Fireblood (25 page)

He lifts my face. “I’ve said something to worry you.” He tilts his head. “I thought this would please you. I’m doing it for the citizens as much as for you.”

I suck in a deep breath. “It does please me, Sebastian.” I smile genuinely. “More than you know.” And it’s true. It’s my proof his heart is not yet hardened like King Hart’s. He won’t agree to rule as his father does. My chest loosens with relief.

He releases my face and takes my hand, guiding me toward a storefront. I peek over my shoulder, a smile stretching my face, and spot Devlan lingering behind. A dark expression shadows his features. His eyes are etched in hard creases. I’m confused as to why he’s not overjoyed that he may not have to betray his former best friend, that there’s a chance for Sebastian to take our side and help us stop the Virus and take down the barrier.

I study Devlan’s rigid features a moment longer as his eyes seek something other than me.
What happened between him and Sebastian?

As we approach the artisan’s shop of paintings and crafts, something tugs at my dress. I look sideways, and a man with deep-set wrinkles and hollow eyes grabs my arm.

My heart crashes again my chest.

“Guards!” Sebastian calls.

The man’s dark-rimmed eyes widen, and his mouth trembles open. “They’re coming for you.”

Dread envelopes my core and I shakily yank at my dress, nudging the crazed man off as the Force snatches him up.

“By order of King Hart, unhand the princess,” a knight orders. Larkin, I realize.

I feel a little better knowing at least Larkin, one of the Rebel plants, apprehends the man and not another member of the Force. I don’t think he intended to harm me. His eyes are far away, as if he’s not completely aware, lost. Does he suffer from the effects of the Virus?

The man breaks free of Larkin and bolts forward. Sebastian hauls me backward as Devlan steps in front of me. The man crashes into Devlan’s chest and is knocked to the ground. Larkin is close behind, V-Baton in hand.

A scream lodges in my throat. I prepare to order them not to hurt him, but I’m too late as the man is zapped.

He drops to his knees, and Larkin stuns him again. And then a third time. The man splays out over the cobbled roadway, his body seizing with convulsions. I cover my mouth, horrified, as he writhes and foam leaks over his lips.

I latch onto Devlan’s arm and gape from around his shoulder. My fingers dig into his solid arm. I feel Sebastian’s hand on my shoulder, trying to lead me away, but I cling there—staring at the man, petrified at seeing Larkin repeatedly shock him.

Larkin and another member of the Force lift the man, grabbing him under his arms, and start to drag him away. Before I turn away from the scene, Larkin’s gray-eyed gaze traps mine. A cruel smile drives up the corners of his mouth. I back away as his cold eyes penetrate mine, and his smile widens into a sneer.

If he’s merely playing his role as a Round Table knight, he plays it too well.

TWENTY-THREE

A
n hour after supper, I walk stealthily through the chill corridor. Devlan follows silently behind. Our day out of Court was cut short by the crazed man. I still have no idea what was wrong with him, or what he was trying to tell me. If it meant anything at all.

They’re coming for you
.

His forbidding words echo in my mind. The look in Larkin’s eyes as he dragged the man off haunts me. Larkin seemed to take too much pleasure in executing punishment, and it was as if that punishment had been directed toward
me
.

Larkin wanted to keep the original Rebel plan, and now it feels like he’s personally targeting me. I recall that day at my farmhouse, when I elbowed him and spoke out against the Force. Surely he doesn’t hold a grudge against me because of that? He’s not even truly part of the Force. No, that cannot be the reason. If anything, he allowed me to get away with my treasonous actions. Now, I understand why.

I shake the pressing thoughts from my head and look straight ahead as I maneuver through the castle. It’s late, and the majority of the servants and courtiers are in their chambers. I peek around the corner of the long hallway leading to the secret room before I round the corner. When I reach the end of the hallway, Devlan surveys it one last time, then presses his hand to the wall and the door swings in.

He steps into the shadowed tunnel and grabs my hand, pulling me in front of him before he closes the door. Devlan grabs the torch and moves in front of me to lead the way down.

“You know something is wrong with Larkin,” I whisper, feeling my way along the stone wall. “What if he’s really a plant for Hart? You must have seen the look he gave me. He’s not right.”

