9781618851307WitchsBrewShayNC (53 page)

Talon’s lips parted in stunned surprise. Across her left
breast lay a sprinkle of stars, confirming her royal birth.

Did
this mean she was related to Saylym? Her sister, perhaps? Saylym bore the same
cluster of stars on her shoulder. It was a family trait and shared by all
female members of royal blood. There was no doubt this woman and Saylym were
related. But how?

MeLora
took his hand and rubbed it against an engorged nipple. “Is it your desire to
touch, as well as to see if the marks are real, Prince?” she whispered for his
ears alone, taunting him with her nudity. “I assure you, everything about me is
real and delicious. Would you like a taste?”

Talon
felt heat crawl up his face as the guard behind him gave a startled gasp. He
jerked his hand away from her breast. “And evil,” he shot back at her.

MeLora’s dark eyes narrowed. “I can make things very
uncomfortable for you, Prince.” She slid a palm up his stomach, pausing to toy
with one flat nipple through his silk shirt. She allowed her breasts to brush
against his chest. “Or I can make you feel very, very good. I can make you my
king.”

She licked her lips in wanton invitation. “Kiss me,
Prince. See how good it can be between us. See how good I can make you feel.”
She slid her fingers toward his crotch.

Talon clamped a hand around her wrist and squeezed. “Do
not go there, witch! There is but one female who has the right to touch me
intimately, and it isn’t you.” He laughed deep in his throat at the surprise
that spread across her face. “You’re pathetic. I have my queen, and she doesn’t
have to steal the throne to prove her royalty. You are witch trash!”

MeLora
slapped him.

The force of her blow snapped his head back. Talon tasted
blood inside his mouth. “How are you descended from Queen Shy-Ryn?” he asked,
ignoring, for the moment, the fact that she’d struck him. Talon frowned. Damn
if she didn’t resemble Saylym in an odd way. There was something about the
shape of her eyes and her mouth.

MeLora
took her time refastening her gown. “I am the daughter of Queen Shy-Ryn,
therefore, the rightful heir to her throne in Sanctuary. However, I’ve set my
goals a little higher. I will rule Ru-Noc and there’s not a thing you can do to
stop me.”

A
gasp shot through the room.

Talon shook his head. “If you’re Queen Shy-Ryn’s daughter,
then what happened to her? You, above all others, would surely have this
knowledge.”

MeLora
lifted her chin. “She died, burned at the stake by heathen
illumrofs
.”

“You’re
not the only royal-blooded witch related to Queen Shy-Ryb, nor the only heir to
her throne.”

Talon
watched her expression harden, become dangerous, and could have bitten his own
tongue off for revealing there was another of royal blood.

MeLora threw back her head and laughed. “If you’re talking
about that foolish witch operating her pathetic little shop of magic, she’s no
threat. Her powers are weak. She’s untrained and unskilled in the ways of
magic. Who do think you are? Do you think me as big an idiot as that bungler of
magic?”

“I know who I am, witch. I’m Prince Talon, younger son of
King Darak and Queen Helayne. I’m bonded to a royal witch who even now carries
my sons. Identical twins, something that’s never happened in the history of our
world. And one day, my sons will share the throne as ruling kings.” Talon raked
her with disgust and hatred. “
You
are the abomination who sits upon my
mother’s throne, but you will
never
be Ru-Noc’s queen.”

She arched a brow. “It will come to pass. The Oracle has
declared it so, and it is never wrong.”

Talon shook his head. “I’d sooner kill you as have you
claim my mother’s throne.”

Her lips twisted with rage. “I already sit on her throne.
I have taken everything that was hers.”

“Bitch!”

“Silence! You will not insult my queen with such names.
You aren’t my son,” Darak growled. “You have
never
been my son.” King
Darak rose and stood beside MeLora. Reaching out, he gently massaged her belly.
“This is my son and heir. Lucifer.”

“Lucifer?
How appropriate,” Talon replied with a sneer. He clenched his fists. “By the
gods! What have you done? You’ve betrayed us all. Mother is dead. Did you allow
Black Drayke to kill her just so you could have this…this…creature?”

“Careful what you say, Prince,” Sergeant Nyka hissed
softly. “She
is
the queen. More so than ever with your mother’s death
and this witch’s proof of royal blood.”

