Of Darkness and Crowns (3 page)

But that would be more trouble than it’s worth. She’s too stubborn, and could ruin everything. It’s a waste, really. A shame. She’d make a beautiful trophy.

Don’t be a fool. That would only prolong your misery. Kill her. Rid yourself of her threat.

My gut clenches. Bale’s words seep past my lone protective layer to the one place my thoughts remain
almost
mine—and I grasp the metal token in my pocket quickly before saying, “Driver, move in.” Then I brace my palms against the dash.

He pumps the clutch and shifts into gear; the Crusher lurches forward.

The vehicle rocks me backward into my seat, and I grab the handle above my head. What I love about the Otherworlders is their devotion. No questions. No protests. No rallies to pass laws and demand tax breaks. They have one goal in mind, and they plow through every obstacle until it’s obtained.

They trust their Liege and their deity with unwavering faith, and stop at nothing to achieve their desired greatness.

I almost envy Bale her empire when she returns, and I wonder if I can rule Perinya to the same effect. A quick flash of fires and death and war blazes against my vision. I widen my eyes and glance at Lake.

He’s chewing on his gnarly bottom lip, his pale face cocked stern and gaze locked on the target.

Looking at the path ahead, I bury my hand in my pocket again and touch the cool metal emblem tucked safely inside.

Bale won’t allow me my own kingdom.

This thought awakens my senses, and for a moment everything is clear and transparent. I see a sudden flash of reality of what will happen once the goddess relic is restored…and I gasp in a deep breath.

I clutch the emblem tighter, triggering a faint memory.

Kal’s warm body pressed against mine in a lighted pool of water…the smell of jasmine invading my senses as I breathe her in, her dark, silky hair caressing my cheek. My whispered confessions of my childhood and my fears of ruling my father’s kingdom…and her strength. The strength I see in her eyes when she turns in my arms… The man I want to be. For her.

I squeeze the emblem, and warmth fills my palm. Pain slices through my hand, and the world is hazy and dark again.

Weakness
.

I bring my hand out and stare at the red. It drips onto my cloak.

Every memory of her causes pain in some form. Either mental or physical. Maybe if there is nothing left but pain to feel when my thoughts go to her, I’ll learn.

She’s your destruction
.

I wipe my palm against my thigh and push farther back in my seat. The wall is coming up close. Time to ready myself.

The first unit of Otherworlders are lined up before the wall. The Iron Grinders in front of them pump puffs of steam into the frosty night air as the drill heads burrow, boring holes into the hard earth. Lake’s second unit has already taken out the sentries posted on the wall walk, but we only have minutes to tunnel under before the next shift takes their place.

Luckily, I know the inside workings of my kingdom and Court. I know the number of sentries. I know the shift changes, the enforcers and their commands. I grew up watching their training, and was instructed by not only the king himself, but by every general in our defense strategy.

I never thought I’d one day use this knowledge to breach my own palace, but hell, it’s lucrative. Loyalty is a shifty beast, submitting to whoever wields the most power.

I’m not here to threaten or harm my people. Though I’m sure some will die, there
are
casualties in every war. Only the strong persevere. Thinning the herd, my father would say. So really, I’m doing Perinya a kindness. Taking out the weaklings. And whoever Kal has appointed in charge of my affairs is probably the weakest of all. They deserve to be
thinned
out.

I wonder who has been chosen, and what selection process she used to decide. Throwing my cloak over one shoulder, I laugh to myself. Probably someone she deems as stubborn and chauvinistic as me—substituting what she’s missing. Or maybe someone completely opposite despite me. Someone she can control and manipulate easily, while trying to subtly convert our country over to her monarchy.

Whoever the ass is, he won’t be seated in
my
seat of power for long.

The whirring of the Iron Grinders muffles, and I look down the row of Otherworlders as their heads dip below the surface of the ground. That day in Cavan, when Kal discovered how the Otherworlders sacked her empress’s palace, comes back to me in clear detail.

I should be worried that, in her knowledge, she’ll have a plan in place for this type of attack. Have maneuvered sentries and shift changes around to throw me. Or stationed more guards in Court; ready for this very envision. Hell, I’ve been hidden away for a while, giving her enough time to prepare for it.

Only I’m confident the aftermath of the blast is her top priority. She’s too…iron-willed. A savior. Just like when she ignored a direct order to get me out of Cavan, she’ll rush into the battle on her high horse spouting women’s power to save everyone.

And I’m counting on it.

I’ve waited long enough. It’s time I recover the last shard and end this foreplay.

Lake throws up a fist, signaling me. We’re through.

I nod, and he splays his fingers wide.

I unsheathe my sword as forty Otherworlders spring from the tree line and rush the tunnels.

♦
4
♦

Kaliope

T
HE SCENTS OF SANDALWOOD
and oleander crowd my nose as Kaide and I enter the palace chapel. I quickly look around, making sure we’re alone before I nod to Kaide. He pushes a pew up against the doors as I head for the secret door.

