by Zoey Ellis
Oshali placed a hand on his chest. “Let’s just enjoy ourselves now. We don’t have to make plans that neither of us can control. Maybe you’ll find your mate soon and I will find somewhere in the realm, and it will be solved. Both of us will be where we belong.”
“Why is it so important for you to find where you belong,” Tyomar said irritably. “Where you truly belong is where you want to be.”
“No.” Oshali shook her head firmly. “It is somewhere and someone that complements you, and who you complement, who will never abandon you.” She looked at Tyomar. “You automatically have that as a dragorai, as long as you can find your mate. The rest of us have to hope that in this destroyed land, we can find ours. It’s been almost impossible for alphas and omegas the last few decades. The non-dynamics can breed however they like, but alphas and omegas have always struggled, even more so now.”
“Oshali,” Tyomar began slowly, “I know you are taken with this idea, but you cannot live your life by the stories that you’ve read in a book from a different time.”
“I don’t need to do that,” she said. “I don’t have to do that. I just have to live. I know where I am putting my energy.” She lifted her hand and placed it on his cheek, her thumb rubbing a spot by the corner of his mouth. “And I can’t be in your lair and be one of your kon’ayas.”
“That is not what I want you for!”
Oshali tilted her head as her hand dropped. “No? Then what do you want me for? First, you have treated me like a child, parenting me to behave correctly and do what you wish. I don’t understand why you have been so insistent on coming with me on this journey or why you won’t let me have the freedom to do what I want. Yet as soon as you get me close, you take me to your heart’s content. I cannot imagine it being any different in your lair.”
“That is not an accurate portrayal of our relationship,” Tyomar growled.
“Isn’t it?” Oshali smiled, resigned.
“No,” Tyomar said firmly. He gathered his thoughts for a moment. “I have always admired your dedication, Oshali. And within the last five years I’ve realized what an incredible individual you are and desired to know more about you, speak to you more often, see what was under your veil. But I have always been loyal to the Goddesses, and none of their creations are permitted to interfere with Mheyu duties. So I didn’t. I wasn’t expecting you to leave the sanctum and come on this journey. But when you did, I couldn’t let you go. At least not alone. I don’t want you to be anywhere without me.” As he spoke, realization dawned on him. Shit. He froze for a long moment. Wasn’t that what Nyro had said about his mate?
“What is it?”
He glanced down at her, his heart pounding. “I need to speak to my brothers.” And maybe he needed Ryn too.
Oshali tilted her head. “Why?”
An excitement sparked in him he could barely control. He lifted Oshali into his arms. “Oshali… tell me. Do you believe me when I say you belong with me?”
Oshali shot him an uneasy look. “I want to believe it. But I don’t see how….”
“You cannot be trusted if you don’t trust.”
She frowned. “That’s one of the Seven’s sayings.” She glanced up at him. “What do you mean by it?”
“It means,” he said begrudgingly, “that I have to trust you.”
Oshali grinned. “Good.”
He placed his forehead on hers, drinking in her beautiful smile. “But you have to trust me too.”
8
Oshali woke to a cold and empty tent.
She reached for Tyomar and her hand flailed for a few moments before she realized he wasn't there. Sitting up slowly, she looked for him, peering beyond the see-through walls of the tent to see if he was nearby. He wasn’t.
An uneasy prickling along her shoulders told her that something was wrong, but she ignored it. He was probably scouting the area to make sure there was no one near the tent. But as midday approached, he was still nowhere to be seen.
Her body ached from their nights together, but it was a pleasurable ache that settled her. Even if she had read every single sexual tale about the dragorai, Oshali would have never imagined how great the experience would be with him. He was beautifully rough, and powerful, and gluttonous in his need, but she craved more of it every time. She loved his groans and grunts, she loved his hands all over her, squeezing parts of her body he loved to see shake. And when she explored him, licking and sucking to find more potent pools of his intoxicating scent and seed, his growling reaction aroused her beyond measure. She had welcomed all of it, knowing that it might not last, and now the ache in her body was almost like a punishment for not heeding her own warning.
