by Zoey Ellis
“We have already pledged,” one of the women said, gesturing to the corpse on the floor.
Drocco glanced at the corpse and then at Izaak.
He shrugged. “They did it themselves with us as witnesses.”
Drocco turned back to the women. “Who was that?”
“Our Mother,” they said in unison.
“You pledged without even knowing if I would accept you?”
“Yes.”
They seemed to be comfortable speaking as one, but Drocco found it disturbing. He examined them closer but could not find any differentiating features at all.
“Your names?”
“Kuan,” said the one on the left.
“Rada,” said the one on the right.
At least their names were markedly different.
“I didn’t ask for your pledge,” Drocco said, turning away. “Create what I asked for. That is all I need from you.”
As he exited the hall and returned to the center of the warriors that waited outside, Torin stayed close. “Drocco—”
“I know, Torin,” Drocco said irritably. Torin had been vocal about the necessity to replace the Lox Talent-crafters. He wasn’t wrong to want to protect the Empire in such a way, but at least the Lox Talent-crafters had been Eastern Landers. These twin Alpha women could be complete frauds. “Find out if what they say is true when you collect the item. I want you to collect it. No one else.”
Torin dipped his head in a sharp nod and then signaled to the troop to begin moving.
***
On the third day, they arrived at what was known as the royal sector and finally met some true resistance. The Lox slowed to a stop in front of an enormous field of red flowers, that stretched as far as the eyes could see. Drocco raised his axe and a troop behind him lifted Lox archers on their shoulders. They began to let loose arrows at frightening speeds over the field.
The field shuddered and the image began to distort. Within moments, it had melted away completely to reveal an enormous, wide bronze gate attached to a high wall that extended into the distance in both directions.
Beyond the gate, a deserted city surrounded the base of the raised land that Eiros Castle sat on, but further back, in front of the approach ramp, stood a large mass of hooded men. They looked prettily uniformed, as though they could be an army themselves, but their light armor told Drocco they had never experienced a heavy attack.
Drocco thrust his axe forward and the Lox charged without hesitation. While the front troop attacked the hinges of the gate, the archers continued their onslaught, not once pausing when the image changed, only refocusing to target the men that stood beyond the gate. Malloron’s army had no time to prepare; clearly, they had assumed the Lox would not attack something they could not see. As their men began to fall, Malloron’s army finally stirred. Shuffling back, they pressed their palms forward and curved them upward. A glistening arc of magic materialized over their heads. The Lox arrows bounced off their shield, rendering them ineffective.
Drocco gripped his axe tight, grinding his teeth as he glared at them. Of course they would use the fucking Talent to protect them. They were probably the ones that had been projecting the fake surroundings all along. He had expected it but it was still annoying nonetheless.
"A magical army," Torin murmured. “This will be interesting. The keeper had nothing to say about this?"
"No." Drocco didn't offer any further information. Although the head keeper had clerks inside the royal sector and the castle, there had been no information in the Records Keep about Talent-crafters being trained as warriors, or even being used as a defensive or combative resource. However, it took time for news to travel. It could be that Malloron had only just started training them. Malloron had shown great interest in building an army of his own after all, and using the Talent was his main advantage.
Regardless, it didn’t take long to get through the gate. The troop that had arrived at Eiros months earlier had already scouted the royal sector and had determined that the gate could be loosened by digging into the ground next to either side of it and dismantling it by cracking the wall. They had already done some of the preparation work for this while the main bulk of the Lox traveled across the White Ocean. Within the hour, the gate creaked and crashed to the ground.
The Lox charged into the sector and the fighting began. Torin barked orders to secure the entire sector and Lox warriors streamed along the city, cutting down anyone foolish enough to be in their way as they went. Drocco led the exchange of blade and blow as the two armies clashed. The clang of metal against metal resounded around him; the taste of the dry earth in his throat; the tang of fresh blood in his nose—all harmonizing to bring him into a state of focused vigor.
He had cut down a few of Malloron's warriors before he became aware of a strange pressure in the air. It weighed down on him, straining his body and mind. It took a while for him to realize it, but as soon as he did, he guessed it was yet another use of the Talent. Malloron must be intending to weaken him and his warriors, but Drocco had faith the Lox could withstand it.
The battle went on and it became clear that King Malloron's army was definitely smaller, however their use of the Talent successfully misdirected and confused Lox warriors. It was a deceitful way to fight, but the Lox would beat them through sheer force of power alone. The Lox pressed in from all sides and the defending army pulled back, losing ground as they tightened closer toward the castle. The pressure of the Talent increased but the Lox charged forward.
After only three days of continuous battle, Malloron's army had been pushed back to the castle wall. In the history of the Lox battles, the longest they had fought without a night’s break was three weeks, so Drocco wasn't worried about his warriors’ stamina, but with the increasing pressure weighing down on them, he couldn't guarantee that they would be able to remain as effective as they normally were. He had witnessed them moving slower and executing their blows more carelessly. He had to admit that the Talent was taking its toll.
At midday on the fourth day, a horn sounded above their heads from the castle in the known pattern to cease battle for negotiation. Drocco raised his axe and Lox warriors pulled back. He had trained his warriors never to follow signals for surrender or battle, only to follow his instruction; he had to be the one to make that judgment.
