Court's Fool (The Aermian Feuds Book 6)

by Frost Kay

  Chills plagued Sage, and she moved closer to the heat. Exhaustion crashed down on her as the fire warmed her. She needed to figure out how to get out, but her mind was muddled. The bed hovered on the edge of her vision, like a siren call, but she ignored it. There was nothing that would entice her to sleep on the mattress. While she believed the warlord wouldn’t outright violate her, a lot had changed since she’d been in Scythia. It wasn’t worth the risk.

  With a curse, she yanked a pillow and blanket from the perfectly made bed and curled up between the woodstove and battered wooden desk on the floor. Plopping the pillow over her lap, she leaned her head against the tent post and closed her eyes.

  Just a little sleep.

  Her eyes sprang open at the sound of movement. Her tension drained away when Nege peeked his head around the desk and crept toward her.. He bumped her left shoulder with his nose and released a chest-rattling purr.

  “Hello,” she whispered, running her fingers between his ears.

  The feline maneuvered himself and plopped down, curling around her like a half moon, becoming a wall of man-eater between herself and the warlord whenever he decided to sneak up on her.

  Sage stroked Nege’s silky coat and spine. Her heart clenched at the scars her fingers passed over. Even with the abuse he’d suffered, Nege still offered her protection and comfort. Gratitude flooded her.

  “Thank you.”

  He rumbled softly and laid his head on his paw, his golden eyes closing. She may not be able to hear the warlord coming, but Nege would warn her of the demon’s arrival.

  Sage closed her eyes. Just a little sleep, and then she would figure out where to go from there.

  The rattling of glass yanked her out of her deep sleep. Sage’s eyes flew open, and she peered through the fringe of hair that had fallen into her face. The warlord muttered something unintelligible. His hair was in disarray, like he’d been running his fingers through it. The bloody shirt had been replaced with a black one that was open at the throat, revealing burnished skin and a leather necklace that disappeared under his clothing. Sage focused on the little crease between his brows. Was something wrong?

  Again, he mumbled something to himself, and then pulled a small leather book from inside his shirt. He sat heavily in his chair and leaned over his desk, scratching something into it with a feathered pen. Her curiosity deepened when he removed the necklace from his neck, and she saw a key attached to its end. The warlord opened the bottom desk drawer.

  Interesting. He kept the key on his body. What was so special he kept locked away?

  The warlord drew out a golden tincture and tossed its contents back, his profile only visible. His face slackened and his eyes closed. Sage shifted uncomfortably with the debauched image he portrayed. He seemed too comfortable.

  “Spying on me is never a good idea,” he mumbled, licking his lips as he opened his eyes. He shot a glance over his shoulder at her.

  Sage abandoned her pretense of sleeping, and watched him as he put the empty glass back into the drawer. Carefully, he shut it, locked it, and put the necklace over his head, once again hiding the key.

  “What was that?” she asked softly.

  Silence met her question.

  The fire crackled in the brazier, and he scratched something down in his little book before closing it and tucking it inside his shirt.

  The warlord swiveled to face her and braced his elbows on his knees. He set his chin on his left palm and watched her, rubbing his fingers across his mouth as if deep in thought. “Something for healing.”

  Her brows rose in surprise. She hadn’t expected him to answer her question. His gaze roved to the bed and back to her.

  “You know that the bed is for you? I had it made for you.”

  She shook her head, uncomfortable. There was no way she was getting in that bed.

  He nodded absentmindedly and then stood. Her whole body went on alert. Would he force her? Before she could do anything, he plopped down on the other side of the tent support, Nege’s bottom separating them. The warlord propped his left foot against the floor and sighed. Her tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth. In that moment, he looked like a lounging dark god.

  Sage twitched and hated that she allowed herself to think such a thing. He rolled his head to the side and looked at her with a tired gaze. It hadn’t been noticeable before, but dark smudges shadowed the skin beneath his eyes and faint lines bracketed his mouth. He’d lost weight. He looked sick.

