It was up to Rylan and me to sneak into the camp and kill Rafe before he could do anything drastic. And then hope his men hated him as much as I suspected they might, if they weren’t under his control any longer. Otherwise, we’d be fighting our way out, too.
We trekked silently for a long time, following the same path we’d used before, and the more obvious signs that an injured Felton had made on his way to the palace. I’d also purposely broken a few branches as I’d followed him, to help us find our way.
Finally, after an hour of tension-filled silence, I spoke. “Could we stop for a moment? Maybe we could eat a little.”
Rylan turned to face me and shrugged. “Fine.”
Although I’d eaten a bit at the palace before leaving, my stomach was still aching from being empty for so long. I found a fallen log, checked the trees around it for hidden snakes or other predators, and sat down to open the knapsack and pull out one of the rolls and the cheese the cook had packed for us. I bit into the flaky crust, relishing the taste of the yeasty bread, despite how dry my mouth was. Luckily, we also had a water flagon this time, full of cool water from one of the palace wells.
“So, are you going to give me the silent treatment from now on?” I finally asked, when Rylan continued to stand several feet away, his arms crossed over his chest, staring stoically out into the endless, shadowed jungle.
He glanced over at me, then away again. “No.”
I took another bite and waited, but he didn’t say anything else. “Rylan, please don’t be mad at me. You’re my closest friend, and you promised that would never change.”
“I’m not happy that I had to lie to Damian for you.” He finally turned to face me, his expression still guarded, but after a moment, he softened slightly. “But I’m not mad at you. I’ve already told you that I could never be mad at you.”
“Then why are you acting like this?” I stood up, holding my half-eaten roll, ignoring the discomfort from my stitches pulling.
He shrugged, his brown eyes hooded. “I’m jealous, all right? You want the truth? That’s it. I’m jealous of Damian.”
His words hit me deep in the belly. My mother had always told me that although the truth sometimes hurt, it was always best to be honest. She was right, but it didn’t make this any easier.
“I’d begun to hope that maybe … with some time … you and I …” He trailed off and shook his head. “But that was just ridiculous. I knew how you still felt about Damian. I could see it every time you looked at him. I could hear it in your voice.”
“Ry, I’m so sorry —” I began, but he held up a hand.
“I’m happy for you. Truly I am.” He finally met my eyes, and the unmasked pain on his face cut me to the core, belying his words. “But I might not be able to continue on as Damian’s guard after this. It will be too hard.”
I swallowed past a sudden constriction in my throat. “We will understand your decision if you choose that, of course. But I know that I, for one, hope that you will reconsider.”
Rylan rolled his eyes, and I paused.
“What?”
“You’re already referring to you and Damian as ‘we.’ ”
“Oh.” I fought to suppress a blush. He was right. “Well,” I continued, flustered, “the point is that there is no one I’d rather have protecting us from future attacks or harm. Especially since I’m not sure if the queen will be allowed to walk around the palace with a sword strapped to her side.”
“Most likely not. I can’t imagine it, though — you without a sword.” Rylan shook his head, a wry smile turning up the corners of his mouth.
“Me, either,” I agreed. In fact, the thought was unsettling. Now that the initial happiness of having finally revealed my true feelings to Damian and our sudden engagement had worn off, I was struck again by the absurdity of me becoming queen. “I’m going to have to wear a dress all the time, aren’t I?” I spoke the realization out loud. Even I could hear the dismay in my voice.
Rylan laughed, a sound that made me smile despite myself. “Yes, I believe that is the expected uniform of a queen. Dresses and silks and jewels. It will be a trial, to be sure.”
“Oh, stop.” I swatted at him. “For me, it will be. You know I have no idea how to act like a lady, let alone a queen. This is going to be a disaster.” I glanced up at the sun, already far past the zenith of midday, arcing back down toward the western horizon once more. “We’d better keep going.”
Rylan handed me the water flagon that he carried, and after I took a long drink, I passed it back and we started forward again.
