Stolen Heart

chapter 22




Kieran and Annika arrived fashionably late to the charity ball. They had spent the day purchasing outfits to wear. That took all of an hour. The rest of the time they spent in bed. Kieran thought back to the last time they made love.

After he slipped out of her warmth, he pulled her to his side and wrapped his arms around her. “What are you going to do after we return The Scepter to Ava?”

“I’ll head back to New York. That is if I can talk Mary into coming with me.”

“If she doesn’t want to, she’ll always have a place in Kestevayne. Don’t worry about that.”

“You and Ava and Carrick….you have been so wonderful to Mary. I don’t deserve this kindness.”

Kieran put his hand under her chin and lifted her gaze to his. “Don’t say that. Of course you deserve the kindness. Look at all you’ve done to help us.”

Annika pulled her chin out of his grasp and tucked her face into his neck. She gave him a light kiss.

“What if I asked you to stay in Kestevayne with me?”

Annika’s head shot up in surprise. She looked at Kieran and he saw something in her eyes that made him feel unsettled. Was it sadness? Guilt?

“Kieran, I can’t. I have a life in New York. I have a business to run. A charity to see to.”

Sighing, Kieran placed a kiss on her lips and tucked her face back down into his neck. “I know. I just thought I’d ask.”

They were both silent for several moments. Then Kieran spoke up again. “I was kind of hoping you would now ask me to move to New York with you.”

Annika’s head shot back up to look at him, and it was definite guilt he saw in her eyes. “I’m so sorry, Kieran. I just can’t go there. That spells relationship, and I’ve told you, all along…I don’t have that to give. I have nothing to give you that’s any good.”

Kieran pulled out of their embrace and left the bed. Pulling on his pants, he looked back at her. “You’re full of shit, Annika. You have plenty to give. You just don’t believe enough in yourself to see it.”

Kieran walked into the bathroom and called back over his shoulder. “You better get up and get ready. We need to leave soon for the ball.”

And here they were now, walking into the House of Moldevaine. Kieran could hear the soft strains of music getting louder as they were led to a ballroom. Glancing around, he estimated there to be about 200 people in attendance. Enough people they wouldn’t be noticed sneaking away.

The original plan had been for Annika to glamour herself as Claire, so she could walk unquestioned right into Claire’s office to retrieve The Scepter. But the more he thought about it, the more he didn’t like that idea. Mainly because it had been too easy to retrieve that key. Annika said The Scepter was lying in her desk drawer, but he didn’t buy it. There is no way anyone would be that stupid to leave it unprotected without some type of ward or protection charm. No, he’d need Claire to be able to retrieve it without any hiccups.

Leading Annika onto the dance floor, he took her in his arms. She looked exceptionally beautiful tonight. Her gown was a long, silver sheath that hung straight to the floor. One arm was covered in the same flowing silver material. The other was bared to the shoulder. As they swayed to the music, Kieran leaned down and pressed a tender kiss to ear. “I’m making a change in plans.”

Annika pulled back slightly from his embrace so she could look at him. “Why?”

“Because, there is no way The Scepter is just lying in a desk drawer unprotected. It will have some type of magical ward around it. We’ll need to take Claire with us to break the ward.”

“What? Kieran, no. That’s not necessary.”

“It is. Trust me, Annika. We’ll need Claire.”

“How about we just go there first and see if there is a ward. If there is, we can come back for her.”

Kieran was already shaking his head no. “If there is a ward, it will most definitely have an alarm set to it. We can’t risk it. We’ll need Claire to completely disable it. Besides, I’d like to see what the little Queen has to say for herself and why she took it.”

Annika didn’t say anything else but Kieran swore he felt her tremble slightly in his arms. “Are you okay?”

“Sure,” she reassured. “Just a little nervous.”

He leaned down and kissed her softly. “Don’t be. This will be a piece of cake. Now, which door will we need to go through to get to her office?”

Annika inclined her head to the left, indicating the doorway.

