Shadow Knights Read online

Reid opened the door, practically dragging him into a sitting room. A doorway on either side made her pause.

  “Left,” he murmured.

  She ushered him through the doorway, noting they’d entered his bedchamber. When he sagged against the bed, Reid hoisted his feet onto the mattress so he could stretch out.

  “I want to see.” She needed to make sure he didn’t have a wound serious enough to warrant disregarding his request not to send for a healer.

  Colbert peeled his shirt up, revealing a nasty red line near his rib cage. Thick blood oozed from it.

  “That’s a knife wound.”

  “How do you know?”

  She didn’t bother to answer. “It needs to be stitched.”

  “I had stitches. They must have broken when Finn jumped on me.”

  Hurrying to the bathing chamber, she searched around until she found a bucket. She filled it with water, then grabbed two towels. Rushing back to the bedchamber, she shoved one of the towels in the bucket and sat next to Colbert on the bed. Wringing out the wet cloth, she carefully cleaned around the wound, trying to better assess the situation. There weren’t any lines indicating an infection. “How deep is the wound?”

  “Deep.”

  As she suspected. “Has it been treated?”

  “Yes.”

  Now that she’d cleaned the area, she took the dry towel and pressed it against the wound, trying to stop the bleeding. “Since Finn caused the stitches to open, you should have another dose of medicine for infection.”

  He nodded.

  “And it needs to be stitched again.”

  He closed his eyes, clearly frustrated.

  “Tell me where I can find a healer.”

  Reaching out, he grabbed her hand. “I told you no one can know about this.”

  She opened her mouth to argue, but he squeezed her hand, silencing her.

  “Get Dexter. He’ll know what to do.” He opened his eyes, pleading with her.

  Not wanting to waste time arguing with him, she asked, “Where is he?”

  Face drawn in pain, he still managed to smirk. “Where do you think?”

  “The military compound?”

  “Correct. Look at you…already knowing so much about your fiancé.”

  If he could tease at a time like this, he should be okay while she retrieved Dexter. Reid squeezed his hand in reassurance before hurrying from the room.

  After exiting the palace, she sprinted across the lawn, past the lake, and to the building of offices Colbert had pointed out earlier. No one stood guard outside the main entrance, so she threw the door open and rushed inside.

  A man sitting behind a desk peered up at her.

  Before he had a chance to say anything, she blurted out, “I must speak with Commander Dexter. Immediately.”

  “He’s in the training yard running drills.”

  “Is it that way?” She pointed down the hallway straight ahead.

  “Jem,” he called.

  A young man stepped into the hallway. “Yes?”

  “Can you please escort…” The man glanced at her for a name. When she didn’t give him one, he continued, “Please escort this visitor to the training yard.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Reid followed Jem down the hallway. He shoved open a large door, revealing a training yard with fifty or so men and women running through a series of movements. Each person held a sword in his or her right hand. At the front of the group, a man dressed the same as everyone else—in gray pants and a matching gray tunic—led the drills. When he turned to the side, she realized it was Dexter.

  Jem stood next to the door. Seeing as how he wouldn’t be any help, Reid ignored him and headed directly to Dexter, stopping in front of him. “I’m sorry to interrupt,” she said nervously, low enough so only he could hear, “but there’s a situation with your brother that needs your immediate attention.”

  Dexter’s sword faltered, his eyes flashing with worry. It was the first time he’d looked human. “Captain!”

  From the front row, Gytha stepped forward.

  “Take over.” Without another word, he exited the training yard. In the hallway, he stopped. “What happened?” Concern etched his words.

  “His wound reopened.”

  Dexter cursed and then sprinted down the hallway, exiting the building. Reid took off after him. She trailed him across the lawn, wondering how someone so large could run so fast. By the time she entered the palace, he was no longer in sight. She headed up to the fourth floor to Colbert’s room. When she stepped inside, she found Dexter sitting on the edge of Colbert’s bed, examining the wound. Reid hovered in the doorway, watching the brothers.

