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Chapter Twenty-Eight: Bahira

When Tua had brought me to my room, I had barely given it a second glance before quickly showering and passing out on top of the bed.

When I woke up this morning, I spent some time exploring it. It is rather large for a guest suite, bigger than even my own bedroom back home. I was shocked to discover that behind a wide expanse of curtains was a wall made of glass. It looks out to the back side of the palace, over a field of grass that is dotted with palm trees and walkways made of tan-colored stone. In the distance, creating a skyline of its own, is the jungle. Its green is bold in color, the plants and trees growing without any space between them. It stretches for as far as the eye can see, and the curious side of me longs to traverse it. To see what mysteries it holds and how different it is from the kingdom back home.

The rest of my room is elegantly designed in the same light-colored wood as the first level. The large bed I slept on is centered against one wall with the bathroom tucked into a carved out section of the adjacent one. Fluffy rugs of white and gold are laid out on the floors, and sconces of glass holding flame gems dot the shimmering white stone walls. My favorite feature is the wall that has a built-in bookcase, the dark wood pulling attention to it in the otherwise airy space. There hadn’t been any books on it until I unpacked the mage journals I brought and stacked them on the lowest shelf.

It isn’t home, but it will do for the next three months.

On my first full day on the island, I spent half of it in my room and the other half exploring the floor I’m on. The entire palace is massive, and I marveled at the fact that I walked nonstop for ten minutes before I made it to the other side from where my room is located. Other than a few curious glances from finely dressed males and females, I didn’t interact with anyone. I also didn’t see Kai. Wherever he is staying, it must not be near my room.

I found what I think may be the royal library, located centrally between my room and what appeared to be a wing full of nobility, but the two guards stationed in front of it kept me from going inside.

The next few days were spent exploring the first level and the grounds of the palace. I found mostly palace staff rooms and other unexciting spaces on the former, though there was a second library. It was small, its shelves packed messily with books that were coated in dust.

I wandered past the gardens and fish ponds, going right to the edge of the palm tree border that Kai warned me not to cross. What would he do if I were to disobey him? Would he even notice? I haven’t seen him—or the female that greeted him upon our arrival—at all. My restless energy only builds the longer I’m forced to wonder when I will get to work on what I came here to do.

At least there is Lana, an older female who works for the palace. Every day she brings me my meals accompanied with small tidbits of information about what is going on in the palace. She also brought me some more island-appropriate clothing, the thinner fabrics excellent at wicking away sweat caused by the humidity.

Today, I sit cross-legged on the bed, flipping to the last page of an account written by Councilman Godric and tapping my spelled pen on my own journal. Every Flame Ceremony and interaction he catalogs from the time has no mention of dwindling magic or anything out of the ordinary. They were still preparing for a visit from the fae rulers, which seems fitting to read about now that I was a visitor of sorts to the Shifter Kingdom.

Setting the ancient journal aside, the pages now all read, I reach for the next one when there is a knock at the door. Swinging it open, I meet Kai’s eyes over the threshold, my stomach stupidly dipping at the sight of him.

“Oh, it’s you. What do you want?” It’s nearly been a week since I arrived, and I’m eager to do something other than explore by myself. I hope the sentiment is relayed in my bitter tone.

Kai’s expression remains brooding as his arms fold over his broad chest. The laces of his dark green tunic are undone in the center, showing a hint of his chest beneath. My gaze roams over to the intricate dark lines of the tattoo on his arm, the upper portion hidden by the tunic’s sleeves.

“There is going to be a dinner tonight.”

We stare at each other as a few moments of silence pass before I arch a brow at him. “Dinner is something that usually occurs nightly. Is this one special, or are you just excited to tell me?”

His flat look of annoyance draws a dazzling smile of my own as I lean against the door frame and mimic his position. I ignore the way his eyes travel over my body, lingering before he lifts them to mine once more.

“I doubt you’ve ever experienced a dinner like this before. I’d advise you to be on your guard the entire night. The nobles all know you’re my guest here at the palace, but that won’t protect you from their advances. You should keep a low profile. You can tell them that you are from Honna, which is a small village on the other side of the island, if anyone asks.”

