“Okay. Guide to what or where?”
King Alarick met Prince Bernd’s gaze. “Your guide to Espen Mountain.”
Prince Bernd’s face turned red, and his amber eyes flashed with fiery rage. Pissed off didn’t begin to cover it. I didn’t blame him. I would have felt the same if my king had just informed me my quest involved the mountain where my father died.
Chapter Three
PRINCE BERND
This couldn’t be happening.
I stood frozen, my heart in my throat restricting my ability to speak, breathe, do anything. The world seemed to spin on its axis, and I closed my eyes briefly to get my bearings. This wasn’t right. No way. I clenched my fists at my sides and willed myself to calm down. I couldn’t have heard what I thought I did.
“I’m sorry, but I must have misheard you,” I said through gritted teeth.
King Alarick didn’t so much as blink. “We both know you heard me just fine.”
“You son of a bitch!” I lunged forward, only to have my body seized, every limb numb and frozen to the spot. Jaw clenched tight, I glared at Lord Eldrich, who stood serenely beside the king, one hand held up. His magic paralyzed me, and as sweat beaded my brow from my attempt to break free, Lord Eldrich wasn’t the least bit fazed. He appeared almost… disappointed, as if I was at fault here.
“It’s all right, Jean. Release him.”
Lord Eldrich closed his fist, and I dropped to my knees. Saer grabbed hold of my arm to help me, and I pushed him away. “Don’t touch me,” I growled. Whoever the hell he was, he was a part of this. I swallowed around the lump in my throat and lifted my eyes to my king. “How could you?”
Sympathy filled King Alarick’s strange eyes, the swirling galaxies and stars mesmerizing, but not enough to dull the fierce pain coursing through me at this betrayal.
“A plague threatens your heart. The only way to save your heart is to find the cure. The ingredients can be found on Espen Mountain. I have entrusted your guide with the list of ingredients and instructions on creating the cure. Your quest is to save your heart, and therefore, your kingdom.”
I shook my head. None of that made sense. I was fine. I felt fine. “A plague? My heart? If there was a plague, I would know of it. Please, there must be another way. I’ll do anything—”
King Alarick stood. “I have spoken.” He stepped before me and crouched down, stroking his thumb across my cheek and wiping away the tear that rolled down. “I’m sorry.” His words were barely above a whisper.
I met his gaze and spoke through my teeth. “I will never forgive you for this.”
King Alarick let out a heavy sigh and nodded before standing. “Come, Jean. Time to go.”
Closing my eyes, I slumped in defeat. It was done.
“Young prince?”
I sighed and lifted my head, my eyes on Lord Eldrich’s face. Even with the bandage around his eyes and knowing he couldn’t see me, I felt the intensity of his stare.
“I know it doesn’t seem like it at the moment, but he really does have your best interest at heart. He loves you, as he does all his children.”
“If he did, he wouldn’t ask this of me,” I spat out, my heart splintering. I hadn’t expected my quest to be a walk in the park, but I never imagined this.
With a nod and a pat to my shoulder, Lord Eldrich left.
This couldn’t be happening. A few spoken words and my life was in shambles. There was no way I couldn’t fulfill my quest. If I didn’t do this and succeed, I would forfeit my crown, and I had my family to think about. My family… Oh Goddess. How was I going to tell them?
I had no idea how long I knelt there on the floor, attempting to come to grips with the quest I was about to embark on. Deep down, I’d known this day would come. Not my quest, but the day I was forced to face what happened. To ascend that forsaken damnable mountain. If I could annihilate it, I would.
Enough brooding. Time to be the prince everyone believed me to be. I stood and realized I wasn’t alone. “You!”
Saer’s eyes widened, and he let out a squeak when I grabbed him, lifted him off his feet, and slammed him against the bookshelf. I ignored his cry, ignored the little voice telling me off for being such a brute, for knowing better. I could easily break the smaller shifter in half. He was no match for my size and strength. I wanted answers, and I was going to get them.
“What do you have to do with this?” I demanded. “And I suggest you think twice about lying to me, or I will have you arrested for treason.”
“I would never lie to you, I swear! I was summoned to King Alarick’s palace. He told me you were about to be sent on your quest and I was to be your guide. He gave me a list of items, saying I would understand when the time came. Then he said your fate and the fate of your kingdom rested on my shoulders.”
“What did he mean by that? And what does it have to do with this plague and my heart?”
Saer shook his head fervently. “I don’t know! I just know he was serious.”
“Why the hell would he entrust such an important task to you. You’re not a bear. You’re small and clearly not a warrior.”
Hurt came into his big hazel-green eyes. “I know,” he murmured quietly. He swallowed hard, but when he met my gaze, I hadn’t expected the resolve in them. “I might not be a bear shifter or a warrior, but I swore to our king that I would do everything in my power to help you succeed, and I’m making that promise to you right here. I will help you succeed in your quest.”
“Why?” I growled. Why did he care? “Don’t you have your own prince to pester?”
He flinched and averted his gaze.
“What?” As far as I knew, the coyote shifter prince was alive and well. “Explain.”
“We should get ready for your quest.”
“While you’re in my kingdom, you obey my orders.”
His eyes grew glassy, and he shook his head. “Please, Your Highness.”
I faltered. Briefly. What was he hiding? “Tell me,” I ordered.
“I was banished.”
I stared at him. “What?”
Saer sighed, a weary sigh that seemed to go down to his bones. The heartache in his eyes was so palpable I found myself placing him gently back on his feet. It struck me then. “You were in love with him.”
“He loved me too.”
I didn’t understand, and my expression must have said as much.
“His mother was ruler at the time. She found out. It wasn’t what she wanted for him, and I didn’t blame her. I have no title, no wealth, no magic. I’m… nobody. So she had me banished.”
“And?”
Saer lifted his gaze to mine, confusion in his bright eyes. “And what?”
I sucked in a sharp breath as realization dawned. “He allowed it. He didn’t fight for you? What kind of love is that?”
Saer rounded his shoulders and straightened to his full height, not the least bit intimidating, what with that mop of fluffy honey-colored curls on his head and his boyish features. “He was about to be crowned prince. He had a duty to his people. You, better than anyone, should understand that.”