by Shania Tyler
21
CHAPTER
TWENTY-ONE
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Don’t do it for me …
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The line to enter Pria was long, but Kelly didn’t mind. She was simply in awe of what she saw. For three weeks, they’d ridden toward Pria, and Kelly had gone mad staring at the endless stretch of darkness. It was only the sounds of other festivity goers and the times she ran into Amity that kept her going. Amity had told her that Ronan held the ability to simply zap them anywhere, but they were traveling with a man Ronan was hoping to do business with, so Amity was along for the long ride.
Still, Kelly had wanted nothing more than to simply reach the city and go to sleep in a bed for a long, long time. She’d even mentioned to Theo, only once, that they should have simply taken horses and ridden as fast as they could. Theo had told her there would be benefits to the carriage, but Kelly had equated that to Theo simply being an aristocrat. All she’d wanted to do was get to Pria and be done with it . . . But the moment she’d laid eyes on the city, her excitement had returned and they hadn’t even made it inside yet.
Pria was surrounded by a large sandstone wall with beautiful carvings itched deep inside it. There were four on each side of the tall entrance, and Theo had explained that the carvings were all the symbols of every house’s gift and she recognized Theo’s immediately, the hands with the road in between.
Some were easy to guess. The dragon was obvious. The one with a half sun was Mason’s. The House of Jinn was a tree, half healthy and half withering . . .
Her eyes caught one of a large man holding a small person in his palm. “What’s that?” she asked as their carriage moved an inch or so forward. Around them, everyone was talking and laughing while the music from inside drifted in the air, announcing Pria as the capital that it was. Horns were blown and a drumming beat seemed to welcome the people who had traveled from all over the world for the festival.
Theo looked to where she pointed and said, “The sign of the giants.”
Kelly felt as though she were entering Disneyland or something, but it only took her a glance in a slaves’ direction for her excitement to cool considerably. She had to stay focused and remember her mission. She was going to help set these people free. It was her destiny.
Inside these walls, she would find her past. She looked around at some of the others walking or riding. Some were on horses like Noel, but there were other carriages just as richly decked out as Theo’s.
“Where are we staying?” she asked.
“At my family house. With this being the capital, each family has a townhouse for when their presence is needed.”
“Will your aunt be there?”
Theo’s dark eyes slid over to her. “Yes, she will be, but you have no need to worry about her. Noel will keep watch over you and has sworn to sleep with her if he must.”
For Noel’s sake, Kelly hoped it didn’t come to that. It was only the buzz of Mason’s nearby presence that kept her from worrying. He’d protect her.
A group of men on horseback traveled down the side of the long line were the only ones heading away from the city. The one in the first spotted Theo’s carriage and looked it over before dressing the driver. “You carry Theo of the House of Heron?”
“I do,” their driver replied.
“Well, don’t have him wait in line. Follow us.”
The carriage broke from the line and traveled the other path that was empty and obviously reserved for VIPs.
Theo grinned. “There are benefits to the carriage.”
Kelly smiled.
The inside of the city was gorgeous with more buildings created from the beautiful sandstone with columns, balconies, and artfully done carvings around doorways and windows. At the entrance, the roads branched out into three directions, and Theo’s carriage went right down the main road toward the city center.
As the welcome music faded behind them, another band played in the distance. The atmosphere was just as lively and there were shouts of surprise and fascination that only made Kelly more eager to see it all.
She looked into the front windows of the buildings they passed, reading all the signs. There were many government buildings for the registration of people and tax collectors, but there were also businesses that sold desserts and sweets. She saw people sitting at small tables talking and laughing while others were walking the tight sidewalk.
They finally reached the center of the city and Kelly watched as a bright, blue bird flew by her window and into the sky, accompanied by other glowing birds in an array of colors. They danced in time with the music and Kelly, like the people around her, couldn’t help but gasp.
“Blazen birds,” Theo told her. “Someone managed to steal a few from the gods and breed them.”
The sound of a roaring fire made her move to the other window and she saw a man, dressed up like a dragon, blowing fire from a torch into the air.
“Will the dragons come?”
“No,” Theo quickly said. “They are from the Eastern Lands and hate Isabel.”
“She’s the ruler, right?”
“She thinks so. But never speak ill of the government while you are here,” he warned. “If you are caught, there will be nothing I can do to stop your flogging.”
Flogging?
Kelly leaned away from the window.
They circled the city center and then began to travel down a quieter road, and Kelly couldn’t resist looking out the window again.
High on a hill, she saw a temple with columns and knew it to be the Temple of Jinn. It looked familiar to Kelly, but she had no clue where, or when, she would have seen it.
They turned down yet another road. and Kelly watched as they passed houses and the homes grew larger the farther they traveled.
When they reached the end of the road ten minutes later, she was not surprised at all that they’d stopped at the biggest house on the block. Actually, the mansion took up the entire cul-de-sac, curving majestically.
Lights were on in all the windows and there was muffled noise heard from the street.
