Embers of Passion

by Genna Love

  Where had his head gone?

  It was a silly question. He knew exactly what consumed his mind, or should he say whom.

  “I don’t think I’ve ever witnessed you so close to being late for anything,” Taban said as Kailas sat next to him. His robe was tight around the middle. He must have gained some weight since the last royal event over a year ago.

  “I got lost in thought.” He rested his forearms on the table and folded his hands. He inhaled slowly, willing his mind to quit wandering back to the woman.

  “Your leg is shaking.” Taban gestured under the table. “Has something happened?”

  Kailas calmed his nervous leg with a long exhale. He needed to get it together.

  Taban had been his best friend there at the Monastery the past eight years. He’d never been afraid to tell Kailas his opinion on anything, even if it could get him ejected from the Brotherhood. If there was anyone Kailas could confide in, it was Taban.

  He waited until the breakfast hour was over and they had a thirty minute break before the first morning prayer began.

  Kailas tapped Taban’s shoulder and whispered,“Come with me.” He led them to a room full of extra robes where they wouldn’t be overheard.

  He’d always been someone to figure out his problems himself. When he was in his early teenage years and his father wanted him to visit brothels with him, he’d volunteered for a steelsmith that lived near their house so he would be too busy to go anywhere with his father. With his mother gone, he had no one to rely on but himself.

  Which is why he’d join the Brotherhood. In the Monastery, he had found a new family. The problem weighing on his mind now wasn’t one most of the Monks would understand, but Taban was different from the rest of them.

  “What has you so on edge today?” Taban asked as Kailas closed the door.

  Kailas checked behind all the robes to make sure they were truly alone. “If I confide in you, you must swear on our friendship you won’t share what I say with a single soul.” This could turn out to be one of the stupidest things he’d ever done, but he trusted his friend. And with such a life-altering choice to be made, a friend was exactly what he needed. He’d spent days searching within for an answer and had found nothing, and soon, he’d have to decide.

  Taban tilted his head as his forehead crinkled in concern. He folded his hands into a prayer motion and bowed. “You have my word.”

  “There is something I never told you about myself. Something I’ve never told anyone.” Merely telling him his biggest secret wouldn’t be enough. No, he would need to show him for him to truly understand. He raised his hand and turned his palm to Taban. Then using his gift, he blew a gentle breeze into his friend’s face.

  Taban’s gaze shifted between Kailas’s empty hand to his face a few times. “I don’t understand.”

  “I am an air mage.” The words came out like staccatos.

  Kailas waited for his friend to storm out of the room, disgusted at what he’d just shown him. He could tell the Friar and, at the least, Kailas would be kicked out. At the worst, they’d detain him and call from the guards to take him into custody until he could be hung.

  But Taban’s eyes lit up as a smile formed on his face. “You have magic?”

  Kailas nodded. “I came here to pray it away, but my plan failed.”

  “Why would you ever wish something like that away?” He grabbed his hand and poked Kailas’s palm.

  “It’s one of the gravest sins.” Even as he spoke the words, Kailas knew he didn’t quite believe them. On one hand, their scripture taught that magic was meant only for the Divine and it had been stolen by mortals. But another part of him couldn’t understand why the Divine wouldn’t simply take it back if it didn’t want humans to possess the gift.

  He released Kailas’s hand and asked, “Do you ever wonder why magic has been forbidden inside Lyria?”

  Kailas straightened out one of the robes that was out of place as he pondered the question. “I never used to, but when I realized after years of denying my magic resulted in nothing, I’m more confused than ever.” Speaking this truth released an invisible weight from his chest. Monks weren’t supposed to question the scripture, but since testing his powers and realizing his worst fear had come true, he couldn’t help but hope that somehow, the teachings were wrong about mages.

  He was surprised at Taban’s quick acceptance. “You don’t believe that magic is evil?”