MeLora flung back her head. “You will get back on your
knees before me.”

The
sergeant motioned for Talon to return to his knees. Talon shook his head.

“Please, Your Highness. Don’t make this difficult. She
will order your death and I will have no choice but to comply.”

Talon stood there, defiance stamped on his handsome face.
“I will not kneel before one who seizes the throne by murder. She is not my queen
and no child she carries will ever be accepted by me or any of my siblings.”

“Please, Sire. We cannot afford to lose you, too. She will
have her way and the king…the king will honor her wishes. He is infatuated with
her.”

Talon snorted. “He is hexed by her. She’s evil.”

“Please,
Sire. Whatever has happened, she is now his bond mate and his queen.”

A
muscle tic flickered violently in Talon’s jaw. Finally, he nodded and slowly dropped
to his knees. The sergeant sighed with relief and positioned himself behind the
prince.

Silently,
Talon watched his father return to the throne.

Darak turned his blank look on him. “If it makes you feel
better to know, then yes, I gave your mother to Black Drayke to do with as he
pleased. I’ve heard he went out of his way to insure he was pleased. You say
she is dead? I say good riddance.”

Talon
struggled to get to his feet. The palace guard stepped closer, pressing his
shoulders, keeping him on his knees.

His face flushed with rage, the king pointed an unsteady
finger at Talon. “From this moment, you shall be stripped of your
waken
powers,”
he announced. “You are not my son. I despise you. You are no longer to be
considered a member of the royal family. This I decree. I renounce you. Disown
you. Deny you to all of Ru-Noc. If anyone is caught talking to you, they shall
be burned at the stake. Get out of my sight. I never want to see you again.”

Talon surged to his feet. “The hell you say! You can
announce to the entire land of Ru-Noc all you wish, but nothing either of you
say will change bloodlines. I am your son, and I shall always be your son.
There isn’t a fooking thing either of you can do to change that fact.”

A
bolt of cobalt colored energy punched Talon square in the chest. The vicious
force knocked him backward. He staggered into one of the guards. His ears
crackled with static. His head buzzed as if a swarm of bees had attacked him.
He barely heard the astonished gasp that came from the soldiers in the room.

MeLora
rose, her face twisted with fury. She moved to stand beside the king. Her
fingertips sizzled with the currents of energy she’d blasted Talon with.
Amusement glittered in her dark eyes. “For that bit of defiance and disrespect,
you will be taken to the dungeons, where you will be bound for punishment
tomorrow night. At that time, you will be transferred to Sanctuary and flogged
before the public in the town square for all the witches to witness.”

She
turned to Darak and kissed his cheek. “This is my wish, my love. Will you grant
my heart’s desire?”

Darak nodded, pulling her against him to press a hot kiss
to her mouth before releasing her. “Do what you will to him. I have no care.”

“You are nothing, Talon,” MeLora gloated. “Nothing, but
the son of a dead whore, unworthy of recognition. You’ll never be accepted into
this palace again. You’ll never be recognized as royalty again. This is my
decree.”

MeLora spat upon the floor. Her black eyes glittered with
the thrill of her power and the glow of success. She moved to stand directly in
front of him. “Should you change your mind, send for me,” she whispered. “I’ll
cast away your father and his seed, take you to my bed and accept your child. I’ll
make you my king. I have certain needs your father isn’t virile enough to
handle.”

King
Darak stood there, his eyes dark and vacant, unhearing of the words she spoke
to his son.

“I’d
rather spend eternity in a dungeon,” Talon said tightly.

“We
shall see if you change your mind after the first bite of the
Char-Flum-Rope.
”
MeLora’s face twisted with icy rage.

“I
won’t change my mind.”

The
king remained still and silent as she softly chanted.

“Full
Moon and candles,

Chains
times three.

I
summon the power

Wrap around thee.”

MeLora
stretched her fingers toward him, wiggled them, then drew them toward herself.
Talon gasped as a rush of light shot from his chest and straight into the
witch. The sudden loss of his powers and strength made his legs tremble with
weakness. Instantly, three layers of enchanted chain twirled around him,
binding his arms to his sides like a coiled snake wrapped around him.

“Take him to the dungeons,” MeLora commanded. “No one is
allowed near him. He is to have nothing to eat or drink. No visitors.”

