by Eliza Tilton
Before I could utter a hello, he glided to my side, lifting me off the ground and into his arms. “I’ve missed you.” He touched his forehead to mine, drowning me in his winter scent.
“I’ve missed you too.” I trailed my fingers across his jawline.
He shuddered under my touch then brought his lips to mine.
Wrapping my arms tightly around his neck, I pulled him deeper into the kiss.
“Don’t tempt me,” he growled in my ear. “You may regret it.”
“You’ve been gone too long. I wouldn’t regret a thing.”
He whisked me over to the large settee, tossing me on my back. I laughed, and a dangerous grin appeared on his face.
“I warned you.” He slid his hands beneath the fabric of my dress.
“Lucino!” I squealed as he playfully pinched my legs.
The doors opened and a young man with a mop of brown curls, dressed in a formal riding outfit, entered the room.
I slapped Lucino’s arm and he sprang to his feet. I straightened out my dress.
“Should I return later?” The man smiled.
“Not at all,” Lucino said. “Just saying hello to my betrothed. You are the emissary?”
“I am.” He gave a quick bow to Lucino. “Julian Fredricks, royal emissary to King Corban.”
“Lucino, Lord of Daath, and this is Lady Jeslyn.”
“A pleasure, my lady.” He tipped his head and I returned the gesture.
“You must be thirsty and hungry from your journey.” I walked to the table the servants had arrayed with refreshments. “Please, help yourself.”
“Thank you. I will.” Julian’s charming smile matched the sparkle in his warm brown eyes. His wavy hair was similar to Jezebel’s dark, and I couldn’t help but giggle at the thought of the two of them together and how adorable the babies would be.
I poured nectar wine into a glass and handed it to Julian. “Is this your first time in Daath?”
“Yes.” He took the glass. “Thank you. It’s quite exquisite.”
Lucino plucked a grape off the bunch resting on the platter. “Tomorrow, I’ll take you on a tour of the grounds. We have much to discuss. How long will you be staying?”
“At least until the festivities are over.” Julian raised his glass and downed the contents in three large gulps. “Word of this union has spread through the lands.”
“What are they saying?” While I was eager to hear the news, Lucino’s gaze narrowed. He had yet to warm to the idea of the rest of Tarrtainya being aware of Daath’s existence.
“They say a beautiful maiden from Lakewood has tamed the mysterious ruler of the Thirteenth Land, and the ceremony will be the beginning of new era.”
“Why would a wedding be of such a concern?” Lucino sat on the armrest of one of the oversized chairs, his arms folded.
“There has been much talk about the healing ingredients here; some of the herbs alone have been highly sought after. They see the union as the reason Daath has made itself known, and a blessing.”
In one month’s time, we had traded with the outside lands and discovered many of the stronger herbs located here were not available anywhere else. With war raging the west, healing tonics came in short supply. Lucino had been eerily quiet on the war, but I knew from that disastrous day in the woods, Lucy had mages with her―mages who fought against the king.
“The wedding is how our people will heal.” Lucino glanced over at me. “They’ve been through much.”
My heart swelled at the compassion in his words. His people had been broken. Families split apart between two worlds. They needed hope, not war.
“We can discuss trade deals later.” Lucino pushed off the seat. “I’ll have my guard show you to your quarters so you may rest until dinner.”
Julian bowed again. “Thank you.”
I sipped on a glass of wine, watching Lucino escort Julian out. When the doors closed, he turned the lock.
“Are you keeping me hostage?” I smiled at the hungry look in Lucino’s brilliant blue eyes.
“I believe you and I were rudely interrupted.” He sauntered over, gaze fixated on me, all playfulness gone.
“Strange… I can’t seem to remember what we were doing?”
“Then I’ll remind you.”
I placed the glass on the table. “You’ll have to catch me first.”
He arched an eyebrow, and I darted to the secret entrance under the painting. I pushed the bronze sculpture in, glancing back at Lucino, who grinned, but made no move to come after me.
“I’ll give you a head start,” he said.
My heart pattered with excitement. I put one foot in to the hidden hallway.
He undid the top two buttons of his tunic. “But when I find you, you are mine.”
I squealed and dashed into the darkness, knowing I was playing a very dangerous game, one I would
Chapter Two
Lucino
The sweet aroma of roses trailed after Jeslyn. Madara had blended a new perfume from the white and pink roses blooming in the garden, and the scent ignited inside me. I followed it down the dark corridor. Torchlight flickered against the stone’s wall. I could run and reach her faster, but I enjoyed the chase.
At a split in the corridor, I took the left passage, assuming Jeslyn would run into the maze garden we often visited, and sprinted ahead to the break in the wall. There, I pushed in the rock that opened the secret door to the outside.
Sunlight blinded me, and I blinked, searching ahead for Jeslyn. Her perfume drifted with the breeze and as I peered to the far right, the sky blue of her dress disappeared around the rose bush.
With the desire to catch her urging me on, I ran in to the maze. Soft laughter echoed around me, and the faint scent of roses left an easy trail to follow.
