by K.N. Lee
“Please speak to me, Desi.”
Desi had been quiet for some time now. Raina wondered if it was because they hadn’t needed her in so long.
Three years of the same routine should have bored her immensely, but she’d grown to enjoy it. It was, after all, the way she’d lived her life back in Latari.
Morning runs around the manor grounds were followed by cold baths in the bathhouse. Then there was their morning meal, followed by sparring and weapon’s training.
Raina had always enjoyed training while her brother only did so because it was expected of them to be warriors like their father. Allan wanted nothing more than to be left alone with his sun scroll, watching histories of foreign worlds play out on the air-screen before him.
That routine was much different than what Allan and Raina had come to expect in Rhene.
A knock to Raina’s door made her sit up. The smell of Arela’s honeysuckle hair cleanser revealed who was on the other side of the door.
“Come in, Arela,” Raina said.
“How do you do that?” Arela’s voice came from the other side of the door.
Raina clasped her necklace around her neck and stood to dress as Arela opened the door and stepped inside.
“Who else comes to my room besides you? Why are you here anyway? You’re supposed to be in the main study for today’s lesson on Ellowen and the four realms,” Raina said, tucking her hair into the hood of her cloak.
“We can talk about Ellowen another time, Raina. This is way more important.”
Raina’s brows furrowed. What could be so important? Her brows relaxed when she remembered that the next day was Arela’s fourteenth birthday, and the entire kingdom seemed to be bending to her every will.
Raina wondered if she’d been as spoiled as Princess Arela when she was home.
She doubted it. Raina and Allan weren’t treated like royalty, they were treated as soldiers.
When she opened the door, Arela grabbed her hand and pulled her along the narrow hallway.
“Come now, Raina,” Arela said, holding her blue skirts up with one hand so that she wouldn’t trip, and leading Raina with the other. “Prince Aric’s ship is about to dock. No one will come with me to the docks. They still treat me like a child.”
Raina’s face flushed.
Aric.
He was home.
She wasn’t sure how she felt about it. Three years was a long time to pine over someone. What if he no longer felt that connection to her? What if he brought along his future queen?
Raina wasn’t sure she’d be able to hide her emotions if she saw him step off the ship with a beautiful young woman at his side.
She couldn’t only hope that all would be as they left it that fateful night.
“What about your mother and father?”
Arela paused. She let go of Raina’s hand and started wringing her own. Raina pursed her lips at the expression on Arela’s face. The girl’s eyes couldn’t meet hers.
“What is it?”
Arela closed her eyes, sighing. “Mother isn’t feeling well.”
Raina narrowed her eyes, her ears turning hot. She knew what that meant, but neither she nor Arela would voice it.
King Lavi had lost his temper again.
Raina nodded. “Right. Let’s go see if we can catch Prince Aric as he makes it to land.”
Arela seemed relieved that Raina left the matter of her parents at that.
“Yes. Thank you, Raina.”
Raina forced a smile. The thought that the queen suffered in silence sickened her to her stomach. Three years were more than enough time to learn that the king had two faces, one for his people, and one for those inside the palace.
Raina didn’t like either, for one was false, and the other was pure evil.
No wonder Rhene was under such scrutiny. Raina had wondered why there weren’t as many guests at the palace this year.
From what Olia had discovered from her correspondence with Errison, many of the other kingdoms were being destroyed by The Goddess of Law.
So much for hiding.
Out of all the worlds she could have gone to, Litha finally found which one they were on. It was only a matter of time before she made her way to Rhene.
Only a few more months until Enlightenment.
Raina could only hope she and Allan had that long.
Arela reached for her hand, and Raina accepted. Arela had become less of a pupil and more of a sister over the years. She gave her small hand a squeeze.
“Anything for you, Princess.”
“Going somewhere,” Prince Eryon called from the staircase.
Raina and Arela looked up at him as he stepped down, eating an apple.
“Aric is home,” Arela said.
Eryon’s face lit up. “Really? No one tells me anything. The life of a middle child is a tough one.”
Raina nodded, covering her giggle with her hand. “It sounds like such a hard life,” she said.
She beamed at him. Prince Eryon always seemed to brighten her day. While Arela had come to be more of a sister, Eryon was much like a second brother, one that knew how to have fun.
“We are off to welcome him home,” Raina said, motioning for him to follow. “You should join us.”
When he reached the bottom of the stairs in his sage-green shirt and leather pants, he smiled at Raina.
“Of course, I’ll go with you,” he said, his eyes lingering on Raina’s eyes before looking away. “Let’s go then. We will be his welcome party.”
Chapter 21
THE DOCKS WERE bustling on that chilly spring day. While drastically decreased compared to the years prior, royal dignitaries, and ambassadors still filed into the kingdom for the final days of the festival, and Princess Arela’s birthday celebration.
It seemed that while half of the world suffered, the other half continued on with their lives as if nothing was amiss.
Raina felt worry flood her belly whenever she thought of it. The hot end of the electric pole was a painful memory she wished she could forget.
