Crown's Shield: The Aermian Feuds: Book Two Page 3

  Tehl slapped his brother on the back of the head. “Don’t even think about it.”

  Sam scowled, rubbing the back of his head. “Why ever not? Do you like her?”

  Tehl returned Sam’s scowl. “No. But it does seem disrespectful to talk about her like that when she is your friend’s daughter,” he defended, stepping down the alley, little shanties popping up in the small areas between buildings. The closer they moved toward the ocean, the poorer the area became. Rusted metal roofs sat atop cheap wooden homes.

  “She is skilled though,” Sam commented. “If it was anyone other than us, she would have lost any tails long ago.”

  Tehl agreed. With all the twists and turns, ups and downs, it was hard to keep track of her. He had no clue where they actually were in the fishing district except that the sea was nearby, and he only knew that because he heard the thundering of waves and the smell of seaweed.

  They continued on until a break in the endless maze of shoddy homes gave way to the open expanse of sea cliffs. Where was she going to go now?

  “She has nowhere left to go.” Sam said, obviously perplexed.

  The rebel hastily glanced left and right, before sauntering toward a large outcrop of rocks near the cliff’s edge.

  “She better not shimmy down those rocks. If she does, I’ll be very put out,” his brother complained.

  Sage moved around the rocks and out of sight. Tehl sighed and abandoned their hiding place. Both brothers approached cautiously, keeping an eye on their surroundings, as they slipped around the rocks.

  Rocks.

  There was not a blooming thing but rocks.

  Sam padded to the edge and peeked over. “Nothing. That’s odd.” Sam turned and scrutinized the rocks. “She can’t have disappeared into thin air.”

  “Maybe it is another of her skills,” Tehl said. “Women are tricky like that.”

  Sam snorted. “Now you make a joke?”

  Tehl examined the area closely before answering. “It seems to always work for you. I thought I would give it a try.”

  Sam snarked something back, but Tehl missed it as something caught his eye. There was something unnatural about the moss between two boulders. He approached it and bent down, running his hand along the moss, when his finger snagged on wood. A trapdoor. “I guess I was wrong, Sam. It isn’t one of her tricks after all.” He felt along it until he encountered a cool metal ring. Tehl pulled it up carefully, so as not to alert anyone who might be below them, but the door moved with ease, gliding along on well-oiled hinges.

  Sam squatted next to him. “Well, I’ve always wanted to go searching for booty by the sea.”

  Tehl rolled his eyes and swung his legs into the hole, then rolled to his belly grasping the edge with his hands until his boots met a firm ladder. One rung at a time, he lowered himself into the opening, Sam following behind. His brother then closed the hatch, catapulting them into darkness. In the pitch black, they moved steadily, deeper down the chasm. After a few moments, Tehl’s eyes sufficiently adjusted so he was able to see a soft light filtering in from the bottom.

  Tehl stepped to the side when his boot touched the damp stone floor. He took in the crude porous archway that led to an uneven stone tunnel. The sound of crashing waves echoed around him, making it seem like they were surrounded by water.

  Sam brushed his hands off and took in their surroundings as well. “Intriguing,” was all he said before continuing down the corridor.

  Suddenly, a piercing scream sliced through the air, making his blood freeze. Both brothers slid hidden blades from their stashes and sprinted toward the tortured scream. They burst into a giant cavern with a small opening to the sea. Tehl dismissed the surrounding area, focusing on Sage, who was folded in a man’s arms. The man growled and faced them. Just when Tehl thought things couldn’t get any worse, they did.

  It was the Methi prince.

  Chapter Three

  Sage

  Her heart galloped in her chest. She had been moving so fast that, when Rafe had reached out and grabbed her, an embarrassing shriek had burst from her. Terror filled her for a moment, wrenching her back into her nightmare, and, before she knew what was happening, Rafe had pulled her into his arms and had held her growling. The menacing sound triggered another spike of fear. Sage pushed against his chest, a whimper escaping. She needed to be free, she couldn’t breathe.

