Destroyed by Onyx (A Dance with Destiny Book 4) (47 page)

“If I gift you with my name… will you lay claim to my heart as well?”

“Y-you want
me
to claim your love?”

“That is my greatest desire, yes.”

“B-but… w-why me?”

“I was smitten with but a glance, fair maid. So… tell me. Will you claim me, or destroy me?”

“I have never seen your like, good sir.” She blushed. “If you are truly willing to settle for one such as I…” She glanced down and then back up. “How could I ever leave you? The honor would be wholly mine.”

The wind picked up, huge gusts leaning the surrounding flowers almost to the ground. When the girl shuddered, the large man wrapped his arm around her shoulders, shielding her from the sudden chill, turning her around so that their places were now swapped.

“Wow… He is sooo beautiful…” Jenevier was in awe. “Look at him, Syadar. He looks as if he just fell from heaven.”

Syadar glanced sideways at her, but didn’t speak.

“Your sweetest confession makes my heart sing,” the man was saying.

Kagi Naga, I will not tell you again.

“If this is the way of your heart, Talia, then I will gift you with my name.”

Jenevier heard the large stained glass window crash to the floor behind her, followed closely by a castle-shaking Dragon roar. But her attention remained fixed on the orb, not the screaming confusion surrounding her.

“Yes, Milord, that is the way of my heart… now and always.”

The gorgeous auburn-haired man smiled. “Very well then, my innocent little maid. My name… is Shamsiel.”

Jenevier froze, as did her breathing.

*****

“I am so wretchedly sorry we nearly destroyed your lovely home.”

She was bowing apologetically over and over to Taizeen.

The King chuckled. “How is it nearly destroyed, child? One broken window and some misplaced furnishings. That is all. No need to worry. It will all be sorted out before we have finished our tea.”

But she had seen the utter disarray of his
furnishings
herself as she was led; dragged actually, out of the castle by Syadar.

Nilakanta, how could you?

One day… perhaps you will learn to listen to me, little Naga.

Jenevier only rolled her eyes.

*****

She acknowledged the smoky grayish man with a slight nod of her head when he sat the teacup down in front of her.

“I hope you are not offended—taking tea in the courtyard, Empress.”

Jenevier smiled at the Northern King. “Of course not, Your Highness. In truth, I much prefer the open skies above me.” She glanced over at Nilakanta. “And I believe it is for the best, after all. I fear we wouldn’t have known a moment’s peace, had we gone back indoors.”

The Dragon puffed out a blast of hot air, blowing her many curls all around her face just as she made to take her first sip of tea. Syadar chuckled.

“The prophecy states…”

She looked toward the second son of the King, Prince Razeen, as he spoke.

“…that it is
your
presence that will unite the whole of Byzantha.”

She glanced at the third Prince when he softly cleared his throat.

It’s Chazeen
, Nilakanta said.

I remember his name
, she snapped.

The Dragon blew out another puff of warm air, and multi-colored curls covered her face. Syadar chuckled again. But Jenevier only rolled her eyes and spat hair away from her mouth.

“Apologies.” She smiled sweetly. “Please, Prince Chazeen, do go on.”

The young man blushed. “Indeed.” He cleared his throat again. “I believe the actual words were… you will bring about a bonding with the two royal households, a binding life-vow that will blend the blood of the two houses for all time.”

“Actually it says… ‘til time is no more.”

Jenevier almost giggled when Chazeen rolled his eyes at his youngest brother, Prince Heilzeen, while mockingly mouthing words with his hands.

She turned her attention back to the King. “So what you are saying is this… I am the direct descendant of a fallen Angel and my mirror twin.”

King Taizeen politely nodded his head as she spoke.

“And that my great-grandmother told you I would be the one to fulfill this prophecy, correct?”

He continued to nod in agreement as he sat his teacup back onto the saucer. “That is correct. She had a vision concerning you.” He sighed. “She was so happy that day…”

Jenevier watched as his light green eyes glassed over and then slowly filled with tears.

“You loved her very much, did you not?”

He blinked before meeting her pink gaze. “Yes… Her and no other.”

She slowly shook her head, looking back down at her empty teacup, trying to find
gentle
words for her many questions.

“I would never have believed the part about Shamsiel and Talia… if I hadn’t already heard of their tragic story. Didn’t know we were
related
, though,” she mumbled under her breath. “I cannot deny what I have seen with my own eyes.” She glanced back up at the King. “Alas, the part I am having the most difficulty with… is you.”

“Me?” He chuckled. “You freely accept what you saw through magic’s eye. Yet you give pause to one sitting flesh before you now?”

She smiled. “No, Sire. I believe in your existence, yes. But, tell me. How in the world did you chance to meet Bellevine? I mean… yes, she claimed a drop of Angel blood. But I’m pretty sure my family would have mentioned if she had wings upon her back. So I ask you again. How did a woman of Ashgard, even one as rare as was my great-grandmother, happen upon a Byzanthian? Neither you nor she could have entered the clouds. Am I wrong?”

Taizeen smiled. “You are not wrong.”

Jenevier continued to stare at the man expectantly. When he did not continue, she sighed and leaned back in her chair.

“Very well, then,” she said. “Let’s sort this all out properly, shall we? If the prophecy states that I am the one to join the royal bloodlines, and you are apparently my great-grandfather—”

“Yes,” Taizeen interrupted. “Your grandmother was my daughter, Princess Lazeen.”

“I never knew her,” Jenevier mumbled. “She died in childbirth.”

“Yes… it was tragic indeed.” The King’s gaze turned distant again. “We do not speak upon it.”

