Bound by Sin (25 page)

“I imagine this must all be very exciting for you. I know it was for me when I was in the Overworld,” Jileana said. “Would you prefer to stay here, Dremu, or do you wish to return to the Overworld?” Then she thought better of the question. “You know what? You have three weeks to decide the answer to that. But think on it carefully. If you decide to stay, then you will have a place here. I promise you that. If not with me, then with a friend of mine in need of a servant, who desires someone different and intriguing. Right off, I can think of three people who would love to have you.”

“Th-thank you. That's very generous of you, my lady, b-but I wouldn't want to leave you.”

If Dremu wanted to stay here, then he would not be with her, because she had every intention of following Jaykun on his journeys through the Overworld. She didn't believe Jaykun could do anything to stand in the way of Silan or Barban, so she had no choice but to leave if she wanted to escape their plans for her. She needed her freedom, and she could think of no better place to find it than at Jaykun's side. She also needed his love, but that was another matter entirely.

“Well, as I said, we have a great deal of time to figure all that out.”

“Yes, my lady. But just so you know, no one's never treated me as kind as you and I'm not likely to forget it no time soon. Thank you, my lady.”

Jileana blushed under the devoted tone in his words. Jaykun watched her interact with Dremu with admiration. It took a very special person to change someone else's life for the better, and he had no doubt that was exactly what she had done for the lad. He felt his chest filling with pride for her, even though he had no right to feel any such thing. She was not his to feel prideful about. He tried to reject the feeling, but he simply couldn't pull it off. He was just too overcome by her generosity of spirit and the very kindness of her nature. No amount of distancing himself from her could make him feel any differently toward her.

It was entirely disconcerting.

Jaykun finished his meal in silence, watching the exchanges between Jileana and Dremu with noisy thoughts and mixed emotions.

T
he next day, when it was almost time for the midday meal, Jileana sighed and faced off with Jaykun. “What is it?” she asked him directly.

“What is what?” he asked in return.

“Why are you so quiet? I've had barely two words from you since the altercation with Barban. Is that what is troubling you?”

“That isn't troubling me in the slightest. I've hardly given Barban a second thought.”

“Then why are you so silent? What is it that you are thinking or worrying about?”

“It's nothing,” he lied. “I'm just concerned about my brothers.”

Clever Jileana eyed him with suspicion, but she didn't listen to her instincts; she instead accepted his explanation at face value. “Oh. Well, I'm sure they are fine,” she said, lacing her arm around his and pulling him toward the dining hall. “Don't you trust them?”

Of course he did. They would be just fine without him. But he couldn't tell her that he'd spent the past hours obsessing about her and his alarmingly expanding feelings for her. He didn't want her to get the wrong idea. She wouldn't be able to see his growing admiration for her as a simple, natural progression of their friendship. She would read far too much more into it. The feelings themselves were disturbing him, in spite of the fact that he kept telling himself that respect and appreciation for her were nothing for him to be afraid of. That he was completely in control of his emotions.

But the truth was, he didn't feel as though he were in control. He was growing closer to her and he tried to fight the ease he felt in her presence. He could not afford to relax his guard around her. Not even for a second. He absolutely would not allow himself to develop any fanciful feelings toward her. He had learned his lesson. He would never allow himself to forget it.

“I trust them,” he responded to her. “That does not mean I cannot still worry about them. They are in a hostile environment. Attempts have been made on our lives already. Garreth is immortal like me and cannot be killed, but Dethan…he is a mortal man and can easily be harmed. I am merely worried for their safety.”

“I am sure they will be fine. They are surrounded by your men and are very much on their guard after the three attempts that were made. They won't allow for another.”

“Three? There were only two. The poisoned soup and the assassin in my bedchamber. What was the third?”

The third was Dremu's attempt on her life, but Jaykun didn't know about that, and if he ever found out, he would kill Dremu where he stood. She had no intention of ever telling him and she cursed her slip of the tongue.

“Right. Two. I'm sorry. I made a mistake.”

Jaykun narrowed his eyes on her a moment, but eventually he nodded. “I'm sure you are right. They will be able to take care of themselves. I only wish I wasn't trapped here, unable to lend them any aid or even tell them where I am. They will be greatly worried when I do not return after only a few days. And no doubt highly peeved as well. They want to return home to their families and now I am delaying that trip.”

“I'm sorry. That is my fault. I should have been clearer with you about the nature of your travel here.”

“It's all right,” he assured her soothingly. “I am glad to be here with you. I wouldn't trade this experience for anything. I am very cognizant of what a rare opportunity this is, how rare it is for you to welcome a man from the Overworld into your world. I am deeply honored.”

“Do not feel so honored,” she murmured as they came around the edge of the cave wall that housed the dining area. “I have done you no favors.”

Jaykun stopped short when he saw Barban standing at the side of the room, talking to a shorter, more muscled man with streaks of iron-grey in his long black hair. But unlike the silky black of Jileana's hair, with all its deep richness, this black was as flat and lightless as deep, dark dirt. His eyes were small for his face, a dull brown, but everything in his bearing radiated that he was a man of confidence and power. A man used to getting his own way in things. A man very similar to Barban.

The empress entered the room and everyone moved to stand by their seats.

“No. Jaykun, Jileana, I wish for you to sit closest to me,” she said, gesturing for them to move along the table to sit at her elbow on her right side. On her left sat Barban and the other man, indicating their position of power within the court. “Jaykun, may I introduce Horgon and his son Barban,” the empress said, indicating the two men in turn.

Horgon. So this was the man who was next in line to the empress's throne. And that made Barban his heir and the next in line after him. No wonder they thought they had power over every other person in the selkie world. Because, with the exception of the empress, they did.

“I have met Barban already,” Jaykun said, iced steel in his voice.

