“As you say, Nikolina,” he said, kissing her cheek.
When the door closed behind him, Nikolina spun around in utter satisfaction. After checking her hair again and rubbing some scented oil on her bust, her smile broadened, hearing the expected knock.
That whore might’ve stolen the name, but I’m going to enjoy the man, she thought, sitting at her dressing table.
“Come.”
“Milady,” Dalinda said. “Sir Benoist is here. Do you want me to take him to the solar?”
“No, I’ll escort him myself. Have you made him comfortable?”
“Yes, milady. He’s waitin’ in the vestibule.”
“Good. Did you deliver everything I ordered to the solar?”
“Yes, milady.”
“Then you’re dismissed. The Nakshij and I don’t wish to be disturbed. If I need your assistance, I’ll call for you.”
Dalinda curtsied, disappearing from the chamber.
Rechecking her appearance and retrieving the phial, Nikolina raised her skirts, hurrying down the corridor to the solar.
“Too bright,” she said, pulling the covers over a few windows.
Seeing the tray of refreshments on the table, Nikolina pulled the stopper from the phial, holding it over one of the cups.
“One, two, three, four, five,” she counted, mesmerized by the liquid dropping into the cup. After giving it a quick stir, she hid the phial, and then left to welcome her guest.
Danimore smiled, relaxing his position as she entered the room. “Good afternoon, Nikolina. Again, your beauty overwhelms,” he said, standing and kissing her hand.
“Thank you, Nak—Danimore.” She blushed. “We appreciate you accepting our invitation. Dalinda has prepared some of your favorite dishes, and Father acquired that wine you liked so well when last you visited.”
“I’m honored,” he said, and then turned toward his guard. “You can wait for me in the carriage, Thoumas. I’ll be fine.”
“Are you sure, Nakshij? The Zaxson requested that I remain.”
“I’m certain.” Danimore extended out his arm to Nikolina. “This isn’t the first that I’ve visited the d’Garrions. Besides, Dalinda escorted you through their home to ensure we were alone. I’ll be fine.”
“Yes, Sir.” Thoumas bowed, exiting the room.
“I’m glad that we’ll have the opportunity to talk, Danimore. I’ve thought of nothing else of late.”
“My thoughts have been on much the same,” he said as she led him down the corridor to the empty solar. He paused beneath the lintel, glancing around. “Where’s your father?”
“Don’t worry. He’s finishing up some work, but will be with us soon. Come, please sit.”
Danimore fidgeted with his collar, glancing around the dimly lit room again. He was feeling less confident than he did a few moments ago, until Allister hurried into the room. As Nikolina seated Danimore across from the tainted wine, she deliberately leaned forward, giving him a view of her bust. Once she handed Danimore the cup, her lips twitched up in a grin as it almost met his lips. Almost .
“It’s good to see you again, Sir Benoist. How are things at the citadel?” Allister stammered, noticing his daughter’s glare.
“The pleasure is mine, Sir d’Garrion. It’s taken time, but Nazil’s affairs are being put in order.”
“Excellent. I’ve been hearing rumors, not only in Nazil, but in Yarah, too. It’s mostly disgruntled men complaining about having to pay for what they once enjoyed for free.” He shook his head. “But I did hear that our temple wouldn’t be rebuilt. Is there truth to that?”
Danimore’s brows creased, setting his cup back on the table. “They speak false, I assure. Masons are currently working to restore not only our temple, but other buildings damaged during the war. Nazil is my home, Sir d’Garrion. Everything we’ve done is to protect and improve what we’ve built, not to destroy it.”
Allister smiled. “I wouldn’t expect any less from you. Your family has always been honorable. Despite what some might believe, I’m certain that Nazil will continue to thrive. In fact—”
“Pardons,” Dalinda said. “Sir, Keldin’s here with the scrolls you requested. I escorted him to your study.”
