Lost Princess (29 page)

Ryleigh grinned, her feelings for the other man obvious in the way her gaze softened when she smiled. “He did say I’m going to owe him one.”

His grip tightened.

“Ouch.” She yanked her hand from his grasp and rubbed her fingers.

He tamped down the anger, buried it just below the surface. “Sorry.” He waged a desperate struggle to reign in his temper. “I’m sorry, Ryleigh.” He settled back against the headboard, working hard to relax the tension from his muscles. “While I was in that dungeon…”

Memories assailed him, some more painful than anything he’d endured at Chayce’s hand. Visions of Ryleigh in another man’s arms, visions of Ryleigh moving on with her life…without him. He shook his head to rid himself of the images.

The ache in his heart was a dull pain he couldn’t ease. “I can’t be without you, Ryleigh. I don’t want to be without you.”

Ryleigh moved closer, knelt facing him, straddling his legs. She looked deep into his eyes, her gaze unwavering. “I don’t want to be without you either, Jackson.” She looked down for a second. Two. Shook her head.

He held his breath, waiting for the, but.

She lifted her gaze to meet his. “I love you, with all of my heart. I’m very sure of that now.” She shrugged. “I think I always was, but…” She gestured around her. “All of this…it scared me. You scared me.”

He ran a finger across her full lips and whispered, “You don’t ever have to be afraid of me. I would never hurt you, Ryleigh. And I will never leave you. You’re mine. Forever.”

She opened her mouth and took a breath, but he didn’t give her the chance to speak.

Pressing his finger gently against her lips, he continued. “I know you can’t stay here yet. Your place is with Mia. I understand that, respect it, agree with it, even. But I can’t be without you anymore. So…”

Ryleigh. The one thing that had kept him sane through everything he’d suffered. The one person he could trust most. The woman he’d devote his life to. The woman he’d lived for. “I love you, Ryleigh. More than life. I’m going to train someone, probably Darius, to take my place until you and Mia are ready to return to Cymmera, and I’m going to come with you to the human realm.”

Tears poured down her cheeks.

“If you’ll have me, that is.”

She kissed his finger, and he lowered it slowly.

“I don’t want you to do that.”

Hurt welled in his gut.

She slid closer to him, their faces separated by no more than an inch. “We’re staying, Jackson.” She cradled his cheeks in the warmth of her hands. “There’s nothing for us there anymore. This is home now. Mia has grown so much stronger. She will probably need to go back now and then and stay with the Jacobs’, but her place is here now. Besides,” Her smile lit her whole face. “I don’t think Dakota will let her out of his sight ever again.”

Jackson pulled her closer, pressed his lips against hers, the kiss gentle, tender, filled with all of the love surging through his core.

She hesitated, pulled away. “Am I hurting you?” Her eyes, already the deepest shade of blue he’d ever seen, darkened with desire.

“Never.” He dragged her against him, and his lips crashed down on hers. Needing to be closer, he tumbled her onto the bed and rolled with her, hovered above her.

Jackson stared into her eyes, searching for even the smallest hint of uncertainty. He found only confidence and strength. Heat flared in his gut. He let his eyes fall closed as he claimed her mouth once again.

Chanting filled his mind. Ancient. Binding. Promises of love. Protection. Strength. Loyalty. He gave himself to her completely. Gave everything he was, everything he ever would be. Together, they’d grow. Together, they’d prosper. Together, they’d build a kingdom, a family, a life.

Her mind opened to his, their thoughts melding together as one. Her heart stuttered, and he pulled her closer, reassured her. Eased her fears, brought her comfort. Her feelings poured into him. Emotions he’d tried to bury, tried to hide from, tried to ignore, now found a place in his heart. And, this time, he welcomed them.

The chanting increased, grew louder, more insistent. A chorus of male voices resonating in her head. She started to pull away.

Jackson froze. Waited. His mind opened and held hers, his love flowing between them, his memories washing over her in an avalanche of sensation. The pain he’d endured, the desperate hope he’d clung to that they’d become one. If he could only reach her. Touch her. Hold her.

The fear subsided. Ryleigh gave herself to Jackson. Opened her mind, her heart, her soul. They’d be one. Rule as one. Live as one.

Female voices joined the men. Their partners. Their equals. Assuring her of her independence, her importance. She relaxed. This was right. What should be. What was meant to be. Her destiny? Fate?

