Page 36 of Her Ivory Flame

“I’m sorry my lady, but I’m afraid the king would like a word with you urgently. He’s in the throne room.” Raine’s voice was shaking and it made her wonder what she was about to walk into.

She groaned and ran her hands over her face before looking up at Kaden next to her.

“Guess we better go,” she growled and started back out the door.

Kaden followed in step behind her and she glared down the hall with every step. This better be something actually urgent and not a stupid political agenda.

She pushed the heavy door open a few minutes later and she stormed across the room, her eyes watching Emris closely. He rose from his throne and splayed his wings out to show his authority to those around him.

Logan was there taking notes, Declan and Silas next to him and a few other castle guards she didn’t know.

“Alyra,” Emris said in a smug tone.

“I am not your pet to be summoned wherever you wish,” she barked and stopped a few feet from him crossing her arms. Kaden halted beside her and she could feel him tense for an unknown reason.

“Yet here you are.” He smirked and she furrowed her brow towards him.

“What do you want?” she asked.

“Before the final battle, you were engaged to Declan, correct?”

She nodded knowing he already knew the answer.

“I think in the interest of making a statement of unity, we should continue with that arrangement.” Emris’s voice was more of acommand than a suggestion and she could feel the fury swell in her blood.

“No.” she snapped harshly.

She could see Silas flinch out of the corner of her eye but he kept her gaze on Emris, who instantly morphed his face into anger.

“It would show your loyalty to us,” Emris added.

“I don’t care.” she snarled. “You will not tell me who I am going to marry, you are not my king and I refuse to be a pawn in your political agenda.”

Declan stepped forward, and she shot a death glare at him.

“The king makes a good point,” Declan said while halting next to Emris. “It would give our people hope and confidence that you are fighting with us.”

“Your people are not mine.” Her hands falling to her side with clenched fists. “My people were murdered, slaughtered because someone in this kingdom told Mavros of our plan. It is not my problem if your people don’t have confidence in their incompetent king.”

Emris raised his hand in an attempt to strike her, but she was quicker and threw her little bit of magic she had been nurturing at him right at his chest. White flames burst from her palm and sent him flying backwards into his chair a few feet away, his wings crashing against the back of it.

“Alyra!” Declan scolded her and ran to Emris who was rising to his feet.

“We are done here,” she snarled and turned to walk out of the throne room.

“Grab her!” Emris yelled from behind and the guards started to move closer to her.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” Kaden’s voice boomed through the room and everyone paused, her eyes glancing from him to Emris.

“Careful what you say Kaden, you are very close to committing treason.” Emris snapped.

“Respectfully my king, you need all the soldiers you can get, don’t waste their deaths because you picked a fight with the most powerful warrior known.” Kaden said calmly.

“My king,” Silas finally spoke. “She will fight back and your guards will die. Let her get back to training and she will surely fight for you.”

She kept her eyes on the king but stayed aware of the guards that stopped a few feet from her.

“If you think I would ever support a male who carved me up for months on a stone slab, then you are delusional. I will fight for you, but I will not marry a male I do not love to prove it to you.” She kept her voice even though she felt furious enough to rip his head off.