Prince of Persuasion, page 1
Prince of Persuasion
Samara Saward
Copyright © 2023 Samara Saward
All rights reserved.
This book or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without prior written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a review.
This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is purely coincidental.
Cover designed by: GetCovers
Formatting designed with Atticus
Contents
Dedication
Foreword
1. Chapter 1
2. Chapter 2
3. Chapter 3
4. Chapter 4
5. Chapter 5
6. Chapter 6
7. Chapter 7
8. Chapter 8
9. Chapter 9
10. Chapter 10
11. Chapter 11
12. Chapter 12
13. Chapter 13
14. Chapter 14
15. Chapter 15
16. Chapter 16
17. Chapter 17
18. Chapter 18
19. Chapter 19
20. Chapter 20
21. Chapter 21
22. Chapter 22
23. Chapter 23
24. Chapter 24
25. Chapter 25
26. Chapter 26
27. Chapter 27
28. Chapter 28
29. Chapter 29
Also By
About Author
For Allison & Jack
Foreword
Both the author and main character live in Australia. This book is written in Australian English.
one
Huddled around the roaring fire in the small hut Achilles has called home for the last month, my mind races; I’m about to return to a world of mages, kings, and medieval beliefs.
Am I going crazy?
Larry is the first one to come around to the idea of returning to Talaron and the Prince’s Courtship; her fear of punishment overriding the loyalty of friendship. Her nerves have her orange curls shaking in time with her slender frame as she stutters, “I–I agree. Returning is the… the best course of action.”
Clove comes next, accepting that this is what I need to do. June, though, argues her point for at least an hour; she doesn’t want to return and thinks we’re crazy for suggesting such a thing. I’ve never seen the twins disagree on anything, and the fierce determination in each of their hazel eyes is a sight to behold. Will Clovis and his shield magic make Juniper and her stubborn sword powers see sense?
“It will be harder for the king to use magic against you here. He wouldn’t dare reveal the supernatural world to the humans. Maintaining our secrecy would force him to take care and use non-magical means to capture you. You’re safer here,” argues Juniper.
“You make excellent points.” I tuck an ebony strand behind my ear. “But I don’t want to spend my life running. I’ve done that, fleeing every time I accidentally zapped someone when I didn’t know how to suppress my helios powers. No, I won’t live like that again. I can’t.”
“Think about it, Juniper,” says Clove. “Winning the tournament gives Embry amnesty. She’ll be safe.”
Juniper cocks a dark eyebrow. “And what about during the courtship? How will you protect her while she fights for her life against trolls and whatever else the king throws her way? Especially since we can’t act as her protectors during the trials.”
“You’ll be with me the whole way,” I say. “And you can teach me how to fight. Rone will teach me more water magic and I’ll focus on that, only using my light if I have to.”
She chews on her lip. “Fine. But we’re out of there at the first sign of trouble.” She turns to Rone. “Can you guarantee us safe entry?”
“The guards had already dispersed when I went through the portal, off to confront Miss Hawthorne and her friends. Which is why we need to move. They’ll be looking to question you next.” My ice blues linger on his shining amber, searching for deception. I don’t find any.
We tidy the small cabin and gather our bags while Achilles packs a rucksack full of clothes. I stop him with a hand on his arm. “Can you go back? I mean, I don’t want to alarm you, but you’re a traitor to the crown.”
“Emmy, I’ll be fine,” he says, rolling his eyes. “I intend to return to Easton Port. It’s a small town the king wouldn’t bother with. Besides, how will he know I am there if everyone here keeps the information to themselves?”
“You’ll be safe?” I ask, double checking.
“I’ll keep to the shadows if I have to.” He chuckles, low and hearty. “Who would have thought that you’d worry about me like this?”
Shaking me head, I say, “I’ll always worry about you, Uncle Chilli.” Turning to the twins, I add, “Clove, how are your powers holding up? Can you portal us to the Earth-Talaron gateway?”
“I’m sorry, Em,” he says, his brow furrowed. “My magic is too low. If I portal us to the gateway, I won’t be able to get us from The Dolines to Alston Knoll. And I don’t think we should risk trekking through the jungle.”
Now that he mentions it, he does look run down; the sweat beading on his brown forehead and his drooping eyes show just how exhausted he is.
“I agree that we’re best to portal to the knoll,” says June. “If the guards are still hanging around…”
Turning back to Chilli, I ask, “Do you have a phone? We’re going to need a ride to the lake.”
He jerks his chin toward the kitchen bench. I leave him to his packing and call my best friend, Della, for another ride. She can meet us at the same park we disappeared from earlier tonight, or her dad’s shop if it’s easier. Halfway through the conversation, my eyes fall on Rone.
Shit, we’ve got two extras.
“Actually, Del. You’ll have to get Kai to come, too. We’ve gained a couple of extras since we saw you last.”
She groans. “Oh, do I have to?” My silence is answer enough. “Fine. Who else are we picking up?”
“Uncle Chilli and—”
She screeches, causing me to hold the phone away from my ear. “You found him? That’s fantastic news.”
