Chapter 18
Eighteen
RAELLE
Agentle breeze brushes my upper back and the scent of honeysuckles clings to the morning air.
My body protests as I roll to my back, every muscle deliciously achy.
Stretching my arms above my head, I inch my eyes open.
The warm glow of sunlight shines between the heavy black curtains which act as the walls to our room.
Kyron left the section facing the bed open, giving us the most spectacular view of the stars as we made love throughout the night.
I can’t recall the last time it felt this good to wake up and face the day ahead.
Kyron shifts beside me, and I take in his sleeping form.
One arm curves above his head while his other hand rests on his chest. I study the shield inked into his bicep—the Stigian and Lucent crests blended together.
The tattoo was a representation of him before he became king.
A blending of two kingdoms one day to be reunited in their perfect form.
Now, something very similar is embroidered on the new banners flying throughout Pliris.
My gaze travels to the black hair feathered over half of his face and his parted lips.
I brush a strand away from his eyes and watch as his long eyelashes flutter just above his high cheekbones.
When he’s like this, he looks more like a boy than a man who carries an entire kingdom on his shoulders.
I ease out of the bed and make my way to the washroom.
After cleaning up, I return to our room and enjoy the freedom of not worrying about interruptions.
The time spent with my family was well needed, but it came with a lack of privacy.
In some ways, it wasn’t much different from the Allaji palace.
I never knew when I’d be summoned for some quality time with my parents or asked to entertain my siblings.
The last thing I could do was walk around naked and bask in the morning sun.
I make my way to the balcony and soak in the breathtaking view of the northern mountains and the bay.
The waves roll on the sea and fresh air fills my lungs.
Kyron’s tower should remind me of my prison in Allaji—the view of the sea and the terrifying height.
But I’ve never felt so calm and safe. The flow of the water is gentler, and the air isn’t as thick from humidity.
The bustling city of Stigian sits on the other side of the palace, giving me the privacy I crave.
This just might be the most peaceful place in the world.
I startle as a plush blanket is wrapped around my shoulders. A firm chest presses to my back and strong, callused hands move up and down my arms. I tuck my lips between my chattering teeth, realizing they very well could have woken up the entire palace.
“Good morning,” Kyron says, his voice raspy with sleep.
“Good morning, Ky.”
He brushes my wild hair to the side and kisses my neck. “Why aren’t you in bed? You’re making me question my abilities as a lover.”
“Trust me, your abilities are outstanding,” I say, tilting my head so he can get to the spot that makes my toes curl.
“That’s good to know.”
My eyes grow wide as a spiral of black shadow flows from his fingertips.
I hold out my hand, beckoning it to me. It slides across my palm and a spark of excitement ignites within me.
It remembers me... still wants me. I spread my fingers, expecting the shadows to coil around them, but it floats right by like smoke on the night wind.
The shadows’ rejection isn’t intentional, but it twists my heart just the same.
Kyron’s powers always reacted to me as if they were a loving pet.
They came as soon as I summoned them. His fire found a home in my palm and his shadows slithered around my limbs.
I always felt a special connection to his gifts, but it appears they were only attracted to the Eporri.
“Do you feel it?” he gently asks.
I shake my head. “It used to feel like it was caressing me and leaving a warm trail on my skin. Now, I feel nothing.”
He wraps his arms around me and nuzzles his nose in my neck.
He doesn’t say anything, just holds me while I mourn the connection we once had.
I’ve gone a month without the Eporri, but I didn’t truly feel its absence until now.
The constant buzz of power was missing, but I wasn’t around anyone who would awaken its purpose.
And then when I was with my family, I was too caught up in reconnecting with them to give it much thought.
Kyron’s power has always charged the Eporri in a way unlike any other.
I can’t help but think that maybe the stone knew it would be his in the end.
“Do I feel different without it?” I ask.
“No. I could always tell the difference between the pull of the stone and you. Your fight for what is right and your capacity to love wholeheartedly wasn’t a result of that power. Soft, funny, intelligent, compassionate, loyal, strong, sexy—I was attracted to you the moment I laid eyes on you.”