Theo sighed. “The family is throwing a party.”
“Will I have to meet anyone?”
“No.” Theo shook his head.
Their driver came around and opened the door and Theo passed her off to Noel before starting toward the door.
Kelly was slightly upset that Theo hadn’t said goodbye or left her with much instruction outside of how avoid getting flogged, but she’d seen the dark look on his face when he’d said his family was throwing a party. He didn’t want to be there. “Why stay here if he doesn’t want to?”
“Appearance,” Noel told her as they walked through a side door into the house. “Everything is for appearance.”
Inside the small section on the outer wing of the house, the room felt cool. The floors were a light-pink marble.
Noel led her up a short flight of stairs. “Remember, tell no one who you are married to and trust no one.”
Kelly frowned. “I didn’t know I’d be meeting people.”
Noel stopped moving and turned to her. “They didn’t tell you where you’d be staying?”
Kelly shook her head.
Noel rolled his eyes and started up the stairs again. “You’re staying with the other Youkas.”
“Like a dormitory?”
“No, like a harem.”
“What?”
There was only one door upstairs.
Noel said, “Remember what I said. You’ll be safe here. It’s only women in this room and they are all elves, like you. Just don’t give them too many details and tell no one about your powers . . . or the Rebellion . . . or your husband . . .”
“Got it,” Kelly said.
He opened the door and she walked into a room to find . . .a harem.
The lights were low and there were dozens of pillows thrown everywhere.
Femal
e servants with trays full of dishes stood around the wall and in the middle of it all were a large group of women who seemed to be all gossiping and laughing. And they were all beautiful. Very beautiful.
One woman with long, blonde hair and brown eyes was lounging when she looked over toward Kelly and then to Noel and grinned. “Oh, it’s Noel!”
“Noel . . .” the entire room sighed in that dreamy way one would say Johnny Depp, or Prince Harry, or. . . Chris Hemsworth, because who would resist Thor?
Noel threw them a smirk and a wink. “Ladies.”
The blonde flipped her hair over her shoulders and said, “Come play with us, Noel.”
The room chimed their agreement.
“Not tonight,” Noel said and then pushed Kelly into the room. “Be nice to this one, girls.”
“Who does she belong to?” one of them asked.
“Theo.”
Noel closed the door at the sound of everyone’s surprise.
“Come,” the blonde said, holding out her hand to Kelly.
Kelly walked toward them and stepped up on the platform that took up the middle of the room. She took the blonde’s hand as she knelt on a red silk pillow with gold threading.
“Oh,” the blonde said. “You have strong magic.”
“Only the best for Theo,” another woman said.
“I suppose . . . I’m Zala,” she said as she leaned back on a blue pillow. Her long lashes made her an instant seductress. “What’s your name?”
“Kelly.”
“Welcome, Kelly. You must be new.”
Kelly stilled. “Why do you say that?”
“Because,” a woman with dark hair and dark eyes said, “It has been a long time since Theo has taken a Youka. Centuries, even.” The woman’s dark eyes raked over Kelly. “Tell us your secret.”
Women of all shades, shapes, and sizes stared at Kelly with deep interest.
Kelly shrugged. “I don’t have one.”
Everyone whined in protest.
Zala said, “She doesn’t wish to share her secret and I don’t blame her. I’ve been trying to get into Theo’s bed for years!” Then she stuck a pillow between her legs and groaned. “Theo and all those diamonds.”
“Look at her collar,” someone else said. “It’s studded with them.”
Kelly reached to touch the metal, but then stopped, not wanting to move it from its place and risk them seeing that she had no burn marks underneath.
“Zala, stop it,” the one with red hair said as she smacked her playfully with a small pillow.
“You know you want him, too, Gwen.” Zala flipped onto all fours and began to crawl like a large cat over to Gwen. “Not only is he the most handsome man in his family, but he controls all those glorious diamonds.”
Gwen laughed. “And what would you do with all those diamonds?”
Zala flipped onto to her back and propped her head on Gwen’s lap. “Let me tell you what I’d do with all that man.”
The room erupted into laughter and Zala proceed to use a piece of fruit, a purple colored banana, to demonstrate what she’d do. The other women joined in, saying they’d allow Theo to do anything he wanted, diamonds or not.
Kelly’s face was hot and Zala stopped her play to stare. “Oh, have we embarrassed you?”
“That must be her secret,” Gwen said, whispering loudly into Zala’s ear. “She plays the part of an untouched woman.”
A light went off in Zala’s eyes. “That must be it.” She sprang to her knees, staring at Kelly, cheekily. “Oh, you’re better than the rest of us. Look how your cheeks redden. I could never pull that off. It must be your trick. I love it!” Then she threw her hands to her chest and said, “Oh, Theo, you’re so strong. Won’t you help me?”
“Why yes, my lady,” Gwen said, deepening her voice, portraying Theo. “But what will you do for me?”
Zala sprung to her feet. “Nothing!”
Gwen got up. “We will see about that.”
