Impending Reprisals (18 page)

Merivic nodded once. “One more thing. Send Zabela away. See to it at once.”

Malik opened his mouth to protest, but snapped it shut when he saw the flash of anger in the lord’s eyes.

“I will not have a walking reminder being flaunted in Anya’s face! Get rid of her tonight!”

“Yes, Sire. As you say.”

Merivic stared hard before leaving, and when he slammed the door behind him, Malik let out a huge breath. He would not risk angering Merivic further by disobeying—he would send Zabela away.

However, he could not stand to send her far.

Chapter 24

The beauty of the garden did nothing to soothe the turmoil within Anya’s mind and heart. Her restless night weighed her down with drowsiness, and her lover’s betrayal weighted her down with bitterness. And the dreary cloud-covered sky only heightened both sensations.

Heavy sighs escaped as she meandered between the planters, stopping every so often to caress a silky petal between her fingertips before moving onto the next blossoming batch. Gardens have always provided a soft fascination to her, but even this one, in all its splendor, could not deter or distract her from the night before.

Thankfully, she was so absorbed in her thoughts that she was unaware of being watched from afar. Palms propped on the low wall of the balcony above, Merivic looked on with a raging turmoil of his own.

“Sire.” The lord did not respond nor move a muscle at Kael’s address. Curious as to what caught his attention so vigorously, Kael approached. It was not until he was standing next to Merivic that he saw who was in the garden. Kael gave Anya a cursory stare as well before speaking again. “There is a messenger from Silktree here to see you, My Lord.”

Merivic did not look away as he responded, “I made a grievous mistake last night, Kaelestis.”

So did I, Kael thought sourly. “It is none of my concern, Sire.”

“It affects her,”—he nodded at Anya—“therefore it is your concern.” Closing his eyes, he pinched the bridge of his nose. “I will make it up to her. Of this, I swear.” He turned to Kael. “I feel I must apologize to you as well.”

Kael’s confused expression saved him the need to question the lord further.

“Zabela,” Merivic’s one-word quiet explanation said it all.

“Oh. It was not like that between us any longer.”

“My apologies, I did not know. Just as I did not know last night, therefore it remains inexcusable on my part. But your admission alleviates a measure of my guilt arising from a decision I had to make.”

“Decision, Sire?”

“I sent Zabela away. I was afraid that would upset you further.”

“No, My Lord. It is for the best.”

Merivic leaned on his elbows as he watched Anya again. “How can one man have such erroneous judgment where the people that matter most are concerned?”

Kael was not sure if the lord was speaking to him or himself, but he replied anyhow—despite the burn the words left behind. “I am sure she will forgive you.”

“I can only hope. She means the world to me,” he admitted, and then murmured, “Quite literally.”

Feeling a twist in his gut, Kael turned to leave. “Do not forget about the messenger, My Lord.”

Merivic waved a hand at him absently as he continued watching the woman below.

*****

Several days passed with nothing resolved. Anya was still teetering on an edge between what was and what could have been. Merivic was still giving her a wide berth for her to contemplate his actions, although he continued to watch her clandestinely. And Kael remained as scarce as possible, temporarily passing his duties to Gerhard as he studied the situation from afar.

Anya spent much of her time wandering the castle halls—sometimes finding herself lost in the process—and wishing for any sort of clarity, just a moment of lucidity to focus the chaos inside. It was during one of those mindless journeys that she bumped into Kael.

Rounding a corner, she did not even realize who she had walked into until she looked up into those deep blue eyes. Kael grabbed her shoulders to steady her as she stumbled back—something he seemed to have to do quite often—and then released her as soon as she was balanced.

“Pardon me, Milady.”

Her eyes narrowed at the title. “Back to that, are we?”

He nodded cordially. “Very well, then. Anya.”

“Why have I not seen you since…” Her eyes darted down as her hand flew up to fiddle with her amulet. Was she to refer to that night as the one where Merivic cheated on her, or the one where Kael very nearly professed his feelings to her?