“Yeah, we found him. The other passenger… remember Man Candy from the bar?” I purposely avoid looking in Rone’s direction. “Well, he’s coming too.”
“Please tell me you had your wicked way with him. If you didn’t get even a small taste of that hunk of—”
I hang up before she can finish her sentence; the cabin is silent, everyone watching me with curiosity.
“What?”
“What is that?” asks Clove, pointing to the phone. “How were you speaking to your friend through it? Is it some kind of sound transportation device? How does it work? I thought there was no magic here?”
“It’s a mobile phone. It uses radio waves and—You know what? Let’s not worry about that right now,” I say.
Shadows encroach on Chilli, obscuring his black clothing and brown skin, sucking toward him in a vacuum. “Anyone coming with me?” he asks.
A memory surges forth; the feeling of pressure over my whole body, my skin pulling away from muscle and bone, being shoved in every which direction, and the icy cold of impenetrable darkness. A shiver runs down my spine. “Hell no. Travelling through the shadows with Noxen was the worst experience of my life.”
Clovis holds his arms at twelve and six before swirling them through the air, switching their positions. An indigo portal shimmers into existence, the core swirling in a spiral while electric waves flicker and spark around the edges like writhing snakes.
“Sorry, Uncle Chilli. We’re not fans of shadow travel,” says June, stepping through the portal with a grimace.
Larry follows closely behind with her wide emerald eyes, rushing lest Chilli grab her for a ride through the shadow void.
Achilles just shakes his head. “You youngens and your preference for portals. I’ll never understand. The Arboretum?”
I nod. “See you there.”
The shadows move in on Achilles, coating his body like they’re hungry for his flesh, the tendrils reaching out and caressing his skin. He smiles at the sensation. Another shudder runs through me. He’s gone in an instant. Taking a deep breath, I step toward Clove’s portal, but Rone stops me and tells Clovis to go ahead; Clove does so with a shrug.
I turn to Rone with a frown. “What?”
“Since everyone knows we… you know…” he says, struggling through the words.
“Kissed?” I offer.
He runs a hand through his unruly blonde hair and clears his throat, looking anywhere but at me. “Yes. Well, if you’re questioned, I’m willing to provide an alibi for you. It would be believable that we were—” He clears his throat again. “Seeing each other tonight.”
I can’t help the laugh that bursts from my mouth; it’s so forceful, I double over. I have to hold my stomach to keep myself together as tears roll down my face. Gasping for breath, I say, “You want me to tell people we’re an item? That we were together tonight? Even after the tantrum you threw when I told reflection Embry that we kissed?”
He nods and I laugh harder.
“It’s not funny, Bloom. If the king suspects you of leaving Talaron, he’ll have you detained. Killed.”
The thought sober
“For the last time, I don’t care,” he snaps, shoving both hands into the air. “But that doesn’t mean I want to see people hurt just because they don’t want to take part in some old-fashioned, sexist, demeaning, and misogynistic game.” He sighs. “And you shouldn’t be punished just because you have a rare magic. That’s not the kind of world I want to… be a part of.”
“That’s quite the rant. Okay, if it helps you to sleep soundly tonight, I’ll lie to the king’s guards if need be. Happy?”
His answer is to step into the portal. Man Candy has a temper… and a heart. Not only is it surprising, it’s kind of hot, actually.
Nope, Embry. Been there, he’s not interested.
We only wait five minutes for Della and Kai to arrive. It’s good timing, really. Everyone has picked up on the tension between me and Rone. They best get used to it. We’re not likely to get along any time soon, if ever.
When Della pulls up in my Focus—bless her—and Kai pulls in beside her in his black sedan, we make our way over to the cars. Kai opens his door, waggling his eyebrows at me as he climbs from the driver’s seat. “Hey, girl. Where have you been?” he asks, wrapping his arms around me and spinning me in a circle.
“Around,” I say, laughing. “Thanks for coming to get us.”
“Happy to help.” He leans down, whispering in my ear. “Del said you and Man Candy got it on,” he says, singing the last three words.
I smack him lightly on the chest. “As if.” My eyes flick to Rone. “Just look at him. He’s scowling at me even now. Bad boys are hot, but grouchy boys? Not worth the effort.”
“He’s totally jealous, Em.”
Yeah, I’m going to ignore that.
June, Clove, Larry, and Chilli get into Kai’s sedan, wrongly assuming they’ll be riding with me in this car. As if. I’m taking the Focus for another spin before heading back to the land of horses and unconventional means of transport.
“Del,” I call out. “Hop in the back. Let’s show Rone what my baby can do.”
She laughs and Kai shakes his head as Rone takes the front passenger seat, frowning.
“Please tell me you at least kissed him,” Kai whines. My blush gives me away. His eyes pop. “It was good, wasn’t it? That’s why you’re blushing!”
I playfully shove him away from me and make my way to my beautiful grey car, sliding my hand across her roof. “Missed you,” I whisper.
