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“Never!” Rocks burst from the woman’s hands and floated above her fingers. “Not while my heart beats.”
“Join us and you’ll be right.” I turned to the man. “You may not believe that I’ve returned and saw Ressi and Ambi, but you must believe that the Quiet King will conquer all your tribes one day. Maybe not now or next week, but the time will come when you or your children will die under his claws.”
Silence passed.
The rocks disappeared from above the woman’s hands.
The flames lessoned around me.
All remained still.
Even the hundreds of men and women were quiet behind them.
Seconds later, the woman and man walked off together without signaling the other. They simply moved away from me and whispered among themselves.
Can they communicate in their minds too? If yes, how? Are they. . .mates? Or is it something else?
I stood in the same spot while they conversed and waited to hear what their decision was.
If I couldn’t get their help, then I didn’t know what we would do. How could we ever beat the Quiet King and his army without a large number of fighters ourselves.
Finally, after a few minutes, they walked back towards me.
Hope swelled in my heart.
Please, we need them.
The woman spoke first, “What do you expect from us?”
I have no idea.
“You say you want us to fight with you, but how and how many of our people?” the man added. “And where will this battle be?”
“I’m not sure of any of those answers, but one of my kings can discuss all of this with you.” I held my hands together. “I’m sure you all could come to a compromise where everyone would be happy. Can my kings and people come into your territory? The only weapons we have are the swords that my twenty guards use.”
“It does not matter how many weapons you have.” The man chuckled. “We have the numbers and power.”
“On that I agree and respect.” I bowed my head low to them in gratitude and then lifted it.
The woman extended her hand. “I am Tru, the chief of Tribe Rock and daughter of the Ground Mover. This is Spenrik, the Wanderer. He is also the chief of Tribe Flame.”
Just to be safe, I bowed at her and him again. “Nice to meet you both.”
Tru gave me a sad smile. “All talk of war must wait for a few days.”
My nerves flared. “I am afraid that we may not have days.”
Spenrik frowned. “It must.”
Tru took in his hand. “It appears that you have come to us at an interesting time.”
“Why is it an interesting time?”
For the first time, Spenrik’s angry face brightened with joy.
Tru smiled at him. “We are to be married.”
“Oh.” I widened my eyes. “Congratulations. I hope that our appearance has not interrupted any of the festivities.”
“Most happen at night and. . .” Tru gazed off at our wagons. “Your kings and you may be invited.”
Spenrik’s joy left. Now he glared at me. “I will allow you to bring no more than five guards each with you.”
I nodded. “Thank you.”
“Your kings and people are welcome on our land for now,” Spenrik sneered. “But if we do not like what your kings say, or if we believe that you mean us harm, then all of you will die.”
I stiffened.
“Do you understand, blood mage?” Tru asked.
“Please call me Camille, and yes, I understand.”
Tru leaned in closer to Spenrik. “Then go get your kings, Camille.”
Chapter 18
Naughty Queen
Xander
After getting dressed, I decided to head out and realized a starling fact.
Someone locked me in the wagon.
“Eh!” I punched the copper walls. “Camille! Ian! Leeta!”
Pain stung my fingers and bit through my flesh, but still I beat against the metal.
I had no idea how long I’d been trapped inside. It seemed like forever, or at least hours.
Anger crested inside me.
The metal formed into the imprint of my fists. Holes emerged, but not enough to free me, just enough to piss me off even more.
I roared.
My heart thudded in my chest.
Hot bile surged into my throat.
Who did it? Ian or Leeta? Surely it couldn’t have been my queen.
I wished I could speak to her mind and tell her to free me.
I shouldn’t have broken the connection.
My body rippled with rage. The desire to shift into king form bubbled within me.
I can’t.
I slowly trusted Ian more and more.
What he’d said had been right. Wearing battle form had shoved me into madness. The last thing I needed to do was go insane within the wagon.
More time passed.
And then footsteps sounded and locks clicked.
Growling, I shoved my claws out, ready to rip my imprisoner’s arms out of his or her body.
“King?” Camille peeked her head in.
I retracted my claws. “I was locked inside of here.”
“I know.”
I realized that not one hint of shock or surprise covered her face. “Camille?”
“Yes.”
“Did you lock me in the wagon?”
