Page 54 of Spirit Trials (The Spirit Kingdoms #1)

He stares at me, like he doesn’t believe me. So, I say it again. “I love you, Rysden.”

“But I kidnapped you.”

I laugh, my heart lighter than it’s been in a long time.

“You did. Probably not one of your best moves, but I can’t be too mad because it brought us together.

” I narrow my eyes at him. “Don’t ever do something like that again, and we’re going to have to figure out a way to get my brother and mother here. That’s a non-negotiable.”

“Done, but Farrah, I’m not a good person.”

I shake my head. “Rysden, you’ve believed that lie for far too long.” I reach up and put my hands on his strong shoulders. “I’m going to spend my days proving to you that you are.”

“I’m really not.”

I stare up at him and recognize that it’s going to take him a while to really believe that I actually love him. His father has done a number on him. I cock my head to the side. “So, are you going to let me go then? Since you're not a good person?”

He tugs me forward. “Absolutely not. Anybody that tries to take you from me is dead.” I smile.

“There we go; that’s the Rysden I know and love.”

A knock sounds at the door. “Um, hey guys, it’s Kinsley. Again. The guards are waiting for you, so you know, if you could just...you know finish whatever it is you’re doing and come down, that would be great.” There’s a pause. “Okay, that’s all.”

I laugh into Rysden’s chest; I can’t help it.

He runs his hand up and down my back. I push on his chest. “Come on, Prince. You’re needed.

” He lets me go, and I walk around him to his wardrobe and pull out clothes to wear.

“Thanks for putting clothes in here for me.” I grab what I need and head towards the bathing room.

“Farrah, wait.” I turn back to him. He covers the distance between us in two strides.

He frames my face with both of his large hands.

“I don’t deserve you. You are far too good for me, but I won’t ever let you go.

I will protect you until my dying breath.

You are everything that is good and right in my world, and I know I’ll mess it up.

But I'll keep trying. Just don’t give up on me. ”

“Never,” I whisper.

Then he says the words my heart’s been waiting to hear. “I love you, Wildheart. I have since the moment you shot my father’s cup out of his hand.” He kisses me again, and I lose myself and all reality of time. Finally, I push him back.

“They are going to kill us. Go!”

He smiles at me, and my heart threatens to burst because I don’t know if I’ve ever seen him fully smile.

“Let them wait.” He kisses me again. “Go get changed; I’ll head down and see what they need.

” I grin up at him and walk over to the bathroom because if I don’t, I’m going to jump him; and then we’re never going to get downstairs.

“And Farrah...” I turn back. “You’re wearing my shirts to bed every night.

” His words are low, and the look he gives me?

I shiver and head into the bathing room.

After I hear the door close and know he left, I take a few minutes to put myself together.

A little later, I head downstairs and outside when I see the front door open.

The smile drops from my face when I take in the guards in crimson talking to Rysden.

Rysden’s arms are across his chest, and he does not look happy.

I walk over to stand next to him. At first, I think he’s unaware that I’m here, but then he shocks me reaching out and taking my hand in his.

Something settles deep inside of me, realizing I’m no longer alone.

I glance up at the gorgeous man beside me.

He’s not alone either. Not anymore. It takes me a moment longer than it should to realize he’s not holding my hand out of love. I take in the guards’ expressions.

“What’s going on?” I ask, keeping my voice low and calm.

One of the guards steps towards me. “Lady Mercy, you’re to come with us.”

Rysden’s hand tightens on mine. “She’s not going with you anywhere.

” I watch as the guards spread out and do a quick mental count.

Twenty. Rysden’s sword is out in front of him a moment later.

With his other hand, he pushes me slightly behind him, still holding my hand.

Realizing this could get deadly quickly, I take a step to Rysden’s side.

“Why?” I ask simply.

The guard that seems to be taking the lead narrows his eyes at me. “You are being charged with conspiracy against the Wolf King and the Wolf Kingdom.”

The air leaves my chest in a whoosh, and I stare at the guard. “How?” I demand.

“Your charges will be determined once you are detained.”

“No.” I shake my head. “That’s not how this works. I’m not going with you anywhere until you tell me what these ridiculous charges are about.”

The guard does not look happy. “You led those mercenaries to attack our king and our kingdom, killing hundreds of our guards.” The anger in his eyes is fierce, and I take a steadying breath.

“She did no such thing,” Rysden barks out.

The guard takes a step forward, and Rysden’s entire body tenses. I put my hand on his back. “Did the Black Clansmen attack your village?”

I pause, sensing a trap here; but I look him dead in the eye. “Yes.”

“In exchange for your life, did you not lead them here and let them in the city gates?”

My mouth drops open. “No.”

“So that they could infiltrate the castle?” He continues on, ignoring my interruption. “And try to take out our King, Prince, Captain of our guard, and many Royal Guards?”

“No!”

“She had nothing to do with last night’s attack,” Rysden says in a low, fierce voice.

The guard stares at me with hate in his eyes. “Then why did they spare you?”

I stare at him as dread coils in my stomach. “What are you talking about?” My voice isn’t as steady now as it had been.

“They took off the head of our Captain without a second thought.” His face flinches, as if remembering.

“They gutted the Prince’s friend like a fish.

” My entire body reacts to his words. He steps closer.

