Page 78 of Cage of Destiny
“I’m not following you.”She scanned the area around the duke’s home, not seeing anysoldiers stationed around the perimeter.
“I’m trying to explain thatI want to marry you.”
“That’s nice.” She screamedinside, a plethora of emotions taking hold ranging from joy toutter rage. Should she yell or cry?
“That’s all you have tosay?”
“There is nothing to say.You already made your choice. It is done.”
“Now I’m unmakingit.”
“Too late.” She felt herjaw quiver as tears threatened. Kerdan and Darmik were behind them,listening to everything they said. Odar was no fool—he was carefuland calculating. He knew they had listeners.
“It can’t be too late,” heinsisted.
“You broke my heart once. Iwill not allow you to do it again.”
“Do you loveme?”
There would always be a part of herheart that loved him. “I did. Until you destroyed that love.” Shedidn’t want to be mean, just to state the facts.
His face fell, as if she’d slappedhim. Odar had told one too many lies, dealt one too many tricks,and hurt her one too many times to warrant forgiveness.
As they approached the duke’sresidence, Kerdan and Darmik came closer to Allyssa and Odar.“What’s the plan?” she whispered, wondering how to obtain a weaponwhen her hands were tied behind her back.
“Try to stay alive,” Darmikreplied.
“That’s it?” she asked,appalled by his blunt attitude. When she peered at the soldiersaround them, one familiar man caught her eye. Was that Hurit? Shequickly glanced away, not wanting to spoil anything in case it washim. Were Neco and Nathenek here among these men as well? She hatednot knowing where they were.
They neared the castle’s entrance. Thethree-story building had turrets at each of the four corners. Nowindows were visible.
“For the record,” Kerdansaid, speaking loud enough for everyone to hear. “My first orderwill be to execute those who supported Jana, the false queen, andnot me. All of you know the line of succession passes from fatherto son. Jana was not born in this kingdom, and she has no right torule. She is responsible for the king’s death, and will be punishedaccordingly for her crimes.” They came to a stop of the castle’smain entrance. “Let us not forget,” Kerdan continued. “I control aportion of the army. My men are responsible for leading theinvasion into Melenia. I also control the Hunters—an elite force ofsoldiers you will never see coming until it is too late. If I wereyou, I’d be very careful whose side you choose.”
The hefty double doors swung open. Twomen dressed in solid black with the Russek crest embroidered ontheir tunics exited. “Do you have the prisoners?” oneasked.
“We do,” a soldier replied.“Just as the queen demanded.” He faltered on the wordqueen,no doubt thinkingabout Kerdan’s blatant threat.
“Bring the prisonersinside,” the man ordered. “Queen Jana is expecting them, and shehas a special surprise planned.”
A soldier came up behind Allyssa,shoving her past the threshold and into the duke’scastle.
Chapter Twenty
Hands grabbed hold of Allyssa,dragging her along.
“Let go,” Kerdan ordered.“We will not be herded through this castle like sheep going to beslaughtered.” There were scuffling noises, and then Kerdan was ather side. The soldier took one look at Kerdan’s furious face andreleased her.
“Fine. But no funnybusiness. Move it.” The man pointed down the dark hallway lit onlyby the occasional torch.
“Keep your head up and doas they say,” Kerdan mumbled in her ear.
She glanced over her shoulder. Darmikand Odar were right behind them, guards hovering nearby, no longertouching them.
Kerdan took long strides as he stalkedthrough the castle, looking ready to tear the arms off the soldiersnear them. Allyssa shivered, realizing he probably could withoutmuch exertion. The bindings around her wrists came loose. Kerdanwalked as if nothing had changed, his arms casually at his sides,his bindings gone as well. Scrunching up the rope in her hand,Allyssa slid it into the pocket of her dress.
The dim hallway made it difficult tosee much of anything. Kerdan’s shoulder rubbed against hers as hepushed steel into her palm. Her fingers closed over the smalldagger, sliding it up her sleeve and out of sight—just as she’dlearned to do when training with Nathenek in Emperor’s City. Thesemen couldn’t discover her newly acquired weapon. It could mean thedifference between life and death.
They rounded the corner and entered agreat sitting room. Three dozen soldiers stood around theperimeter. In the center, Jana sat on a sofa with her arm drapedover her legs, a goblet of wine in her hand. A fire burned in thehearth, heating the room.