As his warriors drew back from their opponents, breathing heavily, shining with sweat and blood, Malloron's army parted. King Malloron strode to the front of his warriors, facing Drocco. He indicated that he wanted to talk and that both of their warriors should move away for them to speak privately. Drocco simply glared at him.
"If you’re not going to negotiate with him," Torin murmured under his breath, after they had been standing there for a few minutes, "kill him now and be done with it. But just be aware he could have some kind of repercussion involving your Omega."
At that Drocco took a step forward and Malloron matched him. As they walked toward each other, their armies retreated further back.
"I'm glad to see you’re open to negotiation," Malloron said.
A pulse in Drocco’s arm urged him to kill the fucker, but he tightened his hand around the handle of his axe instead. "Give me my Omega."
"I will give her to you," Malloron said. "But I'm making progress in finding out where the other Omegas are. You will have her back as soon as—"
"Give me my Omega," Drocco said, pronouncing each word clearly in case the man misheard him.
Malloron's expression hardened, and he narrowed his eyes. "I know you think that you're beating me in this battle, but this is just the beginning. Your army will tire, especially with what I can do with the Talent. Don't be unreasonable. Let me have more time with her so that we can all benefit from—"
"I will say this one more time," Drocco said, a raw harshness clawing at him as he snarled. "Give me my Omega."
Malloron pressed his lips together for a long moment before answering. "I cannot give her to you right now," he responde
d. "If you would be willing to give me time—"
Drocco began to step back to his warriors, his eyes boring into Malloron's face as he did so. Negotiation etiquette stipulated that he could not kill him while they were in negotiations, but as soon as he was in line with his warriors he would be throwing his axe into the man's fucking head.
Malloron's face contorted in anger. Forced to step back to his own army by Drocco's movement, he kept his eyes firmly on Drocco, watching his every move as he stepped back to his warriors. They watched each other, Drocco's hand firm around his axe while Malloron's fingers twitched in anticipation.
As soon as Drocco arrived at the front line of his warriors, his arm shot up with his axe and he hurled it as hard as he could at Malloron's face. Malloron darted backward, lifting his hands and flicking them in some kind of pattern that caused the warriors beside him to lurch in front of him, protecting him from the axe spinning at him. The axe hacked into the head of one of Malloron's warriors and by the time the man fell, Malloron was nowhere to be seen.
"You coward!" Drocco roared. "I will kill you, Malloron! You will not survive this."
The Lox roared with him and charged forward, engaging Malloron’s army again for another bitter encounter.
CHAPTER SIX
CAILYN
Amara was right. Within a few days of limiting her food intake from Malloron’s table, Cailyn began to notice things she hadn't before.
Many of the servants that worked in Eiros Castle were unhappy. Some of them actually conducted their jobs in tears. Cailyn tried not to look at them whenever she was with Malloron, but they wouldn't speak to her when she tried to approach them alone. They simply hurried away, averting their eyes. They were everywhere; cleaning in various rooms and fixing and plumping furniture. How could she not have noticed them? The castle had seemed quiet, charming, and peaceful before, but now the atmosphere was busy, fearful, and had an overbearing gloomy, dark overtone.
Additionally, she noticed that Malloron himself had a crueler and more haughty air about him. The way he spoke to his assistants, his advisers, and the people who served him, showed him to be an arrogant and overbearing man. When he turned his gaze to her, he didn’t look at her in any way that Drocco ever had. Curiosity, excitement, and a tinge of smugness filled his eyes; no passion or desire or tenderness.
He continued to dine with her whenever he could, but over the last week, it became less frequent. He had also been too busy for any trips to any of the Eiros cities, and he didn’t permit her to go alone or assisted, even with Emric. When she asked him about it, he had said that they would be visiting Eiros again soon but that she should remain within the castle for now. He didn't give her a reason why and she didn’t push the issue.
The lake and the garden were still beautiful, but she never managed to see Amara again while strolling out there and she had no idea how to get in contact with her. She started to explore the castle more, heading into towers that she hadn’t visited before, and into rooms that she had only seen when she first arrived. It was remarkable how different everything looked and she considered whether King Malloron had been poisoning her food since she had been on the ship.
One evening, while heading to the garden, faint cries echoed in the corridor around her. She paused, listening for where they were coming from and following them past the garden exit toward the east side of the castle. Stepping down wide, stone stairs that led from the main corridor, she found herself on a semi-dark lower-ground floor. The cries had faded somewhat but intermingled with sobs and quiet mutterings. She tentatively followed the noises, a nervousness bubbling in her as the soft mumblings crawled along the walls that surrounded her. She followed a winding corridor that descended lower and lower until she was sure she was underground. Sparse candle lamps lit the corridors and ugly shadows bounced around her as the glow wavered and jumped.
Finally, Cailyn came across a door where most of the noises seemed to be coming from. She paused, listening to see if she could determine if the person may be in actual pain or if she was simply imagining the distress she was hearing. As she raised her hand to the door handle, someone gripped her arm and yanked her back.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Amara hissed, dragging her away from the door. "Go back up!"
