Enthroned by Amethysts (A Dance with Destiny Book 3) (13 page)

“In truth, your power is the least of it, Milady.” He turned a sad, tormented gaze back up at her. “It was due, in part, to my greatest weakness. My insatiable curiosity. I wished to behold your magical eyes and ethereal markings for myself. It is as I had dreamed. They draw me in, hold me here now. I am utterly bewitched.”

He reached for her hand. She quickly stepped back.

“Not only that,” he continued. “It was also your words, your beautiful, sorrowful, tortured words. Never have I been so captivated by mere written words.”

“My words?” Realization tore a gasp from her lips. “Valencia,” she growled. “I will strangle that filthy liar with mine own hands.”

He continued as if she hadn’t spoken. “When I heard the story she told me of your magical amulets, my wicked heart was bent on having them, on creating and un-creating. But when I read the whole of your life, written in your own hand… I knew your power wasn’t all I desired.”

His pained confession pulled her racing mind from her treacherous sister Vanir, turning it back to the regal man before her.

“No, Musashi. Speak. Not. One. Word. More.”

Jenevier took another shaky step back from the seated warrior. His hand shot out, quick as lightning, seizing her wrist like a vise.

“Tremble not, Princess. I will not harm you. I’ve read all the tragic stories of what befell the ones who harmed you… and the ones who loved you as well.”

His blunt words caused a stabbing pain within her chest. It was true. She somehow managed to hurt every soul unlucky enough to come into contact with her treacherous heart.

“Neither one fared much better than the other,” he added.

“That’s quite enough honesty for one day,” she whispered. “I believe I’ve had my fill of it. I wish now only for silence.”

Her knees betrayed her. Musashi caught her up in his massive arms, steadying her laden form, respectfully touching her as little as possible.

“You only act brave, little sparrow. You are wounded still,” he whispered. “In my wicked heart, I had hoped this was so. I continually pray, beseeching the gods, calling upon the spirits of the old ones. My plea is a selfish one. Yet, I beg your angelic powers will not be returned to you once your child is born. I believe you’ll once more be as a normal woman. And that belief, dear one, is the
truth
of why I brought you here.”

“You wish to imprison me? To what purpose?”

“Look around you, colorful maid. Does this seem a prison to you?” He forced her to meet his deep gaze. “You will want for nothing. This I swear. The babe will want for nothing. I do not wish to shackle you, little rainbow. I wish only to make your one woeful desire a blissful reality.”

“My one desire?” Confusion clouded her racing mind.

“Yes, Princess. The one thing you sought in earnest, begged for, even. The one thing I can give you no other man could.” His smile was soft, almost beautiful. “A
normal
life.”

“Normal life…” she whispered, dazed.

“Yes. Jinn is the one peaceful place in the universe, among these layers you spoke of, where you won’t be looked upon as an oddity.” He chuckled lightly. “Jinn is made up of oddities, of magic, and above all else, of peace. The dream you always longed for but could never find… I can give it to you. I can fulfill your dreams. Can you ever live a normal life with Apollyon? Can you ever know peace living as a Vanir
or
as an Angel? Everything your heart has ever desired, I freely offer to you now. What say you, Milady?”

Jenevier gently pulled away from the mighty Emperor. She numbly walked out onto the pillared balcony overlooking a flowing field of lavender, silent tears dripping from her chin. Musashi followed her.

“Of all the answers you could have given, that one never crossed my mind,” she whispered.

“Can you imagine anything more lovely than this?” He spread his arms out to encompass the whole glorious view before them.

A fond smile crossed her lips, reaching her watery eyes. “Roses.”

“Roses?” He laughed and lightly touched her arm, barely brushing it. “They’ll be planted by the thousands before sunrise.”

“You have night here?”

“Yes. And the most captivating moons you could ever behold, tiny rainbow. Nights upon Jinn are the stuff enchanted dreams are made of, what fairytales only wish they could be.”

“Ah, I have so missed the moon,” she said absently.

“What more does your heart desire? Give voice to hidden secrets and I will satisfy them all.”

“Musashi, this is… wrong.”

“Wrong? Who bears false tongue now, Princess? I see the sparkle in your eyes. I hear the longing sigh upon your breath. What I offer you is divine medicine for your weary soul. Don’t try to deny this. I know it to be true.” He tucked her hair behind her ear to better see her anguished profile.

She turned to look at him. “And what of love? If you have truly read my words, why would you think I could ever deny my selfish heart? I have tried and failed on that front, over and over. What you offer is a heaven to my burdened soul, yes. Yet I cannot deny my own heart.”

She saw the question in his eyes before it formed on his lips.

“I don’t understand.” He shook his head. “Apollyon is lost to you, my sweet, and Varick is but friend and protector. I read the truth of those words in your own hand. I could be so much more for you. I
will
be so much more. I am the ruler of this world, gained by the strength of my steel. No protection could be greater than mine. Our mutually sworn honesty, the openness we only just vowed, will guarantee our friendship, Milady. Yet where all others have failed you, I will not.”

He took hold of her arms, turning her back to face him once more, pulling her close. He twirled her azure curl around his finger as he smiled gently, gazing into her eyes.

“And as for your heart, I hold it the most glorious treasure in all creation. I will now, and always, treat it as a delicate bloom. Forever to be cherished, never trampled underfoot. There will be no one higher than you, Milady. Your simplest request will be my only priority.” He used a bent finger to lift her chin. “Do you not find me pleasing to your eyes? Am I too hideous to look upon, too common to be of your liking? Or could you possibly be satisfied with just a man, just a mortal? Could you learn to live with one such as me?”

“Do not speak thusly, Your Highness. You are splendid to behold, this you know. You don’t need reassurance from my lips. And let us not be coy. You’re not
just a man
, this you also know. You surely recognize the great power you hold over many a maiden’s heart.”

