Enemy's Queen: The Aermian Feuds Book Three

by Frost Kay

She blinked. She didn’t expect him to be so candid about it. “How did you come to be here?”

  He waved a hand at her. “My story is short and boring, but I would very much like to learn about you.”

  Immediately, she was on guard. What information was he after? “My name is Sage Blackwell, and I’m the daughter of a swordsmith.”

  “A humble beginning.”

  “A perfect beginning,” she corrected.

  “Indeed. There’s nothing better than being raised in the country with a family who loves you.”

  The affection in his tone bespoke of a similar life.

  “You speak from experience.”

  Ezra smiled softly. “You’re now a princess. Why did you leave your happy home?”

  “Because it was the right thing to do.” Her generic answer.

  “That’s a large burden for you to bear.”

  “It had to be done.”

  “But surely someone would have stepped up to protect the kingdom?”

  She shrugged. “Maybe, but how could I take that chance with so many lives on the line?”

  “You protected them.”

  Glancing down in her mug, she swirled the dark broth. “It’s my duty to, if I’m able.”

  “Who protects you?”

  “What?” She frowned at the Sirenidae.

  “You heard me. Who protects you? Who has shielded you, when you could not shield yourself?”

  Her eyes dipped toward Tehl, now sitting in the chair next to her, his face serious.

  “My family.”

  Ezra nodded. “True, but that’s not who you see.” He jerked his chin toward the chair. “Who are you seeing?”

  She startled, and her lips thinned. “No one.”

  He held her gaze, his face stern. “Do you know what happens when we push our minds too far?”

  She stayed silent. He would tell her whether she wanted to hear it or not.

  “They break, and there’s no coming back.” He paused, his face a mask of seriousness. “If you indulge your hallucinations, your mind will fracture. Can you honestly tell me you could rule a kingdom and protect your people with a fractured mind?”

  Marq flashed through her mind. “No,” she replied honestly.

  “Then you need to let your hallucinations go. Don’t encourage them, and don’t speak to them.” He stood from the couch and bowed to her. “I wish you a speedy recovery.” His long legs quickly ate up the distance to the door and he disappeared, the door clicking shut quietly behind him. He was gone as quick as he came.

  “He’s right, you know,” she murmured, not looking in Tehl’s direction. It was unhealthy to indulge her hallucinations.

  “I know, but you can’t wish me away just like that,” Tehl said, his tone solemn. “I’m part of you.”

  “It doesn’t matter. I have to,” she whispered to the empty room.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Sage

  Tehl didn’t disappear. He was stubborn, that one. He still spoke to her, but now she ignored him.

  The Sirenidae had made a good point that first day they’d met. She wanted a healthy mind, and a future. If she kept going the direction she was, she’d end up like Marq, broken and half crazy, hurting the people around her.

  Each day came easier, and slowly she settled into a routine. Ezra would visit her in the morning for a brief time. Sometimes they would talk, other times they would sit in comfortable silence. Each day, she grew a little stronger. The warlord always made sure to help her walk, and let a little more light in each day, so her eyes would continue to adjust. It was frustrating to be cooped up in the room, though. She wanted to explore, to get to know the people here.

  Maeve’s visits, though, slowed to a trickle and eventually stopped. When she asked about the woman, the warlord joked, “Am I not enough?” and that was that.

  Days went by, each of them like a dream. She didn’t really have a perception of time or even reality anymore. So, one day she shared this with Ezra.

  “Do you ever feel like your life is one big dream?”

  He set his cup down and watched her in his gentle way. “How so?”

  “Like you’re not sure what’s real. Like the world is moving around you, but you can’t see it. You just have a vague feeling that things are changing.”

  “You feel disconnected.”

  “Exactly. I’m stuck here in this bed with no way of knowing what is going on. I can barely walk. I’m so frustrated I could pull my hair out. I long to see the sun.” She sighed. “I miss my home. Do you understand that? Everything I do seems empty. The only joys I have are when you and Zane visit.”

  Ezra jerked. “Zane?”

  She blushed. “He gave me leave to use his name.”

