by Alia Johnson
“You always are quick to attack, never first to ask questions,” Magnamar remarked, muscles tensing in preparation in case Endemion would do something foolish. The Prince was known to be ruthless in battle.
Endemion smirked, eyes turning back to their dark color, the tension leaving his body.
“You two know each other?” Vashti asked, looking back and forth. “Where’s Saphira?” She didn’t see her little sister with the small group.
Endemion turned his head to look down at his big sister. His expression turned thoughtful. She looked healthy, happy here in the halls of Baklan. The fire inside her that she tried to hide gave her life that she would never have in Merdi or Romule.
“Magnamar sends invitations to Baklan’s trial to the ruler of Merdi, Vashti. Odesha and Kunchok are on their way to rescue Saphira. I expect them to be there already, as we ran into some… situations on the way here. After we leave here, we intend to meet them in the Forest.” Odesha would keep Saphira safe. Vashti let out a sigh of relief; thankful someone was in the Forest already.
Vashti grabbed Endemion’s hand tightly. “Thank, Freyja! Odesha will drag Saphira out of that place if she has to.” She quirked a brow. “Why did you never tell me about the invitations?”
Endemion narrowed his eyes. “You never asked.”
“Men!” shouted Rainey, shaking her head at Endemion. “You have to ask for everything. Maybe we just want something freely given.”
Endemion’s eyes turned to her. “You didn’t have to ask before, Rainey. I did.”
“What did you ask Rainey for?” Vashti wondered aloud, looking between the two curiously. She had never seen Rainey so flustered before.
Rainey was blushing, her eyes shifting everywhere but to Endemion.
“Rainey needed help finding you. Luckily, you told Odesha where you were, and I sent Odesha to the Forest in response. During our trip, I noticed it is storming hard there, though.” Endemion seemed uninterested in Rainey’s distress.
Maybe it was nothing after all.
Vashti decided to change the subject. “I’m sorry about your brother, Rainey. Even though he was an evil prick, he mentioned he had information about the storm, but we didn’t retrieve anything. My friend, Medorah, tells me the Pit Dynast knows who is controlling the storm.”
Rainey shrugged. She moved closer to whisper to Vashti, “I’m glad he’s gone, and you know why. My younger brother will be a good king, I believe. I wanted to tell you how sorry I am for leaving you alone in Romule. I wanted to find my step-mother so badly I abandoned the Incendie for my revenge. I abandoned you. I feel like I betrayed our friendship, and it’s been eating away at me.”
Vashti could tell Rainey had been agonizing over her decision to leave the Incendie. Vashti decided to be honest with her. “Don’t apologize for leaving, Rainey. You stayed with the Incendie after being hurt for years, when I was only there a short time. I would’ve left long ago to escape if I was you. The only reason I stayed after I met Ruben was because I met you. If you were still in Romule after I left, they would’ve used you against me to bring me back. I don’t think I would have had a second chance. I’ve felt the same way, though, trust me. I believed I had abandoned you this whole time.”
Rainey looked relieved. She let out a large sigh like a significant burden had been released. “Thank you. I’ve thought this was all my fault. That what happened to you was because of me.”
Vashti hurried to reassure her, “No! Stop that right now, Rainey. You are one of the strongest people I know. Don’t let the dead do this to you. Be free of your guilt. There’s no need for it here. You are one of my best friends and always will be.”
Nodding, Rainey raised her voice for Endemion to hear, “I only recently heard about this growing storm moving across Kaia after going to Antiqua. The black clouds crawling over the Bijou Forest were the first I have seen of it.”
“I know only from what I’ve seen in Kunchok’s mind,” noted Endemion absently. “He is Odesha’s new husband, Magnamar. Someone is hiding. The one that controls the chaos is gaining power. Kunchok couldn’t speak our language so I decided to see if he had been telling the truth about monsters skulking on the ice. Vashti, when Odesha told me you had been kidnapped before boarding Autum’s ship, we all feared the worst.”