  “I told you to take it easy,” Dexter said, his voice low.

  “I know. But I was feeling better. I just took Finn outside for a romp around the lake.”

  “How is the girl involved in this?”

  “Do you mean Lady Reid?”

  Dexter nodded curtly.

  “She’s not a girl—she’s a woman. And she’s your fiancée.”

  “Nothing has been announced yet.”

  “Don’t be daft,” Colbert said.

  “Just answer the question.”

  “We were walking together when Finn jumped on me.”

  “There’s too much blood.” Dexter pressed the towel against the wound. “Why were you walking with her?”

  “Reid is going to be my sister-in-law. I want to get to know her better. Besides, I find her interesting.”

  Dexter mumbled something Reid couldn’t hear.

  Not knowing if the princes were aware of her presence, she cleared her throat before stepping farther into the room. “How can I help?”

  “You can help by leaving,” Dexter snapped.

  “Be nice,” Colbert chided his brother.

  “I have to stitch this again.”

  “He also needs a salve applied to prevent infection,” Reid said.

  “Get out,” Dexter barked.

  She abruptly turned and went to the sitting room, plopping on one of the sofas. A moment later, Dexter left without sparing her a glance.

  “Lady Reid,” Colbert called.

  She rose and went into his bedchamber. “I assume Prince Dexter went to get supplies?”

  Colbert nodded. “He stitched me up the first time.”

  Not giving propriety a thought, Reid crawled onto the bed, settling beside him. Instead of saying that Dexter should have done a better job the first time, she asked, “Why don’t you want a healer to do it?”

  “Because no one can know I’m injured. I need you to promise you won’t say a word to anyone.”

  “I promise.” She couldn’t help but wonder who’d cut him and why. Was it a training accident he’d been too embarrassed to tell anyone about? Or had there been some sort of altercation? She eyed him, trying to envision the different scenarios.

  Dexter stomped into the bedchamber, pausing to glare at Reid before sitting on the chair. Scooting it closer, he opened a jar and scooped out a green gooey substance, gently spreading it over Colbert’s wound. “That will prevent infection and numb the area.” He put the lid back on the jar. “Try not to cry this time.”

  Reid studied Dexter’s face. The right side of his mouth curved into a half smile. He must be joking then.

  Finn sat next to the bed. After whining for a moment, he stood, preparing to jump on the mattress. Not wanting the dog to bounce on the bed as Dexter worked, Reid firmly told the dog to stay. Thankfully, Finn listened, curling up on the floor instead.

  With that crisis averted, she returned her attention to Dexter, who deftly threaded the needle with large, steady hands.

  “Look at me,” she said to Colbert, wanting to distract him. “Why don’t you tell me about yourself?”

  “What do you want to know?” He hissed as Dexter started sewing his skin together.

  Reid reached out, positioning Colbert’s face so he focused on her instead of what his brother was doing. “Are you
engaged?”

  He grunted. “No, definitely not.”

  “Colbert is too busy reading books to be bothered with women,” Dexter mumbled.

  “When I saw the sofa in your office had been turned into a makeshift bed, I assumed you were addicted to the written word.”

  “The library is my favorite place,” Colbert admitted. “That’s why my office is there.”

  While Dexter finished sewing his brother up, Reid continued to ask meaningless questions about his dog, his schooling, and his favorite books. Beads of sweat pooled on his forehead, so she took the wet towel and dabbed his face, trying to cool him off. He reached out and clutched her hand, squeezing it.

  “I’m done,” Dexter announced. “Take your shirt off and get some rest.”

  Leaning closer, Reid started unbuttoning Colbert’s shirt.

  “What are you doing?” Dexter demanded.

  “I’m helping him.” Obviously, they didn’t want his shirt to touch the wound and get stuck to it.

  “Get out.” Dexter pointed at the doorway. “Now.”

  “Are you always this rude?” she asked.

  “Are you always this inappropriate?” he countered.