She traveled for the whole day thinking he would appear, the familiar cold, depressive gloom encroaching on her inch by inch the longer that he didn’t. It was only as she tried to sleep that night that she realized he was really gone. The usual despair and loss didn’t just overwhelm her this time, it crushed her. It wasn't impossible that something happened to him, not a dragorai. The likelihood of someone being able to subdue him was too small.
She knew she shouldn’t let it affect her so much—he had been particularly cryptic last night talking about trust. Maybe he had gone for a good reason and maybe he would be back, but while she had hope, she didn't want to make excuses for him. If he had to leave, he could have at least warned her instead of forcing her to deal with the shock of his absence.
For the next few days, Oshali was disorientated. Tyomar had been such a driving force about where they would go and what they would do that she hadn't needed to do any of it. She had become reliant on him, and it annoyed her that she had let it happen.
Pulling out her map of the south, she located where she needed to go to find the scroll. The south was made up of seven provinces, each a different size. The scroll was right in the center of one of the central provinces, which meant she would probably encounter the queen’s army or be in close proximity to a potential bombing. She had to find a way to be quick and inconspicuous.
As she decided on her strategy to get to the scroll, tears blurred her vision that she was doing this alone. She’d gotten so used to Tyomar insisting he’d be there that his absence was like a hole in her chest. She blinked her tears away, annoyed with herself, but the smoldering weight of bitterness and negativity remained.
She made a promise to herself to never experience this again. What made it so bewildering and so disrespectful was that she had told him, shared every concerning thought and still he just… left. Taking a breath, Oshali tried to shake off her disappointment. She had to keep moving forward. Now she had the chance to prove to him, and herself, that she could do this mission with no influence or instruction.
With a new plan, Oshali headed towards the provinces eager to finish this mission so she could finally have her freedom, whatever that would look like.
It was clear the provinces had once been beautiful.
At least, the one that she entered. Cracked and crumbling, the buildings had a style of architecture that clearly came from a specific history era but hadn’t been upkept. Anything that should have been alive; trees, small animals, flowers, had died, just like the many barren lands that they had passed on the way here. Similarly, the people all seemed barren too. They walked like corpses, dressed in layers of dull grey and brown. Many of these people looked like they had no emotion, no joy—like their lives were already over. The busy area was filled with an autonomous busyness but no talking, no laughter, and no voice coming from the people. Even children behaved the same. Oshali couldn’t imagine being born into this. It was horrific and shocking.
Oshali had read about the queen’s need to try to maintain her Dominion as if the war wasn’t happening while she left the rest of the Dominion to rot. She focused all of her time and attention on the provinces, and the provinces were the target of the king’s attacks. As Oshali walked, many ignored her, although some stopped, staring at her robes as though shocked that the Mheyu
still even existed. Oshali wondered where the southern sanctums were, and whether the Mheyu had been left alone or if they had suffered the same fate as the buildings and people in this province.
The scroll’s location was actually a large public fountain that no longer worked. It was in good condition, considering it must have been constructed years ago. Oshali climbed up the steps and looked around for any hidden areas a scroll could be kept, but there was no obvious area. So she used the revealing incantation.
Focusing, she spoke the words, careful to accentuate them correctly and deliver them with the correct pattern, rhythm, and rhyme. Magic swept into existence and filtered over the fountain, gathering in one particular area near in the center. Oshali followed it, peering into the center of the fountain, only to see a little compartment. She knelt and carefully pulled the compartment out. It crumbled to her hands, and she tensed in surprise. It hadn’t looked that weak. But when she brushed away the powdery debris, a tightly sealed scroll sat on her palm.
Oshali held her breath. That felt a little too easy.
