Fireblood (Fireblood 1)

“I’m forever at your service.” Devlan reaches for my hand and threads his fingers through mine. “If you demand I live, I have no choice but to obey.”

I gasp in a breath and press my lips to his, taking in the feel of his smile forming against my mouth. My heart trembles in my chest. I’m afraid to move, scared he’ll slip away.

“I’ll find help,” I tell him and try to stand.

He grips my hand tighter, keeping me by his side. “He missed,” Devlan says. “Well, he missed the important stuff. But I’ve lost some blood. I’ll need mending.”

I smile down at him. “I think I can handle that.”

Fallon and I dress Devlan’s wound, wrapping his chest and shoulder tightly with bandages Fallon found in the back medical chamber.

When Fallon’s ready to help him stand, she halts mid-lift. Her face pinches, and I follow her gaze to where Xander stands, motionless. His expression steals the air from my lungs. He slowly walks toward Sebastian, his mouth a hard line, and lowers himself beside the fallen king.

I watch, confused, as Xander lifts Sebastian into his arms and cradles the body against his. Fallon crawls toward them and lays her hand on Xander’s shoulder.

“You tried, Xander.”

He nods. “I did. I tried so hard to get through to him,” he says. “For weeks, I spent time with him, trying to get closer. I thought telling him the truth would change things.” He closes his eyes and releases a heavy breath. “But he feared I’d try to steal his power—his crown.”

“But he let you leave,” Fallon says. “He let you live. He must have cared, deep down.”

“No.” Xander shakes his head. “He locked me up. I only escaped in time to slip the potion to the knights.” His lips quiver, and he looks up at Devlan and me. “We met up in the lower level right after.” He turns his full attention back to Fallon. I can’t piece his story together, but I don’t interrupt. “I thought I could try again—that I might get through to him.”

I look to Devlan for an explanation, but his eyes reflect the confusion inside me.

“It’s the way it’s meant to be.” Fallon removes Sebastian’s crown from his head and, rising up, places it atop Xander’s.

My mouth drops open. Devlan attempts to sit up, and I move so he can rest against my chest. Fallon kisses Xander tenderly. Glancing once to Sebastian, she gets to her feet, bringing Xander with her.

“I vow to follow you, my lord,” she says. “Let the reign of Xander Hart begin.” She drops to one knee and bows her head.

“What…?” Devlan chokes out.

Fallon glances at us. “Xander is Sebastian’s brother. The crown now belongs to him.”

Suddenly, pieces of that puzzle fall into place. Why Fallon kept Xander’s mission at the castle a secret. Why she first insisted Sebastian was not to be harmed during the mission. Xander’s hesitancy to follow Fallon’s orders—orders that must have concerned him becoming the king. Why Xander came back to Court alone. Why Fallon couldn’t kill her mark—Xander—the night of my betrothal ceremony. And why, now, Xander mourns the loss of Sebastian.

His brother.

I look at Devlan, and he nods weakly. Helping him to a knee, I kneel beside him. “I pledge my allegiance to King Xander Hart,” I say.

Devlan laughs once, and then coughs. “Sorry.” He clears his throat and presses his hand to his bandaged chest. “I, too, pledge my allegiance.” He shakes his head. “Were you ever going to tell me?”

Xander’s face flushes. “I was hoping I wouldn’t have to.” His eyes pinch. “But as my fearless leader—”

Fallon waggles her finger at him. “I follow you now, Your Highness.”

Xander glares at her. “As Fallon once said to me”—his eyes roam her face—“I cannot deny my birthright forever. I have a responsibility to this realm, to give back what has been taken from them.”

She wraps her arms around him, and I hold Devlan closer. My eyes drift to Sebastian.

Out of so much evil, Karm finally has a chance for true greatness.

Devlan caresses my cheek. His eyes search mine. “You got your wish.”

I crane an eyebrow. “And, that is?”

A perfect smile curls his lips. “I can never call you princess again.”