“Cain,” Faye whispered again.
She was certain he’d heard her now. His eyes met hers, but she couldn’t read them, couldn’t see the love he’d professed so long ago. Had he stopped loving her?
“What happened?” she heard herself ask.
“I was kidnapped and held captive,” Cain responded, having misunderstood the true meaning of her question.
She didn’t correct him, knowing that this was not the time or place to talk to him about their relationship. Not in front of Abel who was watching them like a hawk.
“We thought you were dead,” she said instead. “We grieved for you.” She purposefully didn’t say I. She couldn’t, knowing she would break down if she revealed the depth of her despair.
“I’m back now.” He motioned to the three strangers. “These three men helped me escape. Meet Thomas, Haven, and Wesley.” His words were as businesslike as if he were talking to a stranger.
Only now did she take in the strange scent emanating from the man he’d introduced as Wesley. She leaned closer. He looked entirely human, but she knew he wasn’t. He was a preternatural creature.
“Wesley is a witch, but he’s not our enemy,” Cain said, having anticipated her question.
She accepted his words silently and nodded.
Cain turned away from her and addressed Abel instead. “My men and I would like to get situated. I need accommodations for them.”
“Of course,” Abel agreed readily. “I suggest the guest suites up on the third floor. They are—”
“Not the guest suites,” Cain interrupted, his voice icy. “The rooms of the king’s personal guards next to my suite.”
“But they’re occupied by your guards,” Abel protested.
Cain pointed to Haven, Thomas, and Wesley. “These are my personal guards now. They’ll be by my side, protecting me.”
Faye noticed how Abel’s mouth set into a thin line, displeased that Cain wasn’t agreeing with his suggestion. “As you wish. I’ll make sure the guards vacate the rooms immediately.”
“Good. Then send John to me. I’d like to speak to him.”
Abel rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m afraid I haven’t seen John.”
Cain raised an eyebrow. “John isn’t the leader of the king’s guard anymore?”
“No, no, he is,” his brother hastened to assure him. “But he disappeared a few days ago. Nobody knows where he is.”
“Find him!” Cain ordered. “Now escort us to my quarters so we may talk in private. We’ve had a long journey and are anxious to get settled in before we begin our investigation.”
“Investigation?” Faye asked in surprise.
Cain turned his head to look at her. “Yes, about which member of this clan ordered my abduction.”
Faye pressed her hand against her chest. “But you must know who kidnapped you. You’re back. You escaped them. You must have some idea.”
“It’s not as simple as that. The people who held me captive were hired by somebody. When I was able to overpower them with the help of my friends here, none of them survived, so I couldn’t question them further.”
Faye shivered involuntarily at the thought of how much danger Cain had been in all this time while she’d lived a life of luxury. “They deserved to die for what they did to you,” she pressed out.
Cain gave a tight nod. “Just as the person behind it deserves the same.”
Without waiting for her reaction, he turned and crossed the entrance hall.
“Are you coming, Abel?” he called over his shoulder.
Abel tossed her an odd look, then swiveled and followed his brother and the three strangers flanking him.
14
Cain marched toward the stairs that led into the underground part of the palace, recalling the drawing John had made for him on the plane so he would be able to find his way around without looking like he didn’t belong here.
Still feeling shaken by the awkward exchange with Faye, Cain pushed away the thoughts of her for the moment. First, he had to concentrate on other things, the most important one being to make it clear to his brother that he would resume his reign with immediate effect.
Subdued light illuminated the corridors in the basement of the building, making it look like he’d stepped into a modern five-star hotel. When the corridor parted in two, one path leading to the left, one to the right, Cain hesitated, trying to find his bearings.
“Something wrong?” Abel asked.
“It feels unreal to be home again,” Cain deflected. “Why don’t you lead my friends to their new accommodations while I take a moment?”
His brother cast him a strange look, but nodded and motioned his friends from Scanguards to follow him down the corridor to the left. Cain let a few seconds pass before he followed them. He knew there would be many moments like these where he’d have to employ a ruse to cover up his amnesia.