“I have other duties besides your security. I trust Gerhard has seen to your needs.”

Throwing her shoulders back, she crossed her arms. “He has, in his painfully polite way. You could not have simply assigned a rabid dog to me instead? It would be far easier to deal with that than this pitiful excuse for a sentinel.”

Kael’s mouth quirked toward a smile, but managed to contain himself. “I assure you, Gerhard is more than capable of maintaining order and assuring your safety.”

“And who is to protect him from me? For if he keeps up his attitude, rest assured, he will require quite a measure of protection.”

“Would you like me to speak to him on your behalf?”

Her shoulders slumped as her bottom lip slipped out. “No. I am sure it would only encourage him further.”

“Very well. If you will excuse me.” Kael bowed slightly as he moved to step around her.

“Wait. I did want to speak to you about something that was bothering me.”

Kael’s brow arched casually, but his frame tightened in anticipation. “And what was that?”

“I just wanted to express my regrets about that night… When you had to see…” She heaved a sigh. “I feel bad you had to see Zabela like that. Cheating on you. It was selfish of me not to consider that when we spoke… Well, when we were talking on the balcony. I was too wrapped up in my own thoughts to realize… Anyway, I regret that you had to go through that, as well.”

He let a slow breath to release the tension. “There is no need, Anya. I am fine.”

“Kael, you cannot fool me. I know it must have hurt to witness for yourself.” Anya briefly reflected on her own pain as she empathized with him. No one should have to feel that way. No one deserved that.

“Anya, I am fine. Truly, I am. Zabela was a distraction to me. Nothing more.”

Her mouth dropped open as she stared at the man in front of her. A distraction? He would refer to a long-term relationship—a physical one, at that—as a simple distraction? Just what kind of man had he become? “You… Did you not… A distraction?”

Kael averted his eyes. “Yes, a distraction. Now, if you will excuse me, I have a matter to attend to.”

She stared after him in disbelief, not understanding what had happened to the person she had once considered her truest love. Maybe it was for the best that the fates had not brought them together after all.

What would that even be like?

*****

“Malik, the timing of this trip to Silktree could not be worse.” Merivic scrubbed his hand over his face.

“It is a necessary cleansing for the promising ceremony.”

“Yes, yes, I know.” He sighed, leaning a hip against the table. “Why did the outlaws have to attack Drak of all people? Anyone else but him. Only he could have saved me the necessity of this journey. It was almost as if they knew.”

“I believe it was simply bad luck, Sire. There is no reason to think they knew of his purpose. I am sure they know
now
since they procured the documents he was carrying, but they could not have possibly had knowledge of him prior to the encounter.”

Merivic rubbed the back of his neck. “And there is no way we could delay it further?”

“It has waited long enough, My Lord. You must not put it off any longer. No matter what your reasons.” Malik knowingly arched a brow.

The lord grimaced with his responding thought. “I do detest the taste of swine blood.”

“Yes, human blood…human
virgin
blood…is so much sweeter.”

“I cannot argue with that,” Merivic answered distractedly as he pushed off the table and walked to the scrying bowl across the way, the glimmers of light dancing across the water’s surface catching his eye. 

“There is a very lovely virgin in the castle. If you would care for a taste, I am sure it could be arranged.”

Merivic turned on him with a low growl in his chest.

Malik cackled a laugh as he held up his pale hands. “Merely jesting, My Lord. Of course, I would never harm the lovely Lady Anya.” Tilting his head, he studied the lord closer—his defensive posture and defending response. “You
really
love her, do you not?”

“I do.”

“You have never loved in the past,” Malik pointed out.

“There has never been one like Anya before.”

“I did not know you to even be capable of it.”

“Nor did I, but apparently I can…or something that closely resembles it.” He vigorously shook his head. “No. It is love.”

“Interesting.”

Merivic snapped his head in the cleric’s direction. “While I am away, you had better think of a way for me to win her back.”

