Chapter 8
Therian Palace, Russia, Monday, December 10, 2012
Ivanna stood in the courtyard, looking up at the ancient palace. Luca had invited her, saying he needed to speak to her about a matter of great importance, and she’d come without hesitating.
Most of the Therians loyal to Nikoli had fallen with him or fled shortly after his death. Ivanna still ran the refugee camp, but there was no need to hide in isolation. The king offered Ivanna and her people homes, work, and the opportunity to take an active role in rebuilding the empire.
She trusted Luca. Her nerves still held her back, though. Ivanna shook off the queasy feeling in her gut and strode into the palace. She was far from the only Therian to have horrific memories from the place, but she was determined to keep them in the past. Nikoli’s death had freed them all.
She stared at the tall, imposing doors for a long time, letting her conflicting feelings swirl around her to figure out how she felt now. Ivanna had passed through those doors as a slave, then as a free Therian after escaping from Nadya’s lab, and now as an honored guest and cherished friend of the king.
Ivanna’s glance drifted up and lingered on the balcony in Luca’s chambers. She thought back to their fateful encounter and remembered he’d promised that things would change when he was king. The atmosphere of exuberant hope in the courtyard showed her that those changes were already starting. Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she walked inside and went to find the new king.
Before she could start looking, Ivanna was intercepted by a tall, thin man with short dark hair, a black beard neatly shaped into two prongs, and intelligent eyes with vertical pupils in human form. One was a vivid turquoise blue and the other a rich green.
“Lady Ivanna?” he asked in a crisp British accent, opening a leather-bound folder.
She nodded. “I am Ivanna, but I am not a lady.”
He smiled. “My name is Remington, but please, call me Remy. I am King Lucaindrion’s personal aide-de-camp, and I would be happy to provide anything you need. He asked me to bring you to his office. Follow me, please.”
Ivanna nodded and fell into step beside Remy as he led her through the halls where she’d lived as a slave for so long. “Have they selected a new palace location yet?”
Remy shook his head. “Not yet, but they have narrowed it down to three spots.” He spotted an empty paper cup on a stair rail and pushed it off as he passed by. His attentive gaze watched it fall gracefully into a wastebasket on the lower landing.
“We haven’t seen much resistance to the new king in the field, but there are a lot of scared people emerging with nowhere to go. How is he handling relief efforts?” Ivanna asked, hoping to get more information before she met with Luca. She still didn’t know what he wanted her to do, and she liked to be prepared.
“I’ll let the king address that. I don’t want to speak out of turn or get something wrong,” Remy answered diplomatically.
Ivanna laughed. “You’re good, but I know what you are. I also know that means you don’t miss anything.”
Remy stopped in surprise. “Is that right? What do you think you know?”
Ivanna grinned. “I know that the papers in that folder are either blank or not for you.”
His eyes widened. “Touché. They’re blank. I thought the folder looked professional. What gave it away?”
“I was a slave here for many years, and even when you’re not actively listening, you hear things. The beard tells me what you are, and the eyes tell me what you can do.” The lynx clans had earned a reputation for their innate social skills, and those with heterochromia were rumored to have spectacular memories.
Remy nodded. “I’m impressed. My clan is reclusive, but I wanted to see and study the world. When the opportunity to meet our new high king presented itself, I demonstrated my skills and offered my service to His Majesty.”
Ivanna smiled warmly. “I am certain he will not regret that decision. I cannot imagine anyone better suited. He’s lucky to have you.”
“That’s very kind, Lady Ivanna,” Remy turned down a familiar corridor.
“It’s just Ivanna.”
Remy shook his head. “To me, nobility is about far more than one’s bloodline. Our king agrees, Lady Ivanna.”
He stopped in front of a tall wooden door and knocked before opening it and gesturing for Ivanna to enter. Luca sat behind an enormous desk littered with letters, maps, and numerous other documents. He looked up and smiled as she walked in.
“Ivanna! Thank you for coming!” He gestured at the seat across from him. “Please, sit. I’d like to discuss something with you. Remy, would you call down to the kitchens for refreshments, please?”
“Certainly, Sire. I shall return momentarily.” Remy closed the door behind him.
Tears shimmered in Ivanna’s eyes when she sat down and gave Luca a brilliant smile. “You’re really doing it. I always knew you would, but the energy here… It’s already so different, and I know that’s you.”
Luca grinned. “It is astonishing what people will do when they’re appreciated. We haven’t seen this kind of cross-clan cooperation since my grandfather sat on the throne. It comforts my soul to see our people united like this.”
“I couldn’t agree more.”
Luca shuffled the papers on his desk until he found a particular folder. “Which brings me to the reason I asked you here. Ivanna, if you’re willing to take it on, I would like to appoint you as the second-in-command of the King’s Guard. You would answer to and train under Viktorija. I can’t think of anyone I trust in the position more than you, and you have earned your place here a thousand times over if you want it.”
