Defend the Dawn (Defy the Night, #2)

by Brigid Kemmerer

“Please,” he says. “Call me Rian, Your Highness.” That’s a clear opening for me to tell him to call me Corrick, but I’m just petty enough to ignore it. “I’ll be calling you a prisoner if you don’t explain yourself a little better than you’re doing.”

My eyebrows go up. “Why would they be harmed?” “I’ve caught wind of your reputation,” he says evenly. “Your Highness.” The words are spoken quietly, but he might as well have lit a cannon.

I lift a hand and he stops short, but I don’t look away from Rian. “You’ve been here all of five minutes. You’ve caught wind of my reputation?” “That should tell you just how very impressive it is.” He says impressive like he means something else.

Fear seems to pierce my heart from both directions. “Is that supposed to be a warning or a threat?” Lochlan smirks. “Maybe you shouldn’t have walked out of the palace without guards,” he says. “Maybe she shouldn’t have,” says a voice behind me, “but I brought more than enough.” My heart kicks to hear Corrick’s voice. Lochlan snaps back. I’m suddenly aware of the tense silence in the shop, how we are all the center of attention.

“Lochlan was right, you know,” Corrick says. “You shouldn’t be leaving the palace without protection.” “I’m no one of importance,” I say. “I beg to differ. He’s lucky I didn’t have one of the guards put an arrow in his back for standing over you like that.”

He lifts a shoulder in a shrug. “When I found the note in your chambers, yes, I was concerned. When the porters told me you’d left alone, yes, I was concerned.” He gives me a look. “One man glaring at me is a matter of course, Tessa.”

Corrick’s blade is still against that man’s throat. The man’s breathing shudders—but then his eyes narrow, and he spits in Corrick’s face. A line of blood appears around the blade, trickling toward the floor. “I’ve cut men’s tongues off for less,” Corrick says, his voice as low and vicious as I’ve ever heard it.

“What about you? Any frequent companions for the King’s Justice?” I’m trying to keep my tone light, but he holds my gaze, and I know he hears the true question there. “Ah, Tessa.” There’s something simultaneously wicked and warm in his eyes. “No one dared, until you.”

I think of that man in the candy shop. If Tessa and I were openly involved, she’d be more of a target. Then again, if we were openly involved, I’d drag her into my chambers and we wouldn’t leave for a week.

He’s quite obviously the youngest of the group—and just as obviously the one in command. “Oh,” says Tessa, and there’s a note of intrigue in her voice that I absolutely cannot ignore. I look at her and raise my eyebrows. “Oh?” She hesitates. Her voice drops. “The sea captain isn’t what I expected.”

“Are you truly unsure,” Harristan says, “or are you worried that he’s caught Tessa’s eye?” That’s so on point that I frown and look over. “Do you really think he’s caught her eye?” He sighs and runs a hand down his face. “Cory.”

I don’t think I’ve ever seen him in ordinary clothes, but he’s no less imposing in calfskin pants and a buttoned jerkin. “Your Majesty,” he says. His eyes flick to me. “Your Highness. Forgive me for interrupting. I know the hour is late.” “Forgiven,” I say easily, because I’m more curious than annoyed. Rocco looks to my brother. “I would have sent a message through the guard captain, but I thought it best if I spoke with you directly.” “Go ahead, Erik.” I blink, startled. “Is that your first name?” “It is.” “I don’t believe I’ve ever heard it.” I don’t know why this is startling, whether it’s Harristan’s casual use of it, or the fact that I never considered it. Maybe both. The man saved my life. I feel like I should have known. Maybe I look poleaxed, because the guardsman gives me an ironic nod and adds, “A pleasure to meet you, Your Highness.” His tone is so dry that it almost makes me smile. I don’t know any of Harristan’s guards well, but I’ve liked Rocco since the day the palace was attacked.

My cheeks are hot again, but I hold his gaze. “I don’t deserve to be treated like a secret, Corrick.” A muscle in his jaw twitches. I wish he would say something. I wish he would do something. “Forgive me,” he finally says, and his voice is as proper and courtly as I’ve ever heard it. “That wasn’t my intent.” I know, I want to say, but I don’t know. Just like with the man in the candy shop, or with Lochlan’s presence on this ship, I don’t know. Not for sure. So I curtsy just as formally, as if I weren’t just drowning in the taste of his mouth. “Thank you, Your Highness.” That hits him like a dart. I can almost see the impact. He takes a step back and gives me a nod. “I bid you a pleasant evening, Miss Cade.” That hits me like a dagger.

I may have fallen in love with Tessa Cade, but as usual, I’m reminded that she didn’t fall in love with Prince Corrick, the King’s Justice. She fell in love with the outlaw Weston Lark. She fell in love with a man who doesn’t exist.

Choices never seem like choices when the world only offers us bad ones.

As usual, I need to remind myself that Wes was a part of the man in front of me. That goodness is inside him. But it’s just a part. Sometimes I worry that it’s not quite enough.

Once we’re on the steps to the lower levels, I say, “In case there was any uncertainty, I don’t like you much either.” “Truly? You’ve been incredibly subtle.” “I’m going to knock you down the stairs.” He stops and turns, his eyes in shadow now. “Do not pick a fight with me.” He says it evenly. Coolly. The same way he said, Don’t threaten my crew when we were sitting at dinner. I stare back at him, and there’s something about his quiet composure that makes me want to throw the first punch. I’m sure he can read it in my gaze, because he doesn’t move, and he doesn’t look away. Just a bit of wounded pride between men. Yes. I definitely understand. But I need him to get us to Ostriary. I’m not failing in this mission over something as frivolous as pride. “I certainly wouldn’t pick a fight by announcing my first move,” I say, and there isn’t an ounce of tension in my voice. I glance past him as if I’m bored with this delay. “Lead the way, Captain.”

