27. An Unlikely Alliance
An Unlikely Alliance
Aradia
She didn't know what possessed her to jump across the table to try and end the prince. Maybe it was his cocky grin, egotistical swagger, or the thinly veiled threats of her past. She was only half certain it wasn’t the way her heart skipped when he said her name like one would to a lover.
Her eyes widened with shock at the speed in which she lunged but her heart dropped with Kaiden’s quicker reflexes.
Depths.
The prince growled and leaned to his right as she lunged forward.
Her arm struck the air.
He moved with grace as he rounded the table toward her in one stride.
She lunged again this time with her bare hands, aiming for his throat if only to throttle him.
He lifted his arm in a blur and gripped both of her wrists with one hand.
Her gaze spun as she felt him twist her around.
A solid beam was at her back and her stomach tightened at the lift of her arms above her head.
She squeezed her eyes shut at the humiliation and anger raging through her.
Her pulse beat wildly and she forced herself to take a deep breath.
If her magic decided to make an entrance now, gods help them all.
It was already hard enough to control her emotions around this man without her magic also warming when he was near. Magic called to magic or so she had read. The prince’s scent wrapped around her like a cloak. He smelled of the crisp air on a chilly autumn morning. A roaring fire in her hearth.
Oddly comforting, wild, and unpredictable — Infuriating!
“I’d rather not begin our journey together fighting.” His voice was a low rumble in her ear. He kept a safe distance apart from her body, but if she tried to break free he would instantly stop her with a step forward.
She dared to open her eyes and found a chilling gaze awaiting. Where her heart raced, his was a steady pulse, when she drew in a ragged breath, he breathed deeply.
“Then let me go.” She had meant for the words to be a demand but they sounded more like a plea.
His slow cocky grin made her treacherous heart flip.
“Do you plan on lodging a dagger in my neck again?”
“I make no promises,” she seethed.
He cocked his head to the side and his smile widened. A look which unnerved her more than she cared to admit. Cahira had also ticked in the same movement, but coming from him …
“I’ll accept that.” His voice dropped, making her toes curl in her boots. He stepped back, crossing his arms behind him, waiting.
Anger fueled her movements. She punched at his chest but her fist met the air as he nimbly dodged her.
Her irritation grew as she threw punch after punch, even a few kicks. He dodged them all, circling her like a hawk before diving in for his prey.
“Widen your stance,” he said from behind her.
She whirled around kicking at where his voice was seconds ago.
“Don’t drop your knee,” he said again.
Are you serious?
He was coaching her!
She growled in frustration. Her vision went hazy as she lost self-control. She whirled toward where Kaiden stood, smiling at her with a smug expression he no doubt knew was driving her crazy.
“Enough!” She threw her arms out and blinding golden light shot through the tent, burning a hole large enough to fit a horse.
Kaiden chuckled from his squatting position. He looked at the hole, then back to her. “There it is.”
“Saints,” she whispered.
Aradia stepped back, holding her hands in front of her as if at any moment light would erupt from her again. This time, burning everything in its path.
“No, no, no.” She shook her head as tears sprang to her eyes.
The effect of her uncontrolled magic crept through her body.
The heavy furs which lined the ground wrapped around her ankles, tripping her and she squealed as her feet flew out from under her and she landed with a small thud.
Her body burned with the same tingling sensation as the other times she used her intemperate power.
“Aradia.” Kaiden’s voice sounded distant but cool hands brushed against her forehead. “Breathe deeply. If you don’t calm down, your magic will burn you up from the inside.”
Her head rolled to the side as she fought to even her breaths. The nearness of him only fueled her anger. If she had any extra saliva, she would have spit or at the very least told him to take his advice and shove it up his —
A cough rattled her lungs and stars dotted her sight. Her gaze drifted back to the hole in the tent where the rain had stopped and four figures stood in shock around a fire. They stared into the tent — at her.
Eos take me now! Send a lightning bolt to incinerate me to ash.
Her face flamed with embarrassment.
“Breathe, Aradia.” Kaiden’s face came into view as he crouched beside her. “Listen to me.”
