Chapter 19

I stormed into Drake looking for Kailen. There was definitely a major party going on. People were playing music and dancing, some were off to one side talking. There was even a large feast spread out on a long table.

I scanned the crowd for Kailen. It was difficult to pick him out of the massive crowd that had assembled.

I finally spotted him behind the food table talking to a couple of men. One looked a lot like him. It must have been one of his brothers. He had the same dark hair and hazel eyes. Even his wings were similar with varying shades of green and blue.

I had to push people out of my way as I moved across the crowded floor. I was nearly to him when he looked up and saw that I was there. His eyes grew as big as saucers.

“Callie!” He gasped.

“You and I have a lot of talking to do.” I eyed him sternly.

“There is nothing left for me to say.” He put down his drink.

“Do you want me to cause a scene or should we go somewhere a little more private?” I asked gesturing to the crowd.

“What’s going on Kailen?” His brother asked looking alarmed.

He looked at him for a long moment. “Nothing, I’ll be right back.”

He grabbed me by the arm and led me to a small wooden house a short distance away that I recognized as his.

“What are you doing here, Callie?”

“That’s just what I was about to ask you.” I said crossing my arms over my chest.

“I told you that I was coming back here. You watched me leave.” He sounded frustrated.

“You said that you were coming back to prepare everyone for a war. It looks to me like you had no intention of doing anything like that. In fact it looks like you are having a grand ole time.” I yelled.

“So you followed me here to check up on what I was doing? That is ridiculous Callie!”

“That is not why I am here, but I can see now that maybe I should have followed you. What are you up to, Kailen? And why did you keep the fact that Brokk was here from me?”

“I didn’t think that it was relevant.” He waved my question off.

“You did not think that it was relevant for me to know that the man who kidnapped me, and then chased me in these tunnels was your new next door neighbor?” I fought to control my temper. “Were you jealous? Were you afraid that I would run into his arms, forgetting everything he had done to me?

“I was not jealous!” He yelled. “I just did not see why it would be of any importance to you!”

“You didn’t think that it was important for me to know that you took in one of enemies like a lost puppy? You didn’t think I deserved to know?”

“Callie, this is stupid. None of this matters. Just go back to the cavern where you belong.” He started to get up.

“Where I belong? Where you have me hidden away like some forgotten umbrella? How dare you tell me where I should go! You have done nothing but lie and deceive me since I met you. You have no right to speak to me this way!”

“What lies have I told you Callie? How have I deceived you? Do you mean that kiss? I already told you, that was a mistake!”

“You kissed him?” I heard someone say quietly from somewhere behind me. I turned to see Brokk standing just outside of the door. He looked as if I had just dealt him a heavy blow.

“This is none of your business!” Kailen yelled.

Brokk ignored him and turned back to me. “Callie, are you okay?” He asked softly.

I nodded my head, but it was Kailen who answered for me. “She is just fine! Now why don’t you get out of here and mind your own business!”

“Callie is my business Kailen, and I am not going anywhere until SHE asks me to!” He yelled back.

I turned back to see that Kailen had turned three shades of red. If I didn’t know any better, I would say that smoke might start pouring out of his butt at any minute.

Kailen turned to me and I could tell that he was struggling to get his temper under control.

“Why don’t you tell her the truth now, Kailen.” Brokk said quietly.

Kailen just stared at me. I watched as he slowed his breathing and regained his composure completely.

When I was sure that he had calmed down, I asked my questions again. “Did your parents deceive my family so that Lilith could take over the throne?”

“Yes.” He said. It was barely audible but I heard him anyway.

“What did you have to gain by leading me to the cavern and then leaving me there?”

“I thought you could live out your life there. I thought that you would be satisfied to live there, and maybe even start your own kingdom. Then you could leave Petrona and Drake in peace.” He said.

“It was you who pushed me to want to be queen.” This was all so confusing. “I never wanted that.”

“I was only trying to appeal to you. I knew that you didn’t want it, and I was counting on your fear of Lilith to keep you away. I mentioned the title to you a few times so that you wouldn’t suspect what I was up to but I never planned to let you try to take over as queen.” He said.

“I guess your little plan backfired on you, didn’t it.”

