On Balkyn’s arm, I was treated like rebel royalty. My brother bragged that I knew all sorts of vampire secrets, that I would be a tremendous asset to the cause. The men who’d threatened me earlier were now obsequious, offering me ale and blankets.
I thanked them, a smile plastered to my face. But on the inside, I was scheming to get back to Dallas, to somehow get away. I had no idea what I was going to do. Balkyn refused to leave my side. Whether that was because he was thrilled to finally see me again or because he did not trust me, I wasn’t sure. I finally fell into a light sleep, propped against a tree, as the rebel men sat around their dying fire.
When I opened my eyes, it was full-on daylight. I struggled to my feet, my heart in my throat.
“Ah, you’re awake.” Balkyn held out his hand for me. “Come and see.”
In the morning light, I could see my brother clearly. He had changed in the years since he’d left home, growing from an adolescent into a man. Always tall, his body had thickened with muscle. His hair, which he’d always worn a bit long, was cut brutally short. And his face was different. Gone were the boyish good looks and cherub cheeks. His cheekbones were more prominent, jutting out of the hard planes of his face, and dark circles ringed his eyes. He looked as if he had suffered greatly. A large scar ran from his ear down the side of his neck, as if something savage had clawed him.
He felt my eyes on him. “I’m sure I’m not as you remembered, but I don’t want to talk about it, Gwyn.”
“You’ve been hurt.”
He shrugged. “War does that to you.”
We walked through the woods in silence for a moment before he continued. “I might not have recognized you, you know. You’ve changed too. Five years is a long time.”
I patted his shoulder. “Too long.”
I had mixed emotions about finding my brother, but one still stood out clearly: love.
“I knew you were at the palace for the contest. So when I heard they’d taken a young female prisoner, I had to come see for myself. I had to see if it was you.”
I shivered, remembering the filthy prisoner kneeling before me. “I’m so glad you did.”
“Me too.” He stopped walking. “There’s a clearing just ahead. We’re keeping the prince there until it’s time.”
Afraid my voice would betray me, I only nodded in response. We came to the clearing and I tried to keep my face neutral. It was a terrible sight. Dallas sat, chained in silver to a chair, in the middle of a field. Smoke wafted off of him, up toward the sun, which climbed in the sky.
I moved closer and saw marks where the silver had dug into his flesh. Scorch marks. I thought I might faint, but Dallas’s gaze flicked to me briefly, giving me strength. I couldn’t fall apart. Not now.
“Come and have a seat.” Balkyn smiled. He led me a safe distance from Dallas, to the makeshift stands the rebels had erected out of coolers and camping equipment, all the better to watch the prince burn.
The rebels had started another fire. I shakily sat down and watched them. The soldiers laughed and traded stories, drinking steaming coffee from tin cups. One of them flipped bacon in a frying pan he held over the campfire. A picnic. This was a celebration for them.
“I wish father could be here to see this.” Balkyn rubbed his hands together as he eyed the prince. He had a sip of coffee then offered me a slice of bacon.
“No thank you.” I felt sick, but I sat tall, a fake smile plastered to my face.
There had to be a way out of this. I just had no idea what it was.
The time ticked by. The sun climbed higher in the sky.
“Will he burst into flames?” Balkyn eyed the sun’s progress.
“I don’t think so. I think he just…dies.” To my credit, the prince did look weak. He slumped in his chair, head lolled back, smoke rising from his skin.
I wanted to scream. I wanted to run to him and rip the chains off with my teeth, then carry him home. During the time I’d sat around their campfire, I’d noticed that each of the rebels had a gun. Many of them also had large knives strapped into their belts.
Even if I can get one, what on earth am I going to do with it?
“Shouldn’t be too long now,” Balkyn told the others.
“This is going to be bloody priceless,” one soldier said.
“We’ll put his head on a spike and bring it to the palace, so he can watch when we slaughter the rest of his family,” said another.
I arched an eyebrow at Balkyn. “You’re attacking the castle?”
He nodded stiffly. “We’ve been waiting for the right time.’
“There’s not that many of you,” I noted.
“We’ll figure it out. And now that we have you, you can help us.”
Did I imagine it, or was there a testing tone to his voice?
He turned his attention back to the prince, watching and waiting, his hands clenched on his lap.
Don’t move, a voice said.
I jerked my head around, startled.
You bloody bootlicking idiot, I said, don’t move!
I sat perfectly still. I knew that voice in my head. And I’d never been so glad to hear it.