Oath of Destruction: Reign of Secrets, Book 5

by Jennifer Anne Davis

  “This is going to take some getting used to,” Kerdan muttered.

  “Being king?” Allyssa asked.

  “No.” He looked over at her. “Your Emperion formality.”

  She tried not to smile.

  “By the way,” he said, “you look beautiful tonight.”

  “I’m sitting right here,” Odar said with a groan. “Must you talk over me?”

  “Yes, since you are sitting between us,” Allyssa said.

  He opened his mouth to say something when Kerdan placed his heavy hand on Odar’s shoulder. “I’m sorry for attacking you earlier today,” Kerdan said. “I thought you’d wormed your way back into Allyssa’s life, and I wanted to kill you.” Releasing Odar, he surveyed the plate before him. “It was silly of me to be jealous. Clearly, I have nothing to be jealous of.” He took a bite of his food.

  Odar stiffened. “Sometimes I wonder why I do this to myself. I could have told my parents no and refused to come here. Or I could have left once the engagement was in place. But no, I stay here and this is what I get.”

  “I know,” Kerdan said around a mouthful of meat. “And I appreciate you being here. Even though I don’t like you, you are a good man and will make a good leader for Fren.”

  Trying to hide a smirk, Allyssa took a drink from her goblet. That was Kerdan’s way of saying Odar belonged in Fren…away from Allyssa.

  Savenek

  Savenek laughed, pretending not to have a care in the world. But the sight of Kerdan at the other end of the table grated on his nerves. Kerdan. The ruler of Russek. The enemy.

  Many of the people seated around the tables were sneaking peeks at Kerdan. Some were whispering to one another behind hands or napkins. Savenek didn’t feel any hostility coming off the crowd. It was more curiosity than anything else. The reason for Nathenek being there suddenly made sense—it was in case someone decided to attempt to harm Kerdan. Savenek almost laughed. He doubted Kerdan needed protecting. And where were Kerdan’s men? Did Rema think it too risky to have so many Russeks in one room?

  Savenek scanned the back wall. Rema and Darmik’s usual guards were stationed there. He peered down the table at Nathenek, who sat eating and not paying attention to anyone in the room. Earlier in the day, Nathenek had spent over an hour trying to convince Savenek that Kerdan could be trusted. Nathenek claimed that even though Kerdan was a Russek, he did care for Allyssa and the alliance between them would be highly advantageous. Savenek didn’t care about any of that. What mattered to him was that his sister must have been deceived to have fallen for Kerdan.

  In a room full of Emperions, Kerdan stood out. He was so tall and muscular that he barely fit on his chair. What did Russek people eat? And his skin was unusually white, as if he’d never seen the sun before. And what was the guy thinking wearing a fur over his shoulders like that? No one in Emperion wore fur. But maybe that was the point. Kerdan didn’t want to fit in.

  “What’s the matter?” Mayra asked.

  “Nothing.” Savenek took a drink from his goblet to have something to do.

  “Have you talked with Kerdan yet?” Mayra whispered.

  “Yes.” He remembered Kerdan’s hands all over Allyssa. Right in front of Rema and Darmik. As if he were too high and mighty to have to adhere to Emperion customs. It had been too much to witness, so Savenek had escorted Kerdan out of there as fast as he could.

  Only, he hadn’t expected Kerdan to take control of the situation and start grilling him. Kerdan had wanted to know all about Savenek’s life. Who’d trained him, what missions he’d been on, if he really cared for his new royal family. Savenek could tell from the questions that Kerdan didn’t trust Savenek any more than Savenek trusted Kerdan. However, it was clear Kerdan cared for Allyssa. Even now, he kept gazing at her as if she were the only one in the room.

  “We’re not going to be able to pull off Allyssa and Odar’s fake engagement with Kerdan here,” Savenek quietly told Mayra.

  “He hasn’t seen her in a while. I’m sure it’ll be fine.” Mayra didn’t sound convinced.

  “She’s my sister.”

  “What are you implying?”

  He didn’t know. Running his hands through his hair, he tried not to be irritated by Kerdan. “He’s not good enough for her.”

  “How do you know?”

