Of Darkness and Crowns (4 page)

Anger snaps at my insides as I look her over. Just another way the deities ensure their reign over us.

Kaide has joined Lena and Lilly standing watch to the empress’s right, while Kai and Whip converse to her left. Kai is still beautiful, sporting her signature red eye shadow that highlights her features against her black hair. Whip, never seen without her leather circlet around her head, is the most petite Nactue guard, but nearly the most fierce. When I enter, their heads turn in my direction, and Lilly steps forward.

I motion for us to speak away from the empress, so we don’t disturb her prayer.

“Are you positive they’ll attack tonight?” Lilly whispers.

Knowing what I know of Caben and now his country, after spending time with the advisers, I’m sure the explosion was a diversion. The Otherworlders have the same firepower as both of our countries, only in limited supply. And if they saved that kind of attack for now instead of using it at the start of the war, there’s a reason.

“I’m sure they’re up to something,” I say. “Either way, it’s not safe for the empress to remain here. Especially with the goddess relic.” I glance at the glowing stone. “If it needs to be with her at all times, then she needs to be far away from the Otherworlders. From Bale.”

Lilly studies my face. “You should come with us.”

I shake my head. “I swore—”

“To Prince Caben. I know,” she interrupts, sounding exasperated. “And you have. You’ve kept your word. All there’s left to do now is appoint someone in charge, Kal. And don’t lie to me. I know the truth behind the hold up.” She eyes me seriously, her red bangs framing the soft curves of her face. “You’re hoping to confront him and bring him back. But all you’re doing is angering every member of the Perinyian Council and a whole country, at that.”

I wasn’t prepared for a lecture from my best friend, and the fact that she’s right drives a searing, sharp blade through my resolve. My defenses shoot up, and I cross my arms. “There is no one here who’s proven himself able to rule in Caben’s absence.”

“Proven himself to
you
.” Lilly’s brows raise. “Maybe, then, it’s not your place to choose.” She reaches out and gently touches my arm. “Let someone from his own country make that call. And then trust them to be right.” She sighs at my scowl. “Hell, Kal, I don’t know. Ask the empress to select someone. You trust her wisdom, right?”

She knows me better than anyone. And she has me cornered. As she drops her hand, I roll my shoulders back and shake out my hands. “I will. I promise.” I widen my eyes when she gives me a disbelieving look. “I will. Just as soon as we get through tonight, I’ll ask Empress Iana to make the decision. Then I’ll relinquish my duty until…” I look away, toward the wall. Away from Lilly’s knowing amber eyes.

“You’re doing all that you can for him,” she says quietly.

I nod, still not looking at her. I want to believe her words, but inside, I wonder if I am. If I have. If I’ve helped Caben at all, or if I’ve only prolonged the inevitable.

When the question was raised at the very first meeting between Cavan and Perinya Council members, it was decided—due to much of my debating—that no harm would come to Prince Caben during the war. That he’d be captured, and after gaining proof Caben was still present within his body and his mind, we’d work diligently to restore him. And just as diligently to exile Bale from this plane.

The longer Bale resides within Caben, the more she sinks her evil talons into his soul, and the less likely it is that Perinya will ever get their prince back.

That I will.

A
boom
echoes through the chapel, the floor beneath me rumbling with the blast. I throw my hands out as the walls shake and debris rains down around us. “Secure the empress!”

As Lilly rushes to the empress’s side, Lena and Whip help her stand and begin to lead her through the corridor. Empress Iana only pauses long enough to look me in the eyes and nod. Then she’s ushered through the passageway. Kaide swaths the relic in a light material, wrapping it tightly. Then he’s following behind the other Nactue.

Bringing out my transmitter, I halt the cold metal before my lips, my breaths clipped as realization washes over me. Caben is here. As I push in the button, my hands tremble. “Councilor,” I say, my voice steady despite the pinch in my chest.

