Reckoning Read online

  I started forward and the Guard pulled out his weapon, aimed it at me, and barked, “Don’t move!”

  Another Guard brushed past the first one and relief coursed through me. Mallen. I’d known him for many years. He was as good as this one was unkind, as tall as the other Guard was round. He had strangely shaped eyes with pupils that were a dull orange instead of black. Long gray hair hung down his back in a fat braid. He took in the scene with one glance. “What’s going on?”

  “This one attacked me for no reason,” the first Guard said.

  “You pointed your weapon at a member of royalty?”

  The first Guard’s gaze flicked to Mallen, then back to me. “But he’s a prisoner.”

  “That doesn’t negate his status.” Mallen bit out each word. “Holster your weapon and return to your station. I’ll handle this.”

  Hitching up his utility belt, the first Guard nodded and backed slowly away.

  I approached Mallen, and Juliet’s eyes widened in surprise when he gave a slight bow. “Did you have any trouble getting assigned the rotation?” I asked.

  “No, but your brother, King Ide—”

  “Don’t call him that. The thing that stole the throne from me is not my brother and sitting on the throne doesn’t make him a king.”

  I’d always known I would one day become the king. I’d long ago accepted the responsibility of the burden, even though at times, I hated having my life prearranged for me. Hated how it hovered over my childhood like a bad omen reminding me I wasn’t free to choose. Not free in any way at all.

  “Sir? Are you all right?” Mallen asked.

  “I’m fine.”

  Mallen pulled a folded piece of paper from his pocket and lowered his voice so it wouldn’t carry. “I wish I didn’t have to tell you this. I know how you feel about Juliet, but she’s your enemy.”

  I instantly rejected his words. “I won’t listen to anyone casting a slur on the girl I love.”

  “Here is the proof,” Mallen protested, trying to thrust the paper into my hands.

  “No.” I trusted Juliet. I wanted to spend the rest of my life loving her.

  Determined to convince me, he said, “The kingdom is at stake.”

  The kingdom. My duty to always protect it. How many times had I heard that? “Please, read it.”

  “No,” I said again and took the paper, crumpled it into a ball, and shoved it back at him, pinning it against his chest. “Choose your words carefully. Speaking ill of her will cost you your head. I love Juliet and when I take the throne, she will become my queen.”

  He seemed surprised by my vehemence. With a nervous twitch, he unfolded the paper, smoothing it out. “You would change your mind if you read this.”

  “I said no!” I forced myself to calm down, to push aside the disillusionment trying to take root, but it refused to go away. Hovering at the back of my mind, the question birthed to life. Was Juliet my enemy?

  Chapter 2

  JULIET

  I touched the swollen area on Stone’s face where he’d been struck. Ironically, it was on the same side as the long scar he’d received from a different Guard in the past.

  “I said no!”

  At his outburst, I looked over at Riley. I hadn’t seen the no-give expression on his face since the day he’d first come to my house to tell me it was my time to train to protect the leaders. His hands were clenched into fists. Whatever the Guard had said to him, he wasn’t a fan of it.

  The Guard’s body radiated his frustration. “If you cannot do what is best for the kingdom, perhaps you should not rule.”

  “Don’t ever question my right to the crown again.” Riley’s voice could have been cut from ice.

  The Guard’s shoulders stiffened. His jaw locked and his lips barely moved as he spoke. I thought I heard my name but couldn’t catch the rest of the conversation because Stone moaned again, drowning out his words. He blinked and sucked in a breath when I pressed gently on his cheekbone to make sure it wasn’t broken.

  “Ow.” He moved my hand. “What do you think they’re talking about?”

  “I don’t know.” Whatever it was didn’t sound too promising.

  “Man, I saw stars. My ears are still ringing.” He eased into a sitting position and touched the back of his head.

  “You shouldn’t have attacked the Guard,” I scolded, pushing his hand aside to feel the lump on his head.

  He gave me a cocky grin. “He deserved it. Besides, I wanted these.” Stone opened his hand to reveal the knife he’d taken from the Guard’s utility belt and a small flashlight.

