Betrayal by Blood: A Prequel (Stones of Terrene Book 0) Read online

  If Richard had tried to kill Sapphire—Slate’s blood scalded his veins—and Finn saved Sapphire, Richard would be angry. And what would the assassination of an old man be to an entitled prince who ordered a whole town to be razed?

  And the envelope that Finn found! When Richard hadn’t found Finn at home, he’d sent his cronies to find Finn at Connor and Maria’s. His friends—Finn’s family—dead, because of Richard.

  The pieces fit.

  Red-hot anger and blinding-white anguish boiled through Slate. How dare he! howled the crimson tide of anger. Icy hot sorrow pierced him immediately after. How could Richard have deteriorated to this? Could the cold apathy of a father twist a man to such depths of jealousy? Could the death of one woman truly change a man so much?

  If Richard really was the one behind the ambush on Brandon, the attempt on Sapphire’s life, and the deaths of Slate’s childhood friends, then Richard would still be looking for Finn. And Slate couldn’t let him get away with more murders. Royal family, brother-in-law, those were both important, but not as important as protecting his family.

  Did Cole already suspect? He had to talk to Cole about this. Now.

  Slate dressed quickly, throwing a vest over his white linen shirt, then layering a black button-up jacket to ward against the chill predawn morning.

  Gravel crunched in the dark as he strode from the palace barracks to the Eastern Command barracks. He turned over the idea in his mind, looking for any escape, any excuse for Richard. He couldn’t find any. As much as he wanted to believe Richard was innocent, too many coincidences kept pointing back to him.

  Like Father used to say, “If it looks like a dragon and smells like a dragon, run before the dragon kills you.”

  The guards waved him through their gate when Slate held up his ID necklace, the deep crimson crystal tag flashing in the luminary crystals’ rosy light. He walked through the quiet halls of the barracks, winding his way to the Cole’s room.

  Not even bothering to knock, Slate opened the door to his friend’s room, belatedly hoping that Cole would be dressed and alone. To Slate’s surprise, the light was on and Cole awake, sitting at his desk, back to the door. The bed was unoccupied, worn blue sheets rumpled in a wad. Cole’s head snapped around at Slate’s sudden entrance.

  “Slate!” Cole glanced at his pocket watch on the table, then back to him, eyes wide. “It’s nearly dawn, man. What’s going on?”

  “I’ve been thinking about what you said.” Slate came into the room and closed the door behind him, leaning against the wood, adrenaline and emotion and exhaustion leaving his legs shaky. “I-I don’t think I can trust Richard.”

  Cole’s eyebrows shot up, and he set his pen down by the paper he’d been writing on, turning to face Slate fully. He gestured to a chair by his bed. “Sit down, you look like you’re about to fall over.”

  Slate pulled the chair out from the corner and sat on the edge, face in his hands. “I don’t know what to do.” His arms trembled. “I don’t have any proof right now. But I can’t risk not doing something. If I’m right, then he nearly killed Brandon, Sapphire.” He swallowed hard. “And he did kill Connor and Maria.”

  Cole’s brow twitched, then lowered. “So what are you going to do?”

  “I don’t know.” Slate shifted, pressing his back into the hard wood of the chair. “I can’t see how it’s not him, but without proof, I’ve got nothing.”

  Cole leaned against his desk, glancing at the papers there before replying, his words slow and cautious. “I can’t tell you too much right now, but what if I told you that there’s a quiet investigation going on against Richard? And, because we all know Brandon would make a better crown prince, there’s a possibility of …” Cole paused, his eyes narrowed. “Swear what I tell you doesn’t leave this room.”

  An investigation against Richard? That’s exactly what Slate wanted, and yet, what good would it do? Even if it was proven that he’d been behind Connor’s and Maria’s deaths, it didn’t change his bloodline. And unless there was a way to prove his attempt against Brandon and Sapphire, no one would blink twice. Slate nodded. “I swear.”

  Cole’s lips twisted. “Swear on Sapphire.”