  “This better not have anything to do with the fact that he’s a man and I’m a woman.” She climbed off the bed, putting her hands on her hips.

  “That’s exactly what it’s about.”

  “I was raised as a boy. I’ve seen plenty of men in my lifetime. And it’s not like I’m looking at your brother with lustful eyes. I’m simply trying to help him.”

  “You can’t see my brother half naked.”

  “Why not?”

  He ran his hands through his hair, muttering something unintelligible.

  “You’re insufferable,” Reid retorted, leaning over to help Colbert remove his shirt. When she finished, she folded and set it on the end of the bed. To Colbert, she said, “If you need anything else, please let me know.” She strode from the room, not acknowledging Dexter.

  About halfway down the hallway, she heard Dexter jogging after her. Refusing to confront him, Reid continued as if she didn’t know he was there.

  He grabbed her arm, halting her. “Wait.” When she faced him, he quickly released her. “I want your word you won’t mention this to anyone.”

  She was half tempted to say something nasty. However, she’d already promised Colbert she wouldn’t say anything. “I give you my word.”

  Instead of thanking her like a normal person, he simply nodded and went back into Colbert’s room.

  They weren’t even married yet, and their communication already left something to be desired.

  That evening at supper, Colbert was notably absent. Nara and Henrick sat at either end of the table while Reid and Dexter took their seats across from one another. A servant quickly removed the extra place setting. Once they finished serving the food, Henrick ordered all the servants out of the dining room.

  “Where is your brother and why won’t be he joining us?” Nara inquired.

  “I asked him not to come,” Dexter answered. “He happily agreed since he has a tremendous amount of work to do.”

  “Why don’t you want him here?” Nara asked.

  Dexter raised his eyebrows, giving his mother a how could you even be asking that question look. “Colbert doesn’t need to be here while we discuss my personal life.” He took a bite of his food, focusing on his plate.

  Reid wondered if he spoke the truth or was only covering for his brother’s absence.

  “Lady Reid,” Henrick said, capturing her attention.

  “Please, call me Reid.”

  “Reid,” he said, picking up his fork, “what has happened since the last time I saw you?”

  After taking a sip of water, she explained how she’d returned to Ellington in order to speak with her father before facing the king. “I was only home for a few days when the princes arrived to escort me to the king’s castle. Once there, I handed over the box. But when King Eldon opened it, the letters were gone.”

  Henrick paused mid-bite. “Gone?”

  She nodded. “I think Ackley may have taken them.”

  “Ackley?” Dexter asked, his sharp gaze snapping to her. “You mean Prince Ackley?”

  Reid mentally kicked herself for speaking so informally.

  Henrick rubbed his forehead. “I need to think about this.”

  “The king sequestered me to my room,” Reid continued. “Two weeks later, he summoned me to the throne room. There, he told me I was to marry Dexter. My father agreed to the king’s request in exchange for a pardon and his deed. King Eldon then ordered me to spy on you and to find the missing letters.”

  “Which is interesting because your father had already sent me a letter inquiring about a union between you and my son long before the king did.”

  “Really?” Reid recalled seeing her father send out a rider the same night the princes had arrived to return her to the king’s castle. Was that when her father sent a letter to Henrick about opening marriage negotiations?

  “I offered my son in marriage to a daughter of any of Marsden’s dukes to show I had no intention of going to war with northern Marsden. Your father accepted my proposal. Only, he didn’t want you to marry Dexter and live in Ellington. He insisted you come to Axian where you would be safe and out of the king’s clutches.”

  Dexter set his fork down. “Are you more than a spy for the king?”

  Although she felt her face warm at his implication, Reid glared at him. “No, of course not. My virtue is still intact.” Grabbing her goblet, she took a sip of water, trying to regain her composure. “Did no one else accept your offer?”

  “Actually, several of the dukes agreed.”

  “Then why did you choose me?” What made her more enticing than the other ladies?

  “Duke Ellington officially declared you his heir,” Henrick explained.