  Taban stepped toward him and lowered his voice. “I joined the Brotherhood because I wanted a family and a purpose, not because I believe in everything they teach us. I believe any sort of power is evil only if it’s used in an evil manner. Think how much good magic could do. How many lives it could save if we weren’t so afraid of it.”

  Kailas digested his words. He’d never thought of it that way. If he used his gift of harnessing air for good, could it be a blessing and not a curse? “I have one other gift.”

  Taban watched him eagerly as Kailas struggled to confess the next part of his confliction. “Which is?”

  “I sometimes see glimpses of the future. My mother did too.” Kailas’s heart raced in his chest as he purged the rest of his dilemma. He told Taban everything. Who his father was. What his mother’s last prediction was. He shared the dreams he’d been having of the beautiful woman as something tore through her. Every time he’d had the same dream, he felt her pain stronger than before. “I believe she is who my mother told me I must save. But I know that doing so will jeopardize my part in the Brotherhood. If anyone finds out about my magic, I will be executed.”

  “What does your heart tell you?” Taban asked.

  Although his friend had spoken the words, he heard his mother’s voice. She had taught him that his heart was his strongest weapon. She was the kindest person he’d ever met, and she preached that love was the most sacred thing of all.

  “That if I don’t save the woman, her death will be on my hands.”

  “And if you do save her?”

  This was the scariest part of all. Kailas’s intuition told him that if he followed his mother’s wish and rescued the woman as his dream was urging him to do, his entire life would turn upside down. He had made an oath to the Divine when he took his vows to remain celibate and keep his focus away from any lustful thoughts.

  But he couldn’t deny the woman’s beauty, or the connection he already felt to her even though they’d never met. The link would only strengthen if he followed the path that led to her. He couldn’t take that road and remain part of the Brotherhood. And if he wasn’t a Monk, then what was he?

  Choosing to save her was choosing the unknown.

  And that terrified him.

  Zarah

  The time had come.

  Zarah walked down the stairs of Eli’s house toward the two men who she already cared so much for. Both were dressed in fine tunics, adorned with swirls of embroidery and even some beadwork. The look fit Eli perfectly, but it was a change to see Taariq in such fancy attire. She hadn’t thought he could look better than he did as their bodies joined together, clothless, but the green accents of his tunic brought out the green in his eyes.

  Her dress stood out the most, though. A see-through lavender gauze layer topped the cream colored dress underneath. The high neckline hugged her neck, with intricate beading sewn into the dress’s top. It cinched at her waist, accentuating the slight curve of her hips.

  Eli had purchased them all outfits yesterday after dropping their luggage off at his ship. Today, they needed to blend in, which meant not carrying any trunks of clothing. It also meant dressing lavishly in respect for the royal wedding. Although not all Lyrians could afford such fine attire, the ones who could would draw less attention and be allowed closer to the cathedral, which they would have to pass on their way to the dock.

  As much as Zarah loved the dress, knowing she wore it to honor Marius in any way made her ill. But she reminded herself it was also to honor her sister, who deserved so much more than she was getti
ng.

  Growing up, Zarah cared little for what her someday wedding would be. But Aerilyn dreamed of lavish flowers and the most elegant dress in all the kingdom. In this idealistic vision, she would marry the kindest of men who would have eyes for no one but her, and they would have many beautiful babies and live happily ever after. It was a childish wish, and one that no matter who Aerilyn married, would never live up to the expectation. But Marius was the complete opposite of who Zarah’s little sister dreamed about.

  “Ready?” Eli asked as she descended the final stair.

  She nodded, her throat suddenly too thick to speak.

  He handed her a headscarf made from the same material as the underneath layer of the dress. “This will help keep anyone from recognizing you.”

  She took it and wrapped it over her head. “Better?”

  Something swirled in his stare. “You look ravishing.”

  Zarah bit her lip, remembering the taste of his kiss the night before. Where Taariq was intense, Eli was restrained. Their moment had made her feel safer than she’d ever felt, and she was certain if he hadn’t stopped it, she would have let him have her body as Taariq already had.