She stared up at him, hoping hatred was what was spewing from her gaze instead of the unabashed fear she felt inside.
Kaiden’s brow lifted slightly but his voice was hard. “Let me help you.”
She nodded slowly. The only thing her muddled body allowed her to do.
It’s what she would tell herself when she regained control.
That it wasn’t her fear which forced her to rely on his help.
Nor was it his cooling gaze she drowned in when he spoke to her.
It was her decision to accept his help. Right?
Kaiden held her hand. At his touch her magic calmed from the burning sensation under her skin to a sweltering heat, and then to a subtle singe, and finally a distant smoke. The ruby ring on his finger glowed and she wondered if he had just absorbed her pain. His face was impassive as stone.
“What did you do?” Her throat burned and tears streamed down her face at the use of her voice.
He soothed a curl away from her face. “Like calls to like.”
Aradia swallowed. This close to him she could see the devilish sparkle in his ocean eyes and found herself sinking. His full lips pulled back, showing a row of perfect teeth. She watched his jaw clench, the muscle bulging on the sides of his square face. He was dangerously handsome.
“Trust me, my view is so much better,” he whispered.
Aradia snapped to attention.
“I don’t want your help,” she said, rolling to her side and sliding off the furs.
She clung to the chair beside her and did her best to scowl at Kaiden. Standing was a chore and she swayed deeply.
He huffed and rose from his crouched position. He crossed his arms in front of him and Aradia dared not look at how the movement strained his black tunic across his arms.
“You may not want it but” — he shook his head — “you certainly need it."
She didn’t want to think of what Kaiden Valencia thought she needed.
“We both can help each other. So why not work together?”
Aradia couldn’t help the scoff scraping her throat. “I can list a few reasons.”
Kaiden stared at her, as if he was choosing his next words very carefully.
“We need to work together if we want to survive my father. The roots of his intent are buried deeper than we all ever knew. Peraynia will not survive what he plans to unleash. We deserve to live in a better world than generations of magi, kings, queens, even the gods themselves have left us.”
Aradia blinked, unsure if she had heard him correctly.
It shouldn’t have come as a surprise. He had already voiced his desires in Vidrena in front of hundreds.
But here, between the two of them it was more than a desire — it was a plea.
She swayed at the realization. The cloaked man in her vision truly was him.
Kaiden leaned against the table, spinning an apple with his hand. The rest of the contents were knocked over by her careless lunge.
“What does this better world of yours look like?”
“For starters,” he stretched as if the topic was boring, but she knew he clung to each word spoken, “I’d love a realm where I no longer have to fight off monsters every waking moment.”
He certainly prattled on like a prince would.
“You speak of the Veil,” she said.
“Catching on are you?” His sarcasm prickled against her pride. “If the Veil comes down, none of us are safe. It won't matter what borders we live behind. Ukoron’s reach is wide and he will destroy everything he touches.”
She scoffed in disbelief. “So Arkan now wants to join together for the survival of our realm?” She put a hand on her hip.
“I do, yes.” he said quietly.
“Then what? How do you think we’re going to mend a prison made by thousands, mind you, of the strongest magi in our entire history, and also defeat the god residing within? You cannot possibly think I’m qualified, let alone strong enough to aid you.”
She was genuinely curious. It was clear he had no plans in harming her, yet. That had to account for something. But more than that, she was beginning to push the bounds of her own power. Would she even have what it takes to control her magic? Would she be enough?
Kaiden looked away for the first time with hesitancy. It vanished, replaced with the cocky grin she was beginning to expect.
“I don’t plan on doing anything alone. Even with all the power I have, or my sister or anyone else outside this tent. The gods have chosen you. I don’t know why, but I do know we can’t do it without you.”
Aradia’s heart thumped like a drum.
“As you can see, I’m a little out of touch with the ‘fight evil, save the realm’ lifestyle.”
Kaiden dipped his head down to hide his smile growing wider.
“I’ll tell you what. I’ll help you with your magic and teach you everything I know. If you help us take down my father.”
