Chapter 11
“Do not speak with her. Do not allow her to touch you.” Each word fell like a stone. “She will see what you will do, and all of this will be ruined.”
I couldn’t respond without looking completely insane, standing there arguing with empty air. How Zaheera could see me remained a mystery—another question for my ever-growing list.
I wrenched myself around, veering sharply toward a surge of marketgoers, putting as much distance between myself and the woman as I could manage without running.
“Good.”
Zaheera’s presence vanished as suddenly as it had appeared.
We turned back toward Dalkhan’s palace. Mira practically floated with excitement, already envisioning preparations for the feast.
I suppressed a groan at the thought of attending.
The stone! I’d completely forgotten.
I cursed silently, falling back and catching Tavrik’s arm. I mouthed the words and understanding immediately crossed his features. He slowed his pace to match mine, scooping up a pebble from the ground and lobbing it at Theo’s back.
“Stop hitting me!” Theo hissed, whirling around.
We widened our eyes meaningfully, and realisation dawned on his face.
“Ohh.” He was so loud and obvious. Tavrik and I exchanged exasperated glances, slapping our palms against our foreheads.
While Theo engaged Mira and Kaseer in conversation, steering them ahead, I closed my eyes. Cleared my thoughts, reaching into that place inside me where I’d felt the connection before. I reached and reached, muscles tensing until a dull ache spread through my temples.
Nothing.
I growled in frustration.
Where is this stupid thing?
I met Tavrik’s expectant gaze and shook my head.
“It’s okay,” he murmured, his large hand resting briefly on my shoulder. “At least we know it’s not out this way.”
I nodded, defeated beyond words.
We quickened our pace to rejoin the others. Theo was mid-story when I caught Kaseer’s attention.
“So, what kind of magic do you have?” I asked, matching his stride.
“Me?” He tapped his chest with a finger, exhaling dramatically. “None.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, apart from my obvious good looks,” he winked, “I don’t have any. Just my strength and immortality.”
“I didn’t know that was even possible.”
Ahead of us, the others lost themselves in conversation, Mira’s head occasionally falling back in laughter.
“There’s many like me,” Kaseer said. “That’s what sets us apart. The more abilities, the more magic, translates to greater influence and rank.” His gaze drifted toward the distant palace. “That’s why our king is, well, the king.”
Curiosity gnawed through my better judgement.
“What powers does he have?” I asked, even though Zaheera told me to not bother with that information.
“Dangerous question…” He paused, letting the moment stretch. “But fine. The king doesn’t just summon fire. He is fire. He commands infernos with a whisper. Flame that can consume stone and metal alike. His strength rivals all, even my own.” A flash of teeth. “I know, right? Hard to believe.”
I laughed, shoulder bumping against his arm. “What else?”
“The king can shape shadow as easily as he does fire. Smoke answers him like a loyal beast.” His voice dropped lower, forcing me to lean closer. “But that’s not the worst of it. He creates beings of living flame—servants born of his will alone.”
A shiver raced down my spine. Zaheera’s warning made sense. Knowing wasn’t helping. Not in the slightest.
“What kind of beings?”
“I’ve witnessed him summon giants forged of pure fire, with molten cores where their hearts should be.” Kaseer’s eyes grew distant. “They obey only him, their creator and master.”
The cold sensation spreading through my limbs intensified.
“His pet is one of his creations, you know,” he added casually. “The snake you hold so willingly.”
“Azmik? He’s… one of Dalkhan’s creations?” I stopped dead in my tracks. “But how? I understand he’s made of fire, but he’s also flesh and blood. I’ve felt his heartbeat myself.”
Kaseer resumed walking, prompting me to follow. “According to stories, Azmik was once an ordinary serpent. He was dying—crushed beneath the hoof of the king’s stallion.”
Dalkhan’s palace loomed even larger.
“Instead of leaving the creature to die, something about its defiance called to our king. The serpent had actually tried to strike at him even as it lay broken. So, he dismounted and knelt beside the creature. With bare hands, he pushed raw power into the serpent’s failing body, renewing its life with the eternal will of flames. ”
As we finally reached the palace grounds, I couldn’t shake the image—an act of mercy, or possession? I wasn’t sure which was more frightening.
