Chapter 33
Talear
The Ebony Fortress
Following a set of grim-faced guards and Mordrick’s snide advisor, they disembarked the ship, crossed the landing pad and entered the ebony fortress.
After navigating the corridors, they reached a set of elaborate carved doors.
Reyne halted and set about uncoiling the chain that bound their wrists.
He unlocked the shackle, letting the discarded links fall to a pile on the polished floor.
She massaged her sore wrist once freed from the biting restraint and took deep breath as she prepared for the horror waiting on the other side of the massive doors.
“Princess, may I give you a piece of advice before we enter?”
“Sure,” she whispered, her voice barely audible over the thundering of her own pounding pulse.
“Do not provoke your new master.” He thrust open the double doors, took her by the arm and thrust her into the massive, elongated throne room.
Magnius trailed behind them.
At the far end stood the legendary Taleari throne, uniquely carved into a Taleari hawk, wings arched upward in a majestic display while its talons gripped the armrests. Yet, the throne’s splendor was overshadowed by the overlord who sat with an air of inherent authority.
Kendra knew she should be terrified. Afterall, this was Mordrick the Mad. The man who orchestrated the murder of her family, the man who had the power to send her to the grave alongside them. But as she faced the tyrant, all she felt was white-hot rage.
How dare he think he had the right to decide her fate?
Reyne came to a halt at the base of the raised dais.
“Reyne, I must say. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen you looking so...” Mordrick appraised his disheveled appearance, blood-stained shirt and fading bruises leftover from Odin’s fist. “Dreadful.”
Reyne stiffened beside her. “Your hellion put up a good fight.”
“Did she?” Mordrick’s unnerving gaze slid over Kendra in a slow, lazy assessment. His lips twisted with a hint of disbelief. Yet, there was no mistaking the bold lust in his unwavering stare.
She visibly recoiled as a wave of revulsion churned in the pit of her stomach.
Mordrick's intense gaze shifted to Reyne.
Fingers, which were still gripping the flesh of her upper arm, fell away. His arm dropped to his side, his fist clenched.
Mordrick reached down and unsheathed a dagger from his boot. Holding it with a casual grip, he let the tip rest against the armrest, while his finger remained poised on the top of the pommel. Light glinted off the blade as he flicked the guard, letting the blade spin on a loose vertical axis.
He stood and descended the dais with a smooth graceful stride that reeked of dominance, dagger in hand.
He wore a military uniform identical to his guards, with the addition of a black silk mantle that draped from his shoulders to the floor, secured on each shoulder by two silver brooches and a thick silver chain.
As he approached, Kendra held her ground, her chin jutting forward.
Mordrick reached for her fingers, and before she realized his intentions, he raised her knuckles and bent his dark head. “Princess Kendra. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
When his lips touched her skin, she yanked her hand from his repulsive grasp. "I can assure you the sentiment is not mutual.”
He smirked and dismissed her as if she were a mere servant, or an insignificant slave. His gaze shifted back to Reyne. “I’m disappointed in you, nephew.” Mordrick flipped the dagger and pointed the razor-sharp tip towards Reyne’s naked bicep. “You have left yourself exposed and vulnerable.”
“A ruse was necessary,” Reyne replied. “The armband was lost in the shuffle.”
“No matter. I will have another one forged. But first, tell me Reyne.” The tip of his dagger fell precariously close to the skin above his implant. “Have you touched my prize?”
Kendra braced herself and sucked in her breath. Mordrick held the dagger so close that barest flick of his wrist could end Reyne’s life with little effort.
Reyne glared at Mordrick with a hint of irritation and gestured towards Magnius. “Have your lapdog ask me your questions. This way you know I’m not lying.”
Mordrick quipped a brow at the suggestion and gestured to Magnius, who scurried to his master’s side, a gleaming smile of satisfaction plastered on his face.
The man’s hatred of Reyne shone in his dark, beady eyes.
“This will be my pleasure.” Magnius cleared his throat and spoke the ancient language, “Ai atins-o, intim?”
Reyne chuckled. “Of course I touched her. How else could I abduct her and haul her through Calypsta’s jungles for three days? Touching her was simply…” Disgust twisted his features. “Unavoidable.”
Mordrick tapped the flat side of his blade against Reyne’s taunt muscle, then let the dagger linger. “Let me rephrase. Did you fuck the princess?”
Although it seemed impossible, Magnus’s grin widened with anticipation, showing teeth, “ai tras cu prin?esa?”
