by Stacy Reid
Her realization had not prevented her from selecting a sheer silver caftan threaded with rubies. A beautiful creation which molded to her skin exquisitely, even with the extra layer added for protection from the cold. She had also armed herself with the blades gifted from the king, and used silver combs to pin her hair into a topknot.
Saieke agreed to stay a few days in the Darkage, and she wanted the time to be used wisely and pleasurably. Guilt already shredded her, imagining the fear her parents must be enduring. Whenever she felt her resolve weakened, she reflected on all that her kingdom would lose under the rule of the tyrant.
She flashed from the table to Drac’s side. “Thank you for being patient.”
He grunted.
She rolled her eyes. “Where will my tour begin?”
“I will take you to Lachlan.”
She inclined her head in acquiescence, and they exited the castle to the courtyard. Impenetrable darkness crashed her senses.
“Your fear is unwarranted.”
“Do you sense everything I feel?” She flared out her energy and used the glow of her chakra to light her path as she strolled with false serenity. She found the absolute darkness petrifying but did not want to appear weak to him.
“Not everything.”
She glanced at him. “You feel only my negative feelings?”
“Yes.”
He walked with the grace and sleekness of one of the great jungle cats of her kingdom. She admired his masculinity, the sharp cut of his trousers and shirt. She smiled to see that his top coat was a deep blue instead of black. His shirt molded his muscles to perfection, and she imagined his shoulders rippling with each step. Her hands flexed in remembrance of how he felt under her touch, and she desperately wanted to glide her fingers over the muscles of his chest.
“You are staring, Princess.”
Her lips twitched. “There is no need to sound so affronted. You are a handsome man.”
“You are making no effort to suppress your desire.”
He could feel the pleasure she derived from looking at him? “I thought you only felt negativity,” she said accusingly.
A breath hissed from beneath his teeth. “I can smell your arousal, and it is tempting me to spread your thighs right here and sink my cock into you, hard and deep. So control your needs…for I will not be the only one smelling you, and I will rip their fucking throats out if they sniff in your direction.”
Saieke stumbled at his shocking crudeness. Unfortunately it only made her blood stir more, and he growled.
“Why are there no great torches in the courtyard?” she asked grateful for another topic, unable to bear thinking about the fact Darkans could smell how aroused he made her.
“Otherworldians do not venture this far. The torches are lighted for their benefit.”
Oh. “I never realized Otherworld beings lived in the Darkage.”
“Several humans reside in Gidon’s castle.”
She drifted closer to him. “My dearest friend is a human. I dread the day her short life span will end. She is so wonderful. It is distressing to know she has only a mere seventy years or so of life remaining, when we have hundreds.”
She jumped as screams rent the air, followed by frenzied screeches that echoed from miles out. She smiled tightly, so much for appearing unflappable.
“I am with you, princess. I promise no harm will come to you. You worry needlessly.”
“It is fascinating that you sense every anxiety, every fear. It must be draining.”
“Why would it be? It is substance for my kind.”
“You are amused by my naivety.”
She felt the caress of his eyes over her face instead of seeing it.
“Ahhh… you sense emotions?”
Saieke smiled, pleased at his curiosity. “I sense only if the person’s chakra is not contained tightly, or if the emotion is very powerful. I did not sense you at the borders of your land. If I did I would never have fled inside.” She shivered as the icy winds penetrated the several layers of her caftan.
“You are cold. Why did you not take your robe?”
“It’s summer-tide.” She plucked a flower sniffing. “Flowers are blooming, and fruits are in season. I forget that the Darkage is chillier than the rest of Amagarie. I would only wear a robe back home at the beginning of winter-tide. I did not think it necessary.”
A whisper of air passed her lips, and he held the flowing robe in his hands.
Impossible. “I…thank you.” She lifted the weight of her hair from her shoulders as she slipped on the robe. He had selected a deep silver robe to compliment her dress. He had noticed.
He led her down stones steps into a garden. The area was lighted with several torches and Lachlan was seated at a great stone table with several chairs curved in an arch around it.
For the first time Saieke saw him clearly without shadows and darkness obscuring her vision. Tawny eyes, sensual lips, set in beautiful face. Too beautiful.
She felt, more than saw, Drac’s gaze slide across her face then back to Lachlan. “He is very handsome, but he does nothing for me,” she said softly into Drac’s ear. “Please no ripping out of his neck.”
Lachlan cleared his throat, amusement glittering in his golden eyes. “Princess Saieke.”
“High Lord Lachlan,” she greeted, holding out her hands.
He clasped her hands and led her to a stone carved high wing back chair padded with the most comfortable of cushions.
She stayed silent as shadows wrapped around Drac like a second skin and he disappeared…but she could still feel him. The light showed the beauty of the sculptures that graced the area and the flowers and trees artistically arranged within the garden. The stone sculptures were of huge elegant beasts carved in eternal combat. Some were carved from black stones, others harsh grey and white marble, and the contrast of the different vibrant colors planted at stone beasts’ feet was incomparable.
