Page 19

NINETEEN

Magoza stood against the wall with her sister next to her.

The tension in the air was palpable.

She eyed the council as they entered the chambers.

They each strode into the room as if they owned the place.

The sitting room was an appropriate setting for them to discuss sensitive matters.

It was part of the fortified part of the Angarth, and anything discussed here would remain in the room.

There was a table with chairs seated around it.

Her father had held plenty of meetings with other clan leaders here.

But tonight, this was different.

Magoza bit back her scowl and tried to keep her face devoid of any emotions.

She could not allow them to see that she was worried.

Even though what they were here to discuss was her fecking future.

Her father and mother were the last to arrive.

The guards outside the room shut the door.

Her parents strode to the head of the table and stood.

The other clan leaders came and chose their seats.

“Please, sit down,” Dura said.

Everyone did so while silence continued.

Her mother sat in the chair next to Tulak.

She eyed each of the men and met their hard gazes with a glare.

“So tell me, council . Why are you here?” Dura put a hard emphasis on the word council.

She settled back in her seat and crossed her legs.

Her silken dress floated around her.

She may have been in a fancy outfit, but it didn’t take away that the chieftain’s mate was just as dangerous as he was.

Tulak sat straight with his fingers steepled against each other.

A chieftain was only as strong as his mate.

Magoza thought of Amuleta.

With her mate at her side, she would grow into a better person.

She looked forward to a long future with her, and these orcs sitting around the table were here to prevent her from having the future she deserved.

To lead their people with the woman she loved at her side.

“Rumors have reached the far corners of Aghon about your daughter mating with a half-breed,” Sakgu began.

He flicked his gaze to Magoza.

“We have long traditions that the leader of Aghon must mate with an orc. There has never been a chieftain who has not taken an orc as his—or her—bride.”

“And why can’t we forge a new history?” Tulak asked.

Silence met him.

He grunted and leaned forward.

“Who is to say that history has been right? Dura is my fated mate. My parents were fated mates before me, as were my grandparents.”

“Yes, we know the history of your family,” Cardu, the leader of the Ogola Clan, snapped.

His scowl deepened. His hair was a mixture of silver and black.

He was one of the eldest leaders to still guide his clan.

It was known that his sons had not taken mates yet, and he refused to allow them to fight for his position until one of them was mated.

“And that is exactly our point. Orc with full-blooded orcs. Not orcs and half-breeds.”

“And you will sit here and try to advise me on my daughter and her mate while your sons have yet to find anyone to mate with?” Tulak snarled.

His fist banged on the table.

“I don’t think this is a conversation you should be a part of.”

Magoza’s breath caught in her throat.

She fought the urge to look over at her sister.

Nargol’s hard swallow was all she needed to hear.

She was in shock, too, that her father had brought up the sensitive subject of Cardu and his sons being mateless.

“How dare you?” Cardu sputtered.

“How dare you!” The chieftain rose to his feet and glared at the entire council.

“The six of you come together to form a Council of Clans because my daughter has found her fated mate. The one person who the gods have created for her. Who of you will stand against fate?”

The silence in the room was deafening.

Each member of the council stilled as they stared at her father.

“This half-breed is Magoza’s fated mate? How can that be?” Larek asked.

“Fate, that’s how. Do you think we would take this lightly? Do you think I was jesting when I said the bargaining between our families was closed?” Dura said.

The males around the table shifted uncomfortably.

When Dura Cydassi spoke, everyone listened.

“Today an unspeakable event occurred at the trials. A large group of unruly orcs attacked and attempted to kidnap the mate of my daughter.”

“These were not orcs from our clan. Do any of you want to claim the orcs who are sitting in my dungeons right now?” Tulak snapped.

“Their actions are punishable by death. They attempted to harm not only their chieftain, but my mate, my daughter’s mate, and honored guests.”

“And you are sure they are not from your clan?” Cardu asked dryly.

“Oh, I am sure of that,” Tulak said.

“We will get to the bottom of it, Ranhos ,” Nargol said from where she stood.

There was no smile on her face at the moment.

“And when we find out which clans they belong to…” She let her words fade.

There was an unspoken promise hanging in the air.

The clans would be held accountable for their clan members’ actions.

“Who is this half-breed? Where do they hail from?” Ragesh stroked his chin as he leaned back.

The clan leader of the Jungshen was known as a calculating orc.

“And what clan do they belong to?” Yagnar added.

Tulak folded his arms and flicked his gaze to Magoza.

She already knew what he was asking, and if they must know then the secret would need to be disclosed.

She hated to be the one to reveal her mate’s lineage without asking her, but it was necessary.

Magoza gave a slight nod to her father.

“The female’s name is Amuleta Sesh,” Tulak announced.

Gasps went around the room.

There was no doubt that the council recognized Amuleta’s surname.

“That can’t be!” Sakgu shouted.