"What’s going on behind that door?" Cailyn asked. "Someone is suffering. Are you doing something about it? Is that why you're here?"
"Cailyn," Amara said, a clear warning in her tone. "This doesn’t concern you. You’re not even supposed to be here. The Mothers are furious. Why didn't you go back to your Alpha? Do you know what trouble you've caused?"
"King Malloron's people drugged me and put me on a ship," Cailyn said. "I had no choice."
Amara closed her eyes, her mouth tightened, and shook her head. "That bastard," she muttered.
"What's going on behind there," Cailyn asked, gesturing to the door. "Are they slaves? Why are they locked up down here?"
Amara sighed. "You know slaves in the Western Lands are not the same as slaves in the Eastern Lands, Cailyn. Here, slaves are people who happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. They are used and abused and made to suffer. Many of the people in the known Lands have very unique and specific tastes. King Malloron caters to them. Most of the depraved are here in the Western Lands because he encourages them to indulge in their behavior, but some are in the Eastern Lands and even in the Southern Lands. Their urges know no bounds and King Malloron has no line he won't cross when it comes to feeding their depravity. It’s what keeps him in power. Obviously he needs somewhere to keep them."
Cailyn stared at her, the horror of her words seeping in. "So what the hell is behind that door, Amara?"
"You don't need to know," Amara insisted. “Just believe me when I say it’s bad.”
"Just tell me the Mothers are handling it," Cailyn said, sternly. "They can’t let him inflict pain on people who don't deserve it like this. It’s bad enough when its criminals who have actually committed some kind of horrible act, but innocent people? That’s barbaric."
"It’s not the Mothers’ job to police the known Lands," Amara replied, just as sternly. "Their concern is Omegas, as it has always been."
A new horror twisted in Cailyn. "So why are you here?" she said slowly. "Are there Omegas behind the door?"
Amara held her gaze. "I don't know yet."
"You don't know yet…" Cailyn repeated slowly. And then it dawned on her. "Children?" she almost shrieked. "He has got children imprisoned behind there?"
"Be quiet!" Amara snapped.
"Tell me there are no children in there, Amara," Cailyn demanded.
"I'm not telling you a damn thing, Cailyn." Amara's blue eyes blazed. "This is not your mission. Don’t involve yourself. The Mothers don't want you to get hurt, but they won’t get you out. You’re known as an Omega now and they cannot put others at risk. I’m trying to find a way to help you, but I can’t if you’re wandering around the castle investigating things you shouldn’t."
Cailyn took a tiny step back, reeling from Amara's words. She was treating her like a citizen—someone delicate and untrained and needing protection. Her shock must have shown on her face because Amara's expression suddenly softened.
"I'm sorry," Amara said, gently. "I'm sorry, Cailyn. You know you’re a sister to me. You and Victoya are all the family I've ever had. But you’re not a spy anymore. You're not supposed to be involved in what we're doing. You're compromised." She took Cailyn's hands in her own and squeezed them. "I know that's hard to hear, but it is what it is. Your Alpha could get you to tell him anything, so could Malloron. There is a lot riding on us being able to keep our secret, being able to keep hold of who we are. Surely you can see that?"
"I know," Cailyn said hotly. "I know that I’m supposed to just be happy with being cast aside simply because something happened that was completely out of my control. But I'm still the same person I was, Amara. I can't just ignore things. I can hear them screaming, and if they are chil
dren…" Cailyn shook her head. "I can't sit around and do nothing."
Amara held her gaze for a long moment and then sighed. "I know. I know that you’re not that person."
"So tell me what’s going on," Cailyn said, squeezing Amara's hands back. "Please."
Amara’s eyes glistened in the bounding candlelight. “Don’t make me into a shit spy, Cailyn. Please don’t.”
Cailyn’s shoulders dropped. It was true. It was unfair to ask this of her—to ask her to compromise herself in this way. She glanced at the door and then nodded. "Malloron wants me to be his queen. I haven't given him an answer yet, but he will want one soon."
"That makes sense,” Amara said, lifting her shoulders. “He took you so that you could be tied to him. Once you’re married he will manipulate you even further into finding out more about where the rest of us are."
"I've stopped eating the food, but we haven't been into Eiros for a while now. I haven't been able to gain fresh fruit."
“He has banned anyone from entering the entire west wing of the castle,” Amara said, thoughtfully. “We don’t know why. There are multiple illusions running—something could be happening outside we don’t know about yet.”
“Are there more Omegas here from the Compound?”
Amara lifted a finger to her lips, darting her head to one side. Cailyn turned her head too, listening for what she heard. There was very slight shuffling coming from down the corridor.
"Go back to your room," Amara whispered, leading Cailyn backed away she came, away from the shuffling sound. "And be careful. The other reason why King Malloron allows you to walk around unsupervised is because he can tell where you go. There are magical trackers around the castle. So he will know that you have come down here." She led Cailyn back up the stone stairs. "If you had entered the room, he would have known about it, and he would not be at all pleasant in dealing with you." They arrived back at the corridor Cailyn had first turned off from. "I’ll be in touch soon with a way out," she said.
