by Dove, Raquel
“You are finally awake,” Carolina said with a warm smile that showed the tips of her fanged canines, “my son will be pleased.”
“Lady Carolina,” Alex greeted her with a smile, truly happy to see the Sultana again. “Where is Balthazar?”
“Alexandra,” Carolina’s voice turned suddenly chastising, her smile dropping, “You must remember to address my son with his proper title.”
“Of course,” Alex said with a smile and a roll of her eyes. She wouldn’t get into the fact that while they were in her world, he had become quite accustomed to her simply calling him by his name. “Where is Lord Balthazar?”
“I’m afraid he is no longer the Lord Sultan,” Carolina said, and a hint of a frown crossing her regal face
“Is he ok?” Alex said, shooting up in the bed. Her sudden concern for Balthazar made Carolina want to smile. “What happened?”
“He is fine,” Carolina said, her elegant, manicure clawed hand patted at Alexandra, soothing herself as much as Alex. “However, he is only a prince again.”
“I don’t understand,” Alex said, her face still twisted in confusion.
“His grandsire has returned,” Carolina began to explain. “And a Lord Sultan rules until his death. Lord Ashdad is the rightful ruler, and until his death, Prince Balthazar will remain only a prince.”
“Oh no,” Alex said, her eyes searching Carolina for comfort. She knew how much this must hurt Balthazar’s pride, and she felt a sting in her own chest at the thought.
“Where is he?” Alex asked softly.
“I have sent for him,” Carolina said, “but I am afraid you will not have much time together. Lord Sultan Ashdad has decreed that you two be separated. He insists the bonding process begun between you two be broken.”
“No,” Alex said, shaking her head, “he can’t do that.”
Even though Alex was not yet ready to complete their bond, it had given her an odd amount of pleasure to know that one day they would. She had never really thought about any guy in that way, but Balthazar stirred something so deep inside her that she just could not lose it now. And she knew nobody would ever match up to him and the way he made her feel.
“I’m afraid he can,” Carolina said, “and he has. You know how things work here, Alexandra. There is nothing any of us can do. If the Lord Sultan gives us an order, we must obey.”
“But you sent for Balthazar,” Alex said, “you disobeyed him.”
“And I am sure I will face dire consequences for such an act,” Carolina said. She saw the concern for her flash across Alexandra’s face.
“Do not worry about me, girl,” Carolina said with a forced smile. “I am still the Sultana. My punishment may be severe, but I will survive.”
“But I don’t understand,” Alex said. She felt like she had woken up into a nightmare. “Why would he make us separate? That doesn’t make any sense.”
“It does not have to,” Carolina said, with a sigh. “He is the Lord Sultan. His will is incontestable.”
“I don’t care,” Alex said as she tossed the sheets off of her and scooted out of the thick feather bed. “We have a major problem, and I can’t solve it without Balthazar.”
“Prince Balthazar,” Carolina said, correcting Alex with a small scowl.
“It is alright, mother,” Balthazar said as he entered the room, catching the last bit of the conversation. He too was not pleased with his grandsire’s decision. It did not sit right with him for a variety of reasons. In fact, there were a lot of things that Ashdad had done that did not sit right with him.
“I will leave you two to talk,” Carolina said, rising from the cushion she had occupied beside the bed in her private apartments. “But hurry. I suspect it will not be long before Lord Ashdad gets word of this and puts an end to it.”
Chapter Twenty One
“Balthazar,” Alex said with a relieved smile as she threw her arms around his neck. His hands wrapped around her waist and pulled her closer to him. He breathed in her scent deeply, the smell of his favorite fruit that tinted her scent bringing an added measure of comfort.
“I am relieved you are awake,” he mumbled with his nose in the crook of her neck.
“How long have I been asleep?” she asked pulling back from him to look at his face.
“Three days,” he replied as he pulled her back into him. He wasn’t yet ready to let her go. He knew Ashdad would be here shortly to separate them and he wanted to feel her in his arms for as long as he could.
“Why did Ashdad separate us?” Alex asked, hugging him back. Balthazar reluctantly released his grip on her with a sigh.
“My grandsire is not what he seems,” Balthazar said. Alex could see the consternation behind his eyes when he spoke and it worried her. “He has done many things that I cannot understand.”
“I’m sorry,” Alex said, receiving a questioning look from Balthazar, “about the Lord Sultan thing. I know how much it meant to you.”
“I will be Lord Sultan,” Balthazar said. “That is not what concerns me.”
“What is it?” Alex asked. Although Balthazar always hid his emotions well, she had come to understand him, and she could tell when he was upset about something.
“I have only a concern for my kingdom,” Balthazar said. “I am not sure that is the case with my grandsire.”
“What has he done?” Alex asked him, her concern growing.
“Hasan’s honor has been restored,” Balthazar said, his eyes glowing with anger at the mention of such a thing. “He disrespected my father, Ashdad’s own son, and yet he once again walks among the princes, sharing the same title as I.”
Even though Alex had sympathy for Hasan the last time she was here, he had helped in her kidnapping and she had seen him for what he truly was. She knew he didn’t even deserve his life, much less to be in the same category as Balthazar.