Kendra’s palms grew clammy, slick.
“Of course not. What would I do with a cursed Valerian virgin?”
Recalling what he had confessed, she released her held breath.
We are only compelled to tell the truth once, after that we can lie as if the ancient words had never been spoken.
She realized Reyne’s cleverness. By baiting Mordrick to ask a question he could answer truthfully, he was then free to lie. She wanted to kiss him.
“Indeed.” Mordrick appeared satisfied. Magnius looked anything but. In fact, he looked unconvinced, even irritated Reyne hadn’t confessed.
Mordrick continued to eye Reyne, then he aimed the dagger tip towards the doors. “Reyne, your water awaits. Leave. It’s time I get to know my bride.”
“Bride?” Kendra shrieked with a burst of shocked outrage. “You are mistaken. I’m not marrying you. Not now. Not ever!”.
In a flash, Mordrick held her by the throat, his grip almost tight enough to cut off her breath. She clawed at his leather glove in a desperate attempt to loosen his hold, but his fingers remained firm and unyielding.
“Magnius, see that Reyne receives the agreed-upon amount of water.”
“Yes, my lord.” Magnius bowed.
When neither Reyne nor Magnius moved fast enough, Mordrick bellowed. “Get. Out. Now. You are both dismissed.”
Out of the corner of her eye, she watched Reyne glance at the ceiling before he turned on his heel and strode away, Magnius dogging his steps. Kendra's heart pounded as the door closed, leaving her alone with Mordrick.
“I believe it’s time for us to have a conversation.” He released his grip.
“I will never marry you,” she sputtered, gulping for air. “I will never betray the people of Valeria.”
Mordrick's gaze remained fixed on her, his expression a mix of amusement and cruelty.
“Valeria will be mine. You can make it easy, or I can dispatch my invasion force to conquer Valeria the difficult way.
Should that happen, people will die—your people.
Do you really want that on your conscience?
The needless death of innocents? People whose lives could have been spared by a few… simple…words?"
A few simple words? Words that would bind her to him and enslave her planet.
A humorless laugh escaped her. "At least they would have a fighting chance, a chance that any Valerian, given the choice between your tyrannical rule or taking up arms, would take. No question. But I’m guessing you already know that.
Valeria will fight back. You also know we will prevail. ”
“Your naivety is amusing.”
“And your cowardice is pathetic.”
Mordrick's smile grew taut, his fingers suddenly digging into her arm flesh. "I suggest you keep your mouth shut.”
"Tell me Mordrick, who would murder an unarmed family, at a peaceful wedding no less? You know who? A deranged murdering cow-”
The force of his backhand knocked her to the polished floor. She massaged her throbbing cheek while she glared up at him. "Yet, more proof of your cowardice.”
“You surprise me, Kendra. I hadn't anticipated a Valerian would be so…” He assessed her with a lewd smile. “Spirited.” He signaled to his guards with a wave. She was yanked back to her feet. While her upper arms were held in an iron grip, Mordrick closed the distance between them.
Bracing herself for another blow, she twisted her head to the side and waited. The blow never came. Instead, he took her chin between two strong fingers and forced her to face him. “Will you consent to be my wife?”
"Never,” she vowed. “You are mad.”
He chuckled with a tight smile. “So, I’ve been told.”
“I will never marry you, so you may as well kill me now.”
“Kill you? I think not.” Soft leather caressed her sore cheek. “Death would be too final. No. I find I’m anticipating the task of taming you, bending you to my will.”
She recoiled from his touch. “I will not bend.”
“You will bend, Kendra,” he said, a dangerous edge to his voice. “One way or another, you will bend, then break.”
“I promise I won’t.”
He motioned to a guard standing near the door. “Remove my defiant bride to the consort’s chambers. Have several slaves sent to help her bathe. Be sure they dress her in something.” His icy gaze swept over her. “Sheer and revealing.”
After ascending the dais, he flicked his mantle to the side and took his seat upon his throne. “Also, summon Seth. His expertise in interrogation is required. Immediately.”
Interrogation? Despite having anticipated something like this, the color drained from her face and her pulse leapt. Gathering her resolve, she lifted her chin in defiance. “I will not break.”
Mordrick raised an elaborate chalice to lips and drained the contents in one deep swig, then he shot her a wicked grin. “We shall see, princess.”
A moment later she was ushered out of the throne room.