  Slate drew up short. What was so important that Cole would make him—fine. “I swear on my sister, Sapphire, that whatever you tell me doesn’t leave this room.” Cold sweat prickled the back of Slate’s neck. What had he just agreed to?

  Cole didn’t meet his eyes, looking instead to his papers. “There’s a plan,” he said carefully, “to take out the firstborn, in favor of the second.”

  Shock kept Slate from falling out of the chair. He stared at Cole, tongue tied.

  A plot to assassinate Richard? The first prince? Is that what Cole was saying?

  His bulky friend sat there, watching him, silent, waiting for Slate to say something. But what could he even say? Did Richard deserve to be killed?

  Did Connor and Maria deserve to be murdered in their own home? Did Brandon deserve to be nearly killed during a peace negotiation? Sapphire, minding her own business in the palace library?

  Unbidden, Samantha’s words from weeks ago rose to mind. “You care deeply and passionately, and that’s something beautiful that I respect.” Oh, he cared all right. And he wasn’t going to let injustice get away freely. Not if he could help it.

  “How are you thinking of doing that?” Slate forced the words from his suddenly dry mouth.

  Cole didn’t say anything for a moment, analyzing Slate’s face with the no-nonsense expression of a veteran soldier looking for weakness. “A few men in the palace to take out Richard by himself. In and out, quick and easy. No one else gets involved, no one else disposed. Just Richard.” He sighed and rubbed his forehead in apparent frustration. “We just need to find a way to get into the palace undetected, without it being traced back to us.”

  Slate chewed the inside of his cheek. If he mentioned anything about Finn’s secret passage, he would be dedicating himself to this. Was this important enough to break his word to Finn? A matter of life or death?

  Not breaking the vow meant the possibility of Finn and Raine being hunted down and murdered. He couldn’t have that.

  “Isn’t this close to what the Reformers would want?” Slate asked cautiously.

  Cole’s expression darkened. “They want everyone on the throne dead, and all the innocent lives here to pay for their perceived wrongs. This isn’t that.”

  That gave some reassurance.

  And he couldn’t let Finn be hunted any more.

  “I-I may know a way in, but I’ll need to try it out first, see if I can remember where it is, and how to use it.” He sucked in a deep breath. He was committed now. “Give me some time. I’ll find a way in. And I can get guard rotation patterns and information we’ll need for inside the palace.”

  Cole smiled and stood, stretching stiffly before walking over to Slate, holding out his hand to shake. “Glad to have you onboard.”

  Chapter Forty-Five

  Finn

  Finn set his pen down and sighed, rubbing his blurry eyes with frustration. He leaned back in his chair and tapped his fingers against the table while he spoke aloud, trying to work through the mystery.

  “Someone recognized me after I removed the Void taint from Sapphire. But did they recognize me, or just my knowledge and suspect who I am? Did they really want her to die, or were they hoping to bring out any remaining sages or apprentices?” Finn knuckled his forehead then dropped his hand. “Or is this one of the apprentices?”

  Who was most likely to have turned out a twisted apprentice? Raz, Lucio, or Marco? How would he even narrow it down from those three?

  Finn bounced his fist against the desk, watching Raine pull herself up, the bedspread fisted tightly as she stood on wobbly legs. Her face lit up with triumph before she swayed and plopped back on her rear.

  It couldn’t have been Raine they were after, could it? No one knew where she was from. Maybe it was just a coincidence of unfort
unate timing?

  Finn shook his head even as the thoughts came to him. No, they knew his name. Someone was after him.

  He’d lain low thus far, but it was time to get out of the Crimson Hawk and find his own new place. It had been difficult to go out in public without being recognized, even though he’d avoided the shops he usually frequented. He needed to change his appearance before he could be out again.

  He sighed again and ran his hand through his hair in frustration. Nothing was ever easy.

  Finn stood up, letting the chair slide back from the force of his legs. Two easy steps situated him right by Raine, and he dropped into a crouch and rubbed her fuzzy head.

  “Well, Spook, I think our time is up.” She tilted her head to regard him quizzically before reaching chubby hands out to pull herself up by way of the bedspread again. He chuckled sadly at her determination.

