Cage of Destiny: Reign of Secrets, Book 3 by Jennifer Anne Davis (1)

Allyssa stood in the middle of the cramped space. She couldn’t believe this was her twin brother’s room. A neatly made bed took up one corner, a desk across from it, and a single dresser stood in the middle of the remaining wall. Simple. Utilitarian. Her chest tightened. Her brother had grown up in this small house while she lived in the opulence of the castle with their mother and father.

Going over to his desk—Savenek’s desk—she sat on the chair. He’d sat in this very place. Running a hand over the wood surface, she felt the grains, hoping, wishing, she could find a piece of her brother. What type of person was he? Did they look alike? Three quills lay in the upper right-hand corner, all lined up and parallel to one another. A stack of papers was piled on the left side, not a single piece out of place.

Blasted. He was a neat, orderly bloke. What would he think of her messy bedchamber? Twisting around, she scanned his room again. It smelled of smoked wood—unfamiliar yet comforting at the same time. On top of his dresser were a handful of carved figurines. Allyssa went over to take a closer look. They were horses. She wiped her tears away. Savenek had carved each of these animals in such intricate detail. Did he love horses as much as their mother did? She clutched one of them, holding onto it tightly. He’d made this with his own hands.

“Allyssa?” Neco said as he came into the room.

She turned to face her father’s best friend. “I want to meet him.” She couldn’t believe her twin brother was alive. How could her parents have kept this vital information from her for so long?

“I know. But for now, you will remain here with Nathenek. I’m going to report to your parents and let them know you’re safe.” He placed his hands on her shoulders. “Stay here until I return. Use this time to heal and think about your mother’s proposition.”

“You’re going to leave me with a stranger?” She wanted a familiar face, not a man she had no connection to. Not after everything that had happened. Her body shuddered. So much pain. She clutched the figurine, trying to stay grounded in the present. Maybe her sleep wouldn’t be plagued with nightmares tonight.

“Nathenek is not a stranger to your family. He is close with your mother and was instrumental in restoring her to the throne. He killed Hamen and kept Rema safe. She trusts him so much she placed her only son in his care.” His eyes bore into hers as if trying to make her understand the truth in what he said.

Allyssa rubbed her face. “I miss my parents.” She needed them right now.

“I know. They miss you too.” He kissed the top of her head. “I must go. You’ll be safe here.” He ducked out of the room.

She heard Neco say something to Nathenek, then the front door opened and closed. Silence fell throughout the house. And, once again, she was alone in an unfamiliar place. Going over to Savenek’s bed, she sat down and ran her hand over the rough wool fabric, trying to imagine what her brother was like. Since his room was impeccable, did that mean he was a serious sort of fellow? Had he grown up knowing his identity? Or had he been kept in the dark as well? Would he resent Allyssa for being the one their parents chose to raise?

“What’s he like?” she asked, fidgeting with the figurine. She couldn’t see Nathenek, but knew he was in the adjacent room.

He stepped to the doorway, casually leaning against the frame, his arms folded across his chest. His tanned, sun-weathered skin made it difficult to pinpoint his age. His shaggy blond hair hung loose, no gray visible. He appeared to be older than her parents. If she had to guess, she’d say he was in his late forties. “Savenek is taller than you. His hair and skin are a little lighter than yours.”

“Do we look alike?”

“There’s a definite similarity, and I can tell you are siblings.” He unfolded his arms. “I’ll leave you alone to settle in. Supper will be ready in twenty minutes.”

While she was mildly curious what her brother looked like, she was more interested in him as a person. What did he do in his free time? Did he go to school? Was he kind? She wanted the details of his life growing up with Nathenek.

She stood and went to the dresser, setting the figurine down and opening the top drawer. It was a bloody mess. Clothes had been shoved inside, and some of them didn’t smell very clean. She burst out laughing. Now this she could understand. A room that appeared to be neat and tidy on the surface, while being a crazy disaster underneath. There were layers to her brother, and she couldn’t wait to discover them.

“Everything okay?” Nathenek asked, coming into the room with a chunk of cheese in one hand and a knife in the other.

“Yes. I was just laughing.”

“Oh. I thought maybe you were crying. For so long, it has been Savenek and me. I haven’t lived with a woman in years.”

“You don’t need to worry about me. I’m pretty self-sufficient.” If he constantly checked on and fussed about her, she would go stark raving mad.

He absently nodded. “I wasn’t sure given your upbringing.”

She raised her eyebrows. Was he implying he expected a soft princess who would faint at the slightest turmoil? If that were the case, she would have died before she stepped foot in Russek. “I am my mother’s daughter.” If Nathenek truly knew Rema as well as Neco had implied, he wouldn’t question her upbringing.