  The shadow of the Guard Riley had talked to fell over us. Stone shoved the items he’d swiped out of sight, but the Guard shook his head. “Don’t bother.” He took two energy bars from the cargo pocket on the side of his uniform and dropped them into my lap. “It’s not much, but they’re all I have.”

  “Thank you,” I said, stunned by his actions. I’d never once known any of the Guards to be helpful.

  “I need to talk to you.” Riley crouched beside Stone. He sounded end-of-the-world serious. He sent a tight smile my way before he touched the side of my leg, running his hand up to the sensitive spot in the center of my back. “Alone, please.”

  “Sure.” Surprised, I scrambled to my feet and backed away. I couldn’t imagine what he had to say to Stone that couldn’t include me.

  “Juliet?” The Guard’s smile eased some of the severity of his features. “May I speak with you?”

  He stepped away from Riley and turned his back toward him. Up close, his skin had a yellow tinge to it. Beads of sweat formed above his upper lip. “I’m Mallen. I was the first Guard assigned to Riley’s protection detail when he was a child.” He gave a soft laugh. “Even then, he took his duties as a royal seriously.”

  I nodded, not understanding what the trip down memory lane had to do with me.

  The Guard stroked his chin. “He’ll make a fine king. He’ll rule with kindness, and our people will flourish once again.”

  “What does any of this have to do with me?”

  His orange pupils flashed a darker shade for a brief second. The congenial expression fled, taken over by one of dislike. “You know what.”

  I raised my eyebrow, not liking the way his words made my stomach do flips. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Your relationship with him is…intimate. Yes?”

  I wasn’t about to discuss my relationship with Riley. “That’s none of your business.” I started to walk away.

  “Please, Juliet.”

  I stopped and crossed my arms, turning back to give him a patient smile. “Look, if this has anything to do with his middle name being Romeo, let me save you the trouble. I’ve already been told the similarities between our relationship and the original Shakespearean tragedy. I don’t find humor in any of the jokes.”

  “This is no joke. I’m trying to warn you. For both your sakes. You’ll know the same agony, the same tragedy as Shakespeare’s Juliet if you attempt what I think you’re going to do.” His eyes narrowed. “Are you mentioned in the Untolds?”

  The word sent my fear into overdrive, and I clamped my teeth onto my lower lip to keep it from trembling. I had to fake him out, not let him see how much the word affected me. “The Untolds?” I put my hands on my hips, hoping the move hid their shaking.

  “Don’t pretend you don’t know anything about it. You do know, don’t you?” Suspicion coated every word.

  The fury in his voice made me pause and choose my words carefully. “What makes you ask that?”

  “I think you have a dark purpose in mind for Riley. Did you become his lover to carry out that purpose?”

  Never. Becoming Riley’s had taken me by surprise. Love had swept me away in its churning mass of emotions, in its highs and lows, and falling had simply happened. I could have said I was drawn to Riley, unable to deny him or myself. Knowing the Guard suspected my secret made me feel hunted. “I don’t like the accusati
on in your tone. My life isn’t your concern.”

  “Keeping Riley safe is my concern.”

  “Yeah? Well then how about you work on that safety by getting him and the rest of us out of here.”

  “Mock if you will. You hate that I know your secret.”

  I waved my hand, trying to stay on the offensive and act brave when inside I felt like a scared little girl not wanting to be alone in the dark. “Well, by all means, enlighten me. What is this secret you think you know?”

  His eyes blazed suddenly with anger, with disgust. “You’re a harbinger of death, a traitor as your father before you.” Nausea rose up in me. I deserved the label of traitor, I would earn it in the near future, but I wouldn’t stand here and listen to slurs against my father.

  “Get the hell away from me.” More fake bravado. Sound like a girl who never lets anything get to her instead of one who battles fear giants the size of mountains. I walked off, wishing I could dismiss my fears and my destiny as easily. But it was a foolish wish. Destiny never freed anyone from the life it chose for them.

  Mallen’s words played in my mind like an annoying song you can’t quit thinking about. Harbinger of death. I hated the term. Hated the way the scrolls described me. Hated the Untolds and the darkness emanating from them.

