The Hunter's Princess

Chapter 39

Serah waited in the dark room, her face illuminated only by the few candles that she had lit. She was alone, as promised.

General Ashton entered the room and immediately made it feel cramped. He lowered himself into the chair across from her. She waited for him to state his terms, pretending to drink the wine in her glass. She couldn't risk him catching on to her secret.

"This does not leave the room," Ashton growled. Startled by the severity of his tone, Serah corrected her posture. "I am willing to seal this alliance with all you have offered, but I also have something else to add to the table."

"It must be impressive for you to go to such an extent to keep it hidden," Serah pointed out.

The large man shifted in the chair, glaring into her silver eyes.

"I have a daughter who is just like you. Silver eyes " Ashton told her. "I cannot afford the possibility that she will be offered up as a dove girl before Xavier is off the throne. Your younger brother is about her age now."

"You want me to arrange an engagement between your daughter and Erik?" She asked, astonished.

"I do. If you do not accept I will not ally with you," the general told her. Serah nodded, folding her hands in her lap.

Erik would have to agree to it. She couldn't picture him denying a marriage. However, he was fifteen. While some married that young...

"Could the engagement hold for a few years?" Serah asked cautiously. "They are very young."

"As long as it happens. She's flowered, if that is what you're concerned about."

"That is the last of my concerns, general. I would like to wait until Erik turns eighteen, but the engagement will be put in place, I assure you."

Ashton relaxed back into the chair. He nodded, breathing out. Serah felt her own breath leave her.

"I will do my best to be the queen Hell deserves," she promised. "I am honored to have you on my council, general."

"Perhaps you ought to inform me of the situation with your king, then," Ashton pointed out. "What is he doing as Xavier's enforcer?"

"Plotting to kill him. What else?" Serah murmured. Ashton frowned, leaning forwards.

The general's frustrated look deepened.

"I want my daughter to be brought here, then. I imagine that Xander will strike soon."

Serah held her hands together tightly. She was afraid for him.

"What chance do you think he has?" She asked softly. "Honestly. You're a strategist..."

"I wouldn't be moving my daughter if I didn't think that there was some chance of your husband's victory, but Xavier is an extremely powerful and cunning man," her general explained. "He's managed to stay on the throne for long periods of time. I imagine that he has been preparing for Xander's assassination far longer than the boy has been planning it."

Serah pressed her lips together in worry.

"Xander is unpredictable," she whispered. "He'll win. It will be bloody and violent, but he'll win."

"And what if he doesn't? What do you intend to do, Serah?" Ashton demanded. Her stomach twisted at the idea of Xander dying, of Tristain having to bring back his body in a wooden box.

"I don't want to think about that-"

"You need to. If you want to survive, you need to consider what you're going to do without Xander."