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Fifteen

CIANA

W arm and cozy in his arms, I relaxed easily. My head dropped to his chest, and I found it hard to keep my eyes open.

Kurai got up, taking me with him.

“I’ve been selfish with you, my darling,” he said. “It’s bad enough that I failed to find any food for you, now I’m also keeping you from getting the rest you need.”

“With you, I probably could live on sex alone. You make it the sweetest thing ever,” I mumbled into his chest, my mind slowly sinking into a sleepy fog.

Carrying me in his arms, Kurai left the enclosure with the Source of Joy. It was a bizarre contraption of glowing hexagonal glass vials arranged into a twisted column that was surrounded by a fence of golden filigree.

We descended the stairs to the floor with the pool. After the grand hall upstairs, the underground level felt almost cozy, and Kurai’s bed looked exceptionally inviting. Putting me in his bed, he tucked the thick, homespun blanket around me.

“Rest, sweetheart,” he whispered, kissing me gently .

“How about you?” I murmured, rolling to my side and hugging the pillow.

“I’ll be right here too. We’re connected, remember? I’m not going anywhere.” He arranged his tall body behind me, draping a hand over my middle and drawing me to him tightly.

To me, our connection felt far stronger than just his tendrils. Not only our bodies and emotions were linked, but our hearts seemed to be growing much closer too. Comfort and peace descended on me when lying next to him. Sleep claimed me before I even took my next breath.

I was so tired, I believed I could sleep for a century or even longer, but the sound of voices woke me up.

My muscles tensed with alarm. I instinctively braced for Dylan’s displeased voice. Then the awareness of my new reality settled in, bringing relief but also confusion.

“Just a few hours ago,” Kurai answered someone’s question. “Where is everyone?”

“Master Arter sent away the six Joy Guardians who didn’t want to join the ranks of the Watchers. He didn’t want them here for the opening of the third and last portal.”

“But where have you been?”

“I was in Himerum, hiding while organizing the Joy Vessels’ escape,” a female voice replied.

Sleep still weighed on me, preventing me from opening my eyes or moving a muscle. It appeared the woman hadn’t seen me under the blanket. Kurai didn’t seem to be in a hurry to make my presence known to her, and I wondered if it was best to remain hidden for the time being.

“Then the rumor arrived that you were a wanted man,” the woman continued. “I assumed you were discovered?”

“They heard about the tattoo and wanted to see my wrists. I didn’t let them, but it didn’t matter at that point. I couldn’t stay.”

“Hm,” the woman hummed disapprovingly. “I always thought the tattoo was unnecessary and even dangerous.”

“As a mark for life, it signifies our commitment, Oria. When pushed to reveal it, I knew I had no choice but to complete the mission.”

“Yet the queen’s sarai remains intact, I heard. And there are still way too many humans in Alveari.”

A heavy pause hung between them. Without even seeing the woman, whom Kurai called Oria, I sensed the tension of her displeasure. Her silence felt like a chance for Kurai to explain…but what? What was supposed to happen to the sarai and to the humans who lived there?

Alarm rose in me, banishing sleep. Now I was glad I hadn’t made my presence known, listening quietly to their conversation. Extremely carefully, I shifted my position slightly to peek out from under the blanket.

Kurai was no longer in bed with me. Instead, he stood in front of the entrance to his sleeping area as far from the bed as his tendrils connected to me would allow, blocking Oria from my view and me from hers.

“I failed my mission,” he said somberly. “I had no time to set off the explosion spell.”

Oria inhaled audibly.

“The portal didn’t go as planned either.” She sounded crestfallen.

“What do you mean? Where are the four Watchers who were supposed to open it?”

“Dead.” The word fell from her lips like a rock, plunging the room in grave silence.

As if weighed down by it, Oria slumped against the wall of the archway entrance to Kurai’s sleeping area, and I caught a glimpse of her right shoulder and bare chest covered only by the gold mesh with black beads of a Joy Guardian.

“All of them?” Kurai exhaled, dropping his shoulders.

“All four.”

“And Master Arter?” Kurai’s voice came out hollow, and I remembered how fondly he’d always spoken about his mentor during our many conversations in the sarai .

“Yes, he’s dead, too. You and I are the only Wachers left among the Joy Guardians, Kurai. One of us will have to assume the duties of running the temple until the new Master Guardian is selected.”

“How did they die?”

“They all were speared and knifed down as they held the scepter, keeping the portal open for the humans to escape. They were killed, either by the desert dwellers or by Prince Rha’s guards.”

