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“We aren’t returning to Näkt Mir?”
“We will in the morning. Tonight, we camp with my soldiers.”
We had much to celebrate, and as their king, I must assure them all that I was one of them, that I was a king to be trusted, to follow.
“Is it safe for me?” she asked.
The tremble of fear in her voice fired anger in my blood. I didn’t like that. I had to remember that she’d been abducted, her handmaiden and fellow Issosian killed before she was dragged to Northgall by my father’s men. The faint bruise I’d noticed on her left cheek told me she hadn’t been treated gently. That was why I’d taken so much satisfaction in incinerating Erlik andmy father’s second in the throne room. One of them had been responsible for that.
Clenching my jaw, I studied her profile while the frigid wind gusted around us. “Hear me,” I commanded. “You will not be treated as my father would have. You are to be the mother of my heir. You will not be harmed in any way.”
“Will I not?” she arched a brow.
“You believe I plan to hurt you?”
She didn’t answer, keeping her gaze on the river below, a silvery serpent cutting across the land.
I scoffed, gripping her chin, and forced her to look at me. “Who do you think is going to harm you?”
She blinked nervously, a blush filling her cheeks as she averted her gaze.
“Ah.” I chuckled. “I suppose there will be some pain the first time. But you agreed to the terms.”
“I know what I agreed to. I know myduty.” Her words were laced with more ice than was in all of Northgall.
“You never know.” I let her chin go and whispered in her ear. “You may enjoy it.”
“Never.”
That had me outright laughing. She turned a surprised expression on me right as Drakmir dove for the encampment. She clutched the pommel tighter while I held onto her for the landing. Drak’s landings were always rough. Probably because of his adolescent isolation, he never learned from dragonkind. He was rougher and more savage due to that early separation from his family.
“Gloyen, Drak,” I crooned, praising him for flying us so well. I patted him roughly then climbed down first.
I didn’t even have to tell Una to come to me. She was ready to get off my dragon, hurrying down the rope ladder. Grasping heraround the waist, I eased her to the ground. Her breath hitched when I set her close to me.
Her hands clutched mine, she ordered in that royal air of hers, “You can let go now.”
“Best get used to my touch,” I told her before I stepped back.
We’d landed right outside the encampment. Drakmir stalked toward the trees, preferring to sleep there since there were no caves to be found nearby. Hundreds of tents dotted along the Bluevale River with some soldiers left behind tending to work, preparing for our return.
As we drew closer to my tent, Ogalvet stepped from the large fire he’d been tending. “Sire?” His yellow-eyed gaze slid to the woman trailing me, his fanged mouth hanging open in awe.
I stopped and gripped her hand, drawing her closer. “The army will be returning within the hour, Ogalvet. Can you prepare a plate and bring it to my tent for the princess?”
“Of course, Sire.” He planted his fist over his heart and bowed his head, horns forward in obedience.
“Thank you. Tell Keffa we’ve arrived and send Meck and Ferryn to guard my tent.”
“Right away, Sire.”
I’d had to wait for my kinsmen to complete the trial of the Kel Klyss before I finally met with Una. I’d brought all them and Keffa on Drakmir to the encampment, having received the message that Soryn had breached the city walls of Issos and would have it under control within a few days.
Dalya had assured me they both endured the trial with the strength of true wraith fae warriors. Ferryn had suffered the most, she reported, though he’d never asked to leave the site.
The trial required being chained in the lower caves of Vixet Krone beneath Näkt Mir where the spirits of Northgall whispered and roamed. Meck and Ferryn were given a single drop of water from Näkt Lykenzel, the black lake deepunderground. The sacred water invited the spirits to visit them. If they withstood the visitations all night, they could join my elite guard.
The test wasn’t one of physical strength, but mental. And whether they were devoted to me enough to take hours and hours of psychological torture. For the ghosts who dwelled in the heart of Vixet Krone weren’t all benevolent. They could fill any trespasser with the pain and loss and grief they carried into the afterlife. The trial to be one of my elite warriors was a true test of loyalty.