“For the record,” he said as we pushed the huge leaves and vines out of our way, “I don’t think you’re going to be a disaster. Honestly, I can’t imagine a more perfect queen for Damian, or Antion.”
I paused to glance over my shoulder at him. “Do you really mean that, or are you just saying it because I could order you beheaded if you didn’t flatter me?”
“Well, that sounds like a terrible punishment for the minor sin of refusing to flatter you,” Rylan teased. “But in this case, I actually mean it. You will be a remarkable queen, Alexa. Whether you wear a dress or not.”
“Thank you.” I reached out to take his hand for a moment, squeezing it tightly. “You don’t know how much that means to me.”
He stared down at our hands, and I almost let go, self-consciously realizing it was cruel of me to touch him when he now knew I could never be his. But before I could pull away, he squeezed me back.
“Let’s go save your soon-to-be brother and get you back to your fiancé already.” Rylan gently pulled his hand free and started forward again.
With a rueful sigh, I followed him into the depths of the jungle, toward the camp where I could only hope and pray Jax was still unharmed.
* * *
We had almost reached the spot where Rafe’s camp was when the sun set, leaving the jungle lit only by the hazy light of dusk. Clouds streaked the sky above us, threatening rain in the next couple of hours as a storm gathered. We stopped before we came within sight of the tents, needing to finalize our plan of attack.
We’d agreed that we should wait until it was dark before trying to sneak into the camp, but we couldn’t decide for how long. As soon as it was dark or when they were all asleep? It seemed like the safer option to wait until they were all asleep, but I was nervous for Jax. The longer we waited, the greater the likelihood that he would end up hurt in some way.
“I want to make sure he’s okay,” I whispered to Rylan as we crouched behind the cover of an enormous bush and some low-hanging branches with massive green leaves dipping toward the damp ground of the jungle floor. In the distance, I could hear the chatter of monkeys, and I suddenly thought of my little friend, who had probably saved my life last night. I hoped he was happy somewhere, enjoying a fresh banana. “Then we can decide how long to wait.”
“But you could be seen. Chances are they have someone on the lookout for you, since you’re supposed to be back before dawn,” Rylan argued quietly.
“Then watch my back,” I said and pushed out of our cover before he could continue to try and dissuade me. I had to know if Jax was still all right or not. Though I’d told Damian he wasn’t being harmed, I was terrified of finding out whether that was still true or not.
“Alexa!” Rylan hissed my name, but I ignored him and slunk forward, slipping from tree to tree, stealthily working my way closer to the camp.
If they did have a lookout waiting for me, he was either the worst lookout ever or the best, because I never saw a single person until I finally crept close enough to the camp to see the tents again and a few men milling about, tending the fire and preparing for nightfall.
I didn’t see Rafe. When I looked over to the ground where Jax had been when I left, there was no one there. My heart began to pound with fear as I frantically searched the camp for any sign of him. Only grown men were visible. They couldn’t have killed him already — could they?
Rylan was righ
t behind me; I could feel him hovering a few feet away. Without turning back, I whispered, “I’m going to climb up there to get a better view.” I pointed at the same tree I’d used before, which I’d stopped by on purpose. I had to see if Jax was all right or not.
Without waiting for his response, I pulled myself up onto the first branch, careful to move slowly, getting a firm grip before moving on to the next branch and then the next. I couldn’t afford to fall and attract their attention again. I noticed a branch a little bit higher up than the one I’d used before, which stretched out over part of the camp, right above the closest tent, and would afford me a better vantage point. I climbed up to it and lay down on my belly, carefully inching forward, until I could see most of the camp below me. In the indistinct light of the coming night, I had to squint to make out individual faces. The fire was burning low, almost as if they didn’t want too much light. But there was no sign of the boy.