Shoulder to shoulder, Raina and Eryon stood back while Arela waited in front of the gathering crowd for Prince Aric to step off his ship.
“I wonder what he’s seen on his journey,” Eryon said.
Raina glanced at him, seeing his shoulder-length brown hair catch on the breeze. “Won’t you take the same journey next year?”
“If father allows it. I’d give anything to see more of the world, even if it has gone to rubbish. The most a prince that isn’t in direct line for the throne can expect is a quick betrothal,” Eryon said.
“I’m sure that the girl that marries you will be very lucky indeed,” Raina said.
Eryon glanced at her. With a shrug, he sighed. “Perhaps,” he said and looked toward the incoming ships. “Maybe I’ll just marry you and be done with it,” he said with a crooked grin.
Raina pushed his forearm. “Don’t be a tease, Eryon. Seers don’t marry, and you’re worth more than a girl like me.”
The look he gave Raina made her pause. Something hid behind his beautiful eyes.
“I think you’re worth more than you could imagine,” he said, his voice lowered to a whisper despite the loud clamor around them.
Don’t look at me like that, she wanted to say.
Raina heard him clearly and chose to pretend she didn’t. She knew that look, and only wanted to see it come from another.
Aric.
Home at last.
Clearing her throat, she turned her attention away. She watched expectantly as the crew members lined up on either side of the bridge that connected the ship to the dock.
The crowd was loud, and smelled of sweat and spice, but all Raina could focus on was that ship.
Please, she thought. Don’t let him have a woman.
What would she do if he did have a woman? In only a few months, Raina and Allan would return home; Raina with a broken heart.
It could be worse.
She s
hook her head. “Silly girl,” she chided under her breath.
“What was that?” Arela asked, glancing back at her.
“Nothing, Princess.”
The sun was bright on that day, and when Prince Aric did emerge, it seemed to shine directly on him. His blond hair glowed underneath its golden rays.
Raina held her breath as she watched him. Despite the chill in the air, she felt hot all over.
He waved at his people, his sword at his side, hair free flowing, and a charming smile on his perfectly sculpted face.
He was alone.
Raina let out a slow breath and beamed.
Thank you.
Chapter 22
RAINA AND ARIC’S eyes locked the moment he saw her. The moment didn’t last as long as she’d imagined.
Something wasn’t right. She could feel it in the air, the tension, the distance between them.
Raina stood back when Prince Aric approached them. He barely acknowledged Raina’s presence as he wrapped his strong arms around Arela.
Raina watched as Aric lifted Arela into the air.
“My, Arela. Look how you’ve grown,” he said, twirling her around.
Arela giggled, her face the happiest she’d seen it in a while. She and Arela had fun during their lessons, and on outings around the kingdom, but it was clear that the girl loved her brother.
When Aric put Arela back on the ground, he glanced at her.
Raina smiled, holding her breath.
To her dismay, he gave her a quick nod and looked away.
What was that?
Was that all he was going to give her? After three years of waiting, she expected more.
A measly nod?
Raina’s face was a clear indicator that she was hurt and that made her panic inside. When did she become so weak? The moment he walked into her life, she should have known that she was doomed.
With a tight smile, she faked indifference as she watched Aric hold an arm out to Arela so that she could loop hers around it.
“Brother,” Aric said with a beaming smile as he opened his arms to include Eryon in the embrace.
“Welcome home,” Eryon said, hugging Aric and giving him a clap on the back. “You’ve put on some weight.”
Aric chuckled. “I trained in Ritthe for a while. You think I put on some weight? The men there are all built like giants.”
His arms had become more muscular, as did his chest. Raina admitted to herself that it did suit him.
Still, why did he ignore her so blatantly? She felt awkward standing there while he reconnected with his siblings. Perhaps she was wrong to have any expecting anything from Prince Aric.
“Let’s say we get you a cold cup of ale for your birthday,” he said to Arela and Eryon.
Arela’s face brightened. “Really? You’ll take me for my first adult drink?”
Aric grinned. “You’re an adult now, right?”
She nodded quickly. “I am.”
“Good,” he said.
“A drink sounds perfect,” Eryon said. “You have no idea how much I need one.”
Aric grinned. “I know the perfect place.” He looked to Raina again.
Face without emotion, he spoke to her. “Thank you for escorting my sister for me,” he said.
Raina nodded. “It was my pleasure, Prince Aric.”
“Good. Eryon and I can tend to her now.”
Eryon looked from Raina to Aric, a confused look on his face. “Can’t she join us?”
“Seers don’t drink,” Aric said and turned to head down the path.
Eryon lingered as Arela joined Aric.
“I can walk you back to the palace,” Eryon said, stepping close to Raina.
There were no words. Raina could feel herself fuming.
“I’m great, Prince.” She forced a smile. “I can walk myself. Thank you.”
Eryon shook his head. “I’ll catch up with you two later,” he said to Aric and Arela.
Aric shrugged.
Raina watched as they walked away from her, along the road to the pubs.
Raina’s jaw clenched.
The pain.
