark on his arm burned, but he remained silent.

Dakota stared at him.

Still he said nothing.

“See to your father.” Kai tossed the order as if the matter had been decided.

Dakota opened his mouth.

Jackson pinned him with a glare.

He snapped it shut. His eyebrows drew together, his mouth set in a firm line of disapproval, his posture rigid.

Kai turned away, effectively dismissing him, and ordered the King taken to his chambers.

“Kai.”

He lifted an eyebrow. Waited.

“I need to see you in private.” A slow burn traced a path around the mark he now wore. The pain finally settled in the center of the tattoo. The exact spot the red slash marked.

“You and I have nothing further to discuss.” Kai turned his back on Jackson.

“At the moment, I’m giving you the respect of having this conversation in private. If you continue to ignore me, we can have it right here.”

Four of the Death Dealers had already left to carry his father to the castle, but the others now paid rapt attention to the discussion heating up in front of them.

“I am fast running out of patience with you, boy. If there’s something on your mind, spit it out. If not, I have a kingdom to rule.” He waited, his black eyes boring holes through Jackson.

“Very well, Kai. Since you leave me no choice. As of this moment, I am—”

A scream tore through the stable.

Jackson froze. What now?

Mia ran toward him. “Jackson…” She sobbed, dragged a deep breath into her lungs, tried to speak. “Please. They took her. You have to help.” She fell to her knees at his feet.

Kai rolled his eyes. “We’re finished here,
Prince
. I don’t have the time, or the patience, to deal with any more of your drama. I have more pressing matters to deal with.” He turned his back and walked away.

Dakota knelt beside Mia. He pulled her into his arms and tried to soothe her.

“Mia, what happened?” Jackson searched for patience. “Mia.”

Elijah ran into the stable. “I’m sorry, I had to make sure Kiara reached King Maynard.”

Jackson strode toward the seer. “What happened?”

“Daygan. He opened a portal from Argonas into the tunnel.”

“How is that possible?” Suspicion ripped through Jackson. “Where’s Ryleigh?” He looked over Elijah’s shoulder, expecting her to follow him into the stable.

“Daygan and his savage grabbed her from the tunnel.” Elijah wrung his hands together.

Jackson didn’t care how distressed the seer was. He couldn’t have controlled his temper if he did care. He closed the distance between him and the prophet in two strides. He grabbed Elijah by the throat, lifted him from the ground. He spoke through gritted teeth. “How could that happen? You were supposed to protect her.”

Elijah gripped Jackson’s hand in both of his, tried to loosen his hold enough to speak. “I tried, My Prince. It happened too fast. One minute she was there, the next gone.”

“Don’t
my prince
me, Elijah. I am in no mood. There’s no way Daygan could have known about the tunnels. No one knows.” He shook the other man, once.

“You’re right, sir.” Elijah waited. He lowered his hands, didn’t struggle, didn’t try to pull away, careful not to provoke Jackson’s anger. He held Jackson’s glare.

Jackson searched the other man’s eyes. Pulled him closer, until they were nearly nose to nose then looked deeper, into his very soul. “Did you betray me, Elijah?”

Elijah sucked in a breath, caught off-guard.

The only thing reflected in his friend’s eyes was hurt. It wasn’t him. He released the other man. “I’m sorry, Elijah.” Jackson spoke softly. “I had to know.”

Elijah simply nodded and smoothed his tunic.

“Who betrayed us? Do you know?” Jackson fought for calm. He had to think.

The seer shook his head. “I don’t, sir. I’m sorry.”

Jackson scrubbed both his hands over his face. “Okay. I have to talk to Kai. Then I’ll see my father. After that, I’ll go after her.”

“I’ll come with you.” Dakota stood. He pulled Mia up with him. Kept his arm around her shoulder, lending the support she needed to stand.

A tremor of fear shook Jackson.

She was weakening again.

“No.” Jackson worked to soften his tone. “I need you to stay with Mia. If she weakens too much more, you’re going to have to take her to her realm. Hide her there, take care of her.”

“But…” Dakota pulled Mia closer. “With all due respect, Jackson.” He glanced at Elijah, before lowered his voice. “I don’t understand why you don’t claim your rightful place?”

“It doesn’t matter right now, Dakota. I have go after Ryleigh, and…” He wanted to spare Mia any more worry, but reality intruded. “If I don’t return, Kai will be next in line anyway. It makes no sense to argue with him now.”

“I feel as if I’m abandoning you. I should be with you to back you up.”

“It’s an order, Dakota.” Although Jackson phrased it kindly, there was no doubt he’d issued a command, not made a request.

“Very well, sir.” He approached Jackson, met and held his gaze. “Be safe, my brother.” He hugged him with his free arm then stepped back.

Mia threw her arms around Jackson.

He held on tightly for a just a moment. “I’ll bring her back, Mia. Just stay with Dakota, okay?”

She nodded. When she looked up at him, tears pooled in her eyes. “I know you will. Thank you.”

Dakota reached for her, turned, and guided Mia from the stable.

Jackson watched them go.

“My Prince.” Jackson jumped, startled. He’d forgotten Elijah was still there. Everyone else had dispersed when Kai had left.

“Allow me to accompany you. Please, sir.” Elijah slouched under the burden of his guilt.

“I wish I could, Elijah.” He paused, shook his head. “I need someone here I can trust. I don’t know what’s happening, but it’s quite obvious we have a traitor among us.” The admission clutched his heart, squeezed. “I need you to watch over everyone here, make sure everything runs smoothly. Kai has always been a good man. Until recently, I would have trusted him with my life. Now…” He thought back over the years, through brief flashes of his history with Kai. Could the warrior really have betrayed them? “I don’t know, Elijah. I just don’t know.”

Elijah nodded. “Be safe, My Prince.” He pulled Jackson into a brief embrace, clapped him on the back, and left him alone.

Seconds ticked off in Jackson’s head, the sound deafening, reverberating through his brain. Stabbing pain shot through his temple. He had to go after Ryleigh, but he couldn’t leave without seeing his father first. Pushing everything else aside, Jackson ran for the castle.

He entered his father’s darkened room and found Kiara at his side. “How’s he doing?”

She dipped a rag in a basin of water, wrung out the excess. “It doesn’t appear to be poison, Jackson.”

“Then what is it?”

“I believe it’s magic. An incredibly strong sorcerer must have cast a spell on the arrow that punctured his back.” She dabbed the rag across King Maynard’s forehead, smoothing his hair back.

“Can Elijah do anything?”

Kiara sighed. “Elijah is the most powerful sorcerer I know of.” She shrugged. “But even he can’t work miracles. If he doesn’t know what’s been done, he can’t undo it. He’s gone to research what he can.”

“Has he woken?”

Kiara shook her head and stood. “Why don’t I give you a few minutes with him? I need to check on Sadie anyway.” She left the room, quietly closing the door behind her.

Jackson approached the bed, sat in the chair Kiara had just left. “Father.” He gripped his father’s hand. Ice cold. A shiver ran up his spine. “Father. I’m sorry I have to leave you now.” Pain sliced through Jackson.

His father’s face was too pale, almost translucent. “Jackson.”

Jackson leaned closer to hear the harsh whisper. “Father?”

“Don’t…” The king sucked in a deep breath, coughed.

Jackson leaned even closer.

“Don’t trust him.”

Don’t trust him? “Who, Dad?”

A deep rattle filled his father’s chest.

“Don’t trust who?” Jackson lowered his head to their entwined hands. The pain like a dagger through his heart.

“Had to be—”