Waiting for You by Megan Derr

Author:Megan Derr
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: NineStar Press

Shanna huffed, hoping her annoyance hid the fact her heart was cracking anew. Why did they keep making it sounds like they cared, like they wanted to be here? Why were they such good liars? “How did you persuade the other two?”

“Money. Favors. Thankfully, they were easier to deal with than Teth. I do not like using threats.” His eyes gleamed with mischief and triumph. “So I would imagine this morning your stepfather is rather angry to find he’s lost three of his pawns, and rather than try to regain them, he is pushing on with his primary plan.”

“Me. Yes. And the only piece I can play is to pick a consort he cannot touch, but doing that will bring harm down on whoever I pick.”

Ahmla chuckled, soft and deep, the sound rolling deliciously down Shanna’s spine. Shunting aside the momentary distraction, she watched as they exchanged a look. “What?”

Kallaar made a face. “Are you certain you would not simply like for us to slit his throat?”

“Tempting, but messy in a number of ways.” And she did not want to kill if she did not have to: becoming queen would force her to get her hands bloody soon enough, and she did not want to start with her stepfather, even if he had very likely killed her mother. Revenge, while a pleasant thought, wouldn’t accomplish anything.

It was also a luxury she couldn’t afford, not if she wanted to keep her throne and protect her people.

“So who are your options, out of curiosity?” Kallaar asked.

“Dorni, Benn, Cormiana.”

“I see,” Ahmla said.

Kallaar wrinkled his nose. “I don’t, but I’ve always been abysmal at politics.”

Ahmla huffed a soft laugh. “That is sadly true.”

“My mother pounded politics into my head,” Shanna replied. “I am envious you were not treated the same. These countries all fall along my kingdom’s north and east borders. They’re landlocked, save for Cormiana, but the strip of ocean on its east side is rocky and dangerous, useless for building harbors. But all three have direct access to Alagahara. All three have close alliances. Make nice with one, and you’re halfway there with the other two. We’ve always refused to work with them because we won’t condone or tolerate their slavery.”

“We avoid them for the same reason,” Ahmla replied. “Most call us fools, because we’re so small they practically have piles of wealth and power and would make for a strong ally.”

“Alagahara certainly doesn’t care about slavery, but we do, and so trade relations with all four countries have always been, at best, strained. If I marry one of these three—all of them weak sons and daughters that can be afforded to send on what they think is a wasted trip—then my stepfather forms an alliance. From there, it won’t be hard to build further alliances, and eventually one with Alagahara, who won’t trade with us until we make nice with those three.”

“And with access to Alagahara…” Kallaar said. “All your stepfather would need is a foothold and he could gain significant power over the whole continent.

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