Chapter 20

A rough hand prodded Rissa forward but she couldn’t feel it. Her feet stumbled and moved of their own accord as the world around her blurred.

Noises faded to the background until the only sound in her ears was her own breath, rasping through her lungs.

“Don’t touch her,” someone screamed as strong fingers closed around her arms.

“Trystan,” another voice called. “Don’t fight them. Not yet.”

Alixa. Trystan.

Rissa shook her head.

Davi.

He’d been there right in front of her. Close enough to touch. No. Impossible. Davi was dead.

Soldiers formed up around them, an imposing force. Their booted steps echoed off the cold stone and Rissa shivered.

Whoever that man had been, it couldn’t be Dav. He’d looked at her without recognition in his eyes. Calis was playing some cruel joke with his magic.

A guard jerked her forward until she was right in front of the king of Dreach-Dhoun, the man who’d almost destroyed her kingdom and ordered her father’s death.

Dark eyes scanned her from head to toe and widened. Hardening herself, she lifted her chin, refusing to cower. Trystan shouted something else before a guard covered his mouth, but she didn’t hear him as the dark king drew her in.

He was a beautiful portrait, cold and unfeeling.

He lifted a hand and ran his fingertips down her cheek. She forced herself to remain still.

“It’s remarkable,” he whispered.

Rissa held her breath.

“Sire.” One of the soldiers stepped forward. “We have delivered the prisoners.”

“I can see that,” Calis snapped. “Your men may return to the border.”

The soldier barked out an order, and the bordermen marched out of the courtyard, leaving Rissa, Trystan, Alixa, and Avery in the hands of the more refined royal guard.

Calis continued to stare until his eyes caught on the golden disk at Rissa’s throat.

She swallowed hard as his hand traveled the length of her neck, stopping at the chain of her mother’s necklace. He lifted it off her chest and pushed out a breath.

Ghosts swam in his eyes.

Lorelai put a delicate hand on his arm, and he dropped the necklace.

“Uncle,” she said. “What are your orders?”

Rissa’s eyes drifted to the woman who’d killed her father and wanted to laugh. The seer had seen better days. Filthy clothing and ratty hair were just the beginning. She deserved all of it.

“I see what stabbing kings in their sleep gets you,” Rissa spat.

Lorelai looked away.

“Figures.” Rissa jerked her head away from another touch from Calis. “Hands off, asshole.”

A smile split Calis’ face and he laughed. “You have her spirit as well as her looks.”

“Who?”

“Marissa Kane.”

Marissa? Her mother? But her last name wasn’t Kane. Was it? Rissa knew nothing of her mother’s life before she married her father except that she’d been in the Dreach-Dhoun army, but something Briggs once said came back to her. He’d called her Marissa Kane as well.

“Oh dear, it seems like your father had his secrets.” He turned to Lorelai. “Niece, inform both Ramsey and my son that they are expected in the throne room. Then, for earth’s sake, get yourself a bath.”

Lorelai bobbed her head and entered the palace.

Calis looked to his guards. “Untie them. They’re our guests.”

Rissa rubbed her wrists as soon as the ropes were cut. Trystan ran to her as Calis turned to walk inside.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“I can still feel his hand on me.” She wiped at her cheek. “We were right. He knew we were coming and was prepared. Why didn’t he just throw us in the dungeons?”

“Rissa.” Trystan gripped her shoulders. “Slow down. Didn’t you see what I saw? Da-”

“And what did he mean about Marissa Kane? Did he mean Mom? He must have if he thinks I look like her. Did you see the way he was looking at me? I feel dirty.”

“Rissa,” he hissed. “What is wrong with you?”

“For starters, I’m now a prisoner in an impregnable castle in the middle of an enemy kingdom full of magic.”

“Didn’t you see him?”

“Who?”

“Davi!” He took a step away from her.

“Move it,” a guard ordered, pressing them through the door. Arched stone ceilings greeted them in the wide hall.

Rissa leaned close to Trystan. “Davi is dead, brother.”

“Somehow, he’s not. He was there. I’d recognize him anywhere.”

