MATURE FANTASY** slow burn* 🔥 He is a predator who thought he captured an ordinary girl... but her mind is sharper than any of his claws.
Ariana lives in the shadow of her monstrous father in a world barely held together by a treaty. Until her l...
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Ariana walked nervously between me and her elderly friend, Edda. The old-timer was peculiar. A fearless boldness encased her in an impenetrable shield. It was clear that she had a hand in raising Ariana, for she harbored a similar stubborn confidence. However, Ariana's held cracks; her shell could weaken when applying the correct type of pressure. I could push her out of her comfort, her heart picking up its pace as it now did.
Edda's gaze moved past Ariana to me. "Tell me, Lysian King, when do you intend on bringing Ariana back for the ceremony?" She asked. There was something I appreciated about her forward questions. She was to the point, her breath not wasted on needless words.
I sensed the frustration coming off of Ariana and had to suppress a smile at her discomfort. She hated that Edda continued to address me.
"When would it be best for the Bavadrins?" I asked, not knowing the detail of their customs.
"Twelve days would be sufficient." She answered at once.
"We could manage that," I agreed to the time frame.
"Good, and then afterward, do you intend to leave her here or taking her back with you?" She probed.
"That's none of your concern." Kole stepped up beside me, answering Edda with a stern voice, which she appeared unfazed by.
Edda's tone dropped so that no one around except for us could hear her. "If you wish for her to be your puppet while keeping her under your watchful eye, then you will need to bring her here at normal intervals." Ariana grabbed Edda's hand, trying to hush her, but the old bag continued to speak. "She has no bond to the Bavadrins as their leader superior. She will need to build those. Otherwise, there will be unrest amongst the people. They won't want to follow a figurehead they do not know."
"If she returns every twelve days, for the time being, staying for a couple of days at a time after we complete her ascension. Will that suffice your people?" I asked the old-timer.
Edda's gaze looked me over, filled with unreachable shadows. There was something oddly daring in the darkness deep within her. Something that reminded me of the warnings about the Bavadrin race. She nodded in agreement before finally turning her attention back to Ariana, who scolded her for her behavior.
They had a strange relationship.
"That's going to be a lot of traveling," Kole said under his breath.
"If that is what's needed to gain control of the Bavadrin forces, then that is what we will do."
"Your brothers won't like this," he mumbled before turning his attention towards two Bavadrin guards, who quickly approached. Kole advanced, placing himself between us and the strangers, baring his teeth in warning.
"Wait." Ariana went to Kole, her hand reached for his arm. She was lucky he didn't react aggressively to her touch. Typically, when Lysians were on edge and alert to potential threats, they functioned on instinct. Harmless distractions could easily lead to amplified hostile responses.
