A Soul for Vengeance (16 page)

This turn in the squabble intrigued him enough to interrupt, but before he could ask Zara about her plan, a loud knock came from Bynn’s door.

“Come on,” Bynn said before shooting Zara a glare that said this conversation was over.

A man stumbled in, his clothes caked with mud and dark circles shadowing his eyes. “A message for you, my lord.”

Bynn took the roll of parchment from the man without a word of thanks, but Zara rose from the table and offered the man a small glass of the potent whiskey her brother kept for his own use. “You had some trouble dodging your tails, didn’t you?”

The man nodded. “He sent three of them after me this time.” He downed the whiskey, coughing as he drew his next breath, and gave the glass back to her. “How did you guess?”

“You’re two days later than expected.” She slid her eyes over to Kell as though she wanted to make sure he was listening in their conversation.

He was. “Zara, do you calculate the timing of messengers as well as you do supply wagons?”

“Better.” She nodded to the man like a queen dismissing a knight and returned to the table as he left. “Fermo’s been trying to follow our messengers back to the camp ever since Bynn notified him we may have found you.”

Her brother finally looked up from the letter, rolling it back up with a grim press of his lips. “He’s demanding to see Kell in person now.”

“Absolutely not,” Zara replied, banging her palm on the table.

“I think it’s important our leaders meet with Kell personally to see with their own eyes that he’s alive and ready to lead our people. Besides, Fermo’s already left his keep and is on his way here.”

A note of panic rose into her voice. “You can’t let him find us.”

“Why not?” Kell asked, crossing his arms. It was tedious enough listening to them bicker all the time, but when it involved him, he damn well deserved to be involved in the discussion. “I know Zara has expressed some concerns about Fermo’s loyalty to Ranello. What are your thoughts on this, Bynn?”

His friend toyed with the letter, rolling it back and forth on the table. “He seems to be loyal to Ranello from what I’ve seen.”

“But you can’t say for certain he’s on our side?”

More rolling of the letter. “No.”

“Thank you for your honesty.” Kell turned to Zara next. “What are your reservations about Fermo coming here and meeting with me?”

“For starters, who’s to say he won’t lead the Thallian army here to destroy the camp? Secondly, you’re the only person standing between him and his claim to the throne. Instead of seeking confirmation of your existence, as he claims, his goal may be to eliminate you.”

“Nonsense, Zara.” Bynn acted as though he were soothing a child who saw monsters under their bed. “If Fermo wanted to eliminate any possible heirs to the throne, then why would he have taken Winnie in?”

“So he could smother her child if it was a boy.”

“Hold on for a moment.” Kell reached across the table, pushing the siblings away from each other. He needed to know why they’d brought his brother’s widow into the conversation. “Why didn’t you tell me Winnie was alive?”

Matching expressions of guilt crossed their faces. Bynn spoke first. “Winnie managed to escape the palace a few days before the Thallians laid siege to Trivinus. Because her mother was Fermo’s cousin, she decided to seek sanctuary with him.”

“Sounds reasonable enough, but what was this about a child?” His heart thudded in his ears while he waited for them to respond.

This time, it was Zara who answered. “Winnie was a few months pregnant when the Thallians invaded. That was the reason your brother urged her to leave. She gave birth to a daughter a couple of weeks before we rescued you.”

If the child had been a boy, he would’ve become heir to the throne, not Kell. But something about this information nagged at him as though there was another side to the story Bynn and Zara had failed to see. “When Fermo surrendered to the Thallians, was it before or after Winnie arrived?”

Zara’s lips parted as though she finally saw his train of thought. “Are you suggesting he surrendered to protect her and her unborn child?”

“Yes. Fermo may be an ambitious ass, but he would also do anything he could to protect his blood, including a distant cousin like Winnie.” He took a breath, giving himself time to let this news sink in. He was an uncle. His brother’s child was only a few months old and would never know her father. But he’d do all in his power to assure she was taken care of now that he was home. “Bynn, do the Thallians know Winnie is with Fermo?”

“I doubt it based on what we’ve managed to intercept from them.”

“Good.” He pushed his half-eaten meal out of the way, his appetite vanquished by more pressing concerns. “Zara mentioned that Fermo has managed to retain his army, Bynn—is that true?”

