The Keeper's Flame (A Pandoran Novel, #2) (3 page)

“Not so fast, princess,” jeered the short, dark-headed boy. Two more young men appeared, flanking him.

I was surrounded.

Denn stopped before me and leaned so close I could smell the garlic and onions on his breath. “Does the king know about your little mornings with Stefan?”

I clenched my jaw. “My personal life is none of your business.”

That ugly smirk spread on his round face and his eyes held something cruel in them. “Oh, see, now that’s the beauty of being royalty. Your personal life
is
our business, and, well, we”—he gestured at the group—“think you’ve been lying to us.”

I didn’t like the looks on their faces or the licentiousness that darkened their eyes. I wasn’t sure what they had planned, but I knew one thing: I was completely outnumbered and no amount of screaming and yelling in this part of the forest would attract any notice.

“You know what I think?” Denn leaned a little closer. I didn’t like his sneer. “I think you’re hiding your magic until the right moment…so that you can rule instead of the king.”

I looked for a sign that he was joking, but he wasn’t. He was perfectly serious. “That’s ridiculous,” I said. “The entire guild has tried.”

He smiled and his teeth were crooked and yellow. “I think that you haven’t been threatened—” he slid the cool metal of his dagger along my jaw “—
properly
.”

I felt his hunger, and my stomach twisted. I struck before he could say another word.

I punched and kicked, my feet and hands landing hard and true. Denn was back on his feet within seconds, wiping a drop of blood from his bottom lip.

Felix took a step toward me.

“Stay back!” Denn growled. “I don’t need your help against
her
.” He looked at me with that ugly sneer and repositioned himself to attack.

His size made him slow, but he was strong, much stronger than I was. Each time our blades met, the impact burned down my arm, into my shoulder, and each jolt stole more and more of my energy. I was running on adrenaline now, and I wasn’t sure how much longer I could hang on.

I hated that I was so weak, that I was so helpless. That I didn’t stand a chance.

I told you that you shouldn’t have chased that man.

Denn’s fist landed on my right cheekbone, and the force sent me spinning and tumbling to the ground. I landed hard, but my world did not stop spinning.

Denn crouched on the ground beside me, pinning my wrists. “Use your magic,
princess
,” he mocked. “I know it’s there.”

With a last effort, I jerked my knee up, right into his crotch. He doubled over in pain, snarling a string of very colorful language.

I stumbled to my feet and hunched over, trying to gather myself. My world spun in a dizzying blur, and my temples throbbed like someone was trying to wrench my head apart.

Denn’s fury flared as a light appeared in my periphery, and my heart sank.

He was going to restrain me with the one weapon I was defenseless against.

Magic.

There was a flash, a shock of surprise, and a dull thud.

But I was still standing.

I glanced back. Denn had fallen to the ground, and a smoky grey dog was bounding toward me.

Egan.

He was soon sitting at my feet, snarling at the others, while showing off his glossy white canines.

Thad suddenly appeared, dusting his hands with a satisfied grin on his face. “Well, well, well, what do we have here?” He glanced around the group until his eyes finally lingered on Denn, who was rolling around on the ground, moaning and groaning. “Oi, Rusty, you brought all of them—” Thad gestured at the group “—to fight
her
?” He pointed at me. “A little, non-magical girl?” Thad made a
tsk-tsk-tsk
sound. “And you call yourself Aegises. I am starting to grow
very
concerned for the future safety of Gaia.”

“Why you—” Denn choked on air while holding his stomach “—the king’s…”

Thad planted a foot on Denn’s face, pushing it into the ground, and continued speaking in the nicest, most unthreatening tone. “If the king hears a word about where the princess spends her mornings, I’ll make sure it’s impossible for you to procreate. Got it, Rusty?” With one last shove, Thad released his foot from Denn’s face, and Denn choked again and spit up dirt.

The boy with dark hair stepped forward, scowling. “What did you do to him?”

Thad beamed with mischief in his eyes. “Don’t worry, Laird; he’ll be walking just in time for dinner. Spirits help us if he ever misses
that
, and I know how much you care about him.” Thad winked, and Laird’s cheeks flushed pink. Laird reached for his sword, but Thad waved a hand and Laird’s sword flew through the air and landed in the stream.

Laird growled and lunged forward but was thrown back by an invisible force.

