Piper pushed down on the flat, gold door handle. With a quiet click and a groan, the doors slowly swung inward. To the left was an unlit fireplace with a mantel made of iridescent blue stone the likes of which she’d never seen. Unlike the simplicity of Thane’s room at Castle Dredwich, this chamber was filled with shelves of statues and vases full of blooms, and artwork depicting war but somehow in a beautiful way. As if the warriors were in a dance rather than a sword fight, with the light pastels and puffy white clouds and blue skies. A sofa and loveseat circled around a silver rectangle rug. On a table in the center were a plate and a half-empty glass of wine and an old book with loose pages sticking out. Airy white curtains to an open balcony shifted and danced in the breeze.
Why was it so quiet? And where was Brunard? The right side revealed an archway opening into another part of the chamber where she spotted the end of a bed. The thick beige posts were etched with whorls and berries and leaves.
“Hello?” Piper called softly.
Layala almost jumped at the interruption of the silence. It felt like intruding on someone’s private moments. But at least he wasn’t in the middle of something intimate or they’d have heard something.
Thane moved across the wooden planks like a phantom, cautiously stepped out onto the balcony and disappeared behind the curtains. Floorboards creaked in the other room. Someone was in here. Layala and Piper both nodded at each other and made their way to the arch. Layala stepped across the threshold first and cold metal slid across her neck. She froze, barely registering the sting, careful not to breathe too heavily or risk pushing the blade further.
“Lord Brunard.” Piper’s wide eyes stared to the left of Layala. “We mean no harm. We’re the new—”
“Female company in my chambers is by invitation only.”
Layala could barely make out auburn hair and light skin out of the corner of her eye, but she didn’t dare move. It would take minimal pressure for him to slit her throat. With hands raised, Piper stepped closer. Her eyes darted to the room behind, and she gave the slightest shake of her head.
“Lord.” She lifted her hand toward him and licked her lips. He didn’t flinch away or say a word the closer she drew, so Piper slid her fingers along the bare flesh of his arm. Layala dared turn her head in the slightest to watch her companion’s next move. Piper’s fingers danced across his shoulder and then caressed down his back. She put her chin in the hollow of his neck and said softly in his ear, “Your guards thought we’d be a nice surprise. A gift.”
“Mmm,” he crooned. “Did they?” But he’d yet to remove his weapon. He glided fully in front of Layala. It took everything in her to not lean back or let her buzzing magic tear apart this room. This was the elf responsible for torturing Thane, after all. She expected him to be uglier or there to be some sign of his wickedness on his face, but he was as beautiful as most elves, more so than some. His dark eyes glittered as they trailed down her body. With care, he watched as he slid the dagger down her throat, across her collar bone and then pressed the tip gently above her left breast. “I can hear your heart beating. Are you nervous?”
“Yes,” she answered.
“Are you afraid?”
Layala briefly looked at Piper. Her friend rubbed her hands down his chest and back up. “No.”
“You’ve never done this before, have you? Offered yourself to a male you don’t know.”
Not even close, Layala thought. “You’re correct, Lord.” And why hadn’t he taken his dagger away from her chest yet? And why wasn’t Piper talking like she said she would?!
He tilted his head to kiss the top of Piper’s hand as she rubbed his shoulders. They should have had a clearer plan. What was the blasted plan? Fennan said she’d have to hump it out of him, but Piper said she had other ways of persuading, and truthfully, Layala came along for support. Her only thought was to tie the bastard to a chair and pull his fingernails off until he gave up the location. Maker, she was a brute in need of finesse.
Brunard scrutinized every inch of her face. She stared back at him, counting the beats of her heart to focus on something other than her itching magic or the pinch of Brunard’s dagger. Did he recognize her? Long moments passed. He must know, mustn’t he? Would he shove the blade straight through her heart?
Piper, say something!
“I love the innocent ones,” he said and slid his other hand over her stomach, holding his fingers under the chain around her waist. Her skin prickled at the violation. “The ones who need me to teach them things.”
What a disgusting prick. She could no longer stand the blade at her heart. Her hand wrapped around the sharp metal, and she pushed it back slightly. It cut into her palm, but she gladly took the sting. He didn’t ease off. Did this elf have some sort of knife fetish? She thought seriously about slamming her knee into his crotch, twisting the dagger out of his hand, and using it on him. But she would give Piper more time to do whatever it was she had in mind. “Lord, please.”
He smiled and eased the weapon off. “It was just so delicious watching you get more and more nervous. You’re like a frightened doe and this is unusual for me. Most of the maidens I get are experienced and eager to please.”
He backed her against the wall and his palms hit on either side of her head. “Tell me, what do you want to do to me, precious?”
She swallowed hard. “Truthfully?”