I was refreshed and ready for whatever the night had planned for me. Mira worked with single-minded focus, her fingers dancing across fabric and skin, tugging here and smoothing there. Her tongue was caught between her teeth, brows dipped in concentration so intense it bordered on worship.
I let myself sink into Mira’s presence, her kindness wrapping around me like a warm embrace.
Our connection had deepened into something rare and precious.
When she laughed, the sound would vibrate into my chest and settle in my bones.
Our conversations built walls against the harsh reality that awaited me.
In these moments, the crushing weight of my purpose here evaporated completely, leaving nothing but stolen peace.
I forced thoughts of Dalkhan into the darkest corner of my mind and locked them away.
Not tonight.
Mira stepped behind me, pressing between my shoulder blades, urging me to face my reflection.
“I don’t know how you manage to make each look more scandalous than the last,” I muttered.
Mira’s lips curved upward, her shoulders rising in a carefree shrug. “It’s a gift.”
The fabric draped dangerously loose, dipping low on my breasts. The deep black silk was held in place only by delicate golden chains hanging from my neck. The skirt pooled around my hips in flowing layers, slits climbing so high they revealed the entire length of my legs.
One rough gust of wind and I was doomed.
Mira waved a dismissive hand. “You look beautiful, Elira.” She met my eyes in the mirror as she slid the serpent link over my arm. “Just this once, can you stop thinking and just try to have fun?”
A light knock sounded on the door before it creaked open.
Tavrik entered first, his frame filling the entryway for an instant before Theo slipped past him. They moved in tandem, dressed similarly, revealing the contours of muscle beneath their dark attire.
Like this, they looked powerful.
Theo’s piercing whistle cut through the air as his eyes devoured me.
For once, I didn’t imagine fifty ways to silence him permanently. Instead, I accepted it, smiling.
They both grinned at my improved mood, their expressions mirroring the joy I hadn’t realised I radiated.
As if the moment had been too good to last, Jasila swept into the room.
I braced myself, expecting a scathing remark at anything she could sink her claws into, but none came. She simply gestured for us to follow.
We stepped outside through the stone archway and the world exploded into sensation.
From our elevated position, the feasts stretched out like a living entity. Fire pits punctured the darkness, their golden tendrils reaching for the stars before collapsing back into themselves, spilling restless light across the trampled grass.
Hundreds of bodies filled the space, their voices a rising symphony of laughter and exhilaration.
My friends radiated excitement, the firelight reflecting in their eyes.
I silently prayed that the night would be as good as the day had been.
Once we reached the gathering, the night seized us with hungry hands.
Heat flowed from every direction. From the fires.
From the press of bodies. From my own skin that flushed hotter with each step.
Exotic spices mingled with wood smoke hung heavy in the air.
Somewhere nearby, meat sizzled over an open flame, fat dripping and hissing as it hit coals, while platters piled high with glistening fruits passed from hand to eager hand.
And above it all—the music. The rhythm pounded up through the earth, into the soles of my feet.
Firelight danced wildly against exposed flesh, illuminating the heaving sea of people caught in a delirious fever of motion.
Bodies twisted and twined together, unrestrained laughter spilling like intoxicating honey.
Bare limbs flashed hypnotically in the fire’s savage glow, each movement telling stories of barely contained desires.
Mira had said tonight would be different. I’d foolishly hoped ‘different’ meant that Dalkhan wouldn’t be here. After our last confrontation and what I’d learned today, the last thing I needed was to come face to face with him.
Through the haze of golden light and bodies, he sprawled lazily in a massive wooden chair. A thick, black-tipped fur draped over its back. Dalkhan looked every inch the king he was. Relics and chains adorned his skin, each one catching the glow and reflecting it back like molten gold.
He exuded a tangible authority, and he was enjoying himself.
Beautiful women surrounded him like jewels.
Iznia stood impossibly close on one side, her clawed fingers trailing over his skin as her body pressed against him, drinking in his warmth.
Another with cropped pale hair knelt between his spread legs, her head arched back.
Watching him with such naked adoration it made my teeth ache.
Her face hovered dangerously close to his thigh as she traced a slow pattern along the hard muscle, each movement a promise of pleasures to come.
My fists clenched at my sides.
I had absolutely no right to feel this way—none whatsoever—but my blood boiled.
“I need air,” I said quickly.
Theo’s lips quirked up with infuriating smugness. “We’re outside.”
I fixed him with a glare. “Well then, I need different air.”