Page 43 of My Princeling Brat (Tales from the Tarot #2)

Lord Vasil

The bars on my bedroom were not just bent, they’d been completely melted from the stone frame. The metal had cooled into a lump on the floor while the scent of burnt vanadium hung in the air. A rushed job. Sloppy too. My eyes darted quickly around the room, but Cedrych was nowhere to be found.

I’d failed him, again. They’d taken him from me. I would punish every last one of them, tear them limb from limb with my teeth, unleash my savage fury and make them pay for what they’d done. What if they’d harmed my precious boy?

“They must have fae minions helping them,” the queen remarked, her shrewd eyes canvassing all corners of the room. I reigned in visions of my wrath. I had to focus on the evidence that presented itself. We had to find Cedrych.

“Why don't you return with your retinue to my parlor, Your Majesty, while I sort this out?” My composure was slipping, and I didn’t want the queen to interfere with my investigation. Time was of the essence.

She gave me a scathing look and hissed, “Excuse me? Cedrych is my son.”

“Do you really care about Cedrych or are you only concerned about your reputation should he be harmed?” I asked hotly.

She bristled at that, a brief look of sadness passing over her features, then said with renewed conviction, “Regardless of what you may believe about me and my actions, never doubt that I've always had my sons,’ all of my sons,’ best interest at heart.”

Her words seemed heartfelt, and there was no time to argue further. “Fine, then know this. There is only one other person who could’ve altered that metal, and he’s dead. It’s simply not possible.”

The queen gave a dainty harrumph. “All I know for certain is some maniac has infiltrated your fortress and kidnapped my son. Is there anyone who may have a clue as to where he’s been taken?”

I’d sent the guards on a manhunt of my fortress, just in case this was a distraction, but in my heart, I knew that they had him.

Whatever menace that had been plaguing me since my youth had now taken the person I valued most. Sinclair’s warning came rushing back to me.

Had he known? Was he behind this? It wasn’t fair, gods be damned, but I’d take up my grievances with the divine goddess later.

Right now, we had to focus on finding my beloved prince.

“Galen,” I said suddenly. “The archer.”

“The assassin who tried to kill you both?” the queen said dubiously.

“Cedrych has made friends with him. He may talk to us, if he knows the prince is in danger.”

The queen made her skepticism known but grabbed the train of her dress and gestured for me to lead the way.

A few minutes later, the two of us were storming into my subterranean dungeon, flanked on either side by Anika and Erlander, both of them shaken by what had happened on their watch, intent on helping me locate the prince.

Galen was sitting cross-legged on the carpet of his cell, rolling a pair of dice Cedrych must have given him.

I noticed a few primer books on the table too.

Had Cedrych also been teaching the lad to read?

Goddess, what a tender heart my betrothed carried inside his broad chest. If that villain harmed even a hair on his golden head…

“Galen,” I barked and the lad sprung to his feet, glancing in a panic between me and the queen.

“M’lord, Your Majesty,” he said and bowed quickly to us both.

There was no time to waste with ceremony or long explanations. I needed information, and I needed it now, so I launched right into it. “We’ve not spoken, Galen, and you’ve been reluctant to share your secrets, but the prince has been kidnapped and we need your help in finding him.”

“Kidnapped, m’lord? They kidnapped Prince Cedrych?” he said, eyes wide with horror.

“They did, only moments ago from my bedchamber. The metal bars on my windows had been melted. The prince was not willing. Do you know who’s behind this?”

The lad glanced between the queen and I, seemed to hesitate for only a moment before he gathered himself up and, thank the goddess, nodded soundly. “I’m sure I do, m’lord. I can draw you a map to their compound.”

“There’s no time for that,” the queen snapped. “Guards, unlock the door. Young man, you’re coming with us.” She turned to me and said shortly. “He can guide us there. We’ll take my palanquin.”

“You’ll need backup, Your Majesty,” Anika interrupted. “Galen, where is your compound?”

“In the abandoned mines outside of Abersmyth.”

Anika’s brow furrowed, seeming to recognize the place.

“Do you know it?” I asked.

“It’s the Keepers, m’lord. It’s where they have their hideout,” Anika said.

“Are they the ones behind this?” I asked Galen.

The lad blinked, eyes wet with unshed tears, and nodded. The Keepers, that damn cult I’d let fester. Not so harmless after all, it would seem.

“How many are there?” I asked Galen, for their numbers were always shifting.

“There are many,” Galen said. “Thousands, m’lord. And they all answer to him, Master Keeper.”

Master Keeper, a coward hiding behind a mask, the thief who’d taken my beloved prince.

My mind worked overtime as everything slotted into place–if this person was the one stealing fae children to do their dirty work, they might also be the culprit behind my parents’ deaths.

If that was the case, I’d make them regret every dastardly deed they’d ever committed against me.

Power thrummed in my fingertips, begging for release.

Vengeance would be mine. But first, I had to save Cedrych.

“It’d be better to mount an organized attack,” Anika said.

Goddess only knew what might happen to Cedrych in the time it took my troops to gather. I couldn’t take that chance. “The queen and I will take her palanquin. You and Erlander round up the guard to travel by horse and automobile, as fast as you can,” I directed.

“You mustn't go in there alone, m’lord,” Anika said, laying a firm hand on my forearm.

I gripped my vanadium rod and tried to reassure her. “The plot is becoming clearer to me, Anika. If I don’t retrieve my prince now, I may never get another opportunity. I promise I will exercise caution.”

“You’d better,” she warned, then nodded once to the queen and turned to gather up the rest of the guard. Erlander released Galen into our custody, and I outfitted him with bracelets and anklets made of vanadium in case I needed to restrain him.

“I won’t run, m’lord,” he said.

“You’d be wise not to.” I ushered him along, pointing toward the exit with my rod. To the queen I said, “I must advise you one more time, Your Majesty, it would be safest for you to stay here. We’re heading into enemy territory. The Keepers want my destruction and nothing less.”

The queen huffed and stared down her royal nose at me.

“I have every confidence that my fae guards will protect me. And I wish to lay eyes on the reprobate who thought he could steal the second-born son of Queen Gwyneth Avondale of Emrallt Valley. I will show them the consequences of kidnapping a member of the royal family.”

I offered my arm to the queen, and we set out for her palanquin at a brisk pace. I would rescue my beloved fae prince and put an end to this menace once and for all.

Death didn’t scare me, but failure did.