Trial By Flame by M.K. Eidem & Michelle Howard

Author:M.K. Eidem & Michelle Howard [Eidem, M.K.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-11-21T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter 2

“Do you know what today is?”

His sister burst into his office with no respect for the privacy signaled by his closed door, Varyk sighed and pushed aside the ledger he’d been working on. Pinching the bridge of his nose to relieve the building pressure, he asked, “What is today?”

She strolled in with a sense of belonging no other would have dared. Confidence oozed from her as she braced a hip on the corner of Varyk’s desk. “It is visiting day.”

He masked his flinch. Barely. Visiting day. How could he have forgotten? It was a day they respected for the last twelve years since he took on the mantle. Varyk shook his head and stood. Although the results of the visits stayed the same, he didn’t have it in him to deny his sister.

“I forgot.”

Her eyes darkened in sympathy as she rounded his desk and brushed a hand through his shoulder length green hair. Hair that had transitioned from reddish brown to green on his one hundredth year of birth. “I wish I could.”

Neither of them would ever forget the events of the day long ago. Nor what had occurred later, enabling Varyk to take over in his role as King.

“Come.” He grasped her hand. “We will make it short and spend our time on other matters to keep our hearts light.”

Happiness removed the misery from her gaze. “Santos is expecting me to be with you for most of the day so I have time to play.”

Varyk snorted as he tugged on her fingers to drag her from the sudden oppressive space of his office. Milana’s mate was besotted with her and not afraid to show it. Varyk rested well at night knowing his sister’s heart was in good hands.

Greetings rang out as they walked the hall of his home. While Varyk maintained his stoic expression and nodded to everyone, Milana called out names, laughing at joking comments and responding in kind. He lacked the ability to be so open with his people. The weight of his responsibilities pressed in on him more of late.

Varyk longed for the social gift his sister possessed, but it was not to be. In the beginning after accepting the mantle, he practiced a reserved demeanor deliberately. There had been those who tried to make ruling difficult, but Varyk quelled the minor resistance with brute force. It hadn’t taken more than twice for his people to settle and accept his leadership.

Unfortunately, proving his strength in such a harsh way created an unexpected side effect. Females grew leery of him or pursued him for a thrill, thus necessitating his distance. Gradually, he found it easier to avoid them unless need demanded. After a while, if Varyk thought of a lifelong companion, he became consumed with a suffocating sensation. The feeling grew until Varyk knew having a lira wasn’t an option.

He was too afraid. King of his sect and he was overwhelmed with fear.

Accepting that fueled his rage. The essence of his Dracol rose within, seeking the source of Varyk’s displeasure.

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