His finger wrapped around a piece of her long hair and then he pulled on it enough to hurt. “I’d love to hear it.” Before she could answer he leaned forward and fully kissed her on the mouth.
Holy shit.
She went stark still. Revulsion pulsed through her as the taste of wine on his tongue filled her mouth. Was he drunk? And holy Maker above, could Thane see this? She wanted to slam her hands into his chest. Where the hell was Piper? She glanced behind him and found Piper silently rifling through the trunk at the end of his bed. Layala of all people was Brunard’s distraction?
Layala put her palms flat against him and pushed gently but enough to get his lips off her. “You know what I’d love to do to you, Lord Brunard?” Cut out your wretched heart.
“Tell me,” he begged. “I love watching your lips move. They’re so soft and plump.” He leaned forward, moving in for another kiss.
From behind, Piper pulled his chin around to face her. “Come play with me. You’re giving her all the attention.” She slipped a full glass of wine into his hand. “Have some more, Lord.”
She gave Layala an apologetic look and then took his hand, leading him toward the bed.
He tipped his head back and drank it down in seconds. “You’re too kind, lovely.” He grabbed a handful of her hair and pulled her to a stop. Bringing the locks to his nose, he inhaled. “I adore redheads. You don’t feel as much pain.”
Piper turned and grabbed between his legs. He lightly hissed. “You have red in your hair, so tell me, does that hurt or do you like it?”
“It hurts and for some reason I like it,” he slurred.
Either that wine was hitting him hard or there was something else in it.
“I thought so,” Piper crooned, then she grabbed his shoulders and pushed him back on the bed. “I heard you have the All Seeing Stone. Is that true, Lord?”
Layala almost groaned. She truly just came out with it? Maker above, it’s not like he was simply going to hand it over.
But to her surprise, he nodded, tongue practically wagging as she climbed on him. “Yes. What do you want with the stone?”
“Where is it?”
His eyebrow ticked up and that seemed to sober him some. He snatched Piper around the throat, and she immediately grabbed his wrist with both hands. “Why are you asking me about the stone?”
Shit, Layala rubbed her face and found herself moving across the floor toward the pair. The wine wasn’t hitting as hard as they thought.
“Don’t hurt her. It was my idea.”
“What was?” he snapped.
“To come in here and ask for the stone. I need it. It’s important.”
His glassy eyes narrowed but he only tightened his fingers more around Piper. Her wheezing sent a shot of panic through Layala.
“So you’re not my gift.”
“No.”
He dropped his hand and Piper gasped for air and wrapped her hands around the front of her throat. He shoved her to the side and got up.
“Just for the fact that you had the guts and ability to slip by my guards and get in here, I’ll hear you out. But if I think you’re lying, I won’t tell you where it is and trust me, you’ll never find it.” He looked Layala up and down. “And I have a soft spot for beautiful half-naked females, high elves or not.”
How did he know?
He stepped around Layala, swaying a little as he walked to the room where they’d left Thane. She could hardly believe he hadn’t stepped in already. Layala curled her fingers, nails biting into her palms. Had Thane found a place to hide? What would Thane do when they met? Threaten him with death? Something about Brunard told her, he’d rather die than give anything to Thane.
She waited for a shout, for Thane to start barking orders, or a fist to crack flesh and bone but the shirtless Brunard simply sauntered over to the loveseat and picked up a glass of wine. “Why are you two still standing there? Come. Sit.” He waved a lazy hand at the sofa across from him and leaned back, legs spread wide as if he had not a care in the world. At least he wore pants.
Layala glanced at Piper. Where did Thane go? There were no shelves or doors or shadows to hide in or behind. Her gaze drifted toward the balcony. Was he giving them a chance to talk to Brunard? He must believe it was a possibility to get the stone’s location without torture and mayhem.
Layala gracefully lowered onto the soft navy-blue sofa and rested her hands on top of her bare thighs. She kept her spine rigid, not comfortable enough to lean back and relax. What story was she going to come up with to convince him to give her the stone?
Piper held the same posture beside her. On guard, waiting for Brunard to do something rash. The worn, silver book with pages falling out caught her attention. Under it was a drawing and from its peeking corner in black ink, she made out the outline of what might be a scepter of some kind. An ornate piece a king might hold.
Brunard leaned forward, gripped a white napkin from beside the book and wiggled it at Layala. “You’re bleeding a little. Ever since your fallen prince escaped, I’ve wondered if he might come back to kill me. You’ll understand if I’m cautious.”
“Our fallen prince?”
“Oh, I know neither of you is a woodland elf. There are subtle differences in your features.”
