Page 65 of Shifter King

"All the more reason for you to let me go. I'm certain they're worried about me." She stopped at the foot of the red stairs. "Even though I'm certain there is no reason for them to be."

"None whatsoever so long as you remember your place."

Well, if that wasn't sinister. She returned the smile. "So what is it that you want from me?"

"Your vow of allegiance to the Reskal Bealorns and your agreement that you will bear children for my son and accept him as the Father of the New Neyeb."

Amelia found it hard to hold the smile. "Your son. Prince Gabrice, yes?"

She nodded, seemingly pleased by the use of the title.

"Would it not be possible for me to meet with him and speak about this matter?" He hadn't seemed particularly thrilled with her when they met in the camp. Not that she could blame him. Who liked having marriage sprung on them like that?

"What do you need to talk about? What is there to talk about?" Zorna gestured toward her, scowling. "He will do as he is told. Like you. You don't have to love each other. You just make babies."

"Ahh." Amelia nodded slowly. "Well, may I have some time to think about this?"

"What is there to think about?" Zorna leaned her chin into the L of her index finger and thumb. "It's yes or no. You answer now. And I'd remind you to have a care. You are of our sister race, our sister kind. There is only one answer you should make."

Amelia frowned, startled at the sharpness in her voice. "I made the vow—"

"Pah! Do not speak to me of vows again. We are already strong. With you joining us, we would be even greater. You give to us the right to be the people who father the New Neyeb." "Or we take it."

The intensity in the woman's words cut into Amelia's spirit. She closed her eyes and drew back her hands to shield her still-covered elmis. "It's just that all this. I have one husband. I never thought of more than that—"

Zorna gave a bewildered wave. "You are the Mother of the New Neyeb. You are surprised more than one man wants to be the father? You aren't the prettiest ring in the box, dear, but surely that one can't be the only one who wants to put you on. It is your duty to bear children. As many as you can with as many fathers as you can. What you have is a great gift. An opportunity to create not simply one race but many. And the only requirement is that you must have twice as many Bealorn children as any other race."

"I…" She blinked, unable to hide her shock. "What? I'm not aware of that requirement."

"As long as you are here, it is. And as you are, you will comply."

"No."

"What did you just say?" Zorna's brow knit together, her eyes darkening with rage.

"I mean—" She held up her hands. "I mean no disrespect. I can't have children right now. I physically can't! It's—" She dropped her gaze to the stairs. What could she possibly say to buy time and stop this woman?

"Oh…Dry Deep." Zorna sat up straighter and then nodded. "Yes, I see." She rose from the throne and descended.

Amelia stepped back, but the queen took hold of her face, her clipped nails cutting into her cheeks. "I understand. Infertility is common but curable. In this and so many other ways, we can help. And it is so much better than the alternative." She patted Amelia's cheek sharply. "You're a smart girl, I think, yes? You better be. And there are so many ways you will make us stronger, and we will make you better. Now come. Your first task is at hand."

AN OPPORTUNITY

One of the guards removed a cushion on the left side of the room to reveal a door set in the floor. The other opened it. A long narrow stone staircase descended into the depths. The air smelled of damp, smoke, and incense; it stirred the feathers woven into the guards’ hair.

"Come." Zorna gestured to it. Already the male attendant had started down the staircase, torch in hand. "Preparations have been made. You will prove your usefulness to this nation now, and after this, there will be no doubts, even if you do need a little longer to learn to be fertile."

"Doing—doing what?" Amelia fell back a step.

The woman attendant prodded her forward.

"Nothing complicated. You don’t have to have a baby right now," Zorna laughed as she started down the staircase. "But you must do this one little thing to prove where your loyalties lie."

"What little thing is that?"

"You’ll see." She tapped her cane onto the stairs. Each solid click grew a little softer as she descended. Her feet were small enough that they did not extend much over the edge of the stones.

The attendant pushed Amelia again, harder this time.