When It Reigns (Cursed Reigns, #1)

CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

AERYN'S POV

"I am her Champion. She is bonded to me."

All heads swiveled in Zoran's direction as the furious Draconian tore his glove off and slammed it on the table. He clenched his hand by his side, a blue glow emanating from his fist as he took a few steps forward.

"Stand down, Zoran Masters," Emperor Nepheus bellowed, "Your bonding assignment to Aeryn has been discharged."

"Bonds are for life," Zoran spat, boiling with rage. "The expansive distance keeping our essences apart in separate nations will weaken both of us until we die."

It was the truth; if we were split up for too long, we would eventually die once the bond between our essences weakened enough to sever, bringing an inevitable end to both our lives. The conditions of being a Champion were so steep and extreme for the purpose of ensuring Draconians understood the gravity of their bonds and treated the precious commitment with absolute seriousness.

It didn't surprise me that my father didn't care for what it meant for my life when I was sent off to the Ravos Kingdom as the prince's wife. I still couldn't comprehend the reason he'd allowed me to go through with the Champion bonding ritual when he'd planned to marry me to Shade in the first place. He had to be aware of what that would mean for me and my Champion.

Then again, he was handing me over to the prince who wanted to assassinate me. He'd already been aware of the risk my life would be in and didn't care, so another factor further jeopardizing the likelihood of my survival wouldn't faze the glacial emperor.

Emperor Nepheus stabbed his staff onto the marble floor, voice chilling the room several degrees as he demanded, "Once Aeryn upholds our end of the treaty by marrying the prince, Armaeda will be back in our empire, and she can grant the abolishment of your bond without consequence. Then, Aeryn will be free to bond with Shade as seeing they fulfill the summoner and shifter requirements for their essences to mesh."

I hung my head in defeat and gave it a slight shake at Zoran from across the room to make him quit defying my father's rule.

Disregarding my silent plea, he took another step in our direction. He lifted his other foot to advance when I clasped my hands at my back to keep the red vibrancy from view, commanding, Leave.

Zoran's eyes landed on mine and the muscle in his jaw ticked, the telltale sign he was beyond frustrated. His leg froze mid-step and refused to budge against an invisible wall that my mind created as I tried to make him move in the opposite route. It was then that he recognized he was powerless to do anything in this situation without endangering both our lives, and he dropped his foot on the ground.

You will not say another word, Masters, I ordered, shoving away my fear and longing as I added, You will walk out those doors and go to your home up in Garrenth where you will stay until this ceremony is over.

His eyebrows narrowed and his posture went rigid with fury.

You are not going to come after me either, I included with finality.

Zoran's shoulders slumped and his feet moved on their own accord, bringing him to the doors against his will as his eyes remained locked on mine.

At the entrance, he pleaded, Aeryn.

My stomach churned at the hurt in his voice as it broke on the single word, and I felt immediate regret for taking advantage of his mind and compelling him to exit after everything we'd been through together. Hearing him say my name for the first time with such raw emotion tore at my heart and made me feel profound guilt.