  He didn’t. Savenek just didn’t like the idea of Allyssa marrying the king of Russek. Their enemy. Kerdan didn’t even look or act like a king. His clothes, his mannerisms, and his speech all showed what he was—a warrior.

  “Are you done eating?” Savenek asked.

  “Yes.”

  “Meet me in the solarium in fifteen minutes.” He stood, then shoved his chair back. “Your Majesties,” he said to Rema and Darmik, bowing.

  “Leaving so soon?” Rema asked.

  “I have business to tend to.” Without waiting for a response, he hurried from the Dining Hall.

  Out in the corridor, his guards surrounded him. “Any news?” Savenek asked.

  “None, Your Highness.”

  He hoped Marek was doing okay and that he’d had a chance to speak with Odar’s brother. If anything happened to Marek, Mayra would never forgive Savenek for sending him on the mission alone. And neither would Neco. He entered the solarium, instructing his guards to remain at the entrance. No candles had been lit so the room was cast in darkness. He went over to the window, staring outside into the night.

  It was much more peaceful here than it had been in the Dining Hall. Savenek hadn’t realized how being around so many people all the time could be so exhausting. He didn’t know how long he stood there. After a while, he finally felt calm and in control again.

  “What are you doing here?” Odar asked from somewhere behind him.

  “Waiting for Mayra.”

  “Ah,” he said as if that explained everything. “Can we talk?”

  “You have five minutes,” Savenek answered.

  “What do you think of Kerdan?”

  “Why?”

  Odar shrugged. “I don’t like him.”

  “Of course you don’t.” Because Allyssa preferred Kerdan over Odar. And for good reason. Odar had broken her heart. He didn’t deserve Allyssa.

  “But,” Odar said, coming to stand alongside Savenek, “as I said before, the guy is skilled not only with a sword, but also in a fight.”

  “That’s why we’re going to include him in our plans.” Savenek slid his hands in his pockets, wondering where Marek was and what he was doing. It was different sending someone he knew well on a mission.

  “I’m glad to hear it.” They stood in silence for several minutes, each lost in his own thoughts. “I get why she likes him,” Odar said. “I’ve screwed everything up so badly between the two of us. I know there’s no chance she’ll ever forgive me. I get it. But I do still care for her, and I want to make sure she’s safe.”

  Savenek kept his focus outside so Odar wouldn’t see how perturbed he was. Whenever Savenek spoke to Allyssa, it was always her trying to decide what was best for Emperion or how her decisions would affect her people. She always put others before herself. She was like her mother in that regard. Odar, on the other hand, had mixed priorities. While he did seem to care about Fren, he seemed to care for himself more than his kingdom. And when Allyssa was factored into the equation, things became even more muddled.

  “You don’t like Kerdan, but you trust him?” Savenek mused.

  “As much as it pains me to say it, yes.”

  “We’ll discuss the matter with him tomorrow when we go hunting.”

  “Hunting?” Odar asked.

  “Yes.” Savenek didn’t know if Kerdan suggested it because he enjoyed the sport, or if it was simply to get them out of the castle so they could speak without the chance of anyone overhearing them.

  “Someone is here to see you,” Odar said. “I better go.”

  As Odar left the room, Mayra entered. “Do I even want to know what that was about?” she asked as she came to stand next
to Savenek.

  He shook his head. “Did I miss anything?” He hoped Rema and Darmik hadn’t been upset he’d left the Dining Hall early. But he’d felt his temper rising. In order to keep his reputation as the dashing prince, he’d hightailed it out of there.

  “No.” She placed the palm of her hand against the glass. “Well,” she smiled ruefully at Savenek over her shoulder, “when Odar helped Allyssa stand and he escorted her from the room, Kerdan bent a spoon.”

  “Kerdan and Odar don’t like each other.”

  “I gathered that.”

  Savenek came up behind her, placing his hand over hers. Lacing his fingers with Mayra’s, he leaned down to whisper in her ear, “We’re finally alone.”

  “Your guards are back there near the entrance to the solarium.”

  “It’s dark in here so they can’t see us.” He missed Apethaga when it was just the two of them.