  I’d done everything I was supposed to do. Well, not everything. I’d only deviated from my life plan once, but it wasn’t deliberate. I didn’t think it was possible to fall in love with someone I hated, someone who was my enemy. I hadn’t kept my guard up. Too late, I’d learned it was possible.

  My heart belonged to me and then all of a sudden, it didn’t. I loved Riley and he loved me. I forced my mind to stop jumping to a foregone conclusion. Our story wasn’t going to play out like the original Romeo and Juliet. Nothing would come between us. I would figure out a way to save us both. Even if Riley discovered what I had to do, I hoped he would understand and we would be fine. I could handle what I needed to do. I was brave enough. How many times had I told myself those lies so I could sleep at night? I bit my thumbnail to the quick and winced. A habit I’d picked up since I’d learned about the Untolds.

  Mallen put his hand on Riley’s shoulder and spoke quietly in his ear for a few minutes. Riley tensed, his shoulders dropping as if resigned. When the Guard straightened, he sent a long I’m-watching-you look my way and disappeared into one of the darkened corridors.

  I shuddered. I wouldn’t put it past the old Guard to stick a knife in my back at the first opportunity.

  Riley glanced at me, his eyes enigmatic, but his lips curved into the familiar smile. His I’m-so-glad-I-have-you smile. How many more of those smiles will I get? I wanted to hold on to each one of them and lock them away inside me. If he did come to hate me, at least I would have the memory of when he did care.

  I smiled back. Can he sense what I’m thinking? Does my anxiety seep through my pores and give him a clue at what’s going on inside my head?

  “Help me get him up.” Riley stood on one side of Stone and me on the other. We lifted him to his feet.

  Stone swayed a little, looked over my shoulder, winced, and closed his eyes. I barely heard his soft groan.

  Concerned, I asked, “Did you stand up too soon?”

  “No.”

  “Juliet.” Riley pointed to the scattered bones behind us, the reason for Stone’s dismay.

  “Where’s Chloe’s body?” I asked softly.

  Stone pinched his lips together while he tucked the knife and flashlight into his pocket. Then he dipped his head toward the shadows a few feet away, clenching his teeth so hard I heard them grind together.

  “I’ll help you bury her,” Riley said. When Stone didn’t react, Riley added gently, “The creatures will pick up her scent and feed if we don’t. If you want me to, I’ll do it myself.”

  “No, I’ll help.” Stone drew in a deep breath, and the thunderstorm of emotions on his face transformed into nothingness. His eyes were blank as he went into soldier mode. Do what has to be done. No emotions. Feel it later. I knew the drill all too well.

  Riley picked up a rock with a sharp edge on one side. “It’s the best we have to work with.” He handed the fire-rock to me, brushing his fingers against mine. “Hold this to give us light.” I wanted to grab his hand and hold on so he would never slip away from me. When I squeezed my fingers against his, he gave me a quizzical look. I made myself let go of him and followed them to Chloe’s body. I sat near her, wishing I could tell her how much I’d valued her friendship. How much her short life mattered.

  In death, her pretty face was relaxed, all the worries of our world forever erased. I hoped wherever she was now that she was with the family she’d lost the day of the rebellion.

  Stone wouldn’t look at her as he started digging a hole using his bare hands. He moved on autopilot. Dig up the dirt. Place it beside his legs. Repeat.

  Memories of Chloe dancing and laughing with the mixed-blood children flashed in my mind’s eye. I would always miss her. I lowered my head and didn’t try to stop the tears. With each scrape of the rock against the dirt, I cried harder, saying a silent good-bye, promising myself her death wasn’t in vain.

  Once they finished digging the hole, Stone lifted Chloe’s body and carefully lowered her into the ground. He brushed his trembling fingers through her blond hair, then rocked back on his haunches to yank his hologram locket from around his neck.

