The Swarm Trilogy (9 page)

“Just once, I took a chance on my heart. Just one time. I’d loved him from afar and I knew he loved me too. Only one time did we ever let go of who we were supposed to be and gave in to who we are.”

“Who?” I whispered. “Who’s the father?”

Mags turned around and sat on her bed, taking Trevin out of his bassinette and into her arms.

“He doesn’t know Trevin is his.” She kissed Trevin’s nose.

“He should know.”

“And what good would that do?” Her bloodshot eyes now flashed with anger instead of sadness. “I didn’t even tell him and yet someone else found out and told the king. As for proof, I have no idea what kind of proof they could have offered him. We took care to leave nothing behind. No one could have known.”

“Someone has enough proof to convince the king,” I said, “otherwise he wouldn’t be threatening to execute you and Trevin. But why isn’t he going to execute the father?”

Mags repositioned Trevin in her arms, stroking his hair. She glanced back at me.

“Is it possible he doesn’t know who the father is?” she asked. “We’re being punished and he isn’t.”

“Does he know the father?” I asked. “Would he even care?”

“Oh, he would care,” Mags said. “He would care very much. And that’s another reason I won’t tell you. If the king doesn’t know, then no one else needs to know either. It was our agreement, made in the dark, that no one would ever know. Do you see now why you need to save Trevin? If you can get away with him, the king can kill me and be done with it. Trevin would never inherit the throne. His brothers are in line before him. No one would even care if I am gone.”

I felt the fire flicker. I imagined the flames blue, no longer red, burning out slowly. My belly relaxed, my muscles softened. She’d allowed herself one night, one moment to herself and she was willing to accept the consequences.

“I have no life here, Lianne,” she continued. “If I die, I die. My older sons will be raised to the throne and Trevin will live happily elsewhere. With you. You’ve been so kind to both of us and I know you would make a good mother to him.”

I wanted to laugh, but I held my tongue. I saw how serious Mags was, how much she wanted this scenario to be true.

“I could never be a mother to him. He’s your son. I do love him, but not like a mother should. He needs you and I can make sure you have each other.”

“How?” she asked. “I can’t leave. Everyone would see me go. I’m the queen, everyone knows my face. And I know you, Lianne. I know you don’t have it in you to kill Rotlar.”

“I can figure something out. We have a week’s time. Please Mags, don’t give up. Not yet,” I begged. I was angry with her, but I couldn’t condemn her to death.

The chamber door opened and Albree walked in, flanked by two guards.

“We’re here to take you in to custody, my queen,” the first said. He didn’t look Mags in the eyes. Whether it was out of shame or deference, I couldn’t tell, but Mags stared straight at them. She placed Trevin back in his bassinette, stood up straight and threw her shoulders back.

“I’m so sorry, my queen,” Albree cried, throwing herself at Mags’ feet. “We got here at the same time. I didn’t mean to walk in with them. Please don’t think I had anything to do with this.”

“Who will be caring for my son?” Mags asked the guards, ignoring Albree. “I won’t leave until I know he’s in safe hands.”

They still wouldn’t look at her and she glanced over at me. I knew what she wanted, for me to run with Trevin. But I couldn’t do it. I wouldn’t let her sacrifice herself.

“The king has chosen a family for him, for now,” the guard said. His throat bobbed up and down as he swallowed. “He will stay with the family of your lady-in-waiting.”

He pointed at Albree. She pulled herself off the floor, smoothed out her dress and walked over to Trevin’s bassinette. I sighed. At least Trevin would be near me. I’d have to give up my nights with Kellan, but for Trevin, I’d do it.

Then he looked at me. “You are dismissed and ordered to leave the castle.”

“No!” Mags screamed as Albree picked Trevin up out of his bassinette. The guards held on to Mags’ wrists, as she strained toward her son. “You can’t do this to my baby. My innocent little boy.”

Tears spilled down her cheeks, her bloodshot eyes reigniting. She struggled against the guards, but they were too strong.