“More or less,” his friend replied with a shrug. “The Thallians, of course, are keeping a close eye on him. He’s managed to conceal a good number of his men in a camp like ours, though.”

“And we’ll need all the soldiers we can get if we want to take back our homeland. I’m willing to meet with him if it means we gain his forces.”

“I still have reservations about this.” Zara sat back, her hands in her lap while her gaze traveled between him and her brother. “Perhaps we should keep you hidden until we know we can trust Fermo.”

He waited for Bynn’s thoughts on the matter. “That sounds reasonable enough, but where are you proposing we take Kell in the meantime?”

“I can take him to meet with Ortono.” She gave him a self-satisfied smirk. “After all, it’s important that our people see the heir to the throne with their own eyes. It might inspire them to keep fighting.”

Bynn rubbed his chin. “I’m not comfortable with the idea of you two traveling alone.”

“Why?” she asked. “Scared Kell will try to take advantage of me?”

Kell lowered his eyes, worried Bynn might see how tempted he was to do just that.

“Don’t worry,” she continued. “It’s not like you’ll let me take three steps away from camp without Parros on my heels. Besides, we all remember what happened the last time Kell tried to steal a kiss from me.” Her grin bordered on flirtatious, taking on that same
I dare you to try
tone she’d used that night in the woods.

“Fine, you can take him to Ortono’s camp as long as you take Parros with you and promise not to engage in one of your little raids while you’re out. I don’t like the odds of the three of you against any of the Thallians, even if you have the element of surprise on your side.”

“I promise to behave.” She drew an X over her heart. “Does that sound good to you, Kell?”

He liked it better when it was just the two of them, but he begrudgingly agreed with the plan. Having Parros would assure he kept his hands off her and remained in his best friend’s good graces. “So we’ll leave in the morning?”

She nodded and stood. “I’ll go inform Parros.”

“Don’t worry about him,” Bynn said, unrolling the letter once again. “He has orders to follow you whenever you leave the camp. Why do you think I put him in the room closest to the tunnel?”

Kell smothered his laughter. It seems Bynn was far too familiar with his sister’s headstrong ways. He rose from his seat. “May I escort you back to your room, Zara? After all, we should probably get a good night’s sleep before we leave in the morning.”

Bynn looked up from the letter. “Watch yourself, Kell. I’ll be timing you.”

Which meant that he wouldn’t be allowed to dawdle or attempt to indulge in the potential sweetness of her lips. “Don’t worry, Bynn. I’m very familiar with her fists and know better than to attempt anything more than gentlemanly behavior.”

Bynn arched the brow over his patch as if to say Kell’s reputation suggested otherwise. “I’ll give you five minutes to take her to her room and return here.”

“Stop being ridiculous, Bynn.” Zara entwined her arm through Kell’s, that same sultry smile from earlier on her lips. “I’m a grown woman who can take care of myself.”

She pulled him out of the hut before Bynn could object. Once they were midway across the first bridge, Kell said, “You know, I think your brother senses that
tension
between us, too.”

“No, he’s just being overprotective because he doesn’t want any glitches in his master plan.” Her words were flat like they were all part of one long sigh. “He thinks I’m still a naïve girl whose virtue needs to be protected.”

“And does it?” Based on the bold way she brushed against him during their archery competition, she knew how to get a man’s blood pumping.

“Are you suggesting I’m a loose woman?” Her half smile spoke of many secrets, including a few he’d love to strip away.

“Are you?”

Her laugh was full and womanly, not the nervous titter of a young girl. “There is some place in between virginal and loose, you know. Or does every woman you’ve ever met fall into one end of the spectrum?”

“Does your brother know where you stand?”

She looked up at him, her lips pursed. “As far as he’s concerned, it’s best if he thinks I’m on the more innocent end of it.”

His stomach churned from her refusal to give him a straight answer. Part of it was due to frustration—he willingly acknowledged that. The other part, though, was due to a spark of jealously that flared deep inside of him. How many men had indulged in the one thing he longed to taste? “Perhaps you should enlighten me on the depths of your experience on this matter.”

