by Lexi Ander
Instead of allowing him to kiss her hands, Válora drew him into a strong embrace. “How I have missed you, my son. I would say I hope you and A’yrē are not causing too much trouble, but considering the contraption A’yrē wears, I’m afraid to ask.” Sūnder smiled at her when she took his cheeks between her palms. Her knowing gaze narrowed on him, and she inhaled deeply, taking in his scent. “Something has happened. You smell buoyant.”
A’yrē chortled gleefully. “I would say so. The human nurse—”
“He has a name, A’yrē,” Sūnder snapped. He bit back a groan; A’yrē now had a new audience, one eager to hear what he had to say.
“My pardon,” A’yrē mocked, sketching a derisive bow. “My human nurse, Gabriel, drew Sūnder’s interest.”
Sūnder endured his mother’s steady blue gaze unflinchingly, all the while planning ways in which he could strangle A’yrē.
Despite Sūnder’s plans, his cousin continued. “It was as if I wasn’t in the room. The nurse only spoke to Sūnder, chastised me as if I were a cub, became tongue-tied when he asked Sūnder about attending the Festival, and then fled, leaving behind a bouquet of pheromones.” A’yrē embraced Válora, looking quite pleased with himself. Not often did A’yrē have something on Sūnder that no one else knew. The troublemaker thrived off Sūnder’s increasingly defensive behavior when it came to Gabe. His bluster only fed A’yrē’s enthusiasm to tell the story to anyone who would listen.
“From what your personal guards tell me, the young man had every right to treat you like a kit still suckling at his mother’s teat.” King Valiant closed the double doors behind him.
A’yrē’s casual pose immediately straightened.
A tinge of bitterness roiled in Sūnder’s gut at the sight of Valiant. A’yrē was the spitting image of his sire, only much younger. Valiant wasn’t considered old by Chándariān standards, but already silver streaked his honey-gold curls.
To Sūnder’s eye, Valiant appeared hale and whole. Then he remembered himself. Dropping to his left knee, Sūnder placed his right fist on the floor in the proper bow to the King of Slorèx. “Greetings, Your Majesty.”
Staring down at the Oriental rug, Sūnder reached out with his magick to discern if all truly was well. With the king’s health, at least. If Valiant knew Sūnder used his magick to check on him, he said nothing. Sūnder never did such in the company of others, but with only Válora and A’yrē as witnesses, he was safe from hysterical accusations. Bitter though he might be over the denial of the family ties, something easily accomplished when Sūnder didn’t share a likeness to them, he loved Valiant even if the sentiment wasn’t returned.
When he was young, Sūnder had oft considered defying the accord drawn up between the L’fÿns and his grandfather, Leänther, to stand before the committee and claim his birthright as first-born of Valiant Bálsari. Only the thought of the L’fÿns rising up in a civil war between their peoples shelved the idea. Apparently, if it came to light that Sūnder was the child of the union between Tālia and Valiant, the peaceful L’fÿns would call for a DarkHunt, demanding Sūnder’s immediate death, and declare war on the Panthrÿn province of S’koylë. Even though he longed to be recognized by his biological sire, Sūnder would never be selfish enough to plunge two peoples into bloodshed by making a public claim. L’fÿns claimed the issue was Sūnder being born half dròw and possessing the magick of a faeborn. Unlike L’fÿns, who were an inherently peaceful people, faeborn males apparently excelled at warfare, setting them apart from their brethren. Many believed faeborn males warped the purity of the magick into something unnatural, walking the shadowed pathways of violence until the magick turned the males into darksouls: twisted creatures who slaughtered needlessly and created havoc.
Or so they claimed.
His grandfather Leänther had brokered a peace with the L’fÿns by removing Sūnder from the line of succession. Válora adopted him—much to Tālia’s ire, or so he’d heard—then demanded Tālia face her in the pit if she raised an objection.
So when Valiant entered the room, Sūnder greeted him formally like any other subject. Valiant sighed heavily, and Sūnder wished he had the courage to look up and see what lay behind Valiant’s eyes. Would his gaze be sorrowful? Did he yearn as Sūnder did? Or would his countenance be filled with indifference? Sūnder could read Valiant’s health, but he’d never been able to parse the emotions Valiant was too adept at hiding. Surely the bitterness within him would be alleviated if he knew Valiant cared for him as a sire did for a son?