  There was no way he’d be able to properly protect the keystone while caring for her. And she had no future if the barrier went down.

  Some sacrifices hurt more than the human heart could handle.

  A knock on the door pulled his attention from his bitter thoughts. He recognized the knock pattern as an ally, but his heart raced and his pulse thrummed nonetheless. He resisted lighting a fireball.

  Finn strode to the door and opened it to reveal Slate leaning against the door frame, still polished and official in his military uniform. Finn stepped back, gesturing wordlessly for his friend to come inside.

  Slate beelined for Raine, folding his legs under him to sit by her, holding out a hand for her to grab and balance her standing with. She sat, and he then fished a honeycombed ball from his pocket, the large empty holes making it easy for little hands to grasp. Raine studied it with her serious dark eyes before grabbing it. She offered Slate a large gummy grin when she discovered how easy it was to hold.

  Finn leaned against the desk, watching the silent interaction. Slate looked up at him with a grin. “She’s a cutie.”

  “She is.” Finn agreed readily before frowning. “And I need to get her a new home.”

  Slate’s brow furrowed and he leaned back. “What do you mean, ‘a new home’?”

  Raine cooed softly, and Finn’s heart threatened to shatter as she waved the ball at him. “I can’t do what I need to do while protecting her. I need to talk to Zane.” The words stuck in his throat and he forced them out. “He mentioned he has a younger brother who’s only a few years older than Raine. Maybe Esther and Zebediah will be willing to adopt Raine.”

  Slate’s eyebrows disappeared into his hairline as his jaw dropped. “Are you serious? Finn, this is Connor and Maria’s baby!” He reached out and pulled Raine onto his lap, cradling her against him. “You can’t possibly be thinking of just leaving her!”

  “I need to think of what’s safest for her!” Finn exclaimed. He scrubbed his hand down his face, letting the stubble on his cheeks stab his palm. “I need to talk to Zane, Slate. Can you please find him and send him here? And I need to talk to Zandra or Garnet. Is Garnet still in town?”

  Slate’s jaw clenched. “Garnet should be leaving later this morning. No idea where in town she is though,” he replied, setting Raine aside and standing up. “I’ll look for her.”

  Finn watched Slate stalk out the door, feeling remorse sink into his bones. He sat on the edge of the bed and pulled Raine up to join him. She smacked the ball against his knee and giggled. He gently stroked a lock of black hair back from her eyes. If there was any way that he could have the best of both worlds, any way that he could stay with her and protect the keystone, he would in a heartbeat. But there just wasn’t.

  Eventually Raine tired of the ball and Finn tucked her into her open drawer for a nap. His fingers lingered on the edge of her blanket. Who knew how much time he had left with her? If he’d even see much of her once she was adopted again?

  About an hour later, a knock sounded on the door again, this time with the dark-haired elder Monomi siblings on the other side. Finn let them in and shut the door.

  Zandra lingered by the doorway while Zane went straight to where Raine slept in her drawer. He smiled down at her and ran a finger over her black hair.

  “Sorry she’s napping right now,” Finn apologized.

  Zane shook his head with a soft smile. “Even the best need their rest.”

  Finn caught the muttered words from Zandra: “Someone needs to get married and be a father already.”

  Smiling a bit to himself, Finn turned to the young woman. “Zandra, may I impose upon your generosity one more time?”

  She nodded as she dropped to a knee, tightening the laces on her boots with deft fingers. “Of course Finn, what do you need?” She switched feet, yanking on the brown laces as she kept her face turned up to him, listening for directions.

  “I need to find an apartment, and I’ve had no luck finding a place that doesn’t know me.” He caught the flash of sorrow in her eyes before she blinked it away, focusing on him. “Can you please use your contacts for me?” He hesitated, taking a deep breath. “I would like to talk with your parents about something important.”

  She blinked and nodded slowly. “Of course. I’ll work on the apartment first, if you don’t mind. I’ll be going to see my parents later tonight. I can talk to them.” She waited for his agreement before she turned on her heel and offered the slightest of curtsy dips before leaving.

  Zane leaned against the bed, arms folded as he watched Finn. “What are you thinking?” he asked finally. “And what do you need me to do?”

