Chapter Eleven
Chapter Eleven
Sierra
Ander and I ate breakfast downstairs on the veranda but quickly took our coffee inside once the snow had started up. Lucius had already left for his meeting, and Ander had woken up a bit later than he’d liked, but I was dressed and ready to go, so I waited in the parlor, looking out the window at the city streets.
Seemed that the weather was the talk all around Titus these past few weeks, and here especially. According to the house servant, Willow, Ghypsom City rarely got anything in the wintertime but rain which sometimes froze overnight, but overall was pretty mild. But this winter had so far been like no other, he’d said.
So when the snow had shown up this morning, it was all the servants talked about. Willow had tried to shoo them away from the back door when I’d come downstairs, but I told him it was fine. I didn’t want to be treated like a pampered princess, even though I had spent six hours two days ago doing exactly that: being pampered.
Even now, the feel of smooth skin between my legs and under my arms had me hyper aware of my body, something I hadn’t felt since I’d come out of my first heat so many moons ago. Every swish of my skirts, every twist in my seat, brought that awareness to the surface, causing me to blush, especially when I thought of that evening coming back to the villa after we’d left the theraspa and Lucius’ reaction to finding my naked sex.
“Ready?” Ander said, coming into the room dressed in a fine white linen tunic with a royal blue vest and matching breeches.
I cleared my throat and schooled my features, wiping off any traces of lust. “I am. Where to first?”
He smiled. “To the silk factory, of course.”
We left the villa and climbed into the carriage Willow had called for earlier. I was glad I had brought a cloak, because the inside was breath-stealingly cold. Ander sat beside me and rubbed my hands with his large warm ones.
“Ongar, it’s cold today,” he said as the carriage driver started up the horses. “Unfortunately, the drive is a bit out of the way, but at least it’s warm inside the factory. Last time I was there it was sweltering.”
“What did you do yesterday?” I asked, feeling much warmer. Lucius had kept me in our bedroom all day and night, and I hadn’t seen a soul since this morning.
He released my hands. “Went to several pubs, a few shops. How was the theraspa?”
I laughed at his expression. “Amazing. How long did you have to wait for Lucius?”
“Gods. No less than an hour but it felt like eternity.”
We chatted some more as the carriage took us through the city. Every once in a while, Ander would point out specific attractions while my brain soaked up as much of the sights as it could. There was so much to see, so much I made a mental note of visiting before we were to head out next week.
Ander was telling me about a place that offered nothing but purple goods when I spied a familiar face. Two, in fact. He startled when I knocked on the carriage door compartment to signal to the driver to stop. I almost fell out into the road when I scrambled out of the carriage, Ander shouting behind me.
I ignored him and ran across the street to where Fadon and Phobius stood, eyeing a building in front of them.
“Fadon!” I called out, excitement filling me.
He turned, and it was like being greeted by a new day. He looked so different with his longer hair, his unshaven face. His expression went from curious to surprised, then heated as he met me on the sidewalk and lifted me into a strong hold of hickory warmth.
“What are you doing here, meleera?” he asked, his mouth on my hair, his nose pressing against me, smelling me. I shivered.
“What are you doing here?”
He set me on my feet and looked me over from head to toe, wearing a slight frown, as if trying to puzzle something out. “Queen’s business, actually. Your scent is different. Where—” He must have spotted Ander, because his hands loosened a bit on me. Relief flashed in his dark eyes.
“Fadon? What in Ongar are you doing here?” his brother said, coming over to slap Fadon on the back. Both men grinned.
I stood there positively shocked that Fadon was here and barely noticed Phobius standing at the open door of a building. He winked when he caught me staring.
“My lady, good to see you again.”
I couldn’t say the same, but I politely smiled. “Phobius.”
Behind him, the door opened and, curious, I looked inside and saw another familiar face: Demos.
I didn’t even hesitate. I walked right in, passing the tall Ongahri male who had opened the door. Demos was heading toward the back, and in my excitement I almost walked into a table. I absently noted that we were in a restaurant, but the place was empty of patrons. Instead, a sizable number of men in various dress were standing around a cordoned off area, the same place Demos was heading. Someone seized his arm, and I heard feet behind me.
