Reluctant Prince. Dani-Lyn Alexander

side and faced him, leaving Jackson alone to approach his father.

      King Maynard rose to his full height, close to seven feet. An intimidating man by nature, made even more so by the deep scowl lining his face.

      “Your Majesty, sir.” Jackson lowered to one knee, folded his hands over the other knee, and bowed his head in the traditional greeting for the king.

      “Stand.”

      Jackson stood. He would offer no explanation before one was demanded of him. He would show no weakness. A bead of sweat ran down his back. Well, there was nothing he could do about that. At least it wasn’t visible to the other two men. He would show no outward signs of distress.

      “Explain,” the king bellowed.

      Jackson jumped. So much for not showing weakness. “Sir.” Damn, damn, damn. Oh well, when in doubt go with honesty. “I have no excuse, sir.” He forced his head to remain high, his gaze to hold the king’s.

      The king’s scowl deepened. “Were you unable to find the girl?” His father’s gaze flicked to Kai before he returned his full scrutiny to his disobedient son.

      “No, sir. I found her.” Jackson finally gave in and swallowed the lump of fear. It was either that or gag on it.

      “Then where is she?”

      “I don’t know, sir.”

      “Are you being purposefully evasive?” Weaker men had wilted under the stare the old man pinned him with.

      Jackson held tight. He wasn’t sure exactly what was going on, but he had always trusted his instincts, and he would do so again now. He pulled his back even straighter, lifted his chin a little in defiance. “No, sir.” He met Kai’s frown of disapproval while he addressed his father. “Permission to speak with you in private, King Maynard?”

      “You know that’s not possible.”

      He still had to try. Acquiring the girl had been his final task before he would replace Kai as his father’s second in command. Since he would now be first in line to take over the throne, everything he did was monitored. “Yes, sir.” He took a deep breath. How to explain this. Okay. “I found the girl, sir, but I encountered a slight problem.”

      “What was that?” The king shifted, pacing the platform where two thrones sat side by side. The clink of his sword handle against the chainmail covering his tunic echoed in the high, domed ceiling.

      “I couldn’t take her, sir.”

      “Obviously, but why not.” He stopped and stilled the swinging sword. “Spit it out already, boy.”

      “I don’t exactly know, Your Majesty.” He finally lowered his gaze to the floor. “I saw her. She was cloaked in shadow and smoke, sheltering a younger child. Her eyes met mine, and they spoke to me. I can’t explain it, sir, but I don’t think this is the way.” How could he possibly explain the wave of feeling that surged over him at the sight of her to men who’d been without emotions for hundreds of years?

      “Permission to speak, sir.” Kai interrupted King Maynard’s silent contemplation.

      “Yes, Kai.”

      “With all due respect, Your Majesty, Jackson has proven himself not only to be weak, but disloyal as well. He was given a direct order, and he disobeyed it. It’s not as if something prevented him from completing his assigned task, he simply chose to ignore the directive of this kingdom. Unfortunately, his actions warrant the most severe penalty. It is my suggestion that he be condemned to death.” Kai clutched his staff in a two fisted grip.

      Ouch. Jackson flinched. That was a bit harsh, but not completely out of line. The punishment for disobeying a direct order was execution.

      “You will have to explain yourself further, Jackson.”

      “Sir.” Kai spat the word. “There is no excuse for disobedience. The ability to follow orders is one of the most fundamental qualities in a soldier. Without obedience he is useless to us. And what of loyalty? Has he none?”

      Jackson spared the warrior a glare, but what could he say? Kai was right. Their laws were quite clearly defined. Jackson disobeyed a direct order from the King. The penalty for his crime was exile or execution. There was no grey area. How was he going to worm his way out of this?

      “I understand that, Kai, and will take your argument into consideration, but one of the most fundamental qualities in a future king is the ability to make decisions. I would like to understand Jackson’s reasoning before condemning him.” His father’s tone left no room for argument.

      A small surge of satisfaction shot through Jackson.

      Kai snapped his mouth shut and settled the frown back into place.

      King Maynard returned his attention to Jackson, effectively dismissing his advisor. “Do you understand the position you are in?”

      “Yes, Father, I do.”

      “You were included in the council with the seer. He has foretold of the girl existing in this kingdom, has seen her surrounded by light. Are you questioning the prophecy?”

      Hmm. He hadn’t thought of that. “Perhaps I am. Is it possible Elijah was mistaken?”

      Kai huffed.

      King Maynard glared at him. “Send for Elijah.”

      Kai gritted his teeth, went to the door, and sent a guard to retrieve the seer.

      “Father, I’m sure this is not what’s meant to be. When I saw her, every instinct I had screamed at me not to take her. I respect your orders, and the visions of the prophet, but you’ve always taught me to respect my instincts as well.”

      His father fingered the small, jeweled sheath at his waist. The razor sharp dagger it held had been the death of more than one traitor. “We’ll see what Elijah has to say.”

      Jackson waited impatiently for the man who now controlled his destiny. Could he make them understand that force wasn’t always the way? They had lived in shadow for too long. Violence had become the answer to everything. Maybe it was time to change.

      “Your Majesty.” Elijah bowed in the traditional greeting. “Has something happened?” He turned his piercing, ice blue eyes on Jackson. “Was the girl not where I told you she’d be?”

      “She was there, sir.”

      “Did the earth not shake?” His delicate hand fluttered to his chest.

      “It shook. There was much destruction.”

      Being a powerful sorcerer, Elijah had sustained the tremors much longer than they’d intended. “Then where is the girl? Has something happened to her?”

      “No, sir.” He was tired of tiptoeing around. He squared his shoulders. “I mean no disrespect, Elijah.” He bowed his head in deference to the other man. “But is there any possibility you are mistaken about the girl?”

      Elijah stared at the crossed swords hanging on the wall behind the throne.

      The throne Jackson would one day ascend and rule the men who now held his fate in their hands. Unless he was executed.

      “No.”

      Damn!

      Kai smirked.

      “I have seen the girl, surrounded by light. There is no doubt she existed in Cymmera.”

      “Okay, then.” He had to think, had to buy himself time to make sense of this mess. “Is it possible she came willingly?”

      The prophet’s eyes widened. “I would have no way to know that, sir. I only know she will exist here, and she will return light to our kingdom.”

      A shred of hope bloomed within Jackson, and he reached for it desperately. “Perhaps that’s the problem. What of the young child she protected?”

      “I