I twist a piece of hair around my finger, and Kai tracks the movement. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you are looking out for me right now.” When he stares at me like I’ve said nothing of importance, I shrug and flick my hair over my shoulder. “Either way, while I appreciate whatever this is,” I say, gesturing between us as I right myself and step back into the room, “I can take care of myself.”

And then I shut the door in his perfect face.

“Can you tell me what to expect for the celebration tonight, Lana?”

She hands me a bundle of lavender fabric before she huffs a breath and gestures for me to head to the bathroom to change. I watch as she rummages around in a bag she brought, pulling out brushes and serums and cosmetics.

“I am capable of getting dressed on my own.”

“The only thing you seem capable of is making yourself late with your chatter. Move. ” Her hands gesture once more for me to change, and I laugh as I heed her instruction. “The celebration is to honor the former king, Kai’s father. It’s his birthday. Though, between you and me, the male had nothing about him worth honoring.”

I’m taken aback by her frankness as I change into the outfit she’s given me. The top is in a halter style with the straps tying at the base of my neck and then dangling sheer fabric down my back. The skirt is long, going down to my ankles, with a slit that goes all the way up and stops a few inches beneath my hip.

“Should you speak of the former king that way? What if I tell someone what you’ve said,” I quip when I finish dressing. The skirt moves easily as I walk, the warm and sticky air of the room brushing against the bare skin shown off at my midriff.

Lana mumbles something under her breath before turning to me as I walk back in. “ Aye, you clean up well. He won’t know what to do with you.”

“Who?”

She gestures for me to sit in the vanity chair tucked into one of the corners of my room. “First, I am not worried about you telling anyone. I am beloved around here, so no one will believe you.” Her accent thickens as she speaks while her fingers gently comb through my hair. “And I am talking about His Majesty of course.”

I scoff, the noise exaggerated as I look at her through the reflection of the oval-shaped mirror. “Lana, I am not here for the king, nor do I care what he thinks of how I look.”

She lets out a string of tuts, grabbing a comb and sectioning off my hair. “I can tell there is something between you two.”

I move to turn and look at her, but she lightly smacks my shoulder so that I am forced to face forward again. Pulling my hair into two braids on either side at the top of my head, Lana continues the plaits back a few inches before she ties them off. The rest is left unbound and flowing down my back.

“You can’t possibly tell there is something between us when I have not spent more than two minutes in the company of the king since arriving.” Lana overturns one of the bottles of serums onto her palms, its fragrance delicate. Rubbing them together first, she then runs her hands through my curls, making them shine. Though I try to bite it back, my curiosity wins, and I add on, “Besides, he is already with someone.”

“No, he isn’t,” she answers immediately, her lip twitching with amusement. My fingers dig into the fabric at my knees as she moves from my hair to my face, highlighting my cheeks with a lovely scented oil and adding a crimson-colored stain to my lips.

“He is. I saw them when I first arrived here,” I comment, wrinkling my nose.

“You saw his sister, Jahlee. There. You are finished.” She backs away from the vanity while I study myself. My hair looks richer in its color, my skin glowing as if I’ve spent a summer beneath the island sun.

Annoyingly, my thoughts draw once more to Kai. “He has a sister?”

“Yes, a wild thing she is, too. Sweet, but very strange.” Lana cleans off the vanity while I get my sandals on and give myself one last glance in the mirror. “You look good. Now go. The sun has dipped in the sky already, and you don’t want to be late. The party is back there,” she says, gesturing to the back of the palace that I can see through the large floor-to-ceiling glass window.

“Thank you, Lana.”

She begins humming to herself as she tidies around the bathroom, effectively dismissing me. I shut the door behind me as I leave, walking over to the stairs and descending two flights where music is already floating in the air. Finely dressed shifters mill about the lower level, some glancing my way as I pass. I offer them benign smiles before turning down a long hallway that is painted brilliantly in the orange light of the setting sun pouring in through a wall of glass. It makes the golden frames surrounding portraits of what I assume are past rulers glow. I slow my steps to examine the art, wondering if any of them are Kai’s father.

“A big art fan?” a deep voice asks from farther down the hall.