Panic nearly strangled me when I glanced straight down and finally noticed a small figure curled up on the ground in the shadow of the tent just past the one I hovered over. He was so close. If only he knew I was clinging to a branch in the air above him, desperately trying to work out in my mind how to find Rafe and kill him before Jax’s own life ended — by his own hand.
Jax’s arms were still bound behind him, and he was shaking as though he were shivering — or terrified. It was a stifling night, the oppressive humidity of a building storm pressing in on all of us. He couldn’t possibly be cold, unless he was shivering because he had a fever. If they’d allowed him to catch a jungle fever and he —
My thought wasn’t even fully formed when I heard the sound of boots crunching across the ground. I recognized Rafe, sauntering over to where Jax lay on the ground. I couldn’t read the expression on his face, and my entire body tensed, worry and anger pulsing through me.
“Get up.” Rafe kicked Jax in the ribs — not hard enough to injure him, but it still made my blood boil, and my hands tightened into claws on the branch, my nails digging into the hard bark as I stared down at them. “Time for some entertainment.”
“What? What is it?” Jax whimpered, disoriented. He gazed around blearily, and when he saw Rafe, he stiffened. “What do you want?” If he’d been shaking like that in his sleep, he must be ill, I realized with a sickening drop in my stomach.
“Don’t worry. I just want to have a little fun. It won’t hurt this time. Well, not too bad.” Rafe laughed, a sound that elicited sudden terror. What was he going to do with Jax? I pulled myself up into a crouch, my heart pounding.
“N-no … please, d-don’t … n-no m-more …” Jax stuttered, frantically trying to sit up. He looked like a helpless beetle as he pushed his shoulder against the ground and tried to shove himself up without the use of his hands. The sound of his voice — the fear, the exhaustion, the weakness — tore through me like a knife.
“Look at me, and we can get this over with soon enough for you to take a nap before the big finale.” Rafe grabbed his face and yanked him off the ground by his jaw. I couldn’t tell for sure in the dim light, but it looked like Jax had his eyes squeezed shut. “Open your eyes, boy, or I will cut them open myself!”
Jax’s shivering grew worse; his entire body was shaking like a leaf in the wind. “No. I’m not looking at you ever again!”
As I watched, Rafe reached back, into his boot.
I’d seen enough; we had to act now.
I scrambled back down the tree, ignoring the pain of the bark scraping across my skin, or the branch that slapped my face when I jumped the last eight feet to land in a crouch beside the spot where Rylan still squatted, his eyes wide.
“What are you —”
Before he could finish his sentence, I yanked out my sword and stood up. “We’re saving Jax — right now.”
And without another glance behind me, I bolted toward the camp.
I RAN AS FAST as I could, straight for Rafe. When I realized he was holding a knife in his hand, reaching for Jax’s face, a savage scream tore its way out of my throat unbidden. He froze and looked at me, his eyes widening in shock. I lifted my sword, ready to slice his head clean off his body, so quickly that Jax wouldn’t be forced to hurt himself.
But before I could reach him, two men jumped into my path, swords raised. My blood pounded hot through my body — desperation and fury in equal parts — as I spun mid stride, dropping down into a crouch and swinging my blade forward to slice into the first man’s legs, tumbling him to the ground. I immediately threw myself forward and rolled, barely avoiding the second man’s jab. His blade embedded in the ground next to me, and before he could pull it back out, I rocked back onto my shoulder blades and then launched my body up in the air, landing on my feet. He didn’t have time to get his sword back up, and I impaled him in one smooth movement — in and out. There was no time to waste in a fight. No time to worry about injuring instead of killing. He crumbled next to his companion, but I didn’t even pause, rushing forward for Rafe once more.
He stood watching impassively, holding his own sword loosely in his right hand. His dagger was lying on the ground beside him, like he’d tossed it aside. I only had seconds to kill Rafe or else Jax would be forced to kill himself because of this ill-fated rescue attempt. I heard the sounds of more swords clanging behind me, and I could only hope Rylan had my back.