Vashti gasped. “I forgot to ask you, Endemion. How is Autum? I didn’t see what happened to him on the pier after we fell.”
“Autum ran as fast as he could to the guards at Romule, notifying them of what happened from what I hear from our spies. He vowed to retrieve Saphira and took his men with him to the Forest. I’m not sure what happened to him or if he’s made it to Bijou. He will be racing Odesha and Kunchok, if so.”
Autum was Endemion’s best friend since childhood; it would be a hard loss on him if he was gone. Autumn was also rumored to be Saphira’s intended, citing a fancy for her since he was a young boy.
“I trust you will keep my sister safe and happy, Magnamar. I may need your strength if this storm gets worse,” Endemion shouted. He looked up to the high throne Mar sat on. Endemion and Rainey had to travel to the Forest quickly to meet Odesha and Kunchok; they didn’t have a lot of time for pleasantries.
Even though Endemion stood lower than Mar on the ground, the Dark Prince was still intimidating with his power.
“You have my support, Endemion. Vashti controls her own happiness and safety.” Mar looked down at Vashti who was grinning happily.
Endemion snorted. He opened his arms and enfolded Vashti in a hug.
“Are you happy here?” Endemion whispered in Vashti’s hair.
“More than I’ve ever been,” she replied, shocked she was in her brother’s arms.
Endemion nodded, tightening his arms. “I’m proud of you.”
He released her.
Vashti stumbled backwards. She wasn’t used to praise, especially from her only brother. Vashti’s eyes trained to the most likely culprit hiding in the shadows.
Rainey’s expression turned innocent.
Vashti turned to Endemion and swallowed nervously. “Be… be safe… brother.”
Turning to Rainey, Endemion hid his smile. “Are you coming, master?”
“You’re not still mad about that little lie are you, Prince?” Rainey pouted, moving toward the exit.
Endemion sighed, taking her arm to lead her away. “You try my patience.”
Vashti called out to Rainey, “I’ll be there if you need me. Both of you!”
Rainey waved her hand, saying good-bye, knowing Vashti was telling the truth.
The Dark Prince and Rainey exited the room escorted by the guardians.
Magnamar called for Vashti, placing his hand on her throne to break her stare from her exiting family. Shocked, she walked over to sit back down and contemplate how much her view of life had just changed in such a short amount of time.
He’s proud of me.
“Happy, love?” Magnamar asked, rubbing the top of her hand lightly.
“More than I had ever hoped I would be,” Vashti answered with a smile.
Magnamar turned to the council. “The storm threatening us threatens our allies. Merdi will call upon us soon to lend them aid in their time of need. Then, Baklan will answer their call.”
The Generals cheered. They raised their mugs to the air and toasted the upcoming war. Mar and Vashti stood together to exit the room.
“Where are we going?” Vashti asked him, following his lead through the hall.
Mar tapped on a wall to find the hidden lever to pull down. He found the lever and opened the passageway.
“To feed the lotle worms.”
Vashti clapped her hands in her excitement. “I love feeding them!”
Mar raised an eyebrow. “Do you?”
She nodded firmly. “Do you doubt me?”
Snorting, Mar stated, “Never. You surprise me every day.” The chamber in front of them was boiling hot. The magma was swishing and spitting like it was ready to be empti
ed.
“Great Baklan, it is hot in here.” The heat usually didn’t bother Vashti, but today it was sweltering.
Mar smirked. “You can take your clothes off in here. No one dares enter without my order, and if they did, I would make sure they wouldn’t ever see again.”
His ferocity sparked something inside her. She slowly began to strip each part of her dress, her shoulders rolling with the freedom of the warm magma surrounding her.
“Like this?” She threw her head back and placed her hands on her hips to show Mar her confidence.
“Perfect.” Mar had stripped his clothing off. His thick cock swung between his legs as he entered the pool of magma to the tops of his thighs. “Come, my Queen. I’ll take your heat in the fires of Baklan.”
