by Stacy Reid
Ajali surged to his feet and stalked to the windows overlooking the courtyard. “Was that not the plan, brother? To lower my guard so that the enemy would reveal his hand?”
“What if the hari Tehdra had not intercepted that blade for your heart, Ajali? Would I now have a king scoffing at my zeal?”
Ajali rubbed his stubble, contemplating his brother. “Two thousand extra warriors manning the Coliseum and the city walls satisfy you, brother?”
“It does.”
“Very well, proceed as you see fit.” The last thing he wanted to do was worry his brother, and Uriah did have a point. Ajali had no idea how things would have turned out without Tehdra’s interference.
“Is not the honor of having Tehdra as your honored guest too much, my king?” Bastien murmured. “Would it not be better to honor her with chests of gold and gems?”
“She will also be rewarded with riches, Bastien. But she will be my guest at the realm games. If the aristocracy is so offended, they can leave the games at any time.”
He bowed stiffly. “Noted. Will her presence in your private seats be for the duration of the games, my King, or for the opening ceremony only?”
“She will be with me all ten days of the game, Bastien, and that is final. Bring me the list of all contestants. Pay keen attention to the ones from Mevia and Avindar. We must prepare ourselves, for the enemy may disguise themselves as contestants.”
“Yes, my king.” With a swift bow, Bastien exited the chambers.
Ajali sank into the chair overlooking the great moat. The beauty of his kingdom did little to soothe him.
“What is it, Ajali?”
He winced from the concern in his brother's voice.
“I am well, Uriah.”
There was a heavy sigh. “Is it the hari, Tehdra?”
“No.”
“Are your certain, brother? Your distraction is more than a rumor. The castle whispers of you bedding her for the night.”
Ajali arched his brow in surprise. “Since when are the ears of this court concerned with whom I bed? I have a harem.”
“That is precisely why they question and wonder, Ajali. You have a harem filled with the most beautiful women found in the seven kingdoms, yet for the past several weeks you have requested the presence of none.”
“Who I bed is my prerogative, Uriah, you tread on dangerous ground."
“Do I, brother? You have only bedded Tehdra, and many wonders at the significance of such an unprecedented action. I know we sought to spread rumors of your engrossment, but that does not mean you neglect the other women. You have not visited your harem in weeks.”
“It seems as if Lady Sascha has your lady’s ears, and your lady has yours.”
With a soft chuckle, Uriah filled two goblets of wine and sank into a chair beside Ajali.
“What is it about her that bothers you? Do not even deny it; I can see that the distraction is genuine. I will have to repeat almost everything that Bastien said to you.”
Ajali took the goblet, and emptied its content, ignoring his brother’s pointed glare. “She captivates me.”
“Captivates you how?”
“I crave to know about her, and I desire no one else.”
“Have you tried?”
“I do not have the desire to try.”
“That is dangerous, Ajali. She is not fit to be your kala.”
Ajali relaxed and sprawled in the chair, tipping his head to the ceiling. “I mentioned nothing about her being my queen…only that she arouses my need to know everything about her. What makes her smile? What does she love to do? Why is she a spy?”
“You need to bed another hari and test your theory.”
He glanced at his brother. “I have been contemplating the same thing yet the thought leaves me cold.”
“I will send Lady Sascha to you.”
“No, all desire for her has waned. Perhaps Suri…”
“Ahhh, the one with the tempting lips. Perhaps this secular desire you think you feel is unfounded.”
Ajali went silent. Then with a grimace, he decided. “We will see, brother. Send Suri to me.”
13
Tehdra moved swiftly down the winding stairs leading to the inner courtyard, something akin to excitement pulsing in her. Hopeful warriors came from all over the seven kingdoms to highlight their chakra strength, showing their dexterity, their skills with their elements, all so that ten could have the chance to join one of the most elite armies of the realm. Many lower houses had increased their status and wealth with sons and daughters ascending to the army in the house of Haddin.