Allister stood to leave. “Forgive me, Sir Benoist. He was supposed to deliver these this morning. If he’s late once more, I’ll hire a different courier. Please continue your conversation and I’ll return shortly.”
When the door closed, Nikolina immediately lifted her cup, prompting Danimore to do the same. After taking a long drink, he leaned back comfortably.
“Now, Nikolina, what would you like to talk about?”
“Many things,” she said, lifting the lid from some dishes. After pouring more wine in his cup, she placed some meat onto a plate, adding some cheeses and bread. “I apologize for my behavior at the citadel. I didn’t realize how overwhelming it would be for me, and I couldn’t collect my thoughts.”
“There’s no apology needed; not from you. I should’ve made the offer myself. With so much on my mind, many matters of importance have slipped from it. Whatever you need to say, please feel free to do so.”
Nikolina smiled up shyly, watching him sip his wine. “Firstly, I wanted you to know that I’ve decided to accept Velnic’s offer of pledge. He’s not the husband that I desired, but he’s a very good man.”
“Nikolina, I—”
“It’s all right, really. I can’t say that I don’t still love you, but I know that I can love Velnic, too. It’ll take time, and I don’t blame you for what’s happened. Once, I did, but no more. This isn’t your fault any more than it is mine.”
Danimore nearly sighed, feeling a weight lifting from both his heart and mind. He took her hand in his, gladdened that he’d decided to come. “None of this is in any way your fault. You’ve done nothing but extend your heart toward me, and had I done the same when I knew how I felt about you, things would’ve been different. I’m sorry that I didn’t understand then what I know now. I was apprehensive when I asked for your hand, and thinking you didn’t desire me…I…I’m sorry, Nikolina. It took time for my heart to mend, but being with you now, I know that it has. The same will be true for you. Velnic is a good man and a good friend as well.”
“Perhaps you’ll honor us by attending our bonding ceremony. I mean, once we’ve negotiated the pledge.”
“The honor would be mine. In fact, I’m certain that Pentanimir would agree to host the festivities in the citadel. I owe you that and more, Nikolina. If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to ask.”
“Truly? Anything?”
“If it’s within my power, I’ll ensure that you have it.”
Nikolina leaned back, taking a sip from her cup. “There might be something that you could help me with, Danimore. Actually, you’re the only person who can.”
“Me? What is…” His sentence ended in a cough, and he grabbed his cup, draining its contents.
“Are you all right?” she asked, feigning concern.
“I’m fine, it’s merely an itch in my throat. Now, please tell me what you need?”
Nikolina nodded, noting his left eye beginning to twitch and his hands trembling. “Truthfully, it’s more a want than a need. Your willingness to visit means more to me than you could ever imagine.”
“What does…” Danimore’s mouth gaped, contorting weirdly as he struggled to draw in a breath. He grunted, unable to force any other sound from his throat.
“By the gods,” Nikolina said, springing up from her seat as he convulsed, plummeting to the floor.
“What’s wrong? Are you all right? Gods, please, are you all right? Do you need the healer?”
The thrumming of his heart drowned out her words. The venom cascaded through his body, scorching with the heat of an unquenchable fire. He wanted to yell out, but no sound would come forth. He could only flail on the floor, fighting against the excruciating agony of the poison.
Crouching next to him, Nikolina grinned, stro
king his face. When he tried to speak again, she pressed a finger to her pursed lips, and then rose, locking the door and pulling the coverings completely over the windows.
Once she’d removed her clothing, she walked back to his side, nudging him with her foot. Danimore’s eyes eased open and then widened, staring up at the beautiful, naked woman. She clutched his arms, dragging him into the center of the room.
Nikolina leaned over him, unclasping his tunic, and untying his laces. He tried to protest, but his limbs were useless, ignoring the pleas of his mind. For the first time, he understood. It was evocative of the effects caused by the serpent’s venom that the Nazilians used in battle. He couldn’t defend himself or his honor.
“No!” he screamed, but the protest was inaudible.
