She stopped breathing as a black-clad man with a gun pushed through the door. It took her a moment to recognize the uniform. Eternity! He brother was here! Relief flooded through her. She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Shoot. The magic she had used to borrow Michael’s voice had worn off. Oh well, they wouldn’t expect her to talk to them, anyway. She waved a hand in greeting.
“She’s here.” The man spoke into a mic mounted on his shoulder. His eyes swung across the room, searching. “Negative on the target.”
Carissa tipped her head over, making her confusion obvious.
The man circled around the inside of the cabin, looking in every possible nook and cranny. “All clear here.” He stopped at the foot of the bed and turned his back to the wall to watch the room. There was a tension in him that Carissa did not like.
“Carissa!”
A voice pulled her attention from the guard. The king stepped through the door in all his glory. Surprisingly, his ‘glory’ consisted of jeans and a wrinkled T-shirt. Man, he was dressing down today. He paused just inside the door, scanning the room as the guard had.
“Are you all right?” her brother asked as he finally crossed the room to her. “He didn’t hurt you, did he?”
Carissa stood up and hugged her brother. With his golden hair rumpled and dark bags under his amber eyes, Carissa was sure he hadn’t slept since she had gone missing.
Kyle’s hands ran up and down her back, looking for wounds. He leaned away and looked into her eyes. “Please tell me he didn’t hurt you.”
Carissa smiled and shook her head. Other than a few scrapes, she was fine.
“Thank God.” Kyle drew her in for another hug before pulling her down to sit on the edge of the bed. “I was so worried when I got Darien’s message. How dare that man have the audacity to come here after what he put you through!”
Carissa looked at her brother with confusion. Who did what?
Ignoring her unvoiced questioned, Kyle touched her arm again as if confirming that she was really safe. “So, where is he?” The king’s eyes shifted from her to search the room again. The same, nervous tension in the guard rode her brother, too.
There was something they weren’t telling her. Carissa grabbed Kyle’s arm, forcing him to focus on her. Who? she mouthed at her brother. She was pretty sure they were looking for Michael, but something was not sitting right with her. This was not a man looking forward to meeting someone who had saved his sister. He was obviously angry about something.
“Michael Duncan.” Kyle growled the name. “I promise that he will pay for what he’s done.”
Red flags waved in warning. Something was definitely not right. Why? Carissa mouthed again, confused. What had Michael done? Her hand slipped down to cover the little lump of dragon next to her on the bed. He hadn’t moved since she’d gotten up. Hopefully, he would remain asleep until she could figure out what was going on.
“He’s responsible for your kidnapping, among other things.”
A pain shot through Carissa’s chest at her brother’s words. She clutched at the blanket over Michael. How could that be? He had been chained up in the dungeon. He’d helped her escape. Carissa shook her head emphatically, denying her brother’s words. She could not—would not—believe that Michael had had anything to do with her abduction.
“It’s true.” Kyle smoothed his hand over her arm, trying to calm her. “We have him on video carrying you out of the ball.”
Carissa gave him a distressed look. Could it be true? Had Michael helped in her kidnapping, and then the group chained him up in the dungeon? But he had killed at least two of them. He didn’t seem heartless enough to turn on his own people, but, then again, she hadn’t known him for very long. Was it possible?
Tears clung to the edges of Carissa’s eyes. Michael’s betrayal stung her heart more deeply than she cared to think about. Her fingers gripped tighter into the material under her hand. All she had to do was rip the covers back to reveal the little dragon snuggled in the warmth she had left. She’d have to explain his form to her brother, but he would take care of the man. Kyle would see that he got the punishment he deserved.
Deserved… That word hung heavy in her mind. Had Michael really done what her brother said? She had to know. If she gave him over to her brother now, she would never get the chance to confront him. It’s not like he could just transform back to human and answer her questions. She needed time alone with him.
Carissa looked back up to her brother’s concerned eyes. He was waiting for her to come to terms with reality. Carissa nodded her head. She would accept his word for now. He drew in a breath to comfort her but was interrupted by someone at the door.
“Pardon me, My King,” Daniel raised his hand to his heart and bowed when he stopped in the doorway. “The perimeter’s secure, but there’s no sign of Michael. I suggest we get Lady Carissa to safety. I’ll leave a squad here to search for him.”
“Very good.” Kyle stood up from the bed and held his hand out for Carissa.
Oh, God! She had to do something fast. She couldn’t leave Michael here. Daniel’s men would find him. But how was she supposed to get him out with Daniel and her brother there? She took her brother’s hand and stood up as she thought. Kyle pulled her over and wrapped his arm around her to escort her out. This was not going well.
A flash of gold and bronze caught Carissa’s eye as Kyle led her to the door. Her gown! Michael’s coat was folded under it. Carissa pulled against Kyle’s arm as inspiration struck.
“What?” Kyle looked down when Carissa resisted him.
She held out the front of her borrowed robes and pointed to her dress balled up next to the bed.
He looked from her to the bundle, then back to the man following them. “Get Carissa’s things.” Kyle tried to lead her on to the door as their guard bent to gather up her dress.
Carissa threw off her brother’s hand and backed away from him, shaking her head.
Kyle looked at her, concerned.
She held up the borrowed robes.
“We can return Darien’s robes later.”
Carissa shook her head adamantly and took the bundle of her clothing away from the guard.
Kyle pinched the bridge of his nose and took a deep breath. “Fine,” he agreed. “Do you need a hand getting dressed?” When Carissa shook her head, he ushered everyone else out so she could change. “You have five minutes. Bang on something if you need help.”
Letting out the breath she’d been holding, Carissa quickly shook out her dress. Darien would have gladly let her keep his robes, but this was the only way to get the men out of the room. Slipping into the horribly wrinkled dress, Carissa grabbed up Michael’s coat. What the hell did he have in those pockets? It weighed a ton. Ignoring the weight, she slipped it on and zipped it part of the way up. Using the strap at the waist, she cinched the bottom closed. The leather puffed out around her slight frame. Perfect.
Flipping back the blanket, she snatched up the sleeping dragon and fed him into the jacket. Michael squeaked as she stuffed him in. Carissa shushed him as she rolled up his tail and tucked it in, too. Her brother would be back in if she didn’t hurry up. She patted his bulk as she turned to head out. It was the best she could do. Now, she just had to pray it worked.