Текст книги "Scars of his warth"
Автор книги: Zoey Ellis
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Текущая страница: 3 (всего у книги 17 страниц)
CHAPTER FOUR
The cool, quiet of night had a way of smoothing the jagged edge of her emotions.
It was one of the reasons why she often went to the forest after dusk. Maybe it was the dark shimmer of magical awareness that had awakened, existing just beyond the physical senses; hidden yet palpable. Naya was younger, Mama explained it in a way that made sense. Animals that roamed in the day versus the ones who roamed in the evening each fulfilled a different purpose; it was the same with magic. Naya moved briskly behind the houses of the dimly lit Omega village, her robe wrapped tightly and her hood covering her head. At this time of night, everyone was inside but she didn’t want to risk anyone seeing her.
The palace village, informally called the Omega village, was built to house and protect Alpha and Omega families and unattached Omegas. History had been filled with unimagined horrors for Omegas, so much so it was assumed their population had been annihilated. The village was their safe haven and had been carved into the forest so that it was private and self-contained—and the sole access to the forest.
The problem was that Naya couldn’t walk through the village without being stopped. Eager and excited, the villagers always wanted to talk to her and gift her things or just say hello. She hadn’t minded it when she was younger, but after what happened six years ago, the swarms of people trying to speak to her was enough that Papa had to issue a decree; no one was to bother her unless she spoke to them first. That didn’t stop them from gathering or throwing gifts at her when she visited.
Naya didn’t like ignoring them, so the simplest solution was to cover her head whenever she went through the village and travel in the early morning or late evening.
Tonight, everything was silent and still, her path bathed in the silver light of the moon, a perfect orb in the inky sky. Although there was no wind, bitter iciness grazed her cheeks and nose, signifying the change of season.
When she reached the other side of the Omega village, she paused at the edge of the forest—her favorite magic. Whenever she reached out to it, it was sleepy and languid most of the time, like an irritated old man who just wanted to stretch in the sun and didn’t want to be disturbed, but with the right encouragement, it could ripple with excitement, ready to play like a child. Since she was the only one who ever interacted with it, the magic felt like a family friend; safe like her Papa, protective like her Gramma, and comfortable like Mama, with unexpected playful bouts like little Lili.
Focusing, she sent out her awareness, feeling for the delicate magical threads that connected the tightly woven branches before her. Exhaling, she extended her will, sending it funneling along the branches. When she stepped forward, they contorted, writhing and rattling, parting so she could walk into the safety of the forest. Naya wove through the shadowed trees, branches parting for her whichever direction she turned, and then reknitting themselves behind her as though she’d never disturbed them.
When the trees began to thin, she tugged back her magic and ducked under and around the extended branches, careful not to snap any. Reaching her usual hilltop spot on the edge of the trees, she paused and steeped herself in the comforting familiarity of the environment; the rich mustiness of the earth, the cool night dew, and the somber, gnarled bark that stood sentinel around her.
It was too cold to sit, so she pulled her robes tighter, crossed her arms to keep the heat in, and looked out over the bold landscape of Ashens. At this late hour, the city finally slept, which looked eerie at night—frozen and ominous. It was hard to believe she’d been in this exact spot, looking over the bustling cityscape only this morning, before her life lurched in a direction she hadn’t expected.
Naya had spent the rest of the day turning her parents’ words over in her head, trying to consider them from every angle. She couldn’t agree with them fully, and their interference made her feel as though her life was slipping through her fingers even more wildly than before, without any chance to regain control.
That was why she didn’t speak to Kaari. They hadn’t spoken for years. When she’d tried about a year after the tragedy in Saderthorne, Naya couldn’t stop shaking and the memories crushed in. Suddenly she was on the floor convulsing and unable to breathe, and she’d been so mortified, knowing she’d probably scared the poor girl. After that Naya had avoided her. As the eldest daughter of the Southern Lands’ High Chief, Kaari shouldn’t have to put up with Naya’s bizarre attacks. They may have been close when they were growing up, but no one wanted a strange friend who saw strange things and couldn’t function like a normal person. Besides, being forced to chat with Kaari today would have felt like another clamp of her parents’ will on her life.
Naya sighed, her breath streaming out in a long, unfurling fog. Part of the problem was that she hadn’t been prepared for the talk with her parents. If she had, she’d have told them about what Gramma, her grandmother on her mother’s side, had said to her when she was twelve. She had influenced Naya’s preference to find her true mate long before Saderthorne.