“Horgon has kindly graced the court with his presence. He has not eaten beside his empress for quite some time. You are very fortunate to be meeting him,” the empress said. But it was clear from her tone that she was not impressed with Horgon's solicitude.

“I am my empress's servant,” Horgon said, and it was clear by
his
tone that he was not at all impressed with his empress; nor did he take kindly to her power over him, which she had exercised in order to get him here.

“And my heir,” the empress said. “Although if he had his way, I don't doubt he would maneuver himself onto my throne regardless of my being alive or dead.”

The empress had taken the gloves off with that remark and Horgon's eyes narrowed on her. “I wouldn't think of—”

She shut him up with a sharp, dismissive cut of her hand. “Of course you would. Who wouldn't want the selkie throne? And it is no secret that you wish me dead so you might pick over the bones of my kingdom. But never fear. As long as I remain unwed and without heirs, your time will come.”

“There is a solution to both of our perspectives,” Horgon said with a tight smile. “If you agree to become my bride, we can join our two houses and—”

The empress cut him off again, this time with a snorting laugh. “I'd rather be chained to the ocean floor for the remainder of my life. For that is exactly what it would feel like.”

Horgon bristled under the insult. But before he could say anything Jaykun jumped in.

“I believe Jileana shares your perspective. Barban has determined that Jileana is to be his—in spite of her many spoken desires otherwise. He thinks to force her hand just as Horgon tries to force yours.”

The empress's brows shot up high. Then she narrowed her eyes on the seething Barban. “Is this true?”

Through his teeth, Barban said, “This is nothing you need to concern yourself with, Great Majesty. Jileana's brother and father and I will discuss the matter and it will be resolved to everyone's satisfaction.”

“Everyone's satisfaction but mine,” Jileana spat. “You will notice I was not named as a member of this consultation over my future.”

“I had noticed that, yes,” the empress said. Jalaya fell silent a moment. She seemed to be thinking, weighing whether championing Jileana was worth creating further friction between her house and Horgon's. Jaykun was filled with dread that she might turn her back on the situation, giving Barban all the power he needed over Jileana. “In the end, it is your choice, Jileana. No one can force you to do otherwise,” she said, leveling a hard look at Barban.

“This is outrageous!” Barban exploded. “What gives you the right—”

“I am the empress!” Jalaya shouted, slamming a fist down onto the table. “Something you and your father conveniently forget every chance you get! If I say it is her choice, then it is her choice. If I say she must marry you, then she must marry you. I am the empress, and I am the first and last word on these matters!”

“There are those who believe you should not be empress at all,” Horgon snapped, shooting to his feet. “The sirens are attacking our borders and you do nothing about it. The sea monsters make excursions into our waters and again you do nothing about it. The grots are causing trouble and you do nothing about it! The selkies do not feel safe. They would rather turn to me for help than continue to watch you flounder about helplessly like a fish out of water. You are in over your head, Jalaya! The people know this. It is only a matter of time before they depose you and put me in your place. Enjoy your power while you can, Jalaya. Your days as empress are numbered.”

With that, Horgon and Barban exited the cave, leaving a table full of stunned courtiers behind. Then, all at once, the courtiers began to talk, calling reassurances down the length of the table to Jalaya, telling her they would never think any such thing about her. Jaykun wasn't at all sure he believed them.

Perhaps it was wrong to have stirred up so much trouble, but he had desperately wanted Jileana to feel safe. He had needed to have the empress in their corner. It was the only way she could be free.

“Majesty,” he said quietly, “I am convinced more than ever that my solution to your problem is the only one.”

That brought her attention sharply to him. They both knew what he meant. Killing Horgon was the only way to keep her throne safe. Only it wouldn't be just Horgon. It would have to be him and his son…because if she cut off the one's head, the other would quickly grow up in its place and she would end up right back where she was now.

But sometimes killing was necessary. Still, the empress had made her feelings on the matter clear, so another solution would need to be found. The empress needed to surround herself with loyal, powerful families, solidifying her position and supporting her right to be on her throne. From what he had seen, she was a just and strong ruler; she merely was in need of support from a council or some other group of dependable advisors. Right now she was an island, out there all on her own.

“If you support your empress,” he said loudly over the continued reassurances, “then you will help advise her in your areas of trouble. Majesty, I recommend a council made up of the finest families that support you. Members of this council will act as your advisors, bring the concerns of the people to your ears, and reduce the threats made both internally and externally. They should buffer you, protect you. Help you.”

“A council?” The empress bit her lip, the first outward sign of vulnerability he had seen from her. “There has never been such a body before.”

“Maybe it is high time there was. Whenever I take over a city government, I always install a single leader and a council to advise that leader. This way the leader's word is final, but he or she must also reasonably listen to the wishes, demands, and advice of others as a way of keeping grounded and in touch with the needs of the people.”

“I would like very much to be in touch with the needs of my people. I thought I was. I didn't even realize that the issue of the sea monsters was worrying them so much. How is it Horgon knows this but I do not?”

“All the more reason to support the idea,” Jaykun said. “Also, the beauty of a council is that the council members also share the responsibility when things go wrong. You do not have to shoulder all the blame yourself. Not unless you outright ignore their sound advice on a matter.”

“I will gladly serve on such a council,” one male spoke up from along the table.

“And I!”

“I would as well!”

“You have people eager to serve, but make your choices wisely. Make them varied and well rounded. You do not want people who will always say yes to you or who will always say no to you. That would be counterproductive.”

“I am beginning to think of some individuals already. Jaykun, I am speechless with how to thank you for all the help you have given since you arrived. You have been here but a few days and yet your advice has done more for me than…well, I cannot say. I have prayed to Diathus day and night for solutions to my troubles and she has sent me you. She will be most pleased you have helped her favored children. Now I will help you in return.