Her pale green eyes widened with shock as she processed Luca’s words. “Are you serious?”
“Of course, I’m serious! You’ve proven yourself a capable fighter and an effective leader. If it wasn’t for you, we wouldn’t have made it this far, Ivanna. I once promised you that you would never again be a slave when I was king. That no one would be, and I have kept that part of my promise.
“You have earned this with your bravery and determination in unimaginable circumstances. I would consider it a great honor if you would accept the position and lead the King’s Guard when Viktorija attends to her duties as my general.”
Ivanna couldn’t speak through her emotions, but she nodded in acceptance as tears of joy spilled down her face. For her entire life, she’d been told she was worthless and would never amount to anything. Luca had seen something in her, and he still believed in her. This appointment wasn’t being made because of a long-ago promise offered in the heat of the moment. He genuinely thought she deserved the position.
“Does that mean you’ll accept?” he asked hopefully.
Swallowing past the tightness in her throat, Ivanna smiled. “Yes! Yes, I accept. Thank you, Your Majesty.” She bowed her head in respect.
Luca shook his head. “I get that you might feel uncomfortable about being informal in public, but I have known you my entire life, Ivanna. You don’t need to bow to me. You never need to bow to anyone again.”
Ivanna wiped her eyes. “You don’t get it, do you? With…him, we were forced to bow. To grovel before him as the lesser beings we so obviously were. With you, we bow in respect and loyalty. I choose to, Yo…Luca.”
“Thank you, that means more to me than I can say,” Luca answered.
“You’re welcome. So, what do you want me to do with the refugee camp?”
Luca smiled. “That’s the other thing I wanted to talk to you about. Assigning a special project is a lot to ask when you’re taking on training sessions with Viktorija and the King’s Guard. If you’re up for it, I would like you to work closely with Remy to move those refugees here. Once that’s done, creating ongoing relationships between the empire and the disillusioned Therians who don’t trust the crown anymore will be your focus.
“Our people need help, and many of them don’t trust me enough to accept it yet. But you are a hero, Ivanna, and they will welcome assistance if it comes from you. I need your help. I don’t trust a task this important to anyone else.”
Ivanna’s heart swelled with pride. “I cannot tell you how happy that makes me. I will serve you and our people with dedication, Luca. Thank you for this opportunity.”
Nikoli had never shied away from showing his disdain for anyone other than dragon royalty. His hatred of the outsiders had pushed thousands of Therians around the world away from the empire, and the best way to right that wrong was by creating something bigger that his people wanted to be part of.
As someone who’d gone from being a slave to a vampire prisoner to a rebel leader to holding one of the highest positions in the empire, Ivanna would be a captivating figure for them. Luca hoped she could bring his former subjects back into the fold. He had a feeling they would need the strength and protection of unified numbers in the near future. Nadya’s cease-fire wouldn’t last long.
Remy returned bearing a tray loaded with drinks and sandwiches. He joined them to explain his ideas and the plans he’d already set in motion. The longer she talked to Remy, the more Ivanna liked the man. He had a genius intellect and a dry sense of humor. Plus, the accent—and the man who went with it—was hot.
After another hour, they made their way to the chamber Luca had selected for Ivanna. She would also have rooms in the new palace, but until then, she deserved a space here. He had turned the rooms Nikoli had given her into an infirmary, filling the space with life instead of death.
When she stepped inside, Ivanna squealed in delight and threw her arms around Luca. The space was expertly decorated in earth tones and held finely carved dark wood furniture. Deep purple silk drapes surrounded the enormous four-poster bed. The room was fit for a queen, and Ivanna knew that. She’d served his mother for years. It was beautiful and much more than she’d ever expected to call her own in this life.
“I love it!” She moved around the room, touching things as if they were made of glass. “Thank you for this. For everything.”
“You will also have servants—paid servants—who want to be here doing this work. You are a valued member of my court, Ivanna, and I couldn’t be happier to have you on my side.”
She went to the balcony and stepped outside to take in the night air. “I can’t help remembering the night we fled the palace. So much has changed since then. While our connection was more…intimate then, I don’t feel that pull now. I mean no disrespect when I say this after what you’ve lost, but the bond feels familial now.”
Luca nodded. “No disrespect taken. I was going to say the same thing. Ash taught me that family isn’t always blood. It’s the people who are there for you no matter what. I trust you to be one of those people for me, Ivanna. I will always be there for you.”
“Thank you. You are precious to me, and I will be loyal to you until the day I die.”
“Is it hard to be back here?” Luca asked.
Ivanna sat in a beautiful overstuffed chair by the window and smiled sadly. “Yes and no. Before Nadya, I would have said my time as a slave in this palace was the worst of my life, but coming back as a free Therian felt amazing even with Nikoli. The pain is still there, but being here now, with you as my king is everything I dreamed about.”
