Amal tilted his head, eyes dancing. “Isn’t that what happened?”
“I wasn’t there. I simply respect our parents enough to take them at their word, but apparently, you know better than the gods themselves. Now, to add injury to that insult, how about you outright challenge me for what’s mine and we’ll see who’s superior.” That was what this whole thing was about. He wanted everyone to witness how she was inferior to him.
Amal scoffed. “It’s beneath me to challenge you.”
Ashni smirked. “You’ve already done so. Coming after what’s mine is a challenge. Besides, don’t act like you’re above me because even if everything you said is true, I’m still Mom’s child, which means I am still royal.”
Amal tensed. “Mom’s nothing more than the wild daughter of feral mountain people. Her blood’s as common as mud.”
People gasped around the room. Amal spoke blasphemy now. Perhaps, this would be enough for their mother to stop protecting him. Ashni had more than enough witnesses to comment on the level of disrespect. She’d enjoy every second of shutting him up.
“She was good enough for the Amir.”
“She was never good enough for the first Emperor. The Amir’s father knew what she was.”
“We didn’t even know him.” This was way beyond her. How could our grandfather be the one to poison Amal’s mind when the man was dead before we were born?
“I knew him well enough through those who knew him.”
“I see.” Her brothers had always attracted the wrong sort of people when they lived in Helli. Their parents tried to shield them from the snakes, but not even Khalid and Chandra could be everywhere all the time. Ashni rolled her shoulders and thunder clapped outside. “Well, I guess there’s only one course of action left.”
“You’re not worth it.” Amal tried to dismiss her.
“Neither are you, but my kingdom and Mom’s honor seem like better things to fight for than sibling rivalry.” Ashni threw out her fist, lightning directed at Amal’s head. He had more than enough time to dodge and the lightning cracked beside his head. It blew a hole in the wall behind him. This was a warning, a reminder. She wielded power beyond his, even if he didn’t want to believe it.
Amal snarled and his eyes glowed bright with fury. “You can’t beat me.”
“History has proven otherwise.”
“I was taking it easy on you. Mom wouldn’t like it if her darling baby girl got hurt.”
Ashni smirked. “Oh, is that why I always got reprimanded when I took you down?”
People snickered and that made Amal snap. Small flames danced on the edges of his fingertips. He charged down the dais toward her, raising his hand, ready to cut her down without a blade. But, then one of his people tossed him his sword and he caught the long, curved blade just in time to try to cut her in half. She sidestepped the swipe, losing some loose hair to his weapon, and unsheathed her swords.
“Are you sure this is what you want to do?” Ashni inquired, eyes on her brother. She knew the answer, but she wanted to give him a moment to be smart.
He took another slash at her. Ashni blocked it with the Golden Feather. Amal’s blade flashed orange, his fire trying to strengthen his weapon, as it clanged against her sword. He pushed forward, coming at her again, trying to back her up. She didn’t give an inch. He growled, glaring at her with hatred in his burning gaze.
Amal shrugged out of his long, teal outer robe. Gems and jewels rang out as the robe hit the floor, leaving him in a short-sleeved shirt with gold stitching. She planned to physically strip him of all his adornment. Even watching him take off his outer robe was satisfying. He needed to treat her like the serious threat she was.
“Sure you don’t want to take anything else off?” Ashni asked, knowing he was weighed down by other wealth.
“I won’t need to in order to deal with you.”
Ashni shrugged. “Suit yourself. Just know by the time I’m done with you, you might be standing here naked.”
He twirled his sword. Ashni tightened her grip on her blades and made sure her footing was true. He ran at her again, trying to take her head off. She blocked and moved, ducking every blow, listening as his sword whizzed by her.
While making sure she avoided her brother’s attacks, Ashni kept tabs on any movement in the room. Most of the people there were her subjects, but there was no telling who might have betrayed her for Amal while she was gone. She wanted to make sure no one got close to Nakia. The second she thought Nakia was in danger, this dual be damned, as would the threat to her love.