  Did that make her horrible? She had made no commitments to either of the men, but in a world where women were prized by their chastity, she couldn’t help but wonder if her desire for both men would make her dirty in their eyes.

  None of that mattered right then. As they walked down the buzzing streets, the only thing on her mind was her little sister. Had Aerilyn worn the necklace she’d picked out for Zarah, or had she stuck with the one she’d chosen for herself? Or maybe she picked an entirely new one.

  As Eli had predicted, the streets were packed with everyone desperate to get as close as they could to the cathedral for the wedding. The three of them used the crowd just as they’d planned. Although guards were scattered through the mass of bodies, they were easy to spot and, therefore, easy to avoid.

  As long as Zarah kept her head low, she was unlikely to be recognized in the sea of Lyrians.

  The quickest way to the dock was directly by the cathedral. If they hurried, they could make it there and onto the boat during the wedding.

  Eli, the tallest of the three, took the lead as the crowd grew denser. He held one of Zarah’s hands and Taariq held the other as they squeezed through small spaces. But the crowd was even larger than they predicted, causing them to move much slower than they’d planned.

  Although everyone had dressed in their finest outfits, the differences in wealth were more apparent than ever. Some families had managed to wear unwrinkled clothing, but it was free of any nicer materials or embroidery accents. Others wore outfits nearly as fancy as the Queen herself would be wearing, although Zarah’s mother dressed like that on a daily basis, not just for the occasion.

  Some parents clung to their children’s hands, others let them sit on their shoulders as the anticipation grew.

  “Move,” Eli said as they neared the cathedral. He glanced back at Zarah. “We are going to have to wait until the ceremony is over and follow the people heading toward the dock. If we’re moving in the opposite direction of the ceremony now, it’ll draw too much attention.”

  The original goal to be to the docks during the wedding meant Zarah wouldn’t have to witness her sister wed the bastard. She didn’t like the sudden change of plans.

  “We can at least get around to the far side of the cathedral so you don’t have to watch,” Eli suggested.

  The choice was hers. They could stop where they were or hurry around to get the ceremony out of her view. Truthfully, neither were ideal. She hated Marius with every fiber of her being, and seeing him on that stage as he tied himself to her sister was almost too much for her to even think about. But soon, she’d be on a ship, leaving Lyria forever. This was her last chance to see her mother, father, sister, and brother. Was avoiding Marius worth missing a final goodbye to her family?

  She remembered Eli’s words when he called her the bravest person she knew. Although, he just didn’t know her well enough to see the fear in her heart, the idea that he believed in her brought her comfort.

  “I want to watch.” As soon as she gave her answer, her hands began to shake. “I have to see them, if only for a moment.”

  Both men squeezed her fingers.

  “Let’s get around to this side, so we can slip out as soon as it’s over.” Eli guided them to the far right section of the crowd. “Keep your headscarf on and your chin tipped down.”

  Now that they weren’t moving, the men kept close, guarding her on each side.

  Soon, six Lyrian guards and six Cardasian guards took to the outside of the balcony as the trumpets sounded, playing the Lyrian anthem first followed by the Cardasian song. Zarah had never heard their anthem until their first visit to the palace when her father finalized the agreement. She doubted many of the people there witnessing the wedding had any idea what the tune being played really was.

  Then the music stopped and the crowd fell silent as her father stepped out onto the balcony.

  “Thank you all for coming to be a part of this historic event,” he said. Only those in the front section had any chance of hearing him. Even at the end where Zarah was, she had to focus on his voice or she wouldn’t have been able to decipher his words. “Today, my daughter will join Prince Marius of Cardasia and our kingdoms will be united in peace.” Although he wore a smile, there was sadness in his tone.

  Those closest to the king applauded first. The rest of the crowd followed as a wave of clapping rolled out from the cathedral.

