Lost Princess (28 page)

Ryleigh brought an image of the throne room in Cymmera. She’d prefer to take Mia and go straight to the comfort and safety of their chambers, but all of them needed to transfer together. Of course, she had no clue if the castle was still under attack.

She hesitated. Maybe she should bring them back to the stable. Surely, Elijah would be gone by now. All right. She couldn’t stand here all day. Just make a decision and go with it. Energy gathered. What if another ball of fire erupted before she could control it? What if she hurt someone? Fear at her newfound power mingled with the lingering exhilaration. “Stand behind me.”

The men obeyed instantly.

She harnessed the power, lifted her hands, and tore open a portal to Cymmera. Perhaps Chayce and Thaddeus had perished in the flames after all.

She stepped through with her arm around Mia and her soldiers on her heels.

A lone figure sat slumped on the throne, lost in the shadows.

Jackson?

Hope flared.

The figure shifted, casting off some of the darkness. Elijah stood. “My Queen.” He bowed and rushed to her side.

“Is the castle still under siege?”

“No, Your Majesty.” He studied Mia, searched for any sign of injury. “The attack ended almost immediately after our Guard invaded Argonas. Chayce must have called his soldiers back as soon as he realized what was happening.” He pressed his hands against the bruises on Mia’s face.

“Is everyone…” Alive? “All right?” She prayed fervently none of her people had lost their lives in the skirmish.

“The healers have been working tirelessly.” A small smile formed. “Everyone here is fine. Or, at least, will be. How about your men? Is anyone hurt?”

She looked around her. “I don’t think so, but we’re exhausted. Could you please find a place for my men to wash up and sleep?”

“Of course, Your Majesty. Their quarters have already been prepared. They will remain in the castle for now.” He held her gaze. “Just in case.”

Ryleigh’s ears popped. Shoving Mia behind her, she ripped her sword from the sheath just as a portal opened.

Noah stumbled through with a tiny, filthy woman right behind him.

Ranger stepped through a second later, a man hanging limply over his shoulder. A man she’d recognize anywhere.

“Jackson.” She ran to him.

Ranger lowered him to the ground.

Ryleigh fell to her knees and bent over him. Get him to his chambers. Find Kiara. Go. Now. Her mind issued the commands, but the words never left her lips. Unable to force the words past the stranglehold fear had on her throat, she gave up and kept her focus on Jackson.

She lifted her head, for the first time noticing the severe damage to his body. It seemed some injury or another covered every inch of him. Was he even breathing? Intent on making sure his heart was still beating, she reached for him but couldn’t find a single unmarked spot on his bare chest. She allowed her hand to hover above him for a moment before settling on holding his hand. Gently.

The instant her hand met his, sparks flew.

* * * *

Awareness stirred in Jackson’s mind. He tried to claw his way to the surface. Ryleigh. His eyes shot open, the thought of Ryleigh bringing him instantly awake.

She jumped, gripping his hand tighter.

Sparks ignited between them, flared within him. Heat rushed through every ounce of his being. She was too close. She could never get close enough. “Where?” The hoarse croak was all he could manage.

“It’s okay, Jackson. You’re home now, in your bed. Safe. Nothing can hurt you now.” A tear dripped onto their clasped hands.

Except you, Ryleigh. Only you hold the power to hurt me
.
He shifted, and pain slammed through him. Gritting his teeth, he tried to roll over and face her.

She put out a hand and stopped him, then climbed over him and sat on the bed at his side. Sitting with her back against the headboard, she cradled his head in her lap.

Her soft cries broke his heart. The feel of her fingers weaving through his hair, the soft scratch of her nails against his scalp, eased the fear. Brought comfort.

Ryleigh. She was his. Feelings stirred. Feelings he was beginning to get a better grip on. Starting to understand a little more. Trust. Love. Desire. Need. They didn’t scare him as much now. He reached for them. Embraced them. He forced the word through his raw throat. “Sorry.”

Ryleigh sobbed. Her tears fell warm against his chilled skin. “Oh, no.” She pressed his hand against her cheek.

“Forgive. Me.”

She pulled away from him, covered her face with her hands. “Jackson, there’s—”

The door eased open with a screech. “You’re awake.” Ranger held the door open for Kiara and Elijah to precede him into the chamber. “How do you feel?”