  A fissure of hope burst in her chest. Was the poison working?

  He huffed and then tipped his head back once again to stare at the low burning lanterns above. “You understand that hurts me, too, when I have to punish you?” His voice was soft and almost apologetic.

  “How?” she asked.

  “I don’t like seeing you in pain.”

  She swallowed hard and had to look away. It was bloody unfair that he looked boyish, sad, and vulnerable. The warlord was none of those things. He was a killer. He’d hurt her in more ways than she could count. She needed to keep that in mind. The pretty shell wasn’t distracting enough to make her forget about the ugliness it concealed.

  Sage settled with, “I don’t know what you want me to say. Is it forgiveness you seek?”

  “I don’t want your forgiveness. I want your acceptance.”

  She jerked. “My acceptance? How can I accept a monster?”

  “A beauty and a monster. Poetic, wouldn’t you say?”

  A moment of silence lapsed between them before he turned to fully face her. Sage still avoided his gaze and stared at the desk, her hand absentmindedly running across Nege’s back.

  “I want peace,” he said finally.

  “Peace?” she questioned. “How could there ever be peace between us?”

  “I could give you anything and everything. The world would be yours.”

  “Mine,” she mumbled. “Do you really believe that?”

  “Scythia has many gifts to give. We can change the world for the better.”

  “If you truly believed that, you would’ve already helped make positive changes. Yet, all you have done is cause misery and pain. You have hurt people. You have hurt me.” The words tasted like ash on her tongue, but she said them anyway.

  “Pain is a part of life.” He sighed. “But I am sorry for the pain you’ve suffered.”

  Everything in his tone suggested he was sincere, but Sage didn’t believe him for one second. Intrigued with the line of conversation, she carried on. “How can you do it?”

  He examined his hands, uncharacteristically quiet. “Because I must.”

  “That’s not an answer.”

  “You’re young, wild one. You were blessed with a good family. I was raised by monsters. You call me a monster? It is an apt description since that’s who created me. I have the power to eradicate people like that from the start. Could you imagine a world with perfect families? Children who never suffered abuse?”

  Sage swallowed, feeling sick to her stomach. “And the children of the northern Aermian village?” The horrors of that place would haunt her until her last day.

  “Those women and children would’ve died a long, painful death. I gave them a clean death. I gave them peace.”

  Not able to hear another word of his lies, Sage shot to her feet, startling Nege. She stepped over the disgruntled feline and spun to face the master manipulator.

  “A clean death?” she hissed. “They suffocated.”

  The warlord slowly rose from his position on the floor, his boyish impression sloughing off as the predator took its place. This was the monster she knew. She could fight him.

  “The village was deep into poverty. They were all starving to death. The children were undersized and the men weak. Even if I had given them any of my tinctures, it was too late for them. What was your king doing for them? His people are dying. How could I leave that village, those babes, to perish in such a barbaric way? I may be a monster, but I don’t lie about what I am. I spared
them pain.”

  Like a child, Sage wanted to put her hands over her ears to block out his web of lies. It was just deranged enough that he could delude her into believing his muddled logic.

  “Do you even hear yourself, Zane?” The use of his real name startled her so much that she stumbled back a step.

  Don’t you dare go there, Sage. Don’t let him reel you in.

  The warlord moved around the leren and ran his finger along the corner of his desk, before leaning a hip against the old piece of furniture. “You know, I never wanted someone like you.”

  “Then why do you keep coming after me?” she cried desperately. “Just let me go!”

  “I cannot.” He shrugged a shoulder and gave her a wry smile. “They demand we keep you, and I have become attached to you.”

  ”They?” Who was he speaking about?

  “Things will get better,” he said, ignoring her question.

  “They will.” When he is dead.

  “Why do I get the feeling there was more to that thought?” She didn’t answer. The warlord smiled and shook his head. “The pain of the past will fade.”

  “I don’t think it’ll be so easy,” she retorted.

