Vision of Seduction (30 page)

the journal as if she could discern its secrets through touch. "But if we

could find that statue, it would prove the triangles actually existed,

although I'm not sure if the symbols have any significance or not. None of

the journals in the queen's archives describe the ritual in detail—they just

allude to different elements of it."

Grayson glanced at Katelyn's lopsided writing and ran his thumb over the

words. He again wished he could've known Katelyn as a little girl. Reading

her innocent words had given him insight into the vivacious woman he

had already come to care for. What would all the other journals hold? "The

area she talks about—there's nothing there but brambles and then solid

balda at the base of the waterfall."

"Obviously, a small child found something we haven't. We may have to

have some of the Klatch children help us look." Alyssandra sighed. "Maybe

you and Katelyn could take a detour on the way to the hot springs and see

if she remembers the area." She handed him the other journal, and he

trailed his fingers over the worn leather. "I think it's time to tell her

everything and see if she's willing to help us."

Grayson nodded. "Her birthday is tomorrow. If we are going to do the

coming-of-age ceremony, it needs to be done tomorrow night." He ran his

hand through his hair, pushing it back over his shoulder. "I just hope it's

not too late."

Alyssa bit her bottom lip. "I haven't shown Ryan. The journals, I mean. I'm

not sure what to make of him marrying a blonde. The people are upset

enough with a human, but a blonde... Even a human blonde will go over

like condoms in a convent."

The analogy made Grayson smile. "You never know. Some of the nuns—er

... people—might be excited by that prospect." He kissed her cheek. "It will

all work out, Alyssandra. Have some faith." And hopefully, Katelyn won't feed

me my own bollocks for keeping this from her.

***

Katelyn bounded up the stairs and into her room. Funny how after only a

few days, she thought of this as her room. She smiled as she recognized the

familiar feelings of comfort that had brought her here as a child. No

wonder she had such an affinity for the place and its people.

Happiness infused her, and she realized she had never felt so light and

buoyant in her entire life. She couldn't describe it and was afraid to analyze

anything too closely for fear of losing it.

She missed Rita and even her shop, but nothing else seemed to pull her

back to Earth. Phoenix had been her home her entire life, and while she

enjoyed the gorgeous summers, the breathtaking scenery, and the mild

winters, Tador made Phoenix pale in comparison. Eventually she would

have to quit her impromptu vacation and return home, but for now she

wanted to enjoy Grayson and this place for as long as she could.

I wonder how long that will be... "I'll have to ask Grayson if they found out

why those blond guys attacked me."

"My lady?"

Katelyn nearly jumped out of her skin as Holly emerged from the side

dressing room. With a hand over her heart, Katelyn willed it to stop

galloping, and she sucked in a lungful of air. "Sorry, Holly. Just talking to

myself."

Holly bobbed her head, but concern clouded her pale lavender eyes.

"Is something wrong?" Katelyn stepped closer to the smaller woman and

opened her senses. Agitation and fear streamed off the lady's maid in thick

waves. "We don't know each other that well yet, but I can tell something is

bothering you."

Holly's large eyes filled with tears, and her energy was tinged with fear. "I

could get into a lot of trouble."

Katelyn pulled the woman down on the bed and sat next to her. "I'd like to

help if you'll let me. I'll do everything I can to keep you from getting into

trouble."

The maid's voice came out as a watery whisper. "I'm not supposed to tell

you why you're really here."

A hard stab of dread settled firmly inside Katelyn's stomach, and her hands

became clammy. She wiped them on her skirt and swallowed the large

lump that had formed in her throat. "What are you talking about? I'm here

because Grayson saved me from an attack."

The little maid winced at Katelyn's hard tone. "Yes, ma'am. But the prince

was looking for you to bring you back for the triangle when the attack

happened."

The crudely painted triangle on the wall of the ceremony chamber in her

vision loomed large in her mind's eye. Her temples began a slow throb, and

her stomach roiled, threatening to bring up what remained of her lunch.

"Tell me what you know about the triangle." Her voice came out flat and

dead, which matched how she felt inside.

"To keep the planet from deteriorating further, the queen, king, and princes

Ryan and Grayson decided to institute something called a triangle. It

involves mating the two princes with two humans with special gifts—a

Seer and a Healer—who would then share the job of supplying energy to

the planet with the queen."

"Mating?" She knew her mouth dropped open, and she couldn't seem to

close it. "The word sounds archaic and absurd!"

"Yes, my lady, heirs would be expected." Holly scrubbed at her wet face

with her hand.

"Heirs?" Shock hit Katelyn. She cared for Grayson—a lot. She might even

be a little in love with him, but children? She wanted children someday,

but she didn't like the idea of being a brood mare. "Was that the only

reason Grayson brought me here?"

The maid bobbed her head. "A Seer is needed for the triangle, and—"

"And I happened to be handy." Katelyn's voice came out as a low growl.

"If the coming-of-age ceremony isn't performed on your twenty-fourth

birthday, they will have to find another Seer who meets the criterion."

Katelyn bolted to her feet, her hands fisted at her sides as boiling rage

seared through her veins. "Criterion?" It wasn't bad enough that she had

been convenient and fit the bill, but now it seemed that if she didn't work

out, they would toss her aside and find a suitable replacement. "I'll kick his

balls so hard he'll be searching for them for weeks!"

She thought about everyone she had met here—Alyssa, Ryan, Sasha, and

even King Stone. They were probably all laughing at her. Looking her over

like livestock they were considering for purchase. Oddly, Ryan's betrayal

hurt most of all— he had tainted the happy memories of her childhood,

which was something she could never get back.

