Child of Beauty (Prophecy Series) Page 12

  Ederra briefly glanced at her husband. She’d been sixteen when she’d fallen in love with King Navion. But he was married to his beloved queen. He’d only accepted her as his mistress because his wife was having trouble bearing him an heir. Ederra had gotten pregnant almost right away.

  However, instead of accepting Sage as his heir, King Navion had ordered his most loyal soldier to marry Ederra. Three months later, Ederra had given birth to her son. Viktor claimed the boy as his own, even though they both knew he wasn’t the father. Viktor still didn’t know who Sage’s true father was. Only she and the king did.

  Barrett and the other server entered the room, and Barrett was surprised to see the spill already clean. The family was seated, as if nothing had happened.

  Barrett stared at Rayna Little. She was truly breathtaking. Her long golden-blonde hair was pinned up, and she wore an amethyst headband. She looked healthy and strong, dressed in a fitted amethyst gown with a silver beaded belt. His sister was alive. Faryn Quint, born the daughter of a blacksmith, kidnapped by a dark-haired man, sat here as Lady Rayna Little, Soldata trainee.

  Heat flashed through his body as he looked at Viktor Little. Was he looking at the face of the man who had stolen his twin sister from their bed? He turned his gaze back to her, noticing the simple metal necklace their father had made for her when they were three. A slow smile etched its way across his face. She still kept the past with her.

  Barrett glanced at Jerrika, who was speaking with one of her brothers. Did she know? He thought back to their conversations about her family. She’d never given Rayna any praise until recently. She’d said Rayna’s noble parents had sold her to a trader, who had in turn adopted her to Ederra and Viktor Little. When Aileen had met Rayna, Rayna thought he loved Jerrika to gain status.

  Did his twin really think their parents had sold her? He took a small step toward the table, but a server stopped him.

  Barrett shook his head. He had to think this through. Aileen didn’t realize Rayna was their sister Faryn, and Faryn must not know the truth about their family. Perhaps that’s why Jerrika had stopped seeing him.

  The server next to him elbowed his side. “Fill his water.”

  Barrett stepped next to Sage Little. He hoped the Soldat wouldn’t look directly at him. Barrett poured water into his glass.

  “Thank you.” Sage murmured as he glanced up.

  Their eyes met, and Sage froze. Barrett stepped back into his place on the wall.

  Sage abruptly stood. “Excuse me, but I just remembered I forgot to oil my leather. I do not want it to crack.”

  Ederra sighed. “Let one of the servants do that son.”

  “It is my responsibility.” Sage stated. “I will take one of the servers with me.” He grabbed Barrett’s arm and pulled him from the room.

  Once the two were away from the dining hall, Sage forced Barrett against the wall. “What are you doing here Barrett? Does your sister know?”

  “I swear; I didn’t come here for you.” Barrett stated. “I had no idea you were Sage Little.”

  “Then why did you come here?” Sage’s grip on Barrett’s arms didn’t loosen.

  “I came for Jerrika.” Barrett whispered. “The pearls she wore, I gave her those. I love her.”

  “You are the commoner she is in love with?” Sage gasped. “The one my mom punished her for loving?”

  Barrett nodded. “She and Rayna came by the Smithy early last month. Rayna and Ai-Sparrow got in a tense argument. Jerrika has been avoiding me since. I came here to talk with her.”

  “Are you going to tell your sister about me?”

  “It would crush her.” Barrett whispered. “If she ever finds out Jonathan Litchel is a Soldat…” He shook his head. “I couldn’t do that to her.”

  Sage’s grip loosened. “I love your sister. You must believe me Barrett.”

  “I do believe you.” Barrett looked at him and lowered his voice. “I just don’t understand any of it. You know my family began the rebellion. You got inside everything, but you haven’t made a move to hurt us yet.”

  “I will not.” Sage promised. He looked behind him, grabbed Barrett’s arm again, and walked him outside.

  “I am not loyal to the king.” Sage explained. “I used to be. I came to Kapok on my joining year. My assignment was to become Jonathan Litchel and infiltrate the rebels. But as I got to know your family and the others, I realized the king was the one who should be fought, not the rebels.”

