Chapter 19

Senka

The morning sun cast golden rays across my room, illuminating the riding attire laid out on my bed. I couldn"t help but feel a tingling excitement as I pulled on the form-fitting breeches and supple leather boots.

"I'm so jealous," Valera moaned as she handed me my riding gloves. "Did you know that elhorns are supposed to be the original warhorses of the gods? Some say they have a drop of divine blood in them, and that they're almost as intelligent as us." Her eyes sparkled as she recounted, probably word-for-word, what she once read in some ancient book. "I can't believe you get to ride one."

It was hard for me to believe as well. I'd never been a particularly skilled rider; I always preferred the stability of being on solid ground. Maybe that was why every time I rode, the horses would get skittish. Maybe they could sense my unease.

"Come to the stables with me," I suggested as I headed for the door that connected my room to Wolfe's. I knocked three times. "They won't let you ride, but maybe you can groom one if you can charm one of the stablehands."

Valera's eyes lit up with mischief, but she then sobered and frowned. "I'm supposed to have tea with Lord Darius today. I probably shouldn't arrive smelling like a stable."

I waved her off. "You'll have plenty of time. And if Lord Darius balks at a bit of stink, then maybe he's not enough man for you after all."

With a snort, she shook her head and rushed towards the wardrobe. As she changed into more appropriate attire for the outdoors, I finished braiding my hair back.

Wolfe entered the room a moment later, and our gazes locked for the first time since our encounter in the supply closet last night. His warm, honey-colored eyes darkened as they roamed over my figure.

My riding breeches hugged my curves and left little to the imagination. I couldn"t help but smirk at the way his eyes heated, sending a delightful shiver through my body.

Wolfe cleared his throat, tearing his gaze away from me, and focused on Valera. "What"s this about Valera going to the stables?" he asked, his voice gruff in the early morning.

Valera shot me a mischievous smile before answering him. "Senka thinks I charm an elhorn so I can groom it since they won't let us lowly commoners ride. Or was it charm the stablehand?"

He raised an eyebrow at her. "I highly doubt you"ll be able to charm any of the royal elhorns, but feel free to try." His eyes flitted toward mine. "You're hopeless on a horse. It'll be a miracle if you even make it to the saddle."

"Are you doubting my abilities, Wolfe?" I teased, walking up to him with a confident sway in my step. "I"ve been known to work miracles with stubborn creatures."

His lips quirked up into a half-smile as he leaned in closer, his warm breath grazing my ear. "You"ve certainly charmed a few," he whispered, sending a thrilling jolt through me.

I felt his hand lightly brush against mine before he pulled away, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his face. Valera, always attuned to details, raised an eyebrow at us and whistled low under her breath. I shot her a glare.

Wolfe headed for the door when a knock came, a messenger signaling that it was time to head down to the stables.

Valera nudged me with her arm and leaned in close. "Why don"t you two just fuck already? The tension between you is suffocating, and it"s driving me insane on your behalf."

I playfully jabbed her shoulder with a mischievous grin. "You"ll change your tune when Lord Darius starts giving you those come-hither looks. I"m looking forward to seeing you eat those words."

Even as the words left my mouth, a pit yawned open in my stomach. She didn't know about Cross and me. She didn't know that I'd been fucking her brother for the better part of a year.

I just hadn't worked up the nerve to tell her, and I wasn't sure Cross was ready either. For now, it was still our dirty little secret, and we both liked it that way.

Elhorns were terrifying.All the death magic in the world didn't change that fact. Their massive bodies rippled with muscle beneath sleek coats of either black or silver, and long, spiraled horns gleamed in the sunlight, coming to sharp tips capped in silver armor. Instead of hooves they had clawed talons, yet still had the body of a horse, only twice the size.

"They can smell fear, you know," a soft voice murmured in my ear.

I pivoted to find Rosalind standing just behind me, her eyes sparkling with excitement. I gave her a dry look, crossing my arms over my chest as I watched the stable hands leading the beasts out to the edge of the pasture.

"That's comforting," I muttered. "I wonder if the smell of fear will cover the flowery perfume Lady Saldan doused herself in today."

