Chapter 6
Voices sounded from the other side of the large wooden door as she and Silas took long deep breaths together.
The king and a few of his court members were in the throne room having a meeting according to one of the guards and they were just about to interrupt without warning. They both knew these next few minutes could be the difference between life or death for treason.
“Together?” Silas whispered.
“Together.” She nodded and followed him as he pushed the door open.
She flanked his left side as they walked towards the end of the great hall, the king’s throne seated across the room.
It was a giant room, but she dared not look around and have her hood fall from her face that currently shadowed it.
She wanted to stay hidden for as long as possible so Silas could explain a few things before her sudden appearance.
Her sword hung on her hip still under her cloak along with her axe and a few daggers strapped to her leg. She had high doubts they would attack her, but if they did she was going to be ready, rusty or not. With Silas at her side, she knew she had at least one ally.
“Silas.” She could hear the familiar voice of King Emris echoing through the room.
She kept her head tilted down and could see the king through her upper eye lashes.
He sat with his blue scaled wings tucked behind him and his gold star shaped crown atop his head.
His cut jaw line was clenched in annoyance and his black hair falling around his shoulders.
Three other males stood around him but she could not see who they were, only their massive silhouette. One she could tell was Declan from the familiar scent filling her nostrils , which meant he might have sensed her as well.
“What are you doing here? I thought you were off seeing family and would be gone another week?” Emris’s voice was flat, obviously uninterested but felt the need to ask.
Confusion struck her for a moment, remembering Silas saying he was expected back quickly but it was obvious the king either didn’t care or it was a lie. She pushed it out of her mind, knowing the king had a lot going on and didn't pay attention to many of the small things or lesser soldiers.
“I think I have found a way to win this upcoming war.” He held his voice firm, gesturing to her beside him.
“Her?” The King balked. “We don’t need any assassins or mercenaries, we need soldiers.”
The tone in the king's voice made her blood boil, the itch to throw a dagger next to his head almost overwhelming her as she flexed her fingers at her side.
“She is neither.” Silas continued. “There is a long story behind what you are about to learn, so please give us time to explain before reacting.”
“I don’t have time for this Silas, I have a war to win.” The King barked loudly and she felt her fists clench.
“I remember you being a stubborn ass, but blowing off one of your best generals when he brings you your greatest weapon doesn’t seem like the Emris I remember,” she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
“That is King Emris to you,” he snarled at her.
“You are not my king, never have been and never will be.” She stepped forward, Silas placing his hand on her arm to keep her still but she shrugged him off.
“That's a bold thing to say in my throne room.” Emris said weary, his eyes studying her as he stood.
“Maybe.” She scoffed. “I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Silas, and from what I hear you need me more than I need you.” She relaxed one of her legs, her arm moving her cloak and resting her arm on the hilt of her sword.
She could faintly see the males around Emris tense even with her head still tilted down but none of them moved towards her.
“Who are you?” Emris demanded, his wings flaring slightly.
She smirked under her hood at his irritation, that taste of satisfaction on the tip of her tongue and she let the silence linger for a moment.
“I fought death and won, does that give you any hint?” her voice was unwavering.
“Enough with the games,” Emris shouted with anger. “My patience is running thin and I won’t hesitate to punish you for wasting my time.”
Silas was tense behind her but she chuckled to herself, seeing the king squirm was the most entertainment she had in a long time.
Grabbing the top of her hood she pulled it back to reveal herself, her white braided hair falling down the side of her chest. She looked up to meet the king’s opal eyes with a century's worth of anger.
It wasn’t long before the recollection of who she was flashed in his eyes and visibly saw him reel back. She watched his eyes widen and his wings flinching on his back.
“Alyra Adair, Princess of the Valkyrie at your service,” she replied, her eyes not leaving his and gave him a lazy bow.
“That's not possible.” Disbelief in his voice.
“Alyra?” Declan’s voice drifted from the right, the corner of her eye catching his movement towards her. She did not take her eyes off the king both in distrust and fear of seeing Declan’s expression.
“Declan, is this really her, your fiancée?” Emris questioned with irritation.
Mustering all the courage she could, she turned to meet Declan’s emerald gaze, his brown hair dangling just above them. Pain crept into her heart instantly when she saw the hurt clouding them, her old life crashing full force into her with a heaviness she had never felt.
