Chapter 28 Azahara #2
Azahara clasped her hands behind her back and stood upright, striving to remain as motionless as possible. Her presence in the room was solely to support Kaed, and she understood that her role was to stay silent unless absolutely required to speak.
“I am Kaed Blackfyre, one of your Eagles of the Order. We bring you—” The king rudely cut him off, causing her to tighten her hands into fists.
“Who is your companion?”
She looked at Kaed, who was peeking over his shoulder at her.
“My name is Azahara, Your Grace.” The formality felt foreign and left a sour taste in her mouth.
Kaed did not wait for anything further and continued, “We are bringing you the news that the great Elder Fae has been killed.” Light gasps echoed throughout the room.
Illyan had mentioned to them that they did not want to be recognized as part of the Fae Elder lineage, and while they may be identified as Fae, the bloodline could be any.
They wished to distance themselves from this lineage by their request.
“This has disrupted the Magic and will likely—” Once again, the king rudely interrupted him, and she could hear Kaed stifle a frustrated sigh.
“I know what happens, boy.” Azahara’s eyes widened.
“A mere Ranger trying to educate the king.” Her heart raced in her chest. Feeling fire in her throat, she peeked at Kaed; he didn’t seem fazed by the king’s response, likely because he knew exactly the kind of man King Theon was. And yet, he would still serve him.
“My apologies, Your Grace.”
Don’t fucking apologize to this penis-head shaped boy.
She shifted her stance, feeling a surge of anger welling in her stomach.
The desire to reach out and hold his hand for support gnawed at her, but she knew it could be perceived as a sign of weakness.
Besides, he seemed to handle the situation much better than she was.
Perhaps it was she who needed the support more than him.
“We wanted to provide you with all the information we have to aid you and your kingdom in any way we can.”
“Who killed the Elder?” It was the first significant question to come from the king’s mouth.
“We do not know.” Kaed paused, expecting the king to interrupt, but the king sat there expectantly. “The Fae will hold a Rite to appoint the next Elder, and then they will begin looking for the individual or parties responsible.”
The king nodded his head. “So, you’ve come to tell us nothing of importance. We are already aware of what the Rite is. It’s documented in our textbooks.”
Kaed continued, “An Elder, as per our history books, has never been murdered. The last one died during the War of Ilkiz. Helio—” Illyan had provided Kaed with a history lesson on just how unlikely it would be for a Fae Elder to be killed and what that means for the realm.
“He was nearly four and a half thousand years old. Understanding the magnitude of this event is just as crucial as finding out who did it.”
Azahara was on the verge of losing her mind, standing there saying nothing, especially as the king seemed disinterested in listening to what might be coming for him and his people. No ordinary mortal could just waltz into Howl, where the Elder stayed nearly year-round, and simply murder them.
“The human beside you has given us more by just standing there and staying quiet.” The king, along with everyone else, laughed. She took a step forward, her hands coming around, ready to—do what? Charge the king and punch him? Oh, how she wished she could do that.
Thankfully, Kaed put his hand out, stopping her. “Respect is free, Your Grace. I ask that you take advantage of it.” At this distance, she could see his jaw clench and sweat dripping from his forehead. If there was one thing Kaed would not allow, it was disrespecting her.
“There is no disrespect towards the lady beside you.” Then, Kaed stepped in front of her, blocking her from the king’s view. He must have noticed the way the king and his two sons, who were spitting images of him, leered at her.
Theon leaned forward. “What do you want, hmm?”
Kaed was slowly losing his hold on his own respect for the Royal Family. “Nothing. We wanted to provide this information; that is all. Our duty is to aid the kingdom in keeping it safe.”
“And you think your information provided that?”
Azahara leaned forward and whispered, “Let’s go, Kaed.”
“Did you know of the Elder’s passing?” Kaed ignored her, firing off the question to the Kking.
“It doesn’t seem like your court, or its people knew.