His fist slammed down on the table.

He pushed back and stood.

Magoza’s hand dropped down to her axe while Nargol’s went to her dagger on her waist. Tulak growled at the clan leader’s outburst.

“It is so. Xagok had a family, and his daughter is Magoza’s mate,” Tulak replied with a low warning in his voice.

He was a patient male, but he never tolerated disrespect.

“I demand to see her,” Sakgu insisted.

“Why? Why do you need to see her now? She has been living here in Udenia her entire life. She belongs to the Nidani Clan.” Magoza couldn’t hold back any longer.

She was going to protect her mate at all costs.

She may have had to divulge her lineage, but she refused to allow this male access to her mate.

“Magoza speaks the truth. Amuleta was raised under the protection of the Nidani,” Tulak said.

“You don’t get to make demands. She and her mother have arrived here today and are resting.”

“Xagok’s mate is here as well?” A flash of pain crossed Sakgu’s face.

Magoza grew puzzled.

From what she was told, Xagok had been banished from his home clan.

Why would that bother Sakgu if he was the one who’d banished his own flesh and blood?

“Please. Allow me to see them.”

“We aren’t here for a family reunion, Sakgu. You can meet your dead cousin’s family—” Drigka, the leader of the Kekshi Clan, began.

He hadn’t said much the entire meeting.

“Watch your tone,” Sakgu cut him off.

“Show some respect. No matter what happened between my cousin and my clan, he was a good male, a fine warrior, and you will respect him in death.”

“If you are saying that your former commander had a family then I agree with Sakgu. We should meet the half-breed,” Larek said.

Nods of agreement went around the table.

“Her name is Amuleta. Not half-breed,” Magoza said.

Her mate was a beautiful female who needed to be respected.

She had hoped she would be able to avoid bringing her into this mess.

Meeting her was not going to change their minds, but on the chance that it did, then it would be worth it.

Her mother turned to her and stood from her seat.

“Send for her.”

Magoza exited the sitting room.

Footsteps approached.

She stalked down the hall toward the corner where Amuleta should be coming from.

“Oh, I didn’t expect you to be there,” Amuleta gasped.

She stepped back in shock.

The warrior who had escorted her banged his fist on his chest, then he disappeared in the direction Magoza had just come from.

They were alone in the hallway and didn’t have much time.

“I didn’t mean to startle you. I just wanted to speak with you before you went into the room,” Magoza said.

“What is going on?” Amuleta’s eyes grew wide.

Her bottom lip trembled slightly, and it took everything in Magoza to not scoop her up and carry her away from here.

Magoza took in Amuleta’s beauty.

Her mate must have bathed.

A floral scent filled Magoza’s nostrils.

She breathed in the aroma and wanted to nuzzle her face into the crook of Amuleta’s neck.

Magoza gently cupped Amuleta’s face and tried to soften her words.

“There was a Council of Clans formed. This only happens when there is concern over Aghon. It takes six clan leaders to make the council,” Magoza began, trying to explain who the orcs were who had arrived when they had.

Her mate would need to be prepped before going into the room.

“And they feel I am a threat to Aghon?”

“Not just you, but us as a couple.” Magoza leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to Amuleta’s lips.

Magoza was willing to go to the end of this world for her mate.

Staring down in her eyes, she knew that no matter what came of this, she would remain true to her.

She would follow fate and honor the gods for giving her Amuleta.

“They want to speak with you.”

“And you will be there with me?” Amuleta whispered.

“Wild zicunas wouldn’t be able to tear me away,” Magoza replied softly.

She reached up and brushed Amuleta’s dark strands from her face.

Whether she was the future chiefess of not, none of that would matter if Amuleta was not at her side.

She smiled at her. “I love you, Amuleta Sesh. No matter what happens in that room, we will walk out together.”

Amuleta brought her hands to rest on Magoza’s waist. Her lips curled up in the corners.

Her beauty took Magoza’s breath away.

She closed the gap between them.

“I love you, too, Magoza Cydassi. I didn’t realize it until now. I think I’ve known since the first day I saw you at the training site,” she whispered.

Magoza dropped another kiss on her lips.

Amuleta giggled and shook her head.

“And maybe I do feel that we are meant to be together. It’s a strange warming sensation in my chest that appeared out of nowhere. Maybe my orc genes are trying to tell me what I figured out on my own.”

Happiness filled Magoza.

Her mate loved her. She didn’t care what happened in that room.

All she knew was that she had the love of the woman destined for her.

But before they went in there, she had to tell Amuleta one more thing.

“Your father’s cousin, Sakgu, is part of the council,” Magoza said.

Something flared in Amuleta’s eyes.

“He’s here now?” Her chin tilted up.

At that moment, Magoza could see the former commander in his daughter.

Amuleta stood to her full height with a stubborn tilt of her chin.

“He is.”

“Lead the way. I’m ready.”