She still remembered the conversation they’d had after Naya had come into her dynamic. Gramma had been quiet during her celebration, but afterward she came to Naya’s bedroom to help her get ready for bed.
Naya had chatted incessantly about all the things she’d learned about Omegas that day, until she realized that Gramma hadn’t said a word.
“What’s wrong?” Naya had asked, climbing into bed.
Gramma waited until she was lying down and then sat on the edge of her bed and tucked the blanket in around her. “I’m just thinking of the best way to give you my gift.”
Naya had clapped her hands together, squeezing them in excitement. “You have a gift for me?”
“Of course,” Gramma had said, her face solemn.
“Why didn’t you give it to me at the celebration?”
Gramma was quiet for a moment. “It wouldn’t have been appropriate.”
Naya opened her mouth and closed it again, unsure what appropriate meant.
“My gift is probably more important than all the other gifts given today.” Gramma added, “I wanted to give it to you privately.”
Naya nodded, curiosity drawing her in. “What is it?” she’d whispered.
“Knowledge,” Grandma had said. “Specifically knowledge about being an Omega.”
Naya nodded again. This must have been something she hadn’t been told at her celebration.
Gramma twisted on the bed to face Naya as squarely as she could. “I spent my life with a man who could never love me the way he loved the woman who gave birth to your mother.”
Naya had frowned, already confused, but didn’t speak. Something in Gramma’s tone told her not to interrupt.
“He loved me in his own way. But in many ways, I wish he hadn’t come back after finding her. I could have moved on and not been reminded of the pain of it every day. You’re definitely an Omega now, Naya. You have the chance to find a special kind of love.” She paused.
Naya watched her eyes shift under her lids as they closed for a moment.
“Don’t waste that,” she said finally, opening her eyes to meet Naya’s. “If you find your mate, claim him as soon as you can. Protect yourself and prevent the ongoing heartbreak of anyone else attached to him. I know you’re only twelve and your instincts will develop over time. But once you reach womanhood, take steps to find him.”
She reached out and ran her finger along the charm bracelet on Naya’s wrist that blocked her Omega instincts, her scent, and her use of magic. “Don’t allow this to stay on your wrist forever. Make yourself strong so you don’t have to wear it. You can’t be blocked if you are to detect your mate.”
Naya’s brows drew closer as thoughts crowded in on her. Though she had learned what a mate was, there hadn’t been much mention of them at her celebration. “Are mates important?”
“True mates? Yes. Especially for Omegas.”
“Why?”
“For many reasons. You will learn all about them over time, but I will say that your true mate is born for you and you alone. They will feel pride and joy to protect and care for you. They will give you children more easily.” Gramma’s voice became strained. “They are attracted to you in a way that can’t be the same with anyone else.”
“But…” Something still didn’t make sense to Naya. Gramma was a Beta. How did she know all this?
“Think of it like this,” Gramma said. “Have you noticed how Mama and Papa are with each other?”
Naya blinked at her. “How they are?”
“Yes. They are always close, always touching. Your papa is very protective of your mama and your mama soothes your papa. Yes?”
Naya nodded, bewildered that she was even pointing it out. Wasn’t every couple like that?
“They are the clearest example of what it means to be with your true mate,” Gramma said. “Just watch them and you’ll see.” She smoothed her hand over the blanket as Naya yawned and she leaned in to whisper, “Just watch them and see.”
Gramma died a year later. But Naya had always remembered the conversation, as well as how serious Gramma had been when she’d said it. She’d always doted on Naya and took pleasure in spoiling her, while being gentle with any reprimand. But that night, she’d been serious, almost hard in her tone. So Naya watched her parents, maybe obsessively so. And maybe that had made her glorify the idea of them.
So as much as she wanted to, Naya couldn’t ignore their opinions, especially since that’s not how she’d be raised. In the book, The Hidden Chronicles of the East, it stated, “A good ruler had to take opposing opinions and information into account before making a decision that would impact their people.” Naya had to consider her parents’ points. It stood to reason if her parents had set up a pairing meeting between her and Lonn, they’d been thinking about arranging a marriage. They weren’t ones to make rushed decisions, so regardless of her gramma’s wishes, maybe she needed to consider all the facts.
If she married someone of their choosing, and not her true mate, what were the possible outcomes?
