Heirot

Ren did not like being the sudden focal point of their argument. "The Marquess has a very public disdain for all magic wielders. She executed the last mage she trusted, though there are different rumors about why. You will not be welcomed in this court, but others will compete for you. If you ...

Ren didn't register the question at first. He was too horrified by Laurius's contemptuous approach to serving a Yurivis. When her words sunk in as intended for him and not his master, he finally nodded. "I can guide you wherever you wish to go. However, the Marquess will hunt after us if we abandon ...

Ren was on his feet, having sprung up in alarm at Laurius's sudden mistreatment of the princess. He'd been about to tackle him when Tenara suddenly woke.

"He is safe in his quarters, awaiting the trial," Ren said cautiously. She did not look ready at all to hear about what had happened.

Artisuren rolled his eyes and switched to his native language. "My bondmate and I request food for our Yurivis." The guards glanced at each other, clearly confused how their unintelligible argument had been summed up with that request. "They are bringing it soon," one said with the gentleness one ...

Laurius was right. He was right. Not only did the princess dislike him, but Laurius was substantially less useful to her in this realm. Ren felt his hackles raising, and he'd never been skilled at mastering his emotions. "You will not stop me. A Yurivis's commands are absolute," he growled, even ...

Ren made a dismissive gesture and opened his mouth to say that yes, of course he would. But he didn't, and the hesitation showed. "A normal Ivis would have no trouble dying for his Yurivis, but how can I say for sure with that guy? He just broke a woman's wrist earlier, and kicked another square in ...

Ren had tugged his fingers over his scalp and begun pacing the edge of the room, but he still focused on each of Laurius's words. When the man's sentence trailed off, Ren stilled for long enough to regard him curiously. His mind had been racing, but now he tried to play back the man's last few words ...

Ren's eyes rolled up to the guard that had stayed behind, and carefully translated Laurius's message in the strange, lilting tones of their language. The female said something in return that didn't seem to surprise Ren. He tilted his head back against the side of the couch and tried not to be sick ...

"Yes," Ren mumbled. The accommodations are unconventional, but since the Marquess has acknowledged Tenara as a suitor, she and her harem will be treated as honored guests until after the Challenge." When they were fully in the room, he confirmed the point by turning to the guards. "Our Yurivis is ...

Havi stayed back with the guard as he watched the others be dragged away. With his towering height and reflexive grip squeezing the life out of the guard's forearm, it looked more like Havitharon was in charge of delivering these people to their quarters than the other way around. "This is petty ...

Havi's temper snapped when he saw Tenara collapse. Hands were holding him back, but he pulled toward his Yurivis. A sharp strike with his elbow easily snapped one of the hands that pulled at him, female or not. He reached Tenele and kicked the guard trying to secure her dead center in the chest ...

Ren stumbled where Laurius dragged him. He caught a blurry glimpse of Kishva as they moved, and panic tore through him. That was a smile she only wore when she was about to punish someone. Then the guards were there, more than before, and muscling them to the ground. It took little to bring Ren down ...

"That's it. The skill I told you about. She used it in my compound," Kishva rushed. "Open them," she ordered the guards. Both guards pulled a metal broach from around the neck and opened it like a locket. Havi and Ren both doubled over at the same time. There was no physical blast, but it felt like ...

Cera tapped one black-pointed nail on the table, and the two guards at the door stepped into Tenara's way. "You will leave my domain when I permit you to," Cera said blandly, raising her cup to her lips. "Unless you mean to cause another scene here like the one you caused in Kishva's estate." She ...

Cera set her utensils aside and perched her chin on her crowned fingers whimsically. "Ah, but princess, I beg to differ. Truth changes all the time. How would you suppose every other family in the high court would feel if they knew all they had to do all along wasn't to win a duel, but simply to ...