Dragon's Heart (5 page)

Serena was half-asleep, curled up on the narrow bed in the small, windowless chamber where she’d been confined since Andreas’s death. She shifted, trying to get comfortable on the bed that was too short for her. Sighing, Serena closed her eyes, blocking out the sounds of the castle around her, something she’d become good at during the past few days. The door opened, but she didn’t move, certain it was just the guard bringing her evening meal. If she ignored him, he would leave it and go without bothering her. A soft breath escaped her visitor’s lips, and she didn’t hear the telltale thump of the door closing.

“Whatever it is you have to say, do so and be gone,” she said in an unpleasant tone.

“I suppose that means you do not want word of your release,” Killian said with a hint of amusement in his words, “and you do not wish to see me?”

Serena snapped to full wakefulness and turned to find him kneeling beside her bed, a half-smile curling his lips. “Gods, I’ve missed you,” she whispered even as her gaze darted from his face to the door behind him. It was closed. They were alone and could enjoy a rare moment of complete privacy.

“And I, you,” he whispered, cupping her cheek with one hand. “Serena, I swear to you, I will find a way for us to be together.” He curved his hand around the back of her neck and drew her in for a kiss.

When he pulled away, she licked her lips and smiled, though her eyes held a hint of sadness. “Do not make promises you cannot keep, my prince.”

He started to speak, but she stopped him by pressing her fingers to his lips.

“I love you. However, we both know the reality. You are the prince, and I am a commoner.” She cupped his cheek with her hand and gave him a quick kiss. “We cannot change that. As you once said, we need to enjoy what we have, for as long as we have it.”

Something tugged at the back of Killian’s mind, a feeling that had drawn him to Serena since they’d first become friends and grew as the relationship had become something more. He stood and offered her his hand. “Would you care to go for a walk?”

She placed her smaller hand in his and pulled herself to her feet, running the fingers of her other hand through her hair. He smiled, seeing the blush he loved blooming on her cheeks creeping its way down her throat. She glanced up at him with a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. “I have one request, my prince.”

“What is that?” He reached up and tucked an errant strand of hair behind her ear.

“Can we walk in the gardens? I’ve been trapped inside for almost a full week.” She let out a heavy sigh. “I am going crazy.”

Killian chuckled and offered her his arm. “As my lady wishes.” Arm in arm, they took a few steps to the door. Just before they crossed the threshold, they separated and put a socially acceptable distance between them, to keep the court gossips from making more of their walk than they cared to let anyone know.

K
illian walked through the halls
, the chatter of the court women following him as he made his way from the practice field to his chambers. His muscles ached from his morning bout with Serena, and his head throbbed from listening to the complaints of household staff, and another discussion with his grandmother about his eventual marriage.
It’s not as if I have any power to change either situation. The queen doesn’t much care about the staff’s troubles, and we remain at an impasse over the matter of my future wife.
He sighed and pushed open the door to his chambers, closing and leaning against it for a moment. Killian dropped his head back to the door and closed his eyes, reveling in the temporary silence settling over him.

“Your Highness?” His valet, Thomas, broke through Killian’s reverie.

I thought I was going to have a moment’s peace. What I wouldn’t give to be someone else. Preferably anyone without a title or obligations. A man who could steal a few minutes of solitude and be with his love. Alas, it is not my lot in life.
The prince shook himself and put his blank court mask in place before opening his eyes and pushing away from the doors. “Yes, Thomas?”

“Is there anything you need before the ball tonight?”

“The ball?” He shook his head and frowned.
What ball? What have I forgotten?

“Yes.” Thomas’s voice was gentle as he reminded the prince of his obligations, “Your father’s naming day ball. The court expects your attendance.”

“Right.” He rubbed his temples. “The ball, of course.”

“Is there anything you need?”

“No, thank you, Thomas. You’re dismissed until evening.” The prince strode past his valet and into the small study off the sitting room, closing the heavy door behind him. He walked over to his desk and sank down into the chair, feeling every ounce of energy he possessed leeched away in the space of a few heartbeats. Killian closed his eyes and rested his head in his hands, rubbing his temples. A slight shift in the air alerted him that someone was present. Moments later, a hand alighted on his shoulder.