I don’t answer, instead watching as the male walks casually, his steps measured and perfectly paced. Though not quite as large as Kai, his stature is like that of all shifter males I’ve observed—broad and powerful. Tattoos swirl down both arms, at least from what I can see below his rolled-up sleeves. I turn back to look at the portraits, my head tilting to the side.

“More a fan of males with pompous hair, it seems.”

He snorts, joining me in looking at the pictures, all of which show males with their hair coiffed and puffed up. “Unfortunately, the artists of the past preferred that rulers looked more refined and less like the wild animals we can turn into.”

I glance at him out of the corner of my eye, taking in his cut jaw and broad cheekbones. His hair falls just past his shoulders, a few shorter pieces framing his face. He’s handsome, and also currently dragging his own gaze over me.

“I’m Kane.” He extends his hand out for me to shake.

Firmly clasping it, I offer my own name. “Bahira.”

“Bahira,” he drawls, like he’s tasting each letter. “Are you looking for the party? I’d be happy to escort you. Unless you need more time with these ancient males.” He gestures towards the paintings with a hubristic smirk.

My own lips tug up to the right. “You may escort me, then, Kane.” He offers his arm out to me, his red tunic straining around his muscles.

“Are you new here?” he asks as he leads me down the hallway, turning right into a space that opens up into a large foyer. A chandelier of sparkling flame gems hangs from overhead, each one dripping down like a small waterfall of golden yellow drops pouring from the ceiling and suspended in air.

“I am.”

Kane chuckles as he guides me through a set of open double doors and under an arch of woven vines, bright orange flowers in blossom all around it. The air is thick with the cloying scent of something smoky and savory. Males and females mingle with each other, holding drinks in their hands as they talk. Flame gems line walkways, and lit torches cast writhing orange and yellow light over the party goers.

“You’re going to make me work for more information, aren’t you?” he asks.

My smile widens as I look at him. I had lamented about needing someone to cool the fire that Kai seems to stoke within me every time he is near. Kane would work well enough. “Are you afraid of putting in the effort, Kane?”

His voice rumbles like a deep purr in his chest. “You’ll find that I can be quite dedicated in my efforts.”

I hold his light brown eyes, flecks of gold shimmering in them. Just like Kai’s. I scold myself for letting my thoughts once more go to the shifter king. Idiot . Turning my gaze forward, I take in the rest of the party and let go of Kane’s arm.

Long dark wooden tables connect to form a u-shape, wooden chairs packed in tightly all around it while dark green leaves and blooming white and purple flowers decorate the table centers. A throne of white and gold sits directly at the center, pretentiously overlooking both sides. I snort at that as I continue my perusal. People dance in an open space to the right of the tables, their sensuous movements in time with the heavy beating of the drums from a band on the opposite side.

“Save me a dance for after dinner?” Kane croons near my ear.

“I am not much of a dancer, I’m afraid.”

“Perhaps I will convince you.”

I glance at him in question, but when the music comes to a halt, he leads me towards the tables, rounding the outside and—much to my surprise—bringing me to one of the sides that is nearly adjacent to Kai’s throne. Kane drops into a chair on my right while a single seat remains empty to my left. I take in the crowd as males and females filter into their own seats, a few studying me with open curiosity.

The drums start to sound again, their beat low and slow, each pound of the mallets reverberating out into the evening air. Everyone around the table stands, and I watch as Kai, Tua, and who I now know is Jahlee emerge from the double doors and descend the palace stairs. The beat picks up, the sound demanding everyone’s attention on the king. I may have snickered at him were it not for the fact that he looks absolutely miserable. His lips are drawn in a thin line, his teeth clearly gritting from the scrutiny. Upon his head rests a metal crown of what looks like thickly cut branches twisted together. Each branch curls up into a point at the front, mimicking the look of horns. The dark ensemble he wears fits him impeccably—form fitting enough to show the ridges of his muscles in a tantalizing manner.

Forcing my gaze away, I move to study Jahlee instead. Her wavy hair is left to cascade down her back, its simplicity contrasting with her detailed outfit. The material is the same as my own, only teal in color. Her top goes over one shoulder, tendrils of fabric tying together there and draping over her arm. Instead of a skirt, her bottoms are sheer and loosely cut, a long slit in the wide legs going from the jewel-cuffed ankle and up to the sparkling, threaded waistband. Her wrists are dressed with bangles of gold, each step making them jingle loudly. Where her brother looks put off by the attention, Jahlee is drawing it towards herself. Daring anyone to look her way and then flashing them a cunning smile when they do.