“I thought I saw him too, but it was just a manifestation of what I wanted to see. That man didn’t even know me. Calis is messing with our heads somehow.”

The guards ushered them into a cavernous room. Velvet carpet spread before them in a sea of red, stopping at the edge of steps that led up to a wooden throne.

Calis waved his guards away before turning to Trystan. “You’d be wise not to consider doing anything I don’t like just because my guards aren’t here. Trust me, boy, I am more powerful than anyone you’ve ever met.”

To Trystan’s credit, he didn’t back away from the other king’s harsh stare.

Remnants of the magic Rissa had felt since crossing the border sat just underneath her skin, but it was only pieces. Inside these walls, she couldn’t draw on more and she didn’t know how to release the little she had.

Calis looked at something over Rissa’s shoulder and smiled. “Ah, Ramsey.”

Rissa turned. Trystan, Alixa, and Avery did the same.

The final Tri-Gard member stood in the doorway, his eyes rounded. He was young, much younger than Rissa had anticipated, but she knew the Tri-Gard had the ability to hide their age, the choice to remain forever young. She’d forgotten that as she traveled with Briggs who seemed ancient by comparison.

Ramsey Kane’s blond hair had hints of red. His fair face grew pale.

This was the man who’d betrayed them all those years before; who’d forced the other two Tri-Gard members into draining Dreach-Sciene’s magic.

Ramsey Kane.

Kane.

The name struck Rissa. “Marissa Kane,” she whispered. Trystan caught her words and stared on in shock. The man standing before them—the sorcerer who’d allied with Calis Bearne—was their grandfather. How had they not realized this before?

Rissa rubbed her mother’s necklace and a laugh burst out of her. Then another. She clutched her stomach, unable to stop. Their grandfather looked young enough to be their brother. They were descended from a Tri-Gard member. It made so much sense now. Lonara’s love for their mother. Briggs’ knowledge of her. Their father’s secrets.

Trystan reached for her, but she shrugged him off. “No.” She laughed again, the dam of her emotions finally breaking free.

Ramsey walked forward, concern in his fathomless eyes.

“Don’t come any closer,” Rissa yelled before devolving into another fit of laughter. There was no humor in any of these revelations but if she stopped, she’d tear her own hair out.

“Shut up, girl,” Calis ordered.

She couldn’t.

“Ri.” There was a caution in Trystan’s voice.

“I said shut up!”

A blast of power hit Rissa square in the chest, stealing the air from her lungs and sending her flying across the room. Her scream cut off as she passed Ramsey and slammed into someone else. They both went sprawling to the ground, Rissa collapsing across his chest.

Her limbs wouldn’t work for a long moment before she finally pushed off the man whose presence saved her from crashing into a much harder surface.

Catching her breath, she hovered over him and opened her eyes.

Had she passed out? That was the only explanation for her staring directly into the eyes she knew so well.

“Davi,” she breathed.

He stilled. “You’re crushing me.”

She’d have given anything to hear that voice again. “Say something else.”

Confusion clouded his face. “Get off.”

Her lips curled up, and she leaned down to press them against his. For one blissful moment, nothing else existed.

The burning started low in her chest before another blast of power struck her and her body jerked off him.

She lay still for a stunned moment, watching as he got to his feet and brushed his pants off. He walked toward Calis without another glance.

“I see you’ve been listening to me, son.” Calis grinned.

“Keeping magic stored inside me does come in handy.” He stopped at his father’s side and turned to face them.

Someone extended a hand to Rissa, and she lifted her eyes to Ramsey’s. Her hand was small in his as he pulled her to her feet.

“Don’t let them see it affect you, my dear,” he whispered. “Calis will use your emotions against you. And Davion…” He shook his head sadly. “Don’t blame him for any of this.”

“What’s wrong with him?”

Ramsey only pointed to his head in answer before leading her back to the others.

Calis waved a hand, and the doors shut with a resounding thud. The torches along the wall flickered and the flames grew, illuminating the shadowy room.

