“We have to win, and we will, but we can’t defeat Polonius by wallowing in today’s events or the horrors he has planned. Right now, you must recover your spirit and your strength.”“Perhaps we should speak with Bindi about creating a military strategy,” Aria suggested, still sounding dazed. “I’d feel much better with an army behind us. We should meet with Bindi and Halo. Neither of them signed his treaty.”“Do you feel up to it?” I asked, worried about her mental health.“I do,” she said firmly. “The sooner we get a handle on this, the better.” She sat up straighter, having found her spirit again. At least a tiny part of it had come back.Within the hour, we had Bindi, Halo, and Sire assembled for a meeting in the dining room. We ate our supper as we discussed strategies for the future with regard to Polonius.“There are tunnels under the city,” Bindi said. “Most of them were cleared when Aria and Halo’s magic resurrected the kingdom. We can use the tunnels as a place for our people t
“Well, he did say he was always in this for himself,” Aria commented. “Now that we know he isn’t a liar, let’s get stronger, do better, and get to the place where we don’t need him anymore.”I felt good and vindicated that Aria and Halo had also come to the realization that they’d be better off without Sire. It was something I’d been feeling, but had dared not say.Aria and I returned to our room and undressed for bed. We were both exhausted after an emotionally draining day and the ordeal we’d suffered in Navarrah City where Polonius had threatened to kill everyone if Aria ever came back to the city without him. We showered together to conserve the warm water that had started pumping up from the lava-warmed hot spring. Once clean, we dried off and tucked ourselves into bed. As soon as we were lying between the soft linen sheets, I began to massage Aria’s neck and shoulders.“How are you?” I asked, rubbing the rock-hard tension out of her muscles. “I’m not asking the queen of Onyx Rah
My thoughts warred with intense desire. Lex lifted my legs higher and pushed himself in deeper as his cock filled the very depths of me. He pulsed further and deeper as he kissed my ear lobe, warming my inner ear while my pussy gushed over him.“Come for me, Aria,” he said into my ear, his cock pressed against the spot inside me that held an entire storm of sensations. “Let go. Submit to my love.”His hips rocked softly, driving me to a slow, grinding passion that burned in my belly. Twisted, sharp, aching, wanton, my body shivered with anticipation of my climax.“More,” I begged, and his rhythm increased. “I want all of it,” I ordered, and he released the weight of his body on me when his arms stopped holding him up to embrace me.He angled us a little so I wasn’t crushed by him, but his own panting, moaning, and grinding soon had him lost on a path to ecstasy.“I love you,” I declared as his eyes glazed into a look of such heated desire. “Whatever the future brings, know that I love
“Oh, I can’t reveal my wolf,” Halo said in a panic. “I’m not allowed. My siblings have always said not to.”“She’s right,” I said to them as I walked up from the castle. “Wolf mages are not safe, especially around Polonius. Halo needs to keep her wolf hidden until she’s much stronger both in magic and in muscle.” I flashed Halo a sweet smile so she knew I appreciated her efforts to train.Halo laughed. “Exactly.”“This is why I’ve told the troops that Sire Vanoire is the only royal mage in the kingdom. That sounds solid,” Bindi said, and she continued to work with Halo as I joined Lex’s training.Halo and I worked all morning before meeting citizens in the receiving room. The crowds were still coming in strong, but their numbers were dropping off a bit, which gave us some time to catch up and take a breather. We still saw about a hundred people a day, but I was happy that many of those who had joined our kingdom were building houses on their land and setting up farms, shops, and busin
It wasn’t like him to retreat. Something was wrong and I had to know what it was. I followed the fleeing Crypt Claw, trying to grab one to ask them how he was able to enter the city.Just then, the Crypt Claw who had slowed down to scrabble over a rock paused when Polonius yelled, “Slaughter!”Suddenly, the Crypt Claw soldiers who were surrounding Polonius, the ones who hadn’t entered the city, started to kill the retreating Crypt Claw warriors. Each and every one was mercilessly attacked and left in a bloody heap on the ground. The entire scene was a bloodbath, and all Polonius did was watch his soldiers die. What was happening?I looked over at Polonius and wondered why he’d kill his own men? The look on his face was one of pride and triumph.“You’ve gone mad,” I said as I looked at Polonius.“Ask me who they are? The ones who are dead and bleeding?” Polonius’s face was calm and cold.“Who are they?” I rasped, not wanting to know.“Those who could not pay their taxes. Amadeus spelle
Lex looked hurt and dejected, as if hearing the very word “love” in association with Polonius had broken him. “I’m a diplomat now, and yet, I’ve done very little that is diplomatic other than try to free Amadeus and spy on Polonius. I might want to explore that role a little more before I’m king.” Hearing him say that struck my heart. “I don’t think marrying Polonius is the right decision at all, but maybe marrying me isn’t, either.”Was this goodbye? I didn’t know what I’d been expecting from our conversation, but I wanted him to understand that I was planning on staying in Onyx Rah. I couldn’t claim to love him if I forced him to stay with me, I knew that. But still, having him not say that he was willing to stay hurt.“Does this mean you're leaving?” I could hardly ask without crying.“I think the two of us need to take a pause until Tobran is safe from Polonius,” he said. “We aren’t living as a couple right now, and you and I don’t like sneaking around. You have the Royal Guard an
“In light of this attack, I think we should solidify the court and have a coronation for our queen,” the Minister of Infrastructure said, standing to his feet. “We need to make political connections in Voltaire, not just Tobran. The queen needs to be recognized and supported throughout the territories.”He was a tall, dark-skinned man with hair shorn to his scalp. He had to be around forty years old, and like the Minister of Administration, he was serious. It was why I’d chosen the both of them—they had previously worked together in similar positions in the Obsidian Valley. While they had not been ministers, they were high-ranking with vast expertise. Both had a letter from Ellestria Culp highlighting their qualifications and giving her blessing to them as they embarked on their journey back home to Onyx Rah.“What are you suggesting?” Bindi asked the minister as she looked at me. “When you say you want to solidify the inner workings of our court?”“The queen must be crowned and named
“I’ll guard her with my life for the rest of my days,” Bindi replied. “And thank you, Lex, for working with the troops. They are in the best shape they’ve ever been. When you return—if you return—I’m positive I’ll have more for you to train.” She looked at me with a hopeful smile, and again, I felt like I was abandoning them.“Keep me updated with your military progress,” I said. “You can send messages through the troops, and I’ll get word. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask. Just use your airship if there’s an emergency. Get Aria away from Polonius at the first sign of trouble.”Onyx Rah had one airship, which was being used daily to bring in supplies for the encampments from Angeline Falls and the Obsidian Valley. The vehicles Lara Goldlace had gifted Onyx Rah were also being used to transport soldiers to their posts.Bindi knew that I meant for her to drop everything and rescue Aria from Polonius, above all things.“I warn you, Lex, don’t do any kind of investigation witho