She heard the tiniest wisp of a knife being withdrawn. Years of practice with her father and Marek made her body react before her mind could even comprehend what was happening. She ducked, and a knife flew inches above her head, slamming against the wall next to her and clattering to the ground. Without thinking, she lunged, grabbing the weapon. She aimed for Soma’s stomach and threw the knife. He whirled to the side, the knife barely missing him. He clutched the hilt of his sword, about to unsheathe it, when Kerdan gripped his arm, stopping him.
“The princess is my prisoner. You have no authority to touch her.”
Soma released the hilt of his sword, shaking Kerdan off his arm. “She attacked me,” he snarled, his face alight with unsuppressed rage. “She will pay for her crime.”
Kerdan seized the front of Soma’s tunic, roughly shoving him against the wall and pinning him there. “Do not lay a finger on her.”
The assassin started laughing. “Careful, stepbrother. I have talents that not even you can fight against. Angering me is not in your best interest.”
Kerdan released him and moved several feet away, clenching and unclenching his hands. “Are you threatening me? The crown prince?” Allyssa realized he was trying to restrain himself from killing Soma right then and there. “I think it is you, little stepbrother, who should be mindful of your actions because I can, and I will, throw you in the dungeon if you ever threaten or try to kill me again.”
Soma straightened his rumpled tunic. “Give me the girl, and I will gladly leave you alone.” He peered at Allyssa, his dark eyes malicious. She wanted to aggravate him so he’d attack and Kerdan would kill him. He deserved to die.
“The journey here took weeks,” Kerdan replied. “You had many nights with the princess. What could you possibly want with her that you haven’t already had the opportunity to do?”
“Allyssa deserves to suffer,” Soma growled. “She’s a filthy, no-good whore.”
Her name on his lips was more than she could stomach. How dare he call her such a thing? She moved closer, wanting to do something to cause him pain, to hurt him the way he’d hurt her.
Kerdan’s shoulders stiffened. “Well…now she’s my no-good whore.” He placed his large hand on her stomach, shoving her backward, away from the assassin. “You need to stop blaming the princess for your family’s misfortune. All you have endured—it’s your mother’s fault.”
“Don’t speak of things you know nothing about.” Soma abruptly turned and walked away.
“Just so you know,” Kerdan shouted after him, “I blame you for my family’s misfortune.”
Allyssa went to put her hand on his shoulder to comfort him, but she stopped herself. Regardless of having a mutual goal to destroy Jana, they were still enemies. Not friends. She needed to remember that, stifling any feelings because that thought, that desire to help him, scared her more than the encounter with Soma.
***
The lock rattled, and the door flew open. Kerdan stepped inside his bedchamber, dragging a man with a sack covering his head and a dirty blanket wrapped around his body. He slammed the door shut and removed the sack.
Odar stood there, heaving deep breaths. Stunned, Allyssa slowly rose from her chair. Kerdan pulled the dirty blanket off and untied the rope that secured Odar’s wrists together.
Odar scanned her from head to toe, his eyes wild with rage. “Are you hurt?” he demanded. She shook her head. His eyes flashed, and then, in one fluid motion, he swung and punched Kerdan in the jaw. Before the prince could recover from the hit, Odar threw himself at him, and they tumbled to the ground, grappling with one another.
“Stop it!” she ordered, but neither man listened.
Odar rolled over, pulling Kerdan on top of him and wrapping his arm around the prince’s neck, squeezing. Kerdan twisted the bottom portion of his body, punching Odar’s side and breaking the chokehold.
“Run!” Odar yelled at her. “Get out of here while you can.”
Kerdan jumped to his feet and flung his arm around Allyssa’s torso, his chest heaving up and down against her back.
Odar scrambled to his knees, trying to catch his breath. “Don’t touch her,” he pleaded, his voice cracking, tears in his eyes. She had never seen him so vulnerable.
The prince chuckled. “So, she is your weak spot.”
Odar slowly got to his feet, his hands fisted at his sides.
“Enough,” she said. “I am nobody’s weak spot.” She craned her neck back, staring at Kerdan. “Let go.”
He released her. “Make sure your friend doesn’t attack me again.”
“Of course.” She focused on Odar, trying to ignore the towering man behind her. “Stand down, and give me a chance to explain.”
A mask of calm washed over Odar’s face, instantly transforming him into the cold man she’d first met in Emperion masquerading as Jarvik. She felt, rather than saw, Kerdan tense behind her. Unable to have the necessary conversation with the prince watching her every move, she turned to him and said gently, “Can I have a moment alone with Prince Odar?”
“That’s why I brought him here,” Kerdan replied, rubbing his jaw. “Although you should have warned me of his jealous nature beforehand. I could have avoided this unnecessary bruise.”
“What’s going on?” Odar demanded, looking from Allyssa to the prince and back again.
Kerdan moved to the door. “You have fifteen minutes,” he said. “Don’t let anyone in the room. When it’s time for Odar to go, I’ll return to escort him back.” Without waiting for an answer, he left.
They were finally alone. For the first time since Odar entered the room, she allowed herself to study him. Dark circles encased his eyes, and his clothes hung on him, indicating he had lost weight.
“Just tell me,” Odar ground out. “I want to know what the bastard did to you. Don’t even think of trying to spare my feelings.”
“Spare your feelings?” she asked, appalled by his comment. “What about my feelings?” He had the gall to look confused. She walked right up to him and slapped his face, the sound of her hitting him loud in the quiet room.
“What was that for?”
Tears filled her eyes. “Do you have any idea what I’ve been through? I’ve been in the bloody damned dungeon while you’ve been doing who knows what with Shelene!” She hadn’t meant to yell at him like that, but she couldn’t help it.
He held up both his hands. “Let me explain.”
She wiped the tears from her face. “I know you don’t care for her.” The look of relief on his face was apparent. “I know you did it to save yourself from being thrown in the dungeon.” Her voice cracked. She didn’t want to talk about what she went through, what was done to her, all the while he ate and drank with the people who tortured her.
“I did it for you, not me. I hoped to have access to information and ensure you weren’t executed. However, Jana doesn’t fully trust me, so I couldn’t help you as much as I anticipated.”
“It doesn’t matter now.”
He wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly against his body. “I’m so sorry,” he mumbled into her hair. “I had no idea this would happen. I’ll never forgive myself.”
“It’s not your fault.” She tilted her face to his neck, feeling the warmth of his skin.
His hand stroked her hair. “When the prince came for me, I had no idea he was bringing me to see you.”
“I asked him to.” And he’d listened. He brought Odar here for her.