The Kingdom Chronicles Box Set 1 Read online

  Aiden paused in front of a marble fountain in the shape of a majestic dragon, water spewing from its mouth. “Alastar has told me you’ve been searching for secret passageways. You yourself once asked me if I knew of the one that leads to the Forest.”

  “Are you about to share the secret?”

  “I trust you won’t tell.” He winked before releasing me and hopping onto the rim of the fountain, where he pressed the dragon’s eye. The fountain rumbled before shifting a few feet to reveal a staircase descending belowground. I gaped at it.

  “Amazing. There really are secret passageways.”

  “I’d once hoped we could explore them together, but…” Sadness filled his voice, reminding me that it wasn’t just passageways we wouldn’t explore; our separation would also prevent a lifetime of wonderful memories. My heart twisted at the thought.

  Aiden rested his hand on my lower back to guide me down into the dark passageway. As we reached the bottom step, the fountain above us shifted and slowly slid back into place. It closed with a resonating thud, swallowing us up in darkness.

  I shivered and Aiden soothingly rubbed my arms. “Come, let’s take you home, where you’ll be safe.”

  Calm enveloped me. Unlike when he’d first spoken those words earlier, this time I believed them.

  Despite the smothering darkness surrounding us, Aiden found his way easily, as if he’d traversed this route many times. I clung to his hand and trusted in each step he took. The passage wasn’t long, and soon the ground began to slope upward. At the top, Aiden pushed a hidden knob embedded into the stone wall. The ceiling shifted and opened up to the sunset-shrouded sky and the familiar trees of the Forest towering over us, my old friends.

  Stepping into the Forest again felt like being granted breath; it bathed my senses in the scent of pine and earth, the sound of the swaying branches, and the feeling of coming home. The trees opened in invitation for us to step inside, where a single path awaited us.

  Aiden led me down this twisting path. I glanced behind me and watched the trees rearrange themselves to not only swallow it up but mask the palace from view. A strange sense of loss filled me to no longer see it.

  The last time I’d been in the woods, I’d been wandering lost in the storm before the pathways finally guided me to the palace. Now that I was leaving it behind, I realized that the Forest had taken me to a destination far different than I’d imagined: not to the palace, not to the Princess Competition, but to Aiden, and with him the experiences that had forever changed me. It was only by trusting the Forest’s ever-changing paths, despite not knowing where they were leading me, that I’d experienced such a remarkable journey.

  We walked deeper through the trees, but I no longer noticed the gorgeous colors and scenery, conscious only of Aiden’s presence beside me. He was here. No matter how many times I pushed him away, he kept returning. I knew he always would.

  True love wasn’t about two perfect people living a happily ever after—it was two imperfect people doing their best; it was about forgiveness and second chances, about helping one another grow into their better selves.

  Despite Aiden’s imperfections and the moments he’d hurt me, there had been far more moments of joy, ones I could no longer imagine being without.

  He helped me over a log, the heat of his touch lingering around my waist. I rested my hands on his shoulders and stared into his dark eyes, full of sweet concern. “Will you be happy, my Eileen?”

  How could I? Now that I’d met Aiden nothing would ever be the same. I could never return to the way things were before, especially after experiencing the feelings I felt for him. I could never forget them, forget him. I loved him, and if I allowed my old fears to overcome me once more and push him away, I’d always regret losing him.

  Aiden cradled my cheek, his riveted gaze adoring. “Will you be happy, Eileen?” he repeated.

  His expression was so earnest. I leaned against his hand, basking in all I felt for him. I loved him; I loved being with him; he made me happy. My life would never be the same without him, not after he’d broken down all my defenses and stolen every piece of my heart.

  “Will you?” I asked him.

  “I can be content if you’re happy. You couldn’t find it with me, so I’m hoping that letting you go will allow you to find what you’re looking for.”

  How could he not understand that he was what I’d been searching for? My heart had known it, but I’d repeatedly ignored its gentle urgings with every bump in our journey together. No longer. My path was not to return to my life in Arador, but to move forward with Aiden, wherever that would lead us.