Albree turned around, Trevin in her arms. She bent over and kissed him on the nose. “Who’s the sweetest little baby?” she cooed at him.

Mags dropped to her knees, sobbing. I ran and fell on the floor next to her, holding her in my arms. Her tears soaked the top of my dress, but I didn’t care.

“Get up,” a guard yelled, kicking her leg. They tugged on her arms, trying to force Mags to her feet. I held on tight, not taking my arms off of her. They would have to pry me away.

Mags leaned over, her head next to mine, her lips on my ear.

“Don’t let them get away with it,” she whispered, her voice hoarse and strained. “If you can, kill him.”

Mags pushed herself out of my arms and stood up, resuming her composure

again, ever the queen.

CHAPTER TWELVE

“Do you have everything, Lianne?” Trevin squirmed in Albree’s arms. She didn’t even attempt to soothe him, instead she pulled his blanket tighter to keep him still.

She hovered over me while I packed my few belongings. I stuffed clothes into a bag and placed a few trinkets in it. I was surprised how little I’d collected in sixteen years of living in one place. No gifts from my mother or sister to pack. No gifts from anyone, really. I had my clothes and the rest technically belonged to Albree and my mother.

My so-called mother had been informed I was dismissed but she didn’t even bother to see me off. I hadn’t expected her to either. Albree was only here to make sure I didn’t take anything that wasn’t mine. She’d already pulled a ribbon out of my hand, claiming it was really hers.

I didn’t argue. I didn’t care enough about a stupid ribbon to fight for it. I had a bigger battle ahead, one that didn’t require pretty ribbons in my hair. I had to save Mags and I had to get Trevin away from Albree.

“I have everything that I care about, Albree,” I replied.

I was done trying to hide my hatred for her. It didn’t matter now. Albree laughed, making Trevin cry.

“Stupid baby.” She put him down in the bassinette one of the guards had brought in. “Be quiet.”

“You’d better be nice to Trevin.” I couldn’t even stand to think of him in her arms. The angry fires licked at my belly, but now wasn’t the time to act. If I took Trevin from her, and I knew I could easily overpower her, I would have no hopes of saving Mags. Until I had a plan they both had to stay in the castle, each in their own prison.

“Of course I’ll be nice to Trevin,” Albree said. “Why wouldn’t I?”

“Because you’re never nice to anyone.” I didn’t bother with niceties anymore.

“Lianne, you are not one of us. Trevin may be a bastard, but he is still Fithian. We care for our own, not for some pathetic adoptees thrust on us.”

“Thanks for caring.” I wanted the words to sting.

But Albree had already turned her attention to the window. She leaned over the windowsill, her breasts hanging over the ledge, giving the men practicing their maneuvers outside the full view. She called out to them, waving. Their cheers rose up to the window. They were obviously happy with the distraction. Aric yelled, scolding them to pay attention.

I fought the urge to kick her in the butt and send her flying out the window. It would be too easy. I pulled my bag onto my shoulder and leaned over Trevin’s bassinette. He smiled and blew bubbles when I tickled his chin.

My heart pounded, like it wanted to break out of my chest. I was leaving my only home and I could only hope Kellan would take me in. It wouldn’t be easy. Aric didn’t know I’d been spending my nights there, but he would know I’d been dismissed from the castle and he might get in trouble for harboring me. I wasn’t sure any place was safe.

I left the room, not bothering to say goodbye to Albree. She didn’t say anything either. She was probably happy I’d left.

As I walked through the castle halls, people whispered to each other while they eyed me. Word traveled quickly in a castle and I was the newest scandal. Well, not me, but I was connected to it. A casualty of Mags’ infidelity.

The fire flickered in me, begging to be set free. My only instinct was to fight, but I restrained myself, knowing, once again, it wouldn’t help. If I got in trouble now, I’d be put in the dungeon with Mags and never have a chance of setting her free. If I could force myself to walk out of the castle without creating a scene, I’d be free to make my plans.