A grin spread across his face. “In that case, not only should we get along just fine, but we might even have a few adventures before you return home.”

“Who said I’m going back?” After all, her mother had given her a choice. Walk away from the crown and live a peaceful, simple life... or return once she was healed and take her rightful place as the future empress.

Nathenek chuckled and walked away. “As you pointed out,” he called over his shoulder, “you are your mother’s daughter. And she never backs down from her duties to her kingdom.” A moment later, he mumbled so softly she had to strain to listen. “And if you’re anything like your brother, you won’t back down from a challenge. I’m going to have my hands full with you.”

* * *

Tossing and turning, Allyssa couldn’t sleep. Every time she closed her eyes, she was back in the dungeon with the interrogator. Or she was in Soma’s bedchamber next to his lifeless body. After throwing the covers off, she slid her legs over the side of the bed and shoved her feet into her boots. The sun had started to rise, casting a soft glow to the surrounding land. She crept outside, not wanting to wake Nathenek.

Unable to focus on anything around her, she sat on the dirt, staring off into the distance, not really seeing anything. She wrapped her arms around her legs, holding onto them, rocking back and forth. Images continuously assaulted her. Her fingernails being ripped out. Blood everywhere. And Soma. She never thought she could viciously kill someone like that. But she’d shoved that dagger into him, twisting it. And then, when he lay suffering on the floor, she’d chopped off his fingers, reveling in the pain it caused him. Even though she killed him, he still haunted her. Allyssa heard his mocking laugh in the dark corners of a room, or behind her when she was alone. She would never be free from him.

Allyssa shook as she cried, gulping deep breaths.

“Want some company?” Nathenek asked from behind her.

She stiffened, wondering how long he had been there. “No.” If she wanted to be around him, she would have remained inside.

“If you change your mind, I’ll be around the back of the house running through my morning drills.”

She twisted around and peered at him. He wore loose-fitting clothing with a sword strapped to his waist. “Drills?”

“I’m sure you’re not interested. It would require you to exert yourself.” He started to walk away.

“Excuse me?” He must not think very highly of her.

He paused. “And you can’t possibly know how to use a sword since you’re a woman.”

Her blood began to boil. How dare he think she was a pampered princess who lay around doing nothing all day. “I’m perfectly capable of doing some exercises and wielding a sword.”

“Really?” He scanned her body. “Because you’ve been sitting there for over an hour. I assumed that’s what you did all day.” His lips curled into a sly smile.

She jumped to her feet, wiping her face dry with her sleeve. “After my... ordeal, I need to regain my strength.” And be kept busy so Soma wouldn’t haunt her.

“Are you saying you want to run through my morning drills with me?”

“Is this something you did with Savenek?”

He nodded. “Every day.”

“Then yes, I do.”

“Very well.” He led the way to the back of the house where there was a flat, vacant area. “Let’s start with a hundred jumping jacks. Once we’ve got our blood flowing, we’ll do sit-ups and then squats.”

Allyssa welcomed the physical exertion. Nathenek didn’t talk as they ran through various exercises, sweat dripping down their faces and backs.

When they finished, he set up two straw dummies. “Savenek uses—used—that one.” He pointed to the one on the right. “This is mine.”

Darmik had taught her how to punch on a straw dummy. She often used one to release her anger.

Nathenek picked up a wooden sword and went through a series of movements, striking the dummy. Instead of doing the same, Allyssa stretched her neck from side to side, and then she slammed her fist into its stomach, her knuckles screaming in pain. Damn, that felt good. She pictured Odar as the straw dummy. Spinning, she kicked it. A sense of satisfaction filled her. Curling her fingers into fists, she repeatedly punched the dummy, letting her anger, frustration, and hurt seep into each blow.

She had thought Odar loved her. Punch.

But Shelene had thought the same thing and look what happened. Punch.

Odar had snuck into Shelene’s room, slitting her throat in her own bed. Killing her. Punch.

Perhaps what bothered Allyssa the most was that after killing Eliza, Soma, and Shelene, she failed—failed—to kill Jana, the target that mattered most. Punch.

Then, when she and Odar finally made it to Fren, everything fell apart. Punch.

Because of his insecurities, Odar ended their engagement, claiming he loved her too much. He said he couldn’t marry her and be a good ruler to his people. So, he broke her heart. He left her. Tears streamed down her cheeks.

Yet, Kerdan had held up his end of the bargain, helping Odar and Allyssa escape Russek by providing maps along the way. He never ceased to amaze her.