Talon struggled against the binding chains, but with no
powers left to his command, he couldn’t escape the magic links. “I’ll kill you
for this,” he spat at MeLora as he was led past her. “Do you hear me? I’ll see
you dead!”

MeLora
threw back her head and laughed. With hands splayed on her hips, she strolled
toward him. “Will you?” She stroked Talon’s arm. “Hmm, I think not. You still
have a brother and a sister…somewhere. Think of them before you attempt to end
my life. And remember, I carry the king’s son, your brother. Think about it.
Would you destroy your own blood?”

Talon jerked away from MeLora’s touch. “Do not touch me,
witch. You’re tainted with evil. The child you carry will be born cursed. He’ll
be as evil as your black heart. He is not and shall never be part of my blood.
I’ll destroy him if he ever comes near me.”

MeLora
raked her nails across his cheek, leaving deep furrows.

Talon
jerked, his eyes scoring her with hatred. “Your son will never sit on the
throne. I swear to you.”

MeLora
laughed. “Oh, he will. I promise you. There’s nothing you can do to stop me. My
power, my reign, will be absolute. I’ve worked toward this goal for centuries.
Do not think you can stop me. Do not think that puny blonde you have such
regard for is my match. She isn’t. I’ll wipe her out with but a single snap of
my fingers.” She turned cold dead eyes on him. “Let me assure you, Prince, I
was more than willing to sacrifice my mother to the
illumrofs.
If they
get in my way, I will not hesitate to kill that bungling fool of a witch and
your sons. I will not bear any competition for the crown.”

Talon
heaved against the cold, binding chains, but there was no way to gain his
freedom. “You dare touch my mate, I’ll kill you myself. You harm one hair on
her head or injure my sons in any way there will be nowhere,
nowhere
for
you to hide that I won’t find you. I swear it to the gods, I’ll destroy you!”

“Your
mate?” MeLora frowned. “You really have taken an
Impure
for your bond
mate?” She tossed back her head, laughing deeply. “More fool you,” she said,
sobering and flinging him a hate-filled glare. “You’ll be thankful when I rid
you of her. Her magic will always be weak and your sons’ magic will be weaker.
You’re a joke, Talon and so is your chosen mate.”

Talon ignored her words and turned his gaze to Darak.
“Father, you can’t allow this terrible thing to happen. It’s wrong. You know in
your heart it’s wrong. I’m your son. This woman conspired to have Mother
destroyed, your rightful queen. Your true queen.”

Darak marched toward Talon and stopped in front of him. He
stopped beside MeLora, and slid an arm around her thickening waist. “Your
mother was a whore who deserved what she got. You think I don’t know she lay
with other males? You think I don’t know she pawned other
wakens’
spawn
off on me? I’m no fool, Talon.” Darak stiffened with righteous indignation.
“You think I’m unaware she is dead? I know it. I gave her to Black Drayke, and
I relish the thought that she suffered before her soul was terminated.” King
Darak raked Talon from head to toe with merciless eyes. “Long have you been a
disrespectful, ungrateful thorn in my side. No more. I’ve been shown the truth.
You’re not of my loins.” He looked upon his son, then with cold deliberateness,
spat in Talon’s face, turned, and marched away. “Take him to the dungeons,” he
yelled over his shoulders to his men. “He can rot there for all I care.”

Talon
swallowed hard as he watched his father turn his back on him and stalk away. He
said nothing to the guards as they led him to the dark dungeons deep below the
palace.

It sounded like a death knell ringing when the cell door
clanged shut behind him. Talon trembled. He was suddenly alone, locked in the
darkness with his black thoughts. He slid down onto the cold stone floor and
leaned his head back against the icy rock wall.

Hatred
for his father and MeLora boiled in him.

MeLora!

Where
had he heard that name?

Hadn’t his mate asked if he knew MeLora the day the shop
flooded? That’s where he’d heard the name before, from his mate. Why hadn’t
Saylym told him she was related to the evil witch? Had she deliberately
concealed the fact from him?

Of
course. Saylym bore royal blood. MeLora had the looks of Saylym about her. The
same graceful sway to their hips, the same inviting mouth, the same witchmarks.
Indeed, they were related.