Page 34 of Oath of War
‘That’s not my decision to make, pretty mage. The empress is the only one that can make that choice.’
‘Okay, then what can I do to convince her to join? Our two nations won’t stand a chance apart; together, we might defeat him,’ I urged, desperate to get something from him.
‘Survive the trial, lara’mei.1 My empress cherishes strength, and I’ve given you the opportunity not only to save Shen’ra’s line but make her believe humans can be worthy allies.’
‘So that’s why you helped me?’ I asked, confused. ‘What if I fail? You’re wagering the fate of two kingdoms on a supposedly impossible task.’
Something in Valaram’s stance softened at my words, though his expression remained unreadable. I thought I may have even detected a flicker of sincerity, a wish for my success.
‘I helped you to see how far you’d go to defend your man,’ he replied. ‘But even if I hadn’t, there is no other way, lara’mei. Your court is not the only one affected by the Lich King’s corruption. When your king faded into insanity, messages promising peace and prosperity to the fae and dwarven kingdoms arrived from the Barren Lands.Ifwe sacrificed Dagome. Even my empress is swaying, believing she may have to choose the lesser evil for the survival of our people.’
The world slowly began to tilt beneath me. I placed a hand on my chest, breathing hard as my heart raced, fighting a wave of panic.
‘Breathe, Domina. There is still hope ...’ Alaric’s voice echoed through a fog.
Now I understood. No one else had answered Reynard’s call for aid because they sought to purchase peace at the expense of Dagome’s future.
Valaram’s voice broke through my thoughts. ‘But the empress cannot refuse the goddess. Those who survive the trial earn the right to speak for the Dark Mother. All you have to do is ask for what you want.’
A question surfaced in my mind then, insistent and unshakable. ‘How did you know to bring the empress at the exact time of the attack?’
‘I have my spies,’ Valaram admitted with a faint smile. ‘I knew Alaric was in the city. What I didn’t know was whether the rumours of you being blood-bonded with him were true.’
This male—this scheming politician—had orchestrated events to force the empress into a corner, gambling my life on the slim chance I could accomplish the impossible.
I stepped forward, extending my hand to him. ‘Thank you.’
Valaram hesitated before taking my hand, his eyes searching mine for any sign of unease at touching a dark fae. His magic tingled on my fingertips as he bowed and lightly brushed his lips along my knuckles.
‘You’re welcome, lara’mei. What an intriguing creature you are. It’s a shame you are already mated—’ Valaram’s voice was velvet smooth, but it cut off as I felt Alaric’s hand settle firmly on my waist, pulling me closer to him.
‘She is,’ Alaric said, his voice laced with menace. ‘So please remember she is not your lara’mei.’
Valaram’s lips curved into a smirk, his head tilting slightly, unfazed by the warning. ‘My apologies, Shen’ra. But if your domina has any objections to me, I’m sure she’s capable of speaking for herself.’
I glanced between the two men, unsure of what had just happened. Valaram’s smug composure contrasted sharply with Ari’s coiled fury. Unwilling to be caught in the middle of their posturing, I turned towards the royal mage.
‘Are we done?’
‘Yes, we are done,’ he answered.
I exhaled slowly. ‘Good. Then I’ll see you tomorrow. Let’s hope the Dark Mother truly proves merciful.’ Not waiting for a response, I turned on my heel and left without a backward glance.
We slowly made our way to the gates, my mind racing over what we’d learned. Even though we’d gained more than I expected, I couldn’t escape the feeling that I was a puppet on someone else’s strings.
When we finally reached the horses, Alaric placed a hand on my shoulder, turning me before grasping the nape of my neck and kissing me, roughly staking his claim for the entire world to see.
‘Ari?’ I asked, my voice tinged with uncertainly as I pulled back slightly. This wasn’t like him—not my calm, steady fae. I’d have expected such an outburst from Orm, not Alaric.
‘Don’t let him get into your head,’ he said. ‘Valaram may have helped us, but don’t let him court you. You might think it’s harmless wordplay, but he knows exactly what he’s doing.’
Crimson swirled in his eyes, and his fingers pressed painfully into my flesh.
‘Are you jealous?’ I asked softly, the realisation dawning on me. My question seemed to strike a chord, and his grip softened as a shadow of guilt crossed his face.
‘Yes,’ he admitted after a long pause, his voice quieter. ‘I thought I was above such things, but I’m not. You aremine, Annika, mine and Orm’s. And I can’t—’
‘You don’t have to,’ I interrupted gently, placing a hand on his chest. ‘But please . . . take me home. I’m tired, and if I’m meant to face the fates tomorrow, I need to rest. You do, too.’
