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Ereon

“ W elcome home, Ereon.”

My father sits on his dark and twisted throne that once was an icon of beauty and grace — or so I’m told. I think it was always meant to evoke fear and malice. A full representation of the family I come from. I approach, thankful Carnaxa is still asleep so she doesn’t have to see him first. My father will be angry and I want to shoulder the punishment rather than it be directed at her.

“Father.” I kneel in front of the dais. My eyes dart anxiously from left to right, desperately searching for a glimpse of Anara. I kept my promise, my bargain. As I enter I expect to see him with her by his side, just to further taunt me. Since she’s not here, my worry intensifies as I ponder where he might be keeping her.

“Your whore is in your room. But the important question is, where is your lovely betrothed? And why do you not wear your crown? Are you ashamed of your kingdom?”

I cringe at the way he describes Anara, but I bite my tongue to keep from correcting him. I’ve survived as long as I have by being compliant — it shouldn’t be any different now. I knew better than

to come into this throne room without my crown, but I just wanted to get this over with as quickly as possible and the adornment slipped my mind. The garish crown he has me wear is tarnished black with a hint of silver that rarely shines through; it’s uncomfortable, but he loves to see the garish headpiece toted around since it is a mirror image of his. I take a deep breath, ready to face him, and rise.

“Princess Carnaxa Althister of Antalis is being taken to her chambers since she has still not awoken from the incident on our trip here. I know you are aware of the madness ensuing since we arrived back within the Shaston borders. I believe whatever happened affected the Princess more than the rest of us.” I keep my voice steady, not wanting him to realize I have feelings for her. He would just use her as he has Anara, to keep me in line. I can’t let him know that I am in love with her.

He holds a gold chalice and slowly takes a drink, swirling the liquid in the cup before taking another. His eyes search mine. The deep green that many don’t know is there, peeking out. To most, his eyes appear black, but I can remember as a young child the times he would peer at me with those green eyes — almost as if he loved me. Over the years, they have darkened along with his demeanor. When I was a child, my mother spoke of how she would pray that my eyes would not be like my father’s.

“Yes ... that was” — he smirks and clicks his tongue — “unfortunate. Which reminds me, those who came with you from Antalis are now being held until we can find the source of the madness that was brought with them.”

As he locks eyes with me, I want to snarl but repress it. Of course, he would find a reason to keep the Antalians from being around. The shadowy hue of his hair seems to deepen, accentuating the intensity in his gaze, which would undoubtedly intimidate anyone else — and maybe it should terrify me, too. My father frightens me because of the things he can do to others I care for, but not for myself. I will bear anything he does if it keeps them safe, even if it’s the only thing I can offer.

“I’m assuming no one knows what happened yet. I’ve heard the khind took over Midaeliea shortly after you passed through the Cartilen Mountains, and the poor Antalians are becoming sicker by the day. King Clennom has secluded himself, the coward.” He tilts his head, mimicking an owl in a tree. “Finally, the man will realize what it truly is like when their bitch of a goddess leaves them.” He motions with his hand to the door. “Go on, I’ll speak to you more later.”

I bow, acknowledging the dismissal, but he interjects before I can make my way out, “By the way, Ereon, I hope you informed the little princess about what is expected of her at the ceremony. Which we will hold as soon as she wakes.”

This catches my attention. “The ceremony won’t be necessary. I got her here. We are to be married by our priest. I already took her maidenhood. My men can attest to it.” Thylas was the one who holds the honor, but my father doesn’t need to know the truth. No one does. And from the whispers of my men, they know I was there too and that’s what matters.

“The ceremony is an important part of Shaston’s history, boy. Of course, we will have the ceremony. It’s a rite of passage. It has been this way since the beginning. I will not let you break tradition. I doubt you did the full ceremony, considering the snake is here in Shaston for the plal ryow . So tell me how you believe the ceremony was done appropriately?”

I suck on my teeth. “Well, I didn’t think that part would be necessary since I already claimed her maidenhood on the journey here. I thought that was the priority of Nle Shom .” I knew when I started this journey what he expected. I thought I would be fine with going along with it, but I can’t do that to her. Not now. Watching as her very soul rippled toward me and mine ebbed in response — I haven’t experienced such a sight with Anara. When I found Anara, I knew I was in love, a connection so strong I never even tried to touch another. Until Carnaxa.

“Father, I mean no disrespect.” I step towards him, his guards grab their pummels on their hips and step between us. I glare at them as I say, “I don’t see what the point of the ceremony is at this point. She’s here. She’ll be my wife. We can do the marriage ceremony and be done. There is no reason to have a show of everything. You’ve already won.”

“I’m not the one who has to prove anything — you do. Prove to everyone you are the son I brought you up to be. If you do anything to get out of the ceremony ... it’ll be the beautiful piece in your room who pays the price.” He smirks and looks off into the distance before he turns his attention back to me. “Oh, how the whore’s body trembled when we would have our time together. Don’t worry though, I think she’s still in one piece for you.”

