Prologue
He
stumbled through the narrow passageway as the ship bucked up and down
on the wind-blown waves. Lanterns swung with the motion, casting
eerie shadows ahead of him.
Placing a hand on
the smooth wooden planks of the wall, he braced himself against the
sudden drop as they rode down another steep wave.
Thunder
boomed in the distance, like a cannon in the night. The sound echoed
around the ship as he moved forward, nature's fury covering the noise
of his progress. His land legs were unaccustomed to the shifting of
the floor beneath him. It had been a long time since he had faced a
storm like this one.
Another
roll of thunder rumbled as he halted before the large door at the end
of the hallway. Laughter and chatter drifted out through the iron
barred window. Every time the ship dipped, Princess Elsbeth and Lady
Lisabet squealed, their voices high-pitched and grating. As if their
screams would help them if the ship broke apart in this storm.
He
peered in through the small window, watching the princess and her
friend. Elsbeth was a spoiled brat who stood between him and the
throne. She had her father wrapped around her finger, and the poor
fool didn't know it.
Removing
her from the picture was the first step, then he could set about
removing the remaining obstacles and claim his rightful birthright.
His hands sweated in anticipation as he opened the door. Today his
reign began.
Chapter One
Prince
Trevor stalked into his study and tossed a parchment on top of the
papers, ink pots, and quills littering the surface of his desk. He
cringed, knowing his mother would have a fit if she saw how badly
he'd been neglecting the desk. It was a family heirloom, after all.
Sighing,
he pulled out the leather chair and sat, his long legs stretched out
before him. The old springs groaned in protest as he tipped back.
A
fire snapped in the fireplace, chasing away the morning chill, doing
nothing to ease the cold deep inside him. His thoughts as dark and
dreary as a grey winter day, he stared at the letter he'd just read.
After four years of searching for Princess Elsbeth, he should be used
to dead ends. But this time he had thought it would be different, was
certain this was the lead he needed.
He
was running out of places to search, people to speak with. Running
out of time. His parents expected him to announce his bride at the
family ball in three weeks. An announcement he didn't want to make
until he exhausted all the avenues of finding the woman he should
rightfully marry.
It
wasn't as though he was in love with Elsbeth. He barely knew her,
having only seen her a handful of times when they were children.
They'd never had the chance to learn about each other, to fall in
love. Yet he felt obligated to marry her. They had a contract after
all, and he intended to honor it, even though his parents hoped he
would pick another bride. But he couldn't do that. He was certain
Elsbeth was out there waiting for him to find her. To save her.
The
odds were slim, yet he couldn't shake the feeling the clue he needed
lay just around the corner. At eighteen, he wasn't much of a betting
man, but he would bet his crown he would find Elsbeth before the
ball. If only there was some sign to point the way to her.
He
looked at the failed leads piled up on his desk. With an angry shove,
he sent them toppling to the floor. A packet of letters, bound with a
silver ribbon, tumbled with them. Frowning, he picked up the bundle.
They were the only thing left of Elsbeth. Letters exchanged in their
youth.
Gently,
he rubbed the satin ribbon before he loosened the knot and unfolded
the top letter. His eyes drifted over the delicate print as Elsbeth's
voice filled his mind.
I
cannot wait for the day you come to visit me in Delphine. I know you
have visited our island gem before, but this time, I will take you to
my favorite places: the white beaches that rise up from the ocean,
the woods filled with beautiful, lush bushes and tall, fragrant
trees, the cove, and many other secret treasures.
He
refolded the letter, blame weighing heavily on him. His plans to
visit fell through, forcing Elsbeth to journey to Palindore to see
him, A meeting that never came.
Digging
deeper into the pile, he pulled out another letter and opened it.
You
will never believe who Brody, Lisabet, and I met today. A mermaid! We
played with her in the cove and she taught us all how to swim, even
Lisabet, who is afraid of the water, learned how. When you visit, I
will introduce you so you can become friends, too. She promised us
all that no harm would ever come to one of us at sea, as long as one
of her people could aid us.
Elsbeth's
faith in this mermaid was what drove him to keep looking for her. He
tucked the letter back into the packet, and a dried piece of seaweed
slipped out. He picked it up and stared at the faint scratches. It
had taken him weeks to decipher the strange scrawls covering the
surface when he found it four years ago.
