The King & His Queen (Pict King Series Book 3) Read online

  She shook her head. “King Talon will not lose the throne.”

  “He will,” Hollins demanded, “although this plan to grab you would have gone easier if my useless brother had joined with me. I had no choice but to kill him, when he tried to stop me, and Bard as well when he tried to help Tumason.” He shoved the dagger near her face once more. “Now spread your legs for me and if you think of screaming—”

  His blade struck her face so fast she barely had time to turn away so that the blade caught the edge of her chin instead of her cheek.

  “You will suffer more of that.”

  It was late when Talon arrived in his sleeping chamber and he debated about going to Hemera. He wanted to go, but they would have little time together before he would have to leave her again. She was probably already asleep and they both had had little sleep lately, not that he needed much, but she did.

  Talon!

  He shivered from the sudden chill that swept through his chamber and he swerved around, expecting to see Hemera standing there. When he did not, his flesh rose along his arms and the back of his neck and he knew something was wrong. He was out through the secret passage, running through the stronghold, not caring if anyone saw him.

  The wind hurried along with him, propelling him, urging him and all the while he heard Hemera call anxiously to him over and over and over.

  Hemera appeared as if she was about to do as he asked when she suddenly grabbed the blanket, flung it over the dagger, and gave Hollins a hard shove with her foot, sending him stumbling to the ground. She grabbed the other blanket and hurried to the end of the sleeping pallet, hoping to get out the door before he could right himself.

  She nearly made it when a yank at her ankle had her falling so hard to the ground that all her breath escaped her and as she fought to get it back, Hollins collapsed on top of her.

  Chapter 17

  The door flew open and Talon rushed in as Hemera struggled with Hollins to keep his blade from coming down on her cheek. A terrifying roar ripped through the air, chasing the wind that had entered with him out the door and turning Hollins stiff with fear.

  Hemera did not see Talon’s hand grip Hollins by the back of the neck, he moved so fast, but she saw him yank the shocked man off her, grab Hollins’ hand that held the dagger and in one swift motion bury the dagger in Hollins’ throat.

  Talon watched as the man choked on his last breath. “You are fortunate I killed you so fast or your suffering would have been endless.” Talon tossed his lifeless body out the door as careless as one would discard a useless carcass.

  Hemera had scrambled to her feet, and hearing shouts and running footfalls, reached down to grab the blanket to wrap around her.

  Talon reached it before she did and draped the soft wool blanket around her shoulders and as he let it fall down around her, she trembled.

  “Talon.”

  She drew his name out in a whispery plea that had him gripping the ends of the blanket tight in one hand, while anger raged through him for what she had suffered. His arm circled her waist and as he responded to her plea and brought his lips came down on hers, Tilden came barreling through the open door.

  Talon snapped his head to the side, his eyes glaring with such rage that Tilden took a step back. His arm tightened protectively around Hemera as she lowered her head and kept her face buried against his chest.

  Tilden kept his eyes on his King. “Others are not far behind me, my King.”

  Talon gave the young warrior a nod for the warning and reluctantly walked Hemera over to her sleeping pallet and sat her down on it. He lowered himself to rest on bended legs in front of her and his rage swelled to a roar in him when he saw the blood at her chin.

  “They arrive,” Tilden warned and stepped outside the door.

  Wrath entered first, then Paine.

  “You are unharmed, my King?” Wrath asked.

  “I am, but Hemera is not,” Talon said. “Send for the healer.”

  “I do not need the healer,” Hemera said. “I can see to the wound myself.”

  Talon went to reaffirm his order when she placed her hand gently on his arm.

  “Please, my King. The healer is not necessary.”

  “Hemera! Hemera!”

  Hemera shut her eyes a moment, hearing her sister’s anxious shouts. She did not want to see anyone. She wanted to be alone with Talon, tight in his arms, where she would be safe. She opened her eyes to see Wrath stopping his wife at the open door with a strong arm to her waist.

  Talon felt the struggle inside Hemera for it mirrored his own. He wanted to be alone with her, hold her tight, ease her fear, though he saw little of that in her. She was strong. She had fought Hollins... the thought struck him like a fist to his jaw. He wanted to ask her if Hollins had had his way with her, but not in front of others.

  It was a brief moment but Hemera caught the flash of fury as Talon’s body grew so taut she thought he would snap in two and that his jaw would crack. The fiery question in his eyes as they ran over her body had her realizing what troubled him.

  It was her sister who helped her reassure Talon when she could not.

  “Tell me he did not hurt you, Hemera. Please, my King, please let me know my sister is unharmed,” Verity begged.

  “I am well, Verity,” Hemera said. “King Talon arrived before Hollins could do me any great harm.”

  Talon fought the urge to pull Hemera into his arms, he was so relieved to hear her words. Instead, he grudgingly stood, giving Hemera’s leg a light squeeze as he did and even more grudgingly stepped away from her and gestured for Verity to enter.

  “He did hurt you,” Verity said, her eyes welling with tears when she saw the blood.

  “It is nothing, barely a wound. You will see when you help me clean it,” Hemera assured her.

  “When Verity is finished, you will tell me what happened here, Hemera,” the King ordered.