They’d each showed strength alone, now it was time to unite, to become one. Together, they’d be stronger than ever.

The chanting reached a fervent pitch, the ancient words tumbling over one another. Passionate. Strong. Building. The tempo increased. Reached a crescendo. Climaxed.

Jackson pulled back and stared at her, his arms shaking as he held his weight above her. His lips red and swollen, his gaze intense. “Ryleigh.”

“Shh…” She smoothed the hair that had fallen over his face as he looked down at her. “It’s okay, Jackson.” She smiled. “Everything is good.”

He rolled over, taking her with him. She lay beside him, head resting on his chest. His heart pounded against her cheek, the rhythm matching hers exactly.

She trailed a finger across his stomach, but he put his hand on hers to stop her. “Don’t.” Desire darkened his almost black eyes. “Not if you don’t want this to go any further.”

She stilled. Held his gaze. Did she want more? Not yet. Then turned her hand over and weaved her fingers through his. Fireworks.

Smoothing her hair, he placed a gentle kiss on her head. “Come on.”

“Where are we going?”

He sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bed, then sat with his head down. “We have a kingdom to rule.” He lifted his gaze to hers. “Unless you’d rather stay here and do something else?”

She stared at him.

He waggled his eyebrows and shot her his typical cocky grin.

She laughed as they stood.

Jackson lifted a black t-shirt from the back of the chair and pulled it over his head. He stepped into his black boots, then grabbed her hand. “Ready?”

“As I’ll ever be.”

Jackson pulled the bedroom door open and found Nika and Nahara standing guard on the other side. He released Ryleigh’s hand and opened his arms for the hounds to rest their heads against him. A moment later, Jackson welcomed Ryleigh into the embrace.

A sense of belonging filled her.

Movement drew her attention, and she lifted her head. “Max.” She ran to the wolf and threw her arms around his massive neck. “Oh, Max.” Nuzzling her cheek against his fur, she indulged in one moment of peace before pulling away.

Jackson stood staring at her, one eyebrow cocked in question.

“It’s a long story.” She reached for his hand.

He placed his hand in hers, and together, they headed toward the door, Max in what had become his customary position at her right hip.

“Does he go everywhere with you?”

“Yup.” She grinned, but the smile faltered a moment later as they walked down the corridor. “Can I ask you something?”

“Of course.” He pressed her fingers to his lips, then released her hand and pulled her beneath his arm.

Heat crept up her cheeks. “When I was in Argonas, I pulled the Divination Stone from my pocket, expecting some sort of revelation of great importance.” She paused, glancing up to gauge his reaction.

He stared back at her, head tilted, waiting.

She avoided his gaze. “It showed you walking with your arm around a woman.” She shrugged, not really sure where to go from there. What could the importance of the vision have been?

The silence stretched on endlessly, and Ryleigh shifted uncomfortably from his side, forcing her gaze back to his.

His expression was blank.

Her nerves sizzled. “Do you know who she was?”

He frowned. “I assumed it was you.”

A rush of love filled her, and she snuggled back against him. The image in the stone hadn’t been her, but it hadn’t meant Jackson was with someone else either. “No. It wasn’t me. At first I thought it was Mia, the girl appeared so tiny.”

Jackson stopped walking. “Payton.”

“Who?”

“Payton. A young woman we found in the tunnels while trying to escape.” He shook his head. “I don’t quite trust her, can’t figure out what she was doing down there.” When he gripped Ryleigh’s hand and moved forward again, his stride held more purpose. “We must find out, though, because we brought her back with us.”

Increasing her pace to keep up with him, Ryleigh thought back to the moment he’d emerged from the portal. Noah had come through. And a small woman. She remembered now. Once Jackson had stumbled through, in the condition he was in she’d forgotten about everything else.

“She was a prisoner?”

“It seemed so.” He frowned as they approached the throne room.

Two guards stood sentinel at the doors. They bowed as Ryleigh and Jackson approached, keeping their gazes firmly pinned on Max.

Jackson nodded once. “Please send for Elijah, Darius, Tatiana, and Caleb.”

“Of course, Your Majesty.” They pulled the doors open.

“Hey, Ryleigh. Wait up.” Mia’s soft footsteps preceded her down the corridor.

Dakota jogged at her side, several large scrolls tucked beneath his arm.

