The Burden of Trust

by Nikki Frank

  Iya heaved a huge sigh. “Nobi, can you please ask Tomi to join us?”

  Tense silence fell over the room as we waited. I really hoped Tomi wouldn’t be as opposed to me as Iya thought. Then again, Iya was the akuma; he ought to know. Tomi entered looking as proper as ever, though curious. Did he have to practice looking so polished, or did that come with age and time spent on his throne?

  “You wished to see me?” he asked Iya.

  Iya went rather pale, turning his complexion a bubblegum color. “I . . . The individuals here all know about the goblin kings plan.”

  “You told them?” Tomi asked furiously. “We had measures in place. What if they insist on saving people from the Central Borderlands first? We might not have time to save ours. Olivia’s a demon lord with obligations. If she’s anything like her reputation, she’ll take care of her citizens before she worries about anyone in Hakushi.” He scowled for a moment. “Besides, may I point out that no matter what power she carries, she’s only an imp.”

  “She’s a demon lord,” Iya said hotly. “And you’re right, she has obligations, like us. But things have changed since we last spoke. She’s the key to a plan which might save us from needing to evacuate everyone to Earth.”

  Tomi made a noise of disgust. “What can she do? She’s—”

  I stood as tall as possible, stepped between the two of them, and glared at Tomi. “As an assassin, I can do what you can’t. Eliminate the Goblin King before he makes his move. If I can take on Zaemon face to face, I can get King Valkyv by surprise.”

  Tomi looked over me to Iya. “Even if she has the skill and possibly the power, what assurance do we have she’ll work in our interests?”

  Iya pulled me aside and set himself between Tomi and I. “She’ll help us because she’s agreed to pair bond with me.”

  Tomi staggered back a few steps. “You wouldn’t. She’s not an akuma. Y . . . you haven’t consulted either government. We barely have open communication with the Central Borderlands.”

  Iya leaped forward and grabbed Tomi by the shirt. “You can’t let either government know. We need to stay secret. We’re going to go take back her throne. The whole of the Borderlands will believe she’s ruling at her palace. If we’re going to take out the Goblin King, we need to do this with total stealth.”

  “She’s an imp,” he shrieked.

  Iya gave him a little shake. “Who gives a shit? It’s my pair bond. My partner’s breed affects only me.”

  “Children,” Tomi sputtered.

  Iya went back to bubblegum pale. “We’re not planning on having any, but if we did, what would a pure akuma bloodline matter? If we don’t act, our children won’t have a world to inherit. Pure-bred or half-blooded won’t make a difference if our thrones, our provinces, and our palaces are gone. In order to keep our world, some things will have to change.”

  Tomi let out a violent hiss, freeing himself from Iya’s grip. “She’s what’s changing everything. Taking a throne meant for a demon and purging her district. She’s turned her dragons into nothing more than scale-covered bunnies. Her policies are unnatural. And now this? With you?”

  The flames on Iya’s hair grew more intense. “You’re starting to sound like King Valkyv. Don’t let age and speciesism cloud your vision. Change is natural. We all have to grow and adapt to survive. I’m bonding myself to another demon lord. We’re an unprecedented pair. We can stop this, but I need your help and not your bias. Or would you prefer to see how your wife, Zuanshi, likes living on Earth as a refugee?”

  Tomi couldn’t have made a worse face if Iya had stuffed his mouth full of lemons, garlic, and rotting fish. He went through a whole series of poses, each illustrating his discomfort, before his body finally went slack.

  “Fine. I’ll try to accept this.” He brushed himself off and ran a hand over his red-flame hair. “I suppose congratulations are in order,” he grated out. “Welcome to the akuma family, Mistress Olivia.”

  “Thank you for your warm welcome.” My voice gritted like sand. I wanted to break his nose, but diplomacy trumped my feelings.