“Is the entire courtyard designed with such mastery?” she asked.
“Yes,” Lachlan replied.
“It’s beautiful. Who is your artist?”
“Talon is one of our most skilled. However, we have several people belonging to the artisan caste residing in the castle who crafted these.” He went right into business. “Princess Saieke, what is it that you want to know about us that would facilitate a relationship between our kingdoms?”
“Your king has indicated a desire for our nations to trade. This surprised me as all I have ever heard about your kingdom suggests you value your solitude and have no desire to mingle with other kingdoms. All of Amagarie distrust the Darkage. I would need to know what you have of worth and value that we could possible want, and why should we trust that you will negotiate with honor.”
He stroked his chin. “It is a part of my scope to see what we can offer as a kingdom and it has been most challenging.”
“How so, my lord?”
“In our history, we have never traded before with any nation. We have only sold our skills and cunning. Our king’s vision is to move our kingdom into trade and prosperity and not only be viewed as death dealers,” Lachlan stated blandly, his eyes never leaving her face, noting every minute reaction. “I have been thoroughly researching the other kingdoms’ wealth and the goods. We do not hold crystals of light as the Avindites. We do not possess the pure fire of the Nurians to forge indestructible iron and weapons. We do not have the valentium sand and steel from Aria, or the healing elixir, grains and minerals of Boreas and Caelum.”
“What of your tapestries, your wine, and your caftans?” Saieke asked.
“Cloth?” he asked a bit skeptically.
“I find them very beautiful, and I would spend a fortune purchasing your tapestries. I have been to Caelum, Aria and Avindar, and I have never seen tapestries woven with such mastery.”
The Darkage had richness worth trading for. Her nation got their wine from the Aria—the kingdom of earth and sands. It was potent, rich and earthy. Yet, what she had tasted of the Darkage fruited wine was something more. She had hummed in pleasure at the sharp sweet flavor that exploded in her mouth from the first taste.
She leaned in, placing her elbows on the stone table, settling in for an intensive discussion on trading opportunities.
***
Drac observed the grace and femininity that Saieke presented as she spoke with passion to Lachlan. She was obviously spirited in everything she did, not just bed play. He banished the thought instantly. She had incredible insight, and her admiration of their kingdom seemed genuine.
He could detect no negative emotions.
She could have kept her insight hidden, to keep the advantage for her kingdom. Instead, she extolled to Lachlan the wealth they possessed and how they could be used for trading purposes. Lachlan told her about their oil, wine, and weaponry. She laughed and talked almost incessantly.
Drac was completely riveted.
She radiated with life and vitality. And he found it all too appealing. It was getting more difficult to proceed with caution.
I want you as my consort
She risked a lot. To take a lover now was inviting death. Coldness settled inside of him. His beast brushed against his mind as if concerned for her. He’d surmised she fled from her nation and had intended to travel to Earth. The dimension gateway was a few miles from their northern border would have been the only reason for the princess and her Queen’s blades to risk moving so close to the Darkage. Escaping to Earth was a viable plan, as many Amagarians actually crossed over and remained there. The only thing he found of interest on Earth was that humans did not have chakra. His kind fed off their blood, which did not hold negative essences, so the darkness that lived in all Darkans was subjugated and had difficulty rearing its head.
She must have been desperate to concoct such a plan. Instead, she was in the Darkage and would be sent back to her kingdom in a few days. Drac inhaled deeply as he thought on her obvious plan: lose her virginity and she could not wed someone of a royal line.
This was true for all nations except his. The laws that governed them were abhorrent to the other kingdoms. He was not sure if she had thought out the consequences to tempting him either. He wanted her with a need that was driving him crazy, and it would amount to almost an impossibility to stay away from her if she was his mate.
His beast was silent inside as if waiting for him to realize what it already knew. The shadows deepened in his mind and he jolted.
It was subtle but it was there.
His demon beast felt contentment.
Chapter Eleven
“The potential for your kingdom to improve its wealth is vast,” Saieke said to Drac as he strolled with her through the gardens leading to the castle.
“You honor us by your willingness to learn about our kingdom. But it will take more than your assessment for us to be viewed as people,” he said softly.
Regret for the disdain they suffered pierced her. “Your king is bold in his thinking. For a kingdom to change how they are perceived, they need such boldness…from Ricarkri and citizens. And the beauty of your kingdom must be shared,” she murmured wistfully as a small winged creature, with bold strokes of orange and blue dotting it wings flapped by.
They just needed one kingdom to break the cycle of revulsion and form a trade agreement. It would be a hard undertaking. Their legends were just too dark and filled with blood-letting.
Saieke gazed on the black starless sky aching for Drac. “Why do you not speak of what passed between us?”
Her breath hitched at the hot flare of desire that burned from his chakra, but then it was contained tightly. She could feel every nuance of Drac’s stare as he caressed her with his eyes, yet he did not engage her line of conversation.
“You are to dine with the king and the elders of the castle in a few hours. Entertainment has been organized for your pleasure.”