She suddenly felt as if she'd been stabbed through the heart. If only this

had killed her instead of leaving her with this searing pain.

A sob welled up through her anger, and she held it in by sheer willpower.

"My lady, there is more." Holly's tears had stopped, and she finally met

Katelyn's gaze.

"You might as well tell me the rest." Katelyn's voice shook, and she couldn't

muster the pride to care. "It will save me killing him twice." Grayson's

smiling face loomed inside her mind, and she shook her head to clear it.

"Bastard!"

"Your friend Rita—the one who is engaged to the Cunt?" The maid looked

at her for confirmation, but Katelyn's blood had turned to ice.

"Say that again." Katelyn gripped Holly's shoulders so hard the woman

winced.

"Your friend Rita—the one who is engaged to the Cunt." The maid's voice

came out as a mere whisper, but the words finally penetrated Katelyn's

anger and turned into icy fear.

"I knew Aedan was no good. But what does he want with Rita?"

"He wants you. The Cunts want control of Tador, just as Grayson and the

royal Klatch families do. If the Cunts can't have you, they will punish your

friend instead. And if they can have you, they can use her as a blood

sacrifice."

Katelyn let her legs buckle, and she sat hard on the bed next to Holly. A

large gulf of helplessness weighted her limbs. "What the hell do I do now? I

have to get to Rita, but I can't fight the Cunts." She thought back to the

whizzing beams of energy the night they had attacked her shop.

Holly brightened. "I can take you through the portal and get you safely to

your friend. You and Rita could leave town until your birthday is past and

they all look for another Seer. If you don't complete the coming-of-age

ritual, you can't be the Seer in the triangle. You would be of no further use

for the Klatch or the Cunts."

No further use …The words burned through Katelyn in a painful rush.

Thoughts of losing Grayson and Tador tore through her, shredding her

emotions and tightening her stomach. A drop of wetness splashed against

her hand, and she realized she was crying—large, fat tears flowing freely

down her cheeks.

Another Seer meant that Grayson would belong to some other woman. A

sob broke free as she imagined Grayson in the arms of anyone but her.

She wished she hadn't heard any of this until after their night in the hot

springs. What would she give for just one more night of ignorance? One

more night of being the center of his attention?

Too much, she was afraid. "What the hell has happened to me?"

She shook her head in an attempt to stem the tears. "Why tell me all this?

Aren't you loyal to Grayson and the royal family?"

Holly dropped her gaze. "I have served the royal family faithfully since I

was a girl, like my mother and ten generations before." She raised her chin

to look at Katelyn, her eyes still watery with tears. "However, the queen

refuses to listen to the will of the people. We disagree with the institution

of the triangle. It will dilute the bloodline of the Klatch, which is the same

thing that created the race of the Cunts. No offense meant, my lady, but

mixing human blood with full-blooded Klatch is very dangerous."

Katelyn wasn't in the mood to poke holes in Holly's argument, but Holly

sounded a bit like a zealot. However, if Holly could help her get to Rita in

time to save her friend from becoming a pawn, Katelyn would have to

overlook Holly's political views for now.

"Let's go. I'll deal with Grayson later."

17

“We have to hurry."

Katelyn followed Holly to the end of a long hallway where a huge tapestry

hung. People made of thread laughed and cavorted in a brightly colored,

lush landscape, and Katelyn averted her eyes, unable to look at their

smiling faces.

Holly lifted the side of the tapestry and gestured for Katelyn to follow.

A few steps forward brought Katelyn close enough to see the lady's maid

push open a door that blended so well with the wall, Katelyn would have

missed it even without the tapestry blocking her view.

"Mind the steps, my lady. It's dark, but there's a door to the outside at the

bottom."

Her mind numb, Katelyn stepped inside and nearly gasped as the door

swung shut behind her and plunged them into inky blackness. The smell of

rich earth filled her senses, and chill air licked at her skin until she

shivered. "Shit."

"Trail your hand down the wall and keep moving, my lady."

Holly's footsteps moved away, much faster than Katelyn was willing to

move without the benefit of her sight.

She stretched out her arm until her fingertips brushed smooth, cold stone.

After bracing all her weight on her left foot, she stretched out her right foot,

searching for the next step. When she found purchase, she stepped down

carefully and then repeated the entire process.

The steps were smooth and clear of debris, and the passage didn't seem to

be dusty or unused. She wondered how often the servants slipped through

these passages and outside.

Minutes dragged by as Katelyn's breathing echoed around her and she

made slow progress.

Soft moonlight spilled in through an opening door.

After enduring the inky blackness, Katelyn blinked several times to allow

her eyes to adjust. Pristine white walls, absent of crystals, surrounded her,

and she found herself halfway down the flight of large stone steps. More

confident, now that she could see, she rushed down the remaining steps

and followed Holly out into the night.

The half moon cast silver light over them, and the velvet warmth of the

night, along with the pungent odor of growing things, enveloped them.

They followed the outside wall of the castle until they reached a statuary

that blocked their path. Holly grabbed Katelyn's hand and pulled her

through a narrow hole in the giant garden maze off to their right.

Because of the tight fit, Katelyn would bet this wasn't the maze's main

path. Maybe it was something only the servants knew about and used?

Abundant foliage crowded around them, rising so high Katelyn knew

Grayson wouldn't be able to see over the top.

At the thought of Grayson, Katelyn's heart constricted, and a fresh wave of

betrayal and pain tore through her, quickening her steps. She hugged

herself and concentrated on following the little maid as they wound and

curved. Occasional branches snagged at Katelyn's hair, and she had to stop

several times to free herself to keep from ripping chunks of hair from her

scalp.

"Holly, Grayson, and Alyssandra said all the portals were being guarded.