I needed to get to Kellan. He’d said he had ideas for getting in the castle, ideas that revolved around my access to Mags. But now that I’d been banished, I wasn’t sure how I’d get close to the king again, close enough to kill him with my bare hands.

I’d never been allowed to touch a weapon. Aric knew his place and only taught us hand-to-hand combat. He broke the rules by teaching us to fight, but kept us from being too deadly by withholding weapons training. Kellan carried weapons to and from the training grounds all day, but he only learned strategy. He’d never wielded a sword or a mace in practice or in battle. It was his job to learn strategy and bring it back to our people. But handling weapons, well, I wondered who was supposed to teach that to our people if we were supposed to be the links from the Fithians to the Dalagans. Maybe the Fithians didn’t want anyone to know how to fight.

They were smart, using us as pawns in their war. If it weren’t for the Awakening, I would have gone on appreciating them. I never would have seriously wondered if they really had my best interests at heart. I shook my head, wondering how I’d been clueless for so long.

Kellan, Bryden, and I weren’t allowed the same luxuries as the natives. We spent our days serving like many other Fithians, but at night, instead of being restful were spent learning about the war. Our teachers told us it was cultural training, but there were many nights I spent blanketed in a cold sweat from the nightmares I’d had about my own people.

Their mysterious magic floated around in my dreams, destroying everything it touched. It was enough to make me fearful of returning home when I turned twenty, knowing if magic hadn’t been bled from them, I’d never be able to defend myself. Never be able to teach them about the wonders of the Fithians and how they saved us.

I laughed at my naiveté. I’d believed them so easily, trusted them to care for me and protect me. Knowing the truth now, I couldn’t wait to destroy them. I didn’t understand how Bryden survived for so long and played along with the charade, and yet he still didn’t want them killed.

Maybe his injury softened him, and not just his leg. I just couldn’t understand why he sympathized with them. Mags and her sons were the only Fithians worth loving and I would do anything for them. But everyone else just followed the king’s edicts, no matter how twisted.

By the time I arrived at Aric’s house, it was nearly evening. They’d be done with their training, probably home cooking dinner. I took a deep breath before knocking on the door and steadied my hand. I’d have to face Aric sooner or later. Might as well know my fate now.

I knocked and heard nothing but silence. The door opened just a crack and I saw Aric’s eyes and Kellan hovering behind him.

“Lianne,” Aric said, loudly, as he opened the door the rest of the way. “You shouldn’t be here. You’ve been banished and I can’t offer you a place to stay.”

Tears filled my eyes. My last hope and I’d been turned down before I could ask for help.

“Come back when it’s dark and sneak in the back. Kellan tells me you’ve done it once or twice before,” Aric whispered. I didn’t glance up at him. If anyone walked by they would have heard the first part, but not the second.

I bowed my head down, in an attempt to look defeated, but I couldn’t help a smile. My hair hung over my face, shielding it from anyone who might be nearby.

Instead of answering, for fear my voice would give me away, I nodded and walked away. I headed toward the forest, to my grove, to spend some time alone. It was probably for the best. I wasn’t sure yet how much I could tell Aric, how much I should tell him.

He was kind to allow me sanctuary in his home, but if I told him the whole truth he would know too much. He’d never agree to help me kill the king and I don’t know if his conscience would allow him to keep quiet. He trained the men whose sole job it was to protect the king and the kingdom. Asking him to keep this secret would be going too far and I respected Aric too much to do that to him.

When I arrived at my grove, I sat on the largest rock in the middle. My pack slid off my arm and dropped to the ground, barely making a sound on the lush grass. I rested my elbows on my knees and caught my face in my hands. Alone, I finally felt my body relax and the tears I’d held back began to flow.

In my mind all I could see was Mags, screaming and begging for her son. The fires burned and for once I welcomed them. The pain helped me feel like there was something in this world that mattered; it told me I was alive and ready to fight.

I wanted to know who did this to her. If I were to kill the king, there was still someone out there trying to get rid of the queen. I didn’t want to kill anyone else, but if the betrayals continued how would I know when to stop?