“Lucino…” She playfully whispered my name, knowing my heightened hearing would pick up the sound.
I ran, eager to touch her, and be done with the chase.
The maze ended into the hidden garden. A large tree stood in the center, the bench we normally sat on, barren. Wind rustled the honeysuckle bushes and a blue hummingbird drank from the flowers.
Taking in a deep breath through my nose, I searched for her.
There.
Quietly, I snuck over to the massive trunk, grinning at what awaited me on the other side. In one quick gesture, I jumped around the tree, causing Jeslyn to scream with laughter.
A bead of sweat slid down her forehead, splashing on her rose cheeks. Her chest rose and fell with quick breaths.
“You found me,” she said, a little breathless.
“I did.”
I grabbed her waist and pushed her against the tree as I kissed her. She slid her arms around my neck, stepping up on to her toes. In one week’s time, she would be mine, beyond body and soul. The desire to bind with her in every way taunted my thoughts, making anything else in my mind irrelevant. We would have one ceremony for the binding ritual, another for the people of Daath. I had yet to describe to her what to expect, and knew she needed to fully understand how connected we were about to become.
Pulling back, I gazed at the tiny freckles on her nose and how in the sunlight her eyes reminded me of sparkling ice, so light and blue they had the power to sway me any way she desired.
“What is it?” she asked, raising a hand to caress my cheek.
I kissed the palm of her hand, causing her eyes to flutter close. “I want to discuss the wedding.”
“Now?” She trailed her hand down my neck. “But you’ve been gone so long.”
She didn’t understand how every touch made me want to marry her right this moment. “I know, but it’s important.” Taking her hand, I gently led her away from the tree and to the bench.
We sat, facing one another, both her hands entwined with mine. Worry crease
d her brow. “Is everything all right? Are you having second thoughts?”
“No, never.” I squeezed her hands. “I want to explain the binding ceremony. Do you remember when you first came to Daath and we were to wed?”
She nodded. “I’ll never forget it… it was certainly different.”
“The ritual will bind our auras together.”
“What does that mean? Will I… change?”
“You won’t grow green skin, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
She smiled. “I sort of prefer the olive tone.”
Our binding ritual would fuse our auras together, and with no information on how the interaction would affect a human, I only had Romulus’ theories. In order for Jeslyn to truly understand everything, it was time to tell her why I had kidnapped her those long months ago.
A strange apprehension beat against my chest. Was I actually worried?
I shook away the strange emotion.
“I never explained the true reason you were taken from your home.”
Her eyes widened, and her grip on my hands loosened.
“Our kind have never binded to a human. Romulus has theories, many theories.” I stood, needing to break contact with her and focus on what I had to say. Her confused gaze followed me as I paced. “He believed a human’s aura had a purer base, and the more golden the color, the purer the aura. A pure aura could enhance a Reptilian’s power.”
I stopped pacing and looked down at her sitting on the bench. She clutched the front of her dress. “That is why I was searching for a bride, and that is why I took you.”
Her eyebrows scrunched together. “You took me away from my home because of the color of my aura?”
In all our time together, I never revealed this truth. She believed I simply searched for a bride, someone to be a public figure to the people. “I know it is difficult to understand.”
She turned her head away from me. “Tell me the rest.”
Her jaw clenched and I knew she was upset from how she wrenched away from me. “We believed the power would flow only one direction, to me, but because of how tied our emotions are, and since I am part human, it’s possible some of my power may direct to you.”
“Is that all?”
I sat beside her and placed a hand on her arm. “I am not the man you first met.”
She turned to face me, her blue eyes fierce. “You mean the boy I first met.”
“Have we not been through enough? Have I not proven myself to you?” Anger flooded into my chest, making my breaths come rapid.
“No,” she growled, and ripped her arm away from me. “You don’t get to be mad. This is about me.” She jumped from the bench. “You could have told me the truth. Back on the island, you could have said it there, but you waited until days before we are to wed!” She shook her head and looked up at the sky. Her lip trembled, and I knew I had to make her understand how deep and loyal my love went.
Standing beside her, I gently gripped the sides of her arms. “Yes. I should have told you sooner, and I am sorry. I tell you now because I want you to know the two of us will be bound for life, body and soul. I am ready to commit myself to you. Will you not do the same?”
Her body relaxed and she blew out a long breath. “I will… it’s just…” She shook her head as one tear slid down her cheek.
I kissed it away. “How can I make this right?”
“You can’t.” She closed her eyes and I kissed her cheek as another tear fell.
“Don’t be angry with me.” Leaving the softness of her cheek, I kissed her ear then drew my lips across her neck. “Say something.”
She unfolded her arms and placed her hands on my waist. “I’m upset, but I’m not mad at you. You’ve changed… I see it. It’s a lot to take in.”
Pulling her closer, I moved my hands below her waist and lifted her up at eye level. “Our union will prove our kind can live peacefully.”
“I know,” she replied, her voice soft as a whisper. “Show me how different your people are. I need to see the tunnels.”