***
Nakia watched with bated breath as Amal and Ashni battled. Is this to the death? Ashni made it seem like it wouldn’t be a good idea for her to kill her brother. She had a feeling Amal wouldn’t lament cutting his sister down. Not after all the horrible things he said.
Nakia wasn’t sure Ashni could defeat Amal, even though she had seen how capable Ashni was. It was hard for her to overcome years of teaching—men were stronger, smarter, better than women. Her logical mind knew that was bunk. She had seen Ashni take down multiple men in battle. She had seen Ashni defeat Amal every single time in chess, which according to her father was a great mark of intellect. Ashni was smart enough to coach her in chess so she could defeat Amal. So, she should win this. Never mind the fact that Ashni controlled lightning.
But, Ashni didn’t use her lightning. She clashed swords with Amal. As Nakia studied it, she realized Ashni wasn’t even attacking. She was defending. Is she even trying to beat Amal or just hold him off?
Someone started in her direction. She tensed and checked for her dagger, a gift from Ashni, she now kept tucked in her sleeve. Layla had given her strange, magic pellets in case of something serious, explaining she only needed to throw one to the ground and run right after. She wasn’t going to be the reason Ashni yielded the contest, but then Ashni roared, kicked Amal in the chest, and sent lightning at the person inching toward Nakia. The guy fell back on his ass and the smell of fire wafted into the air.
“Stay away from her!” Ashni pointed one sword at the man on the floor.
“You should worry about me!” Amal came back at her and she slashed, just missing him. It might have been on purpose, but it seemed more like he stopped just in time.
“I would never worry about you.” Ashni cut him across the arm and blood oozed from the laceration.
Amal hollered like a wounded animal. The continued fight was enough of a distraction for Nakia to move further away from the crowd. She wasn’t sure who among them were for Ashni and who were for Amal.
Amal hissed. “You little bitch.”
Amal came in swinging again and Ashni blocked or dodged every one of his strikes—until she didn’t. He cut her across the cheek. Nakia’s heart jumped and she flinched, but then shook that off. She’d seen worse happen to Ashni. Many people in the room gasped while a few applauded. Nakia was actually happy for that. This gave her a chance to figure out who was against Ashni, who she had to watch out for. Well, she knew a few anyway.
“That was almost your eye,” Amal said. “Yield, or next time it’ll be.”
Ashni scoffed. “You’re kidding, right? You barely drew blood.” The wound on her cheek dripped.
Maybe she was trying to toy with him. Nakia recalled her teasing Layla when they sparred, and while the principle was similar, it wasn’t the same. Ashni needed to be careful.
Nakia took her eyes off the fight, noticing a man who clapped for Amal coming toward her. The movement stopped as Amal cried out. Blood dripped onto the floor, a tear down Amal’s sleeve, and his knuckles were stained crimson.
“Your goons are going to run at my hellcat. I’ll take a piece out of you every time one of them moves,” Ashni promised.
Nakia felt something stir in her. Ashni wasn’t trying to hurt Amal, but all of that went out of the window for her. I am precious to her. Pride filled her to the brim.
Amal shot toward Ashni again, but Ashni had no problem getting
out of the way of his sword, especially since his arm was injured. But then Amal feinted a sword attack and put his free hand up in Ashni’s face instead. Flames shot from his hand into her face. Ashni roared in pain, pulling back. She thrashed her head from side to side to get rid of the fire.
“Ashni!” Nakia wanted to run to her. Of course he would have powers like Ashni did. He was the son of a demigod, even if he was an ass.
Amal brought his sword down on her, but Ashni still managed to block with one sword and slashed at him with the other. She sliced him across the chest. He hissed and backed away. She blinked as if testing her eyes. How is she not blind?
“Don’t think I won’t take your damn head off, Amal,” Ashni said, squinting at him.
“You couldn’t.” But, he didn’t move.
Ashni’s nostrils flared as her eyes remained locked on her brother. Amal scanned the room like he was searching for a way out. Nakia doubted he’d find an exit.
