Kadeesha drew in a deep, steadying breath. “It is lovely to see you well and whole too, Mother. You’re welcome, by theway, for extracting you from Aether lands before Rishaud could murder you or take you hostage in a petty rage.”
All right. Perhaps she wasn’t very successful at summoning patience.
Yashira scowled harder, if that were possible. “I see the news has already reached you here.”
She had no idea what Yashira was referring to. Kadeesha spun to Leisha and Samira, her second and third in command. “What is she talking about?” Kadeesha asked the women who’d give her a straight answer without berating her more. It was then that she noticed how haggard everybody else looked.
She knew something was terribly wrong—something beyond the catastrophe at her wedding—before Leisha answered, “The Hyperion king has decreed that Aether lands are now an annexed territory of the Hyperion Court. He’s appointed an archduke to govern it on his behalf, citing it as rightful recompense for the wedding disaster and your subsequent fleeing. Apparently, a term of the marriage contract that Sylas signed stated that if the wedding or marriage ended in ruin through any fault of Sylas’s or yours, then the Aether throne would be dissolved, our lands would be folded into the Hyperion Kingdom, and Rishaud would be awarded absolute dominion over the whole of Aether lands as repayment for losing access to you, and thus the prophecy, and as compensation for the extensive bride dowery he paid.”
Kadeesha’s throat went dry as rage at Sylas sparked in her veins. “He didn’t!” she cried. “He wouldn’t! Why would my father have agreed to that? It’s insanity!”
“Rishaud promised your father he’d have partial ownership over the portions of the Yunna range and its resources controlled by the Apollyon Court once it was conquered,” Yashiraexplained. “It was too valuable of a bargain for Sylas not to agree to it. On Rishaud’s part, that clause pertaining to total dominion over the Aether Court was his way of ensuring your father didn’t screw him over. Sylas was a monarch, and they are all ambitious and power hungry. Your father could’ve easily been planning to wed you to Rishaud long enough for you to bear the child the prophecy says will inherit a united Nimani and then take measures to bring you and that child back under his control sohewould become the monarch.”
It was all uttered a little too matter-of-factly. “That was Father’s plan all along and you knew of it,” she accused her mother. Yashira didn’t even have the decency to display an ounce of remorse.
“Knew of it andapprovedof it. It was a good wager,” she asserted. “Sylas had no reason to believe your betrothal and marriage would be annulled in such a way. Your father had every confidence you’d obey his wishes, and youhadacquiesced to them. The only reason Sylas’s grander vision crumbled was because you had a dalliance on the eve of your wedding and got caught. That reckless decision altered the path Sylas had paved. So don’t be so hard on your father’s decisions whenyourindiscretions created a mess nobody could have anticipated.”
Kadeesha flinched. The guilt she’d live with for the rest of her existence escaped the mental vault she’d sealed it inside. But that didn’t lessen her ire. Even now with Sylas gone, her mother was doing as she always did and backing Sylas’s desires while dismissing any faults he might bear. “Either of you could’ve informed me of Father’s full plans to use me and my womb as a pawn,” Kadeesha said angrily. It was like a dagger to her chest that both her parents had kept her in the dark. “Why didn’t you tell me?” she demanded.
“Rishaud is shrewd. You not knowing kept you safer. Plus, the less people aware, the slimmer the chance of Rishaud discerning your father’s plans. Don’t take it to heart.” Yashira’s justification didn’t comfort her.
Kadeesha pursed her lips. How could shenotfeel a type of way? However, going back and forth with her mother would accomplish little.
“Where are our kongamatos being housed?” she asked Leisha and Samira. She needed to let off some steam. She needed to be in the air and flying before she combusted.
“A suitable temporary aerie was arranged for them in a cavern atop the mountain peak that looms above the palace,” Samira answered.
