Dark Warriors: A Dark Lands Anthology (Darklands) by Dawn Autumn

Author:Dawn, Autumn [Dawn, Autumn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance, Anthologies
Goodreads: 13186781
Published: 2011-12-06T07:00:00+00:00

Nikon’s little skirmish was not one of them. They were waiting for him in the audience chamber when he strode in that afternoon, as confident as if he owned the palace. Attired in a long-sleeved crimson tunic and trousers with a black mandarin collar trimmed in gold braid instead of body armor, he wore no weapons of any kind. Perhaps he knew that he wouldn’t stand a chance against the full arsenal of Beast wrath, or perhaps it was his way of stating his own worth. Either way, the blond king was definitely not there in the guise of humble supplicant.

Nikon looked at Vana, who sat enthroned at Dagon’s side. “You’re looking well, Tzara. My hopes for a smooth delivery.”

Resplendent in her royal regalia, Vana inclined her head. “My thanks for your timely assistance, my lord.”

Nikon’s eyes glittered as he regarded Dagon. “Let us hope the gesture leads to a new beginning for both our peoples.”

The silence stretched out as Dagon returned his stare. Never one to waste his breath on diplomatic chatter, he asked calmly, “What do you claim as reward, Nikon? I think you have some appreciation for what I can and can’t give you.” Tread carefully, was left unspoken.

A raised brow expressed Nikon’s opinion of the warning. “As you have an appreciation for what I did for you.” He looked meaningfully at Vana. “I ask only to be rewarded in kind.”

“You wish for only one woman in exchange? A surprisingly modest request, Nikon.”

“I was not the only one who assisted in the hunt for the Mother Tree’s fruit,” Nikon pointed out, all traces of humor gone. “You know that a single woman will not fill the need among my people.”

“Are you certain your people, as a whole, still desire women?” The question was soft, but full of quiet menace.

Nikon seemed to be biting the inside of his cheek: hard. Granite might have been softer than his expression. “Some do. They will not be offered to those who accept their friends and brothers as substitutes.”

Though apparently relaxed, Dagon’s frame emitted an aura of suppressed energy as he slowly traced the line of his jaw with one finger. “How do you plan to defend your women from the vast bulk of your kingdom? Will the sodomites not rebel and demand women of their own? I understood that the core of your fellow believers was quite small.”

Nikon was silent.

Unblinking, Dagon continued, “Should we steal women for you, it would only be a small number; thirty, at most. More than enough for your personal cadre, and just enough to get you killed. No, I’m afraid I can’t countenance putting helpless women in that position.”

As if each word were ground glass, Nikon grated, “You have a suggestion.” It wasn’t a question, and by the stiff set of his shoulders, he wasn’t enjoying having his shortcomings pointed out.

“One.” Dagon raised his head and straightened in his chair, negligently crossing one leg over the other. “Abdicate.”

Murmurs of shock ran through the assembled courtiers as the word fell into their midst, like a stone thrown into dark waters.

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