“Have you tried to talk to him?” Alex asked, thinking maybe there had just been some misunderstanding.
“Of course,” Balthazar said, “he will not listen. He believes he is correcting my mistakes. He believes that you will be safer away from my side.”
The last words sent a rush of pain through both of them. They had been through so much together, had grown so close over the last few weeks, that neither one wanted to be apart for any length of time, much less forever.
“He can’t tell me what to do,” Alex said, putting her hands on her hips, her eyes hardening as determination flashed across her face.
“Alexandra,” Balthazar said, grabbing her face with his hand. He paused, wanting to tell her so badly to be careful with her words, but he was stunned by her beauty in that moment. She was so defiant, in everything she did. It did not matter who she faced, she was fearless. And he loved her for that. His lips captured hers in a forbidden kiss as his arm snaked around her slender waist and pulled her to his body. She molded easily to his muscular form, accepting his kiss and fighting against his lips with her own. His hand tangled in her hair and he tried to pull her even closer than she already was. He could sense Ashdad approaching and he knew they had such precious little time remaining. He intended to use that time memorizing every nuance of her sinfully perfect touch.
Alex pulled away from him for a moment, wanting to look into his eyes, wanting to say something, but Balthazar would not have it. He pulled her hungrily back to him, his tongue parting her lips and seeking passage into her mouth. There was nothing she could do but comply. He intoxicated her, awakening her desires, and she wanted nothing more than to be in that moment with him.
Balthazar wanted to groan as his nose caught the smell of Alexandra’s arousal floating around the room like a thick fog. His inner beast scratched at the cage he had it in, wanting to be freed, wanting to take over and take Alex right there, the consequences be damned. He finally pulled himself away from her, a heavy pant passing his lips as he tried to suppress his own growing desire. As he looked down at Alex, her lips swollen and wet from his vigorous attention, eyes hal
f-lidded, and a light pant of her own, he knew he would do anything he had to. He would have her, even if it meant defying his grandsire. A fierce growl ripped through the columned halls of Carolina’s apartment snapping the lovers out of their passion induced haze.
“You defy the orders of your Lord Sultan, boy,” Ashdad barked, his eyes hardened as he looked at the two with heavy disapproval. He looked much the same as Alex remembered him. His snow white hair was slicked back and accented with gold clips throughout. His bushy white beard had been trimmed down and well groomed. “Your punishment will be severe.”
Chapter Twenty Two
“You are to be quarantined,” Ashdad said, as he sat behind a low wooden desk in his office chambers, glaring at Balthazar. The demon prince was flanked by two security officers. “I am sending word to Lord Krishna. You will mate his daughter, the Princess Kali.”
“I will not,” Balthazar said, his lips curling into a silent snarl. “I will mate Alexandra.”
“You will do nothing of the sort,” Ashdad said. His voice remained calm, but his aged blue eyes betrayed his anger.
“You cannot stop us,” Balthazar snapped back at him. His could feel the red overtaking his eyes, even though he was trying his hardest to keep his beast in check. The thought of Alexandra being taken away from him was almost too much to bear. He was stuck and he knew it. Ashdad was not only an older, more powerful demon, he was also able to transform, putting him in a power class far beyond Balthazar. There was really nothing Balthazar could do, and they both knew it.
“You will remain separated from her until your bond is broken,” Ashdad said, his voice low as he spoke slowly to emphasize his point. “And you will mate the Asuri Princess.”
A growl bubbled in Balthazar’s chest as his eyes began to cloud over with red. His beast was quickly gaining control, blinded by his growing rage.
“That is not all,” Ashdad spoke again, ignoring Balthazar’s threatening behavior. “You will apologize to Hasan for your callous actions.”
“Never,” Balthazar growled. “The brat got exactly what he deserved.”
“He is a royal prince,” Ashdad said, “the same as you, and you do not have the authority to pass judgment on him.”
“And you do?” Balthazar fired back at him. Things were not so clear-cut as Ashdad would have it seem. There could only ever be one Lord Sultan. But they had both been anointed. Balthazar was as much a Lord Sultan as he.
“I am the Lord Sultan of Devas,” Ashdad said, raising his chin with pride, “So yes, I do.”
“You abandoned this kingdom long ago,” Balthazar accused. He was doing everything he could to not release his beast and go flying across the room at the demon lord.
“That was a mistake,” Ashdad admitted with a heavy sigh, trying to suppress his anger, “and I am trying to prevent my mistakes from repeating themselves.”
“I will never let Alexandra go,” Balthazar said, a thick growl echoing in his words.
“Which is exactly why you will be held in the palace prisons until I am able to return her to her home,” Ashdad said, motioning for the guards to take him.
“And the Magi?” Balthazar said, shrugging the two soldiers off. “They are still alive and well, we both know that.”
“And I will take care of them,” Ashdad said.
“Like you did the last time?” Balthazar snapped back at him.
“I believe you are the one who allowed Alexandra to be captured,” Ashdad said. His words hit Balthazar like a ton of bricks. He could not argue that point. Had he not let her distract him, she never would have been captured.
“I can protect her,” Balthazar said, trying to convince himself more than Ashdad.