As I clench my jaw, the sound of my grinding teeth fills my ears. My fists tighten against my thighs, begging to reach behind me and grab the swords there. He touched her. He promised he wouldn’t. We made the deal, and I was dumb enough to believe it, but what choice did I have? I feared he would do something, but the thought of her beautiful skin under his has me ready to fight him now. Something I should have done long before now. Could I? Could I kill him before his men kill me?

“Careful, Ereon.” He stands up, throwing the cup across the floor. The dark purple wine stains the sand-colored floor. As our eyes lock, a fiery sensation spreads throughout my body, intensifying with each passing second. I collapse onto the floor, feeling the cold, hard surface against my knees. I can’t breathe like before, but this isn’t like when we crossed into Shaston. This is different. Although the flames remain unseen, their burning heat brushes against my skin, leaving invisible scorch marks. Just as quickly as it began, it stops .

My father’s chilling laughter fills the room. “Things have changed since you’ve been gone and things are about to change even more.”

He turns and walks away and I’m left wondering what the fuck just happened.

My room is shrouded in darkness, except for the figure lying in my bed as I enter. She’s wrapped in the black silk sheet that covers my bed. With a swift motion, I release my curved blades from my back, letting them clatter to the ground, and make my way quickly towards the bed. I want to feel her skin against mine. I need to, but I need to see how she has fared since I left. As I walk to her, she doesn’t stir. My heart panics. Has he killed her? Did I misunderstand what was said in the throne room? Is this a new way to torture me, since he’ll soon have Carnaxa to hold over my head? That’s why he can’t ever know I care. He can’t ever know how I feel.

“Anara?” Dread fills my voice.

As my breaths quicken, she slowly turns to face me and it’s then I notice the damage I’ve inadvertently caused her just because she loves me.

“ Myach myom , what has he done to you?” I gently pull down the sheet and see bruises covering her face. Her eye is swollen, her smile lopsided. Her body is scarred with whip marks and burns, and her wrists are nearly infected from the obsidian chains .

I reach out towards her, unsure of where I am supposed to touch her when she looks like she might crumble beneath my fingertips.

She smiles as tears brim her eyes and swiftly wraps her arms around my neck, pulling me into her. Her tears fall onto my chest as she buries her head there. “You’re here.” She smells of the perfume my father forces his women to use, but underneath the scent is the stench of stale air, piss, and blood. She’s been in the dungeons. Her hair, the color of bark, feels soft and comforting as I run my hand through it, tears streaming down my face. I won’t hide my emotions from her, not here, not now.

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t think ...” They are the only words I can find, and yet will never be enough. I didn’t think what? That my father wouldn’t do exactly what I feared? I regret the night I left her, I should have fought harder, I should have brought her with me somehow.

Anara climbs onto my lap, her fingers clutching my shirt, and locks her gaze with mine. Her eyes, tinged with red, make my heart ache, especially as I notice the blood pooling in the left one. She presses her lips against mine and instinctively I draw her closer, as if she is my lifeline. Beneath my fingertips she feels so delicate and her shoulders tremble.

She wraps her legs around my waist and her chest meets mine. “I need you ...” she whispers between breaths. “I need you to erase everything that happened since you left.”

“I don’t want to hurt you.” It’s the truth. I cannot be the reason she takes on more damage. I can wait for her to heal. I can wait forever .

“If it hurts more than my want for you, I’ll let you know,” she echoes my words from not so long ago and smiles up at me. He may have tried to break her spirit, but I can see the strength behind her eyes. The chains between us clink and I look down as they glisten from the moonlight trickling in.

“He didn’t give me the key.” I pull her wrists up to my lips and kiss them as softly as I can, blood coating my lips from the open wounds.

“He won’t. Not now.” She sighs. “There’s a lot to discuss, but right now ... I just need you.” She runs her hands along the waistband of my pants, pulling my shirt up, and I help shuffle it over my head.

I lift her with ease, cradling her in my arms, before gently lying her back down on the cozy expanse of my bed. I hold her arms above her head, by the elbows, avoiding her wrists. Tenderly, I kiss her swollen eye and whisper, “Then you’ll have me.”

I slowly unlace my leather pants, before pushing them down. “If that’s what you need. I’ll remind you what it’s like to be worshiped.”

She moans just as my fingers skim the outside of her thigh. I lean down, peppering kisses along her bruise-ridden stomach. She shivers underneath my touch. I look up at her as I continue down to her core, silently asking for permission once again. She nods and I continue my journey lower down her body. I will give her pleasure, but I’ll have to control myself.

Licking up her slit, I feel her squirm beneath me, her hands lacing through my hair and pulling me further into her. As I spread her with my fingers, the intoxicating scent of her fills the air. My tongue dances against her, my fingers circling her clit as her entire body caves to my touch, and her moans fill the air.