“I’ve always wondered what your body would look like on our bonding night,” she purred, while kissing up his chest. “I’m pleased that you haven’t disappointed me.”
“No.” He heard himself manage in barely a whisper.
“No? But you can’t refuse me now, my love,” she said, placing her lips over his.
He felt an odd sensation as she continued to explore his body. Everywhere her hands or mouth touched, tingled beneath his flesh. He’d lost none of his sensation: it was enhanced by the deadly venom coursing through his veins.
Feeling a warm sensation on his hand. he peered down as far as his eyes would allow. His fingers tingled intensely, as Nikolina guided them where she wanted them to be. When he heard a continuous moan, he closed his eyes, but reopened them again, as she forced his saturated fingers in his mouth.
“Is my taste more pleasing than that of your wife? You’re the first to taste of me, Danimore, and I shall taste of you as well.”
An intense, persisting tingle brought panic to his heart. An enhanced pleasure like none he’d ever known ignited every nerve in his body.
“Get up! Get up!” his thoughts urged.
Nikolina emerged moments later, wearing that beautiful smile. She stared into the eyes of her beloved, merging them as one. The fervent sensation of their joining was amplified by an enrapturing, tingling heat. He watched in horrified disbelief as she received pleasure from him, and cursed himself for being overwhelmed by the tremendous satisfaction.
Every part of his body tensed while the wave of pleasure consumed his very being. He felt as if he shuddered at the force of the release, yet he didn’t move.
Danimore’s breaths became shorter, trying to recover from the still pulsing sensation. A tear trickled down his face as the reality of his situation was realized.
She moaned, clutching his shoulders before collapsing on top of him. Tenderly stroking his sweat-soaked hair and face, she kissed him passionately. “This is how it should always be,” she said breathlessly, sliding next to him. “I’ve always loved you, and if the gods are good, we’ll be blessed with a child.”
Danimore closed his eyes and wept. His wife’s warnings repeated in his mind and he felt like a fool to have not listened. Now, he’d betrayed his wife and the love she held for him.
His thoughts were interrupted when the tingle returned. His eyes blinked open in time to see Nikolina straddle him.
“No!” he cried as loud as his voice would carry. It was for naught. More times than he chose to count, he was violated. She used him until his body would no longer respond to her intimate commands.
It wasn’t until he heard liquid being poured did he dare open his eyes again. He watched in disgust as she knelt at his side, gliding a warm cloth over his body. She’s cleaning me , he thought. Washing away the stain of her betrayal .
Nikolina took great care, cleansing every inch of him before doing the same to herself. After getting them both dressed, she strained, dragging him back over to the divan before unlatching the door.
“You must think me evil,” she said, taking a seat across from him.
“I’m not, Dani. The only evil is what you’ve done to me. You asked for my pledge, to be my husband, and then you betrayed me for a whore. Your uncle told us about her luring hundreds of Nazilian soldiers to her bed. This diseased whore you chose over me? I was maiden and I loved you…I yet love you, though you won’t believe. It was your closeness that I desired, intimacy, since your heart is lost to me. Now some things are as they should be. Your seed is within me, and soon, we’ll have a child…the first true child of your seed.”
“Why?” Danimore managed in a weak and breathy voice, wincing as some sensation returned to his limbs. It felt as if one thousand searing needles were jabbing him all at once.
“Why?” she said. “Because I could have you no other way.”
She leaned in for a final kiss, observing more of his body regain motion.
Danimore strained, finally able to pull himself up onto the divan, and then grimaced as life returned to his body.
“You didn’t have to do this, Nikolina. I never meant to hurt you. Why would you do this? You’ve ruined us both.”
“Ruined? No, we aren’t ruined. No one else ever has to know about the passion we shared. I feel no ruin or regret, my love, only satisfaction.”
“There was no passion. It would’ve been the same had you bound and gagged me! You took me without my consent, and I shall never forget it,” he slurred, as slaver ran from the corners of his mouth.
