Zendar, page 8
“We are coming to end of our agreement. In two days I will have been here for nearly three weeks,” Azel pointed out calmly. “And although I no longer loath you, I do not love you.”
He nodded his head. “Bella, wake up.”
The young girl stirred at her brother’s voice. “Brother?”
“Go back to your chambers. Abil will take you,” The young girl got to her feet and wandered back with Abil, rubbing the sleep from her eyes all the while.
“Are you going to keep your promise?” Azel asked with a face set in stone.
He turned away from her and looked over the whole of the garden with the sun at his back. “No.”
Azel sat up, she had not expected that, “Tell me you jest.”
He didn’t turn back to her. “Take her to her chambers and lock her in,” he said. The guards took hold of her before she could run from them.
“Perhaps I was wrong,” she said standing so she could point at him. Hands gripped her arms as she was pulled away but her eyes stayed on Aleron. “You are nothing more than a tyrant. I despise you.”
Chapter 16
“Broken Promise”
Her hand connected with the side of his face, and he was obviously not accustomed to be treated with such manners. His hand caught her wrist. He no longer wore the head wrap and the large imposing cape was gone as well. She wanted to scream and rip his earring out, but he held her fast. She had refused to drink or eat anything since he had failed to keep his promise. When he had tried to force her to the table she had slapped him; all pretenses were gone.
“Do not think that just because I am a woman without family that I wish to become a Liege’s plaything,” she spat at him. She tried to pull free, but he had an iron grip on her and there was fury in his eyes. “You have broken our agreement. Release me at once.”
“You are defiant.” His deep voice held a red hot intensity. “I should have had you killed for your impudence long ago.”
Her eyes narrowed; he still didn’t know what she was or what she could do. “That is one way to end our agreement.”
He let out a partial growl and hoisted her up to toss her onto the bed. “I will break you of such an insolent tongue.”
He ripped open her clothes, exposing her breasts to him. Before she could cover herself he pinned her hands above her head. She felt hot tears of frustration rise up as he pressed his burning lips to hers. They tasted like sweet wine. He may be violent and cross, but he also kissed her with a tender passion she had not expected from him. It was as though his lips were begging her to love him, telling her that he was lonely despite all of the riches he had amassed and all the power, he did not know true companionship.
His kiss deepened. She was lost in the feeling of his passion, but somewhere in her mind she was telling herself that she should force him off of her. Whatever the sensible part of her mind was saying, it was getting washed away by the roaring flood of lust. Her body began to ache in places as a sticky sweetness overtook her senses. His hand was cupping her breast and teasing her nipple as he kissed along her neck and collarbone.
She was struggling for control as he towered over her; all she could smell was the scent of spices and man. She moaned when his tongue slid along the mound of her breast and she instinctively arched. He trapped the point of her nipple between his teeth and she sucked in a shocked breath as it sent shockwaves through her body.
She felt like she was being dragged down a hole, a dark hole, and it promised to be sweet and pleasurable. He released her hands and sat back to pull off the robe he had been wearing. Her hands immediately moved to try and cover herself. It was a weak defense and she knew it. His exposed chest made her try to move away. There was so little cloth between him and her. Their clothes seemed like little barrier to what was coming, and with every discarded piece her defenses fell to him.
His hand wrapped around her ankle. She tried to call upon her power but her fear was keeping her in place. She didn’t want to hurt him but she didn’t want to be manhandled. “Stop,” she said weakly.
He forced her legs apart and pulled her back. He pressed against her with her legs parted around him. She felt the hardness of him against the cloth of her womanhood. She felt herself unravel. Some deep passionate part of her wanted nothing more than to surrender to him. Her fear, anger, and frustration all faded away as the air left the room. She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think as two sides of herself warred for control.
His lips were on hers again, and her heart was beating so fast that nothing else could be heard. The soft skin of his chest was against her own and she could feel the few hairs that ran down his chest. Aleron brought his hand back to push up at her skirt, his fingers teasing along her leg.
That was when reason returned to her. How long had she allowed him to force her unchecked? Foolish girl she thought as she put a hand to his heart and pushed him off of her easily. He looked confused – she was controlling him now.
“You should be careful whom you force yourself on; not all us women are weak.” She continued to press against his chest until he was off of her entirely, a cold stare in her eye. “My mother could walk on air and water, but I am of a different power.”
He was clearly confused, but at her explanation his eyes widened and filled with an astonished understanding. “You are of the Vandi Bloodline.”
“There are so few of us left with any real power, and if I had been any other woman you may have had your way.” She sat up as he knelt before her. “I would have you bow to me, Liege.”
He fought her with all his might, his muscles straining, as she looked down on him with thinly veiled disgust. Slowly he leaned forward, and was before her in a deep bow of respect with his forehead to the ground.
“Perhaps humility will temper your eagerness,” she said as he strained to pull himself from the position. “You have no respect for the wishes of others but now you are at my mercy. You are the one that is helpless.”
His head came up and she allowed it, but her heart clenched at the look in his eye. He was humiliated, but he also desired her. She watched with shock as his left hand moved and then pushed himself into a sitting position.
