The Caged Kingdom by M A Price

Author:M A Price
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9781916096509
Publisher: 13 Worlds Press
Published: 2019-04-22T04:00:00+00:00

Thirty-Six - Jaxon

Jaxon tried to stand still but his legs wouldn't allow it.

He’d swallowed the last of the tonic Becca had eventually helped him make that morning, but he could already feel it wearing off.

The vision of Becca Youchnore and her face before she died refused to leave him.

He was waiting, by the side of the kitchens, letting the wind ruffle through his hair. It helped him think a little clearer. A note had come from Reyn just before lunch telling Jaxon to meet him here. He hadn’t heard anything else from him since he’d been dragged away in the Throne room, despite Jala trying to reach out.

He hadn’t had to watch Becca die or say goodbye.

Jala had wanted to come with him but he knew it would be a bad idea. Samiah was suspicious, asking too many questions about his movements. He knew she knew that Jala wasn’t remotely interested in men, but he also thought that logic wasn’t high on Samiah’s list of priorities right now.

He paced along the walkway slightly, not taking any time to look at the pond or gardens surrounding the kitchen entrance. It was a stupidly elaborate part of the grounds for somewhere he doubted anyone ever saw except for a few kitchen maids sneaking out for a smoke or a private moment with someone they wouldn’t want to be seen with.

He’d brought Arabella here once. She’d loved the different colours of the flowers. All the different native Brodannan creatures swimming in the pond. Would she be loyal to the Queen? Or wondering why she didn’t fall in line with what the King wanted?

He didn’t think he’d ever known her well enough to tell. At least she wasn’t acting the way Samiah was.

Such happiness at Becca's death.

“Evening air doing you any good?” He hadn’t heard Reyn approach, but he was behind him now. Another velvet doublet, his hair immaculate and untied.

“I’m not in the mood for jokes…”

“I know. It was a serious question. You look like hell. Tonic gone?”

“Finished it this morning.”

“Come to my quarters tomorrow evening. I’m sure my father can’t complain about me making friends with such a highly respected guard of his. We’ll invite Jala to really make it a party. Your attempt to make it yourself was piss-poor so you’ll need the help.”

Jaxon tried not to retort. He forgot how much the Prince’s smugness annoyed him, ally or not.

“You weren’t at the execution.”

Reyn looked down at the floor, at the carefully crafted stones, each with a ridiculous floral pattern. He doubted anyone without power could have made them.

The King had always relied on Users whilst claiming to hate them.

“Do you not think I tried? I wasn’t allowed anywhere. You can rest assured it was as embarrassing and as agonising for me as you can imagine.” He pursed his lips. Jax was still mad but he did believe him. He couldn’t forget the look of anguish as he’d been dragged from the room. “I liked that lady. A lot more than I like most people.

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