Page 142 of Destiny of a King

Chapter Thirty-Three

Hidden Truths

A Kingdom Betrayed

Dravic’s arm tightened around Adira. “If you refer to Adira, you’re mistaken. She belongs to me.”

Tharne scowled. “She belongs to no man.”

Dravic delivered a scowl of his own. “You stand on Scotara soil, Tharne. I suggest you remember to whom you speak.”

“I know exactly to whom I speak.”

“Then you also know your presence here without my consent is an act I could consider a declaration of war.”

“You’ve considered us at war for months.”

“Impending war,” Dravic corrected. “You made it clear you were preparing for war, getting ready to strike.”

“A threat I had hoped would force you to give me what I wanted when the time came.”

“And that time is here?” Dravic asked, making certain that Tharne was threatening war if Dravic did not give him what he wanted.

“Aye,” Tharne confirmed and glanced at Adira.

He could not be serious, Dravic thought, seeing who he glanced at.

“You want Adira?”

“Aye,” Tharne said, confident he would get what he wanted.

Fury raced through Dravic, his eyes narrowing until an obvious explanation occurred to him.

“You believe Adira is the healer your men have been searching for. The one who can defy death.”

Tharne’s gaze remained on Adira.

“You’re wrong,” Dravic said. “She isn’t the healer.”

“That isn’t why I want her.”

Dravic’s patience was growing thin. “Then why?”

Rather than answer, Tharne asked, “How long has she been with you?”

Dravic’s eyes narrowed. “You don’t question the king. You answer to him.”

Tharne paid him no heed. “How long, Dravic?”

“Long enough for me to know you’re not taking her anywhere.”

Adira’s fingers curled more firmly around his.

Tharne noticed and asked, “Where did you find her?”

“Why does that matter?” Dravic snapped.

Tharne’s hands fisted at his sides. “Everything about her matters.”