The King of Koraha by Snyder Maria V

Author:Snyder, Maria V. [Snyder, Maria V.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Science Fiction, Adventure
ISBN: 9781489252852
Goodreads: 60332071
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Published: 2021-11-22T08:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER

11

The man froze and his expression creased with hurt betrayal. But it was gone in a flash. He dropped her hand and pulled his sword, turning to face the soldiers who had suddenly appeared. They too had drawn swords and a few had knives. Little One hovered on the threshold of her room. Conflicted, uncertain, and miserable.

Xerxes stood behind the half circle of his four-man team. He was unarmed and only wearing a pair of white silk sleeping pants. The muscles on his upper body looked as if they had been carved from stone. A pendant the size of her fist rested in the middle of his massive chest. The multifaceted yellowish-orange jewel in its center glinted, reflecting the druk light. It was about four centimeters wide. Her pendant warmed when she stared at the jewel.

“Captain Rendor,” Xerxes said.

That name! It stabbed into her heart and cut it into two pieces—fear and guilt. She had endangered… him…no, she’d obeyed Xerxes. It was just the big man’s name. The pain eased.

“It didn’t take you long to find her,” Xerxes said. “Good. I would have hated to set this trap every darkness.” He held out his hand. “Little One, come here.”

She dashed past the big man and grabbed Xerxes’ hand. He tucked her close and her contentment returned full force. When she looked up, the big man stared at her. His expression was raw with grief.

“As you can see, she’s mine,” Xerxes said. “You’ve two choices, Captain.”

“This ought to be good,” the captain said to Xerxes, but he kept his gaze on her. Odd.

“You can join me or you can die.”

That last word caused an eruption inside her. “No!”

Xerxes turned to her. “Little One?”

“He…can’t…die.” It took a great deal of energy for her to say those words. Similar to when she refused to explain how to wake The Eyes to Xerxes.

“Ah. It’s like that, is it?”

“Yes,” she gasped.

“Can you convert him?” Xerxes’ tone was gentle.

“I’d rather die,” the captain said. He brandished his sword. “I hope you have more men, Xerxes. You’re going to need them.”

“Captain, your skills are well known, but I’m not the commander because of my good looks. Little One?”

“I can, but…” She fought her own conflicting desires. Grabbing bits of fractured knowledge, she sorted through what she’d learned.

“But?” Xerxes prompted.

“He’ll need a pendant.” She panted for breath as if she’d run over a dozen dunes. “He’s a big brute. Strong-willed.”

“Yet I had him before in Nintri.”

She couldn’t lie to Xerxes. Her entire body trembled.

“Oh, please,” the captain said, saving her. “That was all an act. And you fell for it.”

Xerxes stiffened but otherwise ignored the jab. “All right, Little One. Can you disarm him?”

“No, but I can freeze him.”

“That will work. Go ahead.”

“Shyla, don’t! Let me fight!” the captain yelled.

Freeze.

The captain fought the command, but she had him. It was easy. His soul was almost a part of hers. Xerxes pulled a pendant from his pocket and crossed to the captain. He looped the necklace around the big man’s neck.

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