  Always so observant, Finn reflected wryly. “I’m going to ask your parents to adopt Raine,” he stated. “And if you don’t think they’d be amiable, do you have any other recommendations for a good home for her?”

  Zane's jaw dropped before his eyes narrowed. “What’s going on? Why can’t you raise her?”

  “Because I have to watch over the keystone and the barrier.”

  “No, that’s not it. Or, not all of it.” Zane shook his head as he walked over to Finn, facing him down. “There’s more to you, and if you want to leave your last living relative behind with my family, you had better give me a good reason for it.”

  Anger sparked in Zane’s eyes, and Finn regarded him silently. He had just unintentionally insulted the Guardian. He could give some answers. “I’m a sage, Zane, with the task of protecting the keystone.”

  Zane didn’t twitch. “There’s many sages in Terrene. What makes you so special?”

  Finn felt the energy in the room. Zane’s resolve, focused and honed like a crystal. Finn released his concentration. Maybe there was a way to have the best of both worlds. “Whatever I tell you is not to leave this room. Do you swear on your life as a Monomi?”

  Zane didn’t even hesitate. “I swear.”

  “Finn is not the only name I have gone by,” he said softly. “And I am much older than I look, young man.”

  Understanding dawned on the Monomi’s face faster than Finn expected. Zane bowed his head in respect. “One of the seven.”

  Finn didn’t bother to affirm Zane’s statement. He paced past Zane and stared down at the bed before deciding against sitting on it. “If I didn’t leave Raine with your family, young Guardian, what would you recommend?”

  “Flee.” Zane’s reply was immediate. Two long steps and Zane stood over the dresser drawers that Raine slept in. He pointed at her. “You take your granddaughter, you change your name, your city, whatever you need to do to stay alive, stay ahead of those after you, and you raise her. She needs her family.” A small, wistful smile crossed Zane’s lips. “Not my family, though my mother would love her, I’m sure.”

  “And what of the barrier?”

  Zane’s expression darkened. “My family and I will live and die defending it. You know that.”

  Finn turned and held out his hand, letting Zane catch sight of the dark ring on his middle finger. He slipped it off and held it out to Zane. “I need you to take this.”

  Zane lifted an eyebro
w as he plucked the ring out of Finn’s hand and held it up to examine closely. “I’m almost afraid to ask; what is it, and what does this have to do with our conversation?”

  Finn sat down at his desk, drumming his fingers on it, watching Raine nap in her blanket-lined drawer. “Everything.”

  What amusement had been in Zane’s face disappeared as he pulled out a chair, dropped into it, and leaned forward.

  Finn took a deep breath. “That ring is linked to the keystones of the barrier. If something were to happen that were to destabilize any of the keystones, the magic in that ring can be used to settle it and prevent the barrier from collapsing.”

  Zane looked down at the ring with sudden respect, then his gaze narrowed at Finn, questions swimming in his eyes.

  Finn grimaced and continued before Zane could ask anything. “The story you need to know, is that I’m—” He paused, trying to work the truth in a way that didn’t tell too much or lie. “I knew a sage who was apprenticed to one of the seven sages who constructed the barrier. When my … master … died … I was tasked to take the ring and stay close to the Doldran keystone, to help protect it should the unthinkable happen.

  “I do not give this to you lightly. This is dangerous and can put you further in danger.” Finn paused and breathed deeply. “When my house was broken into, they stole something. A way to weaken and bring down the barrier. The keystone could be in grave danger, and you want me to flee with her.” Finn gestured at Raine, his heart heavy, yet oddly at peace. “I need to pass on the mantle to someone who I trust can and who will use it, should the need arise.”

  Zane stared at Finn. “I knew there was more to you than meets the eye, old man.”

  Finn laughed aloud despite himself. “Indeed, you were right.” His smile melted away. “Zane, that ring will exact a toll for using it. The barrier is linked to Void magic, and that means it’s linked to life and death and time. To use that ring is to use Void magic, and it will require at least some of your life energy. To use it when severely weakened is to risk death.”