  “I think the lady would like you to release her,” a dark, velvety voice commented. Her eyes closed at the familiar voice. Could she never escape him? How did he find her? Rafe’s arms tightened, trapping her hands between them.

  “It seems to me that she was running from you. She reeks of terror. I’m sure that’s your doing. She has nothing to fear from me, I would never harm her.”

  Except that he already had. Sage pushed once more, but he didn’t budge.

  Rafe continued, “You need to leave me and mine alone.”

  She lifted her chin and glared up at Rafe. She wasn’t anything to him.

  “I hate to intrude, Your Highness,” the spymaster broke in, “but you have yet to let her speak for herself. From the way you are holding her, I doubt she can even breathe.”

  And that was how the crown prince found her. Sam. The man of a million faces and lady friends, the spymaster of Aermia. Rafe peered down into her damp eyes and loosened his hold a little.

  “Are you all right, little one?” he asked rubbing his thumb along her cheekbone.

  Sage jerked her face back. “I will be once you let me go.”

  Hurt and something else flashed across his face before his arms slipped away. She took a large step back and angled herself, keeping all three men in view. The crown prince studied her, no sign of the anger and shock he wore an hour ago. Her eyes turned to the golden prince. Sam appraised her with a lazy air, while his eyes wandered up her body, making her feel naked. She glared at him when he met her gaze and merely winked.

  Damn rogue.

  Rafe stiffened, his hands caressed the forearm length daggers strapped on each of his thighs. “Keep your greedy eyes off her. She is not yours to gaze upon.”

  Sage debated between knocking Rafe on the head or smirking at Sam, but one thing was for sure, the situation was about to explode. Her gaze bounced from one man to the other, pausing on Sam. A devilish twinkle entered his eyes that made her cringe and want to hide. She had been on the receiving end of that twinkle and she’d ended up drugged out of her mind.

  “Your behavior is shocking, Your Highness. It was my understanding that women don’t belong to anyone but themselves.” Sam quipped.

  “She’s mine.”

  The dark possessiveness in Rafe’s voice made the hair on the back of Sage’s neck stand up. She touched her knives and took another step back. “I am no one’s, Rafe. Not the rebellion’s, not the Crown’s.”

  Rafe turned his glare on her. “No matter what you choose, you will always be mine. My family, mine to protect.”

  She looked away from him and locked eyes with the crown prince. He stood silently next to his brother, simply absorbing the situation. Sage wondered if he stayed silent because when he spoke he tended to offend people, or if he truly just had little to say.

  Tehl’s deep eyes released her and shifted to Rafe. “What is your part in this, Methian? Are you aware of Sage’s loyalties?” The crown prince studied Rafe. “She’s working with the rebellion. So either Methi’s supporting the rebellion or you’re a fraud.”

  “Little one? They have your name?” Rafe hissed, never taking his eyes off the two royals.

  Her jaw tensed at the accusation in his tone. It wasn’t like she gave it to them.

  “We do.” Sam rested one shoulder against the rough cavern wall, looking casual. “Sage and I have an interesting history, I grew up with her brothers. Imagine my surprise when I went to collect my sword from Colm this morning, and he introduced me to his elusive daughter.” Rafe cursed, causing the spymaster’s smile to widen. “I must have been standing under a lucky
star, my sword and the lady I have been searching for, all under one roof.”

  Her breath stuttered. She had heard Zeke and Seb speak about their adventures with Sam over the years. She would never have guessed the outcome of their friendship would be what lead to her hanging. How much did Sam know about her family? Even if she ran, her family wouldn’t be able to escape. Sage was well and truly trapped. She only had one option left: to bargain. “What do you want, Sam?” she asked, defeated.

  “The safety of Aermia,” Tehl cut in, his voice echoing like thunder in the small cave. “We want a peaceful resolution between us and the rebellion, no bloodshed. I want to discover why Scythians are stealing our women, and I want to know what the hell you’re doing with a Methian prince, if he even is one.”

  “That was a lot of wants, brother,” Sam remarked off-handedly.

  “Shut up, Sam. No one asked you.”

  “I think her question was for me.”

  “Nobody cares what you think.”