“What troubles you, my prince?” Serena asked, voice full of concern.

“The usual,” he said with a heartfelt sigh.

“You must stop arguing with your grandmother about me.”

“It’s not just about you.” He sighed. “It’s about making choices for myself.”

“One day, you will become the ruler of the land. Your choices are not always your own.” Her voice was soft and persuasive.

“Are you coming around to the queen’s way of thinking?” Killian asked as he turned to face her, seeing pain in her eyes.

“No. Never.” Her lips brushed against his in a quick tender kiss. “I love you, no matter what happens. That is not going to change.”

“I do not doubt that.” The ghost of a smile flickered on his lips, and then it was gone, “However, I fear what will happen once I reach my majority.”

“An arranged marriage.” She sighed.

“Yes.” The answer was filled with such pain and uncertainty that she took his hand in hers and pulled him out of the chair.
We both know, all too well, that not all arranged marriages are happy, or even amiable. Who was that poor lady? Janelle, threw herself into the river after a storm rather than spend another day with her husband. Rumors always exist of common lovers.
He cupped her cheek with his hand, thumb stroking her soft skin.
Is their fate to be ours?

Wrapping Killian in her arms, Serena showed him the depth of her feelings with a long, passionate kiss. He pulled her with him as he dropped back into the chair, settling her on his lap. They sat in silence for a long time, Killian rubbing Serena’s back in long, even strokes. She laid her head on his shoulder and began humming a sweet tune.

“What are your plans for the evening?” Serena asked, breaking the spell.

“I must attend my father’s naming day ball.”

She glanced out the window, watching as the sky had taken on the first blushes of coming night. “Then I suppose I should let you go.”

“It would be wise. However, I don’t want to do that, just yet,” he said and slid both arms around her, keeping her from rising. “I am not quite ready to give you up in favor of the court for the evening.” Killian nuzzled her shoulder and let out a long, slow breath. Serena’s arms snaked around his waist, content to just sit and let her prince find a measure of peace in her presence. A knock on the door shattered the moment.

“Your Highness?” Thomas’s voice called through the heavy wood.

“Yes, Thomas?” Killian replied.

“Will you need some assistance with preparations for tonight’s ball?”

“Yes, thank you,” he sighed, “I will be out shortly. Please prepare a bath.”

“As you wish, Highness.”

“Thank you, Thomas.” He turned to Serena and pressed a gentle kiss on her lips.

“I should go,” she whispered.

“I would rather stay here or attend the party with you.”

“I know.” He kissed her and held out one hand so she could use it to balance as she stood. Having been his sparring partner for almost five years with several different types of weapons, Killian knew Serena’s balance was impeccable, but it was the proper gentlemanly thing to do.

Serena stood and tugged on his hand, pulling him to her. She smiled, and their eyes met before she reached up with her free hand and brought him close for an extended kiss.

“Will you be able to slip away tonight?” he asked, the latest argument with his grandmother still fresh in his mind.

“I will try.” She knew Killian well enough to realize that even though he seemed relaxed, it wasn’t so. With his majority drawing near, the pressure to marry a suitable noblewoman was growing and would only increase with each passing day. She could see the tension in his eyes… saw it in the way he threw himself into their training bouts… heard it in his voice when he promised her things they both knew could not be. “I love you,” she whispered tucking a few errant strands of dark hair behind his ear.

“I love you too.” He kissed her hand before walking to the door.

Serena slipped out the secret passage she’d used to enter, pausing before stealing a last look. Killian stood at the door with his hand on it, took a deep breath, straightened his shoulders and stepped through the opening without looking back.

Hours later, Killian strolled the palace halls with two members of the Royal Guard following close behind. The time he’d spent at the ball among the members of the court, having so-called suitable matches thrust at him, had left him feeling more restless than usual. He paused and turned to the guard on his left. “Ryan?”

“Yes, Highness?” he answered with a slight bow.

“Do you know if Serena is on duty tonight?”

Ryan let a slight smile curl his lips, “She is not, Your Highness.”

“Thank you.” He took one step away thinking about how much he wanted to see Serena, just to talk with her. The young noblewomen of the court and their parents hadn’t given him a moment’s peace during the ball. Though they chattered on endlessly, few of them took the time to ask about him. Those who did, used his answers as springboards to talk about themselves again. Reveling in the blessed silence, Killian walked through the corridors toward the gardens.
Even if she’s not out here, I can sit beside the spring and take some time to gather my thoughts.