“Here’s some water.” Nathenek handed Allyssa a waterskin, jarring her from her memories. “I think that’s enough for today. Any more punching and I fear my straw dummy won’t survive.”

She took the container and drank, trying to wash the pain away.

* * *

A hand slid over Allyssa’s mouth, startling her awake.

“Allyssa?” a familiar voice whispered.

“Mother?” She flew upright and wrapped her arms around Rema, holding onto her as if her life depended on it. “What are you doing here?” This had to be some cruel dream.

“I had to see you with my own eyes,” Rema said, her voice cracking. “I needed to make sure you were really alive.”

Allyssa breathed in the familiar smell of her mother, not wanting to let go.

“Shh,” Rema said soothingly. “It’s okay. I’m here.” She ran her hand over Allyssa’s hair, comforting her. “I love you so much,” she continued. “I can’t imagine what you’ve been through.” She tightened her hold on her daughter. “Do you want to talk about it? Or do you need more time?”

Allyssa wanted to tell her mother everything, but she didn’t know where to begin. She curled her fingers inward, ashamed about what had been done to her. Instead of talking about Russek or Fren, she said, “I have a twin brother?” Leaning back, she looked at her mother through teary eyes.

“You do. I’m sorry I lied to you about him.” She wiped Allyssa’s tears away. “He’s a lot like you.” She kissed her forehead. “I can’t believe you’re here.”

“What are you doing here? Is Father with you?” Her parents must still be residing at the castle in Emperor’s City instead of Lakeside.

“I’m alone.”

Allyssa looked at her mother again, this time taking note of the dark cloak, plain shoes, and lack of jewelry. “You left the castle by yourself?”

Rema smiled ruefully. “You don’t think you’re the only one who sneaks out of the castle at night, do you?”

Allyssa sat there, stunned. Her mother not only knew about her nightly escapades, but she had also been sneaking out of the castle?

“I can’t stay much longer,” Rema whispered. “Did Neco tell you that you don’t have to come back?”

Allyssa wanted to tell her mother that she couldn’t imagine a life away from her family and friends, from all she knew. But that wasn’t entirely true. She could very easily picture a quiet life without the confines of the crown and all it entailed—including marrying for political reasons instead of love.

“I almost forgot.” Rema reached into the folds of her cloak and removed a sealed letter. “This arrived for you. I don’t know who delivered or sent it.”

Allyssa took it, setting it on the bed next to her. “I’m sorry.”

“Whatever for?” Rema asked.

“For not securing the alliance with Fren. For messing everything up.” If she hadn’t snuck out of the castle with Grevik in the first place, maybe none of this would have happened.

Rema wrapped her arms around her daughter. “Oh, honey, none of this is your fault.”

Allyssa couldn’t stop crying. Being here in Emperion, in her mother’s arms, was too much. She was home.

“As for Odar, he doesn’t deserve you.”

How could Allyssa explain to her mother that her heart felt shattered? That she was tired of being lied to, tired of having the fate of Emperion on her shoulders, and she was afraid she would never find another man she loved.

“It’ll be all right,” Rema said. “I promise.”

Leaning against her mother, Allyssa thought about Kerdan. The one person who never lied or played games with her. The man she thought was her enemy but instead, turned out to be her friend. He’d helped her when he didn’t have to. And then after her heartbreak in Fren, he found her and proposed, saying he needed her strength and support to stop Jana and reclaim the throne. She still didn’t know how she felt on the matter. Maybe she hadn’t allowed herself to really think about it because she wasn’t ready to consider it yet.

“Please promise me you will use this time to heal. If you decide to walk away from the crown, I’ll understand. I don’t want you to feel pressured. The choice is yours, and I’ll support whatever you decide.” Rema kissed her cheek and stood.

Allyssa wasn’t ready for her mother to leave.

“Everything will work out the way it should. You will accomplish remarkable things and make a difference in this world. Whether that be as an empress or a commoner, I don’t know. But your destiny awaits. When you’re ready, you will fulfill it.” Rema leaned down, hugging her daughter one last time. Then she readjusted her hood, concealing her face, and silently crept out of the dark room.

It was hard to watch her mother leave. Hard to think about her destiny when still caged by her past.

She lay down, crunching something underneath her back. Reaching for it, she felt the envelope her mother had given her. She broke the seal and pulled out the letter.

Bloody hell—Odar was going after Jana to finish what Allyssa failed to do. Well, she couldn’t let him die on her behalf. Jana was her responsibility, not his. She went over and unlocked the window. Sliding it open, she came face to face with Nathenek. “What are you doing outside?” she asked, startled to see him.

“I believe the question should be: Where do you think you’re going?”