Chapter 12 #2
She sat straight-backed, and her eyes followed them all with an assessing glare.
There was no hair on her head, and her lashes were lined with kohl.
Her cheekbones were sharp. In her left hand, she held a spear—the same as her husband.
They both wore black tunics and pants with no adornments.
Iyana was immediately awed and intimidated.
A third man stood to the king’s right, his hands behind his back. He was also dressed in black, but did not possess any visible weapons.
They all stopped at the base of the dais and bowed low at the waist.
“Mother. Father,” Kaz said, nodded her head to each of them in turn.
“Let me introduce to you Emperor Zane Holygazer and his consort, Talon.” They both bowed again.
“And this is Iyana and Emmeric—the Aztia and Kanaliza of our generation.” There was no reaction from the monarchs as the magical duo also bowed a second time.
“My friends, these are my parents—King Saram and Queen Nita Tsenira.”
“Zoara,” the queen said, her rich voice ringing through the grand hall. “So nice of you to return after two years. I hope your excursion was fruitful.”
Iyana glanced towards Emmeric at her side. He looked back at her and shrugged slightly. Apparently, none of them had known exactly how long Kaz had been away from home.
“It was, Mother,” Kaz replied. Queen Nita pursed her lips.
“Is there a reason you’ve returned to us now, daughter?” King Saram asked, his tone as carefully stoic as his face. “And with a new emperor in tow?”
“I’m sure you’ve all realized by now that the stars are no longer in the sky,” Kaz began, and then she proceeded to inform her parents of everything they had learned thus far—including the death of Uther.
Zane stepped forward after Kaz had recounted the sordid tale, and he nodded his head in respect.
It was easy for Iyana to forget that he’d been raised for this; that he knew how to play the games of royalty.
“Your Majesties, thank you for welcoming us to your home. I would love to speak with you more about any potential help we could bring to my empire during this time of upheaval.”
The two monarchs glanced at each other. “Do you mean to tell me,” Queen Nita said, “that you don’t know?”
Zane frowned. “Don’t know what, exactly?”
“Rigil Kentaurus sits upon your throne in Athusia.”
Zane’s entire body went rigid, his hands turning to fists at his side.
Talon took a tentative step towards him, but Zane regained his composure quickly.
“We had heard as much from the Athusan refugees on our way here. I would ask for Nyr’s aid in ridding my empire of the stars that threaten all of Arinem.
Once I am able to reclaim my throne, we could build a strong alliance.
One that I have already been fostering with your crown princess. ”
“We will speak of such things later,” King Saram said dismissively. “Zoara, please show your guests to their rooms and we will see you all for dinner.”
The man to the king’s right, who Iyana had forgotten was there, suddenly spoke. “I would like to speak about Zoara keeping her place as crown princess of this kingdom. You both are surely aware that we cannot trust her to do her duty after she left us, without a word, for close to two years when—”
“Zahar,” Queen Nita interrupted sharply. “We have had this discussion multiple times and will not do so again in front of strangers. You know why your sister remains as heir, and it will stay that way until we say otherwise. Understood?”
“Yes, Mother,” Zahar said tightly. Kaz stuck her tongue out at him. This was her younger brother then; the one who she said wanted to take over the ‘family business.’
The queen frowned at Kaz’s lack of decorum, to which the shifter only smiled brightly.
“Come on,” she said. “I’ll show you all where you’ll be staying.”
They dropped Talon and Zane off at their room, then Kaz showed them into a large space with plenty of natural light and comfortable furniture.
“There are two bedrooms with their own bathing rooms in here,” Kaz said. “I figured you would want to stay together.”
“Thank you, Kaz,” Iyana said.
The shifter turned to leave, but Emmeric stopped her. “Is Jato going to have a problem with me?” he asked worriedly.
Kaz frowned. “Why would he?”
“Well, because you and I…we, uh, you know…” he stammered, his gaze darting between the two women. Where Iyana expected to feel jealousy, she instead experienced amusement bubbling up at Em’s plight.
Kaz laughed loudly. “I wasn’t going to say anything to him about it, but since he’s here in the hallway and just heard everything you said…maybe?”
Jato walked past their room, tossing a glare in Emmeric’s direction.
