She stepped back warily, and he lowered his hand, staring at her with a rueful expression.
“Might I ask who is this lover who owns your affections?”
“No.”
"I have yet to figure out how to deal with your disrespect. Should I admire your directness or take steps to correct your defiance?"
Xian laughed, and ire chased his features. “I urge you to learn to accept it, Prince Baku. There will never be a day I will be subdued before a man for my supposed defiance.”
His lips quirked, and he dipped into a short bow. "Noted. Might I invite you to watch the stars with me, Princess?"
She stared at him, a lump forming in her throat. Gavyn…her heart cried out, not wanting to build a connection with the male before her. A gentle flutter stirred inside her mind, and she eagerly reached for the thread, only to be met with screams and sensations of fire and burning. Gavyn?
No answer came, and the connection slammed shut. She released a shaky breath. A few hours ago, she had slept and dreamed of him…and in her dreams as they frolicked in the underground cave waters, he had been there. Talking with her, making love, laughing, and riding Azriel. It had felt so real.
“I shall watch the stars with you,” she said, walking to stand beside him. “I would also ask of you to release the female Darkan.”
“A million crown is a lot of money.”
“Not for you, Prince Baku. And my dowry is fifty million crowns, a thousand kuns, and a chest of rubies mined deep in the Fyran mountains. I am certain King Ajali informed you of this.”
He touched her elbow, and she shot him a side-eye glanced.
His expression was thoughtful. “Is this important to you, Princess?”
Her heart lurched. “It is.”
“Then I shall release her in the morning as a part of your bridal gift.”
They stared at each other, and the silence deepened her sense of growing unease. “Thank you.”
He nodded, released her hands, and went back to watching the stars. And Xian stood there, finding the silence comfortable, softly breathing through the pain digging into her heart.
This man beside her was her future. Soon they would be married…they would have children, and they would be allies in the war to come. Perhaps one day she might even love him, though she doubted anything could replace Gavyn Westk’arr in her heart and soul.
You are my mate.
She ached, not understanding how they will traverse the delicate web they were caught in, but knowing she would wait for him, always. Until I see you again, Gavyn.
"My marriage to you is the foundation that my ambitions will sprout from. You are beautiful, very sensual and I anticipate the day I will claim your body with mine. The binding oath had already been signed, and the ceremony is a mere formality. I will not allow anyone to take you from me,” the prince said unexpectedly.
“And why do you tell me this?” she asked, keeping her voice bored.
“Because in your sleep, you cry for another.”
Danger tightened in the air and crawled over her skin. “Good night, Prince Baku.” Then she walked back toward the conveyance, aware of his gaze penetrating into her retreating back.
Several hours later, with four days of traveling remaining to cross into the border of Avindar, a shout rose that a force of over six thousand Mevia warriors approached from the southeast. They had continued, anticipating their forces would converge in a few minutes. It seemed the army had used the lands of Avindar to hide their approach, for none of their scouts which had been sent ahead had detected any movements from the Empire, or any other kingdom. They hadn't thought to investigate the nation they approached. Her blades rode in a tight formation behind her, and Azriel flew above her head, a hovering protective force.
“Could it be your father?” Xian asked the prince who rose beside her.
“Or perhaps my brother, the crown prince.”
They drew closer to the approaching force, and dread iced through her veins as the leader became apparent. Grand General Shenzhen rode with lazy grace atop a massive white kun. Xian’s stomach cramped at the wall of warriors behind him, at least ten thousand at a cursory glance, not the reported six. And they had come upon them in the wastelands. A neutral territory where any attacks there would not be considered an offense against a specific kingdom. It was understood lawlessness ruled Taryllion, and each man stood for himself there.
She glanced at Prince Baku, and his shock at seeing the general appeared genuine. His personal blades converged on him, and hers moved closer to her side. The unity was unmistakable, and Grand General Shenzhen’s lips simply curved into an amused smile. They had come for her as was a possibility outlined in her mission brief, but the threat was not from Prince Baku, and this use of force was not expected. After all, they’d only sent two Darkans and a witch for Ajali in the heart of the kingdom.
She lifted her fingers, and two of her blades drifted closer. "Ride to Nuria as fast as you can. You know what to do.”