“This is Barnabus, my most loyal companion,” the Empress explained as she kissed the side of his face. His beady black eyes were staring so intently into my own that I felt he was examining my soul. It was quite unnerving.
Until I heard Dakath make an underhanded sarcastic comment about Elijah always being second to a bat. I loved when his personality shone through and it seemed to be happening more and more.
I tried to hold back a fit of laughter, worried I would make the Empress mad, by slapping a hand over my mouth. I relaxed as she rolled her eyes and let out a long-suffering sigh, as if she was amused and unsurprised by their antics.
“Please stand. All of you.”
The Empress turned, returning to her seat upon her throne. I took the opportunity to fall back to stand in line with everyone else. As she crossed one leg over the other, relaxing into her seat, she asked the two guards to fetch refreshments.
As they left, her focus once more fell on me.
Kolvar and Dakath were quick to grab each of my hands in a show of support, which made the Empress’s brows raise. I fought the desire to avert my gaze from hers, not wanting her to think me weak. For some reason, I wanted to prove my worth so that she wouldn’t be so quick to send us back. I was positive that I could find a place, a purpose here, in the Tridian Empire. All we needed was a chance.
“So, Elijah,” she began, moving her gaze to him. “You were sent for reconnaissance and returned with four civilians. To say I’m surprised by this deviation of the plan is an understatement. Do you care to explain?”
The vampyre in question took a few steps forward and bowed his head. It was clear that all of them had respect for their Empress, and a small part of me, because of her beauty and her confidence in the power she wielded, felt a bit lacking in comparison. The other two Lords were holding my hands, which reassured me greatly, and when Elijah lifted his head to speak, I only saw respect in his eyes.
It wasn’t the same way he watched me, and the contrast only made the conversation I’d overheard earlier that much more enlightening.
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty. I know that this is unexpected, but I found myself unable to leave them after what we experienced in those lands. It is as horrid as you described, perhaps even worse. If we are to be reprimanded, place it all on me. I was the point of this mission, and its deviation falls to me.”
I didn’t like that. I wanted to run forward and defend him, but Kolvar and Dakath’s grips on my hands tightened the second I tried to step forward.
The Empress was quiet, examining his expression before moving towards me once more. She nodded to herself while reaching up to scratch Barnabus’s chin. “Very interesting, this turn of events.”
Interestingwas completely an apt word to describe all of this.
Her next question caused the room to still. “Is she worth going to war for?”
ChapterThirteen
Kyella
Elijah was quick to respond to her question. “Worth going to war for? Kyella is human, why would she be important enough to the Emperor for him to wage war?”
I knew from overhearing his conversation with Kolvar on the boat that he didn’t even believe his words himself. Elijah was also suspicious of there being something unique and different about me, so to hear him play that off to his ruler spoke volumes. I couldn’t help but love that he was standing up for me.
A smile tugged at her lips. “Even if that were true, she admitted moments ago that she’s directly tied to the Emperor. You think he will take that insult lightly if he hears of us harboring his prized possession?”
Dakath let go of my hand and stepped forward next to Elijah. “To answer your question, Your Majesty, yes, Kyella is worth waging war for.”
My eyes widened at his bold answer, feeling breathless for a moment at the significance of it. I looked up at Kolvar to gauge his reaction.
“I agree,” Kolvar added, squeezing my hand.
This was insanity.I didn’t want anyone to go to war over me. I couldn’t deny, though, that never in my life had I felt as valued and protected, even cherished, as I did right now. These men barely knew me, yet they were willing to wage war to protect me from Malakai? How could they feel that intensely over my well-being and future?
I paused at that though. I’d experienced the same intense reaction to them, hadn’t I? I just hadn’t assumed they would feel it on the same level.
The Empress diverted her attention to behind me as she spoke to Tristan, ignoring their statements. “Your family is welcome to stay here. We will find a home and jobs for you to sustain yourselves soon. For now, you are welcome to stay in a room within the palace.”
I turned back to the three of them, smiling at Bailey who looked on the verge of tears. Tristan offered the Empress a sharp head nod before offering me a small one, his eyes warm.
They were safe.Malakai wouldn’t get his hands on them.
“Yay! Thank you, lady!” Rina’s tinkling voice called out. I looked back to the Empress, noting the smile on her face.
“You are most welcome, young lady.”
