Unbroken (Unarmed Trilogy #2) (36 page)

“And Duke? The Johanssons? Where do they come into play?” Tamzin asked as she, absentmindedly, stroked her son’s dark hair.

“I don't know. I do know more than Will does, but the information is scarce. All I know is that Gregory promised to marry a Johansson girl, if the Johanssons followed him. I speculate that the Johanssons are nothing more than a pawn and a vessel. But what I know is that Gregory hates you, and will not rest until all of this is over," Garrett spoke gravely to Tamzin.

“During all of this, Seraphina and I were together. When we were in the war against the Johanssons, I drank too much and woke next to Seraphina; she later informed me I had gotten a child on her, which Gregory was not aware of. She risked her life to continue to steal the letters and tell me what Gregory was up to. When I was caught with a letter, before we received news of Thurston burning, I told him I wanted to help him."

“How did you convince him?” Will asked as he took a deep breath from nervousness.

“I told him I was resentful and I felt forced to marry Kendall, which was a lie. Gregory’s spies then discovered Seraphina was carrying my child. He used that as leverage, telling me that Will would side with Tamzin and I would be pushed out of my role as Will's second-in-command. Gregory vowed to protect my child,” Garrett said as he looked to Will, the pain etched on his face.

“And why would he do that?” Will asked gravely as he tightened his grip on Tamzin’s shoulders. She looked up at him and wanted to offer him a smile, but even she knew that what Garrett would say couldn’t have been good.

“Because Gregory needed a new blood heir after he got rid of you. Someone to continue the plan, if Gregory was indisposed, ” Garrett said softly as his eyes looked to the ground. “And I am your blood. Gregory told me I was your half-brother after I received word that Kendall had died in Thurston and that our home was gone. I had suspected, longed even, that I was your brother, but I didn’t know for sure. He was using my child with Seraphina to be his heir and to make sure I wouldn’t falter against him. Gregory knows I would join him if he vowed to protect the life of my child.”

“If he wanted to keep Seraphina as an insurance policy, to ensure you followed his orders, why did he let you leave with her?” Will asked as he felt the anger coat his tongue at the word. “Why would he let her out of his sight?”

“Because Seraphina and I promised him that we would kill you,” Garrett said as he looked up from the ground again. “I told him I would keep my distance from you and attack you when you were down. Gregory trusts Seraphina to keep me in line. He says women are weak when it comes to children. I made him believe I was jealous of you. He’s doing all of this because of his own ego. He is bitter that he could not break you, like his father broke him. It came to a head when Turner Roth refused his initial proposal to Tamzin…”

“What?” Tamzin nearly screeched, which made Liam stir in her arms. Gently, she pressed a kiss to his head and rubbed her hand down his back soothingly. Will placed his hand on his son's head, feeling dizzy as he used his other hand to grip Tamzin’s shoulder for support.

“Gregory wanted to marry you first, but Turner laughed. Gregory wanted Tamzin dead to make Roth advance against Will, specifically, but I think he was also insulted that Turner said he wasn’t good enough for you,” Garrett explained as he reached behind his back and pulled out an array of letters that were tucked in his back pocket.

“I have been writing Gregory since we arrived in Roth. I have lied to him about everything, from the amount of soldiers we have to how your relationship with Tamzin has been. Until today, when we slaughtered his men and took in the rest for questioning, Gregory thought we only have roughly 500 Thurston men that resented you and thought you,” Garrett nodded to Tamzin, “were willing to negotiate a treaty to get out of your marriage to Will. Gregory probably would have married you himself, named myself his heir, and lured Douglas Johansson into a trap to get his land and wealth.”

“And what would my father have done to my son and myself?” Will asked, though he could only imagine what the answer could have been.

“I believe he would have killed you eventually, but I know, for sure, he would have murdered your son,” Garrett said as his voice cracked. “Gregory thought, or still thinks, that Liam was born months ago and is a sickly girl. He doesn’t know that Liam is in fine health and full term, as well as a boy. I know that I have deceived you, Will, but you’re my family…”

“Apparently so is my father. Are you helping him as well?” Will asked with anger as he looked down at his sleeping son. He could see silent tears on Tamzin’s cheeks as she rested her cheek against Liam’s head. The baby stirred softly, but did not wake.

