He tilted his head to the sky, unfathomably at a loss what to do with his all too fragile mate. A large gheelle, with iridescent green wings, flew overhead, echoing a fierce cry through the valley as it hunted.
“I’ve learned much in the Empire. The Emperor had the lexicon of our beasts’ origins and the various powers they manifested. Someone took it from our archives and handed it to him. For a brief time, I was locked in the dungeon, and three of our people were also there. They were young Darkans unable to fight against someone as ruthless and powerful as the emperor and his army. He has tortured our people without fear of reprisal. He is hiding his vile actions behind your vision of not starting your reign with slaughter and war.”
“The Kingmaker has promised our kingdom my assassination is inevitable, and he has someone waiting to replace me. I will not anticipate the coming of the kingmaker. I will hunt him,” Gidon murmured, savagery flowering through his chakra.
Lachlan lowered his eyes to Gidon. The Kingmaker was a legend within the seven kingdoms, his identity a mystery, with no recorded pictures of him in their vast archives, yet his existence was undisputed. Whenever he stirred, the terror and bloodshed that generally bathe kingdoms were unmatched. He was lauded in all Amagarie, and it was rumored that the revolution that had nearly decimated Caelum—the kingdom of water—centuries ago, was because the kingmaker had helped Farron Irsa become king.
“Is this possible?” Lachlan demanded.
“Our friend has not been idle while you’ve been on your mission,” Drac said, the monster in him humming to life. “It is rumored the kingmaker has a secret, one he would burn all the realms to protect for if this secret were uncovered, it would be the key to bring him to heel.”
He could feel the dark hunger stirred through Gidon at the thrill of hunting something as dangerous as the kingmaker.
“What is it?”
Gidon’s lips curved. “A daughter.” His voice was a rumble of power and something shockingly carnal and predatory. “The rumor my Tensuri has uncovered is that the kingmaker has a daughter whom he values more than anything else. Her name is Sabine.”
And if the King’s Tensuri had unearthed it, the information was untainted, his team of six were the most merciless female warriors of their realm, their loyalty absolute, their life force bonded to him in eternal servitude. A choice they willingly entered, but whatever fate befell their king, they would also partake. Even now they were in the shadows, a protective force the enemy would have to reckon with if his Archdukes should fall in the bid to unearth him from his throne.
A burst of wind vibrated on the air, and Princess Saieke ap
peared on the high balcony. She rushed toward Lachlan and gripped his hands. Her eyes, the bluest he’d ever seen filled with tears, but her lips laughed, the sound enchanting with its happiness.
The menacing shadow in the corner smiled as he absorbed his woman’s happiness. With her gentle femininity and iron-strong will, Princess Saieke was the perfect mate for the ruthless Drac El Kyn. “I cannot repay the service you have done me today Lachlan. My mind has finally eased that my Queen’s Blades have been found alive. I’ve administered the healing elixir, and they are well. Kamu and Thyon will return to Boreas and their families soon, and it is because of you.”
“It was my honor to liberate them for you, I trust you will now stop your moping.”
Grinning she pulled him into a fierce hug, evidently choosing not to comment on his altered appearance. Possibly a difficult thing for her to do. When he’d just met the princess one of the things he’d admired was her fierce inquisitive nature and kindness.
Something stirred in his mind. “There is a woman in your arms, Lachlan Ravenswood.”
He stilled at the possessive bite in his mate’s voice. Then he smiled, and his mate’s rueful laughter brushed against their thread with intimate softness.
Princess Saieke sent him a curious frown before flashing with a burst of speed into the haven of her mate’s arms. Drac cupped her cheeks and kissed her with unabashed hunger, uncaring of their audience. With a breathless laugh, she pulled away, curving more into his side, and faced them. “Princess Kala allowed me into her chamber. We spoke for a few minutes, and she is wonderful. I declare we shall be great friends. I believe she was relieved a non Darkan lived at the castle. She asked of her sister?” Saieke said with a pointed stare at Lachlan.
Everyone shifted their regards to him and waited.
Before he could proffer a reply, the walls of the castle shook as a piercing sound trumpeted over the hills from a great distance. In unison, it appeared as if all the winged creatures of the surrounding jungles took flight, reacting to the sonic waves booming across the sky in a shocking show of power, the message heralding the sound waves no one had anticipated. At least not for months, or possibly years to come.
Princess Saieke glanced at her mate, horror dawning on her face. “Is that what I think it is?” she murmured, swaying slightly.
Drac hugged her tighter, pulling her into the protective cage of his arms.
The sound came again, a trumpet blast that echoed in the air for unending minutes, rolling over the seven kingdoms. It was the promise of slaughter and mayhem. A death knell for the weaker nations. A sound of retribution to those who had wronged its greatness.
The Empire of Mevia had declared war.
13
Eyes the color of liquid mercury swirled with rage and power as Gidon overlooked the wild darkness of the land. “Something has pushed Emperor Khan to declare war before any nation anticipated. There has been no indication he would be moved to this. What has changed?”
“I must return to Boreas immediately,” Princess Saieke said, pushing back her mass of red hair from her face with trembling hands. “The last Great War almost decimated my kingdom. They…we are not prepared for another war so soon.”
Her whisper was dread-filled and echoed with fury.
“The kingdom of winds and mountains has an alliance with The Darkage, princess,” Gidon said. “Your people will not suffer the same fate.”
Denial and pain suffused her beautiful features. “But they will suffer. Thousands will suffer and die. The seven kingdoms have been at peace for years. Why is he doing this?”