“Name it.” He reached one hand to stroke me where we joined, and the other took my hand, our fingers threaded together.
I lifted my hips, and sank back down, riding him faster and faster, my heart thundering. “I’m not going to wear a laurel. I’m not going to be Arkasva of Bamaria, or High Lady.”
Rhyan frowned. “What do you mean?”
I leaned down, finding his lips, taking him deeper and deeper.
“When I go home and I retake Bamaria, you’ll melt Arianna’s laurel for me into a crown. Because I’m fucking done with the Empire of Lumeria. I’m not going home to be Arkasva. I will go home as queen.”
Chapter
Forty-Seven
MORGANA
I emerged from the river, finished with my nightly bath and took my towel from Lissa. The water dripping off me felt cool in the night. Refreshing after a long day of meetings and plans on what to do next.
“My robe,” I said. Lissa handed it over at once, and then I slid into my slippers, motioning for the two akadim who’d become my personal guards in the last few weeks to follow behind, watching me from the shadows.
Our court had turned in for the night, thank the Gods. My mind was exhausted. I’d had to restrengthen the onyx walls around my thoughts over and over as Aemon hounded me for details on everything I’d done while away from him. He’d been furious since he discovered that Lyr had managed to not just find Rhyan, my prized Arkturion, and cure him, but that she had acquired the red shard, and Rhyan the green. Not to mention, she had cured every akadim I’d left behind in the Wall of the Prince. Between him and Parthenay’s gloating, as well as all the former chayatim we’d rescued constantly trying to pry, I was beyond ready to go to sleep.
I’d been penitent for the loss for days. And I knew he was harboring his suspicions. Blaming me. Ridiculous. I was going to explode if he asked me again. Why had I done it? How could I have left Rhyan and his soturi so vulnerable? How could I have lost the green shard to the enemy?
As if I could see the future. As if that were my vorakh. It wasn’t—not yet.
He had access to Andromeny and her visions and every other Godsdamned chayatim from the Palace. If he hadn’t seen what was coming, how could I have? How could I have known?
I’d done nothing but serve him, helping our cause, betraying my own family, all so I could complete my goal. Bring down the Empire.
But after weeks of digging, Rhyan had been running the mines perfectly. They weren’t raping, they weren’t fighting, and they were hardly eating. Akadim could go months without a meal, and promising blood and flesh when the work was done had proved a mighty motivator.
So I’d felt safe leaving when I was called away. I’d performed the kashonim on Rhyan and his akadim to ensure the work was completed. To ensure we found the green shard, and that it was given over only to us. It would have been our third out of the seven. Between the shard and Rhyan, the amount of power we would have amassed, even I shuddered thinking about it. The Empire was going to crumble. And Rhyan was going to be the monster leading the force.
But that plan had died. Thanks to my Godsdamned sister, thanks to Lyr.
Still, we had another way. I had brought Arkturion Kane into our camp. Shiviel. Aemon didn’t want to admit he was pleased, he preferred to blame me for the loss of Rhyan and the shard. But Kane was the real reason I’d had to leave my post. I had come to helphim.A fact I wouldn’t let him forget.
For years Aemon and Kane, the two most violent and powerful Arkturi in the Empire, had been at odds. Always fighting. Always antagonizing each other. It was no wonder he’d been unable to get Kane onto his side.
Me, however? Exploiting his mind was easy. He was weak. Not even in possession of a vorakh. Not since his soul was splintered. Not since Auriel and Asherah had created a secret eighth Guardian. It was the new incarnation that carried Shiviel’s magic, Shiviel’s power. And, Shiviel’s soul-code to access the yellow shard.
Kane on our side was far better than not having him. But Kane on his own was proving to be somewhat useless. Little more than a vicious muscle.
I entered the cave where we were staying, torches lining the walls. My guards stepped into the shadows and Lissa, finally accustomed to their presence, stood just a few feet apart from them.
Aemon stood in the dark, a handful of his guards against the wall opposite me.
Still ruminating over what you’ve done,Aemon thought into my mind.
How can I not? But why do you worry? We’re still stronger. We have two shards.
But so do they, kitten.Aemon walked toward me.
So? What will they do?I thought.They don’t even know how to use their power yet.
Aemon’s nostrils flared.They will. You know that they will soon.
I took his hand.Soon. Not now. They are woefully behind us in strength, in planning, and in support. They are nowhere near our power. Or our purpose.
