Traitor's Crown (Stones of Terrene Book 3) Read online

  Then again, Brandon still didn’t have his own bodyguard, still wasn’t sworn in as king of his own country, and did the man even need a bodyguard? A few short months ago his nickname was berserker. Weston eyed the blond over his shoulder and flinched at the realization that Brandon was staring at him as they walked. Weston turned away.

  Finn followed behind Niles, two papers in his hands and a crease in his brow.

  Weston shook his head to himself. Maybe his mother would have some idea or a resource for Finn as he worked on the dilemma of the fallen barrier. If they didn’t work out a solution soon, war would be inevitable, and Weston would rather not be in charge of a military unit if he could help it. But Everett would expect it of him, and Weston didn’t want their civilians to suffer just because he was afraid of the battlefield.

  He’d heard the stories. He’d seen the soldiers. Horrors awaited out there, all the moreso when against armies of blood-bonded that had no fear or sense of self-preservation. He had no desire to taste that terror or feel blood on his hands ever again. They’d find a way to avoid it all, wouldn’t they?

  Weston raised his chin and stalked around a corner. From here they would talk briefly with his mother, leave Finn, then go to the delegates conference room. He doubted they’d get to speak to Emperor Ezran himself, but if they could at least confer with one of their counselors, then maybe, just maybe, he’d be able to report some good news back to Jade and her friends.

  The hallway widened to allow for two other conjoining corridors, and large windows allowed the autumn light to spill across the white glossy floor. Voices heralded incoming foot traffic from the hall on the right, and Weston glanced to the side. But it wasn’t the black uniforms of Aerugan palace staff.

  Weston’s stomach clenched. Glistening silver robes edged in green. Smooth skin just a shade lighter than his mother’s. Blonde hair that came to her chin. Princess Abigail of Antius. She walked with two guards and an advisor that Weston recognized from his father’s description, Kaius.

  She hadn’t looked up at him yet, and Weston cast a frantic glance back to Finn. Should he wave Finn to the front, next to him? Motion for Niles to shadow him, and try to keep Finn out of sight?

  Weston missed a step and stumbled. He wiped his palms on his pants.

  Niles must’ve caught the sudden uptick in Weston’s anxiety, because he slipped back, slightly hiding Finn from the incoming hall. Finn’s head turned and a surprised sound burst out of him.

  Abigail looked up, her amber gaze sliding over Weston with a detached calm that deteriorated the moment her survey ended on Niles. Finn had stopped just short, in full view of the Antian delegation. His hands fisted as his shoulders shook, eyes narrowed.

  “You!” Abigail stalked forward, finger raised at Finn. Her guards hastened in her wake, and Kaius stepped aside, his face momentarily blanching at the sight of Finn. Brown robes rippled as Kaius passed the guards, drawing even with the princess. Abigail didn’t hesitate in the slightest when Niles and Brandon both stepped between her and Finn. She merely glared around them. “You were there!”

  Finn’s jaw clenched.

  Weston’s heart hammered as he eased his way between the furious woman and his allies. He raised his hands in a sign of peace. “Your Highness, I—”

  “Quiet, you.” Abigail’s chin trembled. She shook her head, her unblinking eyes fixed on Finn. “I don’t know how you broke out of our prison, again, but I assure you, there will be no escaping a third time.” She opened her hand and swirled her fingers, water roping out of a nearby vase and into a ball into her open hand. She clenched her fist and the ice formed into a wicked-looking icicle. “I will execute you, here and now, you lying scum!”

  The sensation of shards of ice raced through Weston’s veins at the sight of her fury, and the cold dropped into his stomach, threatening to freeze his feet to the floor. He grabbed her hand.

  The icicle dropped, shattering on the marble floor, tiny glistening fragments glittering in the sun. She stared at him, shocked anger raging in her eyes.

  “Your Highness,” Weston hastened to say, curving at the waist without dropping eye contact. “This man is under our jurisdiction and protection right now. You may not harm him within these halls, unless you wish to start the Summit with an incident that would have alarming consequences for all our nations.”

  Abigail shook her hand free of his and lowered it, letting her sleeves cover her fingers. Her gaze flicked over him. “Prince Weston, I assume?”

