“And,” Emperor Theotis continued, “We celebrate the victories won by Imperator Kormac. Thanks to his strength and leadership, the new threat of akadim in the South has been annihilated.”
Annihilated? He’d done nothing. Rhyan and I had slain more akadim than he’d ever encountered.
“We have even managed to save the life of one taken by the monsters,” the Emperor continued, “Lady Meera Batavia. Step forward.”
Meera didn’t hesitate. She picked up the bottom of her dress—Glemarian green and cut into the actual style of a Bamarian gown. Her skin glowed in the torchlights, and she smiled, turning and waving to everyone in the room as she glided forward. Only I noticed the frosty shift in her aura when she paused in the direction of Arianna.
The nobles applauded, shouting congratulations and well wishes on her rescue. I could feel that some were genuine with their emotion, empathetic to her ordeal.
But not everyone was happy. Beside me, I could feel the ripple of Imperator Hart’s annoyance. The Emperor’s words had been carefully selected. Credit was not being given to Devon Hart, the man who’d proclaimed himself her savior and rescuer. And his hold on Meera was being called into question. Which meant my own was next.
“Imperator Kormac,” the Emperor continued, “saw a new threat in the South, and he immediately formed a task force. Because of his brilliant planning and assignment, sending Soturion Rhyan Hart to find Lady Meera, she was found safe, and then graciously cared for after the fact by Imperator Hart.”
Meera smiled and approached Imperator Kormac, curtseying before him.
The sight made me sick—and yet, as she rose and turned to face Imperator Hart there was a defiance in her eyes. She was challenging his claim on her.
The small rebellion left a lightness in my chest—but it was short-lived.
Amidst the applause for Imperator Kormac, Meera made her way back to my side, holding Imperator Hart’s vicious gaze the entire time.
The Emperor clapped. “Yes. yes. And thanks to Imperator Kormac’s efforts, we smoothly transitioned power in the South, and welcomed our newest Arkasva, Her Grace, Arianna Batavia, High Lady of Bamaria.”
I bit my lip as fresh cheers erupted through the room. Meera’s eyes met mine again. Her mouth tightened, only the smallest reveal that she, too, was affected. But then her noble training returned and her face was once again neutral.
“With our hearts and minds on recent tragedies that have plagued Bamaria, and Ka Batavia, we must acknowledge,” Emperor Theotis continued, “that not all have been accounted for. Lady Morgana still remains in captivity.”
The room hushed, everyone’s aura suddenly reaching out as if poking at me. I could feel their feelings of pity and worry, but also fear and horror. It made my stomach turn to feel so much of it at once.
“And we have still not heard any word from Arkturion Aemon Melvik. It has been over a month since we sent soturi to locate him. But our fears for his safety grow by the day. And that is why I want to thank Arkturion Waryn Kormac for the great service he has provided in protecting not only his home of Korteria, but Bamaria as well. During these trying times he has been named the acting Arkturion, and I am proud to say the South has never been safer from the threat of akadim.”
The nobles cheered and shouted, and the Bastardmaker stepped forward, his hateful beady eyes taking in Meera’s slight form as he lifted a fist into the air, accepting his applause. The claps became louder, more excited. He was being hailed as a hero.
But all I saw was a monster. The man who’d given Brockton his eyes, who’d passed on his cruel nature, and his disgusting proclivities.
And worst of all. The man who’d given him free access to Jules.
I reached for the hilt of a sword that wasn’t on my hip. Gods, I itched for it. For the chance to run him through, right then and there.
“Now, the South is safe. I commend Imperator Kormac’s leadership. But we shall also mention the latest activities in the North under Imperator Hart’s leadership.” Emperor Theotis’s eyes narrowed, his bushy eyebrows coming together. “First, I am glad to see that Soturion Rhyan has delivered Lady Lyriana to safety. We worried about the two of you for quite some time. I thank the Gods you’re safe.”
“It was my duty,” Imperator Hart said, speaking jovially, his arms outstretched. But I could feel the tension he wastrying to control. The jealousy and uncertainty in his aura. He wasn’t being afforded the credit he so desperately craved.
Good.
“Now,” Theotis continued, “I thought for sure Lady Lyriana would return home when found. And return to the arms of her betrothed, my grand-nephew. After all what more could a girl want after such an ordeal, but to be safe in the arms of her intended, and to see her Ka’s new Arkasva come into her own?” The Emperor frowned. “But, if I am to believe what I’ve been told, her heart has been swayed by another?”
“Young love, Your Majesty,” Imperator Hart called out. “What can you do? She saw our Arkturion, and got an eyeful of his immense strength, and power.” He paused, the innuendo of his words hanging in the air as my cheeks burned. The room was filling with laughter. “It took no time at all before Lady Lyriana found herself … bitten … by love.”
The laughter was now a cacophonous cackle. Kane came up behind me, his arms wrapping around my waist, his hands pressing into my belly. I stiffened, my pulse racing, and my skin crawling. And from across the dance floor, I could feel the hungry, predatory eyes of Ka Kormac all over me, imagining the circumstances of the lie, fantasizing about doing the same to me.
I shifted uncomfortably, unable to escape. Kane pinched my stomach through the little bit of fabric between us.
“She’s not the only one, Your Majesty,” Kane said, “who was bitten. Look at her beauty, her youthfulness, her … pliability.” Then before I could react, he spun me in his arms, leaned me backward and smashed his lips against my mouth. I stifled a cry. His breath was rancid, his nails digging into my skin as he pulled me closer, making sure I felt exactly how excited he was right then.
Bile rose in my throat, and my breath came short, but I was determined to keep my lips shut, to not let this go any further. I wanted to get away from him, to push him off. And yet, everything inside me was urging him closer. Even my balance. I was slipping and couldn’t find my center. He’d pushed me back too far, forcing me to rely completely on him to keep from falling. If I did, I knew my dress wouldn’t stay in place. I’d be exposed before my worst enemies, before the most powerful leaders in Lumeria.
Kane only pressed harder into me. There were black spots in my vision. I tried to turn my head, to break the kiss, even as I was forced to cling to him with even more fervor, to pull his body closer in my desperation to stay standing. The bottoms of my shoes began to slip. And yet, with every attempt to pull my mouth away, my blood heated painfully, and stabbing sensations ran through my limbs.