  Hemera went to respond when she caught the familiar look in her sister’s eyes when she was about to have a vision. “Wrath,” she called out, but Talon was closer and he caught Verity in his arms before she could collapse to the ground.

  Hemera hurried off the sleeping pallet, making way for her sister as Wrath took his wife’s limp body from the King. He sat on the pallet, holding her, talking to her, assuring her that he was there with her and that she was to return to him soon.

  It warmed Hemera’s heart and eased any worry she had for her sister to see how much Wrath cared for and protected her while she was in the throes of one of her visions. She had warned Verity when they were with the Northmen and she had had her first vision not to tell anyone about them. If she had, she would have been sent away to live with the older seers and Hemera had feared if that happened she would have never been able to rescue her.

  Verity’s eyes fluttered open and once they were fully open, the King demanded, “What did you see?”

  Verity shook her head gently, the corners of her eyes crinkling. “I am not sure.”

  Talon was not satisfied with her answer and took an abrupt step forward, Hemera thrust herself in front of him. He bumped into her, sending her toppling forward. Instinct and familiarity with her had him grabbing her hips to steady her and a collective silence filled the room.

  He released her and with a bite to his words warned, “Watch where you step!” His anger was evident to all and eyes quickly turned away from the King. He grew even more angry and not at Hemera as everyone thought. He wanted this secret, this farce to end. He wanted everyone to know that Hemera was his woman and whoever found fault with it be damned.

  “Tell us what you saw,” Hemera encouraged her sister.

  “Hemera in the woods,” Verity said. “Someone called to her. That was all.”

  “A man or a woman? Was she frightened? ” Talon probed.

  “A man and I saw no fear on her,” Verity said and eased out of her husband’s arms. “I will think on it and see if there is anything else that may be important. But now what is
important is for me to tend my sister.”

  Wrath’s hand went to rest on his wife’s middle, reminding her of their bairn she carried. “Are you sure you do not need to rest after having the vision?”

  Verity shook her head. “I am not tired, though I will rest after I finish with Hemera.”

  That pleased Wrath and he kissed her cheek, bringing a smile to her face.

  The tender moment between the couple annoyed Talon. He wanted that with Hemera and he wanted it here and now when she needed him. She needed comforting and attention now, yet she was giving it to her sister.

  “Hurry and see to Hemera so that I may question her,” Talon ordered his tongue so sharp it pricked at everyone’s skin. He took leave of the dwelling, his steps as curt as his tongue.

  Wrath and Paine followed behind him.

  Once the door shut, Hemera joined her sister to sit on the sleeping pallet. She took her hand in hers and feeling the chill rubbed it between her two warm ones. They sat like that in silence for several moments, Hemera warming Verity’s other hand as well.

  “You know me well,” Verity said, breaking the silence. “Better than I know you.”

  Hemera laughed. “I do not even know me. I confuse myself.” She took hold of Verity’s one hand. “Though, I do know that your visions are clearer than they once were. Tell me what you saw that you wanted no one else to know?”

  “I believe what I saw was for your ears alone. You were in the woods when it was lush with growth. You turned when you heard the sound of a man’s voice and,” —Verity hesitated— “you were softly round with child.”

  Broc had arrived with warriors and after Talon ordered him to remove the body and to see to posting extra guards inside the stronghold, he joined Wrath and Paine, waiting to the side of the dwelling.

  “What were you doing here so late?” Wrath asked Talon.

  “You question me?” Talon asked, glaring at Wrath.

  “Why is it I must constantly remind you that I am responsible for your safety? You, yourself, agreed to it. I follow your rules,” Wrath argued.

  “I wanted another look at Vard,” Talon said not in itself a lie, since he had intended to have another look at the body. “It can be discussed later, away from others. Right now I want to find out what happened here.”

  “That will have to wait on Hemera, since the only other witness is dead,” Paine said, “and it does not bode well that it was one of our own. It leaves doubt that there are others among us who mean us harm.”

  “Find out who Hollins has been seen with and talked to. Track where he has gone recently. Find out everything about him and his brother and that stays between the three of us,” Talon ordered.

  Wrath and Paine nodded.

  The door to the dwelling opened and Verity summoned her husband with a wave. “Hemera is ready to speak with the King,” she told her husband. “I will take my leave and go rest, Hemera insists upon it, and I gave my word to you.”

  “I am glad you obey me,” Wrath said and with a snap of his hand summoned Tilden.

  “For now,” Verity said with a sweet smile

  Wrath had no chance to respond, Tilden stepped beside him. “See that Verity gets safely to our dwelling.”

  Verity’s steps were slow as she walked away and Wrath was glad that Tilden quickly offered her his arm and that she took it. He could now see to his duties without worry over her. He stepped to the side of the door, letting the King know he could enter.

  Questions spilled rapidly from Talon, not only anxious to find out what happened to her, but to try to end this ordeal with enough time for him to return and share the remainder of the night with her. Even if he could steal only a few moments with her, he wanted to steal them.

