18. Raya
RAYA
“She is stronger than she knows”.
- KHOL’S MESSAGE TO EZRA.
Ezra’s terms were simple. There were six tasks I needed to complete before I could return to the ‘real world’. Six tasks to gain as much information about The Temple and its people, before Jala dragged me back. Ezra was very clear that I would not be allowed out of the protection of The Temple until I mastered each task. Each was designed to test a different aspect of my being.
First, physical combat, pushing my body and will to its breaking point. Survive that, and then I would been tested on the soundness of my mind. If I were captured and tortured for answers about The Temple, I would need an iron will… and a high pain threshold, that test was designed to test my loyalty, little did they know that information would flow freely from me, no torture required.
Assuming I made it through the first two tasks, the last four would be surrounding my abilities, my powers. The new force that lurked beneath my skin, begging to be released.
The day after my stitches healed, I marched to the large dining area, hoping to start a fight with Ezra and burn through some of my nervous energy, but she was the picture of calmness and tranquility, focusing on her bowl of porridge, barely noticing I had entered the room.
The other members of The Temple noticed me though, their heads snapping up to meet my gaze. Some of them sliding away from me, some scooching closer. Whispers of distrust and awe mixed together like a god-awful cocktail I wished to smash against the concrete beneath my feet.
I hadn’t seen Khol since the day before, I knew he was avoiding me, that much was clear. I was grateful that as soon as Ottie had healed me, she and her brother left the room hastily. Although it was easier to be alone, I had realized that Khol was the only person I had to talk to. Obviously, we argued constantly, and he was a brute through and through, but I was lonely.
Refusing to wither beneath the stares of the Sorcerers’ I turned for corridor, striding away. The carpet was warm and soft beneath my bare feet, like a blanket sitting near a roaring fire. I tried to be barefoot as often as I could, it was a tip from Elijah. Being barefoot grounded my power, it could flow freely around my body and into the earth.
Movement in the shadowed edge of the hallway caught my attention.
“Are you spying on me?” I drawled, walking slowly into the dark corner.
“That’s very bold of you,” Khol whispered as I tucked into the shadows next to him. “I could be spying on a different woman.”
I nodded, a sarcastic retort on my tongue. But wrongness twisted within me, was he looking for a different woman?
“But of course, you are the most interesting Sorcerer The Temple has seen in a long while. So perhaps it was you I was looking for.” He shrugged nonchalantly, the movement causing his shoulder to brush mine. I rolled my eyes, ignoring the zing of excitement that rolled through me.
“And why is it that you’re looking for me?” I turned to face him.
“Maybe I just wanted to see you.” His voice was so calm that he took me by surprise.
“I—” Before I could get the words out, he swept my feet from underneath me sending me crashing to the floor, then he pinning my body with the crushing weight of his own.
Ezra strolled past us, glancing at our position.
“Good night, Khol,” she spoke softly, as though seeing me pinned to the ground was completely normal.
“Good night, Mother,” he called out, never taking his eyes from mine.
“What are you doing?” I squirmed beneath him, scolding myself internally. I had been training my entire life and yet I had let Khol take me by surprise? I supposed that my inability to fight him off did play into the role of the ‘scared, weak woman’ that I was masking as in The Temple. Every cloud had a silver lining.
“I’m giving you a little taster.” He leaned in low, our faces only a breath apart. “Get your shit together, our training begins tomorrow. I’ll be at your door at dawn.” And with that he stood up and shot away. Leaving me to question what the hell had just happened.
The moon shone into my chambers as I arrived back to my room, casting a white glow around everything, my head swimming with memories of what had just happened. I shook my head, clearing away the thoughts of him. My gaze landed on my Sage Guard combat boots, left haphazardly against my wardrobe door.
My mind wondered to Alias again.
Was he safe? Did he worry for me? I shook my head again, wading through my thoughts and climbing beneath my bed covers without bothering to change into a night gown. I begged for sleep and this time, she obliged.
A knock at the door woke me hastily, the moon still shone, and the sun was still fast sleep. I laid still until the knock sounded again.
Padding over to the door, fear swept over me, and I lunged for my foreign power buried deep within me.
But it wasn’t a threat. It was Khol.
“Can I come in?” he asked timidly.
I nodded, cringing as he walked over to the bed and perched on it awkwardly.
“I- I…” he began. I had never seen him so nervous.
“Wanted to talk about the training?” I spoke for him; he huffed a sigh in relief.
“Right.” He wrung his hands, trying to find the words. “I don’t know if it’s appropriate for me to train you for your trials.” His voice was barely audible.
“Why?” I asked harshly, and I couldn’t help but feel hurt by his words.