  Zarah wondered what her parents thought of her. In order to keep the alliance her father had worked so hard for, he’d had no choice but to strip her title. But did he hope she was found so she could be held accountable for the magic she now possessed? He’d been so angry when he punished her as a child over her mere desire for the gift of harnessing an element. Had the emotion been out of hatred for mages, or was he merely a father who didn’t want his daughter to wind up in trouble as she had perfectly managed to do?

  Her father walked back out of view, and when he returned, his arm was locked with her mother’s, who was wearing the most beautiful dress Zarah had ever seen. Its deep aqua blue reminded her of the sea. The long sleeves were regal, and she could only imagine the fine details she was too far away to see.

  Her mother had never spoken of magic, but she’d always warned Zarah to control her emotions and to accept her life as a princess. Would she blame Zarah for everything that had happened over the past two weeks? Could she forgive her if she knew the truth of it all?

  Her parents walked to the middle where her father had spoken, waved to the crowd, then turned to their right and took their place on the far side of the balcony.

  As desperately as she wished to explain her side of everything, she would never get a chance. Soon, she’d be on a boat away from Lyria, never again returning home.

  Next, the Cardasian King and Queen also came out and greeted the crowd, drawing a considerably quieter applause, and turned to their left.

  Zarah’s brother was the next one to wave and follow her parents, and finally, the High Priest took his spot front and center.

  The trumpets sounded again and played the Lyrian wedding song as Prince Marius and Aerilyn stepped out onto the balcony together, their inside arms linked and outside hands locked.

  Zarah couldn’t have imagined such a gorgeous bride, not even in her wildest of dreams. Her sister’s hair was curled in long, thick waves, with a bright and sparkly crown sitting atop her head. The off-white material of her dress shined in the sunlight like an opal, perfectly hugging her shapely body. It was even more beautiful than the ones she had described to Zarah as a child. At least one part of her wedding had lived up to her dream.

  Marius’s suit was made of the same fabric, embellished with thick, golden embroidery. A fake grin was plastered on his face, which now held a red, hand-shaped scar on one side.

  Satisfaction p
ulsed inside Zarah’s chest.

  As beautiful as her sister looked, it should have been her up there. Because it didn’t matter how lovely the prince might appear, she knew how ugly he was inside.

  “We will now begin the ceremony, joining these two pure souls under the eyes of the Divine,” the Priest said.

  Marius stepped to the left of the priest on the same side his family had gone to and Aerilyn moved to his right. After he took a step back, the two held hands.

  Zarah zoned out as he led them in the vows that would tie them together till death. But even if somehow Marius miraculously died, as a widow, Aerilyn would be undesirable to most men. They wanted the freedom to do as they pleased with prostitutes, but when it came to a woman, her virginity was the most prized of possessions.

  She was glad hers was gone. Even if she had no idea what her future held, or what Taariq and she were to each other, taking that step meant she now controlled her body.

  Her gaze drifted to the tallest of the Cardasian guards who stood at the edge of the balcony. He scanned the crowd as the ceremony continued. When he’d turned far enough, Zarah could see the long, dark scar that cut across his face from above one eyebrow to the opposite corner of his mouth.

  A chill washed over her.

  “I now, through the power of the Divine flowing in me, twine these souls together until death.” The Priest clasped his hands over theirs and raised them into the air.

  The crowd erupted in loud applause.

  Zarah focused on her sister, soaking in everything she could in this final glance.

  Suddenly, Aerilyn’s eyes widened in fear as she stared at the priest.

  At first, Zarah thought her sister was just reacting to the shock of her new marriage, but then the Priest fell to the ground. Marius pulled Aerilyn toward him, holding her arms behind her so she couldn’t escape.

  Then everything happened so fast. Arrows struck the foreheads of three of the Lyrian guards as three Cardasian guards attacked the others. The Cardasian King and Queen stayed put as two of their guards crossed the balcony in three long strides, pulling daggers from their sword belts.