“But why was Prince Rha here?”

“They say he fell in love with one of his Joy Vessels and rushed all the way from Teneris like a man possessed when he discovered her gone. Unfortunately, not all humans left through the portal. Some ended up being captured by the desert dwellers. The queen’s guards hunted down one or two and returned them to the sarai in Kalmena.

But Prince Rha will probably no longer be allowed to have any Joy Vessels.

I’ve heard the queen was displeased with her son more than usual, for allowing his Joy Vessels to escape.

She ordered him to be brought to her palace for punishment.

Not sure if she’ll go as far as executing her only son and heir.

But Princess Alzali has enjoyed the queen’s favor for decades.

It’s not like the kingdom will be left without a monarch, even if the prince dies. ”

“Where did you hear all of this?”

“From the desert dwellers who passed through Himerum. News travels fast with nomads since they’re always on the move.

There is a big excitement among commoners now.

Those who got their hands on the escaped Joy Vessels are expected to sell them.

So now they all think that everyone has a chance at getting some of their joy—not just the highborn or the royalty. ”

Kurai jerked a shoulder. Probably sensing that I was awake, he glanced my way, then turned away quickly, but Oria noticed the gesture.

“What’s going on? Why are your tendrils out?” she asked, stepping forward .

“Oria.” A warning sounded in Kurai’s voice as he lunged to stop her.

But she was faster, yanking the cover off me. I closed my eyes tightly, afraid to face her.

“A…a human?” Oria stumbled back in shock. “Kurai? Did you steal a royal Joy Vessel?”

“It wasn’t planned. Let her sleep. She’s been through a lot.”

He grabbed the blanket from her and carefully covered me again. I ventured to open my eyes again, furtively peeking from under the cover.

“Let her sleep?” Oria mimicked, gasping for breath.

“Do you even realize what you’ve done? You’re now in the possession of the queen’s property.

The guards are looking for the runaway Joy Vessels far and wide.

If… I mean, when they find her, you’ll be sentenced to death by exposure to the sun.

They’ll cook you alive in the day's heat!”

“If I didn’t bring her here, she would’ve died in the desert. She may still die if she doesn’t eat soon. Do you have any food?”

“Food? You’re asking me for food?” Oria repeated, dumbfounded by his simple request. “We have a fucking Joy Vessel in the temple, Kurai! Uhgrrr…” She speared her fingers through her shoulder-length hair and plopped on the edge of the bed.

“What were you thinking, bringing her to the temple? They will come for her. They’ll accuse us all of stealing her. They’ll kill us all.”

He crouched in front of her, placing his hands on her knees.

“Oria, listen to me?—”

“No, you listen to me.” She poked a finger in his chest, hiss-whispering her words in his face.

“By now, there weren’t supposed to be any humans left in our kingdom.

They would’ve been either back in their world, where they belong, or dead.

Prince Rha wouldn’t allow any outsiders in his sarai , but the queen did.

Master Arter chose you for that mission.

You spent weeks in the queen’s sarai , more than enough time to set off a few vials of exploding potion and kill them all. Yet here you are. And with her!”

Kill them all.

Kill them all.

Kill them all.

Her words throbbed inside my skull, echoing with each heartbeat.

“This Joy Vessel has to die. Now.” Oria’s verdict dropped—sharp and ruthless—like an axe on my neck.

A loud sound from the floor above came as a strike of lightning, sudden and startling. Someone seemed to be pounding with their fists on the doors of the temple.

Oria sprang to her feet.

“The worshipers are here. It’s morning already. I’ll let them in and start the service.” She paused, leveling Kurai a heavy stare. “What if it’s the queen’s guards, coming to collect the crown’s property?”

“They can’t see her here.”

“I agree. They cannot or it would put the entire temple in jeopardy.” Oria lowered her voice. “She needs to die, like all of them do. That’s the only way.”

I waited for Kurai to argue, to defend my right to live. But he remained quiet.

“Remember your vows, Kurai,” Oria insisted.

“I vowed to protect the Joy from harm?—”

“By all means necessary,” she finished for him.

“By all means necessary,” he echoed mechanically, as if in trance.

“Including murder.”

“Including…” His voice wavered.

“Don’t forget what happens to promise breakers. Don’t let Master Arter’s death be in vain. He believed in you. You’ve always been one of the most devoted Guardians the Joy has ever had. Do it, Kurai,” she urged gravely. “Or I’ll do it for you when I return.”

The moment Oria left, I scrambled out of bed.

“Ciana, wait. ”