Free Regius by Nastasia Peters Page A

and
spring to action to fend off the dead speaker. But when the
Prince's eyes locked with those of his victim, all the darkness
that had ruled him for the past minutes dissipated.
    His eyes widened as he
released the boy and when he stumbled off him and back, the Altor
sat up coughing and trying to regain his breath.
    "Calycanthus." Galax
whispered, his chest tightening and his own breathing becoming
elaborate as he took in Solenum's best friend. Before he could
truly grasp what he had nearly allowed to happen and how he could
have let the strength rule him like it never had before, a blinding
pain radiated throughout his entire body. Grunting, the Prince fell
to his knees as he reached up to grab the hilt of the Keeper's
dagger that had stabbed its way through his arm.
    "Get up." He heard Datura
say to Calycanthus and when Galax looked up from the ground, he saw
the Keeper push the boy behind him, purposely putting himself in
harm’s way to protect him.
    Groaning in pain, Galax
fought the faintness threatening to push him into the world of
unconsciousness as he quickly pulled the dagger out, angrily
flinging it to the feet of the Keeper. When Datura unhooked his
second dagger from his belt, Galax realized that he had every
intention of ending his life. The surprise that washed over him was
nearly more overwhelming than the stab had been. The Keeper knew who Galax was, yet
he would break the rules and kill the Regius heir for
Calycanthus.
    "Wait." The boy spoke,
grabbing Datura's wrist. "He stopped when he recognized me." His
yellow eyes fixed on the Prince; Calycanthus took both daggers and
threw them across the training ground, out of reach.
    "He knows everyone in this
place, Cali." The Keeper growled. Galax had never seen those red
eyes glare.
    "Not me." Calycanthus
argued. "He isn't supposed to know me." When the boy was about to
walk over to Galax, the Keeper seemed to display as much trouble in
restraining himself as the Prince did. Calycanthus stopped him
again. "You've told me since the very beginning that he shouldn't
be feared." Galax couldn't see the boy's face, but his words seemed
to help fade some of the anger Datura was harboring. "He stopped
with me and if he is as good as you claimed him to be, then you
know that he would have stopped with anybody else in this place as
well." Calycanthus implored.
    The Keeper needed a while
before he detached his eyes off Galax and turned his gaze to the
boy, but when he finally did, he nodded at Calycanthus and allowed
him to make his way over.
    "Are you okay?" The boy
asked as he crouched down before the Prince and pushed away his
hand to get a better look at the wound. Galax let him, dumbfounded
at Calycanthus' kindness. He'd thought Solenum would be the most
unexplainable between the two cousins, yet here he sat,
corrected.
    "I'll be fine." Galax
muttered uncomfortably.
    "He's a pure blood; it'll
heal in less than a day without stitches." Datura told the boy.
"Especially since he's given into his nature as of
late."
    Calycanthus nodded over at
the Keeper before returning his yellow gaze to the Prince. "What
happened to make you flee?"
    Gritting his teeth, Galax
stood, allowing the boy to help him do so. "I will tell you, but
first you need to bring me somewhere private where your trainers
won't find me." His heart began to race wildly again as he thought
of Solenum. "If they know I'm here, they'll inform Flux
and-"
    Datura cut in. "And
apparently you don't want that." Walking over, the Keeper nudged
Calycanthus aside and took over keeping the Prince on his feet.
"Cali, go to the infirmary and get the kit to disinfect and
bandage. Be quick before the others return." The boy nodded and did
as was instructed, leaving the Keeper to guide Galax over to a room
he assumed to be Datura or Calycanthus' quarters.
    "I apologize for nearly
killing you." The dead speaker said.
    "I threatened something
that is dear to you, apparently ." Galax grunted out. The
Keeper kicked the door