Devlan hits the last step, turns and faces me—his face now level with mine as I’m two steps above him. “He was doing his job, Zara.” His brow furrows. “I agree Larkin has a mean streak, and he’s not happy about the change in command. But he’s not a plant for Hart.” He steps down into the dim room.

I march down and plant myself in his path. “How do you know for sure? Everyone here is carrying around secrets. How can you be sure of anyone’s true loyalties? How can I?” As I say it, I’m hit with the realization that it’s the truth. I have only just met all these players.

Devlan’s chest rises and falls, taking in deep breaths. “You’re going to have to trust me.”

“I do.”

“You’re going to have to trust that, no matter what, I won’t let anything happen to you.” His eyes bore into me, and I bite down on my lip. “Even if I didn’t know for sure he’s not a spy, I wouldn’t let Larkin anywhere near you regardless.”

He adjusts his posture, shifting more to one foot. “The man in the market was affected by the Virus.” His mouth pulls down at the corners. “Larkin’s expected to act as a knight of the Force.”

My eyebrows pinch together. “My father didn’t behave like that man.”

“Feel lucky your father didn’t suffer so.” He gives me an encouraging smile. “Now, we’re short on time.”

His words are a small comfort. My father didn’t suffer so before, that’s true, but he suffers plenty now.

I don’t question him anymore as we walk down the dark tunnel. When we near the secret entrance to the stable, he veers left, taking me down a tunnel I hadn’t noticed before. It opens up to another secret room, smaller than the chamber under the castle, but large enough to use for training.

I glance around as he places the torch in an iron sconce along the wall. “I thought you said it was too unsafe to be anywhere near the castle. Why are we here tonight?” I understand why when his face screws up, his eyebrows knitting together. Larkin is in charge of deleting our log. “You don’t really trust Larkin at all.”

Devlan releases an audible breath. “I trust that he’s not a spy. I trust that he witnessed the Force beat his father to death, and saw his mother used as a sacrifice and ripped apart. And that he wants to rescue his sister, the only family he has left, from Outside. I trust that he’s devoted to taking down Hart.”

I cringe. Hearing Larkin’s lot makes my situation seem minuscule in comparison.

Devlan’s eyes land hard on my face, fiery with the reflection of the torch. “But when it comes to you, I don’t trust his intentions. I trust
no one
with your life.”

I bow my head, hiding my eyes from his intense gaze, and nod. “So we can’t train at the meadow anymore?”

He walks to the corner of the room and lifts up a dark canvas, revealing shiny metal. Swords. “We’ll go there twice before we commence the mission.” He picks up a rapier and turns it over and over, examining the blade in the torchlight. “You need to practice with a couple different people to get a feel for how others attack. And Fallon wants to evaluate your progress.”

For some reason, having the little Rebel leader—another girl—monitor me makes me nervous. I stretch my arms over my head, loosening my stiff muscles, then stare at the ground, hoping that Devlan only plans on sword practice. I ache already as I imagine hitting the stone floor.

Walking over to me, he hands me a lethal-looking sword. Its blade is long and thin, but not as long as Devlan’s. The dark steel of the hilt contrasts against my hand as I grasp it. I hold it out, feeling the balance of the weapon. It’s not too heavy, but I know I’m in for extremely sore arms tomorrow.

Devlan slices his blade through the air a few times, getting a feel for the sword he picked out. “In any other situation, I’d have you suited up properly with armor. But since it’s too risky, seeing as we’re trying to be as stealthy as possible, we’ll just have to take extra care not to mortally injure one another.” A slight smile curves his mouth, but I can see the concern that he’s trying to conceal behind it.

I nod through my own fear. “Why aren’t you using your own sword?” I say, noticing he set his in the corner. “And why can’t we just use the practice swords?”

“Because our weapons are inspected.” He takes a couple more swipes. “I don’t think they’d believe I was simply hacking at cherry trees for fun.” He crooks another smile at me. “Practice swords are counted and inspected, also. I don’t want to chance anyone noticing some missing. These are from the Rebel camp.” Then his face sobers. “Zara?”

I look up. “Yes.”

“Do you believe what Sebastian told you today?” He studies me a moment, then says, “Are you convinced of his ignorance of Outside, and that he really wants change?”