“I am of the Corvinus Bloodline but I am also of the Kaheron Bloodline,” Aleron stated. He fought her hold and slowly stood. “My strength is unmatched.”
She pushed herself up and put the bed between them, “Now that we know what the other can do, let me leave here.”
“I cannot let you leave,” Aleron informed her. “I cannot believe after what just occurred that you are completely unwilling. Either way, I must have you as my own.”
“I will never be a consort!” She couldn’t help raising her voice. She was disappointed that he still wished that of her.
“I don’t want you as a consort.” he yelled back frustrated as though she didn’t understand. He was standing opposite her on the other side of the bed and as she watched him, Azel knew she didn’t know what he wanted her for it not for her body. “I want you as my Queen.”
Whatever she had expected him to say, she had not expected a proposal. The instant the words were from his mouth she lost her control over him. He jumped across the bed and took hold of her when she tried to run. She tried to fight free from him but her mind was too full of confusion to allow her power to return to her.
“Azel.” His voice was against her ear. “You are unlike any woman I have ever met, and you alone are who I desire to have as my queen.”
Her voice shook as she spoke. “I cannot.”
He turned her around and trapped her face between her hands. “You are of the Vandi Bloodline. No man or woman in the city will oppose you as Sol’s queen.”
Her eyes closed as tears welled in her eyes; she did not know what to do. She had promised her mother that she would marry her betrothed. She was a captive and if she refused him he would likely never let her leave. When she opened her eyes again she knew he could see her pain. When he tried to kiss her, she turned her head away. “We are enemies.”
He smiled down at her. “Tell me you don’t want to marry me.”
She steeled herself against her emotions as she looked him straight in the eye. “I don’t want to marry you.”
His eyebrows went up. “That was more convincing than I thought it would be. Tell me that you don’t care for me and I will return you to this betrothed you have never met.”
Her jaw tightened. She could see the love he had for her in his eyes and she couldn’t lie. “I can’t.”
“Then become my queen,” he said before he kissed her forehead. “Always remain at my side.”
She closed her eyes, “I shall.”
Chapter 17
“Violence”
Unlike her home, women married in Sol wore white as brides. It was tradition for the bride to be fully covered so that everyone perceived her as innocent. The wedding ceremony would continue on for days – sometimes well over a week. Twice since he had announced their engagement she had tried to tell him that she was the daughter of a Liege.
Bella sat next to Azel as two women draped white cloth over her and used pins to set the fabric against her form. Strange that she was captured as a promised bride, and now she was preparing to become a wife to another. She touched a hand to her face as she looked at her reflection, wondering if her mother would understand. Wondering if her father would forgive her.
Although she didn’t love Aleron, she knew that she could easily fall in love with him. She had admitted already she cared for him, love what no so farfetched now. His love for her was already infectious, and she had caught the disease. He could easily become a great ruler, and with her love she imagined his cruelness would lessen. She dropped her arm when the lady started on her sleeves.
She was so completely lost in her thoughts she had failed to listen to Bella until the girl was standing in front of her with her hands on her hips. “Were you listening?”
“No, I am sorry, Bella dear,” Azel said honestly. “I was distracted. Please repeat the question.”
“I said, have you ever seen the Liege of Undel?” Bella asked with an angry look in her eye.
“On occasion,” Azel answered vaguely. “Why do you ask?”
“He is the one that killed my daddy,” Bella informed her with an undertone of loathing. “I want you to be careful because my brother and the Liege of Undel have always been enemies. Once the Liege knows my brother is to marry, he will send assassins.”
She suddenly felt very lightheaded. Her father had been responsible for all of Aleron and Bella’s suffering. She understood that they were enemies and that it was just a casualty of war, but the knowledge still burned her throat.
She cleared her throat and said carefully, “how do you know?”
“My brother hunted the assassin down and made him tell who had sent him,” Bella said absentmindedly as she looked at a fabric she liked. “He named the Liege Kaheron as his employer.”
Azel pushed the hands of the servants away before saying to them, “leave me. I need a moment’s rest.”
“Yes Mistress,” they said as she hobbled down and sat on the couch.
She braced herself on a cushion; her head reeled with what Bella had just told her. She no longer had a right to marry him when it was her father that destroyed his very happiness. Her father had taken a hopeful child and turned him bitter to the world. She put a hand to her mouth as she remembered the look in his eyes as he told her of the death of his mother.
“Azel, what is wrong?” Bella said, coming over to her.
“I am fine.” Azel nodded her head to reassure herself. “I am just thirsty.”
Bella bounced over to the water pitcher. “I will pour you some water.”
“I thank you,” Azel said, her whole body was shaking.
She put the water to her lips and Bella brought her a glass, but she stopped before the water touched her lips. She could smell something strange on the surface as though something didn’t belong. She looked down at the glass and then looked over at Bella just in time to see her take a drink. Azel stood and knocked it from her hands before the girl could take a second sip.
“Spit it out!” Azel yelled. “There is poison in it.”
