Chapter 17
The next morning a meal had been laid out on the platform at the end of the bed.
Naya climbed out of the bed and tried the door, but it was locked. Not a surprise. She explored every inch of the room, trying to see if there was a way out or anything she could use as a weapon.
With the sunlight streaming in, it was an earthy, beautiful room with artwork and detail on the walls. It was much bigger than she realized, but there were no adjoining rooms and no washroom, yet it was designed and decorated elaborately. Single rooms like this were typically what most of the Lox population had in their homes, but the way the room was designed and decorated didn’t seem typical. It was strange that he placed her in such luxury.
After she examined everything she could, she sat on the cushions by the lattice window. The view overlooked the enormous city, a canvas of honey browns, creams, and sun-faded yellows. From this view, it was almost impossible to believe that the outer areas had been so damaged and abandoned. War and time could do a lot of damage to a city, and she did not know the history of this place, but it was odd they had left the outskirts in ruins.
She padded back to bed and looked at the meal on the tray—cubed fried potatoes, saucy beans, and a crinkly blue pepper, all accompanied by a strong, heady liquid in a tiny cup. Next to the bed platform was a thin stand with a wide base and a ring at the top holding a long, knobby tmae with its top cut open.
Naya lifted the tmae and sat on the platform to sip it and formulate a plan.
Papa always said that trying to get out of a complex situation without a strategy was like entering a lion’s den with nothing but hope—brave but foolish. For him every battle was an opportunity to demonstrate his superiority, every enemy a puzzle to be solved and eventually break.
He’d been in one of his big-headed moods at the time—Mama always rolling her eyes behind him—and Naya laughed at them. But she never forgot the teaching. And now she could see why some enemies required those extreme measures.
She sipped the tmae, thinking everything through until she’d decided on four clear goals.
One; escape and warn her father. Papa needed to be armed with as much information as possible about the threat he faced. No one knew the beast existed, and even though her disappearance might raise suspicions, her parents didn’t know how powerful and cruel their opponent was.
To achieve that goal, running again without a real chance to escape wasn’t an option. She had to be calm, considered, and careful. It was over ten days of travel across the desert to get back to where she’d first arrived in this Land, assuming that was the way home.
Two; be selective. She”d promised the beast information, but that had to be carefully selected and presented. He’d clearly been to her Lands, but for how long? And how much did he know? He planned to hold her to her word and would punish her severely if she lied. Nothing should jeopardize goal number one, so telling him the truth was best, but navigating this would be crucial. Giving information to him didn’t mean telling him everything or offering knowledge he didn’t ask for.
Three; learn. If she was going to find a way home, she had to learn more about the culture, land, and its people. The turbulent sand under the dark clouds in the desert seemed to have caused the earlier urgency. But that didn’t exclude the possibility that the beast had enemies, especially if the ruins were any indication. And that could be exploited.
If all else failed—if she couldn”t return home or warn Papa—her only recourse was to do everything she could to fuck up the beast’s plans. That meant learning everything about him.
Four; accept she had no true mate.
Naya set the tmae back in its stand. That last goal had no specific strategy other than resisting her reactions to him and staying as far away as possible. That shouldn’t be a problem. She’d thought her magical blocks had been removed, but they must have left some lingering effects, otherwise their attraction would have been far more intense. Having studied war crimes and strategies, she knew that since she was a new prisoner, he’d want to make her suffer again—because he was fucking crazy—and it was clear that he wasn’t compelled by her scent the way she was by his. Once he got bored with making her suffer, he’d focus on his invasion.
The real issue for her was grieving the idea of him. Without a mate, she couldn’t lead effectively or be the Omega her people deserved. That had been crushed out of existence the moment she realized who her mate was.
All she could do was protect them from this invasion, and after the Lox Empire crushed the beast, she’d talk to Drocan and see what he thought about ruling—or any of her siblings. She’d also see if Lonn still wanted to marry her without the title, and then start her life from there.
The notion cast a shadow within her, extinguishing a long-burning flame that Gramma, and even her parents had kindled. Maybe an Omega’s mate was supposed to be all the amazing things everyone said, but Naya’s wasn’t. She’d never have that kind of love—the kind her parents had. Tears blurred her vision, but she quickly got up. She couldn’t sink into the reality of that loss right now.
Stretching her body slow and intentional, she worked through a warming sequence like she used to at the start of her training sessions, then practiced her basic combat positions. Since she had time and space, she might as well practice something that could help her at some point. She hadn”t trained properly in six years, and even though she was certain that wasn”t the reason for her defeat in the forest, it still stung that she hadn’t even heard the beast’s ambush. She was out of practice.
