“Well then,” Morkai said, opening the coach door. “Welcome home.”
34
Teryn Alante felt like a dead man in his saddle after riding all night, but he hadn’t been willing to let the duke’s coach out of his sight. Not only was Cora inside it, but Teryn had yet to receive her bounty. To claim it, he’d have to meet with King Dimetreus at Ridine Castle. His reward for betraying Cora, however, was the least of Teryn’s worries. He couldn’t care less about it now. But that was a fact he’d kept to himself as soon as he’d realized how outnumbered he and his companions were against Duke Morkai’s well-armed guards. It would have served him little to confront the duke, the very man Cora had been working against. No, Teryn would save his questions for the king himself. Perhaps he would explain why the woman he’d known as Cora was actually Princess Aveline.
He still didn’t understand how it was possible. The princess was supposed to be dead, murdered by Cora’s own hand. After the duke had ordered his guards to seize her and haul her into the coach, Teryn hounded him with questions. He’d been met with nothing more than an annoyingly condescending grin and the duke’s assurance that Teryn could ask anything he wished once he arrived at the castle.
Which was where they were now.
It was an hour past sunrise when Ridine Castle came into view. Teryn and Lex rode through the gatehouse, following just behind the coach with two guards at the rear and two more at the fore. They entered a courtyard, which Teryn was surprised to find so empty. Perhaps he was used to the rhythm and regality of a palace, not the more practical nature of a castle. Ridine itself was a plain structure forged of stone with high walls, tall turrets, and an overall formidable appearance. Adding to that impression were the looming Cambron Mountains and the dark forests that skirted around the castle walls.
“I still wish I had any idea what the bloody hell was going on,” Lex said, eying Teryn as they continued to follow the coach into the courtyard.
Teryn sighed. “I’ll explain later.” He’d said as much several times already, but Lex would only narrow his eyes. He had every intention of telling Lex the truth, but he wanted to wait until the duke’s guards were no longer in such close proximity. Or maybe it was more that Teryn wasn’t ready to admit what he’d done.
The coach rolled to a stop before the stone steps that led to an enormous pair of doors. Teryn dismounted at once and jogged toward the coach. He was stopped by one of the duke’s guards. The guard said nothing, just held up a gauntleted hand and scowled through his helm. Teryn’s shoulders tensed. Every part of him yearned to reach for his sword. His rational side stilled his hand. He may not have known much about Duke Morkai, but if the king had sent him to fetch Cora…
That is, if the king had sent him at all.
Teryn’s chest tightened as the coach door opened. The duke stepped out first and extended his palm. No hand reached out to take it, but Cora slid out next, refusing to meet Morkai’s eyes. Two more guards came down the stairs, each taking one of Cora’s arms. She put up no fight as they escorted her up the stone steps.
“Cora.” The word left his lips without him meaning to.
Cora froze in place, her eyes locking on his. Her expression shifted to one of murderous rage. She didn’t need to say anything for him to know how she felt about him. It was there in her eyes.Hate. One of the guards tugged her forward and she continued up the steps, her head held high.
Like a princess.
How had Teryn not seen it before? She may not have been prim and proper like a royal, but there was a confidence to her he should have recognized. He’d seen it in the tilt of her chin, in her boldness, her refusal to apologize or follow anyone’s orders but her own.
And he’d been a fool. He’d let a piece of paper and a tempting purse form his opinion of her before he’d tried to understand her on his own. He’d known she’d poisoned those hunters, murdered them without remorse, but as for what the poster claimed…
I was framed by Duke Morkai.
There was so much more going on than he understood, but nothing was going to stop him from finding out what that was.
An hourlater he sat in King Dimetreus’ study. One hand was clenched tight around the arm of his chair while the other rubbed his brow. It was all he could do to keep from pacing around the room. He was alone aside from the guard standing sentinel before the closed door. Even so, he wanted to appear as composed as he could despite having been waiting for the better part of an hour. The duke had warned him it would be a while before he’d be granted an audience, but Teryn had refused to do anything else after he entered the castle. Lex, on the other hand, had nearly swooned at the offer of a soft bed and a bath.
Finally, the door opened. Teryn rose to stand out of respect for the king, but it was not Dimetreus who entered the study. It was Duke Morkai.
“Where is the king, Your Grace?” Teryn said through his teeth, not bothering to hide his irritation.
“The king is indisposed,” Morkai said, striding over to the wide desk and sitting behind it. With slow, deliberate moves, he rested his crystal-topped cane upon the desk. He might as well have pointed a sword at Teryn for the unspoken threat the gesture carried.
Teryn held the man’s gaze, studying him for further threat while he debated how to reply. He was surprised how young Morkai appeared. When Helios had spoken of the duke who’d taken over the unicorn hunt, he’d imagined a sinister old man. Not the dashing gent who sat across from him now, one who looked barely older than him. His pale eyes were uncreased, his jaw bearing not even a hint of stubble. How had this man become a duke? He certainly hadn’t inherited the title, for Morkai was neither the name of a duchy nor a family surname of any prestige. Otherwise, he’d have learned the name during his many years of tutelage.
The duke leaned casually in the king’s chair and gave Teryn a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Worry not, Your Highness. The king has bidden me to settle your arrangement with him on his behalf.”
Teryn clenched his jaw. “I demand to speak with the king.”
Morkai cocked his head slightly to the side. “You forget yourself, Prince Teryn. This is Khero. You may have retrieved my kingdom’s beloved lost princess, but you were found in the king’s forest with only a forged writ of permission. A writ forged with my own sigil, might I add. I suggest you take what graciousness the king has offered you. At the moment, he’s offered you me.”
Teryn resisted the urge to glower and instead returned to his seat. It wasn’t an ideal situation, but perhaps the duke could still shine light on some of Teryn’s questions. “Your Grace, explain to me how the woman I turned in to the crown for the murder of Princess Avelineisthe princess.”
Morkai brushed a piece of lint off his black coat. “I did not grant you an audience to speak about the princess. That is a private matter belonging to this kingdom alone. Regardless, you will receive your reward. In fact, I took the liberty of paying off your debt to the Bank of Cartha.”
Teryn blinked a few times. How did the duke know anything about his kingdom’s debt to Cartha? Better yet, why the hell would he pay it back?
“Oh, don’t fret,” Morkai said with a chuckle. “You will get your 500,000sovas. Think of my settlement of your debt as a bonus. You aren’t just any bounty hunter. You’re a prince.”
