Blessed by Sapphires (A Dance with Destiny Book 2) (47 page)

Enthroned by Amethysts

Chapter 1

“And you are certain this is what happened?” He closed the book, casually looking back up at the strange glowing woman seated across from him. “This is the whole of it?”

“It’s her journal, written by her own treacherous hand.”

“Yes, that’s what you’ve said.” He tossed it back upon the desk between them. “How can I be sure?”

“Believe what you will, I care not.” She crossed her arms and glared at him. “I was there… well, she records when first I showed myself to her.”

“That event is recorded here, yes, if this is truly her story.”

Valencia’s arms went down, hands balling into fists at her sides. “You doubt me? This is her twisted life written by her betraying hand and I took it from her own bed chambers. If she lied, take it up with her. I care not.”

“Yes, you keep saying that.” He casually rested his forearm on the ornate sword hilt at his waist. “But tell me… Why? No one ever had to know. All you had to do was live and let live. Yet you willingly came to me with an unbelievable tale for the ages, when sealed lips alone could’ve spared so much misery.” He leaned toward her, studying her features. “Why?”

“Why do you care?” she spat.

“I never said I cared.” He looked away. “I was merely curious.”

“I have been gone from these people for so long now, they no longer seem as family to me, nay, barely strangers. But one thing I will never forget, and that was how much my big brother loved me, how he always doted upon me when I was young.”

The Emperor raised a single eyebrow, pretending to study upon his perfectly manicured nails. “So, then… jealousy was what brought your knock upon my door.”

“I’m not jealous of her,” Valencia hissed. “I hate her. I hate how foolish she is. I hate how she takes no one else’s feelings to heart but her own. I hate how she has been so blessed while my brother has been passed over.”

He looked back to her then. “I read the magical lore from cover to cover. Is it not true she was an Angel from birth? Is that not why all this constant attraction and love is accounted to her? How so then do you say your brother has been cheated? He is not, nor will he ever be, an Angel.”

She slammed her fists down atop the intricately inlaid desk. “He is the Prince of all Vanir. Yet he follows her around like a neutered dog!”

“And that is
his
choice!” He matched her fury. “She binds him not.”

“The spawn growing in her belly binds him,” she yelled.

He released a heavy sigh and returned to his seat. “Yes. He is a Guardian of innocence. Which is why he was so good to his little sister, and then to the girl he was given charge to bring down from heaven. That’s who he is. It’s why he was made, and it alone makes him happy.”

She gasped. “You have fallen in love with her as well.”

He spoke casually, yet pointedly. “I love her not. Nor do I love you. I am a rational man trying to make sense of why a blessed creature such as yourself would sell out all creation, asking naught in return. I am nothing if not cautious.”

“I do not sell out creation.” She didn’t even try to hide the disgust written plainly across her angelic face. “No one is to be harmed and nothing is to be changed… save her. Do to her as you will. That’s the only payment I seek in exchange for this treasured gift.”

“Yet is it not true her jeweled inheritance can make and unmake?” He eyed her steadily before continuing. “Personally, I will get no more pleasure out of destroying her than out of destroying another. I want the locket. Once it’s mine, your wishes will become irrelevant.”

She glared at him. “I alone know more demons and Angels and Guardians than you could ever possibly
unmake
before they tore your pathetic body to shreds. Don’t think for one moment, you can double cross me,
Emperor
.”

“Valencia, darling, I believe you are failing to consider the whole picture here,” he said, tapping the tip of his finger atop Jenevier’s journal. “But I will not press the issue with you further. Consider your request granted. I will do as you wish. And then I will do what pleases me.”

“Very well, Musashi, I must be going now.” She cast an unfazed glance toward his motionless guards posted outside his royal office. “I grow tired of your dreadful, scheming layer.”

He laughed. “And yet we’ve always believed Jinn to be the only place in the universe.”

“And now you know better.” She flipped her hair as she turned to leave. “Your layer is but one of ten. You should be more humble in that knowledge. There are beings far more powerful than
you
in existence.”

He spoke to her departing back. “So you say. Yet you come to me with your impossible request. That alone speaks volumes.”

Valencia stopped but she didn’t turn to look at him. “Only because your ego could fill the whole of this layer, Emperor.” She smirked haughtily. “There are more powerful beings, yes, but none are more vain. Only Musashi Yomika would have the nerve to think he could overthrow God.”

“Yes… there’s
that
.” He chuckled. “But is there not more?” He tried to agitate her further. “Do I not feel your obvious disdain mingling together with hidden desires? I must now give pause to your gracious visit.” He leaned back in his chair, locking his crossed fingers behind his head. “Perhaps I should seek a greater bounty for your proffered task.”

Valencia turned to him then. “Don’t flatter yourself, Ronin. I will see you dead before bedded,” she spat.

“Dead? By whose hand?” He chuckled at her threat. “There’s not a man in all of Jinn who can stand before my blades, once drawn.”

“I am no man and I do not hail from Jinn.” Her words were as ice. “Take caution to heart, lest you fail before trying,” she warned.

He laughed, again. “I jest, Maiden. Still your temper. I cannot be aroused by one so fair of flesh and absent color.” He waved his hand to show she had his permission to go. “Take your leave with the knowledge your rival will be removed from your sight.”

“And destroyed?” she asked, still gazing out upon the flowing lavender.

“Why concern yourself with further details?” he taunted. “Such brutal knowledge as that could only weigh down your pure, angelic heart.”

She looked over her shoulder and the incomparable Emperor of Jinn.

He mirrored her icy glare and arrogant smirk, perfectly.

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About the Author

JK Ensley is a native Tennessean by way of Missouri, born there and quickly ushered down South. A product of public school and private college, she spent her early twenties bouncing across the country. Fascinated by rich culture, ancient customs, and thick accents, she is compelled to drink in the many exquisite differences humanity is gifted with. A self-described, happily divorced mother of three with a stressful day job and an uber common minivan, she does little to hide her wicked wit, advanced sarcasm, and extreme shoe addiction. “At the core of me, I’m one slightly twisted, pink haired, sword wielding, invisible ninja with a laptop, an imagination, and very little
me
time. That’s just who I am. I’m comfortable in my skin and I love my life. Totally not kidding about the hair, the swords, or the laptop, I might have stretched it just a little with the invisible part.”

You can find Jennifer at the following locations:

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http://www.jkensley.com/

www.twitter.com/JenniferEnsley

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