His gaze is disarming. I turn my back to him and search my conscience, seeing Sebastian’s golden eyes twinkle as he spoke to me in the square. Finally, I face him. “I do.”

He nods slowly, his eyes drifting to the ground. He’s quiet for a long moment, then he walks up and stands over me. I look up into his cool eyes. “When the barrier is lowered and Hart is gone,” he says, “we’ll need Sebastian to command the Force and the army against the attack that awaits us.”

I tilt my head. “Yes, Devlan. We’ve discussed this. What are you saying?”

His eyes hold mine. “That if you trust him—if your feelings for him have changed…” He shifts his stance. “… then there’s no reason that you can’t be with him. Truly be with him, and help him command.”

My mouth falls open. I always thought that the charade would end. That I would no longer have to pose as Sebastian’s betrothed once we freed the Taken. I would find my father, cure him, and then…

What?

The barrier will be down. We’ll all be exposed to Outside and its horrors. We’ll need to fight every day to beat back the darkness.

I pull myself up straight. “So you want me to continue to be with him in order to secure an army.” I nod my head hard. “That is all I am. A piece on a chess board to manipulate, or rather, to manipulate your future leader.” I cross my arms.

Devlan’s eyes widen. “
No
. That’s not at all what you are, Zara.” He steps closer to me, the shard of air between us charged. “If you care for him, I just wanted you to know that there’s no reason not to be together.” He bites down on the corner of his lip, slightly exposing the dimple along his cheek. “I thought this would please you to hear.”

No, it doesn’t
. And I’ve heard enough.

I exhale heavily and raise my sword.

His hand lowers the blade slowly. “It’s important that we discuss this. We have yet to set a date to commence the mission.”

“What does this have to do with the date?”

His face hardens. “If you wish to be with Sebastian, then we don’t have to rush the mission to take place before your…” He drops the point of his sword toward the floor and adjusts his footing. “It doesn’t have to be before the marriage ceremony.”

I open my mouth, then snap it closed. My face burns as hot as the torch flame lighting the room. “You’re concerned about my wedding night?” As I say it, I want to hide. He can’t truly be weighing this as part of our mission.

He exhales, releasing a strained breath. “I don’t want you to do anything you don’t want to. Not even for the mission.” His eyebrows pull together. “The ceremony is still nearly two months away. I feel, if we work hard, you’ll be trained before that night.”

I nod, understanding. My eyes dance around the chamber, looking everywhere but at him.

“But,” he continues, “if you’re already feeling something for Sebastian—love, maybe—then there’s no reason why you can’t go ahead and marry him.”

I force my eyes to meet his. “Devlan, all that I have thought about since I saw my father on that damned monitor is saving him.” I grip my hilt. “There is no room in this mission for love, correct?” I study his face closely.

A muscle jumps along his jawline as his mouth tenses. “That’s how I see it. But—”

“Then it’s settled.” I turn my back to him and raise my sword. “I do not wish to marry Sebastian. I do not wish to bed him, not even for the mission. And I want to save my father as soon as possible.” I swipe my blade through the air, then face him. “Now, show me how to use this thing before I start practicing with it on your sour face.”

He blinks. “Right.” He nods once, his face unreadable, then his lips quirk into a slight smile. Clearing his throat, he takes a few steps backward. “But, Zara. Just know that you
are
free to do whatever you wish.” His firm stare backs his words.

I nod, and examine my sword. “How am I to stand?”

He slides his sword into his belt. Sidling up behind me, he reaches around and grasps my right hand. “You’re short.” I huff, and he chuckles. “It’s not an insult. I’m only stating the obvious, and that you must learn to do things differently than those twice, maybe three times your height.”

“Hah. Hah. Enough. I’m short.”

He chuckles and releases the sword. His hand brushes my hair over my shoulder, and his fingers skim the back of my neck. My skin prickles at the feel of his light touch, and I take in an uneven breath.

“It’s not entirely a disadvantage,” he says. I try to focus on his words as his warm breath caresses my neck. “If you own it, it can be a great advantage over a taller foe.” He covers my hand with his and points the sword straight out. “Always be in a fighting stance, or on guard. Have all your body parts tucked in tightly.” His foot taps mine, and I move it in, under my body.