  “So,” she said, leaning against him. “What should we do?”

  He ran his hands up her arms. “I much preferred you in Apethaga.”

  “How come?”

  “Less clothes, more skin.” He wrapped his arms around her, resting his chin on her shoulder. In Apethaga, the clothes reflected the hot, humid climate. Here, the Emperion outfits mirrored the colder weather. Even in the dark, he could see her blush. “I’ve missed that.” He kissed her cheek.

  “I suddenly find myself with a lot of enemies at court,” Mayra said, changing the subject.

  That surprised him. “Why?”

  “Because every woman is enamored with you.”

  “I hadn’t noticed.”

  “Liar.” She smiled. “But that’s the right answer.”

  “I know.”

  She twisted in his arms, so they now faced one another. He bent and kissed her. Mayra’s mouth molded around his. He slid one of his hands up her back, twining his fingers in her soft hair.

  Someone cleared his throat from the entryway. Mayra jumped. Savenek chuckled, taking a step away from her and turning to see who’d interrupted them. When he saw Neco standing in the doorway with his arms crossed and the light behind him keeping his face in shadow, Savenek cursed.

  “When I said that you could court my daughter,” Neco said, stepping farther into the room, “I didn’t mean like this.”

  “We were just talking,” Mayra said.

  “You are alone, in a dark room, and it looked to me as if you two were doing more than talking.” Neco took another step closer to them.

  Savenek noticed the dagger sticking out of the waistband of her father’s pants. “I’m sorry, sir,” Savenek said. “I meant no disrespect. It’s just that when I’m around your daughter, she takes my breath away.”

  “Probably because your lips are locked together.” Neco said each word clearly, distinctly, sending a chill through Savenek.

  “I’ll make sure that when we’re together, we are supervised at all times,” Savenek assured Neco—one of the greatest military commanders of all time. Bullocks. “I love and respect your daughter. I promise nothing untoward will happen.”

  “Mayra, wait for me outside.”

  Mayra nodded and hurried from the room, leaving Savenek alone with Neco.

  Neco stopped right in front of Savenek. “Just because you’re the prince of Emperion, and my best friend’s son, doesn’t mean I’m going to allow you to marry my daughter.”

  The words were sharp, like a knife jabbing into Savenek.

  “That’s right,” Neco said, leaning forward into Savenek’s personal space. “You have to earn the right to marry her. You will respect my daughter. You will treat her like you want your own sister treated. I will not find the two of you kissing in a dark room again. Are we clear?”

  “Yes, sir.” Sweat beaded on Savenek’s forehead.

  “Meet me tomorrow morning before breakfast.”

  Savenek wanted to ask what for but knew better. Nathenek had trained him well. “Yes, sir.”

  “We need to spend some time together,” Neco explained. “It will give me an opportunity to value your worth.”

  Savenek swallowed.

  Neco turned to leave. When he reached the door, he paused. “Make sure you wear training clothes.”

  Oh, hell. Savenek didn’t want to have to spar against Neco. “Yes, sir. I look forward to it.”

  Neco chuckled, the sound deep. “That’s because you don’t know what you’re in for.”

  Savenek headed toward Neco’s wing. He wiped his hands on his pants. Again. He couldn’t remember the last time he was so nervous.

  Neco stepped out of the shadows, blocking the corridor. “Glad to see you’re on time.”

  Savenek knew not to say anything. He simply nodded, waiting for Neco to take the lead.

  “You’re all dismissed,” Neco said to Savenek’s guards. Once the men left, Neco started striding down the corridor away from his rooms, waving at Savenek to follow him.

  Savenek didn’t know if he was supposed to walk alongside Neco or behind him. He settled for behind him. He also decided to refrain from making idle conversation.

  They entered the royal family’s training room on the first floor. The sun had not yet risen, and the sky outside was only just starting to turn gray.

  Neco moved around the edge of the room, lighting the torches so they could see. “I know Nathenek trained you and that you were raised in the Brotherhood.”

  “Yes, sir.” That seemed to be all Savenek was capable of saying to Neco.

  “Even though your sister is the crown heir and will become empress, your father wants to leave the army in your hands instead of Kerdan’s.” Neco stood across from Savenek, his feet shoulder-width apart. “What do you think of that?”