Not knowing how Valiant felt one way or the other, Sūnder always endeavored to at least make Valiant proud. At thirty seasons old, Sūnder was the youngest and most successful commander of the Slorèx Empire. He’d worked hard for the honor of being a Bladedancer. In the dozens of battles he’d led, he had yet to lose, and he’d brokered twice the number of peaceful resolutions than the campaigns he’d led. He hadn’t turned into the monster L’fÿns proclaimed him to be. Among his peers, he was respected. The soldiers reporting to him lauded Sūnder as being even-tempered, ruthless in battle, but fair-handed when accepting terms of surrender.
A heavy hand fell atop his bent head. “My most honored knight and commander, I am gladdened to rest my eye upon you. Now rise and tell me of this human who has snared your attention enough that A’yrē acts as if you have already claimed him as your mate.”
Sūnder raised his gaze from the floor and watched Valiant as he moved to embrace A’yrē. Before he could climb to his feet, the double doors banged open, three knights trailing closely behind a tall, coral-skinned L’fÿn.
In a bold move, the Panthrÿn knight’s captain, Florètān, grabbed Tālia of Nellá’s arm to keep her from striding further into the room. “My apologies, Your Majesty. She refused to allow us to announce her, claiming you expected her.” The tone of his voice said he didn’t believe a word she’d said. Neither did Sūnder.
Forcing a placid mask over his expression, Sūnder wondered what Tālia of Nellá was up to this time. She stood tall and regal, her corn-silk hair hanging free and unadorned down her back. Her gown was simple but elegant, in shades of blue that set off her vibrant coral skin. When her rich, copper gaze came to rest on Sūnder, she wrenched her arm away from the knight. Before anyone could stop her, Tālia quickly strode the last few steps separating her from Sūnder and slapped him hard enough that his head snapped to the side.
Sūnder blinked several times, hearing Válora growl menacingly as Tālia’s presence was wrenched away. He’d never enjoyed her being in his vicinity, but this was new. Slowly, he straightened, probing his split lip with his tongue as Tālia was restrained by two of the knights.
“Call off this farce this instant! You shall command the dròw to return to their homes! I refuse to stand aside and allow you to destroy my people!” Tālia struggled against the knights’ grip, but this time they held fast. Sūnder would have words with Captain Florètān later for the carelessness that had initially allowed Tālia to get away from him. Whether Valiant could claim a blood tie to Sūnder or not, Tālia had assaulted a commander of the Slorèx army. There would be consequences for all involved, consequences that could have been avoided.
Válora paced protectively between Tālia and Sūnder, her sleek black tail slashing angrily through the air. A long, low growl of warning filled the room. “Touch him again, Tālia, and I shall find a way to take your precious Jade Forest from you.”
Tālia’s beautiful face contorted into a sneer as she glared at Sūnder. “Your belovèd darksoul will destroy our planet, our way of life. Valiant shall curse the day he saved that creature from being culled.”
Valiant roared, his deadly bellow causing more knights to swarm into the room and take up defensive positions as they waited for their king to command them. Sūnder reluctantly allowed A’yrē to pull him further away from the dramatic scene unfolding before them. His presence was only inflaming Tālia.
Every time Sūnder had to interact with Tālia, which than
kfully wasn’t often, she wore a cold mask. She talked around him, never to him, refusing to touch him or even meet his gaze. Her demeanor always declared loud and clear how unworthy he was to share the same air as she, though she hadn’t revealed the true depth of her hatred until today. In fact, she didn’t normally lose her cool control. The whole incident was completely out of character, and Sūnder had to wonder what scheme was at play here.
For the first time since meeting Gabriel, Sūnder’s magick rose within him, responding to his alarm and pulsing under his skin, allowing him to feel the life force of every living thing surrounding the estate.
The plant life slowly awoke from its slumber, sending tendrils of energy to Sūnder. “Are you injured? Do you need us, our liege?”
Somehow Sūnder knew the offer brushed across the senses of Panthrÿn and L’fÿn alike.
