Stolen Dream

Chapter Six

Sanyo sat on his throne and tapped his fingertips together thoughtfully. Something was wrong. He'd spent quite a few years on the throne now and he'd learned to read the mood of those around him, the mood of the tide that carried the thoughts and fears of his people to him. He'd learned to tap into that tide.

Fear was rampant tonight.

His attendant, Aliya, watched him with her enigmatic black eyes, the flecks of pink throughout giving her a mystical, surreal quality. She quirked a brow in silent question and he smiled at her, jerked his head a bit to invite her closer.

Aliya went to him as she always did and always would. "I can see that something is troubling you," she said softly.

"Yes."

"What can I do to help?"

Sanyo took her hands in his and kissed her knuckles. "Marry me."

Aliya sighed through her smile and shook her head. "You know it's too dangerous. We still haven't discovered the one who murdered your brother's mother."

Sanyo shook his head. "Does it matter that much to you that we do that before we announce our love to our people?"

"Your people," she corrected for what felt like the millionth time. She could say one thing for Sanyo, he never gave up. He was relentless in his pursuit of her and, after all these years, she no longer resisted but for one thing. She wouldn't let the world know of their love, she wouldn't marry him.

"For now."

Aliya couldn't shake the warning Keyvon had given her years ago before he'd left to spend his life with his mate, stuck in a lake in the middle of nowhere. He'd told her that there was a traitor in their midst, someone who would go so far as to kill the previous wife of their previous Sovereign. If it had been done once, it could be done again. "Have we made any progress in finding the poisoner?"

Sanyo shook his head and moved one hand up to her face to run it along the single pink streak that went through her pitch-black hair. He loved everything about her, but for one thing. The stubborn streak that had lasted over twenty years. If their lifespan wasn't so long, he'd have insisted, ordered her to marry him. But he knew better and his pursuit of the person who had poisoned his brother's mother remained at the top of his priority list. "No."

She sighed her disappointment. "Have you set Keenan on the task yet? He's your best man."

"He'll be my best man at the wedding too."

"Talk to him."

"The moment he gets back from finding out about the strange sighting, I will."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

"Thank you."

"I love you, Aliya. I would do anything for you."

She melted the way she always did at those words. "I love you too, Sanyo," she whispered back, then, sensing the shift in the water outside the doorway, she returned to her post, schooling her features to hide her emotions.

A guard poked his head in the door. "Sire?"

Sanyo tilted his chin in a go-ahead motion.

"There's someone here to see you."

"Who?"

"Said his name is Javen. He's just a teenager."

Sanyo's eyes widened in surprise. "Send him in."

The guard inclined his head and ducked out of the room. A moment later a young merman entered, his thick white locks, silver eyes and fins immediately giving away his heritage to anyone who had known his parents.