“It's her.” Declan whispered quietly, his eyes searching hers. “How? We looked everywhere for you.”
“Was that before or after someone in this kingdom betrayed my people.” She snarled, her eyes going back to the king. “Have any ideas on who that was?”
Emris’s eyes narrow. “No one from my court would do such a thing.”
She stepped forward with clenched fists at her side. “Lies,” she yelled. “Mavros knew we were coming, which meant someone from your command told him of our plans. My people were slaughtered and I was left to be tortured for months by Mavros himself.”
The king didn’t flinch at the information, only lowered his face and glared back at her with a furious look. “How dare you come into my court and accuse my males of treason. How do you know it wasn’t your own people that betrayed you?”
“My people had honor,” she snapped back.
“Enough.” Silas barked behind her, her eyes glancing back at him before stepping back at his side.
“There is a lot to explain my king, if you will let me,” Silas urged.
“This will be interesting.” Emris grumbled and gestured for Silas to continue.
They had decided to keep details out of their story, at least the details of what Mavros did to her and she hoped he would never find out. She didn’t need his sympathy from him, or for him to get any ideas of his own.
She let her eyes wander to the other males standing around the king as Silas talked, her anger making her incapable of handling another glance at Declan.
Opposite of the throne from Declan, a shorter red-haired male stood with scholar robes on who she assumed was the scribe for the kingdom.
He had a bag slung across his chest filled with more books and short cropped hair that had started balding in spots.
She watched him frantically write in his book, no doubt trying to document the story Silas was currently divulging to the king.
Next to the scholar, a tall muscular male stood in full battle leather attire.
Lethal was the first word that came to mind in the way he stood while she looked him over.
He had shoulder length black hair that was half tied on the top of his head and a large sword across his back with another strapped to his hip.
He was built thicker than any male she had yet seen; even Silas was no match for him in sheer size.
He had the stance of a predator, tension in every muscle and she could barely tell he was breathing by the stillness of him. Intrigue surged through her as she looked him over, an odd feeling washing over her that chilled her to her bones.
She scanned him from his feet to his face, and when she got to his eyes she realized they were staring back at her. She had never seen maroon-colored eyes in any Fae before, and in truth, he was the most handsome male she had ever seen.
His nostrils flared on the edge of her vision when their eyes met, the maroon color seeming to darken as they stared at one another. They narrowed on her but the rest of his body seemed utterly still, and she wondered if it was because of her or the tension in the room.
She couldn’t help but stare, watching his facial expression stay still like stone, but his eyes, something about them made her stomach twist.
“Alyra?” Silas whispered.
She jumped slightly, his voice startling her. He gestured to the king and she realized he was speaking to her.
“Once word gets out you are alive, Mavros will try to take you. Assassins, mercenaries, and anyone else willing to do his bidding will come for you from all over.” Emris said with more irritation spewing from him.
She nodded in agreement but knew he was not done speaking.
“You will stay here under guard at all times by some of my males. Since it has been noted you can’t access most of your power, you must train with them daily to get it back. You are useless to me otherwise.”
“I refuse to have random males assigned to me,” she replied. “I would like Silas to be my personal guard.”
“I need him during the day for my war meetings and training so you will have to deal with other members of my command. Kaden will rotate with him, he is my best fighter to train you and you are of highest priority at the moment. You will do as he says.” The king pointed to the tall maroon eyed male standing next to him.
“Figure out a schedule and get started right away.”
“Don’t test me, Emris,” she snarled as Kaden walked towards her from the dais. “I’m here as a courtesy to you, I’m not your soldier to command and if you try to I will leave.”
“You’re welcome to leave whenever you wish.” Emris smirked. “However, if you do, you will go alone. I won’t allow any of my males to follow when war is coming.”
Emris’s eyes moved to Silas and she knew exactly what his message was. If anyone followed her, it would mean treason since she was the ruler of another kingdom, even if she wasn’t at war with him.
Silas nodded next to her in acknowledgement and turned to the entry door they came through.
“Let's get you settled,” he whispered and placed his hand on her lower back to push her towards the door.
She only nodded back and saw Kaden follow them in step as they moved through the throne room.
Her life of isolation was officially over.