  A yawn prevented her from answering quickly and Talon realized the toll the attack had taken on her. The skin beneath her eyes had darkened some. The wound on her chin, now clean of blood, was not as bad as he had first thought. Though, that did not stop Talon from wanting to kill Hollins all over again. He was pleased that she was sitting up in the sleeping pallet, wearing a worn shift, a blanket tucked around her lower half, and another draped over her shoulders like a shawl. Her red hair was its usual wild self and the green of her eyes had dimmed a little. She needed rest.

  “I will tell you all that happened, my King, and what Hollins said to me,” she offered, fighting down another yawn. Verity’s tender care had soothed her so much that she was ready for sleep.

  “Tell me and be done with it, for you need rest after such a troubling ordeal,” Talon said.

  It was a troubling ordeal that she wished was done, but she knew it had only begun. “Hollins told me that Ulric has plans for me.” She took a moment to gain strength to say what he had said next.

  Seeing her hesitate, Talon took a step closer to her, clenching his hands at his sides, fearful he would reach out and take her in his arms, comfort her, protect her, care for her like he cared for no other. “You are safe.”

  She doubted she was safe, but for the moment she allowed herself to believe so. “Hollins told me that I would be the one to defeat you and end your reign.” The shock of her words showed on Wrath and Paine’s faces, not so Talon. He remained stoic, not a change to his expression.

  She continued. “Ulric intended to see me dead and see that it was blamed on King Talon. My fondness for the woods would help Ulric with his plan. All know how much I enjoy my time spent there, and there is where my beaten and abused body would be found. A traitor among us in the stronghold would find me and tell all that with my dying breath that it was King Talon who brutally attacked me because I refused to mate with him. Hollins intended to be the first of many men who would leave evidence of his brutality on me.” She shook her head. “I told him that no one would believe that about King Talon.”

  That Hemera would defend him while threatened with dreadful harm made him realize that there was much more to this woman than he knew. And he wanted to learn all he could about her. It also had him wishing that he had not killed Hollins. He wished that he was still alive so that he could rip the man apart limb by limb and make him suffer for what he had put Hemera through.

  “Hollins laughed and told me that everyone was aware that the King had had no woman lately, so he must be in desperate need of one. The person who found me would relate the tale I supposedly told before dying that the King found me alone in the woods and when I refused him, he took what he wanted. Hollins insisted that at least it would put doubt in the mind of the King’s supporters and that was all that was needed to end King Talon’s reign since it was already near its end anyway.”

  She took a needed breath and shook her head. “I told him King Talon would never lose the throne. Hollins grew angry at my words and angry that his plan to grab me would have been easier if his brother Tumason had joined in the plan with him. He killed his brother when he tried to stop him and Bard as well.”

  Talon realized then what Hemera had done. She had kept Hollins talking, waiting for him to arrive and rescue her. His insides churned, recalling that he almost had not come to her.

  Never. Never again would he leave her unprotected.

  “You will have a guard by you at all times from this moment on,” Talon said and shook his hand at her when she went to speak. “It is done.”

  Hemera bit back a retort. She would have her say when they were alone, if they could ever be alone now. With a guard constantly on her, how was Talon to come to her at night?

  Talon turned to Wrath. “Go and get Tilden. Assign him the evening shift. He is still trying to prove himself worthy of his new position as one of my personal guards and has been extra vigilant. He will do well guarding her in the evening when an attack on her is more likely.”

  Wrath nodded and left the dwelling.

  “You can go, Paine,” Talon said dismissing him, intending to have a few moments alone with Hemera.

  “A word outside, my King?” Paine asked and went and opened the door as if not giving Talon
a chance to refuse.

  The door barely closed behind Talon when he snapped at Paine, “What is it?”

  “I am not blind and either is Wrath, Talon,” Paine said, letting him know he spoke to him as a friend and not his king. “I know you do not go without a woman. Remember, a secret cannot stay a secret for long when it grows beyond what you intended it to be. It will be discovered. What then?”

  Wrath and Tilden arrived, leaving no chance for Talon to respond, nor did he intend to. He was too busy wondering if Paine knew that he had made Hemera his woman or if he did not know the identity of the woman. Either way, something would have to be done about the situation soon.

  Talon entered the dwelling and to his annoyance Wrath followed him in. He stopped when he saw that Hemera lay sound asleep. She was curled on her side, the blanket having slipped off her shoulder, leaving it bare and no doubt chilled. He wanted to go over and cover it, tuck the blanket around her. He almost shook his head. What he really wanted was to climb in naked beside her and take her in his arms, hold her close against him, warm her, and keep her safe.

  “It is good she sleeps. She has been through much and should rest.”

  “She is a brave woman,” Talon said.

  “That she is,” Wrath agreed. “Verity told me how Hemera always found a way to get to her after the Northmen had separated them. She was sure Hemera had suffered for it, but still she defied the Northmen to get to her sister. Hemera also assured her that one day they would escape and return home and that the hope her sister had instilled in her had helped her to survive.”

  Talon would have to talk with Verity, though it would not be easy since the woman feared him far more than she should, and see what else he could learn about Hemera.

  “Two of your guards wait to escort you to your sleeping chamber and Tilden is already at his position outside the door. All should be fine,” Wrath said. “You should retire and rest yourself, my King.”