“You go wait over there by the door. I’ll retrieve Miss Moldevaine and bring her right along.”

Annika was chewing on her bottom lip, fear in her eyes. Kieran squeezed her hand. “Don’t worry. Now, go.”

He watched Annika walk over to the doorway. Scanning the ballroom, he saw Claire talking to a group of ladies. Walking over to her, he approached the group. He decided the direct route would be the best.

“Ladies. Queen Claire.” They all nodded their heads to him in greeting. “I’m Kieran Dunne, representing the Royal House of Clairmont in Vyronas. If you don’t mind, I’d like a word with Her Majesty.”

The ladies all nodded politely and turned to walk away. Turning to look at Claire, he saw unmistakable fear clouding her eyes. “I see you know who I am. You’ll also know why I’m here.”

She didn’t respond but stood frozen to the spot.

“Tell you what, let’s take a little walk.” Grabbing her elbow, he started leading her to the door. “And in case you couldn’t tell, that’s the tip of a knife I have situated just below your third rib. It will slide into your heart like it was made of butter. Understand?”

He heard Claire whimper but she gave a shaky nod of her head.

“Good girl.”

Kieran led Claire over to where Annika was standing. He glanced left and right as they were walking to make sure no one was alarmed that she was leaving with him. Once they reached Annika, he saw worry etched all over her face. He gave her a reassuring smile but it did nothing to erase the lines of tension. Walking past Annika, he urged Claire through the doorway, knowing Annika would follow.

“We are going to take a quick trip to your office, where I’m going to retrieve a little something you stole from my sister-in-law. And should you think to call for help, know that I have enough magic in my arsenal to bring the walls of your palace down.” He made sure his voice was laced with enough menace that she wouldn’t question his bluff.

Claire stumbled when he said that last statement. He kept a firm hold of her elbow and she righted herself. Walking quickly down the hall, they made it to a stairway and climbed up. Claire led him down another hall, and finally to a doorway. Kieran glanced back at Annika for confirmation that this was her office and she gave a slight nod.

“Open the door, Claire.”

Claire reached around her neck and pulled off a thin gold chain. At the end was a key that she inserted into the door. She turned the knob and pushed it open.

“After you m’lady,” Kieran said with mock etiquette. He gave Claire a quick shove into the office and walked in behind her. He heard Annika come in and close the door. Claire turned to face them both. Tears were pooled in her eyes and she kept glancing toward Annika.

“Don’t bother looking at her,” Kieran taunted. “She won’t help you.”

Holding the knife out so Claire could see it, he motioned her toward her desk. “Get me The Scepter out of your desk. And remember, one alarm raised to your guards and I will turn you to ash.”

Glancing one more time at Annika, Claire turned and walked to the desk drawer. She used the same key and opened it up. Her hands were shaking visibly. Reaching in, she pulled out The Scepter.

“Bring it here,” Kieran said.

Claire walked around the desk toward Kieran. She kept glancing over to Annika, who said, “Just give him The Scepter Claire and no harm will come to you.”

Kieran looked over at Annika in surprise. She had said those words with such tenderness. It caught him completely off guard. Turning back to Claire, he reached out and she laid The Scepter in his hand. She watched him nervously as he turned it over in his hands, inspecting it.

Kieran looked from The Scepter to Claire. His eyes were like ice. He dropped The Scepter on the ground and lunged at Claire. Grabbing her by the neck, he walked her backwards until she came up short against the desk. He whipped his knife up and put the blade against her throat. Claire gave a startled yelp and he heard Annika gasp.

“Try again, Claire,” Kieran said with venom dripping from his words. “That is not the real scepter.”

“Kieran. Calm down,” he heard Annika say. “You must be mistaken.”

“I’m not mistaken, Annika. That’s a fake. Ava gave me an amulet so that I could detect the real scepter. That’s not it.”

He heard Annika whisper, “Shit.”

He looked at Claire and she had tears pouring down her pale face. She was terrified. Good. He was going to use that to get the real scepter so they could get out of here.

