“Are you all right?” Sari murmured in his ear. His dragon started to settle down at Sari’s mere presence, forgetting about the shadows of the past.
Karein nodded. He’d have liked to tell Sari so much. No, what he wanted was to take Sari in his arms, hold him close, and never let go. But that wasn’t possible, so Karein just remained silent as servants swept in to provide him with plates and silverware. Karein snacked on the quiche and scones, enjoying Sari’s nearness while taking note of the conversation between his brother and Princess Charlize. It seemed that Hareem was still stubbornly clinging to the idea of sheltering Taryn with the fae, so much so that Akara was beginning to look suspicious.
He might have intervened had the doors not suddenly opened, interrupting all discussions. Much to Karein’s surprise, his mother walked in. All those present got up, bowing. “Good morning,” the empress said. “Prince Misael, Princess Charlize, Prince Sareltae, I trust you all slept well.”
“Very well, Your Majesty,” Misael replied politely.
“Excellent.” Rowenasheb smiled, obviously not caring one way or another as to how the fae had fared on their first day in Draechenburg. “We’ve just received word from Rose Noire. King Selbrian has agreed to our terms. The wedding will be held at the end of the week.”
There were cheers all around, although likely, none of them were genuine. Sari’s hand brushed against Karein, a slight touch that could have seemed accidental but clearly wasn’t. The simple affection in that gesture was like a balm for Karein’s heart. At last, his dragon truly began to settle, and he managed to throw a brief smile in his mate’s direction. Since he couldn’t allow his mother to notice any closeness between him and Sari, he couldn’t say or do anything else. Instead, he turned toward the empress. “I believe that’s great news,” he said neutrally.
“It is, indeed,” she answered. “And on this note, I must applaud your initiative, Shtamakarein. It’s very good that you’re taking advantage of this time to get to know Prince Sareltae better.”
Hoping that he was interpreting her words correctly, Karein allowed himself to do what he’d wanted in the first place. He took Sari’s hand and kissed it. “Every moment spent in Prince Sareltae’s presence is an honor and a privilege.”
“Sadly, I must rob you of that privilege after breakfast. Come see your father and me. We have much to discuss.” Turning toward the group of fae, she added, “Have an excellent meal. I’m afraid my husband is waiting and I cannot stay. Good day.”
She turned on her heel and stalked out without another word. Karein wondered what exactly she wanted to tell him. Had he been too obvious in his affections toward Sari? No, that couldn’t be it. He knew his parents well, and he could read their cues. They wanted him and Sari to become close. They couldn’t have learned about his visit to Sari’s bedroom. The only one who knew was Sage, and if Sage betrayed him, Karein had no doubt that his mother wouldn’t be bothering with smiles and polite platitudes at breakfast. No, they were going through with the original plan. Karein just had to continue to pretend, like he’d done for three-quarters of his life.
Everyone sat back down, and they finished the meal, this time remaining mostly quiet. Once the servants removed the plates, Karein excused himself. His mother’s intervention had given him the opportunity to stop being so wary, so before he left, he said to Sari, “Perhaps I’ll see you later in the library.”
“I’d be honored,” Sari murmured back. He still looked puzzled and a little concerned, but Karein couldn’t explain things, not just yet.
With a simple nod as a good-bye, Karein left the room. He was disinclined to allow Sari to just wander around in the palace without someone to assist him. Fortunately, Sage almost seemed to guess his thoughts as he made his appearance at the most opportune moment. “Good morning, Highness,” the other draechen said. “I heard you were having breakfast and wanted to check if you have any special dispositions for today.”
“Actually, yes,” Karein replied. “I want you to help Sari get to the library after he leaves here. Don’t lose sight of him. I want him to be safe, no matter what.”
Sage saluted. “Understood, Your Highness. I will protect him with my life.”
Karein truly hoped no such dire measurements would be necessary, but anything was possible in Draechenburg. Thanking Sage, he headed toward the throne room. His parents were waiting. Even if he had no desire to see them, he kept a brisk step, wanting to get this over with. Besides, the information they provided could clear things up a little.