  Iya relaxed a bit. “Tomi. You’ve been my mentor since my father died. I’d never have been driven enough to undertake this mission without your advice and guidance.” Iya’s voice slid like oil over polished metal. While his words held truth, he was buttering Tomi up.

  “I’d like you to perform the rite for us. Then I need you to be our backup plan. Failure is improbable, but none of us is willing to gamble with the lives of our subjects. Talon Puck,” Iya made the slightest face as he said the next part, “is a very capable toyol assassin. He’ll be guarding Olivia’s throne for her. He will assist you in building the gateway.”

  Talon nodded in response to Tomi’s dubious scrutiny. He gave the akuma a low bow. “Pleased to be working with you. As Lord Olivia’s regent, I look forward to laying the groundwork for a long and mutually beneficial relationship between our countries.”

  Iya’s shoulders relaxed a bit. “As an assassin, Talon understands discretion. He’ll be the only one in the Central Borderlands to know of the Goblin King's plans other than Olivia’s personal dragon guard, who are now Talon’s guard. The fairy princess and her source are coming with us in case we need additional talents.”

  “Then we’re building the gateway without the Lord High Governor’s permission?” Tomi clarified.

  Iya flashed him a toothy grin. “I told you Olivia would work in our interests. She came up with the plan. She realized it’s more important to get this done than push the gateway through a bunch of bureaucratic bullshit.”

  I took my cue. “Talon will set up a rolling evacuation if necessary, starting with those closest to the Goblin Kingdom and so on. Evacuation has nothing to do with anything other than proximity to danger. Those at risk go first, no matter who they live under or what they are. Talon will fake a holiday if evacuation becomes necessary. You can send your people to my district under that guise. From there, he’ll get people through to Earth as needed. No panic. No crowded rush.”

  Relief washed over Tomi’s face. “You have my apologies, my dear. It seems you’ve got a fair mind, as well as foresight becoming of a far older ruler.” He gave me a slight bow of the head. “I will do as you and Iya request.”

  I graced Tomi with a genuine smile. “Thank you.”

  Tomi took a small table from beside the bed and pulled it to the center of the room. He shooed everyone but Iya and I away. My body shook. We’d reached the point of no return. I was really doing this. I fought back tears, trying to focus on whatever kind feelings I had toward Iya.

  Chapter 13

  Tomi created a set of golden knives on the table. I recognized those knives. They matched the ones from the alter at Omri and Ferika’s wedding. Pin prickles filled my chest, making breathing difficult. At that wedding, I’d nearly been forced into slavery with a despicable man to bear his children.

  Now I faced those knives again, by choice, but not the way I wanted. Tears made my vision fuzzy. Gripping the table, I forced myself to stay on my feet and follow through.

  Tomi chanted softly, and the room shivered with golden light. It filled the air and took over, leaving none for my lungs.

  “Your right arms, please.” Tomi used magic to lift the first golden knife. With it, he traced curling runes down my forearm. “Your runes spell out your love. They are sacred.” With the second knife, he drew different runes on Iya. “Your runes spell out your duty to each other.”

  He placed his hands gently on each of us, guiding our arms together and pressing the runes tight so our blood mingled. Then with the third knife, he drew a spiral down our combined arms.

  “You are now bound to each other. Love, duty, and blood tie your destinies together. May the journey bring you happiness.”

  The knives disappeared. The golden light
flashed before going out. My body tingled as cinnamon magic washed over me.

  “Your power,” Iya gasped. “The demon magic tasted like sweet chilies, but your own magic is lemon drops.”

  “Did I ever tell you that you taste like cinnamon bears?”

  “No.” He chuckled. “Really?”

  “Yeah. Good thing I like cinnamon candy, right?”

  “Right.” He slid his hand down the fading runes on my forearm until he held my hand in his. He put it on his chest and came closer to me. “I like this. Talking with you like normal.”

  His spring-green eyes sparkled at me. I couldn’t take the intensity and backed away.

  “Sorry, Iya. Too close. Not ready. Really can’t.”

