15. Worst Headache
WORST HEADACHE
VERONICA
I wake up with a migraine, almost as if an aki was bucking in my skull. I can feel a male’s hands help me drink, but he doesn’t smell like my mate. I opened my eyes to see a very concerned Rathgar.
“Why are you here?”
“We were ambushed.”
I cursed, using the most imaginative ones that I had from home. “I knew that we couldn’t trust Magdorian and Zyloxia.” I looked around. “Why are we in a cell?”
“I’m not sure. I don’t know where Gairo is.”
* * *
Zyloxia came to our cell door with a meal, which I didn’t trust at all.
“What’s going on?”
“I see no reason not to tell you, now that you’re in this cell. Magdorian is correcting the mistake that I made years ago. He and I decided to kill Gairo, but I hoped the amnesia would help keep Tyrlyn safe from Magdorian. Tyrlyn is the heir to their warlord papa. Now that Veronica is pregnant, he has a chance to claim all this territory for his own. Magdorian has no intention of letting it happen. He’s as cruel as he needs to be, and he’s power hungry with it. He’s forcing me to fix my mistake by bringing back Tyrlyn and killing the new child. It’s too public, though.”
“What are you going to do?” asked Rathgar.
“There’s an ancient rite where they’ll fight to the death. The victor will claim the territory.”
Rathgar started muttering to himself. “I’ve heard of it, but it’s a barbaric tradition.”
“If Tyrlyn loses, Vi and the child will die as well.” Zyloxia sighed. “I don’t like slaying children. I’m sorry that you were dragged into all this.”
Without answering more questions, she swept away and left Rathgar and me staring after her. Where was Gairo?