Page 3 of Sword of Desire
Lyle peered down at her.
Needing to say something, she asked, “Do you have a cook or does that duty fall to me?” For the past two weeks, a soldier had been bringing food to her room three times a day. However, now that Lyle had returned, she didn’t know if he would insist on her taking care of their meals. At their house in Penlar, Lyle had expected Harley to assume all duties that servants normally handled, regardless of her status as a lady. Which meant Harley cooked all meals and cleaned the house. Lyle had been too paranoid to allow servants inside. Now she understood why since he’d been planning to overthrow the royal family. If only she’d been more astute and could have prevented him from doing so. Maybe her brother would be alive today. Pain gripped her heart, and she shoved it away, forcing a pleasant smile on her face.
“The kitchen here is fully staffed,” Lyle replied. “There are also sentries guarding each level. My captains have access to the first-floor offices.”
Shock rolled through Harley that he allowed his officers inside. And through her shock, some of the unease and building tension seemed to melt away. She wouldn’t be utterly alone inside with this murderous man. If someone could hear her scream, maybe Lyle wouldn’t mistreat her so badly. However, with Lyle, she could never be sure.
“Since you will soon be Melenia’s queen, it isn’t prudent for others to see you doing such mundane tasks,” he explained. “You are royalty and must behave as such. Your purpose is to be seen when needed and to look the part. Understand?”
“I’m not the queen yet,” she whispered, not intending for Lyle to hear. He held no right to the throne until she was officially crowned. However, since Owen was still alive and older than her, that meant Owen was the true heir. If Harley was crowned knowing that information, she would be guilty of treason, and her fate would be sealed along with Lyle’s. She shivered. It was her job to assassinate Lyle and save the kingdom.
“That situation will be rectified shortly,” he murmured, his deep voice rumbling through her. They reached the door and Lyle came to an abrupt halt, grabbing her arm and squeezing it harder than necessary. “You will support me and do as I say.” He leaned in closer, his hot breath brushing her right ear. “Otherwise, I will take my knife and slice you open.” He released her and smacked her stomach. “Here.” He hit her inner thigh. “And here. I won’t kill you. I’ll take my time and make it as painful as possible.” He took a step back, his eyes hardening as he watched for a reaction.
She nodded, believing he meant every word he said.
The mysterious paper she’d acquired in the stables started sliding from her sleeve, and panic shot through her. If Lyle discovered her true intentions, she would be better off dead than in his hands.
He opened the door to the castle, gesturing for her to enter.
Harley steeled her resolve. Even though Lyle had been here for some time now, he didn’t know this place as well as she did. Every nook and hiding spot, every twist and turn, every room and closet, she’d explored as a child. Even the hidden passageways she could navigate with her eyes closed. Lyle didn’t know the castle’s secrets like she did. This had been Harley’s second home—it would never be Lyle’s.
She stepped inside, squinting in the dim light of the corridor. Lyle went around her, taking the lead, expecting her to follow. His boots thumped over the stones, echoing in the corridor. Now that his back faced her, Harley slid the paper from her sleeve, her fingers curling around it. She pretended to cough, the sound loud. As she did so, she shoved the paper down her neckline to her bosom, where it rested safely against her skin.
Let the games begin.
Ackley
Ackley sat on his bedroll, a single candle lighting the small tent. The same question he’d asked himself a thousand times popped in his head again.What did I do?He sucked in a deep breath, releasing it slowly, trying to remain calm. He’d done something that no one else in his situation would’ve done. He’d gambled with the life of someone he loved.
He pulled Sword of Desire from its scabbard, examining the blood-red leather grip. His fingers slid around it, clutching tightly, his knuckles turning white. When he’d first found the letters written between Commander Beck and his son, Lyle, he realized Harley was the late king’s illegitimate child, putting her in line for the throne. The letters also revealed that Beck and Lyle had struck a deal with Russek to overthrow the royal family to put Harley on the throne, making Lyle the legitimate king.
Which led Ackley to suspect that Lyle was alive.
When Ackley and Gytha were attacked by those soldiers and the man he’d questioned said another group had gone after Owen, Ackley knew for certain Lyle was the one claiming to be Melenia’s king.
And now Harley was with her husband—and it was Ackley’s doing.
Grabbing his whetstone with his free hand, he slid the blade along it, satisfied with the crisp sound of steel slicing through the air.
What did I do?His hands shook slightly. He set the whetstone aside since the blade remained sharp. He pinched his eyes shut.What did I do?He’d knowingly sent Harley back to her husband in the hopes she could kill him and avoid a bloody war. He opened his eyes. Before parting, he’d given her his sword’s match—Sword of Rage. As if a sword could protect her from the monster that was her husband. The issue wasn’t Lyle killing Harley since the man needed her alive to cling to the throne. The problem was what he’d do to her mind and body.
Ackley set his sword down and rubbed his face. He didn’t know if Harley was strong enough to survive Lyle. He wasn’t even certain she could kill him. But if she was strong enough and if she did kill him, she would single handedly save the kingdom. Ackley was either a fool or a genius, and a fool was the more likely of the two.
He refused to consider Harley sharing Lyle’s bed. His stomach twisted, and he forced himself to think of something else.
Owen and Idina should be safely in Kreng by now. Although Owen was probably still furious with Ackley for letting Ledger take Harley to the royal castle. Ackley rubbed his cheek. The bruise had faded, but he still remembered Owen swinging and punching him for what he’d done. That was about the time Idina started questioning the reasoning behind it and figured out Lyle was on the throne and Owen and Harley were half siblings instead of cousins. Owen still hadn’t acknowledged any of it.
“Are you awake?” Gytha whispered loudly from the other side of the tent flap.
If he’d been asleep, that would have woken him. “Yeah.”
“Edison told me you’d arrived,” the warrior woman said as she ducked inside. “Why are you in here?”
Since it was after midnight, he hadn’t wanted to take the time to pitch his own tent, so he’d asked to borrow the tent of the soldier on duty—figuring he wouldn’t be using it any time soon. Instead of passing out as he’d expected, he tossed and turned until he finally sat up and lit the candle.
He raised a single eyebrow. “I think the better question is why aren’t you in your own tent sleeping?” After all, one of them needed a good night’s rest.
“I told them to notify me the moment you arrived.” She sat across from him. “Since you’re here and not out murdering people, I assume your sister is safe?”