The one thing I could not show her. My people needed time to accept her as their queen. The loss of the gate had burned a hole of hate in their hearts. With no way for the rest of our race to transport to this world, they would be stuck on a dying planet. Plus, if she saw a human husk and how we had to kill to blend in, she would never accept it. While I had already explained the process of syphoning in order to shapeshift, seeing a withered body is very different.
“In time, you will. Things are unstable underground.”
She grunted and pushed away from me. “Always an excuse. I’m going to see it, even if I have to go there myself.”
With that, she left me standing in the maze. Jeslyn could never see the true cruelty of my kind. They would adjust, once they saw binding with a human would not hurt or diminish their powers.
Until then, anyone might attempt an attack. Here I could protect her; down there, her life would be in danger, and I would not be able to contain the rage if any of my people hurt her. The outcome would be chaos. I had come too far to let that happen.
Chapter Three
Jeslyn
Raven’s horse, Onyx, galloped the path leading to the sea. Anna couldn’t bear to sell the black stallion after Raven died, and she offered me the horse when she decided to sell her home and live with her sister. My heart broke at imagining Raven riding the majestic horse alongside Avikar and his horse Brushfire. The two painted a beautiful memory. I prayed wherever Avikar disappeared to, he was at peace.
The tree line ended and the sand dunes sparkled like tiny white diamonds laid out in the sun. I tugged the reins, slowing Onyx, searching the shoreline for Hadda. A loud screech broke the silence and I glanced up at the bright sky.
Silver wings streaked the air and I leapt from the saddle before Hadda frightened the horse. I kicked off my shoes, grabbed the sides of my gown, and ran to the water’s edge. Hadda slammed into me, both of us tumbling into the breaking waves. Laughing, and soaked through, I roped my arms around her feathery neck.
“Afternoon, little bird.”
Hadda cooed in my ear. Twice the size of me, she was far from little. I rubbed the back of her neck, her blue and silver feathers ruffling from my touch.
“Let’s go for a ride,” I whispered.
She blinked her big soulful eyes at me, and I climbed onto her back. With a giant flap, we launched out of the sea and into the air. I gazed at the ground, checking for Onyx. He grazed at the grass past the dunes.
Hadda glided to the side, flying towards the island.
Lucino had his secrets. I had mine.
Wind rushed through my hair, and my spirit lifted as we soared through the sky, doing what no man could. Flying with Hadda eased every worry out of my bones. Up here, every stressful thought floated away.Tall, thin trees appeared on the horizon as the island came in to view.
“West side, remember.” I pointed to the west where Romulus stayed. He had a lab on the island, and one I had been secretly visiting.
Hadda landed on the beach, far enough where Romulus wouldn’t spot us, but close enough I could walk. “Stay here. I’ll be back soon.”
Hadda and I stumbled across the tiny island during one of our flights. At first, I had thought it the perfect home for her, but then I discovered the lab and knew she could never stay on the same island as a mad scientist.
The wooden hut sat silent on the top of the hill. A ramshackle house with broken planks and a door that swung open with the breeze. I listened for the birds. Three sat in the tree, chirping away. A sign Romulus wasn’t home. The animals seemed to sense whenever he was around and scattered as if his very existence threatened theirs.
Water weighed down my dress and dragged across the sand.
How can I sneak around in this thing? With a quick glance to my right and left, I
shimmied out of the dress and hung it on a nearby branch, out of sight from the hut. The wind whipped my slip around, making me thankful for the warm weather.
The old hut creaked as I pushed open the door and stepped inside. Crabs crawled across the sandy floor and a net hammock swayed in the left corner of the room. I scurried to the right and crouched.
Hidden beneath the sand lay a trap door, I had only to find the latch.
I grazed my hands across the sand, searching for the metal feel of the ring.
There!
With a tug, I pulled open the door. A ladder led down in to the dark. I said a quick prayer to The Creator then descended below, pulling the door closed as I went.
Pure black surrounded me as I took the steps one by one. When my foot touched the bottom, I reached out to the right where my hand met rock. Using the wall as a guide, I stepped away from the ladder.
Fear tightened my brow.
The lights are out. He’s not here.
I had no idea when Romulus would return, or what he would do if he found me, but I needed answers. Answers Lucino refused to give me.
A large rock jutted out from the wall. Using both hands, I pushed it in. Lit torches along the rocky hallway cast shadows and caused my heart to beat faster.
Soft light billowed out from the door at the far end of the hallway. With each step, I contemplated my choice to be here. I have to make this my last visit. No more.
Pulling my courage together, I entered the lab. Bubbling liquids in glass tubes fizzled and popped to my left, beside a shelved wall filled with gems of every possible size and color I could imagine. I wanted to gaze at the different gems, feel them in my hands, but I had done that the last visit and wasted too much time.
In the corner on the right sat another shelf, this one carved into squares that held rolled parchments. All I needed was to find a map of the tunnels.
Carefully, I pried open the first scroll. Strange script in purple ink sprawled across the page, a mix of symbols and intricate diagrams of massive shapes; nothing decipherable. I rolled it up and grabbed a scroll from one of the other cubes.