  “Can you form a sentence with more than two words?” He brushed off my fear with humor.

  “Not now.”

  “You said two words again.”

  We both laughed. The sound echoed off the metallic walls. I glanced around, alarmed. We’d been left alone.

  “Traitors,” I mumbled.

  Iya grabbed my hand. “Come here.” He pulled me toward the bed.

  I dug my heels in. “No. I don’t―”

  “Don’t trust me?” Iya asked. “Be a good girl and come here. I promise you’ll like it.”

  “I bet all guys say that,” I snapped.

  Iya howled with laughter. “Not what I meant. It’s nothing sexual, come here.”

  He pulled me up on the bed, settling himself cross-legged in the middle. “You, too. We’re going to start playing with our power. First, let’s see if you can draw from Katriane. She ought to be close enough since she’s in the palace somewhere.”

  “How?”

  “According to the text, you actually call the magic. The scroll didn’t say how.”

  “Right.” I closed my eyes and searched our surroundings for the sweet chili aura. All magic had an aura, and my parents had trained me in tracking. When I found it, I called, “Here magic, magic, magic.”

  Iya chuckled, and I laughed too.

  “Didn’t work.”

  “Try again, but seriously,” he urged.

  This time I called to the magic in my mind. Please come.

  My eyes flew open, and Iya stared at me, mouth gaping. “You did it.”

  I wrinkled my nose. “You sound like you doubted me.”

  “I didn’t think you’d get your magic so fast. Or get so much. Are you in control?”

  I nodded, feeling pleased with myself. “Okay. I’ve got a bunch of power. Now what?”

  “We’ll try synching our power this afternoon. Tomorrow we’ll go outside and see what we can really do. If all goes well, we can leave for your palace after lunch.”

  He took my hands and closed his eyes, then pulled on my power, which yielded without a struggle since we were bonded. He drew the magic into our combined hands, and I gasped. He’d created a pile of sparkling magical embers. Iya blew gently on them, and the embers rose into the air like fireflies.

  Blowing them again, they drifted toward the ceiling. Fixing themselves there, they glimmered and winked at us. He waved a hand to put out the lights in the room and drew the curtains. Now we were looking up at a strange galaxy of ember-stars.

  “Wow. It’s beautiful. I had no idea magic could do this.”

  “When you have parents with large reserves of power, you have time and magic to play with. My father gave me all the magic rations I wanted.”

  “What else can we do?” I breathed.

  He scooted around behind me. “I’ll show you.”

  He ran his hands down my arms. Taking both my hands in his, he pushed power through me this time. Iya called a rock in through the window and over to us. He moved my hands, so my palms were together and put his hands over mine. Focusing our power on the stone, he squeezed. At the same time, he added the heat of his akuma fire magic. If we weren’t bonded, this would have been intensely painful. But I simply received the warmth of his hands and a bit more, which tingled.

  The stone shrank and cleared. I gasped.

  “Is that what I think it is?”

  He crooked a finger at the curtains, calling a gleaming, molten trail in from the outside. A few flicks of his fingers and he opened my hand, setting a sparkling, diamond ring on my palm.

  “Human’s give something like this to their wives, I believe.”

  “I’m not a human.”

  He took the ring and slipped it on my hand. “But what human couple gets to create theirs together? This is not only a symbol of us. It is us. Forged by our combined power.”

  “The ring’s beautiful, and the diamond’s huge.”

  Iya kissed the back of my neck, and my innards squirmed. This time alone together had been spectacular and devastatingly romantic―I’d let myself admit it. But kissing another man? For real?

  I tipped my head to protest but paused to admire the embers still sparkling on the ceiling. Iya nabbed the opportunity to press our lips together. My heart slammed against my ribs. Should I let this continue? He gently caressed my back. I yielded. Two conflicting thoughts had entered my head. I pushed away the one which called Talon to mind, focusing on the other, which said Iya and I were pair bonded now. I could do my husband the favor of kissing him on our wedding day.