With Lonn, she’d be with someone who understood Lox culture and was a good warrior with ambition. But she didn’t know anything about his political opinions or even which country in the empire he was from, so she’d need to spend some time getting to know him. There was also the question of attraction. He was certainly a good-looking man, but what did he think of her? Even though she wasn’t known for her beauty, she’d prefer a man who was more attracted to her than her status—but that was most likely impossible without her true mate.
When she started attending pairing meetings, she’d discovered that most men were intimidated by her, in awe of her status in the empire or only saw her as a route to the ruling seat. Lonn hadn’t reacted to her in any of those ways, but he’d known who he was meeting. She hadn’t spoken to him long enough to sense his opinion of her.
Her father’s demand that she decide between the princes of the Lands of Eiros bothered her, but at least her status wouldn’t faze them. The princes were powerful in their own right and understood her responsibilities, being firstborn children of a royal couple. Their family also understood magic more than most since their ancestors created the magical language, the Ancient Tongue. The twins were exceptionally skilled in it, so even if they weren’t warriors, they would have something in common with Naya.
She stepped forward, her brows furrowing, her eyes skimming the sharp silhouette of the dark city. In fact, she had a lot in common with the twins. Maybe if she chose one of them, they would understand each other better than if she mated with Lonn. A union with one of the princes could lead to a successful rule and solidify relations with the Lands of Eiros, a separate continent from the Lox Empire.
However, not being from Lox culture and understanding the rich and glowing history of the empire could cause problems as well. The Lands of Eiros didn't have a glowing history. It was known to be more corrupt than any other Land. Things had improved since her father and King Malloron called a truce and the princes were born, but Naya suspected their views on life would differ greatly from hers.
Maybe Papa was right. Maybe holding out for her true mate while her people were pleading for help was selfish. And maybe being with her true mate didn't matter as much as she thought. What proof did she really have? Could she really base everything on what she’d seen with her parents and the opinion of her beta grandmother?
Her people were relying on her to help them now. If many died while she was endlessly looking for her mate, how could she argue that she was doing the right thing?
She needed to decide.
Naya pulled her robes around her again, uncomfortable with the weight of the decision. As much as she still desperately believed that finding her mate would be the answer, she couldn’t make her people suffer any longer than necessary. In fact, the least she could do out of respect for the people who died was explore an arranged marriage and not outright reject the idea.
She would meet with Lonn again this week as well as both princes. Maybe meeting them would help give her clarity. One of them may even have ideas she hadn’t thought of to help the people of Saderthorne. She doubted it, but it was possible. It would be a while before she’d know if this direction was the right one, but she had to at least take this step.
She lifted her gaze from the city, its dark contours sharp under the smooth sheet of velvet sky and let out a long sigh, watching the fog of her breath escape up to the moon.
A huge hand clamped over her mouth.
CHAPTER FIVE
Huge and tight, the hand gripped her whole chin and covered her mouth and nose, cutting off most of her ability to breathe. Her attacker yanked her head and she stumbled back into a tall, thick body whose arm wrapped around her, locking her own crossed arms tight.
Surprise immobilized Naya, but only for the time it took her to blink.
She jerked her head back, trying to smash it into her assailant's nose but only hit their chest. Alarm gripped her. This person was incredibly strong and had enveloped her in the wideness of his body.
Alpha.
He dragged her backward, pulling her toward the trees. She kicked at his legs and tried to uncross her arms from the pressure of his thick arm, but his hold on her was firm.
Twisting her body slightly, she loosened one of her arms and jabbed her elbow repeatedly into his lower ribs. In response, her assailant twisted his massive body out of the way, but that was all she needed.
She twisted back in the other direction and elbowed him in the center of his torso. He bent forward, his arm loosening a little, and Naya tried to push out of his grip, but he yanked her back against him, this time wrapped both arms around her. She fought against his weight, struggling against the pressure clenching in from all sides. He began to move again, backward into the forest.
Naya stilled for a moment, breathing heavily. All she was doing was wasting her energy. This was an Alpha. He was stronger than her—a physical struggle wasn’t how she would get away.
Sending her will out into the cool night, she called on magic and sent a scissoring, twisting sliver of it into the flesh of his arm. It dug deep, gouging a spurting wound along his forearm.
He inhaled sharply, but his arm didn’t twitch.
Lifting her left foot and with her free hand, Naya eased out a small dagger from the back of her boot. Gripping the handle tight, she drove it into him, just above the knee where the connecting tissue would be most painful.