Jackson shot him a look.

Ranger only laughed. “That good, huh?”

Ryleigh wiped her face and stood as Kiara set a large basin on the table next to the bed.

Elijah pushed a chair closer and held it for Kiara as she sat.

The sense of betrayal that had ridden Jackson so brutally since he first found out about Kai softened. Lost some of its importance. These people cared for him. Whatever was bothering Ryleigh, she was still at his side. No matter they’d had a terrible fight. No matter he hadn’t trusted her. No matter he’d hurt her.

He reached for her, and she placed her hand in his, squeezed. Offering reassurance. Was she going to tell him she was leaving him? A shudder shook him. She couldn’t. She wouldn’t have to, because he’d do whatever it took to keep her.

“Are you feeling any better?” Kiara pressed a cool rag to his head, slid it down his face and along his neck. She dunked the rag into the basin again, wrung it out, and repeated the gesture on the other side. “I’m going to work on healing you some more, if that’s okay.”

He nodded to the soft-spoken woman. Dark circles ringed her eyes. Exhaustion dulled her usually glowing complexion. Healing injuries like his would have taken everything out of her, drained her completely, and yet, here she was, ready to put herself further at risk to help him. He’d always viewed Kiara as delicate, fragile. He’d been wrong. The healer had a core of steel.

Kiara pressed her hands against his chest. A soft blue glow emanated from her hands, enveloped him. Power. Strength. Love. Surprise shook him. Apparently, the females of his people were still capable of the emotion. Had only the men become so hardened? So hopeless?

Ranger leaned over her shoulder. He remained silent, his expression hard, but it didn’t matter. The concern in his frown said everything. So did the fact that he’d risked his life to go after Jackson.

Ranger had never spoken of his experience in the torture chambers of Argonas, but everyone knew he’d spent time there. Everyone knew it had changed him. Going back into those tunnels must have been one of the hardest things the other man had ever done.

Tears pricked the back of Jackson’s eyes. Emotion choked him. When the savages had been invading the tunnels and he’d thought of hiding in the torture chamber, he hadn’t been able to do it. He couldn’t force himself back into that chamber. Not even to save the other’s who’d come to rescue him. He would have died fighting before he’d have gone back into that room. He closed his eyes to keep the tears from spilling over.

“You have to relax, Jackson,” Kiara reprimanded softly. “You won’t heal if you don’t calm down.”

He took a deep breath. Held it. Blew it out slowly, once again gaining some tentative measure of control over his emotions. He opened his eyes, but shifted his gaze away from Ranger.

He almost missed Elijah, who was mostly concealed by shadows. If not for the small movement when the seer shifted, he would have. His long hair stood out in a wild mane around his head. His hand shook when he swiped it across his brow. He slumped against the wall, his gaze riveted on Jackson.

Jackson shivered. How would he ever do right by all of these people? People who cared for him. People who deserved a strong leader.

Ryleigh squeezed his hand, bringing his focus back.

Everyone was staring at him. Had he missed something?

Kiara broke the silence. “Do you feel any better?”

Jackson braced himself for the flare of pain as he flexed his stomach muscles, an action that had brought intense pain before now. Still a dull ache, but nothing like the agony he’d endured earlier.

He smiled at Kiara and reached for her hand. “Better. Thank you.”

She clasped his hand in both of hers before releasing him and reaching for a cup. “Here. If you can sit up a little, you can have some water now.”

With Ryleigh and Ranger’s help, he slid back and sat against the headboard.

The movement left him winded, but comfortable. He sipped gratefully from the cup. The coolness against the burn of his raw throat eased the worst of the pain.

He reached for the energy within him, searched for the power that would allow him to heal even further. He had to regain his strength. Quickly. They would have to go after Chayce soon.

Dakota. They’d have to go after him. Now. Jackson threw the covers back and swung his feet over the side of the bed. He only hesitated a second to get his bearings.

“Hey. Where do you think you’re going?” Elijah stepped forward.

Ranger placed a gentle hand against his shoulder.

“Let me up. I have to go after Dakota. He was with me when…” He shook his head in a desperate attempt to clear the fog of confusion. What exactly had happened? They’d been attacked. He remembered that. But he hadn’t been able to find Dakota. Had he been killed? Wounded? Jackson stilled. Had he betrayed him? Pledged his loyalty to Chayce?