He leaned forward and pressed the knife a little harder. It didn’t cut her skin but she cried out in fright. “I am going to give you to the count of three, and if you do not tell me where the real scepter is, I’m going to slit your throat. Then I will tear this place apart for it, and I will kill anyone that gets in my way.”

Claire choked out a strangled sob.

“One….two….”

“Stop!,” he heard Annika yell. “I have The Scepter, Kieran.”

Not releasing Claire or the blade against her throat, he looked over his shoulder at Annika in disbelief. Surely he heard her wrong.

She was standing there with worry on her face, wringing her hands together. She spoke again. “Let Claire go. I have The Scepter.”

Kieran felt like he’d been punched in the gut. He stumbled backwards from Claire, never taking his eyes off Annika.

“No,” he said in denial.

“Yes, Kieran. I took The Scepter. Claire was just holding it for me until I could claim it.”

“Annika… no,” Claire exclaimed. “I have the real scepter. I’ll give it back to you. Just don’t harm Annika.”

Kieran shook his head. He looked between the two women, who were staring at each other with resignation and sorrow.

“Somebody better tell me what the f*ck is going on here,” Kieran bellowed. He saw Annika flinch but he could give a shit.

Annika stepped toward him. “I’m so sorry, Kieran. I never meant to hurt you.”

Kieran held up his hand and took a step back. “Stay the f*ck away from me.”

He saw hurt and pain flash across her face. He sighed. “Just tell me the truth.”

“She took it on my orders,” Claire started.

Annika held her hand up. “Be quiet, Claire. No more lies.”

Annika moved to sit in a chair. She took a deep breath, looked down at her hands and started.

“I’ve known Claire since we were kids. I used to come visit Mary when she lived here in Balvraine with her new husband.” Kieran’s eyebrows raised in surprise. “Claire is my best friend. She’s like my sister. She knows about…Mason.”

Annika stole a quick glance at Kieran but the hard look on her face caused her to look back down at her hands.

“Claire is in a lot of trouble with her kingdom. Rebels are threatening to overtake her, and she needed The Scepter for protection. It was my idea to steal it for her. She had nothing to do with it. But I swear…she would never have harmed anyone with it.” Annika’s voice grew quiet as she looked at Claire. Kieran saw a wealth of love in her eyes. “Claire doesn’t have a bad bone in her body. It’s just not in her nature.”

Kieran looked over at Claire who was crying and cursed under his breath. This was just f*cking great.

“But I do have bad bones in my body, Kieran,” Annika continued. Kieran turned his attention back to her. “I’ve been stealing things since I turned eighteen and left Vyronas. I mean, what’s a girl with a great glamour to do, right?” Her voice pitched high and was quivery. But she held her chin up and stared him down.

“I steal from people Kieran. It’s what I do. The night I agreed to help you retrieve The Scepter, I went out and stole $500,000 worth of jewels from a woman on Park Avenue.”

Kieran didn’t think she could shock him any further. “Tell me you’re kidding, Annika. About all of this.”

Annika didn’t answer and lowered her gaze. It was an act that spoke of shame. She sat staring at her hands clasped in her lap. Kieran sighed. His gut was churning with anger and betrayal.

“Claire, go get me the real scepter.” He watched as Claire darted into her bedroom. He looked back at Annika.“You could have told me the truth from the beginning and I would have helped you. I would have helped Claire if you would have asked me to.”

Annika still wouldn’t look at him.

Claire walked back in with The Scepter. She handed it to Kieran and then backed away. She was still clearly frightened of him. Kieran could feel the magical pulse from the object he held in his hand. He knew it was the real deal.

He looked back at Annika one last time.

“I loved you.” It was accusatory and she knew it.

She finally looked up at him and her lovely lavender eyes were brimming with tears. “I know. But I told you I had nothing good to offer you.”

Kieran looked at her for just a moment. “You were right. You have nothing good to offer me.” He turned on his heel and walked out the door.