The soldiers guarding the throne room let him pass without the usual process of announcing him, which was somewhat of a surprise. He half expected it to be a trap of sorts, but when he entered the room, his mother just greeted him with her normal coldness. “Ah, Shtamakarein. Excellent. Your father and I were just discussing your approach in the Ivenian matter.”
From his position on the pile of jewelry, the emperor said, “Your mother tells me that you have been taking steps to seduce Sareltae. That’s very good, but I want to see faster progress. Do you think that as the situation is right now, he will allow you to claim him during your wedding night?”
Karein shook his head. “We’ve only just met. It’s far too soon.”
“Well, you need to put more effort into it,” the empress said. “Sweep him off his feet. Don’t go too far, because you’ll scare him away, but romance him. I understand he’s never left Rose Noire. He has no idea what a relationship even means. You can use that for your benefit.”
“So I shall,” Karein promised. On impulse, he decided to throw a riskier comment out there, hoping he wouldn’t fuck up things further while doing so. “But if I may, even if he isn’t inclined to be seduced by me, I can always force him into it. What can the fae do? Start a war?”
Of course, he had no intention to let it get to that. Once his parents got impatient, he would just tell them that it had been a mistake, that Sari had nothing to do with the ploy to free Caelyn’s mate. He could easily blame Eanera alone for it since they had no chance of proving the High Priestess had been involved.
His mother gave him a disapproving glance. “It’s not like you to be rash, Shtamakarein.”
“I’m just considering every scenario,” Karein replied. “Of course I will do my best to make him surrender to my will. But the circumstances are already highly in our favor.”
“You are correct, Shtamakarein,” the emperor said in Karein’s mind. “However, should we begin an unjustified war, the magical races would pile up against us. Our forces would be decimated, and we can’t afford that.”
Karein had the urge to look around for flying pigs. He couldn’t believe it. The day had come when he and his father actually agreed on something. Of course, as it seemed, the emperor had a very unpleasant motive behind his reasoning. As he left the pile of jewelry and gold that served as his secondary throne, the red dragon added, “I have big plans for our people, Shtamakarein. The shifters have remained in the shadows for long enough. It’s time to squash these insects that call themselves humans.”
In hindsight, Karein supposed he had expected this. The emperor’s lust for power wouldn’t stop at one conquest. The fae were just the first step in his campaign for world domination, which was why he’d even decided to take things slow with Sari. “I understand,” Karein said. “As always, I live and die by your command.”
“That’s what we wanted to hear.” The empress smirked. “Now, go, Shtamakarein, and make sure that by the time you are wed, that fae will be eating out of the palm of your hand.”
Karein bowed and abandoned the throne room. A part of him was relieved as his parents clearly had no clue of the true extent of the bond between Karein and Sari. The other, however, dreaded the future. He remembered all too well the diamond-tipped bolts that Caelyn had launched at him. The emperor thought his forces were largely invulnerable, and still, he realized that the war would be difficult. What would he do should he learn of the existence of these weapons? Sh
ould Karein find a way to inform him, or would that just make things worse?
Suddenly, Karein felt very tired. He just wanted to fall into his mate’s arms and for a few moments, forget that he was even a draechen prince. At least his parents had given him that, the freedom to be with Sari at will, within reason. Hiding from his responsibilities would do him no good, but no matter what Kavehquader was plotting, Sari was still the most important thing for Karein.
A flash of his earlier nightmare passed through Karein’s mind. Talrasar had been important for Kael, too, but it hadn’t been enough. A war had forced them into making the ultimate sacrifice. What if the story was repeating itself? What if this was the message Karein was supposed to grasp? The idea filled him with terror, and he practically started to run toward the library. The memory of Talrasar’s dead eyes still lingered within him, and while it wasn’t his own recollection, he could easily replace Talrasar’s figure with Sari’s. No. He had to avoid that at all costs. He would not allow Sari to pay the price for the emperor’s greed. Before that happened, Karein would step into that throne room and use his powers on his own father. It might plunge the world of the draechen into chaos, but for Sari, he’d do that, and more.
