Rise (Roam Series, Book Three) (8 page)

At the foot of the stairs, I stopped suddenly. The halls became a catacomb of passages, breaking into a
labyrinth. I tried to choose a path through the maze, but a voice from behind startled me.

“You don’t want to be down here
alone, trust me,” he said, pushing past the guards. Will looked at the two armed soldiers, pointing to the top of the stairs. “Go on, I’ll escort her back to her rooms.”

The guards turned without
hesitation. “Yes, your highness.”

I watched them walk back up the stairway, looking at
Will in surprise. “Highness? They treat you like a prince?”

“I am a prince, legitimate or not,” he teased, winking before joining me. “What are you looking for down here?”

Taking a breath, I decided to be honest, knowing that I’d be punished for whatever I did wrong in Troy’s eyes, anyway. “I’m looking for Logan. For my friend.”

“My uncle,” he confirmed.

“I guess. If you believe in prophecies, reincarnation, and immortal souls.”

“You
do not?” He gestured to a path to the left, and I followed next to him nervously.

“Of course I do. Why do you think I’m in this stupid mess?”

He regarded me with a sideways glance, and I jumped as a loud crash sounded ahead, followed by a man’s screaming moan. He reached for me, steadying my elbows. “I told you, it’s not safe down here.”

“What was that?”

“Dungeon.” I stopped, searching his eyes to determine if he was being sarcastic. He grinned. “What, you do not believe me?”

I shrugged. “Nothing surprises me anymore.”

He considered my words, reaching for my hand. “A life with no surprises. That is sad.”

Stiffening, I let him take my hand, leading me into a sharp left. “
You have no idea what my life is like. This… hell… is not my life.”

Gripping my hand even tighter, he swung us both into a
room, slamming the heavy door behind him. Searching the small space, I realized we were in some kind of jail cell with no doors or windows, and only a thin pallet with a dirty mattress.

My heart stopped.

How could I have been so trusting?

“Wait,” he whispered as I reared backwards, trying to pull on the door. “
Wait, majesty… I will not hurt you. This is the only place I can speak to you in private, and we only have minutes.”

“
I’ll kill you if you touch me,
” I yanked on the door, my hands shaking, but he held it firmly closed.

“Logan
asked me to protect you,” he rushed, blocking the door. “We’re working together. I am trying to get you both to the door.”

I chose that moment, adrenaline pumping, to deliver a potent kick to his groin.

He doubled over, gripping himself while holding one arm out in defense. “
Damn
it,” he let out a low hiss, glaring at me painfully.

I took a step back, my mind turning conspiracy theories over and over again. “Your words are treasonous. I would never betray the king.”

He moved toward me, gripping my upper arms firmly. “I’m not trying to trick you. I want the throne,” he hurried as I tried to struggle away.

I stilled, searching his eyes.
“Treason.”

“
Believe what you wish. I won’t hurt you, but I don’t want you here. That baby will usurp all of my efforts to attain the throne.”

I covered my middle protectively. “You think
that you can fight the entire army?”

Will
tilted his head. “I won’t have to… when they answer to me.”

Lowering my voice to a whisper, I looked down. “Take your hands off of me.”

He let go and stepped back. I straightened. “I need for you to plan this celebration, but make it a masque.”

“A masque?”

“Costumes. Masquerade.”

“Why?”

His face lowered to mine, his deep voice barely a rumble in his chest. “I have someone to hide.”

With that he turned the latch, pushing me back into the hall.

I followed him to the stairway at breakneck speed, and at the last moment he grabbed my elbow, lifting me to the first step.

Troy
rounded the corner, staring at us both. “What are you doing down here?”

“She was looking for Logan.”

I scowled at Will, wrenching my elbow away. “I just wanted to see that he was safe.”

His hand replaced
Will’s at my arm, and he pulled me up the stairs. “He’s in the hall. Do not ever come down here again, do you understand? I can’t protect you down here. Some of these prisoners are lunatics.”

Like their king.
Surprised by his genuine concern, I nodded. “Yes, my lord.”

“Go
swim, order your favors and plan your party. I’ve given you something to occupy your time with, so you should be thankful.”

“Thank you, my lord. I am.”

He turned on his heel, Will following him. I took a calming breath, watching his group of advisors walk together from the meeting. They stopped to look at me in the great corridor. At that moment, Logan and two other soldiers entered the hall, turning in our direction.

On a whim, I swallowed and took a breath.

“Wait… Troy.”

He turned a
t his given name.

“I would like it to be a masque,” I said, biting my lip to keep from looking at
Will. “A costume ball.”

He walked to me slowly. “Like a princess
’s fairy tale,” he tugged me against his body, and I kept my steady gaze.

“Every girl dreams of being
… a princess.”

“Ah, but Roam,” his lips hovered over mine. “You are a
queen
.”

Will
’s words sparked hope in my heart for the first time in months. Hesitantly, I stood on my tip-toes, touching my lips to Troy’s.

My
public, voluntary kiss, the first I’d ever given him on my own accord, tightened his grip and quickened his breath. I lifted my arms, wrapping them around his neck, and he groaned, parting my lips in his.

Don’t vomit.

“Thank you for caring about me,” I said, lowering my voice to sound as seductive as I possibly could.

He
pulled away, and I fought the shiver at the lustful hunger in his gaze.