  “You will be surprised how time passes. It’ll be easier than you think to accept your fate. Our future is bright, consort, which is why I am going to share a secret with you. Today was not easy on either of us. I’m not completely cold, and I know how important family is, which is why I have a gift for you.” He straightened and held his hand out. “Come with me.”

  Inside, she’d frozen over. Family? “What have you done?”

  “It’s what I haven’t done. Take my hand, consort.”

  Sage didn’t believe she had a choice, so she placed her fingers in his and let him lead her away.

  Forty-Four

  Sage

  Trepidation filled her as they trekked farther from their tent. Sage’s lip curled. From the tent. The horrors of the day and using his given name had thrown her for a loop. Snow crunched under her boots, and the bitter chill of winter bit at her cheeks. She glanced around the moonlit darkness, trying to take in as much of the camp as she could.

  The warlord squeezed her fingers and tugged gently on her arm. Disgust wormed its way into her belly as she stared at their clasped hands. Why was she doing this? Every time she gave in, things became more muddled. His rough callouses rubbed against her own. She couldn’t stand it anymore. Sage tugged her hand from his, avoiding his gaze as he scrutinized her despite the darkness cloaking them.

  Her teeth ground together as his attention lingered on her face, his black gaze seeming to note every micro expression that she tried to hide. They continued their quiet trek, Sage following the warlord. Some might have mistaken her for being meek as she held her head down and stayed close to his side, but really, she was cataloguing information. Escape was imminent, and, when she left, she’d take a wealth of information back to her people.

  Disquiet settled over her when they moved into the forest. Her skin crawled, and the back of her neck prickled. She was being watched. Her anxiety went up a notch when they rounded a thick tree trunk and a lone tent came into view. What was it doing out here?

  The warlord didn’t acknowledge the two warriors stationed outside the tent they approached. He paused and pushed back the first tent flap for her. Sage squared her shoulders and didn’t hesitate as she strode inside, not knowing what to expect.

  The room was similar to the warlord’s. There were a few chairs scattered around, a thick rug across the floor, and two lanterns hanging from the ceiling. Nothing special. Her attention zeroed in on the additional warriors hovering near the next flap.

  Her stomach dropped. Why was there another set of warriors when there was a pair stationed outside?

  The warriors straightened and bowed. The one to the right lifted the second tent flap at their approach, revealing only part of the inner room. Her pulse began to hammer in her neck. What was he hiding?

  The warlord leaned close. “You first, wild one.”

  Sage forced her legs forward and she ducked into the next room of the tent. Her breath caught. To the right, two tables held an assortment of sharp, deadly-looking tools and weapons, but that didn’t shock her the most. She blinked several times, not believing her eyes. “I’m dreaming.”

  “You’re not,” the warlord murmured.

  In the far left corner were two huge stakes buried in the ground. Chains hung from the tops of them and attached to the wrists of a crumpled figure on the ground.

  Lilja.

  Sage rushed forward and crashed to her knees beside her aunt. She fluttered her hands over Lilja’s bruised body. “Lilja?” she whispered hoarsely.

  Her aunt didn’t open her eyes.

  She placed her fingers on Lilja’s neck and leaned closer, listening for breaths as she tried to detect a pulse. Her aunt wheezed softly.

  Lilja was alive.

  Tears blurred Sage’s eyes, and she shuddered with soft sobs. “How is this possible?”

  The fall of his boots alerted her to his approach. The warlord stood by her side, placing a hand on her shoulder. “I know how important family is to you. I didn’t want you to lose her, so I kept your aunt safe for you.”

  “Safe?” Emotion clogged in Sage’s throat. Lilja was a bloody mess, but she was alive. Sage didn’t know how to work through her thoughts and emotions. Part of her was so thankful that her aunt lived, but the other part was horrified. The bruises and cuts across her aunt’s body couldn’t have been from when Sage saw her last. They were fresh. She’d been beaten and tortured.

  Sage brushed a limp lock of silver hair from Lilja’s bruised cheek, her fingers ghosting over the damaged skin. What sort of horrors had her aunt suffered?