“Oh, of course,” Layala said, and grasped the napkin, trying but failing to keep her hand from trembling a little. The rush of adrenaline, the urge to fight still surged through her veins. She forced herself not to look at the balcony again. Thane had to be out there, and if he heard that Brunard made her bleed? Maker above, she was shocked he hadn’t blasted in here yet. With a deep breath, she pressed the crisp napkin to her throat. “But he’s dead or hadn’t you heard?”
With a smile, he leaned back in a casual manner. He took a sip of wine and then swirled the white liquid around. “I did hear that.”
But he clearly didn’t believe it. “So, the stone. Do you in fact have it?” Layala asked.
He tapped a nail against his glass. “There is something so familiar about you. I can’t put my finger on it. I thought for sure when I kissed you the memory would return.”
So he had been playing them? “I assure you we’ve never met. I’d remember,” she said coolly and smiled. She’d remember the face of the elf who tortured her lover, no doubt about it. When she tore apart Newarden in her rampage, she never saw Brunard. She didn’t even know what he looked like until now.
He let out a dark chuckle and sat forward, forearms rested on his thighs. “You know I thought the same thing. You’re quite striking to look at but I know I’ve seen you somewhere before, and remember I said I wanted the truth or no stone.”
“Before we tell you anything, we need to know if you have it,” Piper said.
“I do and I’ve told no one else where it’s hidden.”
Sweat beaded on Layala’s back. What if he could detect lies? He seemed sure of himself, as if he’d know if she or Piper lied. “I have been here before. Once,” Layala said. “To Newarden.” She suddenly remembered seeing his auburn hair, screaming at the ledge of the fountain for his soldiers to attack the oncoming pale ones and to leave her. “I saw you near the fountain then. I’m sure we shared a look.”
He stared into her eyes. Even if he was a little drunk, it was as if he could discern truth or lie. She could almost see the thoughts flying through his mind as if he were trying to recall the moment. The breeze from the balcony whisked into the room and the fresh air cooled the sweat glistening on her body.
Finally, he nodded. “Why do you want the stone?”
“I want to know the truth about who I am. Things have been—kept from me.” She tried to tell the truth without giving anything away. And it was true. She wanted to know why she could bring the Black Mage back or if she was the one to destroy the curse of the pale ones.
Brunard leaned back again and tilted his glass of wine until it was gone. “I’m afraid it doesn’t work on its own. Something I didn’t discover until recently.”
“What does that mean?” Piper asked.
“It means after I held the thing in my hands and tried everything I could imagine to get it to do something—anything, nothing happened. So I did some in-depth research. Turns out for it to work it has to connect with a scepter which was deliberately kept separate from the stone. And only two mages can get it to work even with both. This is a power the ancients didn’t want us to have.”
Layala glanced down at the book. A scepter was drawn there… Of course, fate wouldn’t allow this to be simple. She wanted to use it for good. Why couldn’t the Maker be on their side in this? “And who has the scepter?” Layala asked.
“The dragon king, according to my great grandfather’s journal. A place I dare not venture. I’d rather not be eaten.”
As in Varlett’s king? Could things get any worse? Both Piper and Layala sat in stunned silence. To face even one dragon had led to disaster. How many dragon shifters could be in the dragon court? Would they be attacked there? Would they be allowed to enter? They stayed in their mountains and didn’t associate with the rest of Adalon.
“I had a similar reaction.”
“We’ll risk going there,” Piper said. “But we need the stone. What do you want for it?”
With a mischievous smile, he stared into his empty glass of wine then set it on the table. He lifted his gaze to Layala. “I want you, in my bed.”
Layala’s heart nearly jumped into her throat. “No.”
“Then you can’t have it.”
“You can have me,” Piper blurted out and stood.
Layala almost gasped. She stared wide-eyed at Piper. She couldn’t possibly bed Brunard for the stone. Who’s to say he would even give it over afterward?
“A most generous offer, lovely,” Brunard said but his eyes flicked back to Layala. His stare was hard and uncomfortable as if he could undress her with a look, as if he saw her as nothing more than a vessel for pleasure. “But I want that pretty mouth wrapped around my cock and then I want to ride you until you scream my name—Lady Lightbringer. That’s who you are, isn’t it? I want Thane to hear us in the afterlife.”
Holy shit, he knew. And he was trying to draw Thane out or testing to see if he was here. He must be, or at the very least, if he believed Thane to be dead, he wanted what he thought once belonged to his enemy. “If you know who I am, you know exactly what I am capable of, and I’ll cut off your cock before it ever comes anywhere near me.” Layala stood, fury surging through her. “And if you don’t give me the stone, I’ll make sure you suffer as much as Thane did before I kill you. It will be you screaming my name, begging me to stop the pain.”