She worked through her training sequences for her combat specialisms, progressing from basic to mastery as she sought to reawaken what her body once knew instinctively. Gradually she slipped into a rhythm, each move becoming more assured and powerful, increasing in speed. And then she fell out of rhythm.
Annoyed, she began again. Slow and practiced, increasing gradually.
As she fell out repeatedly, her irritation escalated with each attempt until she finally yelled at the wall. Her training was coming back to her, but it didn’t feel the same. She didn’t have the same power she used to, and she was damn slow.
Refocusing her energies, she started again, and persisted until her body ached like she’d fought fifty Lox warriors at once, but she’d lost her edge.
Papa had trained her for what was happening right now, yet for the past six years she’d been selfishly looking for her mate instead of keeping up with her training. And it’d been a gross waste of time. She’d literally seen the enemy in her forest and ignored the little instinct she had left, too preoccupied about her next pairing meeting to take it seriously. She was a fucking disappointment to her people, to the empire her father had built, and most of all, to Papa.
She channeled her seething rage into her training, and by the time the feeling eased, her body ached, her throat had flared up again, and her rage had smoothed into steely determination. She was her papa’s daughter—his firstborn, and she wouldn’t continue to let him down.
The day crept by, rays of sun inching through the room. Naya continued increasing the intensity of her sequences until she was close to the pace she was used to.
Drenched in sweat and moving at an incredible speed, she caught the faint whisper of the door opening. She forced herself to arrive at a neat stop, the air sharp in her heaving lungs.
The round-cheeked aide who had helped her bathe yesterday came in with clothing neatly folded over her arm. She smiled at Naya, but it faded when she saw Naya panting and sweaty, and disappeared at the sight of the tray.
”Hhe llu kkunnenmir hhe kaeplu??” she said, confusion in her eyes.
Naya stared back at her. Was she forgetting Naya didn”t speak the language? She grabbed the tmae, sipping it while the aide placed the clothes on the bed.
She faced Naya, smiling again. “Nuk ttae tikshon nlik hhe nnu ppo tshike shi llepae.” Then she added, in a thick accent, ”Good morning.”
Naya pursed her lips, somewhat surprised at her brisk brightness. It didn’t seem to fit the situation, but that was probably better than her being rude or cold. The way she had bathed Naya yesterday had the practiced efficiency of an experienced aide, and serving as an aide for a prisoner was likely not a role anyone would want. “Err… good morning,” Naya said. “Well, it’s afternoon. Good afternoon.”
The aide beamed and beckoned Naya over to the same spot for another bath. Afterward, she dressed her in attire typical of the style Naya had seen in this culture: garments that combined the looseness of cloaks and tunics with fitted sections, creating an elegant and unusual style of clothing.
When she finished, the aide stepped back, her eyes roaming, searching for imperfections. She couldn’t have found any because she clasped her hands together and smiled. Then she picked up the tiny cup of foul-smelling liquid and pressed it into Naya’s hands. ”Hhe kkuke tshu tae kkermo pre tul kkishnu.”
”No, thank you.” Naya shook her head, holding it out to her. ”I don”t want it.”
The aide tapped her finger on the cup and then tapped her mouth. ”i tto?m.”
Naya shook her head again. ”No, thank you.”
The woman cupped Naya’s hands and lifted the cup to her lips. Naya fought to push her hands back down without spilling the cup. She was surprisingly strong.
”i tto?m,” the woman insisted. “i tto?m.”
”No!”
”She is saying you should try it.”
They both tensed, startled by the voice at the door.
A woman with large, expressive eyes and radiant dark brown skin stood just inside the doorway. She wore a fitted tunic-like outfit with layers of leather. Two daggers’ handles stuck out of the band around her waist, but Naya guessed she probably had at least three more on her person somewhere. She was the first person Naya had seen who looked like an actual warrior and not just a guard.
She glanced between them. ”She is saying to try it.”
”I don”t want to try it,” Naya said. ”Why won’t she let me refuse?”
“Because you might find it helpful.”
That was a ridiculous response. Naya eyed her blades. ”Are you both planning to cut me to shreds if I insist I don’t want it?”
The woman blinked, slow and considered, then gestured to the aide. “This is Meiro. She is to attend to your personal needs while you’re here but cannot speak the Common Tongue and has been instructed not to converse with you at length or assist you with anything that is not to do with your personal needs.” She gestured to the cup. “This will help you personally.”
Naya tried not to show her surprise. This woman’s Common Tongue was good.
