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Every muscle in my body rejected his words, and bile crept up my throat. I wished I could summon a lightning storm. Instead, I had to willingly approach the king like a gentle breeze.

What else could I do? I needed his help. Desperately. Countless lives depended on it. There was no way we could defeat Erovos and his army alone.

I took my first step toward the king, my bare leg slipping through the slit of my sheer dress. Rowen grabbed my hand from behind, offering a squeeze before our fingers trailed away with my next step.

“What is she doing?” Maddock asked, concern etched on his face. Rowen put a hand to his chest, warning him with a look. Madds stared at me questioningly, but I snapped my head to the gnomon. I couldn’t look back.

Rayal told me to keep the king intrigued, but I figured the dress and veil were doing most of the work.

I walked toward Aedris with determined steps, feeling like a bride at some fucked up wedding. He waited for me to approach, sitting far too comfortably on a throne that didn’t belong to him .

Dirt clawed at my throat, and the sun beat down on my brow. I’d had to stand and be judged by a council before. However, this time, I would be palpated and gutted like an animal.

At least now, I knew the power I carried within my veins, and I let it radiate through me like a crown of stardust and dignity.

The king rose to meet me, and though I could barely see him, his curiosity was palpable. My heartbeat pounded in my ears, and my breath came in short, shallow bursts. Was he going to cut me right now?

He raised his hands, and I braced myself, expecting to feel the cold sting of a blade against my neck. Instead, he merely grabbed the edges of my veil and pulled it back over my head, letting the fabric fall to my feet.

I lifted my gaze to one of the most striking men I’d ever seen. He was tall, muscular, and beautiful, with a golden crown resting atop his greying hair.

His tan skin glistened against his white-and-gold robes, and a well-kept beard framed his strong features. I was close enough now that I could see the pale blue color of his eyes dancing across my face.

His voice boomed and echoed across the courtyard. “So you are the prophesied one my niece speaks of.”

“I am,” I said, my voice low yet unshaken. “Funny though, I’ve never heard of you. It must be because you hide behind an arch while the rest of the world suffers.”

The king barked out a laugh, his near-translucent eyes trailing up every inch of my body. His gaze lingered on my ears where the Light peeked through like star-studded jewels.

I recognized the predatory stare. It was the same look Harlan, Demil, and Erovos had given me. Even Aliphoura and Maddock at times.

I was told that the Alcreon Light revealed one of two natures: one that sought to protect, while the other, to possess .

My senses sharpened on instinct because the king fell into the latter category. Though he would soon learn I was anything but prey.

“The world has taken many violent turns,” he finally answered. “We protect ourselves behind the arch to escape all that. What happens beyond its threshold is of little concern to us.”

“How can you say that?” I asked incredulously. “It has already affected you. Elves are suffering in your streets. You are running out of water.”

His posture didn’t flinch. “The water running a little low has been known to happen on occasion. It is no cause for concern.”

“It may seem like a small drought that will eventually pass, but can’t you feel the air?

It’s different. No healing rain will come to save you, and your circumstances will only worsen.

” My chest heaved as I tried to plead my case.

“A world eater is slowly sucking Luneth dry, and it’s only a matter of time before he and his astral demons find you.

No one is safe. Not even a king holed up in a palace. ”

“What an imagination you have,” he said with a flippant chuckle.

“Erovos has an army ready to end this world. One bite from his demons will turn you into a Voro-Kai—a soulless monster out for blood and destruction.”

The crowd gasped and murmured amongst themselves.

The king’s stare snapped to his subjects and then back to me. “Is this what you came here for? To spread terror with your fearmongering? If that is all, you may go now. Your mission is accomplished.”

“That’s not all,” I replied, raising my chin. “I’ve come to ask for your army’s aid in battle.”

His stare regarded me with amusement and perhaps respect. “We’ve heard tales of the Marked Son. My niece made certain we all knew the prophecy. But you are no son,” he said, his eyes roving over every inch of my skin. “And far from what anyone expected.”

“Expectations don’t matter now. I’m the one standing here,” I replied, reining in my breathing.

“Your army must use the arch to reach the Wyn village. That’s where our forces are stationed and where skilled bladesmiths are forging the only weapons capable of defeating the Voro-Kai.