“More ... I need you inside me.”

I shake my head and look up at her, her back arched and her skin glistening with sweat already. I know what she’s asking, but if I get inside of her, I won’t be able to control myself.

“Anara, just let me give you this until your body heals.”

She pulls me up by my neck, and I lean on my forearms.

“Fuck me like you used to or don’t fuck me at all. You’ve never been gentle before, don’t be now. I’m not broken.” Anara grabs my chin, commanding my full attention — challenging me. “I know what I need, and right now, I need you to stop treating me as if I’m fragile and about to shatter. I told you I need you to make me forget —”

A growl escapes from me and I flip her over, running my hand through her hair, pulling tightly. My myach myom . Pulling her towards me and leaning down, I whisper in her ear, “This is what you want? You want to be withering underneath me. You want me to fuck you until you can’t stand, think, or even dream of anything but me being inside you?”

She pushes back against me, her ass making me swell more. Her breath raspy as she replies, “Yes.”

If she wants this—needs this—then I’ll be the one to give it to her. We’ve always found our love amid pain and darkness, and that’s what we will do now. I’ll take her pain and help her bear it. I grab a pillow and shove it underneath her. Her wrists need the break.

I grab her hips, digging deep into them, swapping bruises for bruises, and press into her as far as I can go. A whimper escapes her, and she pushes against me. Wanting more, needing more. I let go of her hair and wrap my hand around the back of her neck, pushing her into the pillow. I won’t last long, her warmth already pulsing around me.

I run my hand along the underside of her body, letting my fingers grip her nipple between them. I pull her up, her back against my front as I continue my pace inside of her. She cries my name and I don’t care if every soldier in this palace hears her scream it.

She’s mine, has been mine, and will always be mine.

“You were a fool to think she’s anything but ours.” The memory of my last words to the man who attacked Carnaxa flows abruptly through my thoughts. I bite down on my bottom lip, pushing the thoughts of Carnaxa from my mind. Not right now. I can’t think of her right now, not when Anara needs me.

It doesn’t work, and I remember the last few moons of memories and the love that has grown between us. The thought of Carnaxa’s kiss the night prior to returning to Shaston, and the way she danced under Thylas as he revered her, sends a flutter through me. The way she felt for those few moments I had her, and I want her here too. I want her here as much as I want Anara.

Anara grips the sheets and with a hard, final thrust from me, screams something in her language that I don’t understand as I let my seed fill her. I hold her still against me, nuzzling her neck, and take in everything about this moment. This last moment before everything changes.

“What’s she like?” Anara lies with her head against my chest. I thread my fingers through hers and kiss her hairline.

“Not what I expected.”

“Most women aren’t. Your women of Shaston are taught to be quiet, to be still, and to say nothing that might upset another. But that’s not how we truly are — not in our hearts. We are bold and wild, and we just want to be heard.”

Anara looks away from me, trying to find words before she asks, “Did you sleep with her?”

She leans up and I cup her cheek. “No.”

“Why not?”

“Because ...” I don’t know what words I’m searching for. Do I want to tell her the truth? Carnaxa doesn’t deserve to be with someone like me, but neither does Anara. They shouldn’t be a part of my world, and yet here they are.

“Oh, you love her.”

Her words knock the air from my lungs. Behind her eyes, she hides secrets and possesses a depth of understanding that surpasses what she outwardly displays. However, she always astounds me when she reveals unspoken truths .

I don’t want to hurt her feelings, but I can’t lie to her either. “I do, but it doesn’t change my love for you.”

She runs her hand through my hair, kissing slowly around the arches of my brow. “I’m not upset you love her. I can feel it. It’s like a tide being pulled back and forth between the two of you.”

“And it doesn’t feel like that for us?”

She winces as she moves to grab water from the basin. She brings us both a cup before draping her legs over mine, giving me a perfect sight of where I’d like to escape to, rather than have this conversation. After handing me my glass and taking a drink for herself, she pushes her hair to one shoulder and begins braiding it.

“No, for me it doesn’t.” She bites along her bottom lip and her eyes flicker around the room before she runs her hand against mine and lies down. “Let’s get some rest. I know you must be tired after the journey here.”

Next to her, I lie down, and she turns, burying her face in my chest. I wrap my arms around her and run my hand across her back. “I’m sorry for everything. I should have kept you safe.”

Her eyes widen, and then she puts her hand on my chest. “There was nothing you could have done. I don’t blame you or hold you responsible.”

I shake my head and place it on top of hers. Inhaling deeply, the faint smell of the perfume blends with my own scent. “I still should have known what would happen. I won’t let him touch you. Not again. I promise you this. Things will not be the same. ”

She starts to speak and stops before nuzzling back into me. “You are right. Nothing is the same anymore.”