”You told the zmola that you would be amenable,” the woman added. ”It does not hurt you to try.”
“I agreed to give information,” Naya said. “I cannot see how drinking something that smells this… foul will help me help you.”
“It is our most coveted drink. It aids in concentration and gives strength. It can only be made using nnin, so its preparation is taken seriously. The amount you hold in that cup is very expensive and will be wasted if you don’t drink it.”
“Nnin?” Naya repeated.
The woman pursed her lips. “In your tongue, it translates to magic.”
A drink made using magic? Naya peered into the cup, drawing it closer to her face. The hot liquid was golden, and the pungent scent smelled much more complex up close.
Meiro’s voice was quiet when she spoke again. “Shnim prat i? pre tae llanin nnu? hhe shla pru?tsko?t hhe.”
Naya glanced up at her. Her eyes were wide, filled with hope and anticipation. Something about them reminded her of Lili.
The woman at the door translated. “She said it will help for the long day you have before you.”
Naya lifted the cup to her lips and took a tiny sip. The flavor of rich, burned earth with a hint of bitter smoke bloomed in her mouth and faded to a soft, mellow sweetness. When she swallowed, a warm glow spread through her. She took another sip and offered Meiro a small smile. It wasn’t as bad as it initially smelled.
Meiro let out a heavy breath. Dipping her head, she picked up the tray and headed out of the door, dipping her head again to the other woman as she passed.
Naya stared after her. Was that strange? Why would she care so much?
“Meiro is good at her job,” said the woman, answering her thoughts as she stepped farther into the room. “She was selected because she will make your interests her interests.”
Naya schooled her expression. “My greatest interest is to return to my Land. I’m sure she won’t do that for me.”
She clasped her hands behind her. “You made an agreement with the zmola. He will hold himself to his word and hold you to yours.”
“I didn’t make that agreement willingly.”
“It was still an agreement, willing or not.” The woman pulled out strips of the dark red material. “You are expected to wear these when you are not in this room. Come here.”
Naya stared at it, almost recoiling when she recognized the color. Every inch of her wanted to scream, to fight this woman and run as far as possible at the idea of having those bands on her again.
“Without these, you will be chained,” the woman added.
Naya nodded, masking her expression. Wiping her palms on her outfit, she walked to her. The woman carefully wrapped her forearms from her wrist to her elbow and then wrapped her neck.
Naya clenched her teeth, the horrible feel of the textured material making her want to retch. Suddenly, she was trapped again in the tent, unable to move and in so much pain. She pulled in a slow, deep breath. No, she wasn’t in the tent, and she wasn’t trapped against the wall. She could move freely, at least she could right now, and that was better than wearing chains.
Finally the woman finished and stepped back. “Follow me,” she said.
Outside the room four guards were stationed in the quiet corridor. Two of them held long spears, while the others had daggers. Naya followed her guide, navigated through several corridors, each one busier than the last, until the palace felt busy and alive.
Less moody and sultry than the night before, daylight brightened every corridor. Wall panels showcased stunning art, and the warm colors complemented the beautiful woven rugs and the earthy colors of the building.
Many men and women wore the same layered plain-colored tunic as Meiro, and Naya guessed they were all aides or servants. Guards stood at the end of each corridor, uniformed in similar outfits to her guide rather than the ones outside of her room.
“What’s your name? Naya asked, as they started up another flight of stairs.
“You don’t need it.”
Naya frowned. Before she had a chance to ask why, the woman paused outside a huge door and looked her over. Satisfied, she pushed the door open.
Inside was a vast room painted in patterns of red, yellow, and blue, drawing the eye to a dramatic battle scene on the far wall. Thick pillars sat between several ceiling to floor lattice windows that softened the glow of the afternoon sun in the space. In front of each pillar, gleaming weaponry was displayed with pride, including some pieces she had never seen before.
The focal point of the room was a large wooden table at its center, edged with an intricate swirling pattern that matched the surrounding chairs. Behind it, large maps on stands depicted each of the three Known Lands, each map showcasing a different continent.
Several people stood inside, most in conversation leaning over a table or looking at the maps, but they went silent when she entered. Naya swallowed, her eyes sweeping the room once more. This was their battle planning room. Her father had one, though he rarely used it anymore. He and his commander and generals used to plan strategies of attack, sometimes spending weeks or months in there.
Naya walked slowly to the nearest map, a horrid gnawing in her stomach. There were no maps created in this size in the Known Lands. These had to have been hand drawn. How did they even get them? Why did they have all three Lands and not just the Lox Empire? Were they planning attacks on everyone? And more importantly, had they kidnapped anyone else from the other Lands? Her mind immediately went to Kaari.
