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His Royal Mate 16
Aria and I once again prepared ourselves for battle. Despite what Harlance had said about there being a protection spell on the kingdom, none of us were sure exactly how it worked or what our threats might look like. Had Polonius already gotten Amadeus to perform magic strong enough to break an ancient protection spell?“Prince Lex,” a voice from over the gates boomed. “Prince Lex of Navarrah City. We have brought your reinforcements.”With a flash of relief, I recognized that female voice. While it had been many years since I’d heard that loud and gruff tone, it couldn’t be mistaken. She was one of the only women in our military. While women were not allowed in the Royal Guards, they could join the military that patrolled our kingdom.“Wait,” I said, holding my hand up. “I know that voice. It’s the troops from Navarrah City.”I didn’t know how to rely on magic, and probably never would. But I always could count on my troops.As I turned to inform Harlance’s ghost, I realized that he
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“That’s amazing!” Aria exclaimed, her voice jubilant.I, too, was happy at the prospect of Tobran uniting to defeat Polonius, but when had Cheyenne gained so much power? It wasn’t like he was Fallon, my father’s beta. He was my father’s younger son and third in line to the throne after me and Amadeus.His increased influence was likely due to the fact that I was with Aria and so many of my duties had been relegated to him in my absence. Amadeus had been captured, and at my father’s behest, I’d needed to stay with Aria to protect her. It was a task I’d lay down my life for.I tried to calm myself, reminding myself that Cheyenne was certainly the next logical choice to assist my father in not only protecting Navarrah City, but helping to build up the guard in Onyx Rah. Also, my little brother wasn’t like Fallon—he wouldn’t ever murder me to sit on the throne. He was a hard-working soldier and my father’s loyal son. He’d do anything for Navarrah City, and for that, I was grateful that we
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“And Navarrah City will certainly help with financial support. As you can see, my father has already sent over troops,” I assured Aria.“Perhaps we can let those troops into the city,” Aria said. “I know there is magic keeping anyone who isn’t a Midnight Moon Pack member out, but Lex and Sire Vanoire are here, so obviously the magic can make concessions.”“What do you think?” I asked Sire.“Aria and Halo would have to make the allowances,” he explained. “I believe that the magic shielding Onyx Rah will listen to them.”“Let’s try it,” Halo said as we made our way to where the soldiers from Navarrah City were camped out.As we approached the troops, each soldier stood and saluted in a grand gesture of respect for Aria and Halo. Spread out in a sea of uniforms, the three hundred troops Navarrah City had sent looked very impressive.“Greetings,” Aria started. “Welcome to Onyx Rah. While it isn’t much yet, I appreciate your commitment to protecting us and our vision of what the kingdom wi
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In an orderly fashion, they filed out of the city center through the arteries of the kingdom to watch over the farthermost places.“Let’s help them out a little, shall we?” Halo said to me with a beaming smile.“Sure,” I agreed, but I wasn’t exactly certain what I was agreeing to.“Let’s give them food and water, at least.” Halo rolled up her sleeves and prepared to disperse her magic.I did the same, envisioning abundant food and drink filling up their knapsacks as they made their way through the city. As the last of the soldiers filed out, I noticed that their bags had become heavier, and by the looks on their faces, they were very happy with the provisions. Bindi and the thirty or so soldiers she had with her all smiled as they noticed their packs getting heavier.“Looks like that worked,” I said to Halo as we watched the troops fan out across the kingdom.“Thank you, ladies!” Bindi said giddily. “Now we will enter the palace and secure it before you all enter. Give us a little tim
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“Looks like we’re home,” Lex teased.“You look like home,” I said, turning to him and wrapping my arms around his middle.“That’s because I am,” he said, clearly not giving the implications of his words much thought.I knocked my head against his chest. “I can’t use magic for everything. I’m going to have to get Midnight Moon Pack descendants here. I hope they don’t mind helping us.”I bit my lip, thinking of the lives I would be asking them to lead. I was once a servant. I already knew what it was like to feel less than others.“I know what you’re thinking,” Lex said, stroking my hair. “But remember, these people will not be indentured to work for you. They’ll be ancestors coming home, becoming part of the tapestry of their restored kingdom. And they will not be servants. They’ll be paid, have private living quarters, and will come and go from work as any other citizen might, just like you suggested in Navarrah City. Now is the time to make that dream a reality.”“You’re right,” I co
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“He will do worse things than stand at the gates of the kingdom if I don’t go, Bindi,” I told her, dreading what lay ahead of us.“He has no right to you,” Lex growled, red-faced with anger.“He thinks I’m his property,” I told Lex. “But I will speak with him.”I knew there was no avoiding Polonius. If I refused to speak with him that day, he would have probably attempted something more dangerous in the future. We had to pretend we were willing to negotiate.“Aria,” Lex cautioned.“You know we can’t ignore this.”“I don’t like it,” Lex said with a scowl.“Neither do I,” Bindi said. “What do you want me to do?” She looked at me.“Take us to him,” I commanded. “Keep those crossbows handy, though,” I added with a smile.“You know I don’t like this, my queen,” Bindi grumbled.“We’re both going to have to get used to doing things we don’t like,” I said before we marched to the gates of the city, heavily guarded.It didn’t take long to walk to the border between our kingdom and Brahman’s Pe
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“I think Amadeus’s crimson pitaya poisoning is gone,” she said. “He could have easily crossed that line, but he didn’t. He protected you, Aria. Amadeus was only pretending to be hurt by the magic. His muscles didn’t tighten, and his breathing remained calm. Being zapped by magic hurts to the core. Polonius was genuinely zapped, but Amadeus knows he needs to keep you safe. If he was still dosed, he wouldn’t have done that.”“Well, let’s hope he’s no longer dosed,” I said. “And that he finds a way to escape and get out of Polonius’s grip.” But I was still very worried about my father.Chapter 8LexWe watched as Polonius and his soldiers retreated back toward Brahman’s Peak. Blood still boiled in my veins, and I wanted to chase after him and stab the monster right in the back. Without Polonius, our lives would be perfect. I, however, could not kill the warlord outright without just provocation. While Polonius posed a threat to us only if Aria didn’t submit to their marriage, he’d done n
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“Well, the fact that she could drop an airship over here without troops filing in from all sides has me worried,” Bindi said. “I need to talk to my soldiers and make sure they are ready for anything. Clearly, they weren’t ready for this,” Bindi said and walked toward the road ahead.“I’m going for a rest,” Sire Vanoire said.“I’m taking this car,” Halo announced, looking thrilled. “Anyone want a ride?” She looked at me and Aria.“No,” Aria said, taking my hand. “I want to talk with Lex for a moment.”“Sure. Have fun,” Halo said as she walked toward the vehicle.“I’d tell you to do the same, but I already know you will,” Aria replied, laughing as she walked with me back to the palace.Aria looped her arm in mine, and for a moment, we walked in silence, letting all that had happened that morning sink into our minds. As soon as we got close to the palace, I asked her the question that had been burning my brain. I had to know what her future plans were and why she was making dangerous cho
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