Everyone turned to stare at Sūnder. Never before had the plants spoken loudly enough for all to hear. Usually when they communicated with Sūnder, none were the wiser. That they raised their voice for all to hear meant they detected a danger he was unaware of. He threw out his magick to search for the peril and, since A’yrē still gripped his arm, A’yrē’s consciousness accompanied him. Sūnder’s vision of the room was replaced by that of the surrounding woods. Normally he wouldn’t leave himself so vulnerable, but with Válora and the knights in the room, and A’yrē next to him, he was as safe as he could be.
The estate was surrounded by a relatively new forest, young and vibrant to Sūnder’s inner eye. There, within its confines, hid many L’fÿns bristling with weaponry. Sūnder sucked in his breath in shock. Who would dare attack the home of the heir-apparent? Or was it Valiant they targeted?
“Father,” A’yrē’s voice sounded disembodied. “There are close to, I don’t know, maybe a hundred L’fÿns hiding in the forest. I see the council of Nellá among them. They are all girded for battle.”
The heat of another body moved to stand close to Sūnder, but he dared not draw back into himself and take his eyes off the soldiers. He inhaled Valiant’s scent, waiting for what his king would do. Unexpectedly, Valiant grasped Sūnder’s free arm. Valiant’s awareness immediately joined them. Sūnder had never taken riders with him before. His head felt overstuffed, and a throbbing started behind his eyes, but he allowed Valiant to see what he did.
“Can you contain them?” Valiant’s question was a thought heard by none but he and A’yrē.
Instead of wasting the energy to answer, Sūnder sent his magick into the soil, feeding the forest’s vitality. L’fÿns could naturally feel the magick in the woods, but they were used to such sensations. They didn’t expect the confining roots that rose from the ground to quickly incapacitate them. Once he was sure all had been restrained, Sūnder withdrew and settled back into himself. When he blinked to clear his vision, he focused on Valiant’s vibrant blue eyes. Reflected there was a pride and affection he hadn’t seen before, causing his heart to constrict with joy. Without saying a word, Valiant continued to stare until a noise reminded Sūnder of their current predicament. Valiant grimaced, the mask he always wore falling over his expression before he turned away.
“Wow.” A’yrē drew in a shaky breath. “That was… wow. We have to talk about that later.”
Sūnder gave a small nod to indicate he’d heard, then turned his attention to Tālia. Her glittering skin had paled to a light peach, but her gaze held a fanatical gleam. She watched Sūnder expectantly. “Abomination,” she hissed.
Valiant moved, placing A’yrē to his right and Sūnder to his left. “What goes on here, Tālia? What are you accusing Sūnder of?”
She didn’t take her eyes off Sūnder. “Did you believe we wouldn’t notice, wouldn’t catch on to what you were doing? You have summoned the dròw to you, as if you have the right. In doing so, you have broken the accords, and E’drijān has no other recourse than to declare war unless you reverse what you have done. You are bent. Twisted. Darksoul. We shall put a stop to you before you cause another Scarab War. Have you turned into such a monster that you would doom so many to death?”
“That is enough, Tālia!” Valiant snapped. “If the dròw are leaving E’drijān, then it’s because of something L’fÿns have done, not because of Sūnder. You forget, he is one of my commanders. His movements, his communications, all are witnessed and verified. I can produce evidence your accusations are groundless. Your druids are the ones to call this conference. Your theatrics today are unwarranted and inflammatory. Not to mention you struck my sister’s son, a person of the royal house and a commander of the Slorèx army.”
Tālia made a rude noise. “I did no such thing. That creature has no status. It is outcast, shunned. I birthed that vile thing, therefore only I decide its fate.”
Silence filled the room. Sūnder could not believe his ears. Glancing around, he wasn’t the only one taken aback by Tālia’s declaration. However, Valiant’s older soldiers bared their teeth in triumph.
Quickly grasping the opening she’d handed him, Sūnder broke the silence. “Tālia of Nellá, you have claimed me as blood of your blood before these witnesses. You have broken the Faeborn Accords, giving King Valiant leave to claim me as his son.”
Tālia’s eyes widened. Sūnder didn’t know if her shock was feigned, or if she’d truly lost control and blurted her thoughts out aloud. She glanced around desperately, searching for something, perhaps a way around her faux pas. Her eyes only grew wider. Had she been so lost in her fanaticism she’d not realized how many knights were in the room?
From behind the wall of guards a soft voice called out, “Greetings, King Valiant. May we enter?”