Things
are not as they seem. Meet me in the cove and I will tell you all.
Trevor
spent hours at the cove every day for a month after receiving the
letter, but the mermaid never appeared. Once, he caught a glimpse of
a blue-green tail, but it flashed out of sight too quickly for him to
be certain it was real and not a figment of his imagination.
After
that, there were no more letters, no meetings, just rumors and
whispers of the missing girls. If it hadn't been for the missing
dingy on the ship, he would have believed the two girls had drowned.
But the dingy had never been found, and it was enough to give him
hope the girls were out there. Somewhere.
“What
happened to you?” His voice echoed in the empty room. He pounded
his fist on the desktop, the thud booming over the rattle of inkpots.
“You were on the ship and then you weren't. Where could you have
gone?”
A
knock sounded at the door, and Trevor scowled as he called out, “You
may enter.”
The
familiar scent of lavender and pine drifted into the room as the door
opened. He glanced up, the corners of his lips lifting at the sight
of Lady Bri, the Woodland Guide. Lovely as always, her fiery-red hair
almost tamed in a braid, she stepped inside. His gloomy thoughts
lifted as she smiled. Two years his junior, she was the bright spot
in his day, for none could stay around her cheeriness and not be
affected.
“Prince
Trevor, what on earth happened in here?” Worry filled her voice as
she picked her way across the paper strewn floor. “Did you have an
accident?”
“No.”
He felt his face redden under her gaze, knowing she thought him a
hapless klutz. Of course he couldn't blame her for that. It seemed
every time she was around he tripped or fell. “I was looking for
something and dislodged a pile of correspondence.”
She
knelt and gathered up parchments, her movements quick and sure.
“Here,
you don't need to do that.” He skirted around the desk and bent
down, his focus on the papers littering the floor. Their heads
collided and he tipped forward, knocking Bri backward. He tried to
catch himself, but his hands slid, his breath whooshing out as her
body cushioned his fall.
He
inhaled and his head filled with the scent of her. A tremor raced
through him, and he closed his eyes, briefly savoring the feel of her
beneath him. She had no idea of his feelings for her. He’d worked
for over a year to hide his affections, something that grew more
difficult with each passing day.
Fearful
of giving his secret away, he scrambled backward and hit his head on
the edge of the desk. He focused on the pain, not wanting to consider
where his thoughts had taken him. Papers rustled beside him, and he
opened his eyes, seeing nothing but leather clad legs. His mouth went
dry, and he closed his eyes again and groaned.
“Prince
Trevor? Are you injured?”
Trevor
snorted, desperate to brush off the desire that flared at the brief
contact. He had no business thinking of Bri in that manner. As much
as he liked her and desired her, she wasn't a princess, and therefore
off limits.
“No.
Just embarrassed to demonstrate my clumsiness to you yet again.” He
stood and looked at her, frowning at the red mark on her forehead.
“Are you all right?”
Bri
smiled and rubbed the spot. “I'm fine. ’Tis just a bump. It'll go
away. Now, how about I help you finish gathering these before you do
permanent damage?”
She
stooped down and scooped up a pile of papers. He tugged them from her
hands.
“Thank
you, but it's my mess, I'll clean it.”
“As
you wish.” She straightened and walked across the room to the
window overlooking the training field, her boots barely making a
sound on the wooden floor. “I expected to see you outside on such a
beautiful morning.”
“I
had some business to attend to.”
“Some?”
She laughed, the sound wrapping around him like a gentle caress.
“More like a month's worth. I should leave you to it, as I'm sure
it's quite important. I'll come back later, when you have more time.”
“Wait.
I have time now. You know I always have time for you.” He dropped
the parchments on the desktop and eased a hip onto the corner,
crinkling the papers beneath him.
Bri
walked over, her fingers fidgeting with the end of her braid. “I
only have a few minutes before I begin today's tracking lessons with
the pages.”
“And
what are you teaching them today?”
“We'll
be tracking small game. You could tag along. I know how much you
could benefit from the exercise.” She grinned, her face lighting up
with excitement. “Unless you're afraid to trip over tree roots in
front of them.”
He
smiled back, remembering the last time they went tracking in the
woods. They were looking for squirrels, and he had tumbled over a
root, earning quite a gash on his forehead for his efforts.
“Is
that why you stopped in? To guilt me into some training?” he
teased, smiling as she blushed.