Bella spit out what was in her mouth but she had already swallowed some. Azel could always tell when something was in the blood; be it disease or poison. She put her hands to the girl’s stomach and instantly she could feel it; the poison was already seeping out from Bella’s stomach. She didn’t know how quickly it would act or how deadly it was. The doors opened and two guards rushed in.
“Get the Liege. Bella has been poisoned.” Bella was covering her mouth and her eyes were wide with horror.
Azel looked up at her with her eyebrows furrowed together. “I am sorry, Bella. This is going to hurt.”
Azel held two fingers on Bella’s stomach, focused her power and made the young girl vomit. Bella turned over and rushed to collapse by an empty box. Her stomach acid retched out of her body, along with the poison.
“Thank the sands!” Azel said. Most of the poison had been expelled and there was very little still in the girl’s system.
Bella wiped her mouth and looked up at Azel with a pained but relieved expression. Azel rose to her feet slowly as she heard someone enter the room. She looked up and saw Aleron enter, his eyes wild until they fell on her.
“Aleron,” Azel called and started to stand but her knees gave out and she collapsed against the couch. “Azel!” He yelled and she looked up to see him draw his sword as he rushed towards her.
She turned her head back and saw a masked man coming towards her with two daggers drawn. Azel tried to raise her power but the timing was too short. She picked up a tray of pins and tossed it towards the attacker instead. It startled the assassin enough that he stopped his run in order to block his face. Aleron’s sword entered the assassin’s side and came out through the back. Blood dripped onto the carpet and some of it was sprayed onto the edge of her wedding dress.
The two guards in the back attacked the first two instead of the assassin, and Azel realized they had been in disguise. Her gaze flicked over as another assassin emerged from the shadows. Azel could only manage a distressed cry in an attempt to warn Aleron. He turned away as a sword ripped the length of his back instead of his side. She saw him fall towards her and his blood sprayed along the full length of her dress. She stood as she felt herself lose control, and she tried to pull back but the next thing she knew, the assassin that had stabbed Aleron was dead at her feet.
Aleron had somehow stumbled back to his feet, and she caught him as he was about to fall again. She was shaking all over and she sunk to her knees. His face was pale as his blood spread out from his wound. He put his hands on both sides of her face and kissed her.
“You are safe,” Aleron said, clearly relieved.
“You saved me,” she said softly, her hands coming up to frame his face. “I will return the favor.”
The fighting behind her turned into a dull roar as though she were listening to it through a wall. When her lips touched his, her powers went into his body and began to heal the wound on his back. She could feel every piece of skin reconnecting and the torn muscles mending. The last of the blood dripped upon the ground like a great raindrop in the quiet recesses of her mind.
The fear of losing him gripped her heart in the same way that it had when her mother had died in her arms. She was wrong; it wasn’t that she could love him. It was that she was already in love with him. Her world seemed to gray with the idea of his death. At the same time, Azel was returning him to the state before the sword had struck him.
When she opened her eyes she smiled at him, and he seemed amazed by her. She had used her powers beyond their normal limit; healing Aleron, saving Bella, and killing the Assassin had drained every last drop of her energy. She collapsed against him and the last feeling she had was his arms around her as darkness swallowed her up.
Chapter 18
“Joined”
She opened her eyes slowly, and for a moment she thought she may still be unconscious. Then she saw the moons’ light coming through fabric curtains around the canopy. When she tried to move she found that something was holding her hand. She turned her head slowly; it ached with a dull throb.
Aleron was not far from hers as he slept beside her. She studied his sleeping face; it was strange that she now found comfort from his presence in her bed. She slowly moved her opposite hand and grazed her fingers across his forehead. She felt him stir, and watched as his eyes opened and focused.
“Azel” he breathed, pressing his lips to her forehead.
“Are you and Bella both well?” Azel managed through parched lips.
“Yes,” he answered, pushing her hair from her face while he admired her face with devotion. “You half killed yourself to ensure our survival. I could see your affection for Bella and your actions to save her were understood. What should I infer from your actions?”
She put a hand to his chest. “You were injured protecting me. I could not sit by and let you perish.”
“Is that your only reason?” He asked as though he already knew the answer.
She turned her eyes down; her long lashes concealed what her heart knew. “Yes.”
The weight of him pressed against her as he snatched up her chin in his hand. He made her turn her eyes on him. The relief at his wellbeing was evident and the barest betrayal of her true feelings. He opened his mouth as though to devour her, and she opened her own to him. She could no longer deny that his desire was her own; she wanted exactly what he was giving her.
“Your love for me is evident.” His voice was hot against her lips.
His lips trailed kisses down her neck, and her arms instinctively curled around him in order to draw him closer to her. He was telling her with the gentle tug of his lips that he had no intention of letting her sleep any longer. His lips trailed down her jaw to nip at her ear. She could feel her heartbeat quicken and her breathing deepened. He sat up and pulled the covers from her. The thin sheet exposed her hardly covered flesh. She tried to cover her breasts, which were clearly visible through the sheer fabric. He caught her wrists in his hand and held them open for him so he could admire her. She felt embarrassment rise up in her chest; never before had she permitted a man to see her so exposed.