  I took a wavering breath and stepped closer, bridging the distance between to cradle his face.

  “I love you, Aiden. I gave you my heart, and no matter what happens, it can never be taken back. It’s always been yours and it always will be. I don’t want to go back home, I only want to be with you. I just need Mother to know I’m alright before we can begin our new life together.”

  He embraced me. “Oh Eileen, there’s nothing I’ve ever wanted more than you. Please forgive me for fighting for you in all the wrong ways.”

  “Of course I do, if you’ll forgive me in return.” I stood on tiptoe to kiss him, but to my surprise he pulled away, his expression pained.

  “Wait, Eileen. There’s something I need to tell you before we can finally be together, those secrets I’ve been hiding from you that I can’t keep any longer. I hope you’ll still want me after I share them.”

  I clung to him, desperate to keep him close. “I’ll always want you.” After the long, exhausting journey to come to that realization, it was one I’d never forget.

  “First I have a riddle for you.”

  I gave a half laugh, half sob. “Another riddle?”

  “The last one, I promise.” He cradled my face, his expression grave. “What’s my real name?”

  I wrinkled my brow. “Your real name?”

  Before I even had time to try and decipher what his strange question meant, the sound of pounding footsteps and crashing branches interrupted us. Aiden’s brow furrowed as he glanced behind me. He stiffened and in one move he’d drawn his sword and yanked me behind him, just as an entourage of royal soldiers stepped into view, surrounding us with raised swords, their piercing gazes focused intently on me.

  Fear seized me in a tight grip. It had finally happened: I’d been caught.

  Chapter 24

  My heart pounded as I stared at the surrounding soldiers, encircling us like a noose with their sharp swords. I pressed myself closer to Aiden, his warmth the only thing keeping my escalating panic from completely overcoming me. Why hadn’t the Forest protected us? I suppose even its love for us couldn’t override its allegiance to the king.

  “Lower your swords.” Aiden’s words were clipped and full of authority.

  The soldiers obeyed him, lowering their weapons but not sheathing them. I blinked, surprised at the ease with which Aiden had been obeyed.

  “What’s the meaning of this, General Duncan?” Aiden demanded, his expression fierce.

  A dark-haired soldier stepped forward and bowed. “Forgive us, Your Highness, but we’re under orders from His Majesty.”

  “Your Highness!?” Shock pierced my suffocating fear. The soldiers and swords faded from my awareness as this shock eclipsed me. I gaped at Aiden in utter disbelief. He couldn’t be…he was just a nobleman. He would have told me…why hadn’t he told me? “You’re a prince? Of which kingdom?”

  Aiden’s face twisted with guilt as slowly he met my gaze. “I’m so sorry,” he whispered, his hold tightening around my hand. “This was the secret I wrongly kept from you. Believe me when I say that I wanted to tell you so many times.”

  His attention snapped back to the soldiers, a problem more pressing than the shock and confusion raging within me at this revelation that Aiden was a prince.

  “You’re not to touch Eileen,” Aiden said. “That’s an order.”

  “A
pologies, Your Highness, but His Majesty’s command overrules even yours.”

  Aiden scooted farther in front of me, placing himself as a protective shield between General Duncan and me. “I don’t care. I refuse to stand aside and let you take her.”

  General Duncan’s stance didn’t falter as he took in Aiden’s defense and our intertwined hands. “I’m sorry, Your Highness, but I’m under orders to bring her before His Majesty.”

  The regality cloaking Aiden melted away as he crumpled in defeat, his eyes full of so many apologies when he turned and cupped my face to press his forehead against mine. “Eileen.”

  My whimper escaped as I nestled myself closer, needing to feel the security and assurance that only came from him. “What’s going to happen to me?” I stuttered.

  Aiden pulled me aside to give us a small bit of privacy. “Nothing, darling. Everything will be alright. Trust me.”