To her surprise, Raina didn’t fall into tears like a wounded woman. As she let the crowds push her farther and farther away, she was surprised by her own strength. She clenched her hands into tight fists as she watched him vanish into the side alleys.
She couldn’t even speak to Eryon, who stood there patiently waiting for her.
Her heart went out to Eryon for his kind gesture, but she couldn’t control the other emotions that threatened to break her composure.
“Are you okay, Raina,” Eryon asked softly, his hand reaching for her.
She turned her back to him. The world was being destroyed by a vengeful god and all she could think of was her heartbreak.
“I’m fine,” she said in a hiss.
No tears.
Only rage.
Chapter 23
ALLAN PLAYED WITH Olia’s hair as she snored on his bare chest. The years only made Olia more beautiful to him. Her short hair had grown to her shoulders, and her love for him had increased greatly.
He could think of nothing he loved more than her sweet smile.
Just as Allan closed his eyes to drift back to sleep, Olia’s soft snores faded.
Opening his eyes, he kissed her on the top of the head. “Morning.”
Olia yawned, snuggling her head into his shoulder.
“Morning, my love.”
Those words made him beam nearly every time she’d said them.
“Sleep well?”
“Like a cat, that’s had too much cream.”
Allan chuckled. “Is that so? I can’t say I’ve ever seen a cat that’s had too much cream.”
“Trust me then,” she laughed. “I slept well.”
“Good, maybe we can head to the pastry shop for sweet rolls,” Allan said, tilting her head up to look at him.
“I’d like that.”
He kissed her on the lips.
They were soft as rose petals. Even her scent enchanted him. He’d never understand how she always smelled of rosemary, but he looked forward to that scent whenever they were apart.
Allan rolled onto her, his arm cradling her head. His other hand grabbed her upper thigh, squeezing it tenderly as he sucked the white flesh of her neck.
Her little moans of pleasure sent instant heat to his loins.
The ringing of the customer bell downstairs in her dress shop made him pause.
He pressed his hardness against her naked core and kissed her lips again. He licked her bottom lip and whispered to her.
“Just pretend like we aren’t here and maybe they will go away,” he said.
Olia tried to suppress a giggle. “You know I can’t do that,” she said.
He signed, resting his forehead against hers. “Right. Fine,” he said. “Go on. Leave me all alone in this comfy bed.”
Olia scooted off her bed and stepped onto the stone floor. She quickly pulled a flowy gray frock over her body. She pulled on her thick stockings and boots before running a comb through her hair.
“Why don’t you bring the sweet rolls back here? I’ll start the kettle for some tea.”
Allan sighed, willing his desire to subside. He nodded. “As you wish, my queen.”
Her smile grew so big that he couldn’t resist smiling back at her. “I’ll be back, my king.”
Somehow he would make it true. Olia would be his queen. She would return to Latari with him.
Nothing short of that would be acceptable.
He watched her leave the room and head down the stairs to the shop. Once in his Seer uniform, Allan made his way to the top of the stairs. He listened for voices and heard that Olia had her customer in one of the fitting rooms. He took the chance to sneak out unseen.
Once out of the shop, and on the roads of the Lower City, Allan crossed the alley to make his way to the pastry shop.
The peculiar yellow sun had become commonplace t
o Allan, but soon he would look upon the red sun of Aden once again. He and Raina would visit their homeland of Latari that sat at the foot of the imperial city of Gallio, where they would rule the entire world of Aden.
That was the plan, but why did his stomach twist into knots whenever he thought about it?
Chapter 24
PRINCE ARIC DRANK the last of his ale. The cold liquid did nothing to quench his true thirst. All he wanted was to be cleansed of his sins.
Three years away from the place of his birth had made him grow up in ways he’d never anticipated.
He wanted nothing more than to return to the young man he was before he set foot on that blasted ship.
The world wasn’t the beautiful place he thought it would be. Yes, there was beauty, but there was also darkness.
Ugly darkness.
Evil.
With a god walking amongst them, things were different. The people of Rhene had no idea what was coming. The weight of responsibility rested heavily on his shoulders.
Aric shuddered, his eyes squeezed shut against painful memories.
Dear fate, why wouldn’t it go away?
Why couldn’t he forget what he’d done?
Princess Arela only lasted for one drink. Her innocence was almost too much to be around, and so he took her to the palace where she was safe from the sin that tainted his soul.
Now, as he sat at the bar of Linden Pub, he couldn’t seem to free his mind of what he’d done.
Then, his mind wandered to her.
The Seer.
Why had he been so cold to her?
It was the only way to keep her purity from his evil.
Aric was certain that if he looked into her eyes for too long, she’d see what he had done.
He stood from his place at the bar. Two women reached for him.
“Come now, mister,” the woman with the bright pink rouge on her lips said. She stood before him, the smell of her curly blond hair reminding him the palace stables.
“I have a warm bed on the top floor. For five silvers I’ll pleasure you until sun up.”
Aric shook his head. Through the haze of his own drunkenness, he tried to walk around the women.