“Nor did we,” she mumbled again. “Anyway… if I am Zeenian, how is it you await my foretold bonding with Crown Prince Alzeen?”

No one answered. Not a single noise was made.

Jenevier dropped her hands down on the table, rattling her cup and saucer as she stood.

“Well… this has been a most enlightening conversation, if I do say so myself. And I would have to, wouldn’t I—say so myself, that is… since no one else seems to be able to speak. And since I am obviously wasting your precious time, I shall bid you all adieu.” She curtsied mockingly before turning to go.

Chazeen snickered. “Yes, she is most definitely Zeenian.”

“Agreed,” Alzeen added. “Completely consumed by her own smug sense of self-importance.”

“As are you, Brother,” Prince Heilzeen said through an uninterested sigh.

“I do not have all the answers you seek, young Empress.”

Jenevier stopped at the King’s words and turned back to face him, almost bumping into Syadar with the action.

She waited a couple heartbeats. “But?”

“But…” he continued. “I do have the answer to one.” The King rose. “Come. I will share with you our greatest secret.” He looked to Alzeen. “Is Princess Dalazeen ready?”

“Yes, Sire. She is patiently awaiting our arrival.”

“Then, shall we?”

King Taizeen motioned with a wave of his hand for everyone to follow him. Nilakanta stayed close behind as they left the palace grounds, making their way into the musical forest just east of the grand Northern castle.

“Doll Baby is going to be cross with us,” Prince Chazeen whispered to his brother.

“She will be fine,” Alzeen answered. “After all, Father told her we may have tea first.”

Jenevier leaned over toward Syadar. “Who’s Doll Baby?”

The Southern Prince only shrugged his shoulders in response, but wrapped a possessive arm around her waist. “My guess would be you, little flower. At least, that’s what I call you in my dreams,” he purred.

Jenevier couldn’t help but giggle at her teasing chocolate friend.

“Doll Baby is what we have always called our little sister, Princess Dalazeen,” Prince Heilzeen said as he passed them on the trail, going up to walk side by side with his noble father.

*****

You will not enter there, Naga.

Jenevier only nodded her head at her Dragon’s warning words while she stared at the cave’s darkened entrance.

“Within lies a portal…” the King was saying. “…accessible only to those with celestial lineage.”

“A secret passageway to other realms,” Syadar mumbled. “Why have I never heard of such?”

“It does not concern
your
kingdom,” Alzeen said. “It lies within our realm and opens only to us. You have no cause to know of it.”

Syadar growled at the gloating Prince. Jenevier placed her hand on his arm and tiptoed to kiss his cheek. He smiled down at her and then smirked towards the enraged Northern royal still watching them.

“So… Bellevine came here through that cave, and what… just happened upon a King in the forest?”

Taizeen turned to look at her. “In truth, I was still a Prince back then. My father was dying. I had come into the forest to gather herbs to ease his pain.” He looked back at the large opening. “Something Bellevine was well versed in,” he whispered. “I heard someone giggling, talking to herself… poking mushrooms and then laughing when they shrank from her touch.” He chuckled softly. “Not being from Byzantha, she could not hear the music. But it was near deafening to me. I approached her as a cat.” A tear trickled down his cheek. “When she saw me, she threw her arms around my neck… not even the tiniest bit afraid of me. Nearly choked me, she was hugging so hard. Called me Kitty, and started telling me all about the shy fungi.” He sighed. “I was completely smitten with her, then and there.”

Syadar gently bumped her with his arm. “Sound familiar?”

She blushed.

“Shall we, Milady?” Alzeen said, placing his hand on her lower back, gently nudging her toward the cave’s entrance.

Just as Syadar grabbed her arm, pulling her away from his royal rival, a long stream of mighty Dragon Fire sliced the air just above their heads. Everyone froze. Even the forest fell silent.

“Umm…”

Everyone turned to look at the blushing tiny Empress of Jinn, her booted toe digging through the thick pine needles at her feet, fidgeting hands wringing together at her waist.

“Nilakanta said I cannot go where he cannot follow.”

The Dragon punctuated her tiny words with another puff of hot air, effectively stirring up large amounts of forest debris around them.

Jenevier slowly looked up at the now silent cat-people, but their sparkling eyes were fixed far above her head, admiring the majestic sapphire creature now standing right behind her.

A smile spread across King Taizeen’s regal features. “Apologies.” He inclined his head toward them. “I would never purposely offend the Father of Magic… nor his tiny enchanting Guardian.”

Prince Chazeen kept his gaze fixed on the seemingly smiling Dragon, but turned his head slightly and called back over his shoulder. “Come on out, Doll Baby. We will not be entering the caves today.”

“And douse the torches on your way, Princess,” Heilzeen casually added.

Syadar moved to stand beside her, bumping her slightly. “Ahh, my sweet Ajená,” he purred. “When you want attention, little flower, you certainly know how to get it.”

She smiled with only one corner of her mouth and bumped him back. “It wasn’t me, Kitty. It was the Dragon.”

Warm air suddenly hit the top of her head, sending her many curls into another floating frenzy.

I have a name, Angel.

Jenevier leaned her head back, looking straight up at her giant blue friend as her infectious giggles fast filled the musical forest. Yet, her growing laughter suddenly ceased when she heard Syadar gasp. Quickly looking at her shocked fur-friend, she then turned to where his admiring gaze was now fixed.

My, my, my… Would you look at that, Naga? Rarely will you see the like.

Standing at the cave entrance was a young woman with skin the color of fresh cream, so pale she seemed to glow. Her long hair brushed the ground when she moved. It was easily the palest shade of blonde Jenevier had ever seen.

“She looks like porcelain,” she absently whispered.

Nay, Empress… the finest china.