AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“How was Suri? Is she as talented as the prince of Aria claims?”
“She left me cold.”
“Ahhh.”
“Do not start, Gavyn. Leave it be for now.”
“For now,” he murmured amusement rife in his voice. “It would not be amiss if you invited her to stay as a hari. Even your father kept his haris when he found his kala.”
“An illusion my mother allowed him. He bedded none. I would hurt my queen as I would not stay out of Tehdra’s bed. She leaves after the games.”
He ignored the tightening of his gut at his words and shook off the feeling of loss.
Gavyn handed him tightly bound parchments. “Here are all the contestants. Their kingdom, the house they originate from and their abilities. Our spies in Mevia gave no report.”
“How prepared are we?”
“Very. Thousands of warriors man the city walls and entrances. Only those invited will be allowed inside. All contestants have been vetted by Acheron and Quinn. We are delving deep to find the reason your capture is a desire of the enemy.”
“How are the protections for visiting royals?”
“Our warriors work alongside theirs. Each dignitary has their own cadre, and we offer at least forty warriors to each group. There has been no response from Mevia. All other kingdoms have sent representatives.”
“Mevia grows bolder.”
Gavyn handed him the list of the participants in the bicentenary tournament to be housed in the largest coliseum in Nuria and reputedly in Amagarie—able to seat hundreds of thousands at any given time.
Ajali scanned the list and the map showing their defense lines against attack. The details of the coliseum and every contestant and their skills were recorded. Drawings of where each house and visiting royals’ seats were recorded and the strategy for their protection outlined.
“We are prepared.”
“We are prepared, my king.”
Gavyn rolled out another map of the coliseum on the table, pointing to the manned entrances. His voice droned and Ajali barely paid any attention. He scrubbed a hand over his face, wanting to bang his head into the wall. His fears were coming to life and he was unable to stop it. She was becoming too important. Everything in him was clamoring to find her…and atone.
Kings’ fucking teeth.
***
Agony clawed at Tehdra. Ajali had only been with her a few hours ago, yet he’d had another woman pleasuring him. In ways Tehdra herself had not even experienced with him. Her mate. With another woman. She tried to draw on anger to blot the pain, but could not find it.
How could he be so callous?
The time spent in his bed had only served to chain her tighter to him but he could so easily be with another woman? A very beautiful one, at that, with ringlets of golden hair and the prettiest hazel eyes Tehdra had ever seen. She snarled and smashed her hands against the column, stripping her flesh and crumbling the stone of the walls of the west wing parapet. The physical discomfort did not disturb her, but the emotional one shredded at her insides.
The soft tinkling of derisive laughter raked over her. Lady Sascha leaned on the balustrade in a stunning yellow caftan fitted to showcase her charms. Malicious enjoyment curved her lips.
“Could it be the king’s request of Suri has made the favorite angry? If so, you are in for a most unpleasant ride as my presence has been requested in his chamber tonight,” she said with such pleasure she could not be telling tales.
Coldness settled inside of Tehdra, one born of pain. She schooled her features into blankness as she observed the smirk on Lady Sascha’s face.
“It seems as if your famed charms were not enough to satisfy our king’s appetite. And if rumors are true…that he had you with him for hours, then you know the kind of appetite I am talking about.” Lady Sascha licked her lips. “He is insa
tiable.”
At the idea of lady Sascha enjoying her mate’s body, the anger Tehdra had wanted earlier sprang forth. It curled inside of her, welcoming even without the encouragement of her dark essence. She looked at Sasha distantly and tried to talk herself out of behaving rash. Tehdra was not an impulsive person ruled by emotions. Yet it seemed she could be wrong.
Lady Sascha flinched as Tehdra appeared in front of her.