Calis walked to a table along the wall where pitchers sat surrounded by ornate golden cups. “Wine?” he asked. He poured it into cups without waiting for an answer and passed them out. “You’ve never tasted wine like this in Dreach-Sciene. Without magic in the soil, they can’t get the same flavor.”

No one responded, so he continued to talk. “I’m disappointed in you. I expected Briggs and Lonara to join you on this ill-advised journey.”

Trystan’s face reddened and his fingers clenched around the wine goblet. Anger rose in him and as he saw Calis’ smug face, he threw his cup against the wall. Burgundy liquid streamed down the walls. “Do you think I’m an idiot?”

Davi lurched forward, but his father held him back.

“I am sorry, young king,” Calis said. “I do not mean to offend. Of course, you wouldn’t bring me your greatest assets.”

Trystan trained his eyes on Davi. “Do you have something to say to me, brathair?”

Davi clenched his jaw. “I am not your brother. You kept me prisoner for fifteen years.”

Prisoner?

Davi had been a part of the family.

“Dav,” Rissa pleaded. “Explain.”

“I don’t have to explain anything to you. I don’t even know you.”

Rissa put her hands on the top of her head and spun away to avoid their heavy stares as she broke right down the middle. What was wrong with him? She clutched at her throat, struggling for air. Her head shook. “You do.” She closed her eyes. “Davi, you know me. I…” She shut her quivering jaw.

“This explains so much,” Trystan said.

“Speak up, boy.” Calis took a sip of his wine. “If you have a reason for spilling the wine your host so graciously gave you, I’d like to hear it.”

“It’s all been planned. Us. My father. Davion. It was Lorelai who convinced my father to take Davi in when we thought he was just an orphan boy.”

“You mean when Marcus Renauld kidnapped me?” Davi snapped.

“Is that really what you think? Dav, that man was like a father to you.”

“I have a father.”

Rissa faced them once again as red crept up her cheeks. “Shut up.” She ran at him. “I’ll kill you, Davion.” She collided with him and connected her fist to his stomach. “I’ll do it. Don’t think I won’t. We took you in.” She hit him again. “You were family, you ass. Family!” She swung once more, but he grabbed her fist.

“I am not your family.” He raised his hand to strike her with magic. Before he could, Trystan pulled her back, wrapping her in his arms.

“Calm down, Ri,” he said.

She pushed away from him. “Like you? Do you care about any of this? We’ve lost, Trystan. I don’t know how we ever thought we’d be able to get Ramsey Kane out of here. We’re children playing at saving the world. Well, guess what? We failed.”

She held her wrists out to Calis. “Tie me up, take me to a cell. I don’t care. But I’m done talking to you.” Her eyes found Davi once more, expecting to see more indignation or hatred. Instead, there was only confusion.

Calis sighed. “We’re finished for tonight, but tomorrow is another day.” He jerked his hand, and the door opened. Two guards entered. “Show our guests to their rooms.”

The stories of the Dreach-Dhoun dungeons were widespread, but those dank cells weren’t where they were led.

The four of them were separated and a silent guard led Rissa to a room down a long hall. The doors opened, and she narrowed her eyes at the opulence. They were prisoners, yet the plush carpets and silk draperies spoke of honored guests. She shook her head and shrugged off her cloak. The guard left and the sound of a lock turning echoed through the room.

She shed her travel-stained clothing piece by piece on the way to the four-poster bed. After dragging her weary bones onto the soft mattress, she slipped under the covers and curled up on her side.

I don’t know you.

I am not your family.

Don’t blame Davion.

A tear tracked down her cheek and she wiped it away angrily. She’d dreamed of Davi’s return. She’d begged and pleaded to have him back, to be able to look into his eyes once more.

But not like this.

He was the son of their enemy, but not even that would matter if he looked at her like he used to.

That Davi was gone. It seemed a stranger now walked around in Davi’s body.

Her tears fell too quickly to continue wiping them away, and she sniffled. Since Davi died, none of it had felt real. She hadn’t cried because that would be admitting he was truly gone.

Her body shook.

Her Davi was truly dead.

Tears dampened her pillow.

“Dav,” she whispered, his name shaking on her lips. “What did they do to you?”