  “You asked my sister to meet you in Derbon. Why haven’t you gone after her yet?”

  “Things got complicated when I got home.” Sage paused.

  “Did you realize who Rayna was?”

  Sage looked at Barrett, long and hard. “Just one look at her, and you knew. That is why you dropped the wine.”

  “We’re twins.”

  “I am so sorry. My parents do not know about her common bloodline.” Sage paused. “After the prophecy comes to pass, I will tell your sister everything. But until then, can I count on you to keep my secret?”

  “Yes, but I want to see my twin.”

  “I will show you the best way to sneak back in.” Sage smiled.

  ~ Chapter 26 ~

  Jerrika watched Sage haul Barrett out of their dining hall. She glanced at Rayna next to her. Rayna had been too engaged in her conversation with Fergus to realize Barrett had been staring at her. He had barely torn his gaze from Rayna to even glance at Jerrika and notice her new beautiful hair.

  She had noticed him the moment she entered the dining hall, even before he dropped the pitcher of wine upon seeing the beauty of her sister.

  Rayna had been right. Barrett didn’t care about her. Jerrika had also been right. She knew he would forget about her the moment he saw her sister.

  Envy raged through every fiber of Jerrika’s being. Barrett was her love.

  Sage eventually returned to dinner, but Barrett wasn’t with him. He glanced at Jerrika, some kind of curiosity in his eyes. She ate her meal, wanting more than anything to run from the room.

  After dinner, Rayna and Jerrika retired.

  “What is the matter?” Rayna grabbed Jerrika’s hand and led her upstairs.

  “Nothing.”

  “Do not do that.” Rayna paused. “I thought we were past all that by now.”

  “You were right, and I was right.” Jerrika let Rayna pull her into her room.

  Rayna lit a candle, and she gasped as someone shifted in the chair across from them. She pulled a dagger free from her boot.

  Barrett lit the candle closest to him, staring at Rayna. She stared back at him. Both of them were entranced. Tears burst from Jerrika’s eyes, and she fell to her knees, covering her face with her hands as her heart tore.

  “Get out of here Barrett.” Rayna’s voice was cold as she closed her door and knelt next to her sister. “Have you not hurt Jerrika enough?”

  “He is here to see you.” Jerrika blubbered. “He is not even here to see me.” She could barely breathe, and Barrett barely even looked at her. His eyes never strayed from her beautiful sister.

  Barrett rushed to them. “I came here to see you Jerrika, to find out why you haven’t come to see me. But I understand now.”

  What was he saying? He understood how beautiful Rayna was? He couldn’t love her after seeing Rayna.

  “Then you understand why I said what I did to Aileen.” Rayna stated.

  Rayna’s words comforted Jerrika through her pain, and her sister’s words were hard as she spoke to Barrett. Barrett… Rayna had said his name.

  “Wait a moment.” Jerrika paused and looked at her sister. “How did you know his name? I never told you my beau’s name.”

  “You were kidnapped.” Barrett touched Rayna’s shoulder.

  “What?” The sisters said together.

  Who was kidnapped? What was going on? Why were they acting like they’d met before? Jerrika had never realized how much they looked alike; seeing them together, their coloring was identical.
But Rayna had never been kidnapped. And how would Barrett know?

  “Our family tried to defend you, but a dark-haired noble kidnapped you. Mom, Dad, Aileen, and Peyton had no chance defending us. You and I were put under a sleeping spell. It took me three days to wake.”

  What was he saying? It was almost like they were…

  “You two are siblings?” Jerrika gasped. Was it possible? Barrett and Aileen had never mentioned a kidnapped sister, and Rayna didn’t talk about her birth family much. But it couldn’t be possible. Rayna was the daughter of a noble family, and Barrett and Aileen were commoners.

  “This is my twin sister, Faryn.” Barrett looked at Jerrika. “She was kidnapped when we were four.”

  “You never told me you had a twin.” Jerrika whispered. Her heart thudded. Barrett didn’t desire Rayna. They were siblings… Was that the secret he’d been keeping from her?