A chase quickly commenced and soon everyone was playing a frightened virginal Kelly while Gwen played the big bad wolf, Theo.
The only one who didn’t move—and the one Kelly recognized was actually the one in charge of the room—was the woman with the dark hair and eyes who had first asked Kelly her secret.
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22
CHAPTER
TWENTY-TWO
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“I’m not leaving you here.”
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“Come here,” the woman with the dark hair held out a manicured hand toward Kelly.
Kelly let two girls run squealing past her before crawling toward a woman who sat posed against highly stacked pillows.
“I’m Otha,” she told Kelly once she was stilled. Then she threw her brows up and said, “My, you really are strong.”
Kelly took a breath. Otha was a strong elf as well, though Kelly could feel her magic wavering in and out, probably because of the silver choker around her neck. She had so many questions she wanted to ask this woman before her, but decided against it. Asking question would only lead to Otha asking questions, and Kelly wasn’t allowed to talk about her life.
Otha leaned forward and asked, “What house are you?”
Kelly bit her lip.
Otha grinned. “They told you to keep it secret, did they not?”
Kelly only looked away.
Otha sighed and leaned away. “Well, I’m of the House of Chakra.”
Kelly had read about Chakra. She was the fertility goddess from Hatash, which was a divided city in the Eastern Lands.
“I was abducted from my home during one of the Evaness’s diplomatic meetings,” Otha continued. “Though there is nothing diplomatic about the vampires. I wait for the day the sun rises and vanquishes them all.”
Kelly’s was amazed that Otha would say something like that out loud.
Otha laughed at her expression. “I say what mean. Always.” Then she leaned toward Kelly and said, “The rest of the girls are not like us. They are powerless with or without the silver that binds them. But, I envy you. I, too, wanted Theo to choose me, but he is a very private man and doesn’t trust me.”
Kelly looked into Otha’s dark eyes, saw the hardness and calculation in them, and wondered if the woman was trustworthy at all. She wondered who Otha would have been had she not been abducted. Did she have a family back in her homelands?
“You don’t play innocent, do you?” Otha whispered, looking deep into her eyes. “This is actually who you are. Sweet and kind.” Otha gave her a soft smile. “I envy your innocence as well.”
Kelly didn’t know what to say and was glad when a servant came over to offer them drinks. It would give her something to do with her mouth since she couldn’t speak. She reached for a cup and Otha slapped her hand down.
To the servant, Otha said, “Thank you, but we are fine.”
The servant left.
Kelly was about to speak to Otha when the older elf cut her off. “Are you mad? You can’t drink or eat anything they serve in here. It’s all laced with silver.”
Kelly’s eyes widened. “They lace our food with silver?”
“I know,” Otha continued. “You’d think they would at least spare the Youkas of the poison, but they treat us just as horribly as the rest of the world. But I can feel your power, so I can only assume that Theo watches your diet very closely.” Otha smiled. “I hadn’t even known Theo knew about the food of the realm being laced. I thought the council kept that information close to heart. But, Theo is wealthy and was raised by Barna as if he were her own. I’m owned by Barna’s son Ben, and he’s told me to only eat from his hand. Did Theo not tell you the same?”
Kelly’s head was spinning, but she managed to let out a shaky, “Yes, but I . . . forgot.”
Otha sneered. “Well, don’t forget again or you’ll be just as weak as the rest of them,” she said, motioning toward the women who were runn
ing around. She frowned. “A pity that the government keeps even their own vampires weak. By having control over the food, all the elves eat the silver and it is then transferred to the vampires through their blood drinking. Just another way to control everyone.
Kelly looked away so Otha wouldn’t see her freaking out. This was the reason the government gave the people the food for free. They were keeping everyone weak, including their own people. She wondered if the food was different for the Evaness army and decided it probably was probably so. The Scourge, which was only made up of three people, had almost annihilated Morwen’s entire army.
And Mason had mentioned the race growing weaker by the decade and how they’d found some strength in the diamonds they wore. It was probably because the diamonds were so deep under the surface that it was impossible for the Evaness to tamper with them. They were still as pure as Asea had made them.
She had to tell Theo.
Morwen needed to change its food supply.
The door opened and a man with a deep scowl strolled in. He was barely steady on his feet as he looked around the room.
Kelly backed farther into her pillows.
Otha touched her and said, “Don’t worry. It’s only Ben.” Then she rose and called in a sultry voice, “Looking for me?”
Ben’s dark eyes turned to Otha and he grinned before stumbling in her direction.
The other girls, who’d paused upon his entrance, went back to their fun and games.
He placed his hands on her arms. “Otha, come with me.”
“Wherever you wish.”
He kissed her cheeks and then frowned and sniffed her. “You smell different.” Then he sniffed the air around her until his eyes landed on Kelly.
Kelly grabbed onto the pillows underneath her.
Ben’s dark eyes stayed steady on her. “Who is that?”
Otha looked behind her, gazed over Kelly, and said, “She belongs to Theo.”