Something changed in the air and she immediately noticed that something was wrong. She couldn’t move. Panic rose in her chest as she tried everything she could to move her body, to get away from the fountain, but nothing worked. Somehow, she had been immobilized, and couldn’t even cast. She exhaled, remaining alert. This hadn’t been an accident. Someone had been waiting for her to collect the scroll. But why? The Mheyu didn’t identify it as a difficult, protected, or magical item. The scroll didn’t seem to be anything spectacular—it didn’t even have a dowel, it looked just like a piece of parchment that somebody had rolled up and stored away for safekeeping.
Within a few moments, someone arrived
“Good afternoon, guardian,” a voice said next to her. She couldn’t turn her head to look at the speaker and they didn’t enter into her field of vision. “The queen has requested your company.”
Oshali tried to say that she did not want to see the queen, that she was set apart from political meanderings, but she was unable to speak. Guards lifted her onto a royal carriage and as it began to move, Oshali tried to stay calm. She still had the scroll in her hand, so maybe they weren’t interested in that, but the queen was not known for being completely logical.
“Introducing the Mheyu Guardian,” someone announced.
Oshali had been lifted from the carriage and carried into the building that she guessed was the palace. As soon as she was announced, her limbs came back under her control again. Breathing out slowly, she glanced around. The richness of the decor suggested she was in some kind of throne room or that this was an important room where the queen spent her time.
“Welcome, Guardian.”
Oshali spun round. A woman sitting on an enormous golden throne furnished in deep, rich reds, purple and green fabric. The throne was massive, making her appear diminutive, but the huge crown on her head and flowing, fur royal gowns wrapped around her were equally extravagant. Everything she wore was cut to accentuate her shapely body and flaunt her wealth; she did look incredible. “It is a pleasure to host you, Guardian.” Her voice was seductive and her manner pompous, but Oshali expected that.
“It is not a pleasure for me,” she replied. “Why have you interfered with Mheyu affairs?”
“I could ask why you have decided to…” The queen stopped midsentence, her eyes widening. She rose slowly, revealing a gem-crusted gown that split in the middle to show her bare legs, and she stalked down the stairs to Oshali, who stayed alert, ready to cast if necessary. But as the queen came forward, Oshali could not believe her eyes.
The queen looked almost exactly like her. Black hair, slanted brown eyes, and the same shape lips. The only difference was this woman was truly beautiful, with glowing skin, jet black shiny hair, and sparkling eyes.
Oshali took a step back in shock.
“Oshali?” The queen spoke her name in puzzlement as her eyes drifted down to her gowns. She stepped closer and touched Oshali’s chin, turning her face from one side to the other as she examined her.
“By the ven!” she breathed, letting her go and stepping back. “It is you.”
“Who are you?” Oshali asked.
The queen gestured to her face. “Can’t you tell?” She looked down again at Oshali’s Gowns, her nose wrinkling. “Why are you wearing that? What have they done to you?”
A sinking feeling appeared in Oshali’s chest. “How do you know me?” she asked, more forcefully. “And why have you interfered with Mheyu affairs?”
“It is not Mheyu affairs,” the queen said sharply. “It is my affairs.” She gestured to the scroll still in Oshali’s hand. “Look for yourself.”
Frowning, Oshali slowly unsealed and opened the scroll, her heart pounding with dread. Inside, portrait illustrations of various people were laid out in a diagram. A family tree. Peering closer, she saw that all the women had eerily similar features, though each came across slightly different. All the ones born within the family were given a name starting with the letter O. The queen was near the middle of the tree and looked the haughtiest of them all, if not the most beautiful. The tree narrowed drastically as it went on, and ended with one single female; a swaddled baby with the name “Oshali” next to her.
Oshali’s knees weakened. Was this really her family tree? And if it was, why did the Mheyu send her to collect it for them, saying it was an artifact that was important to the Mheyu? Surely they would know that it was about her? She examined the male and female above her on the tree. Her mother looked identical to her, while her father seemed to have been a royal, based on his clothing.