  “I do not remember anything from that night.” Rayna frowned. “I woke in a room with a woman named Wynn. She told me my parents had sold me, sacrificing me so the rest of their kids would be well off and secure. I thought Aileen had her own Smithy for that reason.”

  Barrett chuckled. “Aileen barely got that commission. You were kidnapped. Aileen can tell you everything. She was awake when it happened.”

  “Aileen will not want to see me again.”

  “She doesn’t know who you are. She’ll be thrilled to see you when she realizes you’re her sister, our sister.”

  Jerrika couldn’t believe what was happening. Her love was the biological brother of her sister, and all this time. “I always thought you were noble.”

  Rayna looked at her sister. “If your parents ever found out they adopted someone of common blood, I am pretty sure I would be killed.”

  “How come you never told me about your twin?” Jerrika looked at Barrett.

  “We never knew what happened to her or why she was kidnapped.” Barrett paused. “I can tell you ‘adopted by high nobles’ was never on our list of possible outcomes. Everyone at home pities our family, so when Aileen and I moved to Derbon, we agreed to keep our family’s misfortune secret.”

  “Home?” Jerrika paused and turned. “Kapok. That is why you never wanted to go on your joining year.”

  Rayna looked at her door. “Let us all go to the Smithy.”

  Barrett nodded.

  Rayna led the way out, but Barrett grabbed Jerrika’s wrist and pulled her back to him. “I love you Jer. If you were common, I’d love you. If you were a queen, I’d love you. If you were blind, I’d love you. Nothing will change that. I meant to come here and sweep you off your feet. I didn’t expect to discover my sister.”

  “What about the pearls Barrett?”

  “What?”

  “My mother broke my pearls, and you never insisted on fixing the necklace.”

  “The meaning behind them isn’t in the necklace, it’s in us.” Barrett took her hands. “Besides, you still have the pearls, right?”

  She nodded.

  “So you have the symbol, but it’s our love which I truly cherish.”

  Everything that had been broken inside her was suddenly strong and joy burst within. Jerrika felt like she was floating, perhaps only Barrett could keep her grounded in the moment, even though he was the cause of her soaring. Jerrika bit her lip. “I love you too Barrett. Rayna did not explain her familial connection, but what she said about your family wanting status and gaining connection made sense. I am so sorry I ever doubted you.”

  “I hope you will never be in a situation which you will have to doubt it again.”

  “No matter what happens, I promise I will never again question your love.”

  ~ Chapter 27 ~

  Rayna rode her horse, glancing as Jerrika and Barrett rode on Jerrika’s stallion together.

  Could it possibly be true? She’d long hated her parents, and she couldn’t accept the possibility her siblings had not turned out just like them. She’d been trying to protect Jerrika, but maybe if she had allowed Aileen more time, she could have explained all of this then. All this time…

  Faryn opened her eyes to see a bright white room. She sat up, surprised to feeling fine material with her fingers. She didn’t know what the material was.

  “You’re awake.” A golden-haired woman walked into the room and sat beside her. “What is your name child?”

  “Faryn.” She whispered.

  “Tell me what you remember.”

  “I was eating, and then Mum tucked Barrett and me in bed. I went to sleep.”

  “So cowardly.” The woman shook her head. “To do this while you slept.”

  “Do what?”

  “Sell you, of course.”

  “What?” She suddenly felt much more awake. Or perhaps much less? Her parents loved her. They would never sell her.

  “My name is Wynn.” The woman explained. “I am a slave runner, and your parents sold you to me. They wanted to secure their children’s futures, so they sacrificed yours.”

  Faryn’s head hurt, and she wasn’t sure what was happening. “No.” She jumped up. “Mum and Dad love me!”

  “They were either going to sell you or your brother Barrett.” Wynn replied. “But you were worth far more.”

  “This can’t be true.” Faryn insisted.

  “Your mother is Gwen Quint, and your father is Creedon.” Wynn stated. “They refused to even think of selling your sister Aileen or brother Peyton. But you and your twin were the youngest, the easiest to replace.” Wynn paused. “Your mother is pregnant.”

