Chapter Five #3
The room started murmuring. Heyval blushed. “Yes, well, that is where we met. We were compatible.” She bit her lip. “For quite a few hours.”
Alora chuckled. “Good for you. I am amazed that you let him go on so long.”
“He used that spell, so there wasn’t any pain.”
“Oh. That one. Yeah, Bastien used it on me. It’s effective.”
“It was surprising.”
“That, too.”
Alora looked around. “So, I am assuming that she was wearing marks of Suura?”
“I am not sure, Your Majesty.”
Heyval said, “I was. One icon on each shoulder. That is how they knew I was a necromancer. I was the only one registered at the time. The rest were all at your college in Denyar.”
“Why weren’t you?”
“My mom’s a bitch.”
Rage laughed.
Heyval said, “Seriously, she wanted to bring back the old lineage. The old ways of warlocks and mages and everyone else cowering.”
Alora asked, “She’s dead?”
As one of the ladies said, “We hope so.” They laughed.
“Heyval, what about your father?”
“Mom took him apart for his magic and didn’t put him together right.”
Rage smiled. “My dad is fine. He’s watching from the shadows right now.”
Alora looked around and nodded to a dark corner where red eyes suddenly glowed.
“Right. Well, I am disappointed in this institution. You know that you were supposed to report any wrongdoing of a Suuran to me. It is in your fucking charter. Instead, you put a price on her head and chased her around for nearly a decade, if not longer.” Alora smiled.
“Well, she’s cleared of all charges. I am taking her home now, and any harm coming to her or her sibling will cause immediate repercussions.
” She smiled. “I still bear the wrath mark, and I can pull your power out and leave it for my children to play with. Are we clear?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. All further Suurans will be directed toward Denyar.”
“Good. Now, I am going to meet a dragonborn.”
The assembled mages gasped.
Alora grinned. “I know. Amazing, right?”
Rage lifted a hand toward the shadows. “I am fine, Dad. I will see you soon.”
The eyes turned up in amusement before they disappeared.
Rage paused. “Uh-oh. He was amused. Dad is rarely amused.”
Alora chuckled. “Don’t worry. I am just going to throw some monitors around here to make sure they aren’t coming after any more Suuran children, and we will be on our way.”
She opened her hands, and small, glowing orbs affixed themselves to the interior of the main hall, and the little balls of light swept outward as well.
Heyval counted thirty-nine of them, and when Alora was done, she said, “We will be going now. I would recommend you get a hold of your collection crews and call them off. What I did today is nothing compared to what the king’s assistant would do.
I am fairly sure she would tear you to pieces. ”
Heyval thought about the look of steel in Azila’s eyes. She probably would. She had that don’t fuck with mine look about her.
Alora put her arm around Rage and the other around Heyval. They took a step and were back in Amori’s home.
Rage collapsed, and Heyval poured power into her. “It’s okay. The restrictors are off you. You are fine.”
“They jumped me and tied me up, then started the torture the moment we arrived. I never had a chance to catch my breath, and there are no locks on ropes.”
Heyval got the red marks off Rage’s skin. “How is that?”
“Good. Excellent, actually.”
She stood up again and grinned. She hugged Heyval. “Thank you for coming.”
“Anytime.”
There was a rustling of fabric, and Heyval turned and saw Amori. “Uh-oh.”
His eyes were blazing yellow-red, and his ears and tails were out. He didn’t look happy.
He growled, “Heyval, are you well?”
She nodded. “Fine.”
“Good. Come with me.”
Azila was nearby and smiling slightly. “Should I cancel your afternoon appointments, Your Majesty?”
There was another growl, and Amori lunged forward and snagged Heyval around the waist. She could feel claws against her belly as he carried her. “We got Rage back. Well, Alora did. She’s scary.”
He grunted and continued to haul her through the palace until they were in his bedroom. She saw a red enamelled wardrobe and an adjoining door as he turned to close and lock his door.
She looked at him. “So, is there a reason you are fussing?”
“Fussing? This isn’t fussing. You were supposed to stay with me to be safe, and you went charging into the belly of the beast without knowing what you were facing.” He set her on her feet and gripped both her arms. “Do you know how worried I was?”
“Obviously, you were worried.” She kept her voice calm. “What can I do to help?”
He stared at her, and the red leeched from his gaze. He wrapped her in his arms and held her. “You are fine?”
“I am fine. I healed Rage a little. That’s all. Queen Alora gave them a tongue-lashing, and then we came back. She ordered them to call off the collectors coming after me, and they should all be notified in a few days, and I can get out of your hair.” She paused. “And tails.”
He smiled slightly and leaned her back. “Do you think I am letting you go back to the bakery?”
“What? Yeah. I mean, I don’t want to mess up your life. I do that enough for mine.”
His hands moved to hold her head. “Let me help you with that.”
“What?”
“I plan on messing up your life and being the one you call when you need someone.”
“Interesting plan.” She thought she got the last syllable out before he kissed her, and she gripped his wrists as the kiss went on until she opened her mouth and he stroked into her with focus.
She didn’t quite understand what he was doing until a blaze of magic poured into her, and she pulled at his hands to get him to let go.
The magic continued to roar into her, and when he closed his mouth, she staggered back, her lids were fluttering, and she slowly slumped. He caught her. He lifted her into his arms and walked her to the bed, unzipping her dress and removing her shoes.
“You are going to need a nap after that blaze.”
“What did you do?”
“Well, I could have bit you, but I am not a goblin, nor an orc. I gave you my power. As much as I could part with today.” He kissed her shoulder. “There will be more transfers until you and I have found equilibrium.”
“Why do I feel so heavy?”
“Magic is moving through you and looking for places to hide and pool.” He spooned her from behind and kissed her neck.
“You could have asked.”
“You would have said no. I am the king, and I get what I want.”
She mumbled, “Like a toddler.” Her eyelids felt so heavy.
“Speaking of. Would you like to try for kids? I want at least six, but I am willing to negotiate.”
She couldn’t respond. Her breathing slowed, and her body stopped resisting. His magic began to make itself at home.
He held her close, and she felt his tails flop over to caress her arm. She smiled and dozed off.
The bed was still warm when Azila’s voice woke her. “Come along, Miss Heyval. Dinner in an hour, and the King of Denyar and Queen of Denyar and Suura are staying. Their children and third have also arrived, so it is a full dining table. For once.”
Heyval opened her eyes. “Your bands are gone.”
“I was a little agitated, so they cracked off.” Azila smirked. “I am fairly certain I could feel the enchanter screaming.”
“Oh. Right.”
Heyval sat up.
“Would you like to get cleaned up?”
“Yes.”
“Do you want it fast?” Azila pursed her lips.
Before Heyval could answer, a cascade of flame came toward her and covered her from head to toe, leaving her with the faint scent of peaches on her skin.
The dress had been changed into a dark-brown silk cocktail dress, and the shoes had changed as well.
“Sorry about the peach. I had a snack earlier.”
Heyval looked at her new dress and the matching shoes next to the bed and started laughing. “Dragonborn.”
Azila winked and waited until she was ready, and then they headed out. Heyval was becoming the lady of the house after all.