  Weston started to nod, but Kaius cut him off.

  “He may be in your custody, but that man conspired and is the reason our barrier is down.” Red flushed across Kaius’s pale cheeks. “He should be executed, not walking freely in your halls.”

  “Are you implying that we don’t know how to govern our own men?” Weston demanded. “He was sent with his crew to protect the barrier and warn your people. How your—” Weston caught himself before grossly insulting the nation that he was supposed to be pleading help from. “It is clear that communication failed at the most critical of times, but know that this man wants the barrier back up as much as you and I do.” Weston drew his shoulders back, trying to bury the fear that gnawed at his gut. Whatever happened here was bound to be heard of by his father. He had to salvage this situation. Somehow. Fast.

  And before Brandon or Finn lost their own tempers.

  Now that Abigail’s hands were not raised in an obvious elemental manipulator threat, Weston bowed deeply again, praying desperately that if he abased himself enough, that he could lessen Abigail’s ire.

  “I had wished to make this request of you at our meeting.” Weston straightened and gave the princess his most sincere grimace. “But seeing as we’re talking here, I may as well ask now. One of their”—he gestured at Finn and Brandon—“crew was wrongfully imprisoned. A young woman by the name of Raine.”

  Kaius sniffed. “She’s where she should be. In the Hollows, with the rest of the inhuman monsters.”

  “And how do you know she’s a Void Born?” Weston challenged. “Wasn’t it due to a crew member saying she was? He could have lied.”

  “We have tests.” Abigail replied, her voice cold. “She and the one who got away were confirmed to be Void Born.”

  Weston’s palms felt sweaty, but he didn’t dare wipe them on his pants again. Nothing that would give away his uncertainty and concern.

  Kaius glared at Brandon. “You were the one who escaped before the barrier was brought down.”

  Brandon said nothing.

  Kaius’s nostrils flared. “Did that other veeb meet up with you?”

  Weston stilled himself from flinching at the use of the derogatory word for Void Born. “We’ll hunt him down and put him where he belongs soon enough.” Abigail’s robes rippled as she crossed her arms. “No Void Born will cross into our lands and live in peace for such a gross action of disrespect.”

  “What on Terrene have they ever done to you?” Bafflement rang in Weston’s voice. What had Void Born ever done to deserve such vitriol from the Elph of Antius?

  Abigail’s eyes tightened and she turned her head, letting hair shadow her face for a long moment. “They came to our land and took from us. That is enough in of itself.”

  “They lied to us.” Kaius raised a hand and started ticking off his fingers, his gaze never leaving Finn. “They stole from us. They plotted against us, and they conspired with their other Void Born allies. They killed our guards and they brought down the barrier. They—”

  “Get off your high horse and stop lying!” Brandon exclaimed, his entire face red as he marched up to Kaius. He glared up at the speechless Elph. “The two you’re referring to were with us the whole time. And they gave everything they had to prevent that barrier from going down. They live in this world, too, you know. And they wanted that protection as much as you and I do.”

  Kaius’s mouth opened and closed like a dying fish. A flash of something akin to concern or fear crossed his face.

/>   Brandon took a deep breath, visibly calming himself. “If you hadn’t hindered us, maybe the barrier would still be up even now.” He raised his eyebrows pointedly. “You should apologize. To everyone you see, because it was on your watch that the barrier came down, when you could have helped us instead of getting in our way.”

  Kaius tilted his head forward. “I am sorry. For it was on my watch that the barrier came down. I could have helped instead of getting in your way.” His cheeks reddened as his eyes widened. He snapped his jaw shut. “Who are you?”

  Weston straightened. “This is Prince Brandon of Doldra, soon-to-be crowned king.”

  Brandon tilted his head in a simple nod to Princess Abigail and Kaius.

  Fear flashed across Kaius’s ashen face, and he stared at Brandon with wide, unblinking eyes.

  Finn harrumphed. “I need to return to my work.” He didn’t wait for Weston or Abigail to give him leave. Instead, Finn gave a lingering look to Brandon and Kaius, then turned away, moving faster than he had the entire morning they’d been together.

