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“Yes. Someone in the Darkage, powerful enough to execute my king, his cadre, and his loyal subjects, plots against him. We were told Darkans working with Mevians were being strategically placed in your kingdom. As they were not there under the orders of my liege, they were branded as traitors and the order of death placed on them. My task is to execute them. The Darkage wants no war with Nuria,” she ended hoarsely.
“Darkans are warmongers.”
“There are those who do not wish for a realm of peace and prosperity, but not our King Gidon Al Shar. He is cunning and ruthless, but he is honorable.”
“Did you confirm their presence to your king, Tehdra of the Darkage?” The question was asked so coldly she did not need her beast essence to ferret the danger. Ajali’s anger was like a sharp sword slicing her skin.
“Yes.”
He surged to his feet, and she remained on her knees in the bed staring at him as he prowled around the room. His locks flowed to his waist, and his muscles twisted with grace and power.
The sun rose, heating the chamber with its brilliance, and she felt the loss of her beast.
“The attack in Kabul. The blades that found you wer
e from your kind?”
“Yes.”
Piercing eyes settled on her face. “Have you alerted your kingdom?”
“Yes.”
“The enemy grows dauntless. Twice now they have sought to capture me. Who is the enemy? Mevia, the Darkage, Avindar? By your testimony, the king of the shadows gives no order against my kingdom. To what end do they work together? Does the Darkage need Mevia? Or is it that Mevia needs the Darkage?”
Ajali stilled, and Tehdra sensed the danger that leaked from him. He was a dark wave of heat, and need twisted inside her. “It is Mevia who needs the might of the Darkans,” He growled softly.
She glided from the bed, drawing a silken robe over her frame, her mind churning, analyzing and dismissing possibilities. “The emperor was willing to murder the Princess of Boreas to prevent your marriage to her. The emperor has a plan that can only be brought to fruition with Darkans by his side, which is why they plot to unseat my king. He wants peace…and they want war. Darkans and Mevians are helping each other to attain a common goal. The removal of my king from his throne and your death.”
“The goal may not be common,” he rasped as he dressed. “The air whispered that it is not my death they desire. My presence in the dungeon of Mevia, however, is much anticipated.”
She jerked to a stop, her heart clamoring.
Chapter Twenty Three
In Tehdra’s eyes Ajali saw cruelty and pain. He wondered at the pain. Her rage was violent and cold, and he found it odd that his Phoenyx stirred…in pleasure. “I get the feeling you would ravage Mevia if they dared to undertake such a feat,” he said softly. The import of truly being the mate of a Darkan settled in his gut like a heavy boulder. He ached with the need to possess everything about her.
He brushed against her mind, startled to feel only Tehdra. No darkness mingled with her essence. How have you suppressed your darkness so completely?
The sun buries it. Only with its lowering will I have my beast.
Uncommon knowledge.
She hesitated then veiled her gaze and the caution was a piercing to his heart. He gritted his teeth. Darkans houses a demon beast inside that are malevolent, filled with blood-thirst and evil, however its evil and raw power cannot be manifested in the purity of sunlight. I confirmed after entering Nuria.
Throughout the night I felt the brushes of your demon’s malevolence, but now it seems tempered. Are you well?
Pleasure lit her eyes. I am well. My beast and I are bonding. Your actions saved me. I doubt I could have retained control without the help of the elixir.
He stared into her eyes.
Are you in danger of losing such control again, Tehdra?
She lifted her shoulders on an elegant shrug. Mayhaps. If you are hurt or killed. My beast is accepting my claim, my right to be in control and draw upon its powers when needed. We are bonding, but it will always try to be free to devour and kill. It will no longer try to force me, but seduce me with the desires in my heart. If I accord with whatever my demon urges, it is because I want it, too.”
“Bonding?” Ajali asked.
She nodded, and lifted her mane of hair from her neck and presented her back to him. He didn’t even consider denying her or requesting a servant to aid her. He flashed to her side and tugged the ties of the caftan closed, expertly tying a knot. He allowed his fingers to trail over the sleek muscles of her back, admiring the raw beauty of her.
