Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 80903 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80903 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
But of course she couldn’t say such things out loud. She bit down hard on the inside of her cheek until she tasted the sharp, copper tang of blood.
One. Two. Three… She counted, forcing air into her lungs, clinging to all her training and experience in diplomacy like it was a lifeline.
By the time she reached ten, she could speak, though her voice was tighter than usual.
“Your Majesty is most generous. However, I fear I cannot possibly give you my husband.”
A ripple of surprise went through the court. Anyone telling the Empress ‘no’ was clearly a rare event.
The Empress’s pleasant expression froze.
“Cannot? Or will not?”
“Cannot,” Kaitlyn repeated firmly, lifting her chin. “You see, Braze is Bound to me by a special Kindred Soul-Bond. It is a connection that goes beyond marriage. Because he is Soul-bound to me, he cannot form a true attachment to any other female. The bond is unbreakable, except by death.”
Shatezarra’s eyes narrowed and the concubine at her feet shrank back slightly, a look of fear crossing his face.
“Is that so?” she mused, her tone dangerously soft. “So the only way to have him is to break this ‘Soul-Bond’ by killing you?”
A low, warning growl vibrated through the air. Braze’s head snapped up. His golden eyes were no longer gold—they were bleeding to a deep, furious crimson as Rage overtook him. The growl deepened into a snarl—raw and bestial—his lips pulling back from his sharp white teeth.
The leash went taut as iron in Kaitlyn’s hand as he took an involuntary step forward. The Court gasped and several guards reached for their weapons.
“Braze,” Kaitlyn said, her command slicing through the tension. She pulled firmly on the leash. “Peace.” It took immense effort, but at last her Protector subsided, though the red Rage still smoldered in his eyes, fixed on the Empress.
Kaitlyn turned back to Shatezarra, her own fear buried under a layer of icy calm.
“No, Your Majesty. That wouldn’t work either.” She couldn’t believe the woman was discussing her murder so casually, but she was determined to keep calm. “You see, a Kindred male will almost always die when his wife does. The Soul-Bond drags him down into death with her. It’s a physiological reaction. So if you tried to kill me…” She shrugged. “You would lose him too. You’d get nothing but two corpses.”
She sent a silent thank you to her friend, Kat, back on the Mother Ship, who had explained the tragic tales of widowed Kindred to her. That little piece of knowledge might save her life!
The Empress stared at her for a long, tense moment, her lower lip jutting out in a childish pout.
“Oh, very well,” she snapped petulantly.
Then, like the sun breaking through a cloud, a sly, cunning grin transformed her face. It was an expression that promised mischief of the worst kind and it made Kaitlyn’s blood run cold.
“But before I give you some of our precious Love Vine to take home, I think it’s only prudent that you try some. To be certain it is to your liking and worth the inconvenience of your journey.”
Before Kaitlyn could respond, the Empress clapped her hands twice, sharply.
“Servants! Some Love Vine tea for our guests! And make it extra strong!”
Panic, cold and slick, coiled in Kaitlyn’s gut. This was a trap—it had to be.
Within moments, a servant approached with a delicate porcelain cup on a tray. The liquid inside was a pale, translucent pink, like diluted rose quartz. It steamed gently, emitting a peculiar, cloyingly sweet floral scent with an undertone of something earthier…muskier. It must be the smell of the vine itself, concentrated, Kaitlyn thought. Or had something been added to it?
She reached for it, her mind racing. Should she pretend to take a sip? Refuse outright?
“No, no, my dear Ambassadress,” Shatezarra chided, waving a finger. “This tea is for your husband. Think of it as a reward for his bravery. Let the warrior drink.”
Kaitlyn’s eyes flew to Braze. Don’t, she wanted to scream. It could be poison!
Braze looked from the cup to her face. His nostrils flared, widening as he took in the scent from a few feet away. The red had faded from his eyes, replaced by intense concentration. After a moment, he gave a single, almost imperceptible nod.
“It’s all right, Mistress,” he murmured, the words for her alone. “I don’t smell any poison. No toxins. Just the vine.”
Of course. All Kindred had extremely sharp senses and with Beast Kindred their sense of smell was legendary. If he said it was safe, it must be safe.
Reluctantly, she nodded her permission. If it wasn’t a life-or-death situation, they couldn’t risk offending the Empress by refusing her special gift.
Braze took the cup and brought it to his lips for a cautious sip. His throat worked as he swallowed. He paused, as if assessing the flavor…the effect. Then, with a resolve that made Kaitlyn’s heart pound, he lifted the cup and drained it in three long gulps. He handed the empty cup back to the servant, his face impassive.