  Was this a test? “I’m trained to spy and kill. If Darmik wants me to lead his army, I’ll need further training on battle strategy.” In theory, Savenek knew what methods worked and were effective. However, he’d never been in charge of men, much less leading them into battle.

  “I don’t want my only daughter to be a widow.”

  That was a gloomy thought. “I understand.” Sort of. Was Neco implying Savenek would die if he led the army since he lacked experience? Or was Neco declaring his plan to kill Savenek? Really, it could go either way.

  Neco swung, punching Savenek in the stomach. Savenek doubled over, shocked from the strength of the hit. Knowing another one was likely coming, he allowed his body to fall to the floor. He immediately rolled to the side in case Neco decided to try to kick him. Once Savenek caught his breath, he reached out, grabbing Neco’s ankle and yanking it. Neco flipped in the air, landing upright on his feet.

  Savenek used the time to stand back up. Now that he was watching Neco for an attack, he noticed the slight shift of his feet. Savenek raised his arm, blocking the punch before it hit him. He countered with a jab from his right fist, hitting Neco’s side.

  Neco grabbed Savenek, tossing him to the floor. Savenek rolled, realizing he needed to do something unexpected if he wanted to survive. He flung his legs up, catching Neco and slamming him to the floor. Neco swung his legs around, pinning Savenek down. In retaliation—and a hope to get free so he didn’t embarrass himself—Savenek reached out, clutching Neco’s wrist and pinching a pressure point. Neco didn’t release him; however, he did loosen his grip ever so slightly, which allowed Savenek to shift his body, breaking the hold.

  Both men got to their feet, circling one another.

  “Care to tell me where my son is?” Neco asked.

  Bullocks. “No.”

  Neco ran at him, tackling him to the ground. “What if I tell you I have an idea of where he is, what he’s doing, and why?”

  Grappling on the floor, Savenek managed to flip Neco over, sitting on top of him. The second he had the upper hand, he knew it had been a setup. Neco hit the back of Savenek’s head, knocking him over. Everything went black.

  When Savenek woke up, he found himself lying on the sofa in the Royal Chambers. His clothes were sweaty, a
nd the back of his head ached. He sat up and rubbed his face. His session with Neco had not gone as he’d intended. Based upon the light filtering in through the windows, it had to be almost time to go hunting. He stood and dragged himself to his bedchamber to change. Opening the door, he saw Nathenek stretched out on his bed. “What are you doing here?”

  “I just had a nice talk with Neco,” Nathenek answered.

  Great. This day kept getting better and better. Sitting on the chaise lounge, Savenek removed his boots.

  “Do you know why Neco bested you?” Nathenek asked.

  “Yes.” Neco had known exactly what to say to throw Savenek off. It was a rookie mistake, and Savenek should have known better. But that was what happened when emotions—like love—got in the way. Neco had been trying to prove a point, and he did. Not only that, but Neco had also hinted he knew about the assassination plot. Savenek didn’t know if Neco knew something specific, or if he was guessing in order to rattle Savenek.

  “Then I won’t waste my time lecturing you.” Nathenek stood. “Are you going somewhere?”

  “Kerdan is taking us hunting.” Savenek pulled on his black tunic.

  “Hunting?”

  “Yes. Allyssa, Odar, and Mayra are also going.”

  “Hunting?”

  “Yes, hunting.” What part of this did Nathenek not understand?

  “Animals?”

  “Yes,” Savenek said, exasperated. “As opposed to what?”

  “People.”

  “I can’t tell if you’re joking,” Savenek said, pulling on his sturdy boots.

  Nathenek went to the door. “That’s a nice bruise on your face.”

  “Kerdan gave it to me.”

  “I heard.”

  “Then why did you bother mentioning it?”

  “Because you’re going hunting. With Kerdan.”

  “It was a total misunderstanding.” He rubbed his jaw, which was still rather sore from the hit.

  “I know Kerdan,” Nathenek said. “I believe your sister loves him.”

  “I know.” Savenek stood. “We’ve been over this before.” He folded his arms across his chest.