Kai walks behind me and then rounds the corner of the table, straight to his throne. Tua takes up the empty place between the king and I, his eyes widening for a fraction of a second when they meet mine before he schools his face in a placating smile. Leaning forward, he looks past me at someone farther down the table to my right, but my own attention is stuck on Kai. If he is surprised to see me seated amongst the highest of the nobles here, he doesn’t show it. His face is one of pure stone, but then his gaze leaves mine and works slowly down my body. By the time his eyes make their way back up again, something has changed in his expression. My own heart beats at a pace matching the drums banging quickly behind me. I break whatever is happening between us first and train my attention straight ahead; unfortunately, I’m now staring directly at Jahlee, who appears to have been watching us. Her eyes bounce back and forth between her brother and me before a wide grin splits her lips. Fuck me.

Three beats of the drum—harsh and loud—signal that it’s time for everyone to sit, and I follow suit. Servants from the palace spill down the steps, bringing plates of warm fish, fresh salads, and steaming rice. As the meals are laid out before everyone, Tua stands, clinking his glass with his fork and getting the crowd to quiet immediately.

“Tonight, we honor the late King Noa and his influential rule on our glorious island. Under his reign, we knew prosperity like no other, and through his son, we shall continue to see it grow.”

The crowd claps politely, but a quick scan around the tables shows tight mouths and furrowed brows. I uncomfortably shift in my chair, drawing Kane’s attention.

“Are you alright, Bahira?” he asks, sliding a hand over my own. I clench my jaw and remove myself from his touch.

“Quite fine, thank you.”

His gaze lingers on me before he flicks it in Kai’s direction, the corner of his mouth quirking up. “Glad to hear it.”

The music starts up again as everyone begins to eat. A group of people—each holding a long stick with large rounded ends—enter the open space between the tables and form a straight line. The firelight dances over them, showcasing the males’ broad naked chests and the females’ minimally clad bodies. Black fabric is wrapped strategically around them, and even in only the glow of the nearby flames, it’s impossible not to notice their muscular statures.

“They are fire dancers,” Kane supplies, leaning in close enough to brush his arm against my own. “They will provide tonight’s entertainment as we feast.”

My meal is abandoned as I focus my attention on the dancers.

They move in unison, falling to one knee and striking a long match against the sides of their sandals. When they rise again, they each light the ends of their sticks, balls of fire now glowing against the night. They twirl their fire sticks like batons in feats that seem entirely magical though none is being used. The beat of the music aligns with their movements, the orange glow of the flames illuminating their golden skin and stark tattoos. They perform throughout the entire meal, never once faltering in their steps or showing signs of exhaustion. Occasionally, my gaze clashes with Jahlee’s across the way, and every time, she responds with a wide, terrifying smile.

We all clap when they finish, the dancers turning to Kai and bowing in his direction before exiting the center space. The drums pick up once more, the sound a little softer and the beat back to a slow and sensual cadence. Leaning back in my chair, I truly take in the beauty of the night sky for the first time since being on the island.

“It is a beautiful view,” Kane says softly from my side.

“Indeed,” I respond, turning to look at him.

His eyes dip down to my mouth, his own curving up into a bright smile. “Do you want to dance, Bahira?”

“You said you’d try to convince me.” I fold my arms over my chest, tilting my head as I stare him down. “So do it. Convince me to dance with you.”

Kane laughs, turning in his chair until his knee brushes against the side of my leg. “Where are you from?”

“Honna,” I reply as Kai instructed me to.

He hums, nodding his head as if this answers some unasked question. “They don’t have parties quite like this there.”

I shrug and gesture with a hand to the party attendees now heading out to dance. “There’s dinner and dancing. Entertainment. Seems like a generic party to me.”

“But they don’t dance like this back in your small village.” When I send him an incredulous look, he juts his broad chin out. “Watch.”

Indulging him, I observe the crowd gathered on the dance floor. The females grab onto the fabric of their skirts, lifting them to their knees as they sway their hips to the sultry beat. The males are no less fluid in their movements—some dancing alone, others with hardly a space between them.