  Despite the promise of his words, fear filled his voice. His gaze caressed my face, as if committing my features to memory in case this was the last time we saw one another.

  I clung to him more tightly, desperate for him to remain with me. I’d fought too long and hard for him, for us, only to lose him now. How ironic that the Forest that had brought us together would now become the place where we were torn apart.

  “Don’t leave me,” I pleaded.

  “I’m so sorry, I have no choice. I need to go ahead and explain everything, but first there’s something I need to tell you.” His gaze penetrated mine. “I’m not just a prince; I’m the Crown Prince of Sortileya, Prince Deidric.”

  My breath hitched at this second startling revelation. “What?” But his name was Aiden, not Deidric.

  “I should have told you before now; I tried to before but…I could never find the right words to—this wasn’t how I wanted to do it.” He ran his fingers through my hair, his touch soothing. “I promise to explain everything, but first I need to talk to my father. I’m so sorry for the mess I’ve entangled you in, but I swear I’ll get you out of it.”

  I wanted to be angry for his secrets, but I now trusted him enough to believe there must have been a reason for them. I had many questions, but now wasn’t the time. I stroked his face and he leaned against my touch, clearly relieved at my acceptance and forgiveness.

  He leaned down to kiss me but hesitated, as if afraid that my learning his true identity would change everything between us. And perhaps it would have if the old Eileen had discovered the truth. But I was not that Eileen anymore. I no longer feared falling in love, but of losing it—of losing him.

  I stood on tiptoe to meet his kiss—one light, soft, and full of tenderness. I kissed not the Dark Prince but Aiden, the man I’d fallen in love with, and in that kiss I realized I trusted him completely. No matter what happened, we’d always remain together.

  Aiden stared longingly at me after we broke apart before he turned to the surrounding soldiers. The hardness I used to fear filled Aiden’s expression as his regality returned.

  His sharp glare took in every soldier. “No harm is to befall Eileen. She is your future queen and will be treated with respect. Do I make myself clear?”

  Future queen? Me? The panic filling my chest escalated.

  General Duncan bowed. “Understood, Your Highness. Our instructions were only to bring her to the king. Rest assured no harm will come to her. You have my word.”

  Aiden stroked my cheek with his thumb before reluctantly releasing me and stepping back, pain filling his eyes as if he’d just severed himself from his heart.

  I scrambled for his hand, the panic his presence had managed to quell rising again as he pulled away. “Don’t leave me.”

  He gave my hand a reassuring squeeze. “It’ll be alright. I’ll go ahead to explain everything to my father. I promise to protect you.”

  I searched his dark eyes and slowly managed to loosen my vise-like grip. “I trust you.”

  He turned to Duncan. “Remember my orders. You’re not to touch her.” He kissed my cheek before he disappeared down a path that had opened up, a shortcut that the Forest immediately sealed off behind him.

  Fear clenched my heart as General Duncan and his accompanying soldiers, swords now sheathed, escorted me down a trail that twisted towards the palace I’d just escaped from. My shock pressed against me with each step as I struggled to process Aiden’s true identity. This entire time, he’d been the Dark Prince Deidric? All the unexplained riddles fell into place—why Aiden had enrolled me in the competition for Prince Deidric’s hand, why Aiden had never been present at court during the tasks, why he had been assisting me so I would win…

  I was still tempted to be resentful of his actions, but I wouldn’t make the mistake of allowing my pain and bitterness to think the worst of him…like I’d done with Father for all these years. As I thought over all our interactions, I realized that while he’d withheld his true identity from me, he hadn’t actually lied. Because I now trusted him, I could trust that he’d had a reason to do so.

  We entered the palace. Except for an occasional footman, the marble hallways were abandoned. Murmurs and music drifted from the ballroom down the corridor where the final task was taking place. I ached to escape back to the Forest or even to the ball—anywhere rather than being forced to confront the formidable king.

