Eternal Darkness (The Amagarians 1)

Saieke looked at her friend through a curtain of tears. The chamber door opened.

“You are summoned to the tribunal, Princess Saieke.”

She rose gracefully and followed. Her parents were right in their assessment. The king would try and take her as was his right, given to him by the oath. Her people might resist if they knew she was unwilling, or might not when they considered their position.

Even if he were to refuse her now and cancel the oath, he would demand recompense from her kingdom for the dishonor, and they would be unable to deliver. She walked with her head held high and swept into the council chamber. She went to the dais and stopped in front of the gathering without showing fear.

Tears were still glistening in her eyes, but she did everything for them to not spill over. The tension that gripped the room was sharp and dark. She startled inside when she saw the warriors who now stood behind King Ajali had doubled. She felt the fear that sneaked from her lieges’ chakra and also from her people that sat on the council. From the Nurians, some leaked their emotions due to the intensity of their rage. She inhaled a deep breath and reached into the dark abyss of her mind and sought him.

Drac

Tension uncoiled from her mind and frame as serpentine eyes opened to her.

Saieke?

***

The Darkage

Drac stilled as his mate brushed against his mind—the stink of fear evident in her tone. His beast uncoiled and they brushed against her mind and absorbed the turmoil and distress rioting inside her mind.

His chakra swelled and contracted, and he tried to reign in the rage that rushed through him so ruthlessly. He had sent her back to her kingdom when every instinct had fought to keep her with him because she would have been safer there. Death and treachery abounded in the dark realm. In their last few moments together, he had listened to her plotting as how she could remove herself from the oath. He had thought it nonsensical as she was his mate and nothing could take her from him. The Nurian king would simply have to relinquish all claims, although he saw that her method would result in less bloodshed. He had trusted her method and had directed his thoughts to hunting the traitors with his elite team of warrior.

Why do you fear?

My kingdom will punish me for breaking my father’s oath. He heard the defiance in her voice, but he also felt the deep fear.

Anyone that harms you will die.

No!

I must be punished and when you feel my pain, I beg of you to not react to it. Nuria has also made a demand I cannot acquiesce to. I fear for my people. I fear how my decision will affect them.

Tell me

Iciness spread inside Drac, and his darkness luxuriated in the sheer savagery of the emotions that pulsed through him as he listened to his mate.

Reveal my name and kingdom.

No.

You defy me?

He felt her hesitation at the menace that pulsed from him.

I will not reveal your name or kingdom.

If you are hurt because you fucking defied me, you will rue the day, Princess. He lashed at her with rage in his voice.

Her voice hitched.

Drac, please, she whispered to him with raw ache in her voice. I must submit myself to the council. Promise me you will not harm my people.

If you are hurt, I will deliver death to all who participated. Do not let a touch mar your skin or pain be inflicted upon you, Princess. Reveal my fucking name!

They will take me as soon as I reveal my consort.

There is nowhere you can be taken that I cannot retrieve you, reveal me.