And she had been selected to be the king’s escort.
As she traveled through the castle, many stopped to congratulate her. A journey that should have taken seconds turned into minutes when dozens paid homage to her for saving their king. Those that belonged to the outer circle and inner circle greeted her as if they were friendly acquaintances. She had blinked in slow bemusement when the Duke of Kens introduced himself and honored by bowing to a lesser ranked person, a hari.
Tehdra proceeded to Ajali’s chambers, hoping not to be waylaid again. He wanted her with him in his box at the games, and she wanted to thank him. Well more than that, she needed to be in his presence. She yearned to ask him to let her stay, but she must return to her kingdom and plan with Drac on how they should proceed. Traitors knew that a Darkan resided in Nuria. Her purpose would be evident as she had fought to protect the king. They would move to assassinate her or watch from the shadows to see what Gidon knew.
She needed to hunt them and deliver justice.
The human, Kismet, waylaid Tehdra in the lower bailey.
“May I enquire after your health, hari Tehdra?”
The human was beautiful, comparable to the women of the harem. Tehdra liked her soft, gentle manner. She could see the core of strength behind the gray eyes.
“I am well. Completely healed with the aid of the elixir.”
“I am glad. Would you permit me to examine you to ensure that all is well? I have never seen the elixir at work before, and the medical freak in me is excited to examine you.”
Tehdra frowned, not understanding her in full. Swallowing a sigh of impatience, she followed Kismet into a chamber. The healer probed and examined her with evident excitement.
“I thank you for saving our king, hari, at such a cost.”
“He is not your king. Your king is on Earth.”
Kismet’s soft laughter echoed through the room.
“We do not have kings on earth, well not in the time that I lived in. I have been in this land for almost a decade. He is my king.”
“Do you not wish to return home?” Tehdra demanded.
"A part of me does. I miss Earth, humans, and all things normal. I long to learn all this world has to offer. I have discovered things that would not be possible if I were to remain on Earth. I am also not ready for a Serangite to mess with my mind.”
“Mess with your mind?” Tehdra had never before heard the phrase.
“Any human in Nuria who wishes to return to Earth can do so. However, the Serangite Ruxia will remove all memory of this world before they journey back.”
“So, advise the king that you desire to return with your memory intact.”
“I do not believe it so simple.”
“Of course, it is.”
Startled gray eyes met her. Kismet shook her head as she stood completing her examination.
“We have different views of this world. I love my head. I do not want to be Alice in this strange world. I can see myself making such a request, and he yells ‘off with her head.'”
“King Ajali does not kill indiscriminately.”
“No, he does not. I simply refer to…” she trailed off with a sigh. “I do miss Earth. Thank you for allowing my examination. I must leave and prepare for the afternoon luncheon.” She smiled, then exited the chamber.
Humans were strange creatures, Tehdra decided. Several resided in her kingd
om despite the offer to escort them to their world. She had an old priest from Earth in the Northern keep, and he had journeyed to Earth at least twice and came back excited about the possibilities. He regaled her with stories from Earth and always returned with books, paintings and random trinkets that were so different from theirs. He fed her countless of tales of their world—past kings, their politics, their faith in their Supreme Being and pirates. If he wished to return they would never remove something as sacred as his memory, and they were seen as the brutal and vicious ones.
A hard smile curved her lips as she moved with the shadows towards Ajali’s library. She wanted no more interruption. She traveled down hundreds of stairs and through massive corridors, passing dozens of people, yet none sensed her cloaked in the shadows. She chuckled, strangely enjoying herself. She cast off the shadows and flung open the great doors to the king’s private chambers and halted at the sight that greeted her.
Regret slammed into Ajali the minute he saw Tehdra’s face as she barreled into his private sanctum. Pain, naked and raw, darkened her eyes when she saw the hari Suri on her knees, his cock in her hands. Anger curled inside of Ajali at his weakness. She was not his kala; he should not feel guilty. He had a fucking harem, and she was a concubine. Yet guilt almost consumed him like the hottest of fires.