“I’d like to get a flying session in,” she told her sisters. Zahzah would also give her attitude if she didn’t immediately go see her. Kadeesha strode to where the tall woman who’d assumed the role of being in charge was posted by the door. “Take me and my squadron to our kongamatos. We also need a training arena, one large enough to accommodate the enormous wingspans of several creatures. Do you have something like that on the palace’s ground?”
Several of the guards paled at the mention of the winged beasts. As well they should. According to historical records, the kongamatos had once ripped through the Apollyon people when they sought to master the creatures several millennia ago. Those ancient Apollyon fae, just like ancient Hyperion and Wind fae, had learned a grisly lesson that continued to ring in present-day memories.
But not all the guards quailed. “I do not take orders from you,” the head guard snapped. “And the only orders I have frommy king are to supervise your reunion and then escort you all to your rooms so that the newcomers may get settled in.”
Kadeesha managed not to take her fury out on the grating woman. “Then you, or someone else, may go find your king and tell him if he wishes me to uphold our bargain pertaining to the kongamatos, my squadron will need to remain in top fighting form. That means I need uninhibited access to the kongamatos and a training arena. That said, if you can’t be bothered to carry that message to Malachi, I can also go find him myself.” And she made as if she were about to open the door herself.
A muscle in the guard’s jaw ticked. However, she turned to a man standing on the other side of the door. “Take what she says back to Malachizrien and return with an answer,” she said tightly.
YOU LEFT. NOwarning. The sharp reprimand shot into Kadeesha’s mind as soon as she entered the massive cavern. When Zahzah prowled into view, her wings were flared wide and fangs bared in irritation.
She dashed to Zahzah and hugged her neck. “I am sorry. I had no choice,” she told the fierce kongamato. Zahzah’s response was a displeased rumble. She bared her thoughts completely to the war serpent, then waited for the majestic creature to root around in her mind as long as she pleased. Zahzah had always been an efficient hunter, though, seeing little use in wasting time with sluggishness, and the sensation of claws gently pricking her mind quickly receded. Zahzah snorted, a small streamof red flames shooting from her nostrils. They encircled Kadeesha in agitation but didn’t stray close enough to burn her.
Him … the fae male … stole you away.
“I agreed to go with him,” Kadeesha clarified quickly, because the fae male in question, Malachi, stood inside the mouth of the cavern just a few feet away. He’d teleported Kadeesha and the rest of the Nkita to the aerie, and Zahzah now eyed the Apollyon king as if he was a tasty morsel about to be devoured. “We made a deal,” Kadeesha added. “He saved Samira’s life, healed her, and I came with him to his territory in exchange.”
Zahzah snorted again. More flames encircled Kadeesha. But Zahzah hadn’t yet attacked Malachi, which was a small win. Kadeesha momentarily mused that perhaps she shouldn’t try to curtail Zahzah’s violent impulses. Zahzah killing Malachi, of her own volition and without a direct order from Kadeesha, wouldn’t breach the oath Kadeesha had sworn since that would be an action beyond Kadeesha’s control. And maybe she would have allowed that precise event to occur in order to be rid of Malachi as a thorn in her side if she hadn’t just gotten the news about Rishaud and his hostile takeover of Aether lands. Now … as disgruntled as it left her, Malachi was too valuable a tool to use against the Hyperion king. While Sylas hadn’t even gotten close to striking Rishaud when they’d faced off, Malachi had injured him. She needed him to do it again.
And again.
And again.
Don’teverleave me behind like that, Zahzah huffed, interrupting her violent dreams.
Kadeesha petted Zahzah’s neck. “I won’t, sweet girl. I vow it.”
Zahzah’s snout nuzzled Kadeesha’s forehead. Then the flames vanished, the war serpent deciding to end her temper tantrum.
Behind her, a throat cleared. Kadeesha inwardly smiled at how the mighty Apollyon king kept his distance from the kongamatos. It didn’t stop him from being an asshole, though. “I don’t have all day to play nursemaid,” he grumbled. “Collect the rest already so I can escort you lot to the training arena.”