“No,
I came to drop off the plans for the contest. This way, you can look
them over before our meeting later.”
She
pulled a square of parchment from inside her jerkin and handed it
over. He set it beside him and leaned back, staring at her, an
uncomfortable silence falling between them.
Bri
frowned, her cheeks tingeing a lovely pink. “Well, I should be
going. Let you get back to your correspondence, or whatever it is.”
“It
really isn't as bad as it looks. I only have these two letters here
to deal with. The rest I have already seen to.”
“Then
why are they still cluttering up your desk?”
Trevor
sighed. “Because I haven't figured out what to do with them yet.”
Before he could say more, a knock sounded at the door. “Enter.”
The
steward stepped inside and bowed low. “Excuse me, Your Highness,
Lady Bri. Captain Cade is here to see you, Your Highness.”
“Send
him in, James.”
“As
you wish, Your Highness.” The steward bowed again.
Bri
stepped toward the door. “I'll come back later and go over the
plans with you.”
“I
look forward to it. Be careful out there with those pages. Wouldn't
want you to lose any of them.”
Bri
laughed. “That isn't likely to happen. ’Tis more likely they will
lose me!”
“I
hope not. I cannot begin to think what we would do without you to
teach us, my lady.”
Bri
blinked at him, and he thought he saw confusion in her eyes. “Yes,
well. I must go. Good morning, Prince Trevor.”
She
hurried from the room and Trevor shook his head at her hasty retreat.
Any further thoughts scattered as Cade sauntered in.
Trevor
glanced at the fine clothes and raised a brow at his closest friend.
The sea captain and merchant looked the part of every maiden's vision
of the perfect gentleman. “Planning on socializing while you're
here?”
Cade
sat down and crossed a foot over his knee. “If your sister was
still available, I would've said yes, just to annoy you.” He
flicked the lace at his wrists. “Alas, I'm delivering purchases
before heading out to Faldaera. Thought I'd stop in and see how
you're doing.”
“Not
as well as I could be,” Trevor replied, pointing at the pile of
papers.
“Still
no word on your missing princess?”
“No.”
Trevor pushed away from the desk and walked over to the window. “I
was hoping you might have some news for me.”
“I'm
afraid not.” Cade waited a moment. “Why do you keep torturing
yourself like this? It's been four years. Don't you think you would
have found something by now if she were alive?”
“I'm
not torturing myself. I know she's out there. She was wearing her
amulet of protection, and no matter what others say, the merfolk
would have rescued her.”
“Too
bad the Merking won't give anyone an answer about it. And why would
you still want to marry her? Hasn't Delphine done enough damage to
all of Valendria? In fact, I'm amazed your parents haven't forced you
into a new contract, given the circumstances.” Trevor glared at
him, and Cade cocked his head to the side, the ghost of a smile
curving his lips. “Well, well. They have made a new contract. Who's
the lucky princess?”
“I
can't say,” Trevor muttered, wishing Cade would leave it alone.
There wasn't a new princess yet, but his father was forcing him to
consider other options.
“Can't
or won't? Hmm. Let's see if I can guess.” He rubbed his hands
together, a wicked gleam in his eyes. “What about Princess Tatianna
of Lowenguilde? Their land borders yours and it would make a good
match.”
“She's
pledged to Prince Gabriel of Faldaera.”
“What
of Gabriel's sister, Princess Gabrielle?”
Trevor
gave Cade a withering glance. “She said we wouldn't suit. I wasn't
a skilled enough warrior for her liking, and frankly I find her
rather intimidating.”
Cade
chuckled. “Well, she is the leader of the King's Guard. I'm sure
she has a high standard to meet. What about Princess Arabella?”
Trevor's
eyes narrowed. “You think I'd marry the girl who almost killed my
sister?”
“It
must be one of them, as there are no others waiting in the wings.”
“Or
perhaps I could agree to give up the throne to a niece or nephew,”
Trevor said, the idea suddenly appealing.
“You
would do that?”
Trevor
shrugged. “I don't know. I may have to if I can't find a princess
to marry. If only there was someone who knew about Elsbeth.”
Staring
out the window, his eyes drifted to Bri as she worked with a group of
pages, and he wondered what it would be like if to be free to choose
who he married, who he loved. Maybe he should consider giving up the
throne, but then what about Elsbeth?