  The kissing lasted quite a while before I stopped him. I wasn’t ready to go further, and leading him on would be wrong. I’d liked his kisses more than I felt comfortable with.

  Iya looked like he might press for more, but a knock at the door rescued me. Iya made a visible effort to wipe the irritation from his face before opening the door. Tomi bowed to us.

  “I brought dinner to you tonight. I thought the three demon lords could eat and celebrate your union. The others will keep the household from suspecting anything. After all, two demon lords holed up together all afternoon is enough to get people talking.”

  He snapped his fingers, and a shi set up a square table that magically became loaded with food. Iya pulled out a chair and motioned me. Once the shi disappeared, Tomi gave us a smile baring minimal warmth.

  “The staff have been told this is a diplomatic dinner, should you be asked.”

  Tomi and Iya chatted pleasantly for a time, discussing banalities. Things nose-dived when Iya tried to include me by asking about trade. Tomi shot me a disapproving glance over his wine glass.

  “While at a base-level I approve the plan you and Iya have concocted,” Tomi carefully controlled the condescension in his voice, keeping it just short of rude, “and I even appreciate your foresight with back-up plans, I’m still deeply uncomfortable with your pairing.”

  I nodded and stuffed a large bite of salad in my mouth. My responses were all too tart to deliver to a reluctant ally. Unfortunately, Tomi didn’t deem it prudent to hold his own silence.

  “Akuma,” he continued, “particularly ruling akuma, never bond with other breeds. Even unions with other types of demons are frowned upon in akuma society. You, being a member of the fairy family tree, albeit a malevolent one, are a completely unacceptable mate.”

  Iya shot Tomi a warning glare before speaking carefully. “We both went into this knowing the unpleasant truths. We’ll have to hope once we’ve saved everyone’s asses, they’ll leave us alone.” The glare turned into a challenge to Tomi, daring him to continue.

  Tomi gave Iya a sleek smile. “Dear boy, I’m simply trying to warn you. I find Lord Olivia capable, and Miss Olivia tolerable. I’m not the one bonded to a fairy-relative, so ultimately, I can accept this. Did you consider how Shandian is going to take it, though? You’re like a son to him. He’d be crushed to see the son of his best friend lowered by a bad bond. Excuse me,” he paused, holding out one hand apologetically, “what he is certain to consider a bad bond.”


  “He’s five hundred.” Iya’s voice had taken on a petulant quality. “He’ll have to learn that things change.”

  Tomi’s eyes narrowed. “You know how well he handles change. He’s one of many who might make life very difficult for the two of you.”

  I stabbed my fork into my fish and sighed. “Tomi, I’m going to assume you mean the best by warning us. Like Iya said, we know. We’ll deal with whatever comes in the moment. Until then, that’s part of the reason for secrecy. Iya doesn’t want anyone focused on us when they should be focused on the goblins.”

  “Of course. Then, in that case,” he lifted his glass, “to many happy years together for you.”

  ~ ~ ~

  After dinner, we found ourselves alone for the second time that day. Lord only knew what everyone thought we’d need the time for. Iya climbed into the bed. Looking at the empty side of the bed next to Iya, I resigned myself to my place. Climbing tentatively in, I stayed as far to the side as I could without rolling out.

  Iya reached over and hooked my waist, pulling me next to him. Hopefully, he hadn’t noticed enough of my conflicted feelings this afternoon to start another fight. While not ready to be romantic, I didn’t want to hurt him.

  His hands took my shoulders, massaging. I bit back a naughty sound as his fingers and magic worked on knots in my shoulders. Tipping my head forward, he worked up my neck. The covers had suddenly become very hot. He rolled me, so I laid on my stomach. Straddling my hips, he worked lower down my back. When had he made my shirt disappear?

  Each pass across my ribs grazed the very edge of my breasts. I might have protested, but he kept his focus. The massage wasn’t worth disturbing unless he really misbehaved.