by V. K. Ludwig
“Take him,” Razgar said and walked off. “Don’t bring him back.”
When he disappeared behind the door to Lia’s room, Katedo stepped up to me. “What do you say? Will you be my shimid while you remain our ward?”
Was that even a question?
Katedo had always been kind to me even when I was young. He’d helped me train Uruz. His tribe was the largest, most powerful one, and he’d only just inherited it after his father’s death.
I straightened. “When can we leave?”
He smiled, gave a pat on my shoulder, then stepped away and motioned me behind him. “Right now. Come on, get your stuff and have them saddle your yuleshi.”
I stood rooted. “Right now?”
He stopped and turned, raising a brow at me. “My warriors and I rode our yuleshis relentlessly for two suns only to find out I am neither wanted nor needed here. I came to see the woman, but I will not wait around any longer now that Razgar is with her. I long to return to my mate and my son.”
“Right.” But I’d promised Lia I would come to her. “If we could just delay it until the morning.”
“No delays,” he said, already shifting from one leg to the other. “Make your choice, Zerim son of Zavis. Come with me now, or stay with Razgar.”
My eyes drifted to the door.
I’d made her a promise that I would return, yes, but what was the point? She was better off forgetting we ever met. I was better off not deepening my longing for something I could never have. I was different. Strange. A hybrid. Not Jal’zar enough to claim her.
I forced my eyes away from the door and back to Katedo. “I’ll come.”
Thirteen
Lia
All night, I’d tossed and turned, staring at an unmoving door until I’d drifted into sleep while a dull pain expanded inside my chest. The same pain I woke up to the next morning, but it turned into a violent stab the moment I blinked the room into focus.
Because Zerim wasn’t there.
He hadn’t come.
Hadn’t quietly sneaked into my room to hold me the way he’d done in the nabu and hummed me back to sleep. Was he in trouble?
My eyes went to the meal tray Warlord Razgar had brought me: braised tendetu with roasted grains and vasani berries. He’d watched me eat it while he’d asked dozens of questions about Dad’s business. I couldn’t blame him, given the political tension after the Empire had occupied Solgad all those years ago. Still, I couldn’t help him either since I knew nothing about Dad’s company.
I peeled myself out of the sleeping pod and went into the cleaning chamber. Drops of water still clung to the tiled wall from when Zerim and I had showered together. He’d braided my hair after, and it looked still like new even now.
I was still leaning over the sink, washing myself, when a beep sounded from the door. My hand darted for the towel, and I quickly dried my face as I staggered back into the room.
“I thought I wouldn’t see you again before—” My naked soles came to a stumbling halt at the sight of a Jal’zar female.
She dipped her head low enough a brown strand fell into her face, which she quickly brushed back between her fawn horns. “Your stargazer arrived sooner than anticipated, and Warlord Razgar asked me to escort you to the skyport.”
“Oh, um… alright.” Heart heavy on its strings, I slipped into those sandals they’d provided. “None of this stuff is mine, so I guess we can go there right away. What about my parents?”
“They already boarded and are waiting for you. Our urizayo, Warlord Razgar made certain you will receive breakfast on your flight to Odheim.”
I nodded. “Well, I guess we shouldn’t leave them waiting.”
With each step along those many hallways, my feet turned heavier. It wasn’t like Zerim to just… disappear. Perhaps he couldn’t come to my room, but surely he would see me off? Wave at me? Anything?
But the way to the skyport was empty, save for those warriors who apparently stood guard. Maybe they didn’t let him come. Which was fine. I got it. We weren’t welcome here, and it made sense that Zerim might have decided to stay away for that reason.
Until a young male trotted up to us, those black braids bouncing on his shoulders familiar. Because it was Jerem, not minding how a guard barked something after him as he came straight toward me.
“I feared I’d miss you.” His fingers went to the chest pocket of his black uniform, which stood in such stark contrast to that loincloth he’d worn only yesterday. “Zerim asked me to give this to you.”
I received the folded piece of paper, and my pulse thudded inside my ears. “Where is he?”
“He left Noja last night together with Warlord Katedo.”
“Why?”
He shrugged. “He seemed in a hurry to leave, so we really didn’t have time to talk.”
“Well… okay.” My lips seemed heavier than usual when I forced them into a smile. “Thanks for bringing me this.”
“Sure thing.” He nodded as he turned away to jog off again. “Take care, Lia.”
Fingers shaky, I unfolded the note, the penmanship like the one of a four-year-old but Zerim had gone through the trouble of writing in Cosmic.
Not that it took much deciphering.
The note contained only three words.
And each one hurt.
Oh, bummer. No HEA in this book, huh? Please don’t hate me. At least you you got disappointed free of charge ;)
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Sometimes, fate throws a person into our life we’re not ready for yet. Let’s give Zerim and Lia a few more years to grow up, before we see them again in Bound to the Warlord. In the meantime, let yourself be Stolen by the Warlord.
Also by V. K. Ludwig
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