“
Will, give her anything she wants for this ball,” he ordered, without turning. “Spare no expense.”

“Yes, father,” he answered, nodding.

I lifted my eyes to meet Logan’s, and he stared at me, stunned. “As you can see, Logan is fine.” Troy gestured to his side, his eyes never leaving mine. “In fact,” he slid the backs of his fingers over my cheek, “Logan, you will join her guard while I am gone. Two on her, two at the door,” Troy ordered to a soldier, who bowed.

His tongue touched his lips.
“I wish I had time to properly say good-bye to you… upstairs.”

I remained silent, batting my eyes
once, as slowly and suggestively as possible.

His Adam’s apple bobbed before he
turned and led his advisors out of the corridor. Will sent me a fleeting, conspiratorial glance before disappearing with them. Logan took a step toward me, and I turned to meet his eyes.

“
Academy Award winner, Roam Camden,
” he murmured. “Looks like I’m on guard duty.”

“You’ve been guarding me for too long, Logan,” I said, morose. “I need to take care of myself.”

“You know, if we were home…you’d be almost nineteen… if my math is correct. But then again, you’ve always helped me with math, so…,”

I backed to a bench along the stone wall,
sinking slowly. “
No…,
”

“
Don’t worry, Cam. You don’t look a day over seventeen.” He sat beside me, and I buried my face in my hands.  “It’s been almost two years for them. Do you think she… moved on?”

I turned to him.
“Violet?”

“Any of them.”

I thought of West and Laurel, as I did during my darkest hours.
She was older, so beautiful, and he had loved her… How long would he search for a way back to me before giving up?

“
Do you think West would do that? Move on?”

“Troy sent him your ring and letter for Eva… and included one of his own.”

“What?” I never considered the possibility that Troy would goad him.
I should never have asked him to send anything.

“He bragged about it to his men. West knows that you’re pregnant.”

I sat in devastated silence, staring at the guards.
Let them hear. I don’t care.

“At
least Troy will leave you alone for a while,” Logan pointed out, standing. “His men have made comments about you… that have angered him. That’s probably why he set me as your guard.”

I shivered,
widening my eyes. “Are they threatening me?”

Logan lowered his voice. “Men talk. They can be
… graphic. They have learned to be careful what they say about you, around me or Troy.”

Turning, I looked out the
floor-to-ceiling window. “A storm is coming.” I said, my flat words visibly chilling to Logan.

He nodded, and then
locked my eyes in his. “Yes, it is.” His pointed words evenly communicated his double meaning.

My voice dropped to a whisper. “
He’s getting very comfortable.
”

Logan stood formally, turning to me to drop into a low bow. Before he raised his head, he smirked at me.
“Perfect time to go all
Kill Bill
on his ass, Cam.”

I
smiled, a tiny grappling of anticipation scurrying over my backbone.

With Logan as my guard and Troy gone, I felt safe for the first time in almost three months.

During dinner in the great hall, I sat in the center
of the head table, with Will in Troy’s seat during his absence. Halfway through the meal, Will turned to me, gesturing to my plate.

“
What exactly do you eat?”

Waiters
had served a third course, and my plate remained untouched as I pushed at the grilled asparagus. “I… have no appetite.”

“I mean, in your world. Microwave meals? McDonalds?”

I grinned, quirking my head at him. “How do you know about McDonalds?”

“My father told me many stories about the other world.
Once, he brought me Chicken McNuggets.”

I tried to picture Troy killing me, and then packing up and heading home, first stopping at McDonalds for a Happy Meal for his young son.
Giving him an dubious look, I tilted my head.

“And?
” I encouraged.

He pressed the back of his hand to his forehead, sighing exaggeratedly.
“A small piece of heaven.”

Laughing, I drew
the attention of many of the hooded guards and members of the court.
Have I not laughed in three months?

“
And what do you do for recreation?”

I took a sip of water. “I read
… I learn about history… or swim. I’m a good swimmer,” I admitted. “I would like to learn… fencing.”

He raised his
dark eyebrows. “Fencing? I could teach you.”

“I would really like that.
After dinner?”

He laughed, sitting back in his chair to stretch out his long legs. “Persistent.”

“Bored is more precise.”

“But, my queen, you have a masque to plan.”

“Dear kingdom, come to the party. Wear a costume. Kitchen, make food. Really, how hard is it?”

“Entertainment?
Will there be dancing?”

I thought of my dream, dancing in this very hall with West. “Are there… bands here?
A DJ?”

“
We have generations of music from your world, and our own music. I will help you,” he promised, his eyes twinkling with enjoyment.

“Thanks,” I looked down, an unexpected flush creeping up my neck.

He watched me carefully, reaching for his glass. “It is too bad that you do not belong here. You look… like you do.” He nodded at my high-backed chair reserved for the queen. “And despite the insult my father gave you this afternoon, you are very intelligent with excellent ideas. Your notion to add the addendum to the treaty about the crude oil…,”

“Troy gave me credit for that?” I asked, stunned.

“He did.”

I bit my bottom lip. “I wanted to tell you… that I’m sorry for kicking you. I was afraid,” I added.

“I am sorry for frightening you.”

My stomach rumbled with a pang of hunger.
I haven’t been nauseated all day,
I realized thankfully. “Maybe I’ll eat a little.”