We glanced in unison at the lady in question, who stood in a tight group of five others, all watching the elhorns with visible fear and disgust, as if they were above it all.

Valera walked confidently out of the stables, a bright smile on her face as one of the cute stable hands passed her the reins. He blushed deeply as she giggled, and I couldn"t help but shake my head and smile.

"Why is Lord Darius looking at your lady"s maid like he just tasted something sour?" Rosalind asked with a puzzled frown.

I followed her gaze to the far left and spotted Darius standing among a group of affluent men against the fencing that separated us from the onlookers.

Even the small council watched today, with several familiar faces mingling in the crowd. Despite their conversation, Darius's eyes were fixated on the stable hand; his once flirty, confident smile was now twisted into a scowl.

This time, I couldn"t hold back my laughter. "Young love," I sighed wistfully.

"You"re hardly an old maid," Rosalind teased. "And don"t think I haven"t noticed the way your handsome guard looks at you when you"re not paying attention." She playfully batted her long golden lashes.

I waved her off. "He's a brute with a very pretty face, unfortunately. Besides, I'm here to woo high gloriousness." With a wink, I sashayed towards the pasture, past the complaining group of ladies.

Rosalind snorted and called after me, "Careful Senka, you almost made me believe it!"

Drawing in a deep breath, I approached my assigned elhorn, the one Valera was currently petting. The creature"s piercing eyes regarded me with an intelligence that put me on edge.

"Can I touch it?" I asked cautiously.

The stablehand tore his eyes off of Valera, his brown gaze meeting mine. "Carefully. You need to bow to her before you approach. If she bows back, then you're safe."

"And if she doesn't bow back?" He didn't bother to hide his cringe. "Enough said," I muttered.

"Her name is Bloom," he said as if in an afterthought.

I turned to face the elhorn, Bloom, her sleek black fur and braided mane gleaming brightly. "Hello Bloom. My name is Senka Aeron. May I be your rider today?"

Making conversation with the elhorn wasn't in the instructions, but the intelligence in her eyes made me feel uncomfortable and nervous already. The least I could do was give a proper introduction.

I made sure she was watching me before I bowed deeply at the waist. I stayed in the lowered position for what seemed like an endless moment, my neck becoming damp with sweat as I felt the intense gaze of the elhorn on me.

I could hear the sound of heavy footsteps approaching in the distance, but I refused to look away. Just as I was about to lose hope, the elegant creature finally made a move. With a graceful bow, her massive body dipped down and she lowered her head, extending one front leg towards me.

The stablehand let out an audible breath as I straightened back up, and Valera was beaming at me, her blue eyes sparkling with excitement. I shook my head at her enthusiasm and made to grab the reigns from the man.

The ladies to my right stopped tittering as the sound of claws on packed earth came closer. I peered over my shoulder in time to see Bazaan atop a pure white elhorn, coming to a stop in front of the ladies. They curtseyed as he bade them all good morning.

Stable hands were leading more elhorns out to the pasture and lining them up in a row as he made polite conversation with them.

The prince's eyes met mine, the yellow in them glowing slightly in the morning light, reminding me of the fire that lurked in his veins.

He wore black armor today, much like his guardsmen, most of whom were members of the Tonne judging from the badges on their chests, fashioned into a pair of golden feathered wings with twin curved blades adorning the very center and completed with a single ruby embellishment.

That night in the astronomy tower suddenly felt like a fever dream. Had I really revealed my shadows to the prince? To the man who could have me executed simply for existing? And the prince... did he really have that woman killed?

I had been promised a straightforward mission, but after nearly three weeks of being here, I had only received one death order when he'd insinuated many were coming. It didn"t add up. My gut was telling me something was off about this and I needed to see Cross.

Tonight, I decided. Tonight I was going to sneak out of the palace and pay a visit to The Smoke. I needed answers, and Cross was going to give them to me.

"An empress might be called into battle should her husband fall, or should she be required to lead her own troops into a fight," Baz said to everyone in the pasture, his deep voice booming over the cold wind. "You should all be familiar with the basics. An elhorn might be a war beast, but the principals are the same as riding a regular horse." He patted the side of his gorgeous mount. Not as striking as Xyla, but close.