“The girl!” Amal barked as he ran at Ashni.
Nakia didn’t have to wonder who he meant. Two men rushed her. She backed away, digging for her dagger. She didn’t have a chance to pull it. Lightning flashed and the two men stopped. One had a sword sticking out of his chest, and the other got a chest full of lightning. Others, who Nakia hadn’t even noticed, halted. Nakia glanced at Ashni to thank her only to see Amal throwing both palms at Ashni and columns of flames leapt from his hands. She backed out of reach of the fire and then slashed at him. He sidestepped. A knife came up out of his sleeve and he tried to stab her.
“You think you could ever be the Amir’s daughter? You don’t even carry his Fire!” Amal blew a pillar of flames from his mouth, backing Ashni up several steps.
Ashni punched the air, lightning flying from her fist. Amal dodged it, but the wall at the far side of the room felt Ashni’s wrath. It crumbled. Quite a few people had to get out of the way of the debris.
“Fire?” Ashni scoffed. “Didn’t our father come from a bolt of lightning?”
“The Amir wielded Fire, as do all of his sons. You’re nothing but a lie.”
Nakia wondered if these were the sort of things Ashni had to deal with growing up. Were there whispers of her not being her father’s child when she was a little girl? Maybe her brothers believed and spouted those rumors back to her. Whenever her lightning manifested itself, did her brothers use it as proof against her? Maybe their families weren’t so different.
Ashni chuckled. “Your confidence is a lie.”
“Is it?” Amal’s body glowed and flames danced up his arms. The fire swirled around a knife lashed to his other arm.
Nakia’s stomach twisted. She had never seen such a display of power, and it didn’t seem like Ashni could match it. She had only seen Ashni throw lightning from her hands.
Amal went at Ashni again and she dodged his blade attack, but the fire ate at her, burning away much of her shirt. She had on another underneath, but no armor. Nakia wanted to do something. I’m helpless and she’s worried about me so she can’t focus completely on him.
Nakia hated being such a liability. She was the reason Ashni had to split her army when going back into the West, giving her father a chance to escape and get help, making her conquest even more difficult. She distracted Ashni enough for Amal to take her kingdom. Ashni hadn’t noticed something amiss in her messages, too focused on having Nakia back with her. And now, her presence might cost Ashni her life as she tried to divide her attention to protect both of them. Maybe Ashni did lose favor with the gods and they sent me to be a curse onto her.
“Don’t worry.” Adira came up behind her. “Ashni’s got this.”
Nakia jumped. “Where did you come from?”
“Saniyah’s safe, so now I have to honor my place with Ashni.”
“Is Bashira with her?” Bashira was her first friend and she wouldn’t forgive Amal if he hurt her.
“Bashira’s a little shaken up, but safe. You can talk to her later. Watch your beloved work.” Adira nodded toward Ashni.
***
Ashni panted as Amal’s fire licked at the scarred flesh of her arms. Bubbles pulsed and popped on her skin. Her lightning refused to come through such injured vessels. If someone came up to Nakia, she’d have to throw her daggers. She only had a limited number of those. When Adira stepped behind Nakia, Ashni wanted to make sacrifices to her. Hell, she’d do just that when this was all over. Grant Adira honors and celebrations and whatever the hell else she desired.
The great Amir wasn’t your father. Amal’s taunts rang through Ashni’s mind. Ashni might not ever know if she was the biological child of Amir Khalid Akshay, but she felt that in the same way, no one could ever truly know if they were the biological child of their father. Her birth could’ve easily been a way for people to discredit her mother, and her idiot brother obviously bought into it. She didn’t think anyone could poison her brothers against her mother. Jay turned down the whole damn Empire out of reverence for her, yet Amal talked about her like she was some whore from the hills.
Ashni took a deep breath and focused. She wasn’t going to give Amal a chance to walk away from this. He was a danger to Nakia. He mocked their mother. He thought he knew better than their father. He was of the belief he could stand in the way of Fate, in the way of the gods.