  The sound of laughter and music faded as General Duncan led me down an opposite hallway. My pulse palpitated with each step and skittered to a stop when he guided me not to the throne room but to a gloomy stone stairwell. I’d only descended a few steps when I realized where this twisting stairway led.

  My breath hitched and I froze, thawing only enough to turn to General Duncan with wide eyes. “Where are you taking me?” I could barely speak through the fear clogging my throat.

  Regret filled his rigid expression. “Forgive me, but His Majesty has ordered you to be taken to the dungeon.”

  “But you told Aiden you were to bring me to the king,” I stuttered.

  General Duncan lowered his eyes. “His Majesty knew His Highness would fight us on the issue if he knew where we’d been ordered to take you.”

  I ached to protest, but terror had stolen my voice. His hand pressed against my back, urging me to continue, but my limbs were frozen. He urged me more forcefully, compelling me to shakily move.

  I trembled with each step I ventured into the dank darkness, the only light coming from the flickering sconces lining the walls. Cold seeped over me the further we descended, magnifying the icy terror tightening my chest. This was a realization of my worst fear ever since becoming entangled in Aiden’s Princess Competition, and I was powerless to stop it.

  The pungent odor of decay overwhelmed my senses as we stepped deep inside the dungeon. General Duncan fumbled with some keys before opening a cell with an ominous creak. He motioned for me to step inside, but I didn’t move.

  No. I refused to be forced into a cell like a common criminal. My entire life I’d allowed outside influences to guide my choices—whether it was my own insecurities that had led me to believe my father had abandoned me, taking whatever path the Forest chose for me, or my own inability to escape the Princess Competition.

  It was time to take control. Though the dozen surrounding guards made escape impossible, I did have several weapons at my disposal.

  I turned to General Duncan. “His Majesty may have given orders for me to be sent to the dungeon, but His Highness Crown Prince Deidric gave no such command and instead ordered you to treat me with respect.”

  “Forgive me, but the king’s orders trump the crown prince’s.” He appeared truly regretful.

  I bit my lip. I knew enough about royal law to know he was unfortunately correct. I struggled to think through the panic scrambling my thoughts. My mind drifted back to the night Aiden had tutored me in royal knowledge. We’d spent a good portion of our time going over laws and royal protocol in a variety of situations…including in regards to those accused of a crime.

  I took a steadying br
eath. A true princess is confident. I drew myself up and met General Duncan’s gaze evenly.

  “That may be true, but I’m here as a princess representing the royal family of Malvagaria, and I expect to be treated with dignity and respect. Regardless of whether or not you believe I’m an imposter, according to the law established by King Fergus II, my royal status grants me the right to face my accuser and address his charge myself. You will take me to His Majesty immediately and allow me to plead my case.” I lifted my chin in the regal manner Aiden had taught me, daring him to disobey me.

  General Duncan studied me for a moment, his expression stoic but his eyes shining with clear approval. He bowed. “Certainly, Your Highness. It will be my pleasure.”

  I quickly masked my astonishment at having him concede so easily before I followed General Duncan back up the winding steps, the light growing brighter with each turn on the staircase.

  General Duncan didn’t speak until we’d reached the landing. “If I might be so bold as to say, I believe Prince Deidric has chosen well for himself.”

  My heart danced in excitement, but I simply nodded in acknowledgement. He didn’t speak again as he and his soldiers escorted me down several corridors, whose elegance and brightness were a welcome reprieve after my brief sojourn in the dank stone dungeon. He paused outside a guarded door.

  “General Duncan to see His Majesty,” he informed the guards. One of them opened the door wide enough for us to enter.

  I stepped into the vast, gilded throne room. Inside, the stern king sat on a gold throne encrusted with jewels, surrounded by guards and his closest advisors, all watching me with sharp intensity. Princess Seren stood beside him with a cold smirk, while on his other side…

  Sweet relief washed over me to see my Aiden. Worry twisted his expression, but his eyes were adoring. He reached me in only a few strides and wrapped me in the security of his tender embrace.