A throat cleared, interrupting her thoughts. Naya turned, dragging her eyes away from the maps.
Three men and two women other than her guide were in the room. Although they didn’t all dress the same, there was a formality to their clothing. Two of the men wore leather and weaponry like her guide, while one woman was dressed completely in red fabrics. The only person dressed neutrally was someone she recognized—the stout healer from the desert.
At the sight of him, she instantly recognized the others. They were the same group that she’d seen walking with the beast. They were dressed more formally than they had been in the desert. The guide who’d brought her to the room had also been in the desert, but Naya hadn’t recognized her in her new clothes.
As a group they exuded power and strength, even without the beast in the room. It wasn’t just their weapons or the more formal clothing—something about the way they stood and looked at her gave Naya the impression they were used to being in control and getting their own way. They had to be his generals or important advisers.
None of them looked pleased she was there. Even the healer looked uncomfortable.
“Good afternoon,” she said to the room. They all tensed. “I’m Princess Nayara Andaus, first daughter of Drocco and Cailyn Andaus, heir to the Lox Empire, Guardian of Omegas, Keeper of Peace.”
Something in the air changed. The group’s demeanor shifted, and a voice came from behind her. Deep, strong. “Your titles are not relevant to our discussions. Tell us about these maps.”
Naya turned and astonishment jolted through her, curling into a sweet quiver in the pit of her stomach. He seemed bigger than she remembered, easily bigger than the other Alphas in the room. Even though he stood just inside the doorway, several feet from her, he felt too close.
Like everyone else, his attire had changed too. He wore an array of mixed fabrics in shades of reds, browns, and whites, complementing his bronze complexion, but the cut of his clothing was more severe, which along with the gold accents and crisscross pattern at the edges, made him look formidable and striking and regal.
The hair on his face had been trimmed, revealing a full, set mouth and firm jaw. The intensity of his dark eyes remained the same, but his expression was colder; closed and stern. The only wild thing left from the man in the desert was his hair and even that had been wrangled back, showing more of his face. And that was unfortunate because he was incredibly handsome.
In her pain-filled delirium and terror-induced sleeplessness, she’d recognized he was the epitome of an Alpha, but that had been a severe understatement. He was still a fearsome beast, but he was a gorgeous one.
Heat flared up Naya’s neck, but she forced herself to maintain her tone and posture, bleeding out the emotional reaction. “What do you want to know?”
“Everything. You will give us all military knowledge of the army.” Akoro’s voice rumbled from the wall. ”You will give us all information about your father and his allies. Your mother and her allies. All information about yourself, who you are associated with, and all plans for the empire’s future. You will tell us exactly how magic works in your world, its history, and how it has been tamed. Everything you know about these other two lands,” he said, gesturing to them, ”and what access they have to yours. You will tell us everything you know and give us anything we ask.”
He walked forward slowly, his eyes locked onto hers until he towered over her. Even washed and dressed, danger permeated the air around him. His scent surrounded her, the same heady warmth, but much to Naya’s relief, it wasn’t as strong as it had been in the desert.
He grabbed a chunk of her hair and pressed down on her shoulder with his thick forearm. Naya fought against the pressure, digging her nails into his fist and bracing her feet apart so she could bear it. They struggled for dominance, eyes locked, while the rest of the room watched on silently.
Naya inched down, her breathing heavy, her grunts strained, until one knee struck the floor, the sharp pain signaling her defeat. Akoro kicked her remaining foot from underneath her so she was on both knees. He wasn’t even out of breath. “And you already know that questions are not permitted. That was your last one.” He lowered his voice to a vicious, threatening rumble, eyes gleaming as they roamed her face. “Do you want to be tied, and spread, and used? Or will you behave?”
Naya glared up at him, a retort threatening to burst from her lips at his mention of using her. He’d fucking said that on purpose—trying to reference what he did back in the cart. But she forced herself to hold it in and focused on what she was trying to do. Letting him get to her right wouldn’t help her. When she spoke again, it was through gritted teeth. “I have one more question.”
The contempt in the beast’s eyes hardened to anger. His fist tightened on her hair, spreading agony across her scalp.
She spoke anyway. “Who are you?”
Fury contorted his face, but before he could say anything, she spoke again, careful not to ask a question. “Most kings are eager to announce their names and kingdoms or tribes or… empires.”
The beast’s anger cooled to disdain. He released her slowly, straightening to his full height. “Most kings are fools.”