“Release him, in the name of Alpha Queen Mari,” Fadon demanded.
The Ongahri man, looking shocked at this development, released Demos, who marched right past the curtain, Fadon at his heels.
I felt a touch on my back. Ander looked down at me. “Perhaps… we should leave,” he said. There was hesitancy in his tone, though. I had a feeling he wanted to figure out what was happening just as much as I did.
“This is where Lucius is holding his meeting,” I heard Phobius explain.
Just then, we heard a commotion, and Ander looked down at me with a nod. “Fine. But stay by my side.”
He held my hand, and we went to the back to investigate. The crowd of guards—if that was what they were—parted as we entered the room, the partition of canvas open. Inside was a humongous round table, and my eyes immediately went to my husband. He was sitting back in his seat, the fire burning behind him, a smug look on his face. Fadon stood to the side, looking for everything like an avenging god.
“I heard there was a meeting for the Ongahri,” Fadon stated. “I know the Consortium isn’t until next year, so this is a surprise.”
Lucius bowed his head mockingly. “So honored to have you, Captain Trajan. I had no idea you were head of a tribe.”
“I’m here on the behalf of our Alpha queen.” Fadon looked around the room. I was completely taken aback, not understanding a single thing that was happening. But I could feel the tension in the air.
“Hmm. I do not recall inviting House Trajan to our meeting.” Lucius was spinning a quill on the table. His tattooed knuckles spun around and around, blurring into an inky shape.
“If it involves the Ongahri, this is her business.”
“I disagree,” Lucius said dryly. “Wholeheartedly.”
“If war is coming,” someone said, a young Ongahri male with beautiful black hair that touched the middle of his back, “then we will need Trajan’s armies.”
“Since I am captain of that army,” Fadon bit out, “I can tell you all point-blank that my men belong to the queen, no one else.”
“Which is it, Captain?” Lucius said smugly. “The Ongahri’s business is hers or not? House Trajan gets to pick when they represent the whole of our people or only a percent?”
“What is this meeting about?” Fadon sidestepped.
“Fine. I’ll indulge you even though you were not invited. The tribal leaders here have decided to join me in bringing war to the Basilica’s doors once and for all. Since your queen hasn’t made a move, I’ve decided to stake my flag. These fine leaders here have decided to carry their banner with mine.”
Fadon scoffed. “Is that so? Since when have you ever been interested in politics, Lucius? Or working with others. I’d like to hear your reasoning.”
“Well, pull up a seat then.” Lucius had Pateus stand aside, and Fadon gladly took the proffered seat. Phobius glided into the room and stood near Lucius’ side, leaning against the wall. Demos, who hadn’t seen me yet, seemed to be taking it all in, as if memorizing every face.
“We were just in the mid—” Lucius started to say but his eyes had fallen on me. Something I couldn’t put a name to flashed in his eyes before it was gone. He pulled out a timepiece from the pocket of his vest, then grinned. “Actually, we’ll adjourn for a break. Let’s resume in, say, ten minutes?” He stood up and came over to me. Some of the Ongahri stood as well, a few leaving, causing Ander and I to separate and move out of the way. Most of the others had chosen to stay, however.
“What are you doing here, little dove?” Lucius seemed happy to see me, but his body language told me he was in House Dega mode. He took off my cloak, which was wet from the snow, and gently placed it on a sideboard next to us. “Where’s Ander?”
In my peripheral, I saw Fadon speaking to someone I didn’t recognize. He hadn’t seen me step into the room, but now, he turned his attention to us. His mouth was in the middle of forming words and he stopped, his brow a study in confusion.
Gods, I wasn’t ready for this!
“Is this the lucky bride?” an older Ongahri asked, smiling kindly at us.
Lucius grabbed my hand and lifted it to the rest of the room. “It is, indeed, Chantis. I’d like to introduce my wife, Sierra Dega,” Lucius said with pride and that infamous drawl he was known for when cooking something up. I didn’t appreciate it, honestly, but I had no time to consider it when Fadon stood up slowly.
“I’m sorry, what did you just say?” He took in our joined hands, and then glanced at my throat, where the evidence of Lucius’ words showed truth. My osnat.