  “Really?” Faryn gasped.

  “You’re going to have another sister.” Wynn explained. “Which is why they sold you to me instead of your twin. You’ve already been replaced.”

  It had been her unborn sister that made Rayna realize the truth: her parents had sold her.

  But what if that had all been a lie? What if a dark-haired noble had kidnapped Faryn and been the one to sell her to Wynn, telling the slave-trader the false story. Rayna touched the metal link necklace her birth father had made her when she was three.

  Aileen frowned as she watched the night sky. She wondered where Barrett was, though she had a feeling she knew. What would the Littles do when they realized he was the common man Jerrika loved? Would Rayna tear Barrett and Jerrika apart even more? The hot-headed young woman had unjustly judged Jerrika, and she would never understand the reason. Rayna must have been waiting for the perfect time to tear Jerrika away from her common beau. Barrett had been broken hearted, and Aileen had made him promise to not seek Jerrika out. Aileen wanted Jerrika to come crawling back to them, begging Barrett to forgive her and love her once more. High nobles took everything, and they never gave anything back. Faryn was proof.

  The door swung open, and Aileen turned. She gasped as Barrett entered, followed by Jerrika and Rayna Little.

  “You’re not welcome here.” Aileen didn’t want to hear the beautiful noble speak again. Why was she here anyway? Did she want to burn their Smithy down?

  Rayna stiffened.

  “Stop it.” Barrett growled. “It’s not what you think.”

  “She was adamantly clear about her opinion of us.” Aileen disagreed.

  “She didn’t know what happened.”

  Aileen frowned. “What are you talking about Barrett?”

  “When I was three, I loved to play in the garden.” Rayna stated. “You hated that I was trampling your strawberries, so you would let me play with your dolls if I went inside.” She pulled the necklace their father had made free from under her neckline.

  Aileen’s brain froze on the image of the necklace and the memory of the story she’d mentioned. It was impossible. Aileen stepped back, and her hand hit the top of the counter. She stared at the young high noble and saw the mirror image of her little sister grown. Was it possible? How could it be? “Faryn?”

  “Barrett said I was kidnapped. Is this true?” Rayna wished with all her heart it was.

  “Mother and Father adopted her
.” Jerrika whispered.

  “When I woke up, I was at a slave-trader’s post, and the woman there told me my parents had sold me to her.” Rayna continued. “Wynn, the slave-trader, told me Mum was pregnant, so Mum and Dad had sold me to assure everyone else’s future. When she told me Mum was pregnant, I knew I was replaceable.”

  “Is that why you said what you did about Barrett?” Aileen stared. “It’s true that Mum was pregnant. We have a little sister, Delisa, but they did not sell you. Delisa’s never been your replacement.” Aileen rushed to her sister, embraced her, and wiped tears from her shocked eyes. “I was in my room when the window was smashed. I raced into the hall and was grabbed from behind. He was much larger than me, and he leveled a dagger to my throat. I saw Peyton in the kitchen; his head bled from a wound. Dad held his blade and asked the dark-haired man what he wanted.

  “The man told him he wanted to buy the younger daughter. Mum and Dad adamantly refused. The man threw me face first into the wall. Dad and Mum couldn’t stop him. I woke the next morning with a horrible headache and very nauseous. Mum and Dad were in your room. I rushed in. You were gone, and Barrett was asleep. Mum kept shaking him, screaming his name. He didn’t wake.

  “Peyton woke that afternoon, after Mum had wrapped his wound. We feared Barrett was dead. Our neighbors wanted us to bury him, but Mum and Dad refused. They’d lost one child. They wouldn’t accept losing another. Barrett finally woke after three days.”

  Rayna closed her eyes. All this time, she’d hated her parents for selling her. She believed her own siblings were capable of manipulating Jerrika into a false relationship. But none of that had happened. Barrett truly loved Jerrika, and her parents had desperately fought to protect her, to save her from some unknown noble who’d stolen her life.

  “I don’t know how I didn’t see it. You two are most definitely twins.” The next words seemed to slip from Aileen’s lips. “Dad started a rebellion against the king.”