  “I see. He’s a good friend to you.”

  Was he her friend? Sage smiled. “He is.”

  “The warlord has sacrificed much for you. I hope you realize what an honor it is to be held in such esteem.”

  “You mean because I’m not Scythian?”

  “Yes. There’s a reason only myself and the warlord visit you. There have been many attempts on your life. We’ve managed to thwart all of them, but it’s been a bloodbath since you arrived.” He smiled and shrugged a shoulder at her horror. “The things we do for peace, right? And the ones we care about,” he tacked on.

  “It’s worth it.”

  “Indeed. Now…” He slapped his hands against his thighs. “Would you like to take a turn about your room?”

  Her body was riddled with fatigue, but she wouldn’t turn away a chance to move. She hated being stuck in the bed. “Yes, please.”

  She’d lost some of her self-consciousness over the last few weeks. It wasn’t ideal to rely on someone else, but Ezra and Zane had been extremely gracious about assisting her.

  She peeked up at the Sirenidae as he helped her from the bed. “We’ve been speaking for some time now, and I still don’t know much about you. How did you come to be here?” she asked.

  He stiffened for a moment before continuing their shuffle around the room. “My family was taken from me, and the warlord offered me a chance to help others, so I took it.”

  “I’m so sorry about your family.” Losing her own family, even if temporarily, was extremely painful.

  His gaze intensified as he looked down at her.

  Was there something on her face? She lifted a brow in question.

  He smiled at her and tightened his grip on her waist. “Sage, you’re a special girl. I’m sorry for the tragedy in your life.”

  She nodded, accepting his sympathy, and they both fell into silence, finishing their walk. Ezra helped her into bed and left her with a small bow, his shoulders stiff. When he closed the door, she wanted to slap herself, and, to her horror, cry. Obviously, bringing up his family had been a mistake, and she hoped desperately that it wouldn’t ruin their new friendship. She was short on friends these days.

  ***

  The warm water lapped at her skin, relaxing her. Sage had come to love the hexagonal bathing pool. It was a luxury to be able to swim and bathe at the same time. A smile turned her lips up. Maybe she could convince Tehl to install one.

  “Sage, wake up.”

  Speak of the devil. She kept her eyes closed and ignored him while attempting to float in the pool.

  “Woman, listen to me. You’re not alone.”

  She smoothed her arms along the water. He’s not real, Sage. Ignore him.

  “You’re going to die.”

  Her eyes snapped open, her gaze seeking Tehl. Sage sputtered, flailing in the water, and wrapped her arms around her breasts.

  Ezra knelt beside the pool, his face looking infinitely sad as he leaned toward her.

  “Wh-what are you doing here?” she screeched, blinking water out of her eyes. “Get out!”

  He dipped his finger into the water and drew a pattern. “You’re too good for our world, Sage. You shouldn’t be here.”

  She took a tiny step away from him. Somet
hing in his voice was off. It sounded as if someone had died. “Thank you. If you give me a moment, I’ll get dressed and come out to you.”

  His lips tipped up, but he didn’t look up from his water drawings. “Do you remember when we spoke of peace?”

  Chills erupted along her arms. Something wasn’t right. Why was he bringing that up now? She glided back another step, eying the stairs that led out of the pool. She darted a look to the open door. No guards. Could she make it out of the pool to the outer door? Unlikely.

  “Yes,” she said, slowly twisting toward the Sirenidae. She jerked when her gaze clashed with his.

  “I want to give you peace,” he whispered, and something akin to determination altered his expression. “I’m going to help you end your suffering.”

  She balked and opened her mouth to scream, but he lunged. Water closed around her face as he shoved her under. What the bloody hell? Her feet touched the bottom, and she propelled herself to the surface.

  Gasping for air, she pushed toward the stairs, panic building in her breast. All she needed to do was make it to the stairs. Her foot landed on one stair, then two, and then three. Hope blossomed. Maybe she would make it.

