The Lost Alliance (The Nihryst Book 3) Read online

  The Lost Alliance: The Nihryst Book Three

  Copyright © June 2021 by Cait Marie

  All rights reserved.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and events are used fictitiously and any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons is entirely coincidental.

  This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Printed in the United States of America

  Edited by – Melissa @BooklyStyle

  Proofread by – Leah Miller

  Cover Design by – Maria Spada

  Dedication

  To Kat and Brandi… it’s finally done!

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Epilogue

  The Missing Crown: Chapter 1

  Also by Cait Marie

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  Chapter 1

  Adalina

  10 months earlier…

  “Again, but this time, angle your hips this direction,” Michel said, coming up to stand behind Ada. With his hands on her waist, he turned her away from the target more.

  Ada ignored the heat rising to her cheeks as he stepped closer. She pulled the bowstring taut and held her breath.

  “No,” he whispered against her ear. His hand slid to her stomach. “Breathe. Keep both eyes on the target. Take a slow deep breath, and release on your exhale.”

  One hand went to her elbow, lifting it slightly, but his other lingered across her abdomen, making it incredibly difficult to focus. She did as he instructed. She aimed, inhaled, and…

  Missed the target completely.

  She let out a groan, and Michel chuckled at her back. Whirling around, she pointed a finger at his chest. “This is your fault. You’re too distracting.”

  He laughed harder, taking the bow from her and tossing it to the ground. With a raised brow and a mischievous grin, he said, “Is that so?”

  As he lunged for her, she let out a shriek. She tried to turn, but he wrapped both arms around her. The sudden motion caught her off guard, and she tumbled to the soft grass below, pulling him down with her. They laughed and rolled until they both lay on their sides facing each other.

  Michel reached out and twirled a piece of her hair around his finger that had come loose from her braid. “My graceful princess.”

  His arms wound around her as she curled into his chest. She looked at the peaceful gardens surrounding them. While Michel’s mother treated Ada as her own daughter, welcoming her into their home each summer, she did not approve of her training with weapons. Ada had all but mastered throwing a dagger, but her archery needed work. When Michel suggested moving one of the targets to the far corner of the gardens, hidden from the castle’s view by tall grasses, bushes, and the occasional tree, Ada had agreed immediately. They’d spent most of their summers running through the gardens as children, she doubted the queen would suspect. If anything, she would likely assume they were sneaking off to be together. And as soon as that became a concern, their time alone would end entirely.

  Though, they’d already been as close as two people could be. She’d let him into her bed over a year earlier when he’d stayed in Detmarya. There’d been a terrible storm in the middle of the night, something that had always frightened her. Knowing this, Michel had gone to check on her. When she asked him to stay, he’d only hesitated a moment for her sake. She’d insisted it was fine—that any guards who might have seen him were sworn to secrecy. In the end, he stayed to comfort her, but it didn’t stop there. She’d felt so whole that night, knowing just how much she loved him. Leaving him at the end of the summer became more difficult each year.

  Tilting her chin up, Michel asked, “What are you thinking so hard about?”

  She raised up on one elbow to look down at him. “How much I don’t want this to end.”

  “Maybe it doesn’t have to,” he said, running a hand down her arm. “I know we should wait until after Shane’s betrothal announcement, but—”

  Cutting off his words, Ada pressed her mouth to his. His fingers trailed up to the side of her neck to hold her close. Her lips parted with a gasp as he gently pushed her back until he hovered over her.

  “All right, enough,” a voice called out. Footsteps stomped through the grass toward where Ada and Michel untangled themselves and sat up. Shane scowled at them with crossed arms. “Don’t make me send my best man after you for corrupting my sister.”

  “Maybe she’s the one corrupting me,” Michel teased as he stood. “Besides, do you really think he could defeat me?”

  Shane held out a hand to help Ada up. “Oh, Phillip could absolutely beat you.”

  On her feet, Ada looked over his shoulder to Phillip, who winked. She grinned, happy he’d joined them this year on the visit to Rayerna. He’d gone with them a few times in the past but not always. And not in the last five years. Since he’d joined the guard, he’d worked throughout their kingdom in various places until Shane insisted the captain reassign him to the royal family.

  Ada stepped between Shane and Michel. “All right, boys, let’s not break the centuries-long treaty on my account.”

  Phillip moved around Shane and handed her a dull blade. “Shall we practice so you can defend your own honor, Princess?”

  She rolled her eyes at their best friend. “You know I hate it when you call me that. But yes.”

