Page 59 of Blood of Two Crowns

Malekai stepped towards me. “I have no excuse, and I know there’s nothing I can do to make it right, but for what it’s worth, for the first time in my life, I have conviction and faith in the King I am serving, and I will do everything within my power to do you and our people justice.”

The tension and anger that had taken hold of every taught muscle in my body, lessened, even if only a little. Appreciation for this male blossomed further in my chest and I gave him a nod in acceptance.

Malekai turned and stepped onto the railing of the quarterdeck,willedaway his clothes to give us all an unabashed view of his golden backside before stepping off the railing.

I found myself holding my breath in that slip of a moment when he plummeted through the air and disappeared from view, returning a moment later as a gargantuan beast. The beat of his wings blew my hair back, tangling it in the crown he’d so easily convinced me to wear. Thick, lethal-looking horns and ridges ran in two rows across the top of his head and down his neck. His turquoise and gold scales glittered so fiercely beneath the sun I was forced to squint. My hand absently rubbed at the golden scale he’d set into a bracelet that he’d gifted me for protection.

The sight of his drakonati soaring through the air was nothing short of breathtaking, and for a moment, the world fell away as I stared in awe. Rumiel stepped up beside me, giving me a nod of affirmation and radiating pride. “You make me proud beyond words.”

My breath caught at his words, lancing a sweet, sharp pain straight through my heart. At that, his wings unfurled, and he took to the air.

A moment later, my wings stretched wide and beat powerfully to lift me into the air. I hovered there for several moments, overcome with overwhelming emotions, as I took in the sight of so many of my hopes and dreams culminating before my very eyes.

My affection for the male I’d once hated soared to new heights as I watched Malekai set the world on fire.

Chapter

Thirty-Two

MAREINA

Heads turned, double-taking asAtaraxusled me through tunnel after tunnel inside the mountain. Despite the frigid temperatures outside, it was balmy and warm inside. We passed through a cavernous dining hall where hundreds, if not thousands,of drankonati dined.

I craned my head backwards to look up at the ceiling before returning my gaze to Ataraxus. “Why am I here?”

His features tensed with remorse. “I’m not one for dishonesty, and I’d be loathe to begin our relationship on lies, so I’ll risk your wrath and be honest: Azrael made a bargain with me.”

Relief washed over me that this male actually told me the truth. Ataraxus’ expression softened with apology as he continued. “He asked me to keep you distracted and sated.”

I quirked an accusatory brow. “And what do you have to gain from this bargain?”

Ataraxus’ gaze somehow turned both dark and reverent.“You mean other thanyou?”

My breathing hitched as something pulled tight between us. If it was anyone else, I’d fucking gut them where they stand, but for some reason, I felt powerfully compelled to do the opposite.

“When he initially approached me, I thought to convince you to open a portal for us. To leave this place. Not the whole of Vassileo, just the drakonati, but…”

His words drifted and I was left holding my breath. Ataraxus shook his head as if deciding whatever he was about to say.

“… Anyway, I should clarify: I have no desire to keep you here against your will. Though I do wish more than anything, you allow me to remain by your side. And I would also like to have my healers remove that cursedrhytonAzrael buried in your chest. Until then, I would ask that you allow me to persuade you to bring me back to Bellorum with you…”

I opened my mouth as if it would conjure a logical reply, just as my gaze caught on a giant male with a leashed collar around his throat as he walked by. All dressed in fighting leathers, three females trailed behind the leashed male. Gaze drifting across the dining hall, I found several more leashed males peppered throughout—often several males to one female, sometimes the reverse, but only the males were leashed.

Were these slaves? Prisoners?How strange they’re all male.

“The drakonati keep slaves?”

Sex slaves it would seem.

Ataraxus frowned.“Slaves?”

I inclined my head towards the nearest leashed male. Ataraxus followed my gaze, bursting into a hearty laugh. “They’re newly mated. We’re a matriarchal society. Every newly mated male, as a display of their undying love and devotion to their females, wears a leash and collar. Usually for an entire moon cycle, but sometimes for longer. It depends upon each mated pair.”

My brows had taken residence somewhere uncomfortably close to my hairline. Ataraxus’ lips twitched with amusement. “I nearly forgot that’s not custom to anyone in Bellorum.”

“Have you been there?”

“I was born there.”

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