  Sage gaped at the two royals. She’d seen this side of Sam, but she hadn’t seen so much as a glimmer of humor from the crown prince. Shaking off her shock, she scrutinized the men. “You still didn’t tell me what you want from me.”

  “We want you to be the liaison,” Sam proposed.

  A liaison?

  Between the Crown and the rebellion,” he continued. “There is no need to fight. I am sure we can come to an understanding if everyone can be reasonable.”

  Her eyes widened as his words sunk in. An ambassador? Maybe she could protect her family if she accepted. Sage blinked and her vision was blocked by a large back. How did Rafe move like that?

  “You want to use her?”

  Sage shifted to the side and peeked around him.

  “You mean like you? You had the power to help her escape our dungeon.” Sam chuckled at Rafe’s silence. “Come now, don’t pretend like you don’t have spies inside the palace. That’s just insulting. You left her there with strangers, for a month, so she could give you information.”

  “You know nothing,” he hissed.

  “No, I know everything.” The humor faded from Sam’s eyes. “Including who sanctioned my father’s assassination attempt.” Rafe stilled. The spymaster held up his hands. “Keep your shirt on, I am not threatening Sage. Despite her best efforts, my father lived.”

  Rafe’s gaze prickled, but Sage ignored it, staring at Sam’s exposed collarbone, hoping to hide the deceit written on her soul. She had betrayed the Crown by joining the rebellion, and she had betrayed the rebellion by colluding with the Crown.

  She was a traitor to both.

  No one should trust her.

  “I spent enough time around her,” Sam continued, “to know she would have never agreed with that decision. She isn’t a murderer, but you tried to make her into one.” The spymaster’s eyes hardened. “I hold you accountable. You stood by her side last night and let her leave. You are the guilty one. How could you encourage her to do that? To do that to your own family? You and I already carry the burden of death but if she’d taken his life, the Sage you supposedly love would cease to be, we both know it.”

  Rafe was breathing hard next to her by the time the spymaster finished his tirade. His wide, leather-clad chest heaved like he had just run a race. He inhaled a final, shuddering breath and stilled. Sage shuffled to the side, farther still, studying his profile. His face was blank. Her heart shrank a little. After everything Sam said, never once did he defend himself or capitulate. Rafe thought he was right.

  She shook her head, placing her hand across her mouth. To a certain point, she’d understood no one person was greater than their goal, but she never expected Rafe would be the one to demand her sacrifice, forcing her to give up her morality and soul for the rebellion. Except for the crashing waves, silence descended upon the empty cavern, the air thick with regret and pain.

  Sage continued to stare at Rafe’s profile, her decision made. She couldn’t return to the rebellion or forget the responsibility she had toward the people. She stared at the flame of a flickering lantern as she came to terms with her future. Could she do it? Could she deal with the rebellion and the Crown and still be fair? Would they hang her if she refused? Her eyes dropped to the crown prince, fatigue riding her. “What would happen if I declined being your ambassador?”

  “Then we’d find another way.”

  That surprised her. Her eyes narrowed. Where were the threats?

  The crown prince added, “But Sam, Gavriel, and I believe you would be the best option to avoid bloodshed.”

  Again, he surprised her.

  “You would leave her and her family alone?” Rafe asked, skepticism coloring his tone.

  “I have known her family for almost ten years. I have no desire to see any of them hurt.” Sam met her gaze. “But if you choose to help, I will send Jacob to your father.”

  Her world spun. Jacob was the finest healer in Aermia. Her father had been sick for so long, but a healer of Jacob’s caliber wasn’t within reach for them. It would mean everything for their family if he could be healed.

  “You would let her father suffer, knowing he is sick, if she doesn’t agree?” Rafe questioned.

  “No.”

  Her eyes jerked to the crown prince.

  “We will send Jacob, regardless. Sam was trying to sweeten you up to the idea. Jacob will do whatever he can for your father. But if you say yes, you will help thousands of innocent people, our people.”