“Anyone else?” Thad looked around the group while Egan dared them with vicious snarling. When no one stepped forward, Thad looked genuinely disappointed. “I’ll be borrowing the princess, then.” He motioned for me to follow.

I took a deep breath. I wasn’t sure which I hated more, what had just happened or how helpless I’d been.

How could I protect Fleck when I couldn’t even protect myself?

We were far away from the group and sound of rushing water when Thad nudged me in the ribs.

“Lighten up, would ya?”

I spun around to face him. His brown hair was a disheveled mess, matching the mischievous spark in his eyes and, like always, he had a smirk on his face.

“It isn’t funny, Thaddeus.”

He rolled his eyes. “I suppose you’re right. Getting kneed in the crotch that hard is never funny. For a second there, I felt bad for Rusty.”

I eyed him and his grin spread wider. “I’m serious,” I said.

“So am I.”

Growling, I marched forward and Egan kept to my heels.

Thad grabbed my arm and yanked me back. “Come on! You’re gonna let that oversized toddler ruin your day?”

“That oversized toddler almost…” My voice trailed as I closed my eyes and sighed. I was too embarrassed to think about it.

“But he didn’t,” Thad said.

I opened my eyes. A piece of grass was hanging from Thad’s mouth and he was chewing on it, eyeing me.

“It’s not just him,” I said. “It’s everything. Everyone. I feel so helpless, and if you hadn’t shown up…” I looked away, and Egan dropped something on my foot.

A stick.

Thad let go of my arm. “Still no luck?”

I shook my head and Egan pawed at my boot. I picked up the stick, threw it into the woods, and Egan vaulted after it.

“That’s it, then.” Thad rubbed his chin.

Oh, no.

I’d learned to worry when Thad got ideas. I arched a brow. “What’s
it
?”

“I’ll be your personal bodyguard…well, until you figure out how to do magic.”

I rolled my eyes. “I don’t need to lose my sanity, too.”

“Oh, come on. Surely there are worse alternatives.”

When I looked doubtful, Thad laughed. “Anyway, I was coming to find you because
Prince Alaric
”—his voice took on a serious tone as he saluted no one—“was looking for you.”

Prince Alaric, a.k.a Dad. I hadn’t seen him much lately, because he’d been traveling all over Gaia with Cicero and Sonya Del Conte, making sure the world was safe for me. And, of course, it wasn’t. “He’s back?”

“Just. Went looking for you and I told him I knew right where you were.”

Thad was one of the few who knew the truth about my secret fighting lessons with Stefan. “Which was…?” I asked.

“Picking out fabric for your festival gowns,” Thad preened.

For weeks, the king had been insisting I look “charming” for the festival—which, to him, equated to wearing dresses.

But I was pretty sure “charming” was an attitude, and one I didn’t possess.

“Where is he?” I asked.

The treetops overhead creaked and moaned as the wind blew, and now that my adrenaline was wearing off, my nose and ears started burning from the cold.

“In the library,” Thad continued. “He says he’s got some very important things to discuss with you…and I don’t think you’re gonna like it.”

Chapter 3

My Dad, the Prince

I
walked Calyx back to the castle stables with Thad and Egan as my escort. Thad refused to elaborate on what it was Dad had to tell me, but it didn’t keep him from smiling and shaking his head the entire trip back.

Once Calyx was situated, we walked past the guards, through the main doors and into the atrium.

“Really, Thad, do I need to be worried?” I whispered as we walked to the foot of the grand staircase.

Thad shrugged. “Naw. It’s really nothing you haven’t heard before.”

I looked at him to explain, but he only smirked and twirled the piece of grass in his mouth.

“Some help you are,” I mumbled.

“I aim to please.”

I rolled my eyes.

“But, if I were you, I’d come up with some explanation for…” He tapped his cheekbone.

Oh, yeah. I’d almost forgotten that Denn had punched me. I gently pressed on my cheek and winced in pain. I didn’t need a mirror to know it had left a mark. “Does it look bad?” I asked.

Thad looked thoughtful. “Define bad.”

I glanced around for a mirror, but all I could find were tall windows and oversized frowning portraits.

“Here.” Thad waved his hand over my face and I felt a pulse of energy. “That should help. It’s not gone completely, but it’s faded.”