“I would ask the same from you, but alas, your reputation has long been justified. I’m sure by just accepting your invitation to escort me back to my room, we’ll have tongues wagging that I’ll be the next young lady to fall victim to your devilish charms.” She held the back of her hand to her brow in a dramatic fashion, mimicking a woman on the verge of passing out.

He chuckled along with her, wondering if the camp had as many gossips as the court did. Their steps slowed, giving him time to build up the courage to confess, “You know, you were the first girl I ever kissed.”

She stared straight ahead, her expression unreadable under the shadows cast by the limbs above. As they came to the end of the bridge, she asked, “And have you become a better kisser since then?”

Now it was his turn to challenge her with the same response she’d given him last week. “There’s only one way to find out.”

She stopped, appearing to be fascinated by the way her hand fit so easily into the crook of his arm. Then she unwound it from him, letting it fall to the side while she stared at something below them. “Perhaps one night, we’ll have to find out.”

“Why not tonight?” He took her hand and brushed his lips across her fingers, the restraint of the act so at odds with the blood hammering through his veins. She’d opened the door, but experience had left him cautious.

She lifted her gaze, her gray eyes full of mischief. “That doesn’t count as a kiss.”

“Should I try something a little more intimate?” He closed the space between them, one hand resting comfortably in the small of her back while the other stroked her cheek. “Or do wish me to stop?”

Her breath caught, and her pupils grew so large that they nearly drowned the silver irises in their inky depths. He saw many things flicker across her face—confusion, fear, desire—but he didn’t find any traces of resistance. Her eyes fluttered closed, and she leaned into him.

He’d be a fool not to accept her invitation. He lowered his head, so close that her breath bathed his chin.

Then a door slammed into his back, shoving them both toward the edge of the railing. He didn’t have time to enjoy the press of Zara’s soft curves against his body. He was too busy trying to keep her from falling out of the tree.

“Prince Kell,” a woman squealed from inside the hut. “What a pleasure to see you.”

Once Zara was safe from danger, he turned around to find a woman with such blunt features that homely would be the nicest thing he could call her. “I’m sorry, have we met?”

Zara pushed him back and moved between them. “This is my roommate, Lady Bianca.”

The snorer. And yes, the poor woman had inherited her father’s looks. Still, he forced a smile on his face and nodded to her with courtly civility. “A pleasure to meet you.”

She grinned, tilting her head to the side in a coy manner while her words lisped between the gap in her teeth. “Would you like to come in and join me for a game of cards?”

Zara bit her bottom lip, her chest shaking ever so slightly. She was laughing at him.

He kept his civil smile in place. “Unfortunately, I need to get some rest tonight. Zara and I are leaving early in the morning to meet with Ortono.”

Bianca’s grin fell into a pout. “Very well, but you must come visit when you return.”

He inwardly shuddered at the thought of having to listen to her shrill lisp for an evening. “If I have time.” He took a step back and bowed to both of them, his eyes lingering on Zara. “Good night, ladies.”

Bianca dropped into an awkward curtsy, the gleam in her brown eyes telling him very clearly she’d never turn him away from her bed. “Good night to you, Your Majesty.”

Zara’s chest was still shaking as she closed the door behind them.

Chapter 14

Arden yawned as she descended the stairs. For the third straight night in a row, she’d had the same dream.

Actually, nightmare would be a better word for it.

It always started out the same way. She was in the library of her father’s house, standing in front of the tapestry he’d shown her of Loku. She’d reach out to touch it. The first time she had the dream, she felt the same shock she’d felt that day and jerked her arm back. The second time she had the dream, she grabbed hold of the fabric, and the shock climbed up her arm until she doubled over in pain and released it. Last night, though, instead of releasing it, she jerked the tapestry from the wall, revealing a hidden doorway. Unfortunately, the pain gave way to the blackness that consumed her, ending the dream before she had a chance to see where the door led.

The gray light of dawn filtered through the windows, and silence shrouded the palace. The rest of the household was still sleeping. Even Cinder preferred to stay in bed when she got up. She wandered down the corridor until she found herself in the library. Curiosity propelled her feet forward, winding her through the rows of shelves until she stood in front of the tapestry.