A few of the women muttered in discontent, and I couldn"t help but share their sentiment. This would be nothing like riding a horse. For starters, the elhorns were much larger than regular horses, and instead of regular flat hooves, they had sharp claws at the ends that could easily tear through flesh as they dug into the hard-packed dirt.

I stared at the line of them, and noticed the razor sharp teeth biting down on the bridle, somehow not shredding it to bits.

"If you can"t handle riding a war beast, then you are not fit to be in my court, let alone my bed." As he said this, his gaze lingered on me for a moment too long. I resisted the urge to sneer; I didn"t want to draw any attention to myself.

"Choose an elhorn and approach it carefully. Before touching it, you must show respect by bowing and waiting for the elhorn"s response, indicating it is safe to take the reins. If your chosen elhorn does not return the gesture, then leave the pasture and consider yourself disqualified from this pageant."

Gasps filled the pasture, and even I startled, my eyes widening. He was essentially giving the elhorns the power to disqualify a potential empress.

One by one, the others approached the elhorns, moving cautiously, just as Bazaan said. I already held the reigns firmly in my grip, so at least I'd made it that far.

Rosalind was the next one to be accepted by her mount. She flashed me a grin and a wink as she took the reins from the stablehand, and I felt a wave of relief wash over me. It didn"t make sense why I wanted her here; after all, she was my direct rival. Yet somehow, her peculiar presence had grown on me with each passing day.

Several ladies were accepted right away, but not everyone. I tried to stifle a laugh as six women were dismissed when their elhorns refused to bow. They were escorted in tears from the pasture to the waiting arms of their escorts.

Six ladies down, five more to go. This competition was nearly over and it felt like it'd only started. I had a feeling Baz had something to do with that. He was ready to get the tedious competition over as soon as possible, marry the winner and be done with it so he could get back to his brewing war.

"Good," he barked, causing all eyes to go to him. His elhorn had yet to move, but its eyes were watching everyone around him and his rider carefully. "Now mount up, ladies. I trust you'll have no problem with that at least." His tone was dry and utterly unimpressed.

As I climbed onto Bloom's back, the elhorn snorted and shifted beneath me, making me acutely aware of the potential danger I was in.

"Easy now," I whispered, my hands gripping her horns for balance as she tossed her head. My heart raced, but I forced myself to remain calm and stay focused.

From his own perch, Baz watched me with open amusement, my cheeks getting redder with every second longer it took me to get myself situated without looking like an idiot.

Wolfe stood at the edge of the pasture against the fencing, his arms crossed over his chest as he observed us along with several other personal guards and escorts. His laughter rang out when my elhorn bucked, causing me to cling to its horns for dear life.

"Betrayal…" I muttered to the beast. All I got in response was a huff. Leaning down, I whispered into Bloom's ear. "I'm begging you to not make me look like a fool. I'll have my maid sneak you something tasty later if you promise to make me look like I know what I'm doing."

She huffed again with a grumble, and I was acutely aware of the prince's eyes on me.

I was talking to a horse. This is what the culmination of all my life's grand mistakes had brought me to.

I tried again. "Listen, Bloom, let's be very real with each other. I know you can understand every word I'm saying. Don't even try to deny it." Bloom went still beneath me, and I smirked. "That's what I thought." I patted her side. "So we have an accord then?"

A snort was my only answer, and I hoped to every god listening that it was a snort of agreement.

The sun blazed overhead as I urged Bloom into a determined trot, sweat beading on my brow. Rosalind rode beside me. "You"re doing so well, Senka. Just remember to keep your balance and trust that she knows what she's doing."

"Easy for you to say," I muttered as I started to lean too far to one side. Bloom shifted under me, using her back muscles to guide my rear end into the right spot again. I patted her side in thanks.

"Back home, my brother trains elhorns for the palace guard," Rosalind said, her eyes lighting up with pride. "They"re wild at first, but with patience and training, they become some of the most loyal mounts a rider could ask for."

I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. "What about the Tonne?" I asked. "Does he train their mounts too?"