“Still say it’s foolish for a safety chamber to be located in the most obvious place,” Kaide says.

As I pass a marble statue of the Goddess Rae, I look up at her head held high, bow strung taut with a golden arrow, her shimmering cloak pooled around her pale feet—and I scowl. Logically, I agree with Kaide, but I say, “The empress’s faith is her safety. There’s no other place in Perinya she’d choose.”

“In my country,” Kaide says, grunting as he barricades the doors, “man is his own god.” He turns toward me, a furrow between his brows. “The body is the temple, and the mind the spirit. We only fight as a means of defense. Not for power.”

“And what is the state of your country now, Kaide?”

His scowl deepens and he opens his mouth, then closes it.

I hold up a hand. “I’m not disagreeing with you. Only stating the obvious.”

He nods. “Very well. Point taken.”

During the Otherworlders’ raid, Kaide’s home was burned and his people enslaved. That’s why he chose to become a Nactue—that and to seek revenge on the monsters who stole everything from him.

I don’t know why I’m defending our customs, other than out of habit. As of late, I’m more inclined to trust in Kaide’s beliefs rather than put my trust in a higher power. Then again, if my mother knew I thought such things, she’d be disappointed. Her belief that, other than a father’s greed, there was something more to the mercury in my blood is what got me through the Cage fights.

That, and Caben.

Shaking an image of him from my head, I unclip my transmitter from my leather chest harness and program my mother’s frequency. I made sure I had a way to contact her when she insisted on returning to Cavan…to take care of my father.

After the amazing recovery of Bax’s father, I vowed to rectify the damage I’d done to my own. And I did. Just not fully. The madness plaguing his mind vanished, but a cruel and bitter man remained. I suppose there is no cure for that. Or I’m only able to heal sickness, not asshole.

Regardless, I don’t blame her. She loved him once enough to marry him despite his actions. She’s the best and most loyal woman I know. I’m just glad I have a way to stay in touch with her.

Her ashen face appears in the blue web over my transmitter. “Kaliope?”

“Hi, Mother.” For a second, I forget why I contacted her. She looks sicker, and guilt pools in my stomach. Though I practiced on many in the ward, healing patients so I could learn more about my strengths, her lung disease was too advanced for my
whatever
the goddesses bestowed to me that can heal. “I just wanted to make sure you’re okay.”

Kaide clears his throat and nods to me before he exits to the secret side chamber, giving me privacy.

My mother smiles. “We’re fine, Kal. I wish you’d come home. There has to be a way for you to keep your word and be with us here.” She grimaces. “Our empress is needed here, also. With her people.”

And as if my guilt wasn’t already eating away at me, my mother knows just how to add another helping. “She’ll return soon. We all will. But even if I hadn’t taken on the prince’s responsibility, Empress Iana is the second seat, remember? She vowed her own promise to King Marcus until—” I swallow and force the words out. “Until a king is instated in Perinya.”

“Yes, I know.” She nods again, wearily. “I don’t understand all the politics, but I do know we won’t recover fully without our leaders. We’re trying to repair the damage done to Cavan daily. There’s so much work…and the people need guidance.”

“I know. Everything will work out.” I bite the inside of my cheek. “I’m wanted elsewhere, but I need to know that everything is all right first.”

“I promise, Kal. We’re good.” Her smile drops. “I just miss you. And your father misses you, too.”

My father wouldn’t even look me in the eyes once his mind returned. “Okay. I love you. And I’ll be home soon.”

After she says her goodbye, I clip the device back to my harness and exhale deeply. As long as Caben and his legion of Otherworlders are here, they’re not in Cavan. My mother is safe.

I find comfort in the fact that Caben is after the relic and not simply out to hurt me. Bale is controlling his actions. It’s not personal. Because if he did want to seek vengeance, after our time spent together, he knows just where to strike. My family.

I shrug off the chill creeping over me. After tonight, the warring will end. If my plan works, Prince Caben will be a captive of Perinya. And Bale will…

I’m still uncertain.

Turning to look at the door Kaide left ajar, I remember the answer Empress Iana gave me when I finally worked up the courage to ask her my question. About whether or not Caben was still present—still somewhere within himself, fighting Bale.

I hold her words close to me now—needing them to be true.

I glance up at the statue of Rae one last time. The Three Realms worship the same deities, but each country appoints one goddess as their liege. The one they fashion their laws and land after. For now, I’m thankful Perinya chose the goddess of war. The Perinyians are always prepared for battle.

I just hope they’re prepared to arrest their prince.

The Nactue are gathered around Empress Iana as she kneels before a miniature statue of the Goddess Farrah, the crystalline relic positioned just below her on a mantel. As the crystal illumes celestial white, the empress’s skin glows, revealing her link to the goddess.

She’s regained most of her health since we returned the goddess relic to her from the Otherworld, but at times, I can see the toll the separation from it has taken on her physically. She’s still weak, as if she will never fully recover from her illness.