“Not from yourself,” Ashdad said, standing and walking over to Balthazar. He placed a hand on his shoulder and looked him in the eyes.
“I understand your desire for her,” he said, his tone turning more friendly. “I understand it much more than you know. And that is why I must do this. It is not only for her own good, but yours as well.”
“I have to have her,” Balthazar said, his voice almost pleading. Ashdad could see the pain behind his eyes, though he hid it as well as any proud demon would.
“I understand the need,” Ashdad said, “but you must understand that is the bond. It will get easier with time.”
“I do not want it to,” Balthazar said. The red in his eyes was fading, replaced with such a deep sadness, like nothing Ashdad had ever seen before. Perhaps he had underestimated the strength of their bond.
“This is not just for your own good, Balthazar,” Ashdad said. “She is human. Mating a demon will only diminish her power. Being with you will do more harm to her than good.”
“I cannot bear to be without her,” Balthazar admitted, shaking his head. He could see the truth behind the older demons words, but it wasn’t what he wanted to hear. He was so concerned with his desire for Alexandra that he had never even considered the possibility that being with him would actually harm her.
“Her power will augment yours,” Ashdad said, “but yours can only taint her pureness. I know from experience that is not something you want on your conscience.”
“She will not agree,” Balthazar said, hoping he could truly rely on Alexandra’s perpetual defiance.
“Which is why I must intervene,” Ashdad said. “I will do what neither of you can. You will be kept apart, for the good of all. You will mate the Princess Kali and put this whole mess with Asur behind us. In time, your heart will heal. You will forget about Alex. She will return to her home, and eventually, upon my death, you will reclaim the Sultancy.”
Chapter Twenty Three
“Where is he?” Alex demanded as she barged into Ashdad’s office. He was reading over the parchments that were scattered on his desk. He calmly set the paper he was reading down and looked up at Alex, his eyes shining with kindness, but tainted with tired.
“Alexandra,” he said, motioning to the cushion across the desk from him. “Please, sit.”
“Don’t play nice with me,” she said, her face fixed into a scowl as she crossed her arms over her chest. “Where is Balthazar?”
“If you would allow me to explain,” Ashdad said, signaling that it was alright to the guards who were becoming increasingly nervous at Alex’s casual manner towards their Lord Sultan.
“Fine,” Alex said, still not relaxing the angry look on her face. She plopped down on the cushion before Ashdad. She remembered the last time she was sitting here. Balthazar had been the one sitting across from her in that very same spot, making her just as angry. It seemed so long ago, though she knew only a couple months had passed.
“Firstly,” Ashdad began, his voice was calm and kind, “I would advise you to remember to use proper titles during your stay here. I realize such a thing is of no consequence in your world, but it is terribly improper here.”
“Whatever,” Alex said, rolling her eyes. She knew very well the demons around here expected to be called properly, but she hadn’t cared the last time she was here, and she didn’t much care this time.
“I am only trying to help you,” Ashdad said, with a small shake of his head. “You will not be here long, but while you are, it would be in your best interest to follow protocol.”
“Fine,” Alex said, her eyes sparkling with defiance as she spat the word, “Where is Lord Balthazar?”
Ashdad knew she was trying to anger him by calling Balthazar the Lord Sultan, but he would not let such a thing bother him. He could see the guards behind her stationed at the door looking nervously at each other. They had never in their lives seen someone speak to any Lord Sultan with such disrespect and live to tell about it.
“You know as well as anyone here that Balthazar is merely a prince, Alexandra,” Ashdad corrected her, more for appearances than anything else.
“He is the Lord Sultan to me,” Alex said, her jaw tensing with her defiance.
“That is of little matter,” Ashdad said with a smirk,
“you are not a citizen of this country, or this world. You will be returning home in short manner.”
“No,” Alex said, her face dropping from anger and defiance to shocked surprise. “What about the Magi? The Ancient? I have to stop them.”
“Alexandra,” Ashdad said with a chuckle, “you do not even know what they are. Your powers are not even close to being developed enough to be a match for them. If they found out you were here, they would make very quick work of you. Then both our worlds would be lost.”
“I…” Alex wanted to respond, wanted to fire back a witty retort, but she knew he was absolutely right. She could come face to face with the Ancient right now and not even know he was before her. Her powers were spotty at best, and even when they did kick in, she could hardly control them.
“Alexandra,” Ashdad said, seeing the confusion in her eyes, “I understand your desires. Defiance and fight are in your blood, it is part of who you are. You would not be the protector without them. But you need to understand your own limits.”
“I hadn’t really thought of that,” Alex said softly, hating to admit that he was right. “But I can’t leave Balthazar.”
“Prince Balthazar,” Ashdad said, his eyes narrowing behind his bushy white eyebrows. “It is important for you to use his proper titles.”
Alex could see the annoyance creeping up from behind the mask of kindness Ashdad was wearing. She had trusted this man before, and that had landed her here. Now he was in such a rush to send her back to her world. It didn’t make sense to Alex, and a creeping doubt about him began to gnaw at her. She would have to be careful of what information she divulged to him. She would need to get as much information out of him as possible, and she would have to play nice to get it.