Malik bowed low. “I am already contemplating several options. Do not fret about it, Sire. Simply concentrate on the ritual in Silktree.”

Merivic nodded his agreement as he turned toward the door.

“One more thing, Sire?”

“What is it?”

“Perhaps I could get my hands on Lady Anya’s amulet so that I may study its metaphysical properties. I am curious.”

Merivic waved his hand at him dismissingly. “Yes, yes. I am sure Anya will not mind…after I win her back, that is. I will see to it once she has accepted me with open arms.”

*****

Merivic had been gone several days and Anya still had come no closer to determining what she wanted, or rather, who she wanted. She had hoped the distance between her and Kael, and now, her and Merivic, would have allowed her the proper insight into her heart. But it only raised more questions.

In the lord’s absence, she realized she missed him being near. Although she had not surrendered to his gentle manner and soft, guilty glances, she apparently felt comfort deep down by just having his presence known to her.

Here was a man who loved her and wanted her. Yes, he did wrong by her. But, yes, he felt great remorse about it—she could see it in his eyes. Did he deserve to suffer forever for his act of indiscretion, an act she still did not fully comprehend the catalyst of? Of course not. He deserved her final reaction to it, no matter which way it should take her. But how could she make an informed decision?

Kael was the other factor in the scenario, the enigma in an already murky situation. Here was a man who had loved her long ago. But what did he feel now? He had been avoiding her for the better part of a week, since their conversation in the hall. Did it mean something? Was it on purpose, or simply due to a call of duty?

All her thoughts tumbled as she pulled the hood of her cloak lower around her face and ducked her head against the throngs of citizens she was walking amongst. Gerhard had been hovering like a shadow since he had taken charge of her security, and she had finally managed to slip past his watchful eye to sneak out of the castle. How was she supposed to concentrate on important life decisions with such an annoyance hanging about?

Unfortunately, Anya’s walk of freedom did nothing to clear her mind, and she finally decided to head back. She lifted her head and looked around to decide the best course, then darted down an alley angling toward the main road. It was not long before she heard footsteps from behind, pacing her own.

Whirling around, she turned to face her stalker.

“Lady Anya.” Anya nearly snarled as she twisted away from Zabela, and the former servant caught her arm. “Do not turn away from me. I have things to say to you.”

She whipped back around, and did it swinging.

Zabela caught her wrist, Anya’s fist a mere breath away from her face. “Now is that any way to behave? That might have hurt me, Lady Anya.” She spit the words as she tugged her closer. “I am surprised you are still here. Such betrayal my dear Merivic has committed. Such a nasty sting to the engagement, no doubt.” She smiled wickedly, her voice lowering as if she were confiding in Anya. “Do you want to know how good it felt to have him hot and hard inside of me?”

Anya tried to jerk her arm back, but Zabela tightened her grip. “Oh, and such pleasure I gave him. The way he reacted to me, the way his hands touched me, the way his tongue caressed me. Mmm. I know men, and I know I took him to soaring heights no other could fathom. You could never match what I have brought him already.”

Zabela shoved Anya away from her, and took stock of the stunned, yet fiery, woman in front of her. Her mind raced as to how best to end this confrontation, to drive Anya away from Merivic, and therefore away from the castle, so that Zabela’s banishment might be lifted. Only then could things return to the way they once were, when she was with Malik, able to have him anytime she pleased.

Love, she thought slyly, is always a weakness. He loves her—impossibly so—but how could she not doubt it now?

“He does not love you. You must know that by now. He is simply using you so he may ascend.”

Anya’s eyes flashed. “You are full of lies. If it was simply a marriage he wanted, why did he not marry you?”

“Because I am merely a servant, and known as such in these parts. Now, how would that appear? Hmm?” Zabela hitched a hand on her hip and gave Anya a quick up-and-down study. “But you, on the other hand, have all the beauty and anonymity he needs. Honestly, Lady Anya, what do the two of you possibly have in common? What connection do you have now?”