The device crackles, matching the chaos bleeding through the transmission. “Protector Kaliope, it seems as if your suspicions were correct.”

Nausea seizes my stomach. “The empress is safe,” I assure her.

“Then we proceed as planned.” A beat. “Farrah be with you.”

I bow my head and end the transmission, then quickly program another. I begin to make my way out of the chamber, my transmitter already making the connection, as I hear Kaide say, “I’m going with you.”

Turning around, I shake my head. “No. Not this time, Kaide. You’re ordered to stay and protect Empress Iana.”

Of all the Nactue, I thought it’d be Lilly who would give me the most grief about my decisions. And she does. But Kaide has taken to being my personal guard of sorts. And he doesn’t fully trust my judgment, not when it comes to the prince.

His face contorts with hard lines. “Yes, ma’am,” he says, nodding his obedience to my order. “Be strong, Kal,” he whispers before leaving through the corridor.

I’m lost in my thoughts, the walls quaking around me, when a guttural voice breaks through the fog clouding my mind. “Everything’s a go, Protector.”

Looking at my transmitter, I acknowledge Bax with a hard nod. “Keep a close eye on Councilor Herna,” I say, picking up my pace as I head into the chapel. “And make sure General Corvin understands not to harm—”

“I know, Kal,” Bax says, the paleness of his ashen face nearly translucent through the electric blue web. “Stop worrying about your prince and focus on
you
.” He presses his lips together. “Don’t die.”

A harsh laugh escapes me. “Message received, Bax. Same to you.” Clasping my transmitter once more to my harness, I suck in breath. Then I brace my foot against the pew blocking the chapel door and push. The pew slides aside with a loud screech.

I unlatch the doors and fling them open wide, then step into the chaos.

People are fleeing, seeking the safety shelters. It’s happening sooner than I thought, or hoped. As much as I longed for this moment, I had wished it to be away from here. On the battlefield. Maybe even in the Otherworld.

Not anywhere near the people I care for, or the innocent citizens who are only trying to live out their lives. But we don’t get to pick the moments that will forever define us. They choose us, and our only hope is to confront them with as little fear as possible. Fear of the inevitable change that follows.

As I push my way through the bodies, determination bolstering my steps, I don’t know what fear consumes me more.

Knowing what the outcome of facing Caben must be. Or that I’m not ready to see that outcome through.

Either way, I move ahead.

♦
5
♦

Caben

T
HE PALACE DOORS COME
down with a crash. Dust kicks up off the marble entryway as the Otherworlders hustle across the busted doors to lock down the ground floor, the first wave of our invasion.

As I step through the doorway, the smell of my home wafts around me, carrying memories of my childhood and the last time I was here. Scenes of my father’s death cover my vision, followed by me being rushed to safety and out of my country soon afterward.

Closing my eyes for a moment, I allow the haunting images to surface and then fade, until they’re nothing more than a distant flicker of recognition. With a determined step over the fallen threshold, I open my eyes and enter my home.

Sounds from the battle flood the palace in every direction, and I quickly calculate my route. With the reserves far away, taking over the palace should be child’s play—but I know my council, Perinya’s leaders. And I know Kaliope. I’m not declaring victory so soon.

As the Otherworlders secures the ground level, I rush past the screams and the clang of weapons to the stairway ascending to the chapel. If I know anything, it’s that the women of Cavan look to their goddess above all else. I’m sure the empress is near there, guarding her relic. The shard in her proximity. I can feel the pull leading me—something reaching inside and guiding me.

I’m not sure if it’s Bale sensing the goddess relic or my own draw to Kal. But it’s strong. Only it’s in the opposite direction than I need to be going.

Hurriedly turning down the left hallway, away from the chapel, I grip my chest as a burning pain sears me from the inside. “Blast, woman—”

It’s there…

I press against my breastbone and growl. “I take care of my affairs first. That’s the deal.” Bale’s angered cry pierces my head, and I shake off the pain, imagining I can feel the drip of blood from my ears.