  Thousands. How many would suffer if there was a civil war? If she joined the rebellion to help the people of Aermia, if she agreed, she could save lives. Sage turned to Rafe and scanned his face, looking for a trace of his thoughts. He stepped closer, weapons glinting. A little sliver of fear wormed through her. Sage locked her knees to keep from taking a step back. Her nose flared, as anger surged hot on the heels of her fear, why did her body keep failing her?

  Some of her tension melted away at the tender look Rafe gave her.

  “Little one, I sympathize with how much you desire your father to be healthy. You want to help the people but this…” Rafe paused and watched the royals over her shoulder for a moment. He looked down, citrine eyes warm, and clasped her hands. “I don’t trust them, but you will help many by accepting their offer. You are familiar with the Crown and the rebellion, you can make it right for the both of us, and so many others.”

  Sage studied him then turned back to the royals. Dark blue eyes latched onto her green ones.

  “You have suffered more in our home in the last month than I suspect you have suffered in your life. If you decide to be our ambassador, we will protect you.” She watched his Adam’s apple bob and his jaw tighten. “You don’t believe us, but we did not sanction your attack. Despite what I may have threatened you with, I would never treat a woman that way. I take responsibility for my men’s actions.”

  A lump formed in her throat at the sincerity of his apology. She wanted to believe he wouldn’t hurt her, but no man was trustworthy except her papa…and Gav. She still didn’t like the crown prince, but she wasn’t heartless. He didn’t deserve to carry the guilt of her attack.

  “He wasn’t your man; he was the rebellion’s.” Both royals straightened, rage distorting their faces.

  “Serge was a rebellion spy?” the crown prince snarled.

  She nodded, bile creeping up her throat at the memory of his smug smile. She swallowed hard when the crown prince’s glacial gaze snapped to Rafe.

  “You sent your own men to harm her? Was it a test to see if she would give up information? To see if she would hold up under pressure?” he spat, stepping forward, Sam at his side.

  Rafe matched the brothers’ steps, vibrating from head to toe. “Never,” he growled. “That animal did what he did for his own sick pleasure. Mark my word, soon he will painfully disappear from this world.”

  That was news to her. Rafe scolded her for stabbing him.

  “He is not dead?” Sam asked in interest. “I am surpr
ised that you’ve not already taken care of him. Did he not betray one of your own?”

  Rafe glared. “We don’t execute someone unless there is evidence and witnesses.” Rafe spared her a look before going on. “It was her word against his.”

  “Were the myriad of scars not proof enough?” the crown prince bit out.

  “No, they were not.”

  Sage’s throat tightened.

  “She greeted him by stabbing him through the shoulder.”

  Sam smiled darkly at her. “You stabbed him?”

  “I threw my blade when someone yanked my feet out from under me.” Sage clenched her hands, feeling angry all over again. “If it hadn’t been for that, he wouldn’t be around to hurt anyone else.”

  “A woman after my own heart.”

  “Indeed.” Sage shared a sharp smile with the spymaster.

  “It was because of that.” Rafe pointed at her face, frustrated. “No one understood why she was attacking him. She outright tried to kill him in front of a roomful of men. To them, it looked like she was acting without provocation, like she…” He hesitated before soldiering on, “Like she was broken, not fit to lead.”

  Hurt stabbed her as tears burned at the back of her eyes. The rebellion circle thought she was crazy. They didn’t believe Serge, or Rhys, or whatever should be held accountable for the trauma he’d inflicted. “Was there a trial this week?” she demanded. Rafe’s serious expression told her everything.

  “Yes. The decision was passed that since there were no witnesses to validate either of your claims, Rhys would go free.”

  Her stomach dropped. How could they allow this? They were letting him go. A deranged maniac. Why would they doubt her? Did anyone fight for her? Why wasn’t she told?

  “Sage,” Rafe called to her, pulling her out of her thoughts. “He has been part of the circle for a long time. He had sway, and I had to stand by their decision for the moment.” A predatory smile graced his handsome face. “But he will not walk this earth much longer. No one hurts my family. He will wish for death.”

  Her breath caught at the promise of vengeance in Rafe’s eyes. That man would never hurt her or anyone else again, she was sure of it.