  “Me?” Reid asked, incredulous. Why hadn’t her father chosen his eldest daughter?

  “Nara and I spoke on the matter. We feel a union between you and Dexter is more advantageous.”

  The opportunity presented itself, so Reid took it. “Then I assume Dexter is your heir?”

  The room went unnaturally quiet.

  “The law is simple,” Henrick stated. “The heir is the firstborn male.”

  “Yet, my father chose me, a woman and the youngest of his five children, to be his,” Reid said. “No one knows Eldon is your son. Why allow him to inherit everything?” She raised her arms, the palms of her hands facing up to indicate not only the palace, but also the entire county. And it wasn’t like Henrick was a stickler for the law. He allowed women to own land, hold jobs, and dress however they wanted.

  “I often wonder the same thing,” Nara said, her voice quiet.

  “Eldon is my firstborn son,” Henrick reiterated.

  As he clutched his fork, Dexter’s knuckles turned white. Reid suspected he’d already had this conversation with his father multiple times. And nothing he’d said had made a difference. That meant Henrick was stubborn. A trait shared by father and son. Reid needed to handle the situation carefully. “I understand Eldon is your firstborn son. I take that to mean when you die, the knowledge will be made public to the kingdom and…what? Eldon will inherit Axian? How does that work?” She didn’t think a king could control a county. The dukes controlled the counties. The king oversaw the dukes.

  “Did you know, Lady Reid,” Nara said, “that Axian is where the king had always lived up until Hudson killed his father and took the throne?”

  While Reid had her suspicions, she hadn’t known it as fact. It made sense given the rich history of the city, buildings, and artwork.

  “We don’t have proof Hudson killed my father,” Henrick said, rubbing his bearded chin.

  “You were so determined to keep the peace, to honor your father’s legacy, that you let Hudson declare himself the rightful heir.” Nara folded her hands on her lap, watching her husband across the table.
“Did you honestly think he would rule for a bit, then realize he wasn’t cut out for the job? That he would suddenly understand you would be a better leader for our people?”

  “There’s more to it than that,” Henrick stated.

  “I don’t fully understand what happened,” Reid interjected. “Would you care to share it with me?”

  Henrick twisted his goblet around, seemingly lost in thought. Finally, he looked at Reid. “My brother, Hudson, was born two minutes before me. He assumed he would rule. However, he cared more for women and hunting than he did for politics. I studied under my father, learning everything I could. Not because I wanted to rule, but because I enjoyed the studies. When we turned eighteen, Father declared me as his heir. Hudson went into a fit of rage, swearing to destroy the City of Radella and everything my father held dear. Around that time, I’d made an offer of marriage to Lady Leigh. Our parents were in the middle of contract negotiations when my father fell ill quite unexpectedly and died. I was shocked and heartbroken. After Father’s death, my brother took control of the army. He declared he was going to marry Leigh instead. When my brother’s actions toward me began to seem threatening, Leigh begged me to leave the city—to hide on her friend’s estate. I complied, thinking it would give my brother time to calm down.”

  Reid had never heard any of this before. “But what of the dukes?”

  “Hudson produced evidence, signed by my father, that proclaimed him as the rightful heir. While I believe he forged it, I have no proof. He claims Father changed his mind on his deathbed. There were supposedly two witnesses, both men loyal to my brother.”

  “What happened then?” Reid asked.

  “Henrick came to my family’s land,” Nara said. “I was Leigh’s best friend, and I promised to protect Henrick.”

  “Months later, when it was announced Leigh was with child, Hudson declared he was leaving the City of Radella. He traveled north of the Gast River to the City of Buckley, where he had a new castle built. One with a large wall. Since his wife was with child, the dukes supported him. Hudson said I could remain in Axian so long as I never crossed the river, so I agreed and came out of hiding. I returned to the palace where I’ve been living peacefully since.”

  “Why do you think Hudson left?” Reid asked. Why hadn’t he stayed in Axian where the palace was far grander?