“And yet, I’ve never given my heart to another. Did you know that, little sparrow?” His arm gently slid around her waist. “I have never embraced a woman, even as I hold you now.” He forced her to meet his gaze. “My intent may have started out as evil, but the spell your words wove around my darkened heart was the true evil.” He smiled tenderly. “For I have loved you wholly by those words alone.”

“Stop this madness.” She tried to wriggle free. “You said so yourself. It is but a spell.”

He released her waist and held her face in his hands, cupping her cheeks. “Ahh, a spell I wish never to be free of. If this be your curse, then curse me daily. You have given me wings, tiny Angel, wings upon my heart.”

What the hell? How is something so absurd even happening? If this is some sort of sick joke… Valencia. Ugh, this madness reeks of her stench
, she thought.
I refuse to be caught up in their ridiculous games.

Musashi was still pouring out his heart when he brushed his thumbs across her lips, pulling Jenevier’s attention back to this impossible reality.

“I had a calloused, impenetrable heart. It remained such until I beheld you standing before me in that looking glass. I had denied my feelings, purposefully hid my growing love deep within my soul. Yet your smile released it. It has only just gushed forth, never to be restrained again.” He drew his face closer until his warm breath tickled her lips. “Did you not feel it, tiny Princess? Did you not feel when my knees gave way? I know you did. I know you felt it for I steadied myself upon your shoulder.” He searched her terrified eyes. “That was the moment I accepted the
true
reason why I brought you here, the moment I quit denying the fact that I wanted you.” He lightly circled the tip of her nose with his. “Because, sweetest Angel, I love you.”

Her heart grew heavier with every word he confessed. She released a deep sigh and placed her hands over his at her cheeks. “Valencia has done you a grave harm, my friend. Much has happened since last I wrote in my journal.”

He released her, standing up straight, excitement in his lovely purple eyes. “Then speak it to me now.” He beamed with anticipation. “I wish to know the
whole
of your story. Withhold not a single word of your life. If you retain even one secret, I fear I may burst.”

She held her tattooed finger up, staring at it as she spoke. “Varick and I are married.”

Musashi grabbed onto the railing, trying to support his failing legs, the wind forced from his lungs. “Noooo…” he groaned.

“It’s true. We spoke openly about our feelings. We realized we had only been pushing the other away out of our great love and devotion to the other one’s heart. We each thought the other needed time away to heal. We mistakenly believed the best way to protect the other was to bind our hearts, bottle up our feelings. We were wrong. He is my one true love, Musashi. And I have married him, even before our son is born.”

“But, you don’t carry Varick’s son.” He choked out the words.

Jenevier spoke no more.

He spent a moment, regaining his composure, finally turning back to her, tender as before.

“Now I know I have truly loved.”

Her questioning gaze forced him to continue.

“It’s because of the pain.”

“The pain?”

“Yes, lovely flower, the pain. Never have I loved, so never have I hurt. And never have I known such pain as this.” He put his hand to his chest. “It’s as a sword, piercing me, running me through. And I’m thankful for it.”

“Why are you thankful for such a thing? The first person you ever admitted caring for, ever admitted having feelings for, that same person crushed you with but a breath, stomped on your noble confession.”

“No, my love. I am thankful because I know I live, I know I love, and above all things… I now know a heart can change. I’m living proof, standing flesh before you.”

“Do not take false hope, Sire. My heart will never change where Varick is concerned.”

“And I do not wish it to. My only wish is that one day, your heart will change where
I
am concerned. Love whomever your heart chooses to love, Milady, only let me count among them. That’s all I’ll ever need. I will not be selfish with you in this matter.”

“But, Musashi—”

He placed his finger to her lips, halting her coming words. “Fret not. If your heart never permits me within, I will remain the happiest man upon any of your
layers
.”

His smile was so tender it pained her.

“How so? Help me understand your reasoning.”

“Because, my Princess, on this day I possessed courage I did not know I had. On this day, I confessed my love for you and you did not condemn it, nor did you bid me
not
to feel it. You didn’t shun me for baring my soul to you. If you never love me, then you never do. One thing’s for certain, I will never allow you to hate me. As long as you do not hate me, I can spend each day you are here with me showing you just how much happier you could be. If only you would choose to stay.”

“This is wrong, Musashi.”

“Then I take joy in being blissfully wrong. Promise me but one thing.”

“I do not make promises lightly,” she said. “What is it you wish from me?”

“Promise me this. If the day ever comes when you choose to leave Jinn, you will show mercy unto me.”

“Mercy? How so? What is it you wish of me?”

His smile was soft and heartbreakingly sad. “Still my beating heart.”

She gasped. “What? Are you mad? No. Never. Don’t even say such things, Musashi.”

Her words hurt him, the pain showing clearly in his lavender eyes. “Out of all I freely offer, you cannot give me this one thing in return?”

“No. I cannot.”

He smiled. “Then perhaps you’ve already permitted a tiny piece of me entrance within.”

Jenevier froze. “No… no, I have not. You… you tricked me.”

“No, my love. I did no such thing. My request was true. I will demand such from you if ever you leave. I will force your hand if I must. When the day comes, if that horrid day should ever appear, I will make certain you do not enter those clouds while I yet draw breath. Harbor not fear, little rainbow. I will not defend my life. I will give it to you freely. I only ask that you take it.”

“You know not what it is you say, Your Highness. You’re bewitched, spellbound, an evil web has been spun across your heart, clouded your mind. You have a whole realm of people here counting on you, looking to you for guidance, depending on you for their future. Use your head and cast aside your lying heart. Your life is no longer yours to offer or sacrifice. It belongs to the masses. You are bound to them with obligatory chains, Milord, ones you have no right to break.”