Page 5 of The Malice of Moons and Mages (The Broken Bonds of Magic #1)

Five

Selene

Moon Tribes Oja

S elene’s pacing steps echoed off the stone walls. Every few rounds she paused to gaze through the long window at the dark sea. Two trays of untouched food lay on the table, but she hadn’t let anyone clear them away. Her floor-length ebony hair was tangled, and her body reeked from neglect. She should have been wearing mourning clothes but that would have to wait for an announcement that couldn’t be made until Lua was secured. Her brother had always been difficult.

Outside of a few trusted staff ministers and the Council of Moons Mages, no one knew that the Rajav Li-Hun Koray and Raani Amala were dead, murdered at almost the same moment at opposite ends of the castle—one death born of mercy, the other opportunity. She’d always wondered if, left to their own devices, she and her brother would work well together.

Lua and Dain had set sail a couple of hours after the murders, leaving her to spin the crimes as she chose. If he’d been less arrogant, he’d have considered what she might do and insisted that they leave together. Instead, he wanted them to go to the islands because Silence had told him to. He’d forgotten that Selene hated leaving Uduary. This was where Song’s power was greatest and where her rule would start. A rule she had no intention of sharing.

By manipulating the Mage Council’s inherent dislike of Lua, blame shifted easily his way. The wicked Oji must have killed them both or killed one to kill the other. Whatever people believed was fine. The truth was their father was strong enough to survive quite a while without an anchor. It was Selene and Bolin who saw to it that he did not. With Dain’s death only she, Bolin, and Lua knew the truth. And Xiang, who was a bit too observant for his own good.

She stepped onto the balcony, ignoring the cold air that breezed through the single layer of silk wrapped around her. Full Song flitted overhead, pale yellow light glittering upon the water. Raia’s ring spanned from one horizon to the other, glowing softly. Though the ring was more visible at night, the planet’s shadow was darkening it closest to the horizon.

The scholars had predicted that Song’s quietude would begin before the cycle toward the eclipses. With the Rajav dead, the moons would have to bestow their blessings on one of his children, and Selene had faith that Song would choose her.

It must be her. Lua was, well, himself. And that was bad enough. He was cryptic and aloof but not stern enough to be an adequate leader of both Moon tribes. He’d never hold them together. If she could siphon him, she’d be more powerful than their father had ever been.

Beyond Uduary’s sea wall to the south, a silver tail arced in the water. White scales shimmered in the song-light, an auspicious sign. The sea dragons hadn’t visited the bay for decades, not since Amala had been strong enough to see them from the highest balcony. Sixty years, perhaps more. But not less. Their mother had been mostly bedbound for at least fifty years. Selene leaned on the marble rail and watched the rippling water, fighting a flicker of nostalgia and sorrow.

Lua couldn’t have imagined his anchor betraying him. After Dain bolted him, Selene’s people secured him. The bloodstone should have cut him off from drawing on Dain’s energy. The bolt should have kept him weak enough to bring home. He was defeated. They’d held him.

Yet, they’d still failed .

Xiang’s report, given through the mirror he shared with Bolin, left no doubt. The Oji had destroyed the ship and still lived.

The small angry threads of her bolt had yanked her from sleep when they recoiled. Someone had removed it, which meant her plans needed to change. Lua would head to the Silence monastery with hopes of the moons choosing him as Rajav at the eclipses. Selene had to ensure that didn’t happen.

A familiar knock shook her door. She strummed the connection between them a moment before Bolin pressed in bearing a tray of food in his arms.

“You need to eat.” His voice warmed her.

“I’m not hungry.”

He shoved the other trays aside to set the fresh one down. “Liar.”

She turned to him. “Did you see the dragon?”

He shook his head and stepped onto the balcony, taking her hand. His skin was tan against her pale flesh. Warm against her cool. His touch was a rare treat offered more frequently when Xiang was away. Even though their relationships were very different, she didn’t like sharing her anchor. But Bolin had belonged to Xiang before her magic had claimed him.

“You’ve been draining my energy since yesterday. Eat,” he said.

Selene settled on the small lounge and sipped the spiced broth he fed her. He offered the rosemary flatbread she liked and poured a glass of wine. She relished the moments when Bolin tended to her like a lover. He loved her, she knew that. But not as much as he loved Xiang, never as much as that.

“Any word?” she asked.

“No. I may have missed him earlier.” He raised the spoon to her lips again. “I was trying to replicate one of my mother’s recipes. It’s not quite right; we don’t have the spices.”

With his rich tawny skin, warm brown eyes, and ready smile, there was something compelling about him. People gravitated toward him, even those who hated foreigners.

He studied her face. “You should rest.”

“I’m not?—”

“There’s nothing to be done until Lua is found. And the ministers will demand a plan for the upcoming winter. I’ve already delayed them as long as I can. You have obligations to fulfill now.” He set the bowl on the table and unraveled a lock of her tangled hair before tucking it behind her ear. “Your parents are dead and, though you may deny it, I know you grieve. You need to sleep.”

She brought a hand to his cheek, enjoying the intimacy of their connection. “I’ll rest better with you beside me.”

His face altered just enough to reveal his answer. “I’ll lay with you but nothing more tonight.”

“You’re worried.”

He sighed, small and controlled. “Of course.”

“Xiang’ll be fine. He’s got his mages and a solid crew.”

“Lua killed a ten star and everyone on the Mirren . Why do you think Xiang has a chance of succeeding? He only took two mages, neither over ten stars.”

Selene patted his arm. “Lua must have depleted his magic to accomplish everything he’s done. Even if he’s found another anchor, which is unlikely, it’ll take him months to recuperate.” She kissed his knuckles lightly. “Besides, he’ll never find an anchor as perfect as you.”