“I don’t think I’d be able to concentrate. I haven’t been able to think of anyone but you since your arrival.”
I opened my mouth to respond but the air whooshed out of my lungs as his lips crashed against mine. He drew me close, his arms wrapping around my waist and our kiss deepening, I opened my mouth, moaning softly as he swept his tongue through my parted lips. I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling our bodies flush against each other. We moved down, my back now against the soft duvet beneath me, our kiss never breaking, and we fell, Khol’s body on top of mine. I whimpered as he pulled away from my mouth, his lips trailing wet kisses down my chin, my neck, and chest. Ripping my nightgown up he began to trail soft kisses up in the inside of my leg, until I was biting my lip and fisting the sheets. He hovered above me.
“Do you feel the same?”
I shot up from my bed, the sun streaming in through the open doors. Sweat coated my body, my hair sticking to my neck and my cheeks flushed, the outfit I wore to dinner still clinging to my skin. My heart slammed against my ribs as I fought against the tingling sensation from last night’s dream.
I plunged into the bathtub, enjoying the feeling of the ice-cold water I filled it with. I needed to wash off the dream and the feeling of Khol and the taste of him.
Stop.
I needed to focus on my task ahead.
On exposing The Temple’s weaknesses and spilling its secrets.
On letting the Sage Guard hunt the Sorcerers. My stomach turned. Letting them hunt my own people.
Unexpected sadness crept into my mind. I wasn’t only spying on The Temple; I was providing a death sentence. In the week I had been here I had become close with Elijah. Would I ever see him again?
Or Khol?
I sat up in the tub, the cold water settling my nerves slightly. I just needed to get through today. I stared at the blue and green tiles on the wall, resting my hands on the rough stone edge of the bathtub. I had not stopped to wonder what my life would look like if I had never entered the gods forsaken safe house. Would I be back at the Foothills with Alias? Or would I be suffering a worse fate when my power eventually reared its head?
The cold water began feeling hateful, and I leapt from the tub before I could stew in my mind any longer. Dressed and ready, I greeted Nai at the door as she brought fresh linens and outfits for the next week.
“These are beautiful.” I picked up an evening dress, it’s lilac fabric soft and thin. “Where did you find this one?” I ran my hands over the jewels placed delicately on the bodice. Nai bowed gently.
“I made them.” Her cheeks became rosy as she spoke.
“You have a gift, they’re truly wonderful.”
The door swung open, and Khol smiled smugly as he rested on the door frame.
“You ready, Princess?” His eyebrows rose in question and my skin started to burn softly. I swallowed down the lump in my throat, nodding slowly, my eyes staring at my bare feet. His eyebrows then knitted together in confusion.
“No fight in you today?”
“Something like that.” I walked past him, pressing my hand to Nai’s shoulder as I did. I couldn’t play fight with him; I couldn’t argue and pretend. Every time I looked at him, I felt his lips on my mouth, my neck, my legs.
Stop. Focus on the task.
I walked ahead of him, although I wasn’t sure where we were going. I sucked in a deep breath and steadied my stance.
A hand clasped on my lower forearm, and I spun toward Khol.
“Are you quite alright?” His eyes studied my own. I nodded.
“Don’t lie to me, Princess,” he persisted.
“I am not.” Heat blushed in my cheeks, betraying me. “Don’t call me that,” I muttered.
“Tell me.”
“There is nothing to tell.”
“Raya.” And maybe it was the dream, his soft grip on my forearm, or the fact that he called me Raya instead of that stupid nickname, but I relented.
“I had a dream and… it has thrown my concentration.”
“A dream?” His gaze narrowed on mine, I nodded.
“Satisfied?” I asked, my voice horse.
“Not at all.” His voice was gruff as his grip on my forearm tightened slightly and his face came closer to mine.
“Nor am I,” I whispered softly.
“Khol!” Ezra’s voice cut through the air, and we parted as though pulled by horses. “You must hurry. Raya cannot waste a moment of time if she is to pass this season’s trials. After all, you were the one who insisted on training her.” Ezra’s floral dress flowed around her as though it was a gushing a waterfall.
“Insisted?” I gaped, my gaze jumping from Khol to his mother.
“Yes. Khol Insisted you be trained by him; therefore, he must follow through on his decisions.” She shook her head, leaving us alone in the domed hall where even the paintings held their breathes.
A pregnant silence engulfed us.
“You insisted?” I looked up at him. He raked his hands through his hair.
“The only way you’ll pass the trials is with a good trainer,” he strode forward, continuing down the corridor. “And I am the best. Don’t make me some sort of hero.”
I caught up with his stride, hiking up my soft, black trousers.
“I am my own hero, Prince,” I muttered, using his own nickname against him.