  Weston waited a long heartbeat before turning his attention back to Abigail. Finn’s sudden departure was a huge breech of protocol, to say nothing of the impolite manner of conversation they were having in a very public palace hall. Abigail’s full lips pulled down into a frown and Weston scrambled to appease her.

  “I am, so sorry,” Weston’s words sounded stilted and awkward, even to him. “I don’t know what—”

  Brandon shrugged and crossed his arms, mirroring Abigail’s pose. “He must’ve had a new theory.” He didn’t look the least bit apologetic. “So what about it, Highness? Can we persuade you to let her go?”

  Weston gaped at Brandon. Berserker prince, indeed. Any court manners that he’d been raised with were clearly not going to help right now. Did Brandon not remember how to address fellow royalty? Or how to negotiate civilly? Or how to smooth ruffled feathers of women who were also known elemental manipulating sages?

  Abigail scowled at Brandon. “No. She will remain where she is.” Abigail stepped around them, her guards and the now-silent Kaius following behind her. She turned. “And you would do well to remember your manners, clearly your time away from the palace has done you no favors, King of Doldra.”

  Chapter Ten

  Ben

  Ben balanced a pencil on the tip of his finger while Jade talked with Marchioness Francene at Jade’s table—covered in spilled gears and tinkering bits. Both Zaborah and Zak watched on from their respective corners of the well-lit room.

  Jade’s voice rose, and she slammed a screwdriver onto the table with a clang. “Well, who is in charge of the Doldran military, if not me?”

  “Technically, it should be you, once you’re confirmed as queen,” Francene soothed. “But the actual fact of the matter is that it had been under Everett’s control via Violet for so long, that having you, and now your father, suddenly added to the mix makes things a bit more convoluted.”

  Jade rubbed her face with her hands and groaned. “I want Doldra’s northern cities to be protected from any incoming invasion forces. How can I do that?”

  The door banged open, and the two Monomi both had swords drawn within the heartbeat. Finn strode past the naked blades without commentary, and Zak sheathed his sword. “Finn?”

  Finn snatched a fresh piece of paper from the stack that Jade had on the other table where she worked on the treaty with Weston. Finn muttered something unintelligible and started back toward the door.

  Ben bounced from his chair to intercept Finn. He clapped his hand on Finn’s shoulder and belatedly remembered the fireballs that his friend could conjure. A brief mental image of his hand, blackened and crispy flashed through Ben’s mind, and he shook away the idea. Finn was too cautious and controlled to just flash-cook someone who surprised him.

  Ben squeezed Finn’s shoulder. “Finn, are you OK?”

  “I’m fine, I’m fine.” Finn peered at Ben, clearly working out something in his mind, attention not quite fully here. “Brandon just gave me an idea.”

  “Do tell?” Zak leaned against the wall by the door. “It’s the least you could do for giving us a heart attack.”

  Francene poised an elbow on the table and rested her pointed chin in the cup of her hand. Jade leaned back and crossed her arms.

  “What if Brandon held rank in the blood-bond?” Finn waved a hand through the air, as if wiping away the scoff that erupted from Zaborah. “Hear me out before you laugh, young lady.”

  Ben hid his smile at Zaborah’s wrinkled nose.

  Finn grasped at Ben’s forearm, his strong fingers digging into the muscle. “You remember our tests, right? When we confirmed that Brandon was bonded to his sword?”

  “Yes,” Ben drawled slowly, recalling the surprise when Brandon dropped after Raine had carried his sword just far enough away from him. “He revived as soon as the sword was touching him again.”

  “Exactly.” Finn’s eyes lit up and he turned on his heel, pacing around a nearby couch. “Brandon had been blood-bonded to a sword. He was under the control of the bracelet that Jaxton had, but the bond was because of the sword somehow.” Finn looked at Jade. “Your father seems to hold rank in the bond. Enough so that he was able to order the advisor from Antius.”

  Jade’s head jerked back, and she gave Finn a look of utter confusion. “Brandon? How?” She tapped her finger against the table. “And the advisor from Antius, which one? Wouldn’t he have to be blood-bonded for that?”