Dropping into the driver’s seat, I eye Rone. “Might want to buckle up, magic boy. We’re travelling Embry style now.” He looks at me with confusion, so I show him my seatbelt. “Clicks in here, see?”
“Are these necessary? How dangerous can this thing really be? It's just a metal box.”
My eyes meet Della’s in the rear-view mirror. Rone has just unwittingly challenged me to make this the most unenjoyable ride of his life.
“You’ll regret saying that,” laughs Del.
Rone frowns; he’s still not strapped in. I guide the gear stick into reverse and speed out of the parking space, causing Rone to topple sideways and crash into the door. Slowing to shift into first, I giggle and take off. Rone slams into his seat, grappling for the seat belt.
I take the corners fast, guiding the car through the winding hills with practiced ease, and weave through the light traffic. Rone has his jaw clenched so tight, I’m sure his teeth are at risk of shattering.
Della hoots and laughs from the back seat, having the time of her life. When we pull up at Ferny Creek lake, she says, “Damn, I’ll miss your driving, girl.”
I laugh. “Not as much as I’m going to miss this baby. Take care of her for me, Del.”
Kai pulls up a few minutes later, shaking his head. “You’re a madwoman, Em. The way you cut off that four-wheel drive? Completely bonkers. But man, you can drive.”
Rone looks at Kai like he’s a patty of cow shit he just trod on. “She almost killed us at least six times.”
“You had your eyes closed for the other ten,” I mutter. “Don’t be a princess, Rone. The car’s got traction control.” When he shakes his head and turns away, I whisper to Della. “I totally turned the traction control off.”
She shakes her head and laughs. “I’ll miss you.”
I wrap my arms around her, holding her tight. “And I’ll miss you.”
“Will I see you again? Are you ever coming back?”
“God, I hope so.”
Kai joins in our little huddle, planting a wet kiss on my cheek. I wipe it away with the sleeve of my denim jacket, laughing. My laugh ends with a sob when my only two human friends drive away, leaving me to return to Talaron and mages in a fight for my freedom. It feels like I’m sacrificing my life here for a chance at that freedom.
It feels like goodbye.
Facing the group, I wipe my tears and lead the way to the huge mountain ash—the portal tree that will take us back to Talaron. Without a word, I hold my hand out to Juniper, who unsheathes her sword and pricks my finger, causing blood to bead at the tip. I smear it over the enormous tree to activate the portal.
“Let me go first and distract any guards that might have lingered,” says Rone.
I nod him ahead, watching as he disappears into the mini galaxy swirling beyond the bark. Once he’s out of view, I turn to Clove. “We’ll need to portal straight to Alston Knoll. Can you go next and have one waiting?”
“Of course,” he says, adjusting his duffel on his shoulder. “See you on the other side.”
“I’m sorry you have to go back,” says Larry before stepping through herself.
Lifting my chin, I follow her, leaving Juniper and Achilles to follow behind. I don’t look back for a last glance at the big wide. Doing so will only cause pain. Returning to Talaron is my choice. My only choice.
Doesn’t make it hurt any less.
two
Clove steadies me when I stumble from the portal, almost toppling backwards into a gaping hole. Damn The Dolines, they’re creepy as shit. And damn the Earth to Talaron portal, spinning me around like a clothesline on a windy day. “Thanks, Clove,” I say, scowling at the sinkhole. “Was it all clear when you came through?”
“Yeah. Rone is off checking the area or something.” He squints into the distance. “He’s going a bit overboard with this, don’t you think?”
I shrug. “Doesn’t hurt to be careful. I should probably take a leaf out of his book, actually.”
Larry giggles. “I don’t think you know how to be careful, Em. It’s just not in you.”
“You might be right,” I say, laughing with her.
Juniper joins us with a huff. “I hate that thing. Never again, okay?”
Achilles steps from the darkness of his shadows, the white streaking through his black hair gleaming under the light of the moon. He takes a deep breath with closed eyes. When he opens them again, tears shimmer. “I thought I’d never see this place again.”
I can’t help the guilt that burns in my stomach. Or the worry. Achilles risked his life to protect me in the big wide, but returning to Talaron might be just as dangerous for him. If not more so. “You’re off to Easton Port?” I ask.
Chilli nods. “I have family there that will take me in.”
“It’s been twenty-five years, Chilli. What if they’re no longer there? What if they’re… Maybe they’ve passed since you were last here?”
“All will be well. Don’t waste your time worrying about me. You have bigger things to deal with.” He grips my shoulder. “Be safe.”
I rest my hand over his. “You, too. I’ll see you soon, okay?”
He smiles as the shadows merge around him once more. They darken and almost solidify, sucking him into their abyss. A weight settles in my stomach when he disappears from view; a weight of worry that’s sure to remain until I know he’s safe.
“So, how do we play this?” asks Juniper. “Backtrack through the jungle, making it seem like we were there all along, or portal to Alston Knoll to rush our return?”
“Both have their own merits. I think a portal, though. The king’s guards might still be with Damita. If you hurry back, her claim holds no weight,” says Rone, finally returning from making sure the area is secure, or whatever he was doing.