Naya almost dropped forward onto her hands. Her scalp, shoulder, and knees all reeled in agony, but she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of looking pained. “Yes, or they are too proud,” she uttered. “But sometimes a name holds a reputation.”
Something fierce flashed through the beast’s callous expression. He glanced up at someone behind her, casting a look conveying something she couldn’t decipher. He moved away to lean against the wall as footsteps approached. Arms crossed, he directed his gaze at the window.
The guide walked into view. “You are in the region of Tshokora in the Onn Kkulma Palace,” she said. “I am Prillu Ollehh of the sukkurian, diplomat and trade administrator for the Sy Dynasty.”
Naya staggered to her feet, trying to make her movements light and easy, like her knees weren’t about to give way. She nodded at Prillu, though most of what she’d said slipped past her. But she heard the word diplomat. That was probably why Prillu had been chosen to collect her.
“I am Nrommo Hirkkel of the sukkurian.” One of the Alphas stepped forward. Bushy eyebrows framed his narrow eyes and balanced a wide nose. He wasn’t an ugly man, but it seemed he only knew how to wear ugly expressions. “I’m the zmola’s battle chief. I will lead the attack on your world.”
Naya tensed, her dislike of him instantly deepening.
“This is Akoro Sy, the rightful ruler of the Sy Dynasty,” Prillu said. “He will be the new zmola for your world, which translates to king or ruler.”
Naya took a breath and nodded.
“Now, tell us about these maps,” Akoro said.
Naya walked to the maps, aware of the scrutiny on her by everyone in the room. The man who’d introduced himself as Nrommo looked the most tense, like he was expecting her to attack them at any moment, even though she was an Omega in a room with at least three Alphas.
She examined each map closely, taking her time before turning to face them. ”The Southern Lands’ map is the most accurate,” she said finally. “At least, that is as accurate as we have it. They don’t allow others to map their continent, but I don’t think it’s changed much in the last twenty years. This land”—she pointed to the one on the right—“is now called the Lands of Eiros. There have been some changes to it. And this one”—she pointed again—”is called the Lox Empire now, not the Eastern Lands, and there have been many changes.”
Nrommo looked at Akoro, a brow arching.
Akoro glanced back and nodded, as if confirming that what she said was true. Naya’s mouth tightened. So she’d guessed right. They were going to check whether she lied to them by asking her things they already knew. Calm, considered, and careful.
Prillu picked up a roll of parchment and spread it on the table in the middle of the room. “Where on this map has it changed?”
Pushing aside her unease, she began pointing out the discrepancies—where borders had changed, where houses and empire buildings had been built, and any significant changes that had happened across each country.
The battle chief questioned her about travel between the regions and the palace’s surrounding areas and potential access, which wasn’t noted on the map. That was intentional—no one could map it. But he didn’t ask for as much detail as she expected him to.
Over the next hour it became clear that at least three of them spoke the Common Tongue too well to have not been among native speakers. Her gaze flicked over everyone in the room. If they all spoke the Common Tongue well enough and were dressed in clothes common to the empire, they could completely blend in. After all, no one was looking for people from a distant land intent on invading and conquering the empire.
When the skies turned dark, Prillu escorted her back to her room. She used the time to organize her thoughts, mentally listing everything she’d learned about Akoro, his council, and his people today. They hadn’t asked any difficult questions, but she got the feeling they were starting gently. Tomorrow would certainly be more difficult.
Looking out the lattice window, the city was still busy at this hour, its people were moving through the streets finishing their day.
Akoro had said he wanted her land for his own people. Did that mean everyone who lived in this city? Based on the view from her window and the number of people she”d seen on the way in, there were a lot of people. How did he plan to get everyone there? She still couldn”t figure out how he”d managed to get to her land and take her from a place that no one else could reach. It had to have something to do with the blue glimmering stone.
She sipped her tmae and pushed down the fluttering of concern.
Akoro and his people had a very sophisticated use of magic. It didn’t respond to her, yet they made use of it constantly, and in more significant ways than even the Lands of Eiros, the historic home of magic—from the way they traveled, to their camping material, to portable baths. Right now, that worried her more than anything else. It was one thing to be good in combat, but her land hadn’t had much magical growth and aside from the Talent-crafter twins, the Lox Empire didn’t use magic at all. That put them at a significant disadvantage with this opponent.
Placing the tmae back in its stand, she moved to the center of the room to work on her sequences and tire herself out so she wouldn’t dream. She would play the game Akoro had set out for her. She’d help them. She’d act like the chastened prisoner. And then she’d use anything she could to find to destroy them. To destroy him.