  Francene swirled her fingers along the whorls of the wood of the table. “We reviewed the advisers, including Antius’, Jade.”

  Jade grimaced and closed her eyes in concentration. She snapped her fingers. “Kaius, I think?”

  “It might have been Kaius,” Finn acknowledged. “I didn’t try to catch his name. But Elph don’t visibly age, so he very well could be old enough to have been bonded before the barrier first went down.” Bitterness crept into his voice and he paced toward the window, staring out into the garden. “And his opinion of the Void Born speaks volumes. I’m sure that he was blood-bonded.”

  “It would make sense,” Ben spoke slowly, thinking it through. “Only our crew and Ezran’s people knew of the lodestone when we were there. And we weren’t the ones who stole it.” He frowned. “Is it the same guy who accused us?”

  Finn nodded. “Indeed. Someone working under Ezran must be also working for the north, and it wouldn’t shock me if it’s this adviser.” He turned away and raised the sheet of paper he’d come in for. “And I’m sure that Brandon holds rank over him.” Finn’s eyes gleamed. “Please excuse me, I must compile some facts and make absolute certain of myself.”

  Ben’s skin crawled. What had Kaius said that spoke volumes of his opinion on Void Born? He clearly hadn’t implied hurting Raine, otherwise Finn would have mentioned as much. But there wasn’t a hint of hope in Finn’s voice regardless.

  Zak cocked his head as the closed door behind Finn. “Wait, wasn’t Finn supposed to be meeting with Her Majesty, Violet? When did he interact with Brandon and Kaius?”

  “And what good could come of a king that holds rank in the blood-bond?” Zaborah asked, her face troubled.

  “Much good, or much ill, depending on which way his mood swings,” Francene replied, a crease of worry marring her otherwise flawless complexion. She looked at Jade. “If rumors of this get out, life would become only more complicated for you. Keep what he said to this room only, for your own sake.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Christopher

  Christopher walked down the shadowed street of Lucrum and watched as the gas lighters lit the lamps along the cobblestone path. Kaius had been downright sulky when he’d ordered Christopher to find and reconnect with Victor and whoever was left of his team. Kaius had then added that when Christopher returned, he was to tell anyone who asked that his master Kaius was ill, and wished to be left alone. Then he’d locked the door behind Christopher.

  Whatever was ailing Kai
us hadn’t seemed any more contagious than a bad mood, but if it meant that Christopher was free to search for Victor, he would happily do so. Anything to be out of the palace, and back to the chain of command that he belonged under.

  Christopher stopped in the middle of the sidewalk and mentally reviewed the short list of possible safe houses that Victor had him learn months ago. He should check the apartments in the west of the city. Christopher let his arms swing casually as he turned down a darkened alley, cutting the time in half for getting to the next major street. As much as he wanted to bury his hands in his pockets to ward off the chill that lingered in the air, having the appearance of being strong and in control would hopefully keep trouble at bay. He didn’t have time to deal with hiding bodies tonight.

  One whiff at the front door was all he needed to confirm he’d found them. How Preston thought he’d be able to smoke such strong leaves and blend in with subtlety was beyond Christopher. He knocked and scuffed the heel of his boot against the wood floor while he waited.

  How would he tell them? By now, they’d definitely heard that the mission was a success and the barrier was down, but the cost of the mission still rankled. Did Victor know that Lucio was deranged from the beginning? And he hadn’t thought it’d be good to forewarn Christopher? Even if it hadn’t changed anything that happened, at least it could’ve given Christopher a chance to be prepared for everything falling apart. Lucio sacrificing Andrew. Deirdre and Derrick falling in battle so quickly. Lucio’s death.

  The door opened, spilling light across his face, momentarily blinding him as his eyes adjusted. “Christopher?”

  Strong feminine hands grabbed his arms and pulled him in. He blinked at the warm, well-lit room, complete with a roaring fireplace, three gas lamps, and a table with Victor, Rachel, Preston, and Silas gathered around, half-eaten dinner in front of them. Pamela stood before him, her brown hair pulled back in a low ponytail, her skin radiant, and a smile of relief aimed at him.