“They are dead,” the queen said. She had moved back to stand on one of the stairs leading to the throne.
Oshali glanced up at her. “Is there anyone alive from this scroll?”
“Yes.” The queen leaned her weight over onto one hip. “Me and you.”
Oshali frowned. “Why are they all dead?”
“My family has always been under attack.”
“By who?”
The queen smiled. “You are asking more questions than you are giving answers. How have you arrived here?”
Oshali frowned and shook her head. “I just came here to collect this parchment for the Mheyu, everything else is new to me.”
The queen pursed her lips, narrowing her eyes as she assessed Oshali and then walked back to her and smiled. “Welcome home, Oshali,” she said drawing her into a warm hug.
Oshali stilled for a moment, tears suddenly prickling her eyes. She had dreamed about hearing those words once, maybe when she was seven? She certainly hadn’t been expecting to hear them today, and not from the queen of the south. Blinking them away, she pressed a hand on the queen’s back. “Thank you.”
The queen pulled away and climbed the steps back to her throne. “I assume from your gowns that you have been with the Mheyu all this time? Twenty-five years?”
Oshali nodded.
The queen cursed as she sat down. “I went to the fucking Mheyu for help, and they didn’t tell me you were with them. They are liars and thieves.”
Oshali tried not to respond defensively. Most people misinterpreted the Mheyu’s purpose and became angry with them when it didn’t fit their expectations. But she didn’t know what the circumstances were. “You tried to find me?”
“Of course,” the queen said, crossing her sleek legs. “They are the only ones who have people all over the entire realm working solely for one purpose. If anyone had seen or heard of a missing baby, they would be the ones.”
“Searching for babies is not really what they do,” Oshali pointed out.
“You were not just a baby,” the queen snapped. “You are the continuation of my ancient line. There is no other priority for anyone in the south, for anyone who respects the Goddesses, than to get you back.”
Oshali’s eyes widened, her mind completely overwhelmed by everything she was hearing.
The queen’s eyes flicked down to her gown a
gain. “I see the royal blood is still impressive,” she remarked. “You have to be the youngest guardian I have seen.”
Oshali nodded. “I think I am.”
“What sanctum are you from?” the queen asked.
Oshali was vague. “One near the border.”
“I assume they’re not expecting you to come back if they sent you for that?” the queen asked, gesturing to the scroll. “That scroll has been missing since before you were born. Obviously the Mheyu had it.” She cursed under her breath. “They think they are so righteous, stealing artifacts and records and presenting them as truth,” she spat.
Oshali was taken aback. She had read about people who hadn’t been that fond of the Mheyu, but she never heard outright accusations that they were manipulating the facts. Hadn’t that been exactly what Guardian Vy had been worried about happening? Although, Oshali now didn’t know whether there was any real concern about that considering this scroll could not help the Mheyu do anything in that regard.
“Honestly,” the queen continued, “it turns my stomach to see my own blood wearing one of their gowns. I am half-tempted to send the scroll back to their sanctum as a bomb.” She glanced darkly at Oshali. “I’m jesting, sort of. If you are going back, let me know.”
Oshali hesitated. Did they expect her to come back after sending her here? Guardian Vy must have known what she was sending her for, but Guardian Persilda didn’t seem to. Maybe they expected her to stay?
“You don’t have to go back,” the queen said gently. “There is a place for you here. There always has been.”
Oshali was surprised at the queen’s tone, and even more surprised by the invitation. “I’ve only just arrived,” she said hesitantly.
The queen shrugged. “Your place here was secure since your mother announced her pregnancy. But I am happy to show you what that means, if you have time.”
Oshali hesitated. This was all happening so quickly, she didn’t know how she felt about it. Part of her was horrified she was related to the queen, and part of her was glad to know where she came from and that she still had a place. But that was all assuming it was true. “I’d love to see more,” she said finally to the queen.