For all Amal’s talk, when he heard the wind howl, he paled. Ashni could feel a charge building in her, could feel a current like never before under her charred skin. She pointed the Golden Feather at Amal and lightning powered down her shoulder through the sword toward him. He moved out of the way in time. Ashni blew a giant hole in the wall and the only problem she had with that was that she missed her damned brother. Amal’s eyes went wide and a bead of sweat ran down his cheek.
“Stand down before you insult the gods further with your foul mouth,” Ashni said, voice hard. Do I have it in me to muster another bolt like that? Wind would be easier, but she couldn’t hit him alone with a gush of wind, not in her current state. It would take out the whole room.
Amal snickered, but it sounded like his teeth chattering. “You’re such a failure you can’t even control that power.” He nodded toward her arm.
Ashni didn’t look, but she could feel what he meant. Her skin had split, burning lesions down her arms. Her blood painted the floor of her throne room. She didn’t flinch, didn’t want him to know her body wasn’t ready for that sort of power, not after taking so much damage from his flames. It didn’t matter. His body wouldn’t know what hit it either.
“Just surrender, Ashni. You’re inferior to me.”
“A god can’t be inferior to an insect, especially one who’s also favored by the gods.” Ashni knew she had fallen out of favor long ago, but he didn’t know that. Before this mess of falling in love, her being a favorite was undeniable. The heavens parted for her, for crying out loud.
“Then you should know you’re done for.”
Ashni barely had time to get out of the way as he threw wave after wave of fire at her. He hoped to catch her in a massive wall of fire and be rid of her, maybe rid of every semblance of her, but she’d never make it that easy. In fact, she had to remind Amal why he never beat her at anything. He made horrible decisions.
“I’ll drown you in Fire like the beast you are! Give you up to the gods in the purity of my divine light!” Amal unleashed a tsunami of fire in her direction. He couldn’t control his fire any more than she could with her lightning right now, but he was reckless with his. She could hear the people behind her panic, scrambling for cover as the flames could engulf not only her but everything at that end of the room.
Ashni took another breath, making sure everything inside of her calmed. Merciful gods, forgive me for any disrespect I’ve given you, but grant me the strength to show him I’m not only my father’s daughter, but my mother’s defender, my hellcat’s protector, and the keeper of all my people’s dreams. She drew in everything she could, feeling in tune with the Sky and well beyond that. She always thought she c
ould reach the stars, but this was the first time she actually felt it.
Lightning broke through the ceiling, hitting Ashni. She roared as power like nothing she’d ever imagined poured into her and directed the lightning at her brother’s flame wall. Wind howled as it blew from her, like a monsoon broke free from her body. The lightning cut right through the flaming wave and into Amal. When it hit him, thunder shook the room, the palace, the world maybe. She wouldn’t be able to name the sound he made, but she was certain she could hear his bones splinter through it all. Amal was blown back, body flying like a doll before he dropped to the floor, body smoking. Her wind cut his fire into slivers.
Shaking, Ashni wanted to fall to her knees, but she refused. A god would never fall.
Chapter Seventeen
“ASHNI!” NAKIA CRIED OUT, breaking away from Adira when she saw the massive wave of fire headed toward her beloved. When Ashni let loose her counterattack, a lightning bolt that might have had the power to destroy the whole city, Nakia stopped, too shocked to move. The bolt was accompanied by a powerful wind that somehow only blew in a tight tunnel around Amal. She could see the terror in Amal’s eyes right before it hit him and he let out an unholy sound. Then, he dropped, nothing more than a smoldering pile in the ruined throne room.
Nakia ran toward Ashni, somehow still on her feet. Adira chased after her, shouting her name, but Nakia couldn’t be caught, not until she was holding Ashni. Ashni collapsed against her, burying her head in the crook of Nakia’s neck and wrapping her arms weakly around Nakia’s waist. The smell of burnt flesh invaded Nakia’s nose, twisted her stomach, but she held Ashni steady. Adira stood behind them, silent and watchful.
Taming the Wind Page 24
