They walk in the daylight! They maintained a more normal body structure. So forgive me, but your argument on nature is null. If they can walk in the sun, if they can evolve to think and plan, why not this? I don’t care what anyone says. I’ve forbidden my akadim from raping. And that’s final.
He laughed, looking between me and Parthenay.Kitten, you have to know, some parts of nature will never be mutable. And this I fear is sealed in stone. To command otherwise endangers your rule. Something I will not have.
You see,Parthenay thought.Now tell them.Her eyes narrowed on me.Tell them they have free rein, my queen.They’ll serve you better when you admit that they can act as their nature demands.
I caught Lissa’s eye, and then thoughts from the chayatim began to shout again into my mind. Their fear was overwhelming now. And for the first time since I’d taken possession of my shield, of the orange shard, I felt pain in my head. One of my old headaches from mind-reading was returning. Fuck.
They will fight better if they’re allowed … certain freedoms,Aemon thought.A satisfied man always does.His nostrils flared and he looked away, effectively ending the debate between us.
Parthenay looked elated, her face shifted into the sneer she wore so well.
Aemon stepped forward, positioning himself in front of us, his arms raised. “Look at this most brave and worthy soturi. The fiercest in the land. You have been given an honor. You will fight. You will kill. And you will do so for our glory, for all of our glory. When you have done all that is asked of you, then, and only then you will feed. And you will feed well.”
The roars were deafening. I shivered as a chill ran down my spine.Because no one, not even the akadim, had mistaken his meaning.
Aemon, I thought a warning in my tone.
I looked over to find Lissa shaking. The lust and violence coming from my akadim were thick in the air. I’d given my command, but they were ready to burst with Aemon’s proclamation.
“Please,” Lissa pleaded suddenly. “Your Majesty, please let me leave.”
I raised my hand, indicating she should stay. I could only imagine what she had experienced with these monsters before she’d become my maid. But I was not having my lady in-waitingrun off in fear. Not from my own army. I was their Queen. What did that say about me?
“Please,” Lissa whimpered again, bending down to draw herself into a ball. The scent of urine filled the air.
Fuck.
“Fine. Go,” I waved in dismissal, more than aware her scent had carried to the akadim. They wouldn’t mind that she’d wet herself. They were hungry for her in every way possible. And as predators, the fear only made her smell better to them.
I willed her to walk slowly, to walk far, but not run. Partly to maintain decorum. But also, because if she did run, they’d give chase. I had control, I had bound them all to me. But dozens of akadim in a lust-filled feeding frenzy were something else entirely. Queen I might be, Guardian of the orange shard, able to call on a Goddess’s strength and power.
But even I’d have to run if caught up in one of their frenzies.
From the look on Parthenay’s face, she knew exactly what I was thinking, and she was triumphant.
I would not have it.
The akadim began to shout. “Maraak! Maraak!” followed by violent cries of “Feed us! We’re hungry! Starving!”
And finally, one that left me cold. “Give us one. Just one to fuck.” Roars followed that one.
The vorakh were retreating back, heading deeper into the woodlands that surrounded us. Only Andromeny casting a silver binding around them—the kind used to trap soturi in habibellums—kept them from fleeing.
They cried out against the burn of the ring. But Andromeny didn’t care. She was screaming at them now, ordering them to be still, to be silent.
I pushed Parthenay aside, pulled out my stave and conjured a small marble table. I left my shield upon it, a protective domehumming around it, and then I faced my akadim, feeling the brunt of their lust and violence and hunger.
“I know you’re hungry. You will be fed. But we have rules in my court. I gave my command,” I shouted. “To all of you. And you will obey.”
Their growls intensified. And for the first time since I’d collected my army, I could feel their mutiny. Their pushback against their bindings.
You see?Parthenay thought.
In the same moment, Aemon pushed a thought to my mind.Get them under control now!
“I will,” I hissed.
Kitten. They must rape. We’ve already changed them so much. Let it be enough.