With Magic being in limbo, you would think the king would have notified his people to be wary of using or being around Magic during these times. ” His tone turned patronizing.
There were some snickers behind her, but not many. More gasps of surprise than anything. She felt her heart rate rising, and her breathing quickening.
The king pondered his response for a moment, while Azahara tried again. “Please, Kaed. He knows what he needs to know.”
“I’ll forgive that overstep of yours, boy—” Azahara gripped his arm and pulled him back against her. “For the girl, for one of my sons.” Pig.
“My son, Thomas, will be king one day, and you will make a mighty fine queen. I imagine anyone would follow you.” He licked his lips. “Isn’t that right, court?” A roar of laughter echoed through the chamber that had just been quiet moments ago.
“Bring her here.” A strong hand gripped her forearm and jerked her away from Kaed.
Kaed stifled his step, conflicted. “Your Grace, she is not property.” His tone was laced with anger.
A sudden halt to the hand that was starting to pull her. “Please release the lady.” A familiar voice was beside her. She whipped her head around to see Jayce, the White Cloak guard who had pulled her from the swarms of people at the Idle Fox.
His hand gently took her elbow.
“Ah, Commander Latimer. Bring her to me.” The king sat, her eyes never leaving Jayce’s.
Putting his hand against the small of her back, he led her towards the throne. She heard Zhal call for her release, but Kaed quickly silenced her. Both she and Illyan had to stay calm; they were not citizens and could be thrown out of the city—especially Zhal.
Azahara fixed her gaze on Jayce. “Let me go.” Her voice was soft but assertive.
“I won’t let him touch you,” he said, bringing them to a halt a few feet from the King. She wasn’t worried about him touching her; she was more concerned about her reaction at that moment.
“Bow,” the king ordered on a power trip.
She didn’t hesitate and gave a soft bow of her head.
“Your Elf believes his information is valuable, but I think you are much more so.” His gaze drinking her up.
“I’m merely a human female, Your Grace.” She drew out the word ‘Grace’. “I have nothing of value other than what is between my legs.” He met her eyes, which caused an immediate reaction. “Plus, I could not bear your son’s heirs. My value is none.”
Jayce, who had initially let her go, again placed his hand on her back. Bumps rose on his arms, and his hair stood on end.
“Also,” she continued, knowing she shouldn’t. Jayce tapped his finger against her as if trying to warn her to stop. “That Elf was merely doing his duty to you. I begged for us not to come. If it had been my choice, we would have sent a raven.”
“I would love to have you beg for me.” The youngest prince spoke, and once again, a rumble of laughter filled the room.
“No heir,” Thomas said, a disgusting smile tainting his expression. “Soiled goods for sure. I’d just take a few nights with her and pass her on.”
She could feel Jayce’s hand trembling at her back and quickly ball into a fist. Why did he care what they thought or would do to her?
The king chuckled, his stomach rumbling and bouncing. “I promise you won’t be satisfied when you are old and gray, and he is still beautiful. Stick with your own kind.”
“It’s a good thing I don’t give a Giant’s shit what you think.
” Azahara moved away from Jayce and took a step toward the king.
The sound of swords being drawn from their sheaths reverberated through the room, instantly silencing the crowd.
The king raised his hand, signaling his guards to halt.
“As I knew it would be, this was a massive waste of time. Your hatred and ignorance for anyone beyond these walls will cause catastrophic consequences for your people.”
Turning to find Kaed, she noticed two White Cloaks standing beside him. He must have reacted when all the swords came into play. Jayce was by her side as she rushed away from the king.
“In the conflicts to come…” The king spoke once more, but she didn’t stop to look at him. “Come hide in between our sheets. We will protect you while your Elf dies in my name.”
It was the final straw. “Excuse me?” Azahara’s voice cut through the air as she abruptly stopped. Not seemingly caught off guard, Jayce stopped and put his arm back around her.
