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This weakness was abhorrent.
She could sense the curious glances from the other women, and ignored them. She was silent, while they chattered incessantly. If only they knew a Darkan sat with them.
After three days of travelling and resting at inns, they entered a sentried gated post to Nuria, which appeared to be manned by hundreds of ever vigilant warriors. The Arian warrior handed the sentries some papers, then they were waved through. Their carriage sped past rolling mountains and forest dense with massive, thick trees. They raced across vast flatlands for miles before they entered the hub of Adara—one of the most powerful and glamorous cities in the seven kingdoms of Amagarie. Adara teemed with life, and energy pulsed and cackled like the flames the Nurians wielded.
Hundreds of people swarmed the paved streets. Harps played and music danced on the air, and combining with the buzz of a multitude of voices, they gave life to the city in a way Tehdra had never seen or heard. Naiyma—the capital city of the Darkage never had such bustle, nor was there so many Darkans gathered in one place at a time. Madness. She listened to the laughter, the revelry, smelled the spices and slightly hummed to the music. The number of people gathered in one place was considered by Tehdra to be foolhardy. They could so easily be attacked, and defense would be difficult with so large a crowd. Darkans who accessed their demon beast’s chakra fed from the negative energy others released. Instinctively, she inhaled, seeking the darkest of emotions. Her beast was completely suppressed, and no negative emotions rushed in to fill her.
How fascinating.
Tehdra’s breath caught as they came upon the castle Shelah. Beautiful. The castle, a mixture of grey stone and white marble, stood several stories high and stretched for miles. Green grass surrounded the keep, and the waters of the lake glistened and shimmered under the sun. Towering trees rose and spread for miles to the entrance of the castle. It was like a city unto itself with dozens of turrets, arches and balconies with majestic glass windows that twinkled with pinpoints of light under the vicious sun. Tehdra almost choked when she realized that precious gems, diamonds, rubies, emerald and stones of amethyst formed the huge sigil of the ruling house—the Phoenyx.
A party of ten warriors appeared, moving like graceful predators. The other haris nervously clutched each other, and some vibrated with excitement. They were really daft. The realms hovered on the brink of war, and they only wanted to spread their legs for King Ajali.
The carriage door opened. Liveried servants ushered them out, and she held herself still at the cursory inspection by an official. With an imperious command, he bade them to follow.
Tehdra’s gut tightened, and anxiety seared her. Perhaps the other haris were not so silly after all. Her darkness thought the king was its mate…their mate. She hoped the quick, but powerful flare of hunger for him would not be repeated, because then her mission would be compromised. Protection of her mate would supersede everything else, whether she claimed him or not. The idea was unbearable. She would have to do all in her power to complete her directives without calling forth her demon beast. That way she would not have to suffer the call to mate with a man who would revile her, nor could she ever betray her kingdom.
Chapter Two
“It appears congratulations are not in order,” Uriah drawled. “Unless the rumors that pepper the streets of Adara are wrong?”
Ajali glanced at his younger brother who sat on his desk with a sardonic twist of his lips. “They are not wrong. I have returned without Princess Saieke, and we are not in allegiance with Boreas.”
There was a light pause before Uriah responded, “You do not seem disturbed at all. Rumor has it that the Borean princess is stunningly made.”
“Ah,” Ajali said. “I was not interested in the princess’ charms, brother. Her mountains and elixir, however, are another matter.” The great chair scraped as Ajali stood and stalked to the windows, restless energy eating at him from inside. He needed unlimited access to the elixir—the most desired commodity Boreas possessed which had the ability to heal any wound instantly. They were not the only kingdom to possess the elixir. Caelum, the kingdom of water, possessed the elixir in similar abundance, but they were the farthest realm from Nuria. And Caelum also chose to isolate their kingdom behind a wall of impenetrable water. Most of the city itself was below Amagarie’s oceans. Boreas had therefore been his strategic aim for an alliance. Boreas and Caelum controlled a powerful bargaining tool in their healing elixir and they hoarded it like misers.
“Well I suppose it’s fortunate that you escaped such a cold-blooded union. For it would have been one if you had no interest in the princess’ charms,” Uriah said.
Ajali ignored his brother’s penetrating gaze that seemed to search for signs that he was distressed. There were none. He had suffered a significant loss in the silent war being waged against his kingdom. But he would not waste time lamenting. Instead he concentrated on plotting with decisive ruthlessness how to protect his people from the dangers that stalked them—war and anarchy.
“Did I misunderstand the urgency in which you wanted the allegiance with the kingdom of winds and mountains?” Uriah pushed himself off the desk, striding to the mantel where he poured two goblets of wine. He sauntered over to Ajali, handing him a goblet.
“At one point, it seemed that was your only goal as you worked to manipulate the king of Boreas.”
Ajali grunted. For months he had sought to influence the Borean king until the man pledged his daughter to Ajali. He’d arrived in Boreas a couple weeks ago to marry Princess Saieke, only to discover she had fled and fallen in love with a man who belonged to one of the vilest races of the Amagarians, betraying the oath her father had made with Nuria. It befuddled Ajali that with the whispers of war rioting through Amagarie, the princess had been foolish enough to be pursuing love. For him, nothing was more crucial than protecting his kingdom. The brutal lesson of choosing one person over the life of many had been etched in his heart and soul. Love was a pervasive weakness.
“Rumors say that a Darkan has mated her?” Uriah asked in the silence.
“You seem well informed, kalij,” Ajali said as he sipped deeply of the wine, his hand the only part of him in motion.
Uriah chuckled. “It’s my job to be informed as brother and advisor to the king. I have my spies, and you have yours, Ajali. There are murmurs in the city that our people feel they have been dishonored. We will need to prevent any movements against the princess’ kingdom.”
Ajali raised his brow, shifting to capture his brother’s hazel eyes. Coldness flowed through his veins. “We have been dishonored. We will squash no murmurings, and we will see how we can gain from such disquiet. I need leverage to manipulate the King and Queen of Boreas.”
The door flung open, and Ajali’s eyes flicked to his most trusted high chancellor, Bastien who entered with a parchment in his hand.
“News and greeting from the King of Aria,” Bastien said, handing Ajali the scroll, removing the goblet from Ajali’s hands.
He unrolled the parchment, scanned it and raised his brows. “It seems as if King Valius delivered me gifts in honor of my allegiance with Boreas,” Ajali murmured, feeling some amusement. The reaction of the seven rea
lms as they learned he lost the allegiance would be interesting.
Uriah took the parchment and perused it intently.
“Did he also send a chest of the precious gems they are known for?” Bastien queried, sinking into a great chair.
“Several chests, along with ten of the most beautiful women of Aria to join my harem. He hopes my queen and I will enjoy his gifts thoroughly,” Ajali said flatly.
