Page 34 of Sins of His Wrath

A shiver skated over her skin, her nipples hardened and the flutter in her stomach flared out of control, but she spoke calmly. “Yes.”

When he said nothing more, she continued. “While I’m in your land, I will be a guest,” she said. “No imprisonment, no torture. I will be treated as your most valued and treasured ally. I may need help understanding your land and how magic functions there. And I’ll require your full cooperation. Any attempt to hinder my progress will void the contract.” She paused in thought. “I’ll need at least three months to do this, and I’ll need to come back here periodically to consult with those who understand the magic.”

Displeasure bled into his expression. “There is no reason for me to agree to this.”

Naya steeled herself. It was always obvious this would come down to one question; what would she be willing to give up if she failed? And what would he? She took a slow, steady breath. “If I don’t solve the problem your land is having with magic… then you can have the Lox Empire. No one will challenge you for it, not the Lox, not my father, not me.”

Even as the words came out of her mouth, dread spread in her stomach. She was the Lox Princess, the next ruler of the empire. She and Papa had agreed that she was in charge of the defense against this enemy. Her word on this overruled his, Mama’s, everyone’s. It couldn’t be taken back. If she failed to do what she promised, the empire—her home, her people—would be lost to the cruelest man she’d ever encountered.

For a long moment, Akoro said nothing. Then, slowly, he uncrossed his arms. “Let us call our witnesses.”

Naya hesitated, surprised. He watched her intently—a slow, measured stare—and a flurry of nerves jangled in her stomach. Why hadn’t he pushed back? Something about the way he looked at her—too intent, too still—made her nervous.

But getting this agreement done would be a huge step forward.

She drew in a quiet breath and unraveled the magic around them, sweeping it back up into the air.

Akoro turned, calling to his warriors. “Ral Prillu o?.”

Naya turned to the Lox. “Drocan?” Farther down the line, her brother stepped forward, his stance tense, his face carved in stone. “Get Auntie Victoya,” she called. “Quickly.”

Drocan glanced at Akoro, his fury sharp and unhidden, but he didn’t hesitate. He turned and threaded through the ranks of the Lox, heading back toward the palace.

“Nayara,” Papa bellowed. “What are you doing?”

Naya turned to him, meeting his eyes, but it was Mama’s reaction that caught her attention. She stood at his side with a small smile and nodded. Naya smiled back, the warmth of it settling deep inside her. In her core, she knew she was doing the right thing, and she was the only one who could do it.

When she turned back to Akoro, her gaze drifted upward, locking onto his eyes. And that was a mistake. Deep within them was a fierce blend of determination, resolve, and… need. Raw, powerful and undeniable, she recognized it. It was the same way he looked at her during her heat.

The delicious heat that had gripped her during her dream flared up her spine, but she shoved the memory away, ignoring the tingling pull, and glared at him. Akoro might think he could still have her, but he couldn’t touch her. And as long as he was bound by this agreement, it didn’t matter what he wanted.

Auntie Victoya arrived first, and she positioned herself to Naya’s left, facing them. She looked calm and measured, dressed in formal Lox attire with parchment tucked under her arm, but Naya could tell she was nervous by the way she kept blinking and twitching her shoulders.

Within a few minutes, the magical structure in the forest fluctuated, and shortly after, Prillu emerged through the barrier of soldiers.

Shock hit Naya at her appearance. Prillu’s large expressive eyes were dull, her face a lifeless mask, as though she’d seen horrors she hadn’t recovered from. She looked as formal as she always did, in her fitted tunic, leathers and daggers, but her rich, thick hair hung stiff and brittle, and she moved cautiously and rigidly, without her usual grace.

The diplomat carried one of the writing slabs from her homeland, and positioned herself opposite Auntie Victoya on Naya’s right, so the four of them stood in a diamond formation; Naya and Akoro faced each other, the opposing rulers. Auntie Victoya and Prillu flanked them on either side, the official witnesses.

Naya recreated the magical shield around them all before she began speaking. “We’ve made an agreement to stop the war,” she told the women. “We’ll lay out our terms and requests. You are our witnesses to what we have agreed and the voices who will ensure each side upholds its promises.”

Auntie Vic remained carefully blank. Prillu’s face was grim, hard.

“I will return to the Sy Dynasty’s land as a guest,” Naya continued, “to neutralize the wild magic so it no longer harms the people.”

A sharp, visible jolt passed through Prillu. Her eyes snapped to Akoro. “The Solution?”

Akoro didn’t even look at her. “Yes.”

Naya looked between them. “What? What’s that?”

Prillu slowly turned to her. “What you are offering to do, we call it the Solution—the answer to ending the wild magic from destroying our land, a way to stop its destruction for good.” Her voice was flat, empty. “It is the only thing our people have ever desperately wanted from the beginning. A permanent fix. A way to tame the chaos.” She swallowed. “But while it is a sacred cause, it is a myth. It can’t be done. No one has succeeded. All who have tried… have died.”

Beside her, Auntie Vic tensed, but Naya didn’t react. If people had tried it before, it didn’t mean it would be impossible for her. Still, it did make her think twice. She met Akoro’s gaze again. It wasn’t surprising he hadn’t mentioned it.

“Then, yes.” Her voice remained steady. “I will find the Solution. If I fail, I will offer my empire freely and without condition or challenge.”

Auntie Vic visibly stiffened beside her, her blank expression fracturing as she shot an alarmed look at Naya.

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