Finally, the Alpha let out a grunt and his arm went slack.
Naya pushed away from him and shot into the forest.
Thousands of thoughts surged through her mind as she weaved through the trees—who was this man? How did he get this far into the forest? Was this one of Papa’s tests? She forced herself to concentrate on escaping; this wasn't the time to figure out any of those answers.
She was smaller and faster, she needed to get into the hard knit of the trees and he wouldn’t be able to follow. No Alpha could brute force their way through those tightly knotted branches.
Still, a shiver shunted down her spine that he’d managed to come so close without a single sound. No Lox warrior should be caught so unaware. Papa would be ashamed she’d let her honed instincts slip.
She glanced behind her and out of the corner of her eye, a dark form darted through the trees. He was quiet. No leaves crunched under his feet, no branches snapped, not even the panting of his breath reached her. It was like being chased by a shadow. It occurred to her that he hadn't even cried out when she stabbed him.
Ignoring her growing unease, she weaved among the trees. Even though she couldn’t hear him, she sensed he was gaining on her. She had to go deeper into the forest to escape him.
She approached the thick-knit trees and extended her will, yanking the ancient magic from its sleepy, drifting listlessness and into movement. It took a moment to respond, but just as she was about to slam into the branches, they swiftly recoiled creating a passageway so dark she sensed it rather than saw it.
Naya ran through and her pursuer grunted behind her. No doubt he was fighting off the branches trying to close-in from behind.
Glancing over her shoulder, she couldn’t see anything specific, but the dread that had begun to grow simmered away. If this was one of Papa’s tests, she was going to win. However, if this man was truly trying to harm the imperial princess, he would soon find out what a mistake that decision was.
Extending her will again, she directed the magic to lift her into the air, a few feet from the forest floor, and shoot her through the opening forest branches at a faster speed. She twisted in the air so she flew facing her pursuer and created a ball of light, sending it out so she could finally see him.
The blue orb bobbed behind her, lighting up the tangled branches on either side of them.
The Alpha’s face slowly illuminated, along with the rest of his body.
Naya’s dread returned, more terrifying than before.
His dark eyes struck her first. They shone with anger, indignation, and a disturbing enjoyment, as though he was taking pleasure in this chase and had no fear he was going to lose. He was huge—bigger than she’d imagined.
Long dark hair whipped behind him, propelled by each forceful step. A snarl twisted his mouth, baring gritted teeth in a squarish, bearded jaw. His nose was just a little too wide for his face, but it suited him.
Everything about him was charged with dark, sinister intent.
Naya swept down the passageway ahead of him, pushing harder to encourage the forest to close quicker behind her so he’d be caught in its branches. But he ran faster, his whole body in furious motion, face contorting with the effort. The way he moved was captivating. He was like a force unto himself, just as wild and natural and unstoppable as the forest magic itself. Naya could help but watch him, excitement infusing her fascination.
He slipped a hand down to his hip and then held something up in front of him.
Suddenly, her grip on magic slipped.
Her back slammed into a tree, a sickening crack shuddering through her body. Her breath tore out of her lungs and a sharp agony carved through her body. Dazed, Naya dropped down to her feet, trying to blink away the blur in her vision.
The Alpha approached her, his chest heaving. He lifted her chin and examined her face. Naya tried to push him away, but pain seized her. Her whole body felt like it had been battered repeatedly against a wall.
The darkness in his eyes deepened. “Hhe rimarta shti, tmot zmia.”
Naya frowned. That language didn’t sound familiar. Dizziness took hold of her and she blinked rapidly trying to clear it. He uncurled his hand to reveal a strange type of rock, and he continued murmuring.
The trees behind her disappeared and then she was falling.
Naya hit the ground. Heat enveloped her and a bright light seared her eyes. She squinted, groaning at the pain. Maybe she’d broken her ribs. Turning, she dug her fingers into the dirt to drag herself along the ground, away from her attacker, but her fingers burrowed into something hot and silky and smooth. She lifted a handful of dirt and watched gold spill through her fingers. Sand?
His massive hand grabbed her shoulder and pulled her around onto her back. He stood over her, slightly shielding her from the bright light behind him. Sand and Light? Where was she?
Bending down slightly, he pressed an acrid-smelling cloth to her mouth, sending a sharp kick to the back of her throat.
Naya fought, clawing at his hand and trying to drag herself away along the sandy ground. But within moments she was choking, and the dizziness worsened until darkness rushed in.