My heart is beating so fast. “Corrick,” I whisper. His eyes finally meet mine. “I know people expect the worst of me,” he says quietly. “I didn’t realize you were among them.”

“Well.” He smiles, and it’s a bit shy. “I’ll be looking forward to figuring out what that means.” That makes me smile in spite of myself. “Not what you’re imagining, I’m quite sure.” He blushes, and it’s endearing. Charming. I can’t think of a single time in my life that I’ve ever made someone blush. “Come on,” he says. “We need to get out of the woods.” He grabs hold of my hand again. I let him. A whistle blazes through the woods, and the point of an arrow bursts through the center of Maxon’s chest. Then another. And a third, all in rapid succession. His eyes flare with panic, and his mouth opens, but no sound comes out.

“Violet, please. Listen.” “I’m listening.” I think of the dozens of obstacles she’ll face when she gets to the palace. There are footmen and doormen and guards everywhere—guards who may not be loyal to the king, if Captain Huxley was in the woods with Arella Cherry. I don’t know what to make of any of this, and my thoughts refuse to organize. They tried to kill me once. Is this a second attempt? Are they trying to kill Corrick? A sob nearly forms in my chest, but I swallow it down.

You have a message for Quint alone. Only use the name Sullivan.” “I don’t understand. Why would the ring get me through the gates?” I wince and shift my weight. I’m going to need bandages, too, before she goes. “Because I’m the king, Violet. And that ring proves it.”

I don’t know how Corrick did this for years. Only now do I realize how very much my brother risked. How much guilt he must have carried. I wish my brother were here.

I think of Captain Huxley standing with Arella and Laurel. If you don’t have medicine, then what do you have? Information on the king. On how he’s tricking you. I’m not tricking anyone. This is more treason and betrayal—and as much as I hate to admit it, I’m a bit shocked it’s coming from Arella Cherry. Corrick is gone. If I can’t trust my guards, I have no one.

Arella and Roydan have been having private meetings for weeks—but they’ve been reviewing shipping logs. I have absolutely no idea how that could be related to me tricking anyone. And I still can’t see Arella conspiring with Laurel Pepperleaf and Captain Huxley. He’s a gossip, everyone knows that, but I’ve never thought he was disloyal. Laurel was at the dinner with Allisander, and Arella hates him and everything he stands for. I can’t quite see Laurel and Arella working together either. But the night patrol showed up, and everyone scattered.

He allows everyone to think the worst of him, and all the while, he sacrifices everything he wants for the betterment of others.

“When we were in Kandala,” he says, “I should have made some declarations.” He pauses, studying me. “I regret that I didn’t, because now I worry that I’m too late.” “You’re not too late,” I say softly. “I love you, Tessa,” he says, and I inhale sharply, because I wasn’t ready for him to come right out with it. He touches a finger to my lips. “Let me finish.” I nod. “I have always loved you,” he says. “I love your brilliance and your courage. I love your faith in me, and your faith in my brother, and your faith in Kandala.” His hand slides to my cheek, and his blue eyes soften, filling my vision. “I don’t ever want to frighten you. I want to take actions that will make you proud.”

“Do you still hate me?” he says softly. “No,” I whisper, like it’s a secret. “I love you.” He leans closer. “What’s that?” he teases. “I can’t hear you.” “I said you’re a huge pain in my—” I break off with a squeal when he kisses me, then melt into his hands when he pulls me close.

“I didn’t bring it as a cure,” he says, looking at me like I’m crazy. “In Ostriary, we recognize Moonflower for what it is—a poison.” I roll that around in my head and say, “How is Moonflower a poison?”

“When you boil the stems,” he says. “It causes the fever and the cough. That’s how I’ve been able to keep Bella subdued. If you do it long enough, it can be permanently debilitating, but I only needed a few weeks. Making an elixir of the petals will generally reverse the effects.”

“Are you saying the people of Kandala are poisoned?” I say quickly. “How?” “I don’t know—but I admit to being curious when I learned that two full sectors are almost solely dedicated to growing Moonflower now—and there seems to be quite a wealthy trade to be had in selling petals to cure the ‘sickness.’ All Captain Blakemore knew was that the attempt on Harristan’s life was thwarted when he was young, but it wasn’t until later that—” “What attack on Harristan’s life?” “Your Consul Montague tried to poison him to force your parents into demanding a higher price on steel—but Ostriary felt betrayed and refused to barter. Maybe Montague figured out a new way to make silver … or someone did.” Consul Montague—who later tried to assassinate my parents.

In front of me, there’s a ten-foot gap in the deck. The entire railing is missing, and I can see clear through to the deck below. I’m looking into the guards’ quarters. My heart stops. “Corrick,” I whisper. The word is barely out of my mouth before I’m screaming it. “Corrick! Corrick! Corrick!” I stumble toward the railing, staring into the blackness of the water. I can’t stop screaming his name, even when my voice turns harsh and ragged. He’s in the water. I need to go after him. Arms close around me from behind. “Miss Tessa. Miss Tessa. We’re going too fast. He’s not down there.” I remember the cannonball driving Marchon straight through the deck. I imagine that happening to Corrick. I imagine him drowning. I choke on a sob, then fight Rocco’s grip. “Corrick!” I scream. “Rian! Turn back! Turn back! You have to turn back!” But he doesn’t turn back. Rocco doesn’t let go. Corrick is gone.