I raised a brow. “You sure you didn’t make it worse?”

He rolled his eyes this time. “Oh, come on. Why would I waste my brilliant pranks on you? You get yourself into enough trouble without me.”

I glared at him.

He pretended not to notice. “See you around, eh, Rook?”

“Is that a threat?”

He smiled then, showing his teeth. “Absolutely.” He started walking away and motioned for Egan to follow. Egan stopped running around my legs and slinked over to Thad, dragging his tail like a broom across the cold, granite floor.

“Thad,” I said.

He glanced over his shoulder.

“Thanks.”

He nodded and kept walking. “Egan, come!”

My boots scraped up the staircase and down the long corridor that led to the library. My legs shook as I walked. This morning’s events replayed through my mind like a terrible nightmare.

I reached the tall oak doors and paused. There were voices just beyond the door. Dad’s deep voice, answered by one that boomed and sounded very much like…

I turned the handle and pushed the door in.

Cicero Del Conte and his wife, Sonya, stood beside him.

I hadn’t seen the Del Contes since that day, the day
he
had left, and I certainly didn’t expect the mere sight of them to affect me the way that it did. It was like he was standing there, smiling at me. Cicero’s eyes were his eyes, Sonya’s smile was his smile, and for a moment, I forgot to breathe.

But then I remembered that he was just a memory, a memory they’d brought with them, a shadow they could not shake. I would never be able to look at them without seeing him; I would never be able to look at them without hurting inside.

Dad got up from his seat, rushed over to me and pulled me into his thick arms. Winter and cold were on his skin and clothes, and his breath smelled like cinnamon. “I’ve missed you,” he whispered in my ear and pulled back, holding on to my shoulders. “Thad found you?”

“Yeah,” I said. “He said you wanted to see me?”

Cicero and Sonya appeared beside us, impatiently waiting their turn.

Dad sighed and stepped aside, and no sooner had he let go than Sonya wrapped her slender arms around me and stroked my hair. “My darling, I’ve missed you.” She pulled back, studying my face with those dark eyes that saw and understood everything.

I opened my mouth to tell her that I missed her, too, but I couldn’t. I didn’t want her to see me like this, weak and miserable and pathetic. I didn’t want her to see me like this and tell
him
. Instead, I said, “How have you been?”

Her smile told me she’d already heard my silent battle. “I’m better now.” Her voice was kind and gentle, always the mother I’d never had. The mother that belonged to him. “But I worry about you.” She squeezed my shoulders.

“Don’t.” I shrugged off her concern and forced a smile. “I’m fine. Just trying to adjust to this primitive lifestyle without totally going insane.”

She smiled back but she knew, and then her eyes paused on my cheek and a mix of concern and curiosity passed through her eyes.

Please don’t say anything…please don’t say anything…

“Almost six months and Gaia still hasn’t made a princess out of you.” Cicero beamed, gesturing to my attire.

I arched a brow. “Well, we’ve already got Stefan. I don’t see the point in having two.”

Cicero’s laugh boomed as he wrapped his arms around me, squeezing all the air out of my lungs.

“How’d the fabric shopping go?” It was Dad, and his gaze had settled on my cheek.

Shoot. “Fine,” I said a little too quickly.

Dad’s face reddened as he opened his mouth to speak, but Sonya cut him off. “We saw Fleck a little bit ago. He seems happy.”

I looked back into her eyes with a silent “thank you.” She smiled.

“Where was he?” I asked.

“His room,” Cicero said. “Awfully cold up there, especially for someone without any meat on their bones. I’m surprised he hasn’t frozen yet.”

“Stefan said he’d check into moving Fleck,” I said, “at least for the winter. By the way”—I turned to Dad—“anything new?”

“Actually,” Dad started, his eyes tight, “that’s what I need to talk to you about.”

“Fleck?” I asked.

He shook his head, raked a hand through his hair, and paced about the room. Cicero and Sonya stood quietly.

Dad turned enough for me to see his face. There were only two times in my life when I could recall that expression. The first had been as a child, when I’d fallen off Cadence so hard that I couldn’t move and he thought I’d been paralyzed. The second, when he’d found me in the tunnels after being held prisoner. It wasn’t a good face, and I was glad I hadn’t seen it much, and I wished I wasn’t looking at it right then.