With a harsh curse, I change my course. If getting the damned relic and shard means ridding myself of the constant nagging and bickering…then so be it. One way or another, I’m getting everything I came here for. No matter which order. I just hate giving in to her whims. Hate the weakened state she puts me in.

The dark goddess quiets as I near the chapel. Everything becomes eerily silent the closer I get. Unsheathing my sword, I creep along the stone wall, led by an invisible, taut cord drawing me forward.

A shout rends the silence. The sound of blades trading blows. And then Kal’s voice bleeds into my ears. Her venom-laced words come to me, lifting the corners of my mouth into a smile, as she faces off with one of the Otherworlder mutants just around the wall.

Anticipation buzzes through my veins.

“Die, maggot!” she cries.

My feet swallow the distance around the corner, my heart pounding against my ribs. Then as Kal makes the killing strike, I find myself stopped and staring at my green-eyed beauty in all her battle-fueled glory.

Her chest rises and falls with her labored breaths. Her hair is loose, tumbling in heavy disarray around her shoulders, just concealing her face as she stares down at her slain enemy. She knows I’m here—knows she must meet my eyes. But she’s refusing to look at me until the last moment. Maybe waiting for me to make the first move before she’s forced to acknowledge my presence.

Games. Oh, how I love them. And with Kaliope? It’s the ultimate sport. I become aroused just watching her, just waiting for the seconds to end my torture and she’s made to raise her sword against mine. It’s a human flaw, this yearning, I know. But it’s so much more than that.

Desire to own her, body and mind, consumes me. And I’m almost saddened that I must end her.
Almost
.

I step forward, upping our stand-off to the next level, and watch as her small, thin fingers curl tighter around the hilt of her sword. I lift my weapon, just enough to force her eyes to flick up.

When our gazes finally meet, my breath halts in my chest. Hers are not the cold and calculating eyes I expected to greet from the fierce Nactue leader. They’re laced with something deep and bothersome—regret. Anger ignites my blood.

I won’t have her pity.

“At last, my love.” Cocking my head, I let my gaze travel over her body, and gloat that it affects her. “I was beginning to think you were purposely avoiding me.”

As she rolls her shoulders back, lifting her chin higher, I marvel at her forced bravado. The only sign that she’s hesitant is the slight tremble in her limbs. “I’ve been waiting for you to work up the courage, Bale.” She smiles. It’s fake. “Figured you thought I was out for the night. Sorry to disappoint you.”

Taking another step closer to her, I say, “Bale is busy right now, love. Sorry to disappoint
you
, but it’s all man you’re dealing with here.” Lowering my sword, I make a show of flexing my bicep—
I know how she
so
adores men
. “Think you can handle that?”

I see the moment the truth hits her. The slight widening of her eyes, the parting of her mouth. She’s trying to find the lie in my words. Wishing them to be false. And I nearly regret correcting her. If her feelings for me hinder her—make her waver even for a second—I won’t be fighting the warrior I’ve been dreaming about destroying for months. I need her at her full ferocity. Anything less would be a true disappointment.

The green of her irises shimmers and she blinks. “You’re lying. Prince Caben would never do this to his own country…to his people.” The smooth skin of her throat bobs as she swallows. “He’s a true ruler. Nothing like the parasite that’s taken up residency within him.”

I can’t help it, I smile. She’s every bit as feisty as I remember, and the need to reach for her, to touch her, thrums through me. With a cautious step, I move closer. “
Prince
Caben? I thought we were long past formalities, Kal. As I recall, you were all too familiar when you were crying out my name beneath me.”

Her face contorts, her eyes narrow. I can just make out the warmth spreading over her silky skin, and I know she’s remembering, too. I crave the feel of her body underneath mine—the feel of being inside her again. But I shut it down. I can’t allow distractions from my human weakness to overrule my will.