She meant it. Whatever stress she’d felt about returning to the palace, she’d come back stronger. She would never again cower in fear, and she would serve her king with joy.
“What was it like for you as a slave here?” he asked, looking sick. “I need to know what my people are recovering from so I can help them thrive.”
Ivanna stood and offered her hand to Luca. “Come with me. I’ll show you.”
As they walked through the halls, she told him what a normal day in her life had been like. “Keep in mind, palace slaves had a higher quality of life. Many had it much worse than I did. Most nights, I got little more than four hours of sleep.” She led him to the filthy dormitories in which the slaves had lived.
“This is where you lived?” he asked, disgusted. “It’s worse than the dungeons!”
Ivanna nodded sadly and led him to a tiny alcove with a bed carved into the stone wall. “Four hours of sleep on a good night, and none of it restful on that wretched bed. You were always kind to me, but many here demanded odd things at even odder hours. Slaves were expected to be up well before dawn, and a moment’s delay with a noble’s breakfast or a spilled drop of tea could earn us a savage beating. Nikoli encouraged it.”
They went to the kitchens, where Ivanna ran a hand over an ancient hearth. Memories of the many hours she’d spent there fluttered through her mind. Luca was silent as she gathered her thoughts.
“It was much worse than you can imagine or I can describe. Your life wasn’t touched by such things, and now, thanks to you, no one else’s will be either.” Ivanna shuddered. “I suffered a great deal at Nikoli’s hand. Slaves were property to be used as those in power saw fit, and neither he nor the guards let us forget that. I want the King’s Guard to stand for justice and honor, not corruption and greed.”
With each revelation of the abuse and indignity the slaves suffered under Nikoli’s reign, Luca’s anger had grown. Ivanna didn’t need her enhanced telepathic skills to know how he felt. The king broadcasted his thoughts loud and clear.
“The idea that I lived a charmed life while you suffered shames me.” He hung his head.
Ivanna laughed. “A charmed life? Be realistic, Luca. You suffered under his thumb just as badly, though in very different ways. You promised to make changes, and you are. You abolished slavery, and you have given our people more hope in the last two weeks than they have had for the past two centuries. I knew then you would be a king worth following, and I was right. Your first thoughts were for your people. All your people.”
Luca met her gaze and felt some of his guilt fall away. “Thank you. I needed to hear that.”
She smiled. “You can’t know how thrilled I am to see you leading us out of the darkness.” Ivanna’s heart swelled with happiness. She’d been at the coronation and seen the ancient Therian magic accept Luca as the high king. She’d paid close attention to the actions he’d taken and how he treated the people.
Luca would be a fair and just ruler who genuinely cared about his subjects. He had a mountain of issues to handle, but he seemed up for the task. She would stand by his side as he worked miracles.
“Ivanna, my friend, I will do everything in my power to accomplish that, but I need your help to set our kingdom right. The top priority is finding the refugees who lost everything and ensuring they have what they need to survive. I want you to create a task force to bring them in. Those who wouldn’t approach a soldier might speak with you. They don’t need to fear the crown now, but it will take time before they believe it.”
She nodded. “Of course. I will start right away, and we’ll make arrangements to move the bulk of the people in the camp here soon. I want to leave a trusted few there since we still get a few stragglers per day.”
Ivanna fell silent, and Luca gave her the time she needed to sort through her thoughts. She opened her mouth to speak several times, only to close it again.
“What are you struggling with?” he asked. “You know you can tell me anything.”
She took a deep breath to steady herself. “You know Nadya held me captive for decades while her minions conducted all sorts of experiments on me.”
Luca nodded. “I remember.”
“Nadya used her blood on me in the final experiment, and it unlocked something within me. I still don’t have words to describe it. I lost the vampire abilities within days, but I am nearly invincible now.”
“That is an incredible asset.”
Ivanna shook her head. “My abilities have changed. I am far more powerful than I used to be, and I heal faster than most dragons, but the fight with Nikoli’s men proved that I am not wholly invincible. I think sustained healing weakens its effectiveness for a few days.”
Luca looked concerned. “Have you not healed from your injuries?”
She waved away his concern. “I’m fine. I just wanted you to know so you can plan your strategy for the next battle accordingly. There will come a time when you need to factor that ability into a plan’s success, so you need to know that my enhanced healing isn’t guaranteed.”
Luca paled. “I don’t want to think about a situation where you taking massive injuries is our only chance for success. With you acting as my emissary to the disenfranchised Therians, I can’t imagine we will face another battle so soon.”
His smile was as charming as she remembered, though it no longer made her heart race. In some ways, he was still as na?ve as the young prince who’d promised to set her free.
“We shall see, Your Majesty. The vampires won’t remain inactive for long.”