Chapter 208

Princess Aekeira stood before the cave, dawn breaking around her. She stared into the yawning blackness. “Are you sure he’s in there?”

Yaz gave a solemn nod. “He’s been here for months. It’s unlikely he left during my absence.”

“You said you’ve never been inside? Not even once?”

“Yes. He forbade it. Threatened to rip apart anyone who dared,” a muscle ticked in his jaw. “Lord Vladya doesn’t want to be seen like this. He came here to die, Your Highness.”

Aekeira flushed. “Why do you call me that?”

“That’s what you are, is it not?”

“It is.” She glanced back at the cave entrance. “But you always called me ‘Slave.’ Hearing you address me differently now feels… strange. Please, call me Aekeira.”

Yaz seemed to consider this as she ventured into the cave. Jagged rocks jutted from the ground and walls; the deeper she went, the narrower the path became.

Aekeira glanced down at her extravagant attire, wishing she had worn something simpler. Her few clothes were all equally elaborate. She lifted the heavy hem of her dress as she climbed over the rocks, already picturing how awkward this would be. Perhaps Lord Ottai would provide simpler ones once she and Emeriel settled in.

The cave stretched on, vast and empty. The echoes of her footsteps were the only sound. Maybe he really did leave.

Then, she heard it: a low growl from the far side of the cave.

Aekeira hastily erected a mental barrier against the surge of fear. She wouldn’t cower. Squaring her shoulders, she followed the sound.

“You should not be here, whoever you are.”

His voice…

She stilled, swallowing the sob rising in her throat. Whipping her head around, she searched for the source, but the echoing walls made it impossible to pinpoint. She squinted into the darkness, but saw no one.

“Go explore another cave… Wait.” Sniff, sniff. Pause. A much louder sniff. “Wretched youngling. How dare you smell like…”

“A certain human who should be halfway across the world right now?” Aekeira offered, still scanning the shadows.

Silence.

Then, a sudden gust of wind stirred at her back. His warmth enveloped her, his heat like a protective blanket. He was right behind her.

She didn’t move, staring ahead, resisting the urge to turn. “I do not have a right to smell like her, do I?”

A pause. And then, “A–Aekeira?”

Ottai’s study door burst open with a force that rattled the shelves. “You brought them back here without even thinking to consult me!?”

Ottai paused mid-scribble, his quill hovering above the parchment, and glanced up calmly. The male was livid. Ottai half-expected to see smoke rising from Zaiper’s ears.

“The last time I checked, I am also a grand lord,” Ottai said evenly. “I don’t need your permission to do anything.”

“You should have told me!” Zaiper barked, his fists clenched.

Ottai folded the scroll carefully and set it aside. “How many decisions have you made over the years without consulting me?” “Those two were set free. They were sent home! They are not needed here again!”

“I disagree,” Ottai said, unbothered by his anger. “In fact, the people disagree as well. You should have seen their welcome. Our people are happy, a breath of hope in these miserable times.”

“What do you hope to achieve with this?”

Ottai raised an eyebrow. “I thought it was obvious. Daemonikai and Vladya need their females back.”

“This is no place for them,” Zaiper snapped, advancing a step. “Send them back home. Now.”

Ottai snorted. It had been a long time since he’d seen Zaiper this riled up, and it was satisfying. Very satisfying.

“You told me to do what I do while you do yours. This is what I do.” He picked up the scroll and returned it to its place on the shelf. Then, turning to Zaiper, he added, “And don’t even think about taking matters into your own hands, Second Ruler. Yaz and Wegai are now responsible for their protection. They will protect those two with their lives. Any move against them will be met with retaliation.”

Ottai hadn’t thought it possible for Zaiper to look even more enraged, but the male was full of surprises this morning.

“Maybe it’s time we discussed this in court. How you really feel about the grand king and Vladya. How much you’d prefer they never recover. It would make for an interesting topic when everyone learns how much you delight in their struggles. I can already imagine the uproar.”

“You have no idea what you’re talking about!” Zaiper’s voice thundered. “Of course I want them to recover!”

Ottai snorted again. “Could have fooled me.”

Chapter 208

Zaiper finally seemed to rein himself in, trying to suppress his anger.

“Perhaps the people will have a thing or two to say about all this. How worked up you are over the return of two humans. Tell me, Zaiper,” Ottai settled back in his chair, leaned back, and eyed him intently, “Why does it bother you so much? They are, after all, merely harmless humans.”

“Why should they affect me?” Zaiper sneered. “Weak, powerless humans, not worth the sand on my feet!”

“Yet, you seem to fear these two females in particular.”

“I FEAR NO HUMAN!” he roared. “I could crush them in my fist and scatter their remains across the desert before I’d ever fear them.”

“Except you will do no such thing,” Ottai rose and walked closer. His voice hardened. “Let me make myself clear. You do not have jurisdiction over them. They are not in Greyrock; they are in Blackstone and Frostfall. Anything you do, under any pretense of exerting the law, will be considered illegal and will be brought up in court.”

“Did you just threaten me?” Zaiper growled.

“Our people are hopeful again, and they are out for blood,” Ottai stated. “If any harm comes to those two, I will sing like a canary about how much you relish Daemonikai and Vladya’s suffering. One single harm.”

Ottai strode past Zaiper, throwing a final command over his shoulder. “Close the door after you when you leave, Lord Zaiper.”