“We just want to be left in peace. I knew that you would cause trouble the first day that I saw you. You brought the royal guards here. They were chasing you and in doing so, they found us. There has been nothing but trouble since that day. Our village has been ransacked. They steal our money, our belongings, anything they can get their hands on to cover their stupid tax! Another war would be devastating to us! Can’t you see that Callie?” He pleaded. “You have already cost us enough! You need to go back to the cave and stay there!”

“I never intended to cause anyone harm and you know that. I was just scared and hurt. I had just found out that my parents had been murdered. You led me out into the tunnels and you just planned on leaving me out there, defenseless. That is why you were so angry when you saw me trying to fly. You didn’t want me to be able to take care of myself. You never intended on staying. You were just going to leave me there for Tuck to take care of. You were just trying to get rid of me!”

“I thought that you would be satisfied to start your own kingdom. That is why I brought the others when they wanted to come. You could still be a queen. You could still have your own kingdom, and you could leave us in peace.” He said getting firm again.

“You have really underestimated me, Kailen.” I drew back my fist and landed a solid blow directly to the middle of his face. He fell backward over his small couch and landed onto his back on the floor. A trickle of blood ran from his nose.

“That’s for making me waste my first kiss on a low life like you!”

I stormed out of his house and pushed my way through the crowd. I glanced up just long enough to see Kailen’s brother watching me, then he quickly turned and headed for the shack. I kept going. I didn’t stop until I was back in the tunnel.

Brokk was at my heels the entire way. He really was like a little lost puppy.

“What happen, Callie?” Jenna asked as soon as I stepped back into the cave.

“She beat the hell out of him!” Brokk answered.

“I was not talking to you, Dog!” She yelled and turned back to me.

“Brokk was right. He was lying about everything. He never intended on helping me get rid of Lilith. In fact it would have suited him just fine if I never would have made it back out of the tunnels.” I explained as tears started to burn my eyes.

Jenna wrapped me in a strong hug and I fought to keep my tears from spilling over.

“I think that he would have been happy if I had been killed right along with my parents. I can’t help but wonder about the time when I fell into the river or when I was being attacked by Sty and Sully. It was always Tuck who rescued me.”

We all looked up at Tuck then.

“I don’t know. That day on the river, he just climbed across the shallow end. He never really got in any hurry. I had to scramble to find some way to get you out. I can’t imagine that he would have just let you drown, but he didn’t really make any attempt to save you either.”

“He never bothered to check on me the day that Sty and Sully found me either. If it hadn’t been for you, who knows what might have happened to me.”

I could feel my anger beginning to boil. How could I not have realized any of this sooner. Now that I looked back on everything, it was always Tuck coming to my rescue. Kailen never did anything. Even before we met Tuck, I fought Brokk by myself while he hid in the passage. He had never even once tried to defend me.

“He is definitely not who we thought that he was, that much is for sure.” Jenna said.

“What’s our plan now?” Tuck asked.

“Kick some royal butt, of course.” I said with a grin.

“What should we do with him?” Jenna asked, nodding toward Brokk.

“I have already lost Callie once. Actually twice, but I am not about to lose her again.” Brokk said in a growl.

I really had no idea what to do with him. The only people that I truly trusted at that point were Tuck and Jenna. Everyone else has betrayed me in some way, including Brokk.

“You guys really need to stop arguing.” I said to Jenna and Brokk as I gave each of them a long stare.

“If we just let Brokk go off on his own there is no telling what he might do. I can not have him going off to warn Lilith or the Guard about our plan.” Jenna and Tuck nodded in agreement.

“I would never do that Callie!” Brokk yelled.

“You have already betrayed me once Brokk!”

“Callie, you know that I didn’t have any choice. If I would have refused to turn you over to Lilith, I would be dead and she would have just sent someone else after you.” He was starting to sound desperate.

“Okay, Brokk. I get it.” I starting to feel really exasperated with him.

He was always so much sexier when I thought he was a bad boy. This puppy love coddling business was really starting to get on my nerves.

“I could take care of him for you, Callie.” Tuck said with a grin as ran his fingers close to the edge of his sword.

I saw Brokk flinch and I had to hide my amusement.

“Okay guys. Really, that’s enough.”

I really did need to grip on these three before their fighting drove me insane.

“Brokk, you can stick with us. But if for one second I suspect that you are not on my side in this, I will let Tuck and his little friend take care of you.” I said glancing back at the blade.

We all laughed. Well, except for Brokk of course.