He wandered the cobblestone paths to the head of the spring and sat on the nearby bench. His guards slipped into the shadows, giving him the illusion of privacy. Killian stared at the small waterfall that fed the spring, losing himself in the soothing sound of water running over rocks.

Ignoring the footfalls was easy, because if anyone Ryan and Michaels didn’t know and trust approached, they would keep them away until Killian gave them leave.

The newcomer stopped a few feet away, and Killian glanced up to see Serena standing in front of him. A quick smile flashed on his face, and he gestured to the bench beside him. Serena sat, making sure there was more than enough room between them so gossipmongers wouldn’t have any fodder for their wagging tongues come sunrise.

“You look pensive, my prince.” Serena wanted to reach out and brush the curl of dark hair from his forehead but held back because they were in the open and his guards were present.

Killian sighed and closed his eyes, taking a deep breath and nodding. He’d made a decision. “I spent the evening being paraded around like a prized stallion to be fawned over and pawed at before tendering an offer for me to stand stud.”

“I am certain it wasn’t as bad as that,” Serena whispered, with absolute sincerity.

“I would have preferred a quiet evening.”

“Care to talk to me about it?” she asked.

“It was like it always is.” He wanted to reach out and touch her, but knowing that doing so would have severe consequences, most of them for Serena, he refrained.

During their years together, she’d learned how to draw him out, so she asked. “Dancing?”

“Yes.” He sighed and shook his head. “With one of the Hillman girls. Not Abigail. She’s far too young. The other one.”

“Patrice.” The word came out as a low growl, and Serena’s hands balled into fists.

“Yes. Then there was Lady Deanna, from the coastlands, old enough to be my grandmother and yet still making it clear that she is ready and, in fact, eager, to take another husband.” Killian didn’t bother to suppress the shudder that ran through him at the thought of sharing a bed with that particular lady.

“Your grandmother would never allow it,” Serena assured him. “She is too old, and the purpose of such a marriage is to produce heirs.”

He let out a short high-pitched almost hysterical laugh. “The old woman assured me she is still quite fertile.” Making that admission seemed to open the floodgates, so Killian told Serena about every lady who had made overtures toward marriage.

As he spoke, Serena caught movement out of the corner of her eye. Although she wanted to dismiss it as one of the guards, something nagged at her. She found her eyes drawn back to the spot, trying to discern some new detail that might shed light on the matter. When Killian had finished speaking, she smiled. “I think it is time you returned to your chamber, my prince.” She didn’t say the longer they remained, the more concerned she became about the movement she’d seen. Serena wasn’t sure how to notify Ryan or Michaels without also alerting the unknown person… if someone was lurking… and it wasn’t just her imagination. “It appears you have had a long evening.” She stood and held out her hand.

“Excellent advice.” He smiled and took her hand, using it to steady himself as he stood.

To her right, a flash of silver caught Serena’s eye. Instinct and years of training took over.

If the arc of the throwing knife flew true, she knew where it would strike. An image flashed in her mind, the blade sinking into the soft flesh of his abdomen.

She pulled him close, wrapping her arms around him and twisting, so her back was to the deadly projectile. Killian’s surprised cry filled her ears.

A flash of white showed in Serena’s eyes as agony blossomed in her back. Her voice echoed in distress. She felt him under her, his hands grasping her shoulders. Each breath sent lances of pain through her, darkness playing along the edge of her vision.

“Serena?” his voice a whisper. His breath warm against her ear. “Forgive me, my love.”

She frowned, unsure of why he was apologizing.

His hands tightened on her upper arms, and Killian took a deep breath a moment before he moved them, rolling so her side was on the cobblestones.

She screamed as the dagger shifted within her flesh sending new lashes of pain through her body. Killian’s face filled her vision, his fearful gaze darting from her eyes to her wound and back. “I love you,” she whispered as the darkness rushed in, stealing her vision.

“No. Stay with me,” Killian said before Serena heard him call out to Michaels and Ryan, ordering them to send for a healer. The gloom took hold.