Kane’s fingers trail up my arm slowly, his touch delicate—too much so. “Look at how they become one with the pulsing of the drums,” he whispers near my ear. “Do you see how they all move together? How in sync they are?”

Sure enough, my gaze snags on a female pressed between two males, each one giving her ample attention as they writhe to the band’s beat. Heat curls low in my belly as I watch them, my nails tapping on the table. I didn’t consider myself inexperienced in bed, but I’d never been with two men at once. What would that be like? To have Kane’s mouth on me at the same time Kai—

I stand abruptly, gripping Kane’s arm. “Let’s dance.” I don’t look back at the king as I lead us both into the throng of people. While everything about the trip to the island and my arrival thus far has been less than ideal, the only thing that has completely thrown me off is Kai. I can’t fathom why I react to him the way that I do, like a pathetic moth drawn to a flame.

Kane’s body envelops mine from behind, his hands gripping tightly on my hips as we nestle between the other people dancing. It doesn’t take long for me to mimic the movements of everyone around me, my body relaxing more with every melodic beat of the drums. Kane pulls me closer to him, my back completely flush with his front as we move together. I lift my arms up above me, my head resting back against his chest as I twirl them slowly in the air. His scent rushes over me—earthy with the smallest hint of something floral. It’s not a bad smell, but I have to fight the urge not to recoil. It isn’t the one I want.

Unable to help myself, I search around the dancing shifters until I find Kai, still seated on his throne. His eyes glow golden in the flamelight as he watches me, the act sending a shock of desire to my core. Kane’s hands tighten on my hips, guiding them in synchronicity with his. Yet, even with the male behind me moving his body so closely with my own that the fabric of our clothes between us may as well be inconsequential, I still can’t look away from the shifter king. From the way his eyes bore into mine until I feel that deep heat once more curling within me. My thighs strain to squeeze together, my breaths coming at a wild pace . It’s only because I haven’t had sex in a while.

Kane spins me around and pulls me close, his erection pushing in on my stomach. “Tell me you want to go somewhere private?” he growls, his eyes brighter despite the pocket of darkness we inhabit amongst the other dancing bodies.

My lips part, indecision a momentary flicker before I snuff it out and answer, “Yes.”

He wastes no time, pulling me harshly through the crowd—sweaty bodies gliding past us until we reach the steps outside the palace. “Where is your room?”

“Second floor to the right.”

“The royal wing? That’s a surprise.”

The what? Why had Tua put me in the royal wing of the palace?

We round the corner of the split staircase, going up the next set of stairs and making it a few steps before Kane backs me up towards the wall. He crashes his lips onto mine, his tongue spearing into my mouth as his hands begin to roam my body. My fingers grip onto his hair, and I yank him back from me, holding him in place with another hand braced on his chest.

“ Don’t kiss me like that,” I growl, tugging harshly on his strands before pulling him back in and taking control the way I want to.

He’s momentarily stunned but it quickly gives way to his desire. Cool air slides against my bare leg as I wrap it around his hip, the slit in my skirt making it easy to do so. I pull him closer to me, until I can feel his cock nearly lined up with where I want it. He groans as he explores my mouth with his tongue, each flick from it drawing a matching sensation in my core as I grind myself over him. His fingers dig into the flesh at my backside, the opposite hand skimming the side of my breast.

A means to an end is all he is, a way to find release for my body so that I can keep my mind distracted and off of—

“Kane!” Like I’ve summoned him, Kai’s voice snaps down the hallway like a whip. Kane and I separate enough for me to drop my hands and leg though his grip tightens on my ass.

“What do you want?” Kane asks through gritted teeth. I raise my brows at the bold way he speaks to his king.

“She is off limits.” Kai’s steps eat up the distance between us in hardly three strides, his broad body towering over Kane’s by at least six inches.

My anger flares, and I push Kane off of me, moving closer to Kai and jabbing my finger into his chest. “Excuse me? What makes you think you get to decide if I am off limits? I don’t answer to you.”

“Maybe not,” he says, leaning closer until I have to strain my neck to look up at him. Kai’s eyes slide over to Kane. “But he does.”