“You were my brother before I knew for sure. Everyone has viewed me as a lecher, but you think I’m more than that. I want what is best for the Realm and Gregory Thurston is not remotely close. I wouldn’t do anything to hurt you, Tamzin, or my nephew,” Garrett pleaded as he ran his hand through his hair. It was, apparently, a family trait.

“Read the letters,” Tamzin said with a heavy voice. “Gregory is arrogant and will implicate himself easily in the letters. We will see if Garrett is loyal through clues in the letters.”

“Please!” Garrett exclaimed. “Read them. Search my chambers, any place you think I would hide. You will also find that Gregory murdered the Johanssons for complete loyalty of the soldiers and the people. That is the smoke we saw coming from the direction of the Johansson Territory.”

“A smart move,” Will heard one of the council men murmur to another.

“I will read the letters and confiscate everything you own. You understand that I will keep you barricaded in a room while I investigate. I will keep Seraphina separated from you as well. If everything that you said is true, I will release you and I will consider restoring your standing. You may be a liability, now that my father knows you betrayed him,” Will asked as his fingers swept across Tamzin’s collarbone.

“I know that,” Garrett said honestly as his hands came to rest by his side. “I told you in Roth that when the time came, I would explain everything.”

“And I have yet to see that,” Will responded emotionlessly. “Take him to the tower. Bring him regular meals, but never leave less than two guards outside his door. When he leaves, I will tell you where to place Seraphina,” Will said as he watched a Bradford and Roth soldier place cuffs on Garrett’s wrists. “I hope you have told me the truth.”

“You know I have,” Garrett smiled as he nodded to Tamzin. “Thank you for defending me.”

Though Tamzin did not respond, she gave him a meaningful look. He betrayed her best friend, got a child on another woman, but Tamzin was sure Garrett had told the truth; however, Will was smart to investigate further. She looked down at her sleeping baby and pressed a kiss to his forehead. He cooed lightly, still asleep, and snuggled further into her chest. As Garrett was escorted from the room, Willem approached Will with Ethan by his side.

“He will be secure in the tower. There is a windowless room on the second floor that may be suitable for Seraphina. If Garrett has lied and escapes, he will most likely check the dungeons first,” Willem said as he put his hand on Will’s shoulder. “I’m sorry for what has happened.”

“I knew my father betrayed me, but I didn’t know how thick the plot was until now,” Will responded emotionlessly before he looked to Tamzin. “I need to get you two back to bed.” Will took Tamzin gently by the arm and helped her stand as she still cradled their son. He watched as Tamzin stood, she winced lightly and tightened the grip she had Liam. Liam didn’t seem to mind the movement as he snuggled further into his mother’s chest.

Though Liam wasn’t even a full day old, Will could not wrap around his head that the tiny baby was a part of him. Tamzin brushed his dark hair and she wept with happiness when Jacque told her, while they were underground, Liam’s lighter colored navy eyes would most likely change to Will’s ice blue.

As they left the War Room, the couple found Katya waiting outside with her arms crossed over her chest. Will was reminded how young his sister was. She was barely fifteen and would probably be wedded in a few short months, but how she paced and bit her nails, she was still so immature and unworldly.

She nearly leapt in excitement when she saw Tamzin and Liam. Though Katya had not spent much time with Liam since his birth, Will could see that she was adamantly excited about being an aunt. Nicola was the same way. After Will and Tamzin spent time together following Liam’s birth, Nicola held Liam for almost an hour until Willem demanded to see “his first grandchild,” as he put it.

Will’s first thought was to correct him, to remind Willem that they shared no blood, Will found that he traded in a cold, calculating, and seemingly disloyal father for a mother that tried to make amends, though Will was unsure if he was ready to forgive her; a stepfather that had been unfailingly kind to him and Tamzin since they arrived, and accepted Will’s child without a second thought; a younger brother and sister who thought he was beginning to bond with, something Will had never experienced before. And now there was Liam, the child that everyone was already in love with, Will included.

“I could have tended to Liam for you!” Katya said as she peered at the baby from the side. “You must need some rest, Tamzin.”

“I will let you watch him soon, Katya,” Tamzin smiled as she leaned against Will for support.