Thomas spoke through his laughter. “He is saying that even with your insubordination”—his tone was condescending, as if annoyed he had to spell it out for her—“we will still take you after your Elf dies. Even before any battle begins.” She was beginning to imagine Thomas’s head on a spike, and the thought amused her.
A shroud of darkness emanated from her; one she wasn’t aware that everyone could see until Kaed stepped away. She turned, her eyes passing Jayce, who didn’t move from her, his hand on the hilt of his blade.
Her gaze fixed upon the king, who cowered behind his guards.
“If you refuse to heed his words, then listen to mine,” she declared, stepping closer to the throne.
The approaching footsteps went unnoticed as she continued, undeterred.
“If you ever dare to threaten or harm him, I promise you that it won’t just be anyone who comes for you. It will be me.”
Every bit of her felt like it was on fire, ready to explode out of her. The way the king and the family around him trembled under her made her feel elated. So much so that she continued.
“If I come for you, you will beg for a swift death,” she gritted through her teeth. “I do not care for you or your people. You better hope that nothing happens to him, or else your kingdom, with you in it, will burn.”
The king pushed aside his guards. “You threaten the king, you wench!”
Jayce reached out to grab her arm, turning her towards him. She could see concern across his face, which completely pulled her from the fury she was about to unleash. “Aza—” Before he could move her, Kaed was at her side, pushing him away.
“Take your hands off of her.” Kaed’s tone was venomous.
Jayce kept his eyes on her but quickly shifted them to Kaed. “Take her,” Jayce retorted with the same malice. “Now.”
That’s precisely what he did. Kaed practically dragged Azahara away from the grand room while Zhal pushed through the crowd.
And it wasn’t as if the onlookers were simply standing there.
Fear permeated the room, and Azahara felt every inch of it.
She despised how it only fueled her inner fire even more.
The four of them were followed by guards, but they stopped pursuing them as they reached the final door outside. They descended the stairs swiftly, almost running, and promptly darted into the nearest alleyway, seeking cover.
“What in the goddess’s name was that?!” Illyan cried, their eyes widening as they stared at Azahara.
“Piece of shit king,” Zhal grumbled, coming to check on Azahara quickly. “We give him valuable information, and he pisses on it.”
“Leave us,” Kaed called out. Neither of them took orders from him, so they stood their ground. “Please.”
Azahara lifted her gaze and nodded gently.
“Meet you guys back at the Idle Fox,” Illyan said. With those words, Illyan and Zhal departed, leaving Kaed in front of Azahara. His hands rested at his sides, and she leaned against the stone wall of the building, her head tilted downward.
Her anger had mostly subsided, and now a tinge of embarrassment washed over her.
She recognized that she had lashed out, even if it had been justified.
The encounter with the king had been a complete disaster, and in hindsight, Azahara realized she could have put them all in grave danger.
With a clearer head, she understood how foolish her actions had been.
Swallowing, she lifted her gaze to meet his. To her surprise, there was no anger or frustration in his eyes. Instead, a fiery passion and desire burned brightly within them, captivating her.
“I’m—”
“Don’t you dare apologize.” His hands pressed firmly against the wall behind her.
She stood there, caught between his hands, gazing into his eyes that held no judgment.
“What was that? The—” He paused momentarily, searching for the right words to describe what he had just witnessed. “The black smoke, I suppose.”
Sighing, she shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know. I thought I was hallucinating. I’ve never seen it before.”
“Don’t think any of them have.” He let out a heavy breath. “It was kind of hot.”
The fragmented vision of him stepping away from her wasn’t lost on her.
“What a prick. King or not, he shouldn’t talk to you or anyone in that manner,” he said, shaking his head.
“Although maybe threatening him wasn’t the best approach, what’s done is done.
” The smile on his face warmed her heart.
“Thank you.” Leaning in, he pressed a soft kiss to her lips.
“Will you ever let me protect you?” he asked tenderly.
She thought about it for a brief moment. “Probably not.”
“Of course not.” He put his arm around her, pulling them together. “Guess I’ll have to settle for being the damsel in distress.”