Rosalind blew out a breath. "I wish. But no. The only ones allowed to ride the chimeras are members of the Tonne. Each warrior chooses a pup and raises them, trains them, and bonds with them before they ever get the chance to ride. Elhorns are completely different."

Rosalind and I cantered back and forth along the edges of the pasture, making small circles that arced back towards the stables. The longer I rode, the easier controlling Bloom's direction became. After a while, I was actually starting to enjoy myself. I was especially soaking up the fresh, crisp air.

A fresh layer of snow coated the grassy pasture, but soon it turned to mud as the elhorns stomped through.

I paid close attention as Prince Baz conversed with a group of ladies. They circled around him like moths drawn to a flame, giggling and batting their eyelashes as they peppered him with questions. I couldn"t help but feel a strange discomfort at the sight, though I couldn"t pinpoint why.

"Looks like we have quite the competition on our hands," I commented dryly, and Rosalind laughed as we watched the prince.

"He doesn"t seem particularly impressed, does he?"

"I have a feeling that's just how royals are born; looking down their noses at us lessers is a sport."

As if sensing our scrutiny, Baz looked over at the two of us. A challenge sparked in his sunset-hued eyes, and I felt my pulse quicken in response. With that, he left behind the gaggle of ladies and galloped our way.

"How about a race, then, ladies?" He nodded to Rosalind. "Your brother, soon to be Lord Caldor, trains our elhorns. You should be as comfortable up here as I am."

Rosalind shrugged. "I suppose. But I think you're giving me too much credit. My mother would have a heart attack if she saw me right now."

Something told me Rosalind was being purposefully modest.

Baz tsked. "What a shame. Every lady should know how to handle a mount." His eyes flitted to meet mine. "And how about you? Can you handle your own in a race against Cazador here?" He patted the side of his pure white elhorn.

Bazaan's eyes sparkled with mischief and a challenge that I instantly knew I couldn't deny him.

I whispered into the elhorn"s ear, leaning down so that the others couldn't hear. "What do you think, Bloom? Remember all the treats I promised you? All the sweets your heart desires..."

"Are you bargaining with her?" Baz asked with a deep chuckle and an arched black eyebrow.

For the first time, I suspected I was seeing the rogue prince without a mask on. It was as if being up there on that elhorn was somehow breathing life into him, rather than the stifling palace walls.

"You have your charms and I have mine, your highness," I quipped back with a cheeky wink that surprised even me. Was I suddenly back to trying to charm this man?

"Careful, Lady Senka. I've spent my life on these creatures. Even Bloom has her allegiance to her prince."

I let out a sharp, exaggerated gasp. "Are you trying to imply that Bloom would cheat on your behalf?" I soothingly ran my hand through Bloom"s mane. "Don"t pay attention to him, Bloom."

A stillness washed over my body as Bazaan let out a loud, hearty laugh. I could feel the gaze of the others piercing through us from across the pasture.

I observed him, for a moment, mesmerized by the way his sunset-colored eyes seemed to radiate against his skin, and how the combination of sunlight and snow made his jet black hair gleam as it swayed in the biting wind. Despite his manipulative, scheming nature, he truly was beautiful.

We formed a line, our elhorns huffing and fidgeting in excitement. Baz, Rosalind, Pearl, Sasha, and I had all decided to take part in Bazaan"s race. It was unexpected when Sasha and Pearl expressed interest in participating as well, but from the remaining five women, they seemed like the most adept riders.

A stablehand stepped up next to us, motioning for our horses to get into position. Bloom tensed beneath me, getting ready to take off. My heart was pounding as I held onto the reins tightly, hoping and praying that I wouldn"t be thrown from Bloom"s back. Wolfe and Valera would never let me hear the end of it, and gods help me if Emore found out.

I glanced to my left and sucked in a breath, realizing that Baz was already watching me. His lips stretched into a slow smile that I found myself matching.

At the stablehand's sharp whistle, we took off across the pasture, the wind whipping through my hair as I urged my mount onward. Rosalind and Baz raced neck and neck, their laughter carrying on the breeze.

I never realized just how fast elhorns could move. They put all other horses to shame. The power of each movement was like a thunderclap. It was all I could do just to hold on to the reigns and stay upright in the saddle.

