AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Cecilia,” Mitzi said from behind Aric, “enough with this madness. What’s going on?”
“Prince Denham,” Darnel said, speaking more firmly, “I’m going to need to ask you to explain why you are so far away from your expected location. And why you released my cousin without consulting anyone, considering her crime.”
Denham rolled his eyes and a pulse of magic, like a ripple in his blood, preceded his words. “The story about my journey to Kachek was a façade, fool. We couldn’t afford anyone knowing what I am looking into.” He narrowed his eyes at Aric. “You will unhand me andhealme in the next several seconds, or I will order your arrest and execution for this treachery, Sentry.”
Aric let his lips twitch. “Well, that last part was truth, at least.” When one of Denham’s eyebrows lifted, he continued. “You cannot lie to me any longer, Denham. King Jensen honestly believed his claim that you were visiting Kachek. But you never intended to go there, did you? I’ll be interested to hear that explanation. Later.”
“Are you out of your mind, Aric?” Cecilia said. She leaned forward awkwardly, straining against the stone bindings and the male shoulder helping to pin her down. “Has that whore blinded you so thoroughly you’ve lost sight of yourself?”
Aric stepped back from them, letting the wall hold them for a moment. “Darnel, I’ll need the rope.”
Darnel let out a sigh and stepped forward. “This is unthinkable, Aric.” Still, he handed over a small coil of rope. “We could all be beheaded for this.”
Aric triggered the magical release and let the rope expand to its full size. “We won’t.” Then he looped it around Denham’s protesting neck and shoulders, and around Cecilia’s, before tying the ends. Once the rope was tied, the magical seal activated and he met Denham’s glare again. “Now, Your Highness, tell me again what you’re doing here.”
Spittle flew from Denham’s mouth. “My purpose here is none of your business, you arrogant bastard. Release me from this wall immediately! I am the Elder Prince of Yafae, you overstep your authority by even laying a hand on me.”
“Not if I have reason to believe you are a danger to the greater kingdom, or to the King,” Aric said. “Now, answer the question. Refusal only delays your release.” All he needed was to get the man to slip up while his magic was sealed. But it wasn’t happening fast enough. “Mitzi, check inside. We need to make sure no one’s injured.”
“I told you,” Cecilia said, her tone cold, “that wretch is gone.”
Aric narrowed his eyes. “No. You said she was dead.”
Cecilia’s lips thinned in visible irritation.
Mitzi moved past him, keeping him between herself and the captured pair, and ducked swiftly into the hole in the wall.
“Your posturing has gone too far, Vardanyan,” Denham said. “Whatever you think you have to gain by chasing me down, you’ll find yourself regretting this choice of action. Do you plan on killing me here? What do you plan on telling my cousin?”
Aric met Denham’s glare once again. “King Jensen doesn’t know I’ve been searching for you. He believes you’re in Kachek, meeting the High Priest and reaffirming relationships.”
Denham scoffed. “That may be what he told you, but I was never going to Kachek. I was tasked with a much more critical job.” Except this time, when he made his claim, his words wavered and his voice choked, as if he were nervous.
“What job?” Aric pushed.
“Aric!” Mitzi bolted from the building with wide, unsettled eyes. But this panic wasn’t born of fear. Not the sort that needed to be fought off, at least.
His chest tightened and he found himself afraid to ask what she’d seen.
“Mitzi, what’s wrong?” Darnel asked, moving closer to her side.
She shook her head, concern pinching the corners of her eyes. “Rochelle was definitely in there, but she’s … she’s gone.”
“Gone?” Viveca repeated.
“Like I said—”
Aric ignored Cecilia. “What do you mean?”
“I mean she’s nothere,” Mitzi said. “There’s some blood, and I saw a few strands of yellow hair, but that’s all.” She lifted a piece of a shredded strap. “And there was this. All of it at the center of the magical burst.”
Aric scooped the strap from her hand, but he needn’t have bothered. It was a high-quality magic suppressant. Not the kind of thing one would find randomly in the forest. His fist clenched around the material as fury sparked within him. He turned his focus back to the two he held captive. “This makes the second time,” he said to Denham. “The second time you abducted and tortured her. That alone makes you a threat to the people, but you’re going to tell mewhy.”
Denham only glared at him.
Cecilia huffed. “That witch isn’t even from here,” she said.
“Cecilia.” This time it was Denham who reprimanded her, his tone sharp. It couldn’t have been more obvious he didn’t want her to say what she’d started to say.