  Losing Lilja had broken Sage’s heart, but there was peace in death. She could make peace with it, because she knew her aunt wasn’t suffering, but the idea that she’d been at the mercy of the warlord and his men for over a month was too much.

  Sage put a hand over her mouth, feeling like she’d throw up. This was worse than death. How was she supposed to get them both out? Especially with the condition her aunt was in?

  “She needs medicine,” Sage croaked.

  “The Sirenidae will get what she needs now that you are here. You will be her savior. Her life rests in your hands.”

  To someone else, his words might have sounded reassuring and pretty.

  All she could hear was the threat: if she learned her place, Lilja would be safe. If Sage acted out, her aunt would be harmed.

  “She’s been a thorn in my side. Sedating her has been the only option several times. I’m sure since you’re here, she’ll be better behaved as well.”

  Sage closed her eyes. Lilja wouldn’t want Sage hurt, and Sage didn’t want her aunt assaulted. The warlord had played them both.

  Sage chuckled, the sound rusty and dark. When would his depravity and cunning manner cease to amaze her? He would go to any lengths to control and manipulate those around him. How was he always one step ahead?

  “I have to give it to you. You surprised me.” Her words were hollow.

  Her monster reached for her hand and pulled her to her feet. “It’s late. Time to go.”

  Sage shook her head. “I don’t want to leave her.”

  “I can understand your reluctance, but today has been trying for both of us. There are things we need to discuss.” He reached out and traced her cheekbone, liquid heat filling his gaze. “Come along, wild one.”

  She froze. She knew what that look spelled.

  Her head spun as she tried to see a way out of the situation. It wouldn’t do anyone any good if she fought right now. It was about picking her battles.

  Sage nodded, kissed her aunt on the cheek, stood, and strode out of the tent.

  I’ll be back. I promise.

  Angrily, she wiped the remaining tears from her cheeks. The warlord’s hand curled around her bicep, stopping her.

  He stepp
ed close. “Consort,” he crooned. “It’s time. We’ve patiently waited long enough.”

  We?

  Sage’s jaw set, and she glanced away, staring at the darkened forest, her breath frosting the air. “You wish to speak of sex after I lost my friend today and you exposed me to my abused aunt? I will not give you one more thing.”

  His finger crept under her chin and forced her to look up at him. “Not sex, but love.” He smiled, his expression soft like a lover’s. “It’s been a long time coming, and we shouldn’t wait any longer. Time is so short.”

  “Short for what?” she asked. “I thought you said we had all the time in the world?”

  His smile turned smug. “I wish to go into battle tomorrow with the taste of you on my tongue. It will make Scythia’s victory all the sweeter.”

  Victory? Her body flashed hot and cold. “What are you planning?”

  “It matters not.” He pressed into her space, his breath heating her lips. “I don’t wish to be apart from you any longer.”

  An eternity seemed to pass as she stared up at her monster. He truly believed that she would give herself to him. Tehl’s face flashed through her mind. There was only one person who got to see that side of her, and it wasn’t the demon before her.

  Deep satisfaction rolled through her, and a smile lifted her lips as vile, ugly words rose to her tongue. Sage released the full force of her utter disgust, loathing, and hatred. “You will never have that part of me,” she said resolutely.

  He cocked his head, a small indulgent smile on his face like he was amused by her outburst.

  “You kissed me in Scythia and in the Nagali palace,” he murmured, his voice dripping sin. “I didn’t imagine the affection you held for me, nor the way your body curved against mine any time we were in bed. Let go of what holds you back. Your body already belongs to me. Give me your heart, too.”

  Sage laughed without humor. “You think you can take everything around you? You presume that you are the lord of all, but you are not.”

  Some of his smugness leached away. His fingers tightened on her chin. “I can take whatever I want, and I know you’ll give in. You’re young, and I’ve practiced seduction for longer than you can imagine. Admit it. You’re mine.”