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“Yes. Thank you, Master. It’s a lot better.”
Tessa sniffled, placing her hand on top of our leaders that was hovering just over her midsection. He turned his palm over, squeezing her fingers.
“I’m glad I could help, but you were right, Princess. Just as I was when I told you before. You’re not physically ready. Especially now that Marko has weakened you. I’m sorry, but I can’t let you continue to rule. With the others coming, we both know it would not be in your best interest. Yes, Marko may be by your side, but we both know a ruler cannot depend on others. They have to be able to save themselves.”
Tessa gave a stiff nod, turning her head away from me as another tear escaped.
“What do you mean, I weakened her?”
I swallowed hard, trembling through the overwhelming fear and sickness that swarmed me.
“Come.” Aetas waved me over, nearly crushing my wrist as he grabbed on and jerked me to her side. The need to fight against his hold was there, but he was already putting my palm over her stomach. “Become in tune with the princess. Feel.”
The pain in my stomach returned to a dull burn, but that wasn’t what had my breath hitching. There was a something within the layers of pain. A hollowness that I couldn’t quite understand.
“She’s damaged, Marko. Her shield may have been up, but she wasn’t protecting herself or prepared for such a savage attack. Your power went beyond the physical force she was casting. You hit the source—where her powers come from. And you did so to an extent that she might possibly forever be weakened. I’m not saying that over time she still won’t be more powerful than you or anyone else, but we’ll never know how strong she could have been.”
“No,” I said under my breath. “Tessa?”
She was still facing away from me, and still open. I could feel her pain. The betrayal she harbored left the nausea I was experiencing even worse. What was I doing? She’d done nothing but try to be fair to everyone and rule as one should, yet, here I was, hurting her at almost every opportunity.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered. “Had I known, I would have never …”
“But you did,” Aetas cut in, flinging my hand over to the side. “Did you do it on purpose? Does your greed run so deep?
“Stop it,” Tessa shouted, facing us. “He did not mean to hurt me like that. What’s done is done. All of it. Marko will rule. I will heal. And then I will restart my lessons.”
My eyes widened as I looked down at her. “You’re leaving? You’re going back with Aetas?”
Emotions, pain, it all vanished, leaving me cold and alone in its departure as Tessa closed herself off. Light green eyes met mine, clouded with more tears. But they didn’t fall. She held them in as she nodded. “This is for the best. Some time apart would do us good.”
“But …” My head shook, confused. “I know an apology doesn’t fix what I’ve done, but to leave? Tessa, think about this. Remember how it was before when you were with Aetas. Don’t leave me. I can make you better. I can help you heal.”
Something flickered behind her eyes as she stared up at me. What it was, I wasn’t sure. But I felt she knew something she wasn’t telling me.
“This is for the best. You don’t understand right now, but I need you to trust in me. I love you, Marko. Never doubt that.”
Tessa’s words pushed into my head and the need to ask her whose blood she carried within our own was there, but I couldn’t do it. Tessa would never betray me. I knew that in my heart, so what were her reasons? What did she know that I didn’t?
Chapter 11
Tessa
“All rise!”
Seduction and lust swirled through the room at Aetas’ booming voice. Even for as loud and demanding as it was, the appeal sucked everyone in like a light in the midst of a dark dungeon. We all adored him, needed him as he pushed back the cloak from his shoulder and grabbed the crown. I was strong enough to know what I was feeling was an illusion he was casting upon us all, but I couldn’t stop the emotions, nonetheless.
“For the guests here tonight, for the members of this city—we gather here for the coronation of a new king. For the beginning of something that could be truly phenomenal. A new blood line. A new ancestral chart to go down in our history. Master Marko Delacroix’s powers have gone far beyond expectation. The gifts he holds makes him unique. His pairing with Princess Tessalyn Delacroix have been a good match to these powers. I’ve seen them. I’ve felt them. Since it’s been centuries since our last coronation, the laws have been updated accordingly in the best interests of the times.”
Aetas’ eyes lowered to Marko. “Do you solemnly swear and promise your loyalty to me, your leader, the one who bestows this title upon you?”
“I solemnly swear and promise.” Marko answered.
“And do you solemnly swear and promise with this title to make the best judgement according to the laws I have governed to our kind?”
“I solemnly swear and promise.”
Aetas stepped from the high members at his sides and came closer to Marko. “Do you solemnly swear and promise to relinquish all rights to this crown and to your title if betray your vows.”
