“To your friend Zebulun?” Kavin spat. “He’s ancient!”
“Our family owes him aliefhald, boy,” Wulfram growled back. “The agreement my grandfather made was that our line would bring him the first true Omega we found. I stopped trying to retrieve that dark-haired one, that Rimholtian queen, six years ago, after the old Guildmaster got himself killed attempting the same thing. If I fail this time, a life is forfeit… which would be no more than I deserve.”
His gaze on Kavin softened, filled with regret. “But I, too, gave my life in debt to a man years ago. I already owe aliefhald. So I don’t own my own life, son. In my stead, it would be one of my children whose life would be forfeit to Zebulun’s line. That, or he could take the whole kingdom. Every person in our country his to consume.” My mind spun as I put it all together, reaching to remember what I had studied on Starlakian legal customs.
If Wulfram’s life was owed to another, then he had to provide recompense for the older claim in the form of the life of one of his children, or give up his holdings as payment. Which, in Wulfram’s case, would be all Starlak.
“You owe another life debt?” Kavin choked out. “How? Why?”
Wulfram’s eyebrow quirked up as Valerie moved smoothly onto the sand, carrying my cloak to me. I smiled wordlessly as I felt the familiar weight, and nodded my thanks. “A parent will promise anything to save the life of his child.” Something in his eyes spooked me. “It wasn’t yours, Kavin, but your sister’s that I bargained for. And I would do it again in a heartbeat.”
“So, if I understand Starlakian law correctly, only one life debt can be owed at a time,” Thorn said smoothly. “But if your life debt were resolved—paid in full—you would then be able to provide your own life to settle your grandfather’s debt… Yes?”
“Yes,” Wulfram agreed. “But the man who owns my debt is—”
“Is standing in front of you,” Thorn interrupted. “Vilkurn of Rimholt paid me, almost seven years ago now, to save his future mate, and also smuggle a group of women out of Verdan City. To keep them safe and take them to Rimholt after the war, or to safety in Starlak if Milian were the victor. I did so, and he paid me a princely sum.
“Ten goldani… and theliefhaldyou owed him.”
If the ocean hadn’t been pounding out a drumbeat, the beach would have been silent. “You own my debt? You can prove it?”
“I do, and I can.” Thorn bowed and approached, leaning in to whisper something in Wulfram’s ear. The warlord’s eyes closed, and he wilted.
“Thank you,” he said to Thorn. “You ask for your mate’s freedom in exchange?”
“For that and for you to leave your son, her mate, with her here on Havira.”
Altair opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted by Wulfram’s shout. “My son as well? He’s my only heir. When I get back, Zebulun will kill me. That is my burden and I accept it. But Starlak… Our kingdom will have no warlord.”
I smiled at him with all the venom I could muster. “You have a daughter, Wulfram. Run home and prepare Cyndil for her new role.”
Wulfram sputtered, Thorn smirked, Altair, Icarus and Valerie laughed out loud, and Kavin… Kavin took me into the gentlest hug I had ever felt, one I knew I didn’t deserve, and murmured into my ear, “I love you, Roya. Not what you are.Whoyou are. My defender. My mate.”
For a few moments, chaos reigned on the beach. As I watched Wulfram and Valerie squabble, and Kavin speak with one of his father’s warriors, Thorn leaned down and murmured. “And what about me, little queen? Do I need to fight on the sands to prove my love?”
“Thorn,” I said, steeling myself as I turned to face him. He wore his cloak, but the hood was far enough back that I could see his flat expression. “Valerie told me the Guildmaster got away.”
He nodded, but didn’t speak.
“So you’re still Anathema.” Another short nod. I fought to control my breathing, to ask my next question. I called on all the practice I had at hiding my emotions when I was a child, to hide the fear and pain in my voice now. “Are you planning to leave Havira, to hunt him?”
He growled slightly. “Have to. Too many loose ends.”
I held my breath for a moment, then let it out, wishing I could exhale the pain as well. I hadn’t really expected that answer.
“Will you… Will you tell me before you leave Havira? Give me the chance to say goodbye?”
He exhaled sharply, like I’d punched him in the gut, but didn’t answer.
I counted my breaths for a few seconds, then managed to grit out, “I don’t think it’s asking too much.” He had tied his life to mine, for crying out loud! I’d feared he would feel the need to go on the run, spend his life hiding, telling himself it would keep me safe.
“On my own, I could probably avoid the Guild for years. Maybe forever,” he said, his voice strained. He moved close, his chest pressing against mine. “Is that what you’re saying?”
“Yes.” I closed my eyes, letting myself feel the warmth of his body. I was glad for the pounding of the surf that concealed my ragged breathing.
He snorted. “I should probably leave soon. Now, today. A good man would do whatever he had to, to protect his mate. Isn’t that right?” I nodded, then shook my head, confused. Thorn’s hands wrapped around my shoulders like steel bars. “Roya, you have made a terrible mistake.”
“What… What do you mean?”
