Page 40 of Cage of Darkness
“I don’t think so,” Kerdansaid, folding his arms across his chest. “I bet the queen is upsetthings aren’t going her way, so she sent you to spy onme.”
Soma’s eyes flashed with fury. “Why doyou want Allyssa? She is a small, pathetic thing of no value toyou.”
“Why I want her, and whatI’m doing with or to her, is none of your concern.” Kerdan lookedsidelong at her before continuing. “Why have you taken such aninterest in the princess? If she holds no value, why do you watchher?”
Soma’s cruel smile returned,contorting his face. “The strong-willed ones are always much morefun to play with.”
Not wanting him to sense her fear, shesaid, “I’m ashamed you’re my cousin.” The fact that they sharedanything at all, especially blood, repulsed her. She turned andstrode down the corridor, away from the assassin, needing to ridherself from the abhorrent man.
“Stop,” Kerdan called afterher. She couldn’t stop. Couldn’t even look at Soma one more time.“I’ll throw a dagger in your back if you don’t stop.”
He didn’t mean it. He was onlythreatening her to prevent the assassin from running to the kingand queen and telling them she was walking around the castle of herown free will. Why didn’t the prince leave Soma and join her? Shestopped, her body shaking, but she refused to turnaround.
The assassin chuckled. “I’ll do it foryou.”
She heard the tiniest wisp of a knifebeing withdrawn. Years of practice with her father and Marek madeher body react before her mind could even comprehend what washappening. She ducked, and a knife flew inches above her head,slamming against the wall next to her and clattering to the ground.Without thinking, she lunged, grabbing the weapon. She aimed forSoma’s stomach and threw the knife. He whirled to the side, theknife barely missing him. He clutched the hilt of his sword, aboutto unsheathe it, when Kerdan gripped his arm, stoppinghim.
“The princess is myprisoner. You have no authority to touch her.”
Soma released the hilt of his sword,shaking Kerdan off his arm. “She attacked me,” he snarled, his facealight with unsuppressed rage. “She will pay for hercrime.”
Kerdan seized the front of Soma’stunic, roughly shoving him against the wall and pinning him there.“Do not lay a finger on her.”
The assassin started laughing.“Careful, stepbrother. I have talents that not even you can fightagainst. Angering me is not in your best interest.”
Kerdan released him andmoved several feet away, clenching and unclenching his hands. “Areyou threatening me? The crown prince?” Allyssa realized he wastrying to restrain himself from killing Soma right then and there.“I think it is you, littlestepbrother, who should be mindful ofyour actions because I can, and I will, throw you in the dungeon ifyou ever threaten or try to kill me again.”
Soma straightened his rumpled tunic.“Give me the girl, and I will gladly leave you alone.” He peered atAllyssa, his dark eyes malicious. She wanted to aggravate him sohe’d attack and Kerdan would kill him. He deserved todie.
“The journey here tookweeks,” Kerdan replied. “You had many nights with the princess.What could you possibly want with her that you haven’t already hadthe opportunity to do?”
“Allyssa deserves tosuffer,” Soma growled. “She’s a filthy, no-good whore.”
Her name on his lips was more than shecould stomach. How dare he call her such a thing? She moved closer,wanting to do something to cause him pain, to hurt him the way he’dhurt her.
Kerdan’s shouldersstiffened. “Well…now she’smyno-good whore.” He placed his large hand on herstomach, shoving her backward, away from the assassin. “You need tostop blaming the princess for your family’s misfortune. All youhave endured—it’s your mother’s fault.”
“Don’t speak of things youknow nothing about.” Soma abruptly turned and walkedaway.
“Just so you know,” Kerdanshouted after him, “I blame you for my family’smisfortune.”
Allyssa went to put her hand on hisshoulder to comfort him, but she stopped herself. Regardless ofhaving a mutual goal to destroy Jana, they were still enemies. Notfriends. She needed to remember that, stifling any feelings becausethat thought, that desire to help him, scared her more than theencounter with Soma.
***
The lock rattled, and the door flewopen. Kerdan stepped inside his bedchamber, dragging a man with asack covering his head and a dirty blanket wrapped around his body.He slammed the door shut and removed the sack.
Odar stood there, heaving deepbreaths. Stunned, Allyssa slowly rose from her chair. Kerdan pulledthe dirty blanket off and untied the rope that secured Odar’swrists together.
Odar scanned her from head to toe, hiseyes wild with rage. “Are you hurt?” he demanded. She shook herhead. His eyes flashed, and then, in one fluid motion, he swung andpunched Kerdan in the jaw. Before the prince could recover from thehit, Odar threw himself at him, and they tumbled to the ground,grappling with one another.
“Stop it!” she ordered, butneither man listened.
Odar rolled over, pulling Kerdan ontop of him and wrapping his arm around the prince’s neck,squeezing. Kerdan twisted the bottom portion of his body, punchingOdar’s side and breaking the chokehold.
“Run!” Odar yelled at her.“Get out of here while you can.”
Kerdan jumped to his feet and flunghis arm around Allyssa’s torso, his chest heaving up and downagainst her back.
