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CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
Khol
“So, dear Khol? What’s it going to be?”
Sanjit paced the floor, walking back and forth within my dungeon prison. I could tell she was growing impatient.
“You call yourself the queen. Why are you asking me?”
She abruptly halted in the center of the room and her scales rose and her nose flared in aggravation. She placed her hands on her hips.
“Will your hordesmen become a problem? How do I know they will obey when we make all of this official?”
“I’ve told you once, twice, three times over that my men are free. It has always been that way. They do what they like.”
She burst out in laughter. “And you call yourself a king?”
“A leader rules. He does not force. These things you will never understand.”
“How were you able to gain so much victory if not by force? You’re a raider. You take by force.”
“Force is not the only way. Release me and I’ll show you how.”
She bit her bottom lip. “The next time I release you will be for the union ceremony.”
“Then what are you waiting for?”
She poked out her chin. “My officiant is caught up in a storm over Luxumia. He has witnessed every official union of importance in our family for as long as I can remember. Even though I despised my parents, my brother, and my uncle, I’d like to keep up with such traditions.”
“Traditions, you say? That is not an Aurrakian tradition, neither is it one of mine.”
“Things will change. When we are mated, we’ll blend all of our traditions.”
“I am already mated,” I stated.
She marched over and shouted, “You hold no title over this land. Because of your neglect, I have taken it. Therefore you hold no title over that human slave who belongs to the crown of Dretis. She belonged to Magdul as a slave just like her mother and she belonged to you as a slut. By my edict, you are now unmated.”
“You are full of lies, princess,” I hissed.
“Queen,” she corrected.
“By the way, your officiant is not caught in a storm anywhere. Your officiant has been caught and killed.”
“What!”
I grinned. “So much for traditions. They often die hard.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“I don’t lie.”
She screamed. “Your hordesmen again?”
“If that’s what you think…”
She inhaled deeply and then brushed off her shoulders. “No matter. I can find another officiant from our Isles. With my power, I can name a new officiant. And if you haven’t heard, I’ve sent for your slave, and when she gets here, whether she lives or dies will be up to me. I’ll torture the bitch if you fuck with me.”
“You actually hold no power over me or anyone,” I told her.