What infuriated him more was that Suri employed her tongue to his cock, and he felt nothing. He had willed his mind and body to pleasure, yet the only thing that had tightened his gut was the shock at his lack of reaction. He was impotent with other haris. King’s teeth. What he could hardly accept was the reaction of his body upon Tehdra coming through the door. His erection had risen hard and sure, only from her presence. Suri gasped at his response with a frown, and knowledge gleam in her gaze when she peered at Tehdra. Soon it would be all over the castle that he was so enthralled with this concubine no other could arouse him.
He gently ordered Suri to leave. There was no pain of rejection from her. She merely curtsied and swept out of the room after throwing Tehdra a puzzled frown.
They stared at each other for interminable minutes. He waited for her reason for entering his private sanctum without invitation, and she stood rooted to the spot.
“What is your reason for barging into my chambers, Tehdra?” Ajali steeled himself against the emotions that flared in her eyes.
Pain radiated from her, but something dangerous flashed in her eyes before her lashes swept down, shielding her gaze. She sauntered into the room a few paces as if she were unconcerned.
“I wanted to thank you for the honor of inviting me as your escort to the games of Nuria. High Chancellor Bastien extended your invitation.” She gave him an icy smile, and then coolly exited, but he had noted the slight uneven jerks in her movements.
Fuck! He’d been an ass, and the only thing he had proven was that Tehdra owned his fucking soul.
“Tehdra.”
She paused at his soft command.
“Ladies-in-waiting will attend to you and prepare your wardrobe for the games. Take heed of their knowledge, and all that will be presented to you are gifts. No caftans or jewels should be returned.”
With only a slight inclination of her head, she swept soundlessly from the room.
Ajali inhaled deeply and exhaled a loud sigh.
Gavyn entered only to pause at the tension that remained. “She did not deserve to see you with another hari.”
Ajali’s eyebrow arched at the soft reprimand. “She is not a hari in my kingdom, Gavyn. She is a spy. Am I to only bed her because she fascinates me more than all of my other haris combined?” Ajali’s gut was in knots that he’d hurt her, but Gavyn did not need to know she was becoming a weakness. No one must be aware, or she would become a pawn in the war to take his head.
“You admit that she has a stronger hold on you than your other haris?”
Ajali stared hard at Gavyn. Gavyn’s smirk tempted Ajali with the urge to smash in his face. Gavyn observed it and deliberately caressed his blade, taunting him into action. Ajali ignored him and his laughter.
“How was Suri? Is she as talented as the prince of Aria claims?”
“She left me cold.”
“Ahhh.”
“Do not start, Gavyn. Leave it be for now.”
“For now,” he murmured amusement rife in his voice. “It would not be amiss if you invited Tehdra to stay as a hari. Even your father kept his haris when he found his kala.”
“An illusion my mother allowed him. He bedded none. I would hurt my queen as I would not stay out of Tehdra’s bed. She leaves after the games.”
He ignored the tightening of his gut at his words and shook off the feeling of loss.
Gavyn handed him tightly bound parchments. “Here are all the contestants. Their kingdom, the house they originate from and their abilities. Our spies in Mevia gave no report.”
“How prepared are we?”
"Very. Thousands of warriors manned the city walls and entrances. Only those invited will be allowed inside. Acheron and Quinn have vetted all contestants. We are delving deep to find the reason your capture is a desire of the enemy."
“How are the protections for visiting royals?”
“Our warriors work alongside theirs. Each dignitary has their cadre, and we offer at least forty warriors to each group. There has been no response from Mevia. All other kingdoms have sent representatives.”
“Mevia grows bolder.”
Gavyn handed him the list of the participants in the bicentenary tournament to be housed in the largest coliseum in Nuria and reputedly in Amagarie—able to seat hundreds of thousands at any given time.