At Valiant’s nod, the knights parted to reveal the faeborn High Druid Mèlindria and four of her acolytes. Having never met Mèlindria, Sūnder only knew of her by reputation. From the silky black robes that left her shoulders bare to the flared, high golden collar that rose above her shaved head, she appeared dignified and regal. White glyphs were tattooed into her dark gray skin; Sūnder knew they held meaning but wasn’t schooled in the ways of the druid to understand what he saw. Three of the acolytes wore red, the last wearing golden yellow to indicate she would be the next high druid. That one, Sūnder recognized, and even knew by name: Rènna. She attended court often, and he remembered how carefully she’d always watched him. Not maliciously, more as if she waited for something.
It was Mèlindria who’d called the leaders of their peoples together for the impromptu conference on Earth. Perhaps she was the reason Tālia acted so out of character?
Mèlindria bowed to Valiant, her gaze carefully lowered to the floor in deference, her expression neutral. “Your Highness, if you will, it seems we must speak sooner rather than later.” Her lavender-ringed faeborn gaze slid over to Sūnder. “Commander Alārd, I understand you have captured those hiding within the woods?”
Sūnder glanced at Valiant for permission before he replied. “I have.”
“Would you mind asking the forest to release them? It resists my magick. Also, I must insist you leave this place so we may speak with King Valiant. I fear your presence will cause an incident with the L’fÿns when we all need to remain calm and logical.” Mèlindria clasped her hands, waiting for Sūnder to reply.
He glanced at Valiant, refusing to do as Mèlindria bid until Valiant made the decision. For all he knew, the L’fÿns were there because Mèlindria directed them. “I don’t want to leave you with this situation unresolved,” Sūnder muttered to Valiant.
Did Valiant bring enough knights to handle the contingent outside? Once arrested, they’d need to be transported to the battle cruiser designated to escort Valiant. Sūnder should be the person in charge of supervising the situation, but Mèlindria was correct; he did agitate L’fÿns, and he sensed they were on the edge of breaking their noncombative demeanor. Taking Tālia and her recent behavior into consideration, something was going on here that Sūnder wasn’t privy to. His presence could cause more harm than good, but he still didn’t feel comf
ortable handing the captured L’fÿn soldiers over to Mèlindria, high druid or not.
“If you will excuse us for a moment.” The knights responded briskly to Valiant’s request, carrying Tālia out and ushering the druids ahead of them.
When the double doors closed, Valiant, Válora, and A’yrē were the only ones who remained with him. Sūnder worked a quick privacy spell over the room. “If anyone attempts to use magick to listen in, I will know.” He turned to Valiant. “What would you have me do? I have no wish to cause more unrest.”
Válora’s tail lashed the air. “Unfortunately, she wasn’t lying about the dròw leaving E’drijān. Many crossed the borders into S’koylë or Faelÿn territories, while others booked passage here to Earth, their unexpected evacuation agitating the other L’fÿns. Whatever the Keepers of the Jade Forest are hiding, dròw males and females alike are reacting. But Tālia is the one whose actions cause illogical fear, spurring the L’fÿns into action.”
Valiant heaved a heavy sigh. “Regrettably, I agree with Mèlindria. Additionally, I don’t want you here in the middle of this, Sūnder. I suspect Tālia broke the accords meaning to force the DarkHunters into action. L’fÿns are terrified of being ruled by a faeborn male, and nothing we have done over the seasons has alleviated their concerns. Until I have a better handle on what is causing the turmoil within E’drijān, I want you away from this fiasco.” Valiant’s gaze softened, and Sūnder held his breath as Valiant looked upon him just as he’d always wanted. “I want you safe.”
Sūnder glanced away, Valiant’s tender expression making it hard to breathe around the constriction in his chest.
Válora approached, taking his face between her palms to kiss his cheeks. “Yes, keep yourself safe while we untangle this knot, my son.”
After she released him, Sūnder turned toward A’yrē, taking his right hand. “Since I am unaware of her intentions, I won’t ask the forest to heed Mèlindria. A’yrē, to you I entrust the key. With it, the forest shall accept that you speak for me. Since you were with me when I asked for their help, they will recognize your essence.” Sūnder touched two fingers to A’yrē’s palm and a red glyph flared to life before disappearing. “You need to touch one of the trees, then ask the forest for what you want. Do you have any questions?”