  Shane took out his own practice sword. Within minutes, the four of them paired up and moved back and forth. As Ada’s blade met Michel’s above their heads, she raised her other hand to brace herself.

  “You’re much better at this than archery,” he said.

  Using all her strength, she pushed him away with a grunt. “I may have been practicing at home with Phillip.” She twirled the blade around. “He taught me a few things.”

  As she charged him again, he met her force with his own. She feigned left, and spinning in the opposite direction, she knocked him to the ground. Stepping on the end of his faux sword, Ada knelt with her own to his throat.

  “Remind me never to face you in real combat,” he said, smiling.

  With a soft laugh, she leaned forward to kiss his cheek.

  Chapter 2

  Shane

  Present time…

  “Long live the king!”

  Shane took a deep breath, looking out at the chanting crowd. He felt as if he might get sick. He’d prepared for this moment his entire life, but he never thought it would come so soon.

  A pair of hazel eyes met his from below the dais, and Phillip gav
e him a subtle nod of reassurance. The corner of Shane’s mouth twitched as Phillip nudged Adalina at his side. She moved to the steps and curtsied, swearing her allegiance before lifting the hem of her voluminous lavender dress and taking her place beside him. Shane reached down to squeeze her hand, and though she smiled at him, it didn’t reach her eyes.

  Phillip was next, and seeing him kneel before him made Shane’s pulse flutter. When he stepped aside to let a couple dozen guards move forward, Shane wanted to call him back. He wanted Phillip with him as he’d always been throughout their lives.

  The royal guards all knelt to take their oaths of fealty. Those on his counsel followed suit, and as soon as they finished, the chanting started again. As did the celebrating.

  Music filled the air as musicians in the corner of the large throne room began playing. Some people started dancing while others moved toward the outer walls to mingle. Shane turned to his sister, holding on to her arm before she could disappear.

  “I’m fine,” she said.

  “Clearly.”

  Adalina glared at him, shaking him off to cross her arms. He knew she was struggling with this coronation. With him officially king, it made everything all the more real. Their father was still locked in his rooms, and they had a physician sign the claim that he was unfit to rule. Between that and aiding them in creating a cure for the Kald, Talia had become an essential member of their staff the past month.

  Shane pulled Adalina closer. “I’m still here.”

  Her relationship with their father was complicated at best, but he was their only family left. And, with Lee gone…

  “I know,” she whispered just as a throat cleared. They both looked over to see Phillip motion them down the steps. Shane led Adalina to the floor by the arm, knowing they needed to join the celebration—as solemn as it was. Their kingdom was still recovering from so much loss because of the Kald. Though Shane’s health was back to normal, it had taken weeks. And those throughout the kingdom had more diluted tonics with the Heulwen’s healing properties.

  The Heulwen held a vast power that could only be used by the true heirs of Rayerna unless they allowed others to touch it. For weeks, they’d gone around giving small doses to those infected, but there were so many, and it was hard to determine who needed it the most.

  Once Loxley granted the royal family, Phillip, and Talia permission to use the flower, they found that they could distribute its particles in pouches of fabric, making it so others didn’t need to touch it. Because of its strength, the smaller villages would only need a fraction of a single petal. Tomorrow, a dozen guards were heading out in different directions, each carrying a small portion of the golden dust to sprinkle in the wells across the kingdom. None knew the truth of what they carried other than that it was a remedy to the sickness plaguing their people.

  “Shane?”

  The king shook his head. “Sorry, what?”

  Phillip smirked. “I asked if you were paying attention.”

  “I was thinking about tomorrow,” he said, still holding on to Adalina’s arm. She looked about as distant as he felt, and he wondered if her thoughts were on a ship somewhere in the southern islands.

  “We’ll deal with tomorrow when it comes.” Phillip stepped closer. “Tonight, we’re celebrating you.”

  “It feels wrong after everything.” Shane glanced around the eloquent room and the people dressed in their best. Tall, carved columns supported an arched ceiling, and stained-glass windows lined the upper portion of the high western walls. When the sun set, it cast a beautiful, colorful glow about the room, and it was one of Shane’s favorite parts of the castle.

  Phillip brushed his hand along the back of Shane’s. “Then, let’s celebrate that you are here, alive. Both of you.”

  At that, Adalina stiffened.

  “Ada—”

  But she was already pulling out of Shane’s grasp. She stormed away from them, through the throngs of people. Shane watched as Gwyn tried and failed to stop her on the way out of the room.

  “I don’t know what to do,” Shane whispered.

  Phillip’s fingers hooked around his, hidden by his body angled toward Shane. “Just give her some time.”