Sasha and Pearl were behind me, but both Baz and Rosalind were nearly at the finish line already. I was just thankful that I didn't have to come in last.

Though I gave it my all, I finished third, just behind the prince. Satisfaction swirled inside me, knowing that even if I lost, Rosalind still showed Baz that he indeed didn't have the loyalty of the elhorns.

That evening,the grand dinner in the ballroom was filled with anticipation and nervous energy. The culling loomed over us all, but for now, we were dressed in our finest attire, surrounded by glittering crystal chandeliers and music.

I wore a silver gown that matched my eyes, its fabric shimmering like moonlight. My hair was swept up off my shoulders, exposing the length of my bare back. As I entered the room, I felt the heated gazes of both Baz and Wolfe. Tension simmered between the three of us, a dangerous game that could unravel at any moment.

The moment of the culling felt like a noose tightening around my throat. We all stood in the ballroom, gathered around the same elegant table laden with pewter trays. Each of us held our breaths as one-by-one, we lifted our lids to reveal either golden roses, or empty plates.

As the first lid was lifted, a soft sob filled the room, followed by another. The dismissed ladies began to wail, their sobs echoing through the grand chamber and clawing at my soul. Both Pearl and Nila were disqualified tonight.

I lifted the lid. A delicate rose. A symbol that I would continue in the pageant. Only, unlike the golden petals of the other contestants, my rose was black.

I locked eyes with Baz from across the room, and he smirked wickedly, some unreadable emotion passing over his face as he sipped his wine, staining his lips crimson.

Servant girls entered, carrying golden sashes on platters of polished silver. Food was served as the sashes were passed out, signaling which of the remaining ladies Bazaan wished to share a dance with tonight.

As a golden sash was draped over my own shoulders, I felt a mix of exhilaration and trepidation. Dancing meant touching. I'd have to pretend in front of all these people that this man didn't have the power to end me with a single word.

"You got a sash too," I said to Rosalind, ignoring the way my stomach twisted into knots.

"Unfortunately. But it"s not me that he"s been ogling since he first saw you this morning."

I scoffed, but had nothing to say to that, because she was right. Bazaan had been watching me all day, ignoring the others vying for his attention, and it was becoming noticeable to everyone around us.

Little did any of them know that it wasn't for the reasons they were thinking. Baz had no real interest in me. Not romantically, at least. I was just another weapon. A tool for him to use in his endless quest for dominion.

The weight of the golden sash draped over my shoulders was like a tangible reminder of the dangerous game I was playing. We finished our dinner quickly, nervous conversation passing between courtiers. The music became livelier as the evening wore on, and a nervous energy filled the room.

When the first dances begun, I was relieved when Bazaan tapped Sasha on the shoulder first. Her pale cheeks turned a bright shade of pink as they began their first dance.

"Senka!" Darius called out, his charming grin cutting through my anxiety. His green eyes met mine as he pushed through the throngs of onlookers and came to a stop a few paces away. "Would you honor me with a dance?"

"Of course," I said, grateful for the distraction. We stepped into the swirling throng of dancers, and I tried to focus on the music and the feel of his hand at my waist.

"Congratulations on surviving another culling," Darius said as we moved gracefully across the floor. "And on receiving a golden sash, no less."

"Thank you. I'm just glad my elhorn decided not to make me look like an idiot," I replied with a laugh. "I hope my dance with Prince Bazaan goes as smoothly as the race. It's quite an unexpected honor."

I was lying through my teeth, and it was so, so easy.

"Unexpected, but well deserved," he said. "You"ve proven yourself to be more than just a pretty face."

"High praise from a notorious flirt," I teased, and he laughed easily.

"Guilty as charged. But I assure you, my intentions are far more innocent this time around."

"Is that so?"

"Actually," he began, lowering his voice conspiratorially, "I wanted to ask about your lovely lady"s maid, Valera. She piques my interest, and I was hoping you might put in a good word for me."

"Valera?" I raised an eyebrow, amused by his sudden change of interest and pretending that Valera hadn't mentioned a thing to me. "She is lovely, isn't she? And intelligent too."