  A shriek flew out of her as a hand grabbed her ankle. Her palms slammed against the stone, and her chin cracked against the step’s edge, clicking her teeth together. Dark spots dotted her vision, and the room swirled. She dug her fingers into the stone as she was pulled back, and kicked at his hand.

  “Let. GO!”

  He jerked harder, and her nails broke, her hands slipping. She sucked in another breath and screamed, the sound piercing the air, and echoing around the empty room.

  She scrambled forward when the hand released her ankle, but she didn’t make it far. Ezra’s arm wrapped around her torso, and his hand slapped across her mouth, cutting off her screams. He towed her back into the pool kicking and screaming.

  “Don’t do this,” she pleaded from behind his hand.

  “I’m sorry…” His voice broke. “I have to save you from him. I won’t let you be used. You deserve peace after everything you’ve suffered. I’m going to grant you at least that.”

  Her eyes widened. He was really going to do it. Ezra was going to drown her.

  She pulled in a deep breath through her nose when he kissed the top of her head and pulled her under. All sound disappeared except for Ezra’s soft humming. She struggled against him, bit at his hand, raked her broken nails down his arms. But he didn’t budge. Panic filled her as her lungs burned, begging for air. She flung her head back and crashed it into his face in a blind panic. She needed air. Now. But even that didn’t help. It earned her a hand around her throat.

  Unable to hold her breath any longer, she sucked in a breath and choked. Her body spasmed at the invasion in her lungs. It burned. Stories said drowning was peaceful, but those were lies. Her body seized, trying to get rid of the fluid. She tried to claw her way to air, the surface of the pool just above her, taunting her. She gazed at her hair floating around the pool, and closed her eyes. This was how she would die.

  Suddenly, something slammed into her, breaking the vise around her torso and throat. She was free. She tried to swim, to move, to do anything, but her body wouldn’t obey. How unfair. Freedom was just an arm’s reach away, and yet she would still drown.

  Something smashed into her chest and pain radiated into her ribs. Why did she have to feel pain? Why couldn’t she go in peace? It hammered into her chest, and she choked out water, coughing. She tried to breathe, but all she did was spew water. Sage gasped, gagged, and coughed. God, it was painful. She cracked open her eyes to find Scythian warriors dragging Ezra away. Her ears were ringing, so she couldn’t hear what he was screaming, but she caught the last words on his lips before she puked up more water: “Don’t drink it!”

  She shook her head and panted, staring in shock at Ezra.

  His wild magenta gaze latched onto hers. “He’ll be the end of you. You’re just a pawn. Don’t trust—”

  Zane lunged from behind her, and, in a move too quick to follow, slammed his fist into Ezra’s face, rendering him unconscious. Her muscles locked up at his speed. She stared, wide-eyed, at the warlord’s wet, heaving back. Inhuman.

  She squeezed her eyes shut as another bout of coughing racked her body. A hand soothed down her back as she expelled the rest of the water and collapsed on the floor. Her body trembled, her cheek pressed to the tile. Ezra had tried to kill her. She’d almost died. She shuddered at the thought, and vaguely noticed someone draping a towel around her. She forced her eyes to open. Zane leaned over her, rage and worry battling for dominance of his features. His hand cupped her cheek, his thumb running along her cheekbone.

  “Wild one, are you okay?”

  Her gaze wavered as tears filled her eyes. “No. No, I’m not. He tried to kill me. Why?” she cried. “Why, Zane? Ezra was my friend. I don’t understand.”

  “I don’t know,” he murmured, brushing the tears from her face. “I don’t know.”

  She hiccupped and cried harder, snot mingling with her tears. “I-I-I just don’t understand.”

  “People do things beyond reason all the time.”

  Zane slipped his arms around her wet body and carried her to the bed. He tucked her in, then snuggled behind her, one arm draping over her waist. That small act of comfort broke her. She sobbed and clutched his hand while the shock and betrayal ran torrents of tears down her face. “He was my friend…”

  “I know, love. I know.”

  She cried until there was nothing left, exhaustion immediately claiming her.