Piper was as still as a statue beside her. Brunard stared at Layala, but that lustful hunger shifted. She could almost smell the fear leeching out from him. He was trying to decide if she was serious or not, maybe debating on his chances of winning against her. It was rare for a female to have the power to kill and make commands of a lord like Brunard, and she could see he didn’t like it.
Faint screams from outside, drifting in from the balcony, broke their staring contest. Had her brief use of magic breaking the lock triggered a pale-one attack? The rising of shrills and shrieks and… loud snapping trees, intensified. What is happening out there? Pale ones couldn’t tear apart trees.
With a puzzled look, Brunard stood, facing the balcony. Thane burst through the curtains, sword in hand and a ferocious scowl. With a wave of his hand Brunard flew and slammed into the wall, pinned there by an invisible force. The woodland Elf Lord wore an expression mixed with fury and surprise.
“What’s going on?” Layala followed him as he stalked across the room.
“Varlett has arrived.” He smiled wickedly at Brunard and slid his blade’s edge to his throat. “Hello, old friend. Where is the stone?”
“Go lick donkey dick.”
Thane smirked. “I was hoping you’d say something like that.” With a quick jerk, he slid the blade across flesh and a well of blood bubbled up and spilled down to his collarbone. Brunard winced but that stubborn set to his jaw remained. “The next slice will kill you. I don’t have time for your horseshit. Where is the stone?”
Screams and cries for help grew louder outside. Layala fidgeted nervously with the chain around her belly. She peeked over her shoulder—how long before Varlett came flying in through the balcony? Or maybe she’d tear off the front doors of the place and kill everyone inside.
“You brought your army to slaughter innocent people?”
“No, you have a different threat to deal with. One with scales, and if you want to live to help them, you better talk.”
Brunard stared hard into Thane’s face. “Your word on your honor as High Prince that you won’t kill me if I tell you.”
The jaw muscles in Thane’s face twitched. “Fine. I give you my word as High Prince.”
“On your honor.”
“On my honor,” Thane said. Seriously? From what Layala had seen, Thane always kept his word. He was going to let Brunard go?
His head tilted toward his bedchamber. “At the end of my bed, under the chest there is a loose floorboard. It’s there.”
Piper was already pushing against the chest before he finished his sentence. Fingers dipped into a crack, and she pulled the wood plank, and then beheld a round object in brown cloth, tied with twine. She pulled the tie and it fell open, revealing a rough cut, milky-white stone.
The deep roar of Varlett’s mighty dragon form shook the very floors they stood on. Dust dropped down from in between panels in the wood ceiling. Layala gulped and snapped her head toward the windows. How close was she now? Could they fight her off? A vase slipped from a shelf and shattered on the floor.
“We have to go,” Thane said and released his magical hold on Brunard and took a step back. Thane’s gaze fell to her neck, on the spot Brunard had sliced her, and his serene calmness snapped, obliterated like the fragile glass of the vase now scattered on the floor. With a whoosh, his sword cut through the air, and he shoved his blade right through Brunard’s chest.
Layala gasped and slapped her hand across her mouth.
Brunard’s lips gaped open like a dying fish. “You promised. You gave your word,” he wheezed.
“I lied, and my honor as a High Prince means nothing. I am no longer a High Prince,” Thane growled. “You tricked me then tortured me in a cage. And I could have forgiven that, but I can’t forgive you for hurting them. I heard everything you said. And you thought you could kiss my girl and walk away?” Thane shook his head slowly. “You knew this was coming. So long, old friend.”
He slid his sword free. Brunard let out a quiet cry and slid down the wall. Blood oozed down his chest over his abdominals and pooled on his lap. The ragged sound he made as he struggled to pull air into his lungs made Layala’s skin crawl. She couldn’t look away, as his every breath rattled, and blood rushed out with each beat of his heart. Thane’s cloak whirled out around him as he spun on his heel. He gave one last look at the balcony then jerked the doors open into the main hall of the manor. “Move. Now, ladies.”
Brunard choked until blood bubbled out of his mouth. Why did a small part of her feel sorry for him? This fallen ruler left dying in his own chambers while a dragon ripped apart his city. Even if his end was what he deserved, it surprised her that Thane went back on his word. She’d come to know him as the playful, flirty male she loved, who felt remorse, believed in sacrifice, duty, and honor, was adored by his people and those who knew him best. She let that overshadow the fact that Thane was also a ruthless killer when it came to protecting those he cared for. She’d seen a flash of that back at Kail’s place, the empty look in his eyes when he cut down his own elven kind. It had startled her. Now she wondered what he would do when it came time to take down another ruler—Thane’s own father. Would the merciless killer or the dutiful son win that battle?
Piper gripped Layala’s arm and tugged her toward the door. “Come on. Thane will need our help. We’re going to have to fight our way out of here now.”
Layala pulled free and grabbed the journal off the table then ran out the exit.