Trusting him would be a mistake. Trusting any of them would be an inevitable death.
“What happens when it’s all over? You discard me and rule a new Peraynia?”
Kaiden’s smile slipped. He squinted his eyes at her as if trying to read her doubts behind her words.
“I suppose it’s good you’re assuming we’ll make it out alive,” he said.
“Maybe not you and I, but there’s always someone who survives,” she said instead.
“Perhaps not this time.” His fingers drummed against the table. “Who are we to tell what the future holds?”
“Answer the question.”
Kaiden cocked his head to the side.
“Prove I can trust you,” she explained.
“Says the girl with the knife?”
She crossed her arms in defense. “With good reason.”
He raised a brow. “Other than the fact you’re still breathing, how can I prove my good faith?”
“Don’t attack Gail. I know your men are close. Call them back from Silvers Pass and stay away from our borders.”
Kaiden froze, a slow tick in his jaw showed as he clenched it together, contemplating. “It’s not that simple.”
“Yes, it is.”
“Those are not my men and if I act brash now we’ll lose the upper hand from my father,” he said slowly.
“You lost the upper hand the moment you declared your intentions in Vidrena. Don’t pretend like you didn’t think word won’t soar straight back to Arkan. Your father probably knows all about your little rebellion.” Aradia raised her chin in defiance.
A vein in Kaiden’s neck throbbed.
Aradia forced her gaze back to his face.
“Stopping the soldiers from attacking Gail just means they’ll attack a lesser city not prepared. We’ll wipe them out. You’re trading one city for another.”
Aradia swallowed at his words.
He stepped forward, knowing his reasoning was sound. “Their lives are on your head. If they stay marching to the Silvers Pass the best we can hope for is that your northern winters will stall them until the spring. Are you willing to sacrifice thousands to save your precious Gail?”
She looked away. Thousands for one member of the Fairchild family.
“Ask me anything else.”
The offer had come from the Prince of Arkan. He might as well have offered her the realm.
“At some point,” she cleared her throat. “We’ll fight your father. I want to be there when he —”
Kaiden stayed quiet, allowing her to finish.
“Whenever it happens”
Kaiden stepped forward, meeting her in the middle.
“Fine.”
Aradia straightened, surely it wasn’t this easy. She stepped closer. She shouldn’t ask, she should take his offer and run but curiosity made her traitorous mouth move.
“You do not ask anything in return?” she asked.
“Oh, I do.” His right hand reached behind his back, withdrawing her dagger. Flipping it around so the hilt faced her, he held it out. “I’m just waiting for the opportune time to ask it.”
She huffed and shook her head as she reached for her dagger. A bargain then.
“Aradia.” Kaiden’s voice was low and warm.
She dragged her gaze up to his face, melting in his scrutinizing gaze. Not even Quinn, with all his fawning, looked at her the way Kaiden did. Unabashed fervor and a heat warming her to her core. The realization sickened and pleased her at the same time, which only made it worse.
“What?” She raised a brow.
It was meant to come out cold and calculating, like Cahira, but she inwardly cringed at her breathless retort.
“Eslanda Damali was not the last powerful magi.” His voice raked over her body, unnerving her in a way she didn’t know was possible. “You are.”
She blinked, ending the moment. She grabbed the dagger and collected her wits as she stomped out of the tent. His low chuckle followed her out.
“I took the liberty of making your tent,” Cahira called to her as she walked past them.
She eased her belongings off Steele’s back and dashed for her tent.
A new dread filled her as she stepped inside.
She had just made a deal with the devil’s son.
She might as well end her life now and float to Moliath’s beyond.
Nothing good could come with being in his presence, but that was precisely what she had just agreed to.
If her mother could scold her now, she wouldn’t have been able to sit down for a week.
Working with Kaiden left a bitter taste in her mouth but her stomach fluttered as she remembered the heat of his gaze, the warmth in his hands.
His touch brought her magic to a frenzy underneath her skin.
One she couldn’t calm even if she tried.
Gods, what a joke you have played for me.