Ajali scanned the list and the map showing their defense lines against attack. The details of the Coliseum and every contestant and their skills were recorded. Drawings of where each house and visiting royals’ seats were registered and the strategy for their protection outlined.
“We are prepared.”
“We are prepared, my king.”
Gavyn rolled out another map of the Coliseum on the table, pointing to the manned entrances. His voice droned, and Ajali barely paid any attention. He scrubbed a hand over his face, wanting to bang his head into the wall. His fears were coming to life, and he was unable to stop it. She was becoming too important. Everything in him was clamoring to find her and atoned.
Kings’ fucking teeth.
Agony clawed at Tehdra. Ajali had only been with her a few hours ago, yet he’d had another woman pleasuring him. In ways, Tehdra herself had not even experienced with him. Her mate. With another woman. She tried to draw on anger to blot the pain but could not find it.
How could he be so callous?
The time spent in his bed had only served to chain her tighter to him, but he could so easily be with another woman? A lovely one, at that, with ringlets of golden hair and the prettiest hazel eyes Tehdra had ever seen. She snarled and smashed her hands against the column, stripping her flesh and crumbling the stone of the walls of the west wing parapet. The physical discomfort did not disturb her, but the emotional one shredded at her insides.
The soft tinkling of derisive laughter raked over her. Lady Sascha leaned on the balustrade in a stunning yellow caftan fitted to display her charms. Malicious enjoyment curved her lips.
“Could it be the king’s request of Suri has made the favorite angry? If so, you are in for a most unpleasant ride as my presence has been requested in his chamber tonight,” she said with such pleasure she could not be telling tales.
A coldness settled inside of Tehdra, one born of pain. She schooled her features into blankness as she observed the smirk on Lady Sascha’s face.
“It seems as if your famed charms were not enough to satisfy our king’s appetite. And if rumors are true…that he had you with him for hours, then you know the kind of appetite I am talking about.” Lady Sascha licked her lips. “He is insatiable.”
At the idea of Lady Sascha enjoying her mate’s body, the anger Tehdra had wanted earlier sprang forth. It
curled inside of her, welcoming even without the encouragement of her dark essence. She looked at Sasha distantly and tried to talk herself out of behaving rash. Tehdra was not an impulsive person ruled by emotions. It seemed she could be wrong.
Lady Sascha flinched as Tehdra appeared in front of her.
“What did you just do?” The pulse at the base of her throat hammered. “Did you just flash faster than I could track?”
Icy resolve speared throughout Tehdra’s body as she observed Lady Sascha. “You will not visit his chambers as long as I remain in Nuria.”
Sascha’s laughter rang in the corridor and contempt settled on her face like a second skin. “How delicious. You think to order me—a countess of the realm—from the king’s bed? Oh, so naïve. I will take pleasure in educating you, Tehdra,” Lady Sascha said with such saccharine sweetness it grated on Tehdra.
She leaned in so close, they could’ve been kissing.
“What are you doing?” Lady Sascha whispered furiously.
Tehdra did not answer. She stared at her, sinking into the violent place her beast usually resided. She examined the graceful lines of Lady Sascha’s neck and contemplated ripping it from her shoulders right where they stood. It would be an easy feat, even without her darkness. Tehdra held Sascha’s gaze and removed all pretense, letting her nature peek through the veil.
Lady Sascha froze, and fear widened her eyes. “Who are you?” she whispered as her hands shifted, gripping the hilt of her sword until her knuckles whitened with strain.
She inhaled harshly as Tehdra leaned in so close their lips brushed in a grotesque caricature of intimacy.
“You will stay away from the king’s bed.” Tehdra was fully aware her eyes bled such cruel intent that Sascha could not miss it.
The Countess paled, and her breathing fractured.
Tehdra stepped back and allowed the shadows to swallow her.
14