Vashti walked with shaky legs to the corner of the pool. She was already anticipating joining with him. Mar scooped her up into his arms and sealed their mouths together, their tongues dueling, their seeking hands clenching each other tightly.
“I’ll never get enough of you,” he promised her.
Vashti moaned, wrapped her legs around Mar, and felt him begin to push inside her. It was becoming easier to take him, but she still had to work her way down. He gripped her hips tightly, shoving her back and forth to find the rhythm he wanted. Their heavy breaths could be heard between the bubbles of magma popping, their sweat joining each other. They cried out when they found their release together, their bodies stilling with movement to enjoy the aftershocks of pleasure.
Vashti rested her head on Mar’s shoulder. “I love you, Mar.”
He kissed her on top of the head and gripped her tightly. “As I love you, Vashti.”
Chapter 25
Vashti joined Medorah to walk through the garden of Baklan. It had become their favorite place to explore in the weeks after the battle with Ruben and his men.
Besides the tunnels.
But Magnamar and Gorius didn’t need to know about their spying habits they had developed together.
“What do you think about the storm, Rah?” Vashti asked, picking a red rose from the archway. She smelled the sweet scent coming from it.
Medorah shrugged. She was busy playing with Bitsy on a bench. “I think the person responsible for this mess will be sorry they attacked our people.”
“Are you happy?” Vashti asked curiously, lightly touching a petal.
“Gorius is the one,” Medorah replied simply. “Are you happy, Dragon Queen?”
“Yes. I've never felt this love before. It consumes my every thought.”
Medorah smirked. “Now you sound like a poet.”
“Ah, here comes the objects of our conversation now,” announced Vashti happily. Gorius and Mar walked together toward them with their heads close together, plotting something.
“I'll have to tell Gorius his egg has been planted,” mused Medorah, staring at Vashti out of the corner of her eye.
Vashti nodded absently. “Yes, that would definitely be something important to... WHAT?!” Vashti's gaze swung around. She looked down at Medorah's barely visible bump. “So soon?”
Medorah shrugged. “The Pit's eggs don't take long to grow. I won't have eggs often, but this Baklan cycle proved fertile.”
“It's way too soon for me to tell,” Vashti said softly, mainly to herself, placing her palm over her belly. She stared wistfully at Mar as he walked toward them with Gorius at his side.
What would their child be like?
“I'm happy for you, Rah.”
“What are you two whispering about?” Gorius shouted, sprinting toward their bench when he spotted them.
Medorah placed a finger to her lips, signaling Vashti to be quiet. Vashti nodded her head. Her lips were bursting with the secret. She was horrible at keeping secrets and wanted to tell Mar as soon as they were alone. But she would keep this one.
Unless Medorah came up with a new nickname for her.
Mar quirked his eyebrow at Vashti, and she knew she wouldn't last the night without telling him.
Mar approached Vashti. “We have word from your sister, Vashti. And from the Pit Dynast, Medorah.”
Vashti sat up. “I was wondering when Odesha would send her congratulations. Running to the Forest probably slowed the news or our marriage.”
He shook his head patiently. “Not Odesha. Saphira.”
Vashti gasped, grabbing his hand tightly. The knobs and spikes of his hand didn't bother her. He was a loving husband that would keep her protected. His appearance didn’t matter.
“Where is she? Is she alright?”
The Horde King himself hesitated. When he glanced at Medorah, Vashti knew something was wrong.
“Endemion found Saphira's whereabouts. He says she was taken to the Pit.”
Vashti's paled. She remembered the stories Rah had told of the Pit and the Dynast. She looked at Medorah when she asked fearfully, “Will she survive?”
“It depends on who in the Pit has her.”
“Mar, we must hurry to the Forest,” cried Vashti. She couldn’t bear it if something happened to Saphira. The guilt would eat away at her until nothing was left.
“We are leaving in the morning, my precious Queen. Nothing will stop us from saving your sister. If I have to raise the entire Forest and present their heads on pikes to you, I will do so.”
