Free Lost Princess by Dani-Lyn Alexander Page B

for Jackson. He gave no warning, simply launched himself toward the throne, a look of pure hatred marring his—unfortunately handsome—features. The chains secured to the ring in the floor brought him up short. They held fast no matter how violently he fought against them. “I’ll kill you, you bastard.” Spittle sprayed from his mouth.
    “I see you remember.” Jackson remained seated. No sense further provoking the man. He obviously wasn’t ready to surrender to Jackson’s demands.
    “When I get my hands on you, you are a dead man.”
    “Yeah…about that. I should explain that Cymmerans are infinitely stronger and faster than humans. We are also…difficult to kill.” Jackson shrugged. There was no reason to explain that Cymmerans were pretty close to immortal. He’d figure it out on his own soon enough. Or someone would tell him. He grinned. “But you are certainly welcome to give it your best shot.”
    “You think you’re funny?” Noah stopped struggling against his bonds. “Release me, and we’ll see who has the last laugh.”
    “I can see you’re not yet ready to accept my terms. Therefore, you will be returned to the dungeon until such time as you change your mind.” In a way, Jackson was relieved the soldier hadn’t given up so easily. It showed the strength of character Jackson had expected. He reached for a rope, which hung beside the throne, but the grin that spread across the other man’s face stilled his hand.
    “What about Ryleigh? Is she a prisoner as well? Did she give in to your demands to keep from being imprisoned for the rest of her life?”
    Jackson curled his hand into a fist. He allowed it to hover an inch from the rope that would sound a bell calling the guards to return the prisoner to his cell. Blind rage seared his brain, clouding his thoughts. He stood and let his fist fall to his side, descended the two steps in front of the throne, and crossed the short distance to the prisoner. He stood toe to toe with the other man and lifted a finger to point in his face. “Don’t you ever mention Ryleigh’s name in my presence. Do you understand me? You leave her out of—”
    Noah moved with the speed of lightning, opening his mouth and grabbing Jackson’s finger between his teeth, grinding down.
    Without thinking, Jackson punched him in the temple.
    Noah’s jaw loosened, releasing its hold on Jackson’s finger as he fell unconscious to the ground and smacked his head against the stone floor.
    Well…that could have gone better.
    He strode to the rope, rang for the guards to remove the prisoner, and studied the wound on his finger. Not that it hurt—having already begun to heal—but he couldn’t believe the other man had bested him. Jackson was a Death Dealer. He’d trained for hundreds of years to achieve that calling. Yet he’d been attacked by a human, because he’d gotten too close, had allowed his emotions to get the best of him because of…
    Ryleigh—she was going to be the death of him…one way or another.
     
     

Chapter 4
     
    “So…What are you going to do now?” Mia tilted her head, concern settling in her eyes.
    Ryleigh shook her head. How much should she even tell Mia? She’d given her a condensed version of events, only because she didn’t want her to hear it from someone else. Gossip seemed to run as rampant in Cymmera as it did in her own realm. “I really don’t know.” She shrugged. “I suppose we’ll talk about it and work things out when he calms down.”
    Jackson had been so angry last time she’d seen him. The look he’d given her had been filled with…hatred? Did he hate her? Would he ever talk to her again? Pain lanced her heart.
    “Are you going to apologize?”
    “For what?”
    Mia’s answering grin was a gentle reminder she had stood her ground because she firmly believed she was right.
    It warmed Ryleigh’s heart but did nothing to ease the ache that had settled there. “I didn’t do anything to him.” She couldn’t help