Crown of One Hundred Kings (Nine Kingdoms Trilogy #1) - Rachel Higginson Page 0,58
was because—” I punched his chest. “Oof.”
“Tessa, listen,” he panted. A guard reached for my arm to restrain me. I twirled out of the way and kicked out at Arrick’s, er, Taelon’s side. He crumpled back to one knee. “Tessa,” He growled with as much frustration and fury as I had pulsing through me.
I could not listen to him. I did not want to hear one word from this liar’s mouth. His hand shot out and wrapped around my ankle before I could react. With a jerk of his arm, he yanked me to the ground, flattening me on my back. The crown slid off my head and landed next to me.
I scrambled for it, but he was faster. Looming over me, he grabbed it with lightning speed. He pinned me in place in the next instant by resting both thighs against my sides and sitting over me. He dangled the crown just out of my reach.
“Now, listen,” he growled. “I couldn’t tell you who I was when my own men didn’t know.” I fought against him, rearing off the ground in an attempt to unseat him. He leaned forward, settling more weight on top of me. “And I didn’t think you would react well if I told you I knew who you were. So I left my camp instead in an effort to keep you safe.”
I fought harder and bit out a harsh laugh. “Is that what you were doing? Keeping me safe?”
He leaned in. “You wouldn’t have survived one day without me.”
“Let me go!” I screamed. “I order you to let me go!”
His smile was as menacing as it was promising. “You’re in my kingdom now, Princess. I suggest you show me some respect.” He sat up and looked to his men—his royal men, not the rebels that he’d ordered to flee. “She can ride in the wagon. Restrain her if you need to. Her monk is welcome to join her.”
He stood up and held out a hand. I lay on the ground deciding my next move. I wanted nothing more than to scream at the top of my lungs until I was red in the face.
But then Arrick, ack, Taelon, held out my crown to me and I lost some of my fight. I picked myself off the ground and brushed at the leaves and dirt now tangled in my dress and hair before grudgingly accepting my crown.
As soon as my fingers wrapped around it, I felt the tickle of energy run up my arm. I promptly tucked it away in my satchel again, closing the bag tightly and making sure it was secured to my body.
Ar—Taelon waited patiently for me to finish. And when I was ready, he waved a gallant arm and said, “Right this way, Your Highness.”
17
The ride to Soravale’s castle proved silent and unpleasant. After I’d retrieved my trembling Shiksa from her hiding place, Taelon’s royal guards led us back to the road, where Oliver and I were loaded into a wagon meant for prisoners.
I slumped against the narrow bench that made my bum go numb and tried to breathe through my frustration. We had been on the road for more than a day. Taelon had made plenty of stops to make sure Oliver and I were able to relieve ourselves and eat, but I grew tired of his forced kindness. Especially when all he did was lock us up again inside the wagon that had been meant for him.
I would have reminded him of that, had I been speaking to him.
I could tell that my behavior was trying his patience. He stood by his actions and his decisions. But he did not understand. I had trusted him. I had believed him when he told me who he was. And he had let me.
Besides that, he wasn’t just anyone from my past. He had been my betrothed. He was once my future. And when my life had been stolen from me, he had been the reason I still had a future—even if it was wholly different than the one intended for me. And up until now I had been beyond grateful to him. I had owed him the debt of my life.
Except he wasn’t the boy I remembered. He wasn’t honest and admirable and loyal to his future. He had abandoned his country and his people when he ran off to lead a destructive band of rebels. He made allies with thieves and horse bandits. He lied to me.