“They cut down every single person in that room, and yet,” he pauses.

“When they got to you, they left you alive. They had no intention of killing you.”

“That’s ridiculous,” Rysden growls.

“Is it?” the guard asks, his eyes never leaving mine.

I try to keep my face blank, but my insides are recoiling because he’s right.

Memories flash through my mind. There were many opportunities for them to end my life, and they didn’t.

“I’m not working with the Black Clansmen.

” My voice is steady, thankfully; but my legs are shaking.

“Those men killed the people in my village.” Anger flares in my voice.

The guard nods. “And left you alive and your precious brother and mother.” He cocks his head to the side. “Out of the goodness of their hearts?”

I’m shaking now. No.

“ What deal did you make with them? To let you live if you got close to our prince and worked your way into our kingdom and—”

“No! I didn’t—”

Rysden gives my hand a quick squeeze. “Don’t say anything more.”

The guard glares at me with so much hate. “You’ll be coming with us.” The other guards close in around us.

“She’s not leaving with you,” Rysden says fiercely, tugging me once again behind his back. Nausea churns in my belly; there are too many of them. And even though Rysden could probably handle all of them, he doesn’t want to kill these men.

“Rysden,” I say in a quiet voice.

“Back up,” Rysden says, waving his sword in front of him, even as guards circle us. He steps back, not allowing any of them to get behind us.

“Say the word, Prince,” Harper says from behind us.

I turn my head to see Harper standing with a bow to her shoulder and an arrow pointed towards the guards.

Kinsley stands next to her with a knife in each hand.

Her face is pale, but she looks resolute.

Nausea churns in my stomach, and I feel like I'm going to throw up. I can’t let this happen.

Somebody’s going to get hurt...or worse.

I’m not going to let that happen. I yank my hand from Rysden’s and move away from him, towards the nearest guard.

The guard grabs me and pulls me further away from Rysden.

Rysden’s eyes snap to mine, furious. “What are you doing?”

I shake my head at him. “I can’t let anybody else get hurt because of me.”

“Farrah.” His eyes plead with mine.

I look away from him, feeling like my insides are being torn out.

I watch as his gaze hardens, and I know what happens next.

He will single -handedly take down every guard out here, and he won’t even sweat doing it, but at what cost?

Who else could get hurt? I look to Harper.

She meets my eyes steadily, and I try to convey to her what I need her to do.

She gives me a small nod, and then she shifts her arrow towards Rysden.

My heart hardens, and I try to remind myself that this is for the best. Shade will be able to heal him swiftly.

She shoots him in the back. My arms are yanked behind me a second later, and I’m dragged away, even as I hear Kinsley call out.

The guards drag me so fast, I can’t get my feet under me.

My hands are tied behind my back, and I’m thrown into the back of a wagon.

My feet are bound a moment later, and I’m shoved headfirst into the wooden planks.

I manage to get into a sitting position just as we turn and Rysden’s castle fades from view.

I refuse to cry and take deep breaths trying to piece together what I’m going to do.

The ride to the castle is over way too fast, and I’m dragged from the wagon.

Something is pulled over my head, and I suddenly can’t see anything.

I refuse to cry out and focus on trying to keep my feet under me.

There are so many twists and turns, and the walk takes forever.

I fall at least a dozen times but keep my mouth shut.

Then we’re going down. I hear the clank of iron and then I’m shoved to the ground.

The cloth is pulled from my head, and I blink, trying to get my bearings.

Somebody frees my hands and feet. Iron clangs, and then there’s silence.

I take a breath and try to ignore the pain in my body from hitting the ground too many times to count without being able to catch myself.

I push myself to my feet, cursing the guards under my breath, and take in my new surroundings.

I’m underground; that’s for sure. It’s dark with only the light from a fire-burning torch on the wall to light the entire area.

There are several cells like mine, and I wonder who else is down here with me.

I hear a scratching noise and shudder and try not to imagine what it could be.

I spend the next twenty minutes looking desperately for a way out.

I finally flop onto the dirt floor against the wall, admitting defeat.

My mind turns over all the events of the past twenty-four hours, and I try to figure out what is going on.

Questions flood my mind as I try to sort out everything.

Certain things from last night don’t make sense—things that I hadn’t really thought about until now.

Why didn’t the guards let their spirit wolves free to fight?

Or any of the contestants for that matter?

How did the mercenaries get into the city gates and into the castle?

I remember the guy with the scar standing over me.

He could have taken my life in that instant, but he didn’t.

Why? The questions circle around in my mind for hours, until I feel like I’m going crazy.

I reach out to Solace, but there’s no response.

I can feel our connection, but I don’t think we can communicate from this far.

The connection feels weak. My mind wanders to Rysden.

Will he think I betrayed him somehow? That this attack was my fault?

That thought makes me sicker than everything else; I don’t think I’d recover if I lost his trust.

I have no idea how long I’ve been down here.

It could have been minutes or hours; I have no way of tracking time.

When I finally hear someone, I stand to my feet as hope fills me.

It drains away a moment later when two guards step into the cell with me and close the door with a clang behind them.

I take in their faces and realize this is not going to go well, especially when I realize the one guard is the guy who took the lead at Rysden’s.

I stand to my feet and try to mentally prepare for what comes next.