“I thank you and the king for such attentiveness to my comfort.” She was confounded by his reticence. The desire was mutual, and it befuddled her that he would restrain himself so.
“You have a penchant for ignoring questions, Drac?” She laughed teasingly at the hooded look he gave her.
“The only discourse between us, Princess, will be about the Darkage.”
“As you feel my negative emotions, I can feel your lust for me from your chakra. It is a feeling I return. I am not frightened if you desire to take me roughly, I will not break.”
His rough chuckle slid into her, stirring deep longing for something hotter. Darkness shifted into his eyes, and the savageness of what released from his chakra made her stumble.
“You did that deliberately.” She slowed her pace as she saw the castle entrance ahead. “Do you wish to scare me away from you?”
She swallowed as his body was suddenly pressed intimately against her. Saieke tilted her head and met the flatness of his gaze unflinchingly.
“Not to scare you Princess…..but you step fearlessly where you should tread with caution.” The rough timbre of his voice had her wetting her lips.
“Will we be lovers?” she whispered against his mouth as she tilted her face upwards to rest her lips against his.
With a muttered curse, he lifted her and moved. Darkness blanketed Saieke’s mind, petrifying her for precious seconds. The darkness uncloaked from her, revealing her chambers.
She gaped at him.
“Rest, Princess. Enjoy the feast and entertainment planned for your honor.”
She sighed as he vanished. She untied the strings of her caftan, letting the soft material slither off her skin. She flashed to the bath chambers and sank into the heat of the water. Her power flowed, stirring and foaming the water as she raised it above her like a fall. She luxuriated in her element, and she mused on how to get Drac into more serious bed play. She would enjoy the feast and entertainment that had been prepared for her, and plan another way to seduce him…without losing her heart.
***
The next two days passed in a blur of revelry, deep discussions and meetings with the king and high lords of his western quadrant, with no alone time with the man dominating all her evocative dreams. She had met several courtiers who had greeted her with hostility, but the welcome she received from the ladies buffered the sting and fear. She had been given tours of their great library housing their history by Lachlan, where she had been allowed to read selected scrolls, and Saieke had immersed herself in learning how they had evolved as a society over the centuries. She’d felt a stab of sorrow for Gidon. What she read showed a kingdom thrilled with war and bloodletting.
The tours she received of the villages in the provinces had been thought provoking. She had not expected what she had seen. Children ran and shrieked as they romped, people erected stalls selling their wares, and food peddlers advertised their food. The level of revelry and noise had created a buzz in her head, and her steps had faltered as she gawked.
Several torches and bonfires illuminated the town, throwing its elegance and beauty into stark relief. Its appearance had been like that of any other village in her kingdom—cobbled stone pathways, massive town houses made from harsh grey stones, some designed with graceful arches and doorways. Trees rose so prominently as if they would touch the sky that she could not see, and the flowers… the strangest shapes, with vibrant colours of gold, purple, silver and their scents were beyond exotic. Women indulgently looked on their young, and men walked with their families as their protector.
The sense of normalcy had driven home how deeply Darkans were misrepresented.
Drac had been with her everywhere she travelled, a shadow silently protecting her. Whenever she had felt fear or discomfort, he would suddenly be there to brush his lips fleetingly against hers. She ha
d the most irritating ability to lose all apprehension when he appeared. He would always find ways to subtly touch and reassure her that he was there in the dark, but he would do nothing more.
It frustrated Saieke.
He was by her side until she retired to her chambers, and then he would shiktre away after brushing his lips across her lips and neck. He always vanished before she could reach for him to do more. Several times she noticed that when she laughed, a smile curved his lips. She tried to engage him in banter using all the wits and vivacity she possessed, only to receive clipped answers. She only had a day left in the Darkage, and he had made no move to bed her, nor had she received another opportunity to try and seduce him; although there were times his chakra revealed his lust and desire.
Saieke frowned and held herself still while her lady in waiting finished wrapping her hair in a tight coil around her head. Today, she had dressed in a black caftan threaded with gold; she thought it reflected her mood.
“My lord,” the servant murmured.
Drac had Shiktred to her room, his customary way of retrieving her in the mornings. Saieke flashed from the room with him shadowing her heels. “Where do we head to today, my lord?” she asked with pique evident in her tone.
“To the courtyard.”
Saieke lifted her brow. “Who am I to meet?”
Neither Lachlan nor the king had indicated what awaited her this day. She had retired from last night’s dinner exhausted from the day’s outings. The great doors were flung opened, and she stepped through and faltered. “Drac,” she breathed his name in sheer astonishment.
She took two tentative steps out into the courtyard and beheld its beauty. Hundreds of great torches lit the rolling grounds far and wide to illustrate its majesty. It was lighted for miles, but the dark was still hovering at the periphery waiting to consume the light. The courtyard looked like a wild and beautiful jungle. Trees rose to enormous heights with vines and flowers strewn across the yard, fountains rose in several places with massive sculptures of great winged beasts with vines and flowers adorning them. The hulking stone sculptures frozen in midflight and fights were truly breathtaking.