Throne of Magic (Heiress of Magic Trilogy Book 3) by H. D. Gordon

Author:H. D. Gordon [Gordon, H. D.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-07-07T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 27

Samson

“I was beginning to think I’d have to come find you,” said Drake, King of the Beasts.

Samson said nothing, only sat where he was, his demeanor relaxed despite what lie ahead. He knew Drake was referring to the fact that Samson had been absent all these years, and that he had expected Sam to shirk his responsibilities, as he had done in the past.

But it wasn’t as simple as that. Samson had not asked to be betrothed to Mila (this was not to say he didn’t have a certain affection for her, because he did) and he had not asked to be rescued by Surah all those years ago, and to fall so deeply in love with her that he could not bear to leave her, despite the difficulties of living among two-legs for such a long time.

“I’m here,” Sam replied, when the silence between them stretched on too long.

Drake considered him a moment, his amber cat-eyes as piercing as a gaze could be. His long tail flicked lazily behind him, his head tilting as he looked at Sam.

“Yes,” he agreed, “you are here in form… but your mind is elsewhere.”

The King of the Beasts fell silent again, settling down on the ridge on which the two cats sat, looking out at the jungle below, at the kingdom, which stretched on as far as the eye could see, a rich green crowned with wisps of white cottony clouds.

“It’s a curious thing,” Drake added. “Your affection for the two-leg. In truth, I’m not sure how it can even be. In all my years, I’ve never known any beast to do as you’ve done.”

There was a certain distain in the king’s voice that Sam didn’t miss. His throat felt tight, and he settled down beside the king, taking in the sights as well. It would be a lie to say he hadn’t missed the fresh air here, the land untouched by man.

“It’s a curiosity to me as well,” Sam replied. “I didn’t choose to love her. I didn’t choose any of it. It just is.”

Drake considered this, the sound of the jungle filling the space between their exchanges.

“I’m conflicted over you, son,” the king said at last. “Half of me is so tired, so ready to be done with this world and move on to the next, to relinquish my title and pass on the crown… but the other half of me doesn’t trust the pride to you. Tell me… should you win tonight, where will your loyalties lie, with the pride, or the Sorceress?”

Samson chose his next words carefully. He refused to lie to the king. He respected Drake too much for that.

“If I should win tonight, I will do my best to rule justly. That’s all I can promise you, Drake.”

The king’s amber gaze flicked over to Sam, looking at him out of the corner of his eye. “My daughter is in love with you, Samson… You are aware of this, are you not?”

Sam suppressed a sigh; it was a two-leg quality that the king would not appreciate.

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