Iyana felt his mortification down their bond, which only increased her mirth.
Em frowned at her, making the bubbling sensation overflow into a true giggle.
This earned her a grin from both of her companions, and Kaz took her leave, closing the door behind her.
The latch clicking shut reverberated in Iyana’s ears. This was the first time she and Emmeric had been alone since leaving the library. Her amusement fizzled out, and she backed towards the closest bedroom, carefully avoiding eye contact.
“I’m going to bathe,” she mumbled, then disappeared through the door.
Her room was quaint for a palace setting.
There was still a four-poster bed and large armoire taking up most of the space, but they were understated.
Iyana loved all the windows allowing in natural light.
She smiled as a small monkey ran past her room on the tree branches outside.
While it was still hot, it wasn’t as humid indoors, and she noticed there was no hearth.
The floor consisted of smooth bamboo, and she toed off her boots at last, appreciating the cool boards beneath her feet.
She shed her clothes on the way to the bathing room, leaving them discarded on the floor.
Hopefully Kaz would be able to supply her with new ones.
The tub was in the corner, and a faucet jutted from the wall to hover over it.
Two knobs sat on either side. Iyana had never actually used running water herself.
All Imothia ever had was either sponge baths or water heated over a fire, which they added to a small tub one bucket at a time.
She plugged the drain, then turned the knob on the right, and water began steadily flowing through the faucet to fill the tub.
Opposite the tub was a large mirror over a sink that had its own faucet.
Iyana turned her back to the mirror and glanced over her shoulder at the three large scars running down her back; the scars that Altair had touched so gently as he told her that these did not define her and how beautiful she was despite them.
Gods, did those words mean anything?
Iyana twisted away from the mirror abruptly, not wanting to waste any more time thinking about scars and traitorous stars. The tub was almost full, so she turned the water off and swung her leg over the edge of the tub, quickly followed by the rest of her body.
Freezing cold water assaulted her senses and locked her muscles in place, causing her to slip underneath the water. Her feet scrambled to find purchase on the bathtub, but it was too slick, and she kept slipping. Finally, someone reached into the water and pulled her up.
Iyana breached the water and gulped down air into burning lungs.
“Tell me what I want to know and this all stops,” a voice above her said.
No, it couldn’t be. Emmeric had killed him.
But as she blinked the water out of her eyes, Azazel stood over her, his rattish nose and stained teeth too close to her face.
Iyana flailed her arms in an attempt to free herself from the sadistic man, but it was no use.
His grip on her hair tightened, and he pushed her under the surface again.
Her lungs screamed at her to breathe. Just breathe, and this will all be over. Just breathe, and you can forget about kings, stars, and pain.
Iyana!
A familiar voice invaded her mind, but her lung’s protests were louder. She was again dragged above the water and sucked in deep breaths.
“Tell me, Iyana. Tell me where the star is,” Azazel sneered.
No. No. This had stopped. Altair and Emmeric had saved her from this fate when they broke her out of the dungeons. This couldn’t be real.
Could it?
Iyana!
But she’d had other hallucinations before—hallucinations that she’d escaped the dungeon and was outside the castle walls.
Why would an extended version of that be so absurd?
The dying brain was capable of conjuring almost anything.
She simply wished she could slip back into the fantasy—go somewhere warm, somewhere she was loved, where strong arms wrapped around her waist.
Those arms tightened around her middle; someone was shaking her. When she opened her eyes again, she was back in the bathing room in Nyr, lying in Emmeric’s lap, his concerned face hovering over her. He pushed her wet hair off of her face with one hand while his other held her tight to his chest.
“You’re okay, Iyana. I’ve got you. You’re okay,” Emmeric said, repeating the words until she almost believed him. Her entire body quaked with shivers, and Em tucked her in closer, cradling her head to his chest. He kissed the top of her head gently.
“I’m here,” he said. “I’ve got you, I promise.”
They sat like that for a while—Emmeric holding her close and rocking her gently, while periodically brushing her wet hair behind her ear. Eventually, the tremors subsided, and she was able to realize that she’d had a flashback.