  ***

  Sage blinked her eyes open, and for one blessed moment, she felt peace, until memories of the prior day slammed into her. She sat up and swung her legs to the side of the bed, and placed her head in her hands. Maybe if she squeezed her head hard enough, she could erase the memories. She pulled in a shuddering breath and lifted her head, staring sightlessly at the wall across from her. What had possessed Ezra to attack her? She thought they were friends. Had she been blind to his true feelings the entire time? She shook her head and blew out the breath she was holding. Sometimes, people were impossible to understand.

  Her stomach pinched, reminding her that she hadn’t eaten or used the bathroom. Sage pushed her tangled hair from her face and stood on wobbly legs. She frowned. When would her strength return? She hated being weak. She rolled her shoulders back and carefully made her way to the vanity, plucking the long linen shirt from the top and continuing into the bathing room.

  Her skin prickled uncomfortably when she entered the room. Sage kept her focus on the doorway to the chamber pot. She quickly relieved herself and tugged off the old shirt, each move stiff and painful. She winced when she lifted her arms above her head to slip on the new one that Zane had left. She blinked, her pain forgotten for the moment. When did she start thinking of him as Zane and not the warlord? Her brows slanted downward as she stared at the swirling stone tiles beneath her bare feet. She couldn’t pinpoint when it changed, just that it had. Her heartbeat quickened at the thought. What else had changed that she hadn’t noticed.

  She shook her head and smoothed her hands down the shirt in an attempt to calm herself. Change was a part of life, and it wasn’t something to be afraid of. Her fists clenched in her shirt when her eyes snagged on a particularly wicked bruise. God, that was ugly. Her lips thinned as she began to notice all the other cuts and bruises on her legs. She didn’t even remember how they’d happened.

  Without her permission, her gaze darted to the placid pool. Her breath seized, and her heart pounded in her chest. Her friend tried to kill her. Drown her. Her stomach rebelled, and she dropped painfully onto her bruised shins, heaving over the pot.

  She trembled as the heaving subsided, then wiped her mouth with her shirt sleeve. Sage panted as the room tilted around her and warped. Her fingers bit into the chamber pot edge as she fought to control the panic that threatened to swallow her whole. She had to get out of th
ere. On clumsy legs, she clambered to her feet and lurched forward, skirting around the pool as quickly as she could and racing for the door.

  She burst into her room, and the fist around her lungs loosened. She couldn’t be in there; it made her feel like the walls were closing in on her. Her breath sawed in and out of her chest, and she jumped when she caught the reflection of a girl with wild green eyes. The girl was wild, and on the edge of breaking.

  Sage closed her eyes and gulped air. She needed to follow Jasmine’s advice and slow her breathing. Each breath was a challenge, but with every breath, her heartbeat slowed a touch. She opened her eyes and stared at the mirror. The girl looking back at her was her, and yet, it wasn’t. Cautiously, she approached the mirror and lifted a hand to her cheek. The girl mimicked her. She jerked back, startled. How could she reconcile this strange, frightened creature with herself?

  She stepped closer to the mirror and touched the cool surface. It was her. She couldn’t believe how much she’d changed. Her eyes were a deep green, her skin practically glowing and smooth; even her nose seemed straighter than it had been. Her brow furrowed. That wasn’t possible. She ran a finger over her nose and gasped when she couldn’t find the little bump from where she’d broken it at nine years old. What was happening to her?

  She shrugged her left shoulder out of the linen shirt, and shifted to the side to inspect the giant bruise across the back of her shoulder. God, it was ugly. Purple and green, it just looked angry. The door creaked, but she didn’t look away from the mirror. She already knew who it was. Zane’s reflection moved across the mirror and paused behind her. She watched him watch her, but it wasn’t awkward. His presence brought her a sense of comfort. Despite the horrors of the day before, she wasn’t alone.

  Zane leaned closer, his eyes staying on hers as he ran a hand down her arm before clasping her hand. “How are you feeling?”

  She gave him a forced and lopsided smile. “Like my friend just tried to kill me.” She gestured to her shoulder. “And like these stupid cuts and bruises are a reminder of that.”