  “It’s been almost a month.” Shane turned toward his friend.

  “I see she’s not adjusting,” Gwyn’s voice cut in as she made her way to them.

  Shane let out a breath, his shoulders dropping. “She won’t talk to us.”

  “Any idea when Lee will be back?” Her long black dress made her green eyes more vibrant, reminding him that she was the immortal’s distant relative. She was a descendant of Lee’s sister, Willa, making her a princess in her own right, should she ever claim the title.

  The pirate and his crew had gone to distribute the flower in the south where the Kald had spread. They’d left within days of the curse breaking—of Adalina sacrificing herself and returning to life. A shiver ran through Shane’s body at the reminder. Seeing his sister dead, blood pooling on the cobblestones beneath her, was an image he’d never forget.

  It had destroyed Lee too. So much that he had attacked his second in command, blaming her for leaving Adalina alone. No one could stop him. It wasn’t until Ren stepped between them, taking a sword to the stomach in place of Brienne, that the immortal’s rage ceased. They’d expected Ren to come back as the Nihryst always did, but his sister’s sacrifice had freed them from their curse. All of them were mortal.

  Well, almost all of them. Lee was still immortal. And when Adalina returned to life, they discovered she was too. They didn’t know why.

  “Soon, I hope,” Shane said to Gwyn. On top of dealing with her new immortality, Adalina was hurt by Lee’s departure. She had wanted to go with them but was in shock for days. The crew left in the dark, early hours without so much as a goodbye. It took at least a week to get to the southern islands, so Shane expected them to return any time now. Though, some questioned whether they would return at all now that the rest of the crew was free.

  “Your Majesty,” a deep voice called out.

  Phillip released Shane’s hand as they both turned toward one of his advisors.

  “Good evening, Lord Harold.” Shane tried to erase the worry from his features.

  The older man inclined his head. “Sire, I was wondering if everything was ready for tomorrow.”

  Nodding, Shane said, “Yes, the cure is ready to go out with riders at first light. And I will personally be taking some down to the wells in the village here with some of my men.”

  “Good, good.” Lord Harold had served the kingdom since before Shane’s birth, though he’d stayed away from court as much as possible for years. He had proven himself loyal multiple times in the last few months, however. Shane trusted him more than most of his council and sought out the man’s guidance when he initially tried to claim the throne. The noble had supported him without hesitation, admitting the reason he’d left court a decade ago was because of Shane’s father and the greed he’d seen within the former king.

  “Your Majesty, a word?” Phillip said before more could be discussed.

  Shane’s brow furrowed, but he agreed and excused himself, patting Gwyn on the shoulder as he passed. He followed Phillip to the far corner of the dais. Phillip reached back to grab his arm then tugged him out of sight behind the nearest ornate column.

  “What’s wrong?” Shane asked, leaning against the marble.

  “You were just crowned King. This is a celebration, not time for work.”

  “It’s my duty—”

  “It can wait until tomorrow,” Phillip interrupted, erasing the space between them. He braced himself with one hand on the pillar beside Shane’s head as he leaned in. “You deserve one night to relax.”

  “You know that’s not how this works.” Smiling, Shane traced a hand down the front of Phillip’s navy jacket. The uniform was pristine with golden buttons and pins across the shoulder indicating his position as Captain of the Guard. Shane pulled on the lapels, bringing Ph
illip impossibly close.

  Heat filled Phillip’s gaze, and he brushed his lips across Shane’s once, twice. When he leaned back, Shane sighed.

  “We should get back out there before someone notices their king is missing,” Phillip whispered.

  With a hand on Phillip’s waist, Shane said, “Or we can say I’m not feeling well, and then we can both disappear for the rest of the night.”

  “I like the way you think.” Phillip smiled against Shane’s mouth. “But I’m fairly certain a blond little girl is looking for us right now, and you know there’s no escaping that one.”

  Indeed, Shane heard Carys calling Phillip’s name. He laughed and kissed Phillip once more. “Fine, let’s go get your sister before she causes someone else to come find us.”

  They rounded the column and spotted the young girl. Her blond curls bounced as she turned around in her search. As soon as she saw them, her eyes widened. She raced toward them, and Shane easily scooped her up into his arms. Some nearby watched him with smiles, no doubt wondering when he’d marry and have children of his own. The thought made his chest tighten. He knew he needed heirs to pass the crown on, but…

  He glanced back to Phillip who stepped up beside him.

  As if she could sense his unease, Carys wrapped her arms around Shane’s neck. “You’re the king now.”