Page 9 of Cage of Darkness
“I’m so confused rightnow,” she muttered, burying her face in her hands.
“I’m not,” he said,twisting onto his knees and facing her. “I love you.”
She peered at him between her fingers.“You love me?” He nodded. “Not the crown, my army, or my kingdom,but me?”
“I don’t care about any ofthose things,” he answered. “I only want you.”
Could this really be happening? “Iwant to wallop you for everything you’ve put methrough.”
He smiled that devilish grin of his.“But do you want to kiss me?”
“Maybe,” she answered,hiding her smile behind her hands. Was it even possible this wasthe man she’d wished for upon the stars all those weeks ago? Couldhe be everything she wanted and dreamed of—a love like her parentsshared? Happiness and hope swelled inside of her.
He pulled her hands away from herface. “I love you.” He kissed her slowly and gently, his handscupping her cheeks. Warmth spread throughout her body as hedeepened the kiss. Allyssa wrapped her arms around him, pulling himeven closer. If only they could stay this way forever. She shiftedslightly, and a small rock dug into her thigh, bringing her back tothe reality of her situation. She abruptly shoved himaway.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “DidI hurt you?”
“No. It’s just that we needto reach my soldiers before the assassin’s paralyzing solutionwears off. We will have to continue this later.”
He stood and pulled her to her feet,smiling. “We’re going to continue this?” She nodded. “I suddenlyhave more than enough energy to hike the remaining distance to thecave.” He ducked out of the alcove, whistling.
***
They continued the trek up themountain, trying to remain alongside the waterfall. Allyssa had touse her hands to climb most of the boulders. When they were alittle over halfway to the top, Odar—it still felt strange to callhim that—spotted a narrow dirt trail not far away. They followedthe worn path as it wound its way up the rocky incline.
Finally, they reached the top of thewaterfall. The trail continued away from the water. They followedit until they came to a dead end, which was surrounded on threesides by a rocky wall fifteen-feet high. Frustration boiled insideof Allyssa. Where was the cave? Since the sun was fully visible inthe blue sky, she guessed five hours had already passed. Theyneeded to hurry so they would make it back down before the assassinregained use of his limbs. Clouds passed by, hiding the sun andrevealing an opening between the rocks up ahead. It had to be theentrance to the cave.
She stepped around Odar, but hegrabbed her arm, stopping her. “I thought your men would havesomeone standing guard.”
“Maybe this isn’t the rightentrance. Or perhaps my men have already left?” If that were thecase, she had no idea what to do with the assassin.
“I’ll go first,” he said.“Stay behind me.”
She rolled her eyes. “Really? I needthe protection of a man because I can’t fend formyself?”
“I just assumed that ifthere was danger—a sudden drop or someone shooting an arrow—thatI’d be the one to die while you ran to safety. That isall.”
“Oh, so you get to be thebrave one while I run away?”
He shook his head with exasperation.“Fine,” he said, letting go and waving her forward. “If it meansthat much to you, go first.” The lines around his eyes tightened, asure sign he was annoyed.
She patted his shoulder, his musclestense. “If my men are in there, it’s best I go first so they seeme. They know who I am. You, on the other hand, they might shoot.”She reached down to her boot for a dagger. Only, it wasn’t there.The assassin had removed her weapons when he first tookher.
“Here.” Odar handed her oneof the knives he stole from the assassin. She clutched the weaponin her hand as she slowly made her way toward theentrance.
At the opening, there were three darktunnels to choose from. Allyssa paused to listen. Voices came fromthe left, so she headed down that tunnel, eager to find her men.Odar tapped her shoulder. When she glanced back at him, he put afinger to his lips. She nodded and made her way along the darktunnel, trying to be as quiet as possible.
After thirty feet or so, a faint lightshown from ahead. The tunnel gradually curved to the right where itabruptly ended, opening to a large cavern. Allyssa jolted to ahalt, Odar bumping into her. Spread throughout the cavern wereseveral small fires, which illuminated a dozen men dressed in solidblack with the crest of Russek embroidered on their tunics. Shetook a step back.
“Not so fast,” a gruffvoice said from behind her.
She spun around and came face to facewith a Russek soldier. He held a small knife against Odar’s throatand pointed a long sword at her stomach. She was about to attackhim when he whistled, alerting the other soldiers to theirpresence. Outnumbered, she slid the knife up her sleeve, hoping noone would find it.
“Don’t do anything,” Odarmumbled as several men from the cavern approached with theirweapons drawn.
“What do we have here?” oneof the men asked, looking them over. Neither Allyssa nor Odaranswered. He waved his hand, and the soldier holding the knife andsword aimed at them lowered his weapons, no longer threateningthem. The man looked at her expectantly, awaiting ananswer.
These men were going to kill themunless they knew their true identities. “This is Prince Odar ofFren. I am Princess Allyssa of Emperion, and you have no authorityin my kingdom.”