If you won’t help us, at least take some blades and arrows to defend yourselves when they eventually come for you. ”

Aedris was slow and deliberate with his words. “The former heir to the throne was quick to believe these fables. I, on the other hand, require more convincing. As I’m sure you understand.”

I held my chin firm, knowing what he was about to ask of me.

“Are you ready to bleed?” he asked, his eyes darting to my pounding pulse.

“For the ruler of Hara’dune? Of course,” I replied, keeping my voice steady despite the tornado of nerves raging within me. I couldn’t push him too hard. Not yet.

He nodded off to the side, and an attendant ran to the center of the dial. His pale skin and red hair caught the sunlight as he placed a dried potted plant between us. The elve bowed to the king and retreated without a word.

Aedris grabbed my wrist slowly, allowing me time to withdraw, but I didn’t budge. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.

“Tales of your blood have certainly spread,” he announced as he retrieved a knife from his robes. The pounding vein in my neck raced with my heartbeat.

He placed the tip of his blade on my pointer finger. I sucked in a sharp breath as he applied more pressure, and a bloom of blood sprouted on my finger ,

Before I could drop the blood on the dried plant, Aedris plopped my finger into his mouth and sucked. Hard.

Disgust roiled through me as his tongue stroked the pad of my finger.

The ring of his unnaturally bright eyes shrank, and his pupils widened. He didn’t stop me as I pulled my finger from his lips, fighting the urge to wipe his saliva on my dress.

“You certainly taste of the stars. Sweet and mouthwatering. But is it enough for me to lend you my army?”

“Take more, and let’s find out,” I said in a sultry murmur, gesturing to the dead bush between us.

“Very well then,” he replied, reaching out for me once again.

Giving him my hand after he’d consumed a drop of my blood without consent was an act of the utmost control. I plastered on a grin and gave him my hand, wishing I could blast him with my Light.

Aedris’ pupils continued to shrink as whatever effect my blood had on him worked its way through his system.

I really hoped it didn’t have ecstasy-inducing properties, but I feared that wasn’t the case.

Even Erovos knew that if he tasted me, he wouldn’t be able to stop.

And something told me Aedris didn’t have nearly the self-control as an ancient spirit.

He held my wrist tight as he dragged the blade across my palm, a line of crimson seeping to the surface.

It hurt like hell, but I kept my face impassive as he tilted my hand and allowed my blood to drop onto the dead weeds between us.

And just as I knew it would, buds of green and white began pushing through the soil, fighting and searching for the light of life. As if watching a time-lapse, the sprouts grew until a small, thriving cactus plant emerged from the dead soil.

Though I was familiar, Aedris and the crowd were not, and they gasped when they realized what was happening.

My eyes shot to Rowen for the first time since I’d been up on the dial, and his gaze flashed with worry as he watched Aedris’ face.

My stare shot back to Aedris, his expression turning from astounded wonder to pure, unadulterated desire.

It was at that moment I knew I was in danger.

“Keira,” Rowen roared, but before I could react, the king grabbed me from behind my knee and hiked my leg up onto his hip. The folds of my dress fell down either side of my thigh as he pressed me closer to his chest. My hands landed on the tops of his shoulders as I fought to reclaim my balance.

Suddenly, I felt the sharp tip of his blade on the inside of my thigh, right at my femoral artery.

Fear choked up my throat. One slip, and I could bleed out in minutes. Aedris seemed to be thinking along the same lines.

“What is to keep me from draining you right here?” he asked with crazed eyes. Rowen, Dyani, and Maddock charged toward me, but the guards leaped into action with their curved blades.

My heart seized in terror. Though they were exceptional fighters, they were unarmed against the desert elves. It wouldn’t be a fair fight.

I raised my hand and motioned for them to stop.

Maddock and Dyani hesitated, looking to Rowen.

My soul flame heeded my command and froze within the guard’s hold, but I could tell by the raging fire in his eyes and the heaving of his chest that it was taking all of his strength not to fight his way to me.

My pulse rang in my ears as Aedris’ grip tightened on my leg, the blade pressing deeper into my skin.