Page 85 of King Elijah (The Zemiran Chronicles 2)

Even the thought of cowering to that man made him nauseous.

“Why are you telling me this?” Elijah asked. “Why do you even care?”

“Because,” the Oracle said. “I have been a prisoner under Kieran and his family’s control for over a decade. His death will set me free.”

She closed her eyes, and her body went still. The light in the room dimmed, and the Oracle stood unmoving as if she were simply a tree at the center of the greenhouse.

Elijah reached out to Janelle, placed his hand on her cheek, and leaned forward, pressing his forehead against hers.

“I don’t understand what just happened,” she said. “I—”

The knowledge was burning inside Elijah’s mind—everything was clear now.

“Kieran knew,” he said. “Kieran was never going to kill me, Janelle.”

She blinked. “What?”

“He knew we were bound by magic, by the Gods. He knew the two of us would grow to care for each other, and I would undoubtedly sacrifice everything I have to save your life.”

She leaned back and shook her head. “What are you talking about—”

“The entire purpose for sending you was to ensure that we met. The Oracle showed him this outcome far before it happened. He wants to bargain with your life for what he wants most.” He stepped forward. “I’ll give it to him for you.” He reached out to touch her, but she stepped back. “I was always going to give it to him for you if I had to.”

“Give him what?”

“Zemira.”

Janelle looked at him as if he had grown a second head. “If you give up Zemira for me, you truly are an idiot!”

Turning to storm out, Janelle jerked to a stop as Elijah grabbed her by the back of the neck and pulled her back toward him. He didn’t have it in him to be gentle; too much was at stake. The buzz of fear and confusion flushed through his veins. He stared down at Janelle as she slammed into his chest.

She shoved at him, but he didn’t let go of her, snaking his other arm around her waist and holding her firmly against him. When her face grew fierce, he smirked.

“And I’m not sorry for this!” he said.

“For—”

He closed the space between them and crushed his lips into hers, silencing her words. His magic dimmed as her own power blanketed them.

His nostrils flared as he released her. “Don’t ever walk away from me again,” he ordered, watching her lips part.

“Excuse me?” she said, watching his mouth curl up. He still found her temper amusing.

“I said to stop walking away from me. I won’t be the only one admitting that what the Oracle just revealed to us doesn’t feel real.”

“I didn’t say it wasn’t real. I feel it, too, in every fiber of my bones. But it still doesn’t mean I’m worth trading for Zemira. Stop playing with everyone’s lives, Elijah! Your people depend on you.”

“I know we haven’t known each other long, Janelle,” he said, “but surely you know me well enough by now to know I always have a plan. I need you to trust me. Do you?” He tried to keep the vulnerability out of his voice as he spoke, but there was still a slight waver in the words.

Janelle looked at him for a moment. It felt like she was looking into him. Like every inch of him was something she already owned. Every part of Elijah had been splayed out and nailed down on a board for her to examine.

She nodded.

“Good.” Elijah tried to push past his brief moment of doubt and focus on the task at hand. “Firstly, how much do you trust Kora?”

Janelle smiled. “I trust her with my life.”

Elijah nodded. “Once the sun sets tomorrow night, I need her to drop the rune shield around the property without Kieran knowing.”

---