This is real, she told herself. Although she still wasn’t completely convinced this wasn’t an elaborate fabrication her brain was imagining while her broken, naked body still lay in the dungeon underneath the Athusia castle.
“This is real,” Emmeric said, echoing her thoughts.
“How do you know?” she whispered, blinking up at him. In this moment, she absolutely did not care that she was completely naked and in Emmeric’s lap. She simply appreciated the comfort of being close to her Kanaliza.
“I just do.” He sighed and rested his brow against hers. Iyana’s eyes fluttered shut. “What do you need, Mouse?”
“I don’t know.”
“That’s fine. I’m going to put you down for a second, okay? I’ll get you a towel.”
When Emmeric set her down, Iyana pulled her knees towards her, hugging them to her chest. It was only then that she realized Emmeric’s own hair was wet and his lower half was wrapped in a towel, leaving his torso bare.
He wrapped a towel around her shoulders, then drained the tub.
Once it was completely drained, he turned the knob on the left and steaming water poured free.
Iyana sighed and her muscles began to relax.
Emmeric turned the water off when the tub was full, then turned to her—she was exactly where he’d left her, with the towel draped loosely around her shoulders. He speared a hand through his hair.
“The water is warm now. Do you want me to go so you can bathe, or…” Emmeric trailed off, and Iyana sensed his warring emotions. He was concerned and sad, hesitant, and a little aroused, although he was doing his best to squash that last one.
She shook her head, cool water droplets flying from her hair to splash on her bare legs. “Please stay.”
“Okay.” Emmeric nodded. He reached a hand down to help her up and averted his gaze when her towel fell to the floor.
Iyana squeezed his hand in anticipation when she swung a leg over the edge of the tub, but as soon as the blissfully warm water touched her foot, she relaxed and sank in fully.
She dipped her head back to wet her hair and luxuriated in the heat now surrounding her.
Emmeric kneeled on the floor by the tub, a bottle of shampoo in his hand. “May I?” he asked, an eyebrow raised.
Iyana nodded. He opened the bottle and the smell of jasmine filled the space. Emmeric began to massage the shampoo into her hair and scalp, and she had to bite back a moan. She closed her eyes and allowed Em to take care of her.
When he was finished with her hair, Iyana assured him she was capable of finishing her bath on her own. He promised he’d be waiting right outside if she needed anything.
Iyana took her time washing her body, making sure to scrub all the hard days of travel off of her skin. As the water began to cool to a lukewarm temperature, her panic began to creep back in. A soft knock sounded on the door.
“Mouse? You okay?”
“Yeah,” she called back. “I’m getting out.
” Iyana removed the drain plug and carefully climbed out of the tub, not wanting to slip on the smooth flooring.
She wrapped herself in a fluffy robe that had been laid out for her and a soft smile played on her lips.
Emmeric must have left it there for her.
Iyana toweled her hair to rid it of the excess water, then left the bathing room feeling better than she had when she’d walked in, despite her earlier episode.
Emmeric was waiting in a chair. He had changed into a pair of silk pants, but his chest was still bare. Iyana allowed herself a few seconds to appreciate the beautiful man who sat before her, but then noticed the intensity with which he was looking at her, and she let her gaze drop.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“I’m fine. Much better now.” She sat on the edge of the bed, still avoiding looking at Emmeric directly. “Thank you.”
“Any time, Mouse,” he said softly. “You know that.”
A pregnant silence hung between them until Emmeric cleared his throat.
“Do you want to take a nap before dinner?” he asked.
Iyana nodded. Emmeric stood and brushed past her, grazing his arm against hers.
He drew back the sheets of the bed and gestured for her to climb up.
Iyana still couldn’t look him in the eye as she climbed into the bed and pulled the sheet over her body, tucking it underneath her chin until she felt somewhat less exposed.
“Stay,” she said suddenly, surprising even herself. Emmeric rubbed the back of his neck. She knew he wanted to and was only hesitating for her sake. “Stay,” Iyana said more firmly.
“Okay,” he whispered. Emmeric went around to the other side of the bed and laid down next to her on top of the sheets. Iyana didn’t roll toward him, and he didn’t touch her, but his presence gave her such an overwhelming feeling of safety that she drifted off within seconds.