As soon as Mia reached her, she wrapped her arms around Ryleigh.

“Hey. What’s that for?” Ryleigh snuggled Mia close. Love surged through her, warmed her heart.

Mia pulled back too soon, before Ryleigh was ready to release her. She’d never be ready to let go.

Mia stared back at her, her eyes brimming with tears. “For coming to get me.”

Ryleigh’s heart shattered. “Oh, Mia.” She pulled her back into a tighter embraced, smoothed her hair. “Of course I came for you.”

“No. You don’t understand.” Mia shook her head, the mass of curls tumbling as she backed up and caught Ryleigh’s gaze. “You didn’t have to come get me. You could have sent someone. You risked your life to come for me, though, and I want you to know how much that meant to me.”

Keeping her gaze firmly locked on Mia’s, Ryleigh nodded. “You’re welcome. I love you, little sis.”

“I love you too, big sis.” She grinned, and an image of the little girl she’d been surfaced. “Wanna know a secret?” She glanced over her shoulder, then back to Ryleigh as she lowered her voice. “I knew you would. Never doubted it for a second.”

Ryleigh couldn’t hold back the smile. “Because you know how much I love you?”

“Nah. Because I know what a control freak you are.” Laughter echoed through the chamber.

Ryleigh pinched her arm. “Brat.”

“Touche.”

“Come on.” She led Mia into the chamber.

Dakota and Jackson stood at a long table they’d set in front of the dais. Jackson’s hand rested on his friend’s shoulder as they hunched over a large scroll spread before them.

“Jackson.” Mia ran to him and threw her arms around him the instant he turned.

He wrapped his arms around her waist, lifted her off the floor, and spun her in a circle, eliciting a fit of giggles. He placed her back on her feet, and his expression turned serious. “Are you all right?”

A surge of love choked Ryleigh.

“I’m okay, now that I’m back home.”

“I’m sorry I wasn’t here to protect you.” He tucked her hair back. “I promise you, he’ll never hurt you again. You have nothing to fear. Okay?”

She nodded and hugged him again.

When she turned away, Dakota reached an arm around her shoulder and pulled her close.

Mia bit her lip but couldn’t hide the smile.

Ryleigh was so not ready for this.

“You know, Jackson…” Dakota paused, running his finger over something on the parchment in front of him. I’m pretty sure I saw something like this recently.” A scowl creased his features.

Ryleigh bent over the table to see what he was pointing at. Lines and marks dotted the brittle page, in what appeared to be layers. It made no sense to her.

“A map of the realms, but more detailed. If we could just figure…” He snapped his fingers. “I’ve got it. The book we were looking at.” He turned to Mia. “The one Elijah gave you. Remember?” A horrified expression crossed his face. “Uh oh.”

“The one Chayce was reading with you?” Jackson propped his hands low on his hips.

“Yeah. Mia, where’s that book? Do you still have it?”

“Sure. It’s in my room. Do you want me to go get it?”

Ryleigh’s heart lurched. Ridiculous. She couldn’t have heart failure every time Mia wanted to go somewhere in the castle.

“Yeah, but I’ll go with you.” Dakota squeezed her shoulders quick before releasing her and turning to Jackson.

Apparently Ryleigh wasn’t the only one with concerns about security.

The door opened, and Elijah, Darius, Tatiana, and Caleb entered. “Your Majesty.”

“Yes, thank you for coming.”

“By the time you finish updating everyone, we’ll be back with the book.” Dakota grabbed Mia’s hand as they fled.

Jackson gestured for the others to join him around the table. “Dakota dug up scrolls with layouts of the realms, but it’s difficult to decipher all of the layers. He went to get the book Elijah gave Mia, said he remembered seeing a map of the realms in there. We have to figure out where Chayce would have fled.” He took a moment and met each of their gazes. “We must find him if we’re going to keep Cymmera safe.”

“Speaking of keeping Cymmera safe, I have the prisoner waiting for you to see, Your Majesty.” Elijah pulled chairs from behind a curtain toward the table.

Ryleigh grabbed one from him and pulled it over for Jackson.

Jackson frowned. “Prisoner?”

“Yes. The woman from the tunnels?”

“Bring her in.” Ignoring the chair, Jackson ascended the platform and paced back and forth before the thrones, hands clasped behind his back, head down.