  Each Supernatural could place a last speech in the locket. Whatever he wished to say to those left behind. Sometimes, it was instructions. Other times, it was a love note. Only a member of that Supernatural’s bloodline could open the locket. Stone was the last in his bloodline, and Chloe had been the last in hers. There would be no one to open their lockets. The thought saddened me.

  Stone let the necklace slide through his fingers, kissed the locket, and tucked it into Chloe’s hand. He kept his hand there and longingly spoke her name. Then he withdrew his hand and began to push the dirt into the hole.

  The thought hit me out of the blue. If I failed in what I had to do, I would be the one burying Riley. I pressed a hand against my stomach as it churned. Gritting my teeth, I kept the cry of agony locked inside, but I couldn’t prevent the claws of worry from digging at me. If Riley didn’t make it, I would be responsible for his death, and the guilt would weigh on me as surely as it did with Chloe’s.

  When they were done and Riley patted the last bit into the hole, Stone leaped up with a curse.

  He grabbed the fire-rock from me, nearly burning my hand in the process. Tossing the flashlight at my feet, he walked away.

  I started to go after him, but Riley stopped me. “Don’t. He needs to be alone.”

  I went to a large rock and sat on the end of it, dangling my feet over the edge. “It sucks,” I said with a sniff as I wiped at my eyes. Losing someone you loved left a hole that sympathetic words, distractions, and time never filled. I switched on the flashlight and shined it in the direction Stone had taken. I absently brushed away some dirt from the front of my shirt. “Do you think we wouldn’t have lost the people we love if our ancestors had never come to Earth?”

  “You can’t live in what-if land.” He shaded his eyes with his hand when I aimed the light at him.

  “Sorry.” I lowered it. Twisting the top of the flashlight back and forth, I asked with what I hoped was an air of casualness, “What was the conversation with Mallen about? You didn’t sound too happy.”

  He ran his hands down the sides of his jeans and gave me a reassuring smile. “It’s not important.”

  “If he’s a friend of yours, why can’t he get us out of here now?”

  “Ide knows I’m close to Mallen. The old Guard is being watched.”

  “Oh.” My stomach let out a loud, embarrassing growl. Tucking loose strands of hair behind my ear, I pressed a hand over my abdomen. Remembering the energy bars, I dug one of them out of my pocket. “Want some of this?”

  “Not hungry.”

  I tore the
wrapper and broke off a small piece, then carefully wrapped the rest of the bar and stuck it back into my pocket. “I never thought I’d be happy to see raisins in my life.”

  Knowing I hated raisins, Riley smiled, but it seemed off. Like something was on his mind. I told myself I imagined Riley’s withdrawal. My fears and doubts were conspiring to create issues where there weren’t any.

  Picking out one of the fatter raisins, I made a face and pitched it off to the side. “It’s funny how before I knew you, I believed the rumors you were cruel like your father. I remember thinking you were mean, but that was only when we had a mutual hate thing going on.”

  “I can’t imagine how I could have ever hated you.”

  He looked into my eyes and my pulse raced. I experienced the familiar falling sensation I always had when I thought about him. I’d traced the taut muscles on his abdomen and looked into his handsome face the night I’d become his. Now, looking into his translucent blue eyes had the same effect. I wanted to kiss him. Get closer and wrap myself up in him until nothing else mattered. I wanted to close out the world and all the heartache in it before everything fell apart. Before he hated me again.

  RILEY

  I drank in the beauty of Juliet. I had a hard time thinking clearly whenever I looked at her. My love and desire for her had a tendency to drown out everything else. Sometimes it amazed me how important she’d become to me. How the only thing that mattered was being with her. Seeing her smile. Holding her. I’d never imagined I would ever love as deeply as I did or that I would be loved as much in return. The way she looked at me, peeking at me from underneath her long eyelashes, pushed me to reach for her.

  She came willingly into my arms and rested her cheek against my chest. I breathed in the sweet scent of her. My girl was a paradox. Tough, powerful, often unyielding to the point of frustration. But on the inside, she was soft, needing my strength and willing to give for the safety of others. I stroked her hair, letting my hand travel down the length of her back and lower.

  Raising her head, her eyes dancing, she said, “Seriously?”