Cade
moved beside him and twitched the curtain aside.
“Ah,
the lovely Lady Bri. She raced past me in the hallway, her face a
pretty pink. Made me wonder if I had interrupted something between
the two of you.” Cade rocked back on his heels and smirked.
Trevor
rolled his eyes and pointed to his desk. “She was just here to drop
off some plans for me to look over.”
“And?”
“And
what?”
Cade
shook his head. “Are you trying to tell me she was blushing because
she left plans with you?”
Trevor
coughed, not wanting to share any of what had happened that morning,
not even with his closest friend. Not that anything had actually
happened, but for a moment, he had thought about kissing Bri, and
that was something he didn't even want to admit to himself.
“I'm
not really sure why she was blushing. I only said I didn't know what
we'd do without her.”
“You
know, she would make a wonderful queen.”
“You're
forgetting something. She isn't of royal blood.”
“An
easy fix.” Cade waved a hand in the air. “Surely if your father
can dub a man a knight, he can dub a woman a princess.”
“It
doesn't work that way, and you know it.” Trevor dropped the
curtain. “Besides, for my own sanity I need to know what happened
to Elsbeth.”
“I
understand, but you do realize the odds are she drowned. The reports
I've heard indicate they sailed into a very large storm.” He set a
hand on Trevor's shoulder. “All the men who were at sea that night
spin tales of waves higher than the mast of the ship. Of lightning
that hung in the air like a lantern. Of thunder that boomed like a
banging drum.”
“A
storm that swept two young girls overboard without anyone seeing,”
Trevor whispered.
“You
should consider what you're going to do if she isn't found. Something
other than turning the kingdom over to some unborn, not-yet-conceived
child.”
“I'll
cross that bridge when I get there. Until then, I plan to research
every lead I can find.”
“Well,
if you aren't going to have your father dub Bri a princess, do you
mind if I ask her for a walk on the pier?”
“Go
ahead.” He tried to ignore the surge of jealousy at the thought of
Cade with Bri. It wasn't as though he had any say in who she could or
couldn't go walking with. “I'm sure she'd enjoy some time away from
the castle.”
“Thanks.”
Cade grinned, and Trevor knew his friend suspected he had feelings
for the Woodland Guide. “You sure you don't mind?”
Trevor
frowned. “I have no right to mind. I have a princess to find, and I
should get to it.”
“I'll
keep my ears open and let you know the moment I hear anything.”
“I
appreciate it.”
“It's
a business deal.” Cade winked. “And I know I won't be paid until
I turn over information for you.”
Trevor
shook his head and smirked. “Always the businessman. Go and enjoy
your day. Be sure to stop back when you're in town again, news or no
news.”
“I
will, Your Highness.” He grinned and bowed. “You take care.”
Trevor
watched Cade slip out the door, then turned back to the scene outside
his window. The pages looked intently at the ground, searching for
whatever Bri had told them to find.
She
was an amazing woman and had intrigued him from the moment they met.
If he hadn't been pledged to Elsbeth, he would have gone to his
father and begged for permission to pursue Bri, princess or not.
More
than her beauty called to him. They had a connection to each other,
one he'd felt the moment he met her.
He'd
tried to stay away, let the bond fade, but he couldn't avoid her, not
when his father had insisted she teach him how to track. They spent
hours together, traipsing through the woods with her patiently
instructing him. Her ability to track any animal, in any terrain, was
amazing. If he didn't know better, he would've said it was magical.
He
thought of Cade's suggestion that his father dub her a princess and
smiled. She could certainly dress as a royal. She had looked so
lovely at the last ball, he had wanted to share every dance with her.
Closing
his eyes, he brought to mind the portrait of Elsbeth he saw each time
he visited Delphine. It had been painted mere days after he'd last
seen her, preserving his final memory of her forever.
Strawberry-blonde hair framed freckled skin and pale green eyes.
Dainty and fragile, she was all a princess should be.
In
contrast, Bri looked like a wild gypsy, with fiery-red curls that
tumbled to her waist in wild tangles, creamy skin, and emerald eyes.
No one would accuse her of fragility, and standing a few inches under
his six-foot frame, she was far from dainty.
He
opened his eyes and looked at her. Cade was right, Bri was beautiful.
But she wasn't a princess.