Thank the Statera that he’s holding me because my bones just turned to jelly, and I think my flesh has melted into a gooey mess. I glance back at him and smile. “Are you sure the parah bond has nothing to do with it?”
Kyron quirks his lips and tilts his head from side to side. “The bond makes my soul feel like it has found its match. But you stole my heart, consume my mind, and make my cock hard.” He presses his length into the small of my back to prove his point.
Losing our bond would have crushed me, but it wouldn’t have changed the way I feel about him.
What we share transcends the spiritual. It continuously grows and strengthens.
Neither of us can contain it in our being.
Every interaction, every experience, even the quiet moments of nothing are saturated in particles of us.
“I don’t suppose you’re up for round three?” His hand moves under my breasts and his thumb brushes my nipple.
“You’re selling yourself short. It will be our fourth round.”
He drags his lips up to my ear and nips my lobe. “You’re keeping count.”
I arch my neck and kiss the underside of his jaw. “What can I say? You make it unforgettable.”
His deep chuckle vibrates through my body, awaking my need for him. “Thank you for stroking my ego,” he says.
“Along with stroking other things.”
He takes my hand and brings it back between us. Closing my fingers around his hard cock, he says, “Show me one more time why I love you for stroking other things.”
I slide my hand down, happy to do just that. Two knocks on the door bring me to a halt. I move to pull away, but Kyron grabs my wrist.
“Please, don’t stop,” he groans.
I glance across the room, watching the door as I move my hand down his shaft. Satisfied that our visitor has left, I hold him tighter. His silky skin glides through my fist once... twice.
Four rapid blows thunder throughout the quiet room. I slip out of Kyron’s hold and pull the blanket around me. “If I’ve learned anything during my time training to be sovereign, it’s that no one knocks on your door unexpectedly and continuously unless it’s an emergency.”
With swift steps, I move toward the door. My fingers brush the knob when Kyron jumps in front of me. He yanks his pants over his hips and tugs the front lace taut. “This person is already wearing on my nerves. If they ogle your half-naked body, I’ll be tempted to order their execution.”
I roll my eyes and gesture for him to take the lead.
“This better be good,” Kyron says while swinging the door open.
Terro stands in his olive uniform jacket with an envelope in his hand.
The black braids which normally hang loose around his face are held with a leather band high on his head.
His youthful features are marred by deep lines between his brow and on each side of his full lips.
The beautiful deep brown of his skin has lost its luster.
He doesn’t so much as flinch at Kyron’s harsh greeting, taking us in with a blank stare.
“What’s wrong?” Kyron asks, pulling his friend into the room.
“I was riding in from Basecamp this morning to have breakfast with Ulric and Greer. When I entered the town square...” He rips his gaze from us and looks to the open sky on the other side of the room. His throat bobs like he is trying to hold down the contents of his stomach.
“Terro?” I say, stepping around Kyron and placing my hand on our friend’s shoulder.
“A pile of bones, waist high, was placed at the base of King Micah’s statue. This was sitting on top of them.”
Terro hands Kyron the letter addressed to the king. I don’t have to ask who it’s from. The familiar wax seal on the back says it all.
Lessons taught by Ashavee flood my mind.
The Allaji have many traditions. Some are simplistic but beautiful, and others are brutal.
The war ritual is one of the cruelest customs they practice.
It doesn’t matter if it’s two feuding clans or entire kingdoms. If the Allaji wish to shed blood, they let their rivals know by presenting the bones of one of their enemy’s own to them.
I have no doubt that the bones Terro found were those of Cyffreds.
My people who were most likely eaten by our enemy.
Their death is now a warning that in the matter of days, war will be upon us.
I run my hand up and down Terro’s spine. The gesture is just as much for my comfort as it is for his while we wait for Kyron to read. His dark eyes scan the letter, each word bringing an angry shade of red to his face. His entire body shakes as he crumples the note in his fist.
“How many people know about the bones?” Kyron asks.
“Me and the two soldiers who rode in with me. We had them cleaned up before dawn. They’re in burlap bags behind the stables for now.”