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Her father’s demand that she decide between the princes of the Lands of Eiros bothered her, but at least her status wouldn’t faze them. The princes were powerful in their own right and understood her responsibilities, being firstborn children of a royal couple. Their family also understood magic more than most since their ancestors created the magical language, the Ancient Tongue. The twins were exceptionally skilled in it, so even if they weren’t warriors, they would have something in common with Naya.
She stepped forward, her brows furrowing, her eyes skimming the sharp silhouette of the dark city. In fact, she had a lot in common with the twins. Maybe if she chose one of them, they would understand each other better than if she mated with Lonn. A union with one of the princes could lead to a successful rule and solidify relations with the Lands of Eiros, a separate continent from the Lox Empire.
However, not being from Lox culture and understanding the rich and glowing history of the empire could cause problems as well. The Lands of Eiros didn't have a glowing history. It was known to be more corrupt than any other Land. Things had improved since her father and King Malloron called a truce and the princes were born, but Naya suspected their views on life would differ greatly from hers.
Maybe Papa was right. Maybe holding out for her true mate while her people were pleading for help was selfish. And maybe being with her true mate didn't matter as much as she thought. What proof did she really have? Could she really base everything on what she’d seen with her parents and the opinion of her beta grandmother?
Her people were relying on her to help them now. If many died while she was endlessly looking for her mate, how could she argue that she was doing the right thing?
She needed to decide.
Naya pulled her robes around her again, uncomfortable with the weight of the decision. As much as she still desperately believed that finding her mate would be the answer, she couldn’t make her people suffer any longer than necessary. In fact, the least she could do out of respect for the people who died was explore an arranged marriage and not outright reject the idea.
She would meet with Lonn again this week as well as both princes. Maybe meeting them would help give her clarity. One of them may even have ideas she hadn’t thought of to help the people of Saderthorne. She doubted it, but it was possible. It would be a while before she’d know if this direction was the right one, but she had to at least take this step.
She lifted her gaze from the city, its dark contours sharp under the smooth sheet of velvet sky and let out a long sigh, watching the fog of her breath escape up to the moon.
A huge hand clamped over her mouth.
CHAPTER FIVE
Huge and tight, the hand gripped her whole chin and covered her mouth and nose, cutting off most of her ability to breathe. Her attacker yanked her head and she stumbled back into a tall, thick body whose arm wrapped around her, locking her own crossed arms tight.
Surprise immobilized Naya, but only for the time it took her to blink.
She jerked her head back, trying to smash it into her assailant's nose but only hit their chest. Alarm gripped her. This person was incredibly strong and had enveloped her in the wideness of his body.
Alpha.
He dragged her backward, pulling her toward the trees. She kicked at his legs and tried to uncross her arms from the pressure of his thick arm, but his hold on her was firm.
Twisting her body slightly, she loosened one of her arms and jabbed her elbow repeatedly into his lower ribs. In response, her assailant twisted his massive body out of the way, but that was all she needed.
She twisted back in the other direction and elbowed him in the center of his torso. He bent forward, his arm loosening a little, and Naya tried to push out of his grip, but he yanked her back against him, this time wrapped both arms around her. She fought against his weight, struggling against the pressure clenching in from all sides. He began to move again, backward into the forest.
Naya stilled for a moment, breathing heavily. All she was doing was wasting her energy. This was an Alpha. He was stronger than her—a physical struggle wasn’t how she would get away.
Sending her will out into the cool night, she called on magic and sent a scissoring, twisting sliver of it into the flesh of his arm. It dug deep, gouging a spurting wound along his forearm.
He inhaled sharply, but his arm didn’t twitch.
Lifting her left foot and with her free hand, Naya eased out a small dagger from the back of her boot. Gripping the handle tight, she drove it into him, just above the knee where the connecting tissue would be most painful.
Finally, the Alpha let out a grunt and his arm went slack.
Naya pushed away from him and shot into the forest.
Thousands of thoughts surged through her mind as she weaved through the trees—who was this man? How did he get this far into the forest? Was this one of Papa’s tests? She forced herself to concentrate on escaping; this wasn't the time to figure out any of those answers.
She was smaller and faster, she needed to get into the hard knit of the trees and he wouldn’t be able to follow. No Alpha could brute force their way through those tightly knotted branches.
Still, a shiver shunted down her spine that he’d managed to come so close without a single sound. No Lox warrior should be caught so unaware. Papa would be ashamed she’d let her honed instincts slip.
She glanced behind her and out of the corner of her eye, a dark form darted through the trees. He was quiet. No leaves crunched under his feet, no branches snapped, not even the panting of his breath reached her. It was like being chased by a shadow. It occurred to her that he hadn't even cried out when she stabbed him.
Ignoring her growing unease, she weaved among the trees. Even though she couldn’t hear him, she sensed he was gaining on her. She had to go deeper into the forest to escape him.
She approached the thick-knit trees and extended her will, yanking the ancient magic from its sleepy, drifting listlessness and into movement. It took a moment to respond, but just as she was about to slam into the branches, they swiftly recoiled creating a passageway so dark she sensed it rather than saw it.