* * * *
Sari was truly puzzled. The day before, Karein had opened up to him, if only a little, but this morning, that same shadow that had made Karein pull away seemed to have settled over Karein’s heart. It was too soon to fix whatever long-term problem ailed Karein, but still Sari ached for him.
He wondered how he was supposed to get to his meeting spot with Karein. He supposed he could ask one of Karein’s siblings, or even a soldier. As it turned out, he wasn’t forced into either of those options. The moment he stepped out of the dining room, Karein’s lieutenant intercepted him. “Good morning, Your Highness,” he said. “I’ve been instructed to accompany you to the library.”
Oh. That was a relief. Smiling, Sari replied, “Thank you very much. Please lead the way.”
He said good-bye to his breakfast companions, then followed after Sagenamadeen as the draechen lieutenant started to walk down the palace corridors. The library seemed to be a good distance away, and they lapsed into awkward silence. Sari desperately tried to come up with something to say, but no topic of conversation would appear in his mind. He was greatly relieved when Sagenamadeen finally stopped in front of two large doors and opened them.
As he walked into the room beyond them, Sari revised his opinion of Draechenburg. There might be something else of value in this place other than Karein. Shelves over shelves of books were lined in front of him, and the smell of leather and old pages tickled his nostrils. Sari had always been passionate about reading, and he thought that he might have found a place in the palace where he could actually feel right at home. He pushed past the draechen lieutenant and immediately started to explore.
Some of the books were of human origin, treatises on philosophy, mathematics and astrology, or even fiction and poems. Sari even saw copies of the Bible, the Koran, and many other religious books, as well as Sun Tzu’s Art of War. A lot of the older ones weren’t even in bound volumes, but in scrolls, some of which were in encased glass. His gaze finally fell on one of the stands, where an ancient, open tome lay. Sari scanned the first few visible lines and instantly knew. It was a copy of the Directive of the Shifter Castes.
Sari had been well educated on each detail of the Directive. Another copy existed in Rose Noire, having been handed in to the first Norrenddare king after the Directive had been signed. He had seen it many times, in the Temple. Still, for some reason, browsing it here and now left him unsettled.
Turning away from the book, Sari glanced at Sagenamadeen. “This place is left unguarded?” he asked.
The draechen smiled, although the expression held no warmth. “The most valuable items or artifacts aren’t kept here. Naturally, that’s not the original Directive.”
“Of course it isn’t,” Sari replied, arching a brow. “I can tell the difference between a copy and the real thing. I just meant that the value of the literature on these shelves is overwhelming.”
His comment seemed to surprise the lieutenant. “You’ve seen the actual Directive?”
“Naturally,” Sari answered. Actually, he knew it by heart, which was one of the reasons why he hated it so much.
“I never have,” Sagenamadeen commented, sounding thoughtful. “Sometimes, I wonder if that’s for a good reason.”
Before Sari could figure out what that meant, the door opened and Karein walked inside. Instantly, the lieutenant saluted. “General, if there’s nothing else you require, I’ll take my leave.”
Karein nodded and waved him off. “You’re dismissed, Sage. Thank you.”
The tone of his voice and his expression alarmed Sari. Whatever the draechen imperial couple had told Karein, it couldn’t have been good. As soon as the lieutenant left the room, Sari rushed to Karein’s side and hugged him. “Tell me, Karein. What’s the matter?”
Karein didn’t reply. Instead, he just looked at Sari, his gaze so intense that it took Sari’s breath away. Neither of them moved, and yet, Karein seemed to be all over the place, all over the room and inside Sari. “I want you to promise me something,” Karein finally said.
“Of course,” Sari replied automatically. “What is it?”
“If something bad happens to me, or if for whatever reason, Draechenburg becomes a danger for you, I want you to leave. Don’t look back. Don’t think about me, or the fae, or anyone else. Find a safe haven and leave.”
Sari gaped at his mate. “Karein… What’s happened? Why are you asking me this?”
“Just promise me. Swear it, on my life, on our bond.”
