Page 101 of Black Sea

Amlach was forced to yield even further. “And I promise you that I will never dare to attack your kingdom again, nor merely threaten it.” He gazed at my mother and offered an almost charming smile to ease the tension. “I am a young, still inexperienced king, but I am a quick learner.” He nodded firmly at my parents. “You have my word.”

Father exhaled a discouraged breath through his nostrils. “Unfortunately, King Amlach, I’m afraid your word is not enough.”

“Father!” I snapped, offended that he didn’t trust Amlach.

“Sister!” Araton silenced me in Elvish, leaping to his feet.

“Calm yourselves, my children,” Mother commanded, distressed to see us so fierce with one another.

Father paused briefly to let his mate’s warning sink in for Araton and me, then looked at Amlach with seriousness and announced, “This new alliance between elves and men must be formalized through a union.”

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“What?” Araton and I snapped together, him speaking Elvish and me the common tongue, spinning around toward our father.

“Have you totally lost your mind? It’s forbidden!” my brother kept ranting, bewildered, with his eyes almost popping out of their sockets.

Mine, instead, were filled with emotion and disbelief. Did Father intend . . . Did he mean to offer my hand to Amlach? Was that the real message behind his words?

“Araton,” Mother warned him with authority.

My brother looked at her as if she had gone crazy as well. “You’re telling me you approve?”

She shared a serious glance with her mate. “Yes,” she replied, continuing to speak in the common tongue. She gazed at her son with a combination of kindness and resolve. “It’s the right decision. And the druids we spoke to confirmed that the Spirits showed no signs of disagreement.”

I pressed my hand on my upset stomach, feeling increasingly breathless, my heart rioting against my ribs.

“It’s pure madness!” Araton yelled.

“You shall respect your king’s decision, boy,” Father said, each syllable sharp and clear.

“ Boy?” my brother echoed, hurt and offended by being spoken to in such a humiliating manner.

“And you shall do it in silence,” the king added vehemently, leaving no room for further protest.

Araton clammed up, lips curled, chin quivering, and face crumpled by barely restrained rage.

Our father watched him for a long time to ensure he obeyed, then he shifted his attention above my head. On Amlach.

I took an anxious breath as my tear-filled eyes locked with my mother’s. But why was she looking at me with hushed pity?

“My late sister and her mate,” Father said in a lofty voice, “who joined her in Rest shortly after her death at the hands of Mornon the Abomination, belonged to two of the oldest and most valiant noble families of our people. They left four young daughters of rare beauty.”

My blood ran cold.

Father slightly lifted his chin with haughtiness. “I ask you to choose your future bride from among them, King Amlach, during the celebration that the queen and I have decided to hold for the return of my heir.”

Everything around me lost its color.

The song of nature stopped ringing in my ears.

My heart felt as if it had stopped.

Every second stretched endlessly as I stared at my father, feeling as though he had pierced me with his gone spear.

Without even realizing it, I moved my arm back until it pressed against Amlach’s strong thigh, digging my fingers into it.

To assert my claim over him.