It was like my dream, my nightmare, coming to life.
Fadon’s face lost all color before turning a bright red, his expression running the gamut between shock, hurt, and rage.
“Lucius.” I tried to pull my hand away, irritation at him rising. “Let’s not do this right now,” I whispered with heat. But he ignored me, choosing his desire to gloat over the usual territorial instinct whenever we were in a room with other males.
“I said she is my wife, Capitan. We were married on the Longest Night.”
Fadon slowly turned his gaze away from my osnat and on to Lucius. “You’re a fucking bastard.”
Lucius chuckled. “Truer than you know.”
“Fadon, perhaps we should talk about this outside,” Ander said, appearing at his side and touching his shoulder.
The captain shrugged him off, though. “She is promised to me, Lucius.” His gaze went around the room until he spotted Demos. “Servant, show him the document.”
The whole room seemed to freeze, so many people were listening to what was transpiring. Two Houses, one woman. This needed to stop.
“Fadon…” I begged. “Please don’t do this here.” Lucius let me go, but before I could reach Demos and Fadon, Phobius stood in front of me. Something in his eyes arrested me, and for a moment I was no longer in this room but in the banquet hall in Goth Mor Helle.
“Do you, Gregoras Trajan take this woman…” Phobius’ face flashed from the present to the dream time, shorn hair to long, tight long-sleeved tunic to black robes. His bright-blue eyes and wicked smile were the only things that hadn’t changed.
I see you. Do you see me?
A flash of King Gregoras turning his head, his face alight with curiosity as he noticed my presence. A handsome, regal man. There in his coloring, in the lines of his face… traces of Fadon, Ander, Mari, and…
My stomach dropped and the world seemed to shimmer as I gasped.
Reality slammed into focus with the force of a boulder crashing to the ground. Phobius smiled, as if he knew what I’d finally acknowledged.
In slow motion, I turned around, my eyes to Lucius, who was observing me closely, a hint of fear in his mercury-colored eyes.
“… to the Heir of House Trajan, she will be given…” Demos read aloud, his voice steady and full of authority.
Not taking his wary eyes off me, Lucius asked aloud to the room, “Ander has abdicated his right to the throne? My, my, Fadon. I guess congratulations are in order.” Lucius’s question dripped with amusement.
“He’s his son,” I whispered stupidly. Lucius widened his eyes, hearing me.
Turning as if in a dream, I stared now at Demos, who was still busy reading the document. I was about to open my mouth when I felt a hand on my shoulder.
Lucius was at my back now. “Sierra, you look like you’re about to faint. I think we should take you back to the villa, let me get a healer—”
Spinning around, I faced him. Through the bond I felt fear. He was terrified. I knew then that it was true, what I’d seen, what I surmised. With barely a whisper, without any feeling whatsoever, I said, “You said you didn’t know who your father was. You lied to me. You…”
Absently, I heard Demos speaking, heard Fadon announcing something, but for me there was only Lucius.
There was no denial forthcoming in his eyes, he seemed frozen.
All this time, he’d been a Trajan. The true Heir, younger than Mari, who was queen only because she happened to be the youngest. Which would make Lucius… King. But what about his hatred toward that House? Was that why he hated it so much? His animosity toward Fadon, was that sibling rivalry? A bitter jealousy? Gods, Lucius had sat among his half-siblings all through dinner those nights at Goth Mor Helle, knowing all along the whole kingdom was his by right… And before we’d left the Mor, he had made me that bargain…
“No. You—Did… Oh gods!” I bent forward, clutching my breaking heart.
“What’s happening right now?” Fadon was suddenly in front of me, and right as he was about to touch me, Lucius pushed him out of the way, intending to grab me, but I slipped away before either man could touch me.
I was shaking my head over and over, slowly backing up without realizing it.
“Sierra?” Demos called, confusion bleeding through my name.
I barely glanced at him. He was holding that scroll, a look of concern on his beautiful face.
Three men who I loved more than anything. One had broken my heart because he couldn’t give me his own. One wanted to force me to marry him because of some piece of paper, and now another had betrayed me.
Yet again, I had been a fool.