Karein’s voice was ragged, desperate. This was important for him. Sari didn’t want to make this promise. He couldn’t imagine abandoning Karein in his time of need. But the pain in Karein’s eyes finally made him surrender. “All right. I swear it.”
Instantly, the tension within Karein’s body melted away. “Good. Now, come here and sit with me. I have good news. My father’s given me leave to woo you, and I plan to start at once.”
Together, the two of them sat down on one of the couches. It didn’t take a genius to realize Karein was trying to distract him, and Sari had every plan to draw the truth out of his mate. And then, Karein kissed him, and Sari forgot about promises, ominous feelings, and political entanglements. They’d managed to solve it all somehow. The only thing that mattered now was that they were together and soon getting married. The rest could wait.
Chapter Seven
A few days later
The wind blew through Sari’s hair as he walked onto the cliffside, making the long tresses fly into Sari’s face and tickle his nose. He released a frustrated sound, trying to tame his locks. It was pointless. Why had he ever agreed to come out without tying his hair back? Right, Karein liked how it looked this way.
Huffing, Sari glowered at his mate. Karein just grinned back. “Do you want to go back inside?” he asked.
Sari shook his head. Windy or not, this place was at least free of annoying presences like his siblings or Karein’s. In the past couple of days, he and Karein had been spending a lot of time together, but somehow, their brothers and sisters always got in the way. Akarawem in particular always seemed to find it very interesting to intrude in their private time, but Hareematek was no better. From time to time, he’d sweep in and steal Karein with no explanation and only random words of apology to Sari.
But now, through some clever maneuvering from Karein’s part and with the help of Karein’s lieutenant, they’d managed to escape. Sari estimated that it wouldn’t take long until they were found, but any moment spent together was precious to him. He looked out toward the forest and inhaled deeply, wishing he could be down there, walking through the woods with Karein. “When are you going to take me exploring?” he asked.
“Soon,” Karein answered. His voice gained that strange quality it had when he was holdi
ng something back. “Soon, beautiful. After the wedding.”
Sari frowned at Karein. Stepping closer to his mate, he took Karein’s hand and met his gaze. “Talk to me, Karein. What are you afraid of? Is it about what you said that first day? Are you afraid of hurting me?”
He’d been acting so strangely, running hot and cold all the time. Sari didn’t even know how he could detect it and not judge this was normal for Karein, but he did, and he wasn’t the only one who’d caught onto it. A group of guards passed within a few feet of them. Karein just glanced at them, and they immediately rushed away. It was a strange reaction, but Sari had seen it many times. At first, he’d thought it to be a natural thing, caused by the respect Karein’s underlings had toward him, but he was beginning to doubt that.
It was clear to him that Karein’s power could be very destructive, but Karein wouldn’t harm him. Sari knew that. Then why did his mate always shy away? Why hadn’t he shifted in front of Sari ever since that first day when they’d met? And that promise Karein had pushed him into making in the library. What did it all mean? It bothered him more than he’d have liked to admit.
“I guess it’s about time I told you.” Karein grimaced. “You deserve to know before you tie yourself to me. Come on. I need to show you something.”
They left the cliff and reentered the building. Karein led him toward the imperial wing, just like he had that first night after the dinner. This time, though, they bypassed the office without stopping. Sari didn’t ask any questions, knowing Karein well enough by now to realize that his mate would reveal everything now that he had basically agreed to do so.
He was, however, more than a little surprised when Karein ushered him into what seemed to be a personal apartment. “Are we in your quarters?” he asked. Karein had never brought him here—after all, it was hardly appropriate—but Sari couldn’t imagine Karein taking him into someone else’s quarters. He experienced a surge of heat at the thought of what it might mean, but Karein obviously didn’t have anything sexual in mind. They did enter the bedroom, but Karein didn’t even look in the direction of the bed. Instead, he gestured at a side door that Sari had originally thought to be either a bathroom or a closet. “It’s through here,” he said.
Draechen's Mate [Chronicles of the Shifter Directive 2] (Siren Publishing Epic Romance, ManLove) Page 9