Page 79

“What is between your legs that keeps him in your thrall? Is there some human trick that makes him weak for your cunt?”

“God, you’re vile. Let me go.”

“Perhaps I should see for myself.”

He groped her crudely between her thighs. The coarse invasion shocked her and she kicked out, catching him on the knee. In a fury he backhanded her across the face.

She saw it coming and managed to ride it out a little but the blow brought tears to her eyes.

Baelon tightened his serpetri on her arms and lifted her off her feet. She gasped in pain as he shook her like a dog in mid-air.

“There will never be peace with our enemies,” he snarled. “And you will never become the Zhaalini. I will watch you burn before I allow a sub-species like you to stain our royal line.”

He let her go and she fell to the ground in a crumpled heap. She braced herself in case he decided to mete out more punishment but he turned on his heel and left.

Slowly, she pulled herself into a sitting position. She was a mess. Her hair had come undone and the beautiful flowers painted onto her skin were smudged. Her cheek was sore. Vicious red welts circled her upper arms.

Trying not to wince, she gathered up the emeralds which had scattered everywhere when Baelon had shaken her. The sound of footsteps made her freeze and she prayed it wasn’t him coming back for seconds.

“Kara. Is that you?” Ela’s face creased in consternation. “What in the name of Ayanlesh happened?”

“Baelon. He happened.”

“Drek.Let’s go to your room before anyone sees you.”

Kara allowed Ela to help her back to her quarters. She sat on the bed while the general examined her arms.

“He’s broken your skin. I can see where hisdendrapierced you.”

“I’m surprised the bastard didn’t just inject me witharakand have done with it.”

“No. He wouldn’t risk killing you. He can’t openly reveal he’s opposed to the peace plan.”

“But Vahn will know when he sees what he did to me.”

Ela looked at her sharply.

“Kara, you can’t tell Vahn about this. You mustn’t breathe a word, do you hear me?”

“What are you talking about?” Kara was surprised. “I can’t keep this a secret. Vahn has to know what Baelon really thinks.”

“No!” Ela clasped Kara’s hands. “Think about it for one second. You are Vahn’skalehsha.His fated one. If he sees what Baelon’s done to you, he won’t just reprimand him. He’ll beat him to a pulp.”

“Vahn wouldn’t…”

“He won’t be able to stop himself. That’s whatkalehshmeans. He won’t be able to think straight, Kara. He won’t be able to think at all. And not only will it confirm what Baelon already suspects, it will taint Vahn as unhinged. Perhaps unfit to rule. It will ruin him, do you understand?”

Kara closed her eyes.

“You’re saying Baelon marked me on purpose,” she said slowly. “To provoke a reaction from Vahn and then challenge him for the throne.”

“And sink the peace process. Perhaps even seek approval to use the Vastos Bomb.”

Ela took a small tube from her pocket and spread some cream on the welts. Kara winced at the initial sting but relaxed as the pain diminished.

“Thanks. That’s better.” She glanced at Ela. “I’ve heard the Vastos Bomb mentioned before. What the hell is it, exactly? Vahn talks about it as if it’s the end of creation.”

“It is. That’s exactly what it is.” Ela put the healing cream away and sat back on her heels. “The initial explosion devastates key cities. But that’s not the full extent of the damage. The blast releases the vastonium particle which our scientists engineered several years ago. It causes immediate infertility in all organic matter. Plants, animals, microorganisms. And, of course, humans.”