Battle for Cymmera. Dani-Lyn Alexander

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СКАЧАТЬ I just don’t know what. I spoke to Elijah about it, but I got the usual, ‘I can’t tell you anything about decisions that affect the future,’ speech.” He finally lifted his gaze to hers. “Have you tried asking Payton? If anyone knows how Chayce treats a prisoner, it would be her.”

      Though Jackson seemed to have complete faith in the woman he’d rescued from the underground prison in Argonas, Ryleigh had her doubts. She couldn’t figure out exactly what the problem was, but she didn’t trust her. The fragile woman had supposedly been taken from the human realm and enslaved in the realm of Argonas. Yet something about her story seemed rehearsed. “You were his prisoner too.”

      “Yeah, but Chayce treated me differently.” He left out the fact Chayce had tortured him almost to death.

      Ryleigh didn’t need the reminder. Things had been going fairly well. She’d finally had some time to spend getting to know Jackson without the direct threat of death. All right, she and Mia were having some issues, but even in an alternate realm, teenagers sometimes rebelled. Right?

      The door screeched open, saving Ryleigh from further discussion of Payton.

      Max sprang up and stood at attention.

      “Your Majesties.” A guard jogged into the chamber, dropped to one knee, folded his hands over his other knee, and lowered his head in the traditional greeting for the King and Queen of Cymmera. Eyes wide, he jumped to his feet.

      She retrieved her sword from the step, suddenly needing the illusion of safety its presence brought.

      Jackson stood and helped Ryleigh to her feet. “Yes?”

      “Sir.” The guard extended a rolled parchment toward Jackson. “We’ve just received word.”

      Jackson stilled, Ryleigh’s hand clutched in his. If not for the increased pressure on her fingers, she might have thought he didn’t realize it must be news of Chayce Maynard. Jackson took the scroll and let it drop to his side unopened. “Where?”

      Max’s hackles rose.

      “The wilds of Argonas, sir.” His sword clanked against his armor as he shifted from one foot to the other. “A courier arrived only moments ago and delivered the scroll to Darius Knight. I don’t know much, only that it was quite vague, but he told me to bring it to you immediately. He’s calling the council to order as we speak. They will meet you in chambers.”

      “Thank you.” Jackson nodded a dismissal, and the guard left.

      Jackson started forward with Ryleigh at his side.

      Max fell into step in his accustomed position beside her.

      As Queen of Cymmera, she would accompany Jackson to the Council Chambers where they would have a meeting about the logistics, but in the end, Chayce Maynard had already been tried and sentenced to death for treason. Her part in that sentencing still gnawed at her gut. The traitor had tortured Jackson pretty much to death, kidnapped Mia, and done who knows what to her, betrayed his kingdom, his father, his brother. Yet, sentencing a man to death and actually enforcing his execution were two very different things, the second of which Ryleigh wasn’t sure she had the stomach for.

      * * * *

      Jackson strode toward the Council Chambers.

      “Hey, wait up.”

      He’d almost forgotten Ryleigh was at his side, her stride much shorter than his. He slowed his pace for her and Max to catch up, then resumed his trek toward whatever dilemma awaited him. His long anticipated confrontation with Chayce didn’t seem quite as appealing now that the time had apparently come.

      “Are you all right?” She slid her ice-cold hand into his.

      Like all Cymmeran men, he’d been devoid of feelings until he met his destined mate, and emotions that hadn’t burdened him for hundreds of years before he met Ryleigh battered him now. Images of Chayce as a young boy, running with Jackson, imitating him while he practiced with his sword. What had happened to the boy who’d once looked up to him with such admiration?

      He forced the memories into a corner of his mind where they couldn’t torment him. Indulging in ridiculous memories from a lifetime ago served no purpose. They no longer held a place in his heart.

      If he couldn’t recapture the cold indifference he’d indulged in before Ryleigh, he’d do better to harness the rage and betrayal Chayce brought to the surface. At least those feelings might allow him to do what was necessary.

      Another image came unbidden. Chayce, flail held high, eyes filled with contempt and hatred before his weapon slammed into Jackson’s side.

      “Ow.”

      “Sorry.” He loosened his hold on Ryleigh’s hand, but she only gripped his tighter.

      “It’s all right.” She frowned as she studied him.

      He shifted his gaze away from hers. Ryleigh was too intuitive, too in tune with him. No sense letting her see his conflict. She’d probably want to talk about it. That was the last thing he needed.

      “Are you okay?”

      “I’m Fine.”

      “You know, Jackson—”

      “Yes, Ryleigh.” He stopped and faced her, releasing his death-grip on her hand. “I do know. I know exactly what I have to do, exactly where my responsibilities lie, and exactly how this must end.”

      They’d had this discussion before, numerous times, and he couldn’t handle it right now. Chayce had to die. Period. There was no room for sympathy, no room for compassion, no room for anything but determination and strength.

      Given the chance, Chayce would destroy Cymmera and everyone in it. Chayce would be strong. He would be decisive. He would not lack the courage to achieve his goal.

      Knowing that didn’t make Jackson’s mission any easier. “There’s no other choice, Ryleigh.”

      His father had ruled this kingdom with an iron fist. It couldn’t always have been easy. Yet, he’d never bowed under the pressure, never caved no matter how difficult the circumstances. Even at the moment of his death, he’d remained strong enough to pass on the knowledge his oldest son would need to rule Cymmera. Too bad Jackson hadn’t been strong enough to see and accept it sooner.

      “Let’s go.” He continued toward the chambers without taking Ryleigh’s hand again. His feelings for Ryleigh made him soft. He would have to get a grip on them. If he was going to have emotions, so be it, but he’d be damned if he’d allow them to get in the way of his responsibility to his kingdom. Again.

      He pushed through the door of the Council Chambers into chaos. The Council heads had already gathered, as had the Death Dealers, the Queen’s Army, and a few of the upper Cymmeran Guard members. News traveled fast in Cymmera. “What’s going on in here?”

      “Sir.” Elijah, the prophet and Jackson’s most trusted advisor, dropped to his knee in greeting.

      The others in the room followed his lead. An undercurrent of excitement sizzled in the strained silence and continued as the men and one woman rose to their feet. There should have been two female council members СКАЧАТЬ