“But not now,” Will interrupted as he steered Tamzin towards the stairs. “She needs a long bath and rest.”

“Will,” Tamzin scolded lightly as she adjusted Liam in her arms. “Katya, would you mind asking your mother for some lavender oil that I can put in the bathwater?” Tamzin asked sweetly as Katya continued to stare at Liam.

“Of course!” Katya squeaked before she curtsied. “I will have the girls bring up the warm water very soon!”

“Katya, you don’t have to curtsey. We’re sisters, remember?” Tamzin smiled before she felt Liam fidget slightly in her arms. “I think he’s hungry.”

“Bring the warm water in a half hour or so,” Will said to Katya as he pressed his hand into her lower back. Slowly, Tamzin walked up the stairs and winced every few steps and Liam’s soft whines became soft cries.

“It’s alright, my love,” Will heard Tamzin murmur to their son as Will looked, out of the corner of his eye, at their small family. Tamzin was still exhausted, as evident by the circles underneath her eyes and her slightly pale skin. Her normally shiny hair was thrown up at the top of her head and held together with pins. Her face was still slightly puffy, but it didn’t diminish her beauty. Liam was still tiny and wrinkly, though he opened his eyes more and was looking at Will.

When he was born, Will was amazed to watch Liam cling to his mother after Nicola put Liam on Tamzin’s chest. It was like Liam knew exactly who Tamzin was and his birth cries slowed and stopped after only a few moments on her chest. It was the only moment of peace, before everything started to slide downhill. Will was unsure if he had ever seen anything so memorizing, in that quiet moment.

With his hands under her arms, Will practically picked Tamzin up and carried her down the opposite hallway and into their chambers. When he closed the door behind them, Will did pick up Tamzin and gently deposited her on the bed. Tamzin rolled to her side and placed Liam on the bed next to her. The sleeping baby continued to slumber and Will sat down on the bed next to them.

A battle was won, his baby was now born, and Tamzin was safe.

It should have been an excellent day, an accomplished day, but he felt nothing like that.

“What happens now?” Tamzin asked.

“I don’t know,” Will said before he touched her bare leg and sighed. “Everything I have ever known is a lie.”

“Not everything,” Tamzin said as she sat up and felt him shift into her arms. “In this place, you are surrounded by love. I love you, your baby loves you, as does your mother and her husband. Every person in this palace wants what is best for you.”

Will was silent for a moment, before the door burst open. He was half expecting to see the girls with Tamzin’s bath water, but found Paul instead. He was out of breath and heaving, with his hands on his knees.

“You need to come down stairs immediately. Both of you,” he said breathlessly as he lurched forward and grabbed Will by his armor. “I have never seen anything like it before!”

Alarmed, Will rushed down the hall, and left Tamzin behind. As he arrived in the entranceway, he saw what his uncle had spoke of. Coming through the gates of the compound and waiting in the training yard were thousands of soldiers. On a horseback was a man wearing Roth colors and another man who wore the colors of his aunt’s territory. Both men dismounted from their horses when they saw Will standing in the entrance.

“William Thurston, His Royal Highness Turner Roth and Her Royal Highness, Queen Isabelle of the families Bradford and Thurston have sent men with their royal decrees,” the first man began as he took a scroll from the inside of his cloak and extended it down. As he extended the scroll, he began to read:

“The Northern Territories of Roth and Bradford and Thurston, after countless meetings, have decreed that Gregory Thurston, who has laid claim to Johansson Territory, are now enemies of the Realm. With this, the King and Queen have decided that one leader must emerge from the nations to unite the North against the South. With the consent of King Turner, Queen Isabelle, and King Aidan Bradford, the Northern Territories and all those loyal to the North have named Prince William Thurston and Princess Tamzin Thurston the King and Queen of the Realm. All families have sworn loyalty and fealty to the King and Queen and those who have not are enemies of the Realm. With this, Roth, Bradford, and the Northern Territories submit all powers to William and Tamzin Thurston.” The man unsheathed his sword and held it up to the sky, followed by the thousands of soldiers behind them. “Long live the King!”

“The Thurston King!”

“William the First!”

“The King of the North!”

“The King of the Realm!”