No. No way.

“Chayce is a traitor.” The thought still stung.

“We know, my son.” Elijah took Kiara’s place in the chair at his bedside. “And Dakota is fine. He’ll be in to see you as soon as Kiara gives the word.”

“You found him?” Relief shot through him. “He told you about Chayce then?”

Elijah smiled. “Actually, no. Queen Ryleigh told us.”

Jackson’s gaze shot to Ryleigh, waiting for her to reprimand Elijah for referring to her as Queen.

A blush crept up her cheeks, and she lowered her gaze and caught her lower lip between her teeth.

“What’s going on here?” He narrowed his eyes, watching her intently.

She studied her foot, apparently fascinated at how the toe of her boot scraped a circular pattern on the floor. Either that, or she was trying to avoid looking at him.

Elijah cleared his throat.

Ranger smirked.

Kiara stood behind Elijah, twisting the damp rag in her hands.

“All right. One of you spit it out.” He pinned them one at a time with his sternest expression.

Ranger laughed out loud. “It would seem your meek, little woman has nerves of steel.”

Ryleigh gasped as her gaze shot to Ranger.

“The whole kingdom is abuzz with the news.” Elijah’s grin sparkled in the blue of his eyes. “It was quite impressive, if I do say so.”

Jackson threw up his hands. “What was?”

“Why, Ryleigh’s ascension to the throne, of course.” Elijah beamed with pride. “After she rescued Dakota and brought him back to life, that is.”

Jackson’s mouth fell open as he turned and stared at Ryleigh.

Her entire face burned red as she bit back a grin. “Well…” She lifted her gaze to his and shrugged. “Someone had to do it, and since you were busy elsewhere, I figured it may as well be me.”

Jackson scrubbed his hands over his face, the sharp sting in his cheek a not so gentle reminder of the injuries he still suffered.

“All right. That’s it.” Kiara stepped forward, hung the rag over the rim, and lifted the basin. “Everyone out now. Jackson needs his rest. I’ll allow one of you to stay with him, but that’s it. I don’t want anyone else in here for at least a few hours.”

Elijah jumped up, and Ranger muttered excuses as they both headed for the door.

Kiara followed, then turned and shot Jackson a quick wink before pulling the door closed behind her.

He focused his full attention on Ryleigh.

She pursed her lips, keeping her gaze averted.

“Come here.” He held out a hand.

She stayed where she was.

“Please.”

She smiled and reached for his hand, allowing him to pull her onto the bed between his legs. She pressed her back against him and snuggled close as he curled his body around her protectively.

The scent of strawberries touched him in a way nothing else could have. Overwhelmed by the feeling he’d come close to losing her, Jackson buried his nose in her hair and hugged her tighter.

“Tell me.”

She weaved her fingers into his and nuzzled her cheek against his hand. “Everything went crazy. First, the Divination Stone was stolen. Then, when I returned from finding it, the kingdom was in chaos. You were missing…” She shot him a glare over her shoulder. “No one was in charge, everyone was fighting. I just figured someone better take charge.” She shrugged. “So I did.”

Jackson turned her until she knelt facing him. He smoothed her hair back from her face, traced the line of her jaw with his finger. Pride filled him. “Keep going.” He lifted their joined hands and kissed her fingers.

“Okay.” Her breathless whisper sent heat rushing through him. “When the savages attacked the castle,”

He lowered his head onto their joined hands.

“And traitors kidnapped Mia,”

He really couldn’t take any more.

“She’s fine now, though. I called the Queen’s army, well…my army, I guess.”

Her laughter chased away some of the chill.

“And I took them to Argonas, with Dakota in charge, and saved Mia while Ranger and Noah went and found you.”

Questions battered him, swirled through his mind in a dizzying array. But one stood out above all of the others. Well, two really. “Mia’s okay?”

“Yes. She and Dakota are both fine. Promise.”

“Okay, then.” He used his free hand to rub the tension from the back of his neck. “How did you get Noah to come after me?”

“Actually, I didn’t have to. He offered when he saw I didn’t trust Ranger.”

“Just like that?” Why did he find that so hard to believe? An image of Noah’s cocky grin popped into Jackson’s mind. Oh, yeah. That’s why.