"Ah, then you"ll help me?" he asked hopefully.

"Perhaps," I agreed, smiling at his enthusiasm. "But I'm very of protective of my staff. They're like family to me. If I promise to put in a good word for you, you have to promise me that you wont shatter her heart when the next pretty face catches your eye."

I couldn"t help but notice Prince Baz watching us from across the room. His expression was unreadable, but there was a hint of distaste in his frown as he observed Darius and me.

"Senka," Darius said, snapping me out of my thoughts. "You seem lost. Are you alright?"

"Fine," I assured him, forcing a smile. "Just feeling the weight of that golden sash."

"Ah," he nodded solemnly. "The prince can be quite... intimidating."

"Intimidating," I echoed, thinking of the knowledge Baz held over me. "Yes, that"s one way to put it."

Soon enough, our dance ended, and I knew it was time to face the music in more ways than one.

As the final notes of my dance with Darius faded, I curtsied and turned to face Prince Bazaan. The intensity in his sunset eyes sent a shiver through my entire body. He extended his hand. With a steadying breath, I placed mine in his warm grasp.

My heart hammered against my ribcage as we moved to the rhythm of the music, our bodies perfectly in sync.

"You surprised me out there today," he said conversationally. "For a moment, I thought you might even overtake my elhorn and make me eat my words."

I chuckled as he swept me in a circle. "Hardly. I'm just lucky I wasn't bucked off."

From the corner of my eye, I spotted Wolfe standing against a wall, his disapproving glare fixed on Prince Baz and me. I couldn"t help but feel a twinge of guilt for enjoying the sensation of the prince's warm hands through the fabric of my dress.

"Tell me, deathbringer," Baz whispered into my ear, making me stiffen in his arms. "Have you given any thought to my proposal?"

His words jolted me back to reality "I've considered it. But I do believe I still have time to make my decision."

He didn't have to know that the decision had been made the moment he proposed this plan of his. He didn't have to know that I was already formulating my own plans that had nothing to do with his little dispute with the queen of Aetheria.

"I'm waiting with bated breath then," he said, his eyes darkening as they flickered to my lips for a split second. My heart lurched. "You look beautiful tonight, by the way."

"Thank you," I managed to choke out, my voice barely a whisper as fluttering filled my belly. "My maid does an amazing job cleaning me up."

His gaze washed over my face again. "You could dress in rags and still take any man's breath away."

"You don't have to flirt with me," I said, my tone more curt than it needed to be. "We both know this isn't real."

He frowned. "Who says? I mean every single word." His gaze traveled down to the low cut of my gown, where the rose-scented oil that Valera had helped me apply left a shimmer on my skin. "I believe we both know that you're one of the most stunning women in all of Elysian, Senka."

Inhaling sharply, I felt his fingers press into the small of my back as we swayed to the music. I wanted to scold him for lying to me, but when I looked into his eyes, all I saw was unfiltered honesty.

Baz leaned in closer, his breath warm against my cheek. "I expect an answer by tomorrow evening," he murmured, and then pressed a slow, sensual kiss on the corner of my mouth, leaving me breathless as we came to an abrupt halt.

Gasps erupted from the surrounding crowd as they witnessed the kiss, causing my heart to race and my lips to tingle. Inside of me, my shadows seemed to writhe with excitement. He was playing this game more skillfully than I was, and I needed to catch up.

Schooling my expression into something serene, I allowed myself to relax in his arms as we stood together in the center of the room, all eyes fixated on the two of us. Slowly, I laid my pal on the bare expanse of his chest beneath his linen shirt, feeling the rough indents of the scars that crisscrossed on his skin.

More whispers fluttered around us as I dared to be so bold with the prince. His lips, however, curled into a wicked smile, and his sunset eyes filled with the strangest mixture of heat, need, and warning.

"Until then," he said, taking a step back and lifting my hand gently. "Goodnight, Lady Senka." His lips caressed my fingers more slowly than was socially acceptable, causing them to tingle and burn.

With that, he released me and strode away, leaving me to grapple with my conflicted emotions. My heart raced as I pondered the decision that could change everything. Not only for myself but for everyone I cared about.