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Authors: Megg Jensen
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together.”
“I don’t need to do anything,” I said.
“Yes, you do,” Kellan said. “You have to realize that. Our people are suffering, dying, at home and we have the chance to change that. Don’t you get it Lianne? We’re the only chance the Dalagans have.”
He blinked. He wasn’t lying this time, at least I didn’t think he was. I wanted to know why this was so important to Kellan.
“Think of your family, the people who gave birth to you. They are counting on you to save them. They gave you up so you could save them. How can you turn your backs on them?”
I wavered. He was right. I did have a biological family back at home. But, I didn’t know them. The only family I knew was here. Not my mother and sister. I loved them about as much as they loved me. But, Mags, the boys, and Aric had been kind to me and they were my family.
“You have the opportunity to save our people.”
“I didn’t ask for this.”
“No, but you are the one person who’s best equipped to do it,” he said. “You have access to the royal chambers. You’re a seasoned fighter.”
“You can gain access,” I said. “You can fight.”
Kellan placed a hand on my shoulder, pulling me closer.
“But I’m not you, Lianne. You have always been better than me.”
His words struck my heart, bypassing all of the anger I had. Kellan had never admitted that anyone could be better than him at anything. It wasn’t a comment used in anger. He was opening himself to me in a way I’d always dreamed about.
My anger dissolved as quickly as it had flared. I reached up and touched Kellan’s cheek. His muscles were slack, none of the tenseness of anger bit through.
“I don’t know if I can,” I whispered.
“I trust you, Lianne. I’m here to help you every step of the way. You know me. You know my heart. You know how much I love you.”
I leaned over and whispered in his ear, “I love you too.”
Tears dropped from my eyes as Kellan encircled me with his strong arms. He held me tight and I laid my head on his shoulder.
He was right and I knew it. I was the only one who could get close enough to the throne. But to kill someone, even the thought of it, tore at my insides. Yes, I’d been trained to fight. Yes, I could probably defeat anyone in combat. But to kill a man, even an evil man like King Rotlar, was more than I could bear to think about.
With my anger at a low level, I concentrated more on my heart. It pounded, delighted to be in Kellan’s embrace. But a small part whispered Bryden’s name.
CHAPTER TEN
Over the next few weeks, I spent most of my free time in Kellan’s arms. I’d looked for Bryden for a few days, but he’d disappeared again, just like when we were children. I let him go, knowing he probably needed the time to himself. Instead I’d spent my days running errands for Mags and Trevin and my nights holed up with Kellan. My mornings were spent trying to shake off more nightmares about boats and the river.
Kellan told me more about our people, everything he had learned from the three visitors. Bryden must have misunderstood something. How could Kellan make up all of this? They were the same men who were caught and executed because they were coming to see me on my birthday. Kellan reminded me of that daily. I wondered if he mistrusted my loyalty. I know I still hadn’t figured it out.
During the day I knew killing the king was foolish, but during the nights when Kellan whispered in my ear while he nibbled on my lobe, I forgot most of my misgivings. But still, a part of me wondered about Bryden. If he would spend time with me and tell me his ideas then maybe things wouldn’t be so confusing. I’d have both sides clearly laid out and I could make a decision when I wasn’t so angry.
Even Mags noticed a difference. I didn’t act out against her, but my intolerance for working with Albree was obvious. Her presence made me sick to my stomach now and when I didn’t feel well, I couldn’t put up
“I don’t need to do anything,” I said.
“Yes, you do,” Kellan said. “You have to realize that. Our people are suffering, dying, at home and we have the chance to change that. Don’t you get it Lianne? We’re the only chance the Dalagans have.”
He blinked. He wasn’t lying this time, at least I didn’t think he was. I wanted to know why this was so important to Kellan.
“Think of your family, the people who gave birth to you. They are counting on you to save them. They gave you up so you could save them. How can you turn your backs on them?”
I wavered. He was right. I did have a biological family back at home. But, I didn’t know them. The only family I knew was here. Not my mother and sister. I loved them about as much as they loved me. But, Mags, the boys, and Aric had been kind to me and they were my family.
“You have the opportunity to save our people.”
“I didn’t ask for this.”
“No, but you are the one person who’s best equipped to do it,” he said. “You have access to the royal chambers. You’re a seasoned fighter.”
“You can gain access,” I said. “You can fight.”
Kellan placed a hand on my shoulder, pulling me closer.
“But I’m not you, Lianne. You have always been better than me.”
His words struck my heart, bypassing all of the anger I had. Kellan had never admitted that anyone could be better than him at anything. It wasn’t a comment used in anger. He was opening himself to me in a way I’d always dreamed about.
My anger dissolved as quickly as it had flared. I reached up and touched Kellan’s cheek. His muscles were slack, none of the tenseness of anger bit through.
“I don’t know if I can,” I whispered.
“I trust you, Lianne. I’m here to help you every step of the way. You know me. You know my heart. You know how much I love you.”
I leaned over and whispered in his ear, “I love you too.”
Tears dropped from my eyes as Kellan encircled me with his strong arms. He held me tight and I laid my head on his shoulder.
He was right and I knew it. I was the only one who could get close enough to the throne. But to kill someone, even the thought of it, tore at my insides. Yes, I’d been trained to fight. Yes, I could probably defeat anyone in combat. But to kill a man, even an evil man like King Rotlar, was more than I could bear to think about.
With my anger at a low level, I concentrated more on my heart. It pounded, delighted to be in Kellan’s embrace. But a small part whispered Bryden’s name.
CHAPTER TEN
Over the next few weeks, I spent most of my free time in Kellan’s arms. I’d looked for Bryden for a few days, but he’d disappeared again, just like when we were children. I let him go, knowing he probably needed the time to himself. Instead I’d spent my days running errands for Mags and Trevin and my nights holed up with Kellan. My mornings were spent trying to shake off more nightmares about boats and the river.
Kellan told me more about our people, everything he had learned from the three visitors. Bryden must have misunderstood something. How could Kellan make up all of this? They were the same men who were caught and executed because they were coming to see me on my birthday. Kellan reminded me of that daily. I wondered if he mistrusted my loyalty. I know I still hadn’t figured it out.
During the day I knew killing the king was foolish, but during the nights when Kellan whispered in my ear while he nibbled on my lobe, I forgot most of my misgivings. But still, a part of me wondered about Bryden. If he would spend time with me and tell me his ideas then maybe things wouldn’t be so confusing. I’d have both sides clearly laid out and I could make a decision when I wasn’t so angry.
Even Mags noticed a difference. I didn’t act out against her, but my intolerance for working with Albree was obvious. Her presence made me sick to my stomach now and when I didn’t feel well, I couldn’t put up
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