“Then, we’ll both have pain at the memory of each other. Mine will never leave my heart, Dani. If you’d like to strike me or throw me in irons, I give little care. I love you still. That is my torment; always I will love you.”
“What you’ve done isn’t love, it’s a violation.”
“No, it was desperation…desperation that you caused. I’ve given my maidenhead to you. That’s one claim that your whore wife could never make.”
With that slight, Danimore summoned all his strength, lunging forward, and landing a hard slap on her face before plummeting to the floor.
“You don’t know the meaning of love,” he sneered, struggling to his knees, and reorienting himself to the feel of his limbs. He staggered into the corridor, clutching the furnishings and walls for support.
“Sir Benoist! By the gods! Are you all right?” Allister asked, steadying Danimore’s stance.
Danimore snatched away, nearly collapsing to the floor from the effort. “Did you know?” he asked with narrowing eyes.
“Know? Know what?”
Danimore only shook his head, crumpling on the couch. The awful bite of the poison had caused his head to throb and soured his stomach. With a lurch forward, he spewed the contents of his stomach onto the floor.
Allister’s face paled. “Sir Benoist! Should I fetch the healer?”
“Fetch my driver, now!”
Allister rushed from the room, returning with Thoamus.
“Nakshij!” Thoamus said, reaching for Danimore. “What happened?”
“I—I—I,” Allister stammered, visibly shaken.
“Just take me from this place, Thoamus,” Danimore said. “Take me to my home.”
Allister held open the door, standing beneath the arch in disbelief.
“You aren’t returning to the citadel?” Thoamus asked, positioning Danimore on the cushions.
“No. Take me to my home. After, return to the citadel and bring my brother, bring Pentanimir. No one else must know. Bring only Pentanimir.”
“As you say, my lord.”
Thoamus sped away with Danimore moaning, as the grooves in the road caused the carriage to bounce. He clutched his stomach, fighting the urge to retch. When they finally stopped, Thoamus helped him from the carriage.
“I have to try and walk on my own,” he muttered, his face glistening with sweat. “No one must think me ill.”
Thoamus nodded, following closely behind. When they entered his home, Danimore nearly swooned.
He gestured down the corridor and Thoamus managed to get him to his bed. Immediately, Danimore lurched forward, retching again.
“My brother…bring…Pentanimir.”
“Dani!” Pentanimir shouted, running through the door. When he heard no response, he continued to Danimore’s chambers and found him unmoving on the bed.
“Brother!”
Danimore’s eyes and teeth were clenched while his body curled with the passing wave of pain.
“Gods, what happened?” Pentanimir asked. He placed his hands on his brother’s sweat-soaked face. “I must send Symeon to retrieve Nzuri. He must tend you, Dani, immediately.”
He shook his head, fighting against a piercing cramp.
“Please, Dani. Tell me what’s wrong, what happened?”
“Ze—Zeta was right to fear. I shouldn’t have gone.”
Instantly, Pentanimir’s fear turned to rage. “What has she done? Surely she isn’t mad enough to harm the Nakshij of Nazil!”
“I’ll recover. Already the worst has passed. I—I couldn’t return to the citadel as I was. She—she is mad, Brother. Nikolina is mad.”
“Tell me what she’s done?”
“The poison. It must be. The poison used on the tips of our arrows.”
“The serpent’s venom?” His face scrunched with confusion. “Impossible. How, Dani, how?”
“The wine, in my wine, I’m certain. I couldn’t move. My body wouldn’t respond to my mind. Never have I felt so helpless. I could only watch. My body wouldn’t respond. I could do nothing.”
“To what end? What could she gain by having you lifeless before her?”
Danimore’s eyes rolled up and closed. “My seed,” was all he could mumble before his body began to shake with copious emotion.
“No! She did not. Nikolina is a maid with no pledge. Surely, she wouldn’t risk becoming with child to use you in this manner. No.”
The Rise of Nazil- Complete Epic Fantasy Trilogy Page 93