“Well, I don’t think it will come to that,” Medorah said patiently. She was used to the men fiercely defending them, but there were too many heads rolling around Baklan. It was time for peace.
“Rah is right. It won’t come to that. The Forest will keep her safe. Saphira is clever and strong. We will make it in time.”
Baklan help the Forest if they didn’t.
Vashti turned to Medorah. “Are you ready to escape to the Forest, Rah?” She was only half-joking, but Vashti would find a way through the tunnels if Mar didn’t take her.
Gorius and Mar were interrupted before they could begin to ask when the two women had planned to escape in the past.
Smiling, the snake woman replied easily, “I’ll always be ready, Dragon Queen.”
The roars of the men shook the garden of Baklan with their rage. The women ignored them until they finished.
Vashti said loudly, in front of her friends, and Bitsy, “I love you, my fierce Horde King.”
Mar crossed his arms and flared his wings out, the magma flowing with fire. “Not as much as I love you, my Dragon Queen. You can escape Baklan, but you won’t ever escape me. We will stand together through the storm of war. Through time and trials.”
Laughing, Vashti agreed. She threaded her softer hand through his to hold on tight.
“Forever.”
Author’s Note
Vashti and Mar had a rocky courtship, but I hoped you enjoyed all the twists and turns I added. The next book in this series will be Saphira’s story.
If you would like to read Odesha’s story (the first in the Blood War series) it is called A Frozen Heart and is available now on Amazon.
These books can be read as standalone, but my characters do make appearances in each story. (The storm links each character in different ways.)
I have many exciting projects coming in 2020 from standalones to a new series that starts March 2020. My Facebook page has the most up to date information with teasers and announcements that I post weekly, so come join the fun!
There’s always a love story waiting to be told.
A Frozen Heart
A Blood War Novel
Sometimes the choices we make can be colder than ice…
When cursed vampire, Princess Odesha, is captured, she fears she won't be able to keep the promise she made her father. Each step she takes across the barren wasteland of snow, is a step farther away from helping the people in the kingdom. In a race against time, she must figure out how to escape the mountain and fulfill her destiny, before the ice takes over her heart completely. But her heart is torn... between the promise she made and a tribe of people whose lead hunter makes her want to b
ite and never let go.
As the dark presence crosses the ice bringing war, Odesha must choose between saving her frozen heart...or the kingdom she promised to protect.
Secrets of the tribe wait to be discovered...
Mysterious Kunchok is the fearless leader of the hidden tribe on the ice. Tasked with providing food from a dwindling source in a winter like they've never seen, he finds a pale woman running through the dangerous forest. There is something different about her, something that makes his heart beat harder than an orik raid. Instincts kick in and he's overwhelmed with the need to keep her safe. To find out her purpose, he brings her to his tribe only to discover that she doesn't speak his language.
With both of their worlds threatened, Kunchok must decide whether to save his princess... or his tribe on the brink of starvation.
READ NOW
Alia’s Book List
Available Now
A Frozen Heart (Odesha and Kunchok)
A Golden Heart (Vashti and Magnamar)
Coming Soon
A Gentle Heart (Saphira’s story, pending release date)
The Witch’s Door (March 2020)
A Dark Heart (Endemion’s story, pending release date)
GLOSSARY
Kaia (place)- The entire world
Merdi (place)- A multi-cultural kingdom between Antiqua and Romule, includes a shipping port, ruler is King Desmond
Romule- Kingdom of the magisters, began the blood war, ruler is King Rion
Antiqua- The northernmost kingdom, multi-cultural, the people mainly mine salt for Merdi
Baklan- The southernmost kingdom of Kaia. Neighbors Romule.
Forest of Bijou- Borders Romule and Baklan.
Blood Treaty- A peaceful agreement signed between Romule and Merdi to end the Blood War
Reawakening- Ritual to convert vampire children from food to blood. It is needed when the child becomes sick.