“Alexa!” I dimly heard Jax cry out, but I couldn’t turn to him. Not yet. First, I had to kill Rafe. Now.
Rafe stared at me with his unnerving green eyes and didn’t move until I was almost close enough to drive my sword through his heart. Then he finally lifted his sword, and the sound of our blades crashing reverberated through the camp. He defended himself with surprising agility and skill, but I was the better fighter. He was no sorcerer — at least not one who could fight. There were no magical barriers. No invisible hands to choke me or fire to burn me.
Only our swords and strength.
“You might wish to rethink this,” Rafe said, his voice surprisingly calm as he parried another strike. He didn’t attempt to fight back; he only blocked my hits. “Unless you want him to die.”
I stumbled, hardly daring to glance at Jax. His eyes had gone blank, and he struggled to free himself. But his hands were tied behind his back — he couldn’t do anything yet.
Furious, I lunged at Rafe again, nearly slicing his arm, but he spun out of my reach at the last second, turning so that he was directly in front of Jax. Involuntarily, my eyes dropped to the boy to see that his hands were loose now, and he was bending down to pick up the dagger from the ground.
Who had cut him free?
Panic coursed through my blood.
Now. I had to kill Rafe now.
With another scream of rage, I lifted my sword and rushed at Jax’s torturer.
“Rylan, defend me now!” Rafe shouted, hastily scrambling backward, past Jax. His words made me pause, but I shook my head and lunged forward. He wasn’t fast enough. This was my chance. Channeling every ounce of strength I had, I swung my sword down, aiming for his head, but then somebody jumped in the way, blocking my hit with his own sword.
The impact jarred me. I glanced at my new attacker and faltered.
Rylan gripped his sword, glaring at me with his familiar brown eyes, but there was no recognition in them now.
“Rylan?” I stumbled back a step.
My friend began to attack, and I automatically defended myself, shock making me numb. When had Rafe even had a chance to put him under his control?
Our blades crashed together again and again. I’d sparred with him countless times, but this was different. Now his blade was real, not made of wood. This time he was trying to hurt me.
I ducked one of his hits and dared a glance at Jax. He gripped the dagger in front of his body with trembling hands, his expression contorted, as though he were battling himself. His eyes weren’t as blank anymore — now that I was no longer attacking Rafe, Jax seemed torn, partially himself and partially under Rafe??
?s control.
“Rylan, stop! We’re here to save Jax, remember?”
Awareness flickered into his eyes momentarily, a look of confusion crossed his face, and he paused for an instant. But the blankness won, and he swiped at me again; I barely avoided being gutted by his sword.
“Rylan, don’t kill her!” Rafe shouted, and Rylan paused, his head cocked. With a nod, he moved toward me again.
No, no, no. This was wrong. I blocked his hits, but I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t fight him. I couldn’t hurt him. Our blades crashed again and again as I struggled to come up with a new plan to save everyone I loved.
It was impossible. The only way to rescue Jax was to hurt Rylan.
How had Rafe done this? How had he stolen Rylan from me?
“Please, Rylan, stop!” I pleaded.
He attacked relentlessly, the horrible blankness in his eyes making me shiver. Of everyone in the guard, he was one of the few who had come close to beating me — but he’d never succeeded. I could stop him, and I knew it.
“Alexa, help me!” I heard Jax’s cry from behind me; he sounded near tears, tearing at my heart. If he had enough awareness to ask for help, Rafe’s command must not have been in force because I wasn’t fighting Rafe anymore.
My grip tightened on the hilt of my sword, and I clenched my jaw against the tears that threatened to blind me. “I’m sorry,” I whispered, and then I finally attacked.
Our swords flashed and collided in a flurry of silver and movement. Left, right, left, high, low, over and over the sound of blade on blade reverberated through the camp. Just when I was about to go for the strike that would have seriously injured my friend — but put a stop to the fight so I could go after Rafe and save Jax — Rafe shouted: “Rylan, stop now! Go over there and wait for my men.”