Arianna's Lotus [http://i.imgur.com/oOhwKDZ.png]

Chapter Seven

Dangerous Games

“Come on, tell me what happened!” I protested, wrapping my arms around Nalithor’s neck. His pulsed raced against my chest as I gave him the cutest look I could muster. “You told me yesterday we’d discuss it!”

“I want to enjoy our reunion in peace for a little longer,” Nalithor murmured, holding me tight. He nuzzled the top of my head and released a contented sigh. After taking care of our mutual needs, he seemed unwilling to let go of me for more than a few seconds. Even our meals had been eaten while sitting hip-to-hip.

It was almost as if he was afraid I was going to disappear.

We had been going back and forth like this all morning. I wanted to know what Corentine had told him, and what had him so distressed. Yet, every time he attempted to explain he grew quiet and soon clutched me with a worried desperation.

No longer exhausted and hungry, he seemed determined to make sure he didn’t lose sight of me. While I enjoyed the constant attention, I wanted to know what had him so distressed.

“Nalithor,” I stated. His chest rumbled beneath my hands with a low purr as he moved away just enough to look down at me. “Whatever is wrong, you don’t need to bear it on your own—and you’re just going to piss me off if you do. Talk to me.”

“I… You’re right, of course.” Nalithor sighed, slowly sliding his arms around me again. He pulled me to his chest and squeezed me again. “I don’t know how to relay this information in…a soft way.”

“Then just say it.” I poked him in the ribs.

“Corentine discovered that the X’shmirans are responsible for you and Darius being taken from Dauthrmir. Somehow, they convinced the Elders—” Nalithor cut himself off and looked down at me when I stiffened. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

“Oh…oh that’s not…” I stuttered, putting the pieces together in my mind, my eyes wide. Stifling a snarl, I looked up at Nalithor with fire burning in my veins. “Where’s Eyrian?”

“What does Eyrian have to do with this?” Nalithor frowned at me, quickly moving to follow me as I stalked toward the door. “Talk to me, Arianna. What are you thinking?”

“I’m pretty fucking sure I know how the X’shmirans convinced the ‘Elders’ to go with such a stupid plan!” I growled, shooting Nalithor an agitated glance. “You made the connection when I mentioned the temple, right? That entire place is bathed in blood. Before it was all absorbed, or evaporated, or whatever happened to it, it would probably have been deep enough to swim in.”

“That wouldn’t have you prepared to tear something apart,” Nalithor pointed out, capturing me around the waist. He gave me a concerned look, his voice soft. “Arianna, take a deep breath. Good. Now, explain what has you so upset. While I was expecting some manner of reaction, this…was not it.”

“After you departed, Rabere was still normal at first,” I began, earning a confused look from him. “One morning when I was training with Lalira… Father, Gabriel, Darius, and Rabere came along. Rabere was unphased when he learned that you and I were engaged. He even defended our relationship and reprimanded Darius for his jealous behavior.

“Darius became hysterical. He implied that ‘after everything he had done,’ you and I shouldn’t have gotten to this point. Whatever he intended to say, he didn’t finish it. However, his mask was totally gone. We had him taken to the gaol to cool off and he’s likely still there—but a troublesome ‘clone’ was found in Beshulthien territory. The clone is turning people against you and me, making them believe we shouldn’t be Balance.”

“Go on,” Nalithor urged me, his eyes narrowing.

“After that is when Rabere began acting odd, and after failing to convince my father to give me to him, he returned to Beshulthien.” I made a sour face. “Rabere’s behavior escalated quickly, and we confirmed that both the Darius in the gaol and the Darius in the Beshulthien territories seem to be part of the same whole.

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“That’s not the part that worries me. We have the Lari’xan’s support—everyone else doesn’t matter. What concerns me is a carving I saw in one of the tunnels leading to the X’shmiran temple. It was a religious carving, clearly depicting a godlike Astral Mage figure. However, the figure was a boy…and Rabere told me he’d seen Darius in the throne room that day when I was taken away.”

“Others didn’t—” Nalithor started to protest, but I could already feel the heat of anger coming off him in waves.

“Sometimes my recollection of those events shows Darius there, other times they don’t.” I looked up at Nalithor, my gaze firm. “We already know from the Lari’xan that Darius was corrupted by that time. We also know that Sihix took Eyrian aside while we were visiting their domain and explained why you and I shouldn’t be left alone with my brother.”

“So, you want to press Eyrian for information,” Nalithor spoke slowly, a dangerous smile coming to his face. “And if we learn that Darius was involved?”

“It will take all of my willpower not to eviscerate him.” I growled, gritting my teeth. “Even if he was being controlled, or manipulated…”

“We don’t know how much of him is complicit. For now.” Nalithor’s threatening, hypnotic tone made me look up at him in surprise. “If I find that brat had some genuine involvement… I will not go easy on him just because he is your brother. Such crimes—”

“If he did something that wretched, it falls to us as Balance to take care of it.” I smiled and reached up to cup Nalithor’s face in one hand. A low rumble escaped him, a smirk settling onto his lips as he gazed down at me. “You should know by now that even blood can’t get in my way. Rather, I’ll be more concerned about which one of us gets to punish him.

“What do you think would be appropriate?”

“Nnngh… We can save such discussions for later.” Nalithor shook his head, a flicker of desire in his eyes. “For now, we shall go and find Eyrian. Confirming your theory comes first. Once we have handled our more boring duties for the day, you will fill me on regarding all that you saw in the temple.”

“Whatever you want.” I smiled sweetly, earning a low grow in reply. “So, this boring business…”

“Approving plans for rebuilding the city and the surrounding areas,” Nalithor offered, pulling me out of the suite with him and down the hallway. “I’ve also ordered our men to submit proposals on how we might handle the western half of the island. We need to eliminate the beasts.”

“A contest between you and I, perhaps?” I coiled my tail around his as we walked, causing a shudder to run through him.

“For now, we are playing king and queen—not hunter and huntress.” Nalithor attempted to give me a firm look, but his expression was too filled with mirth and desire for it to have the desired effect.

“Is that so? Well then, I’ll endeavor not to disappoint my king,” I teased, linking my fingers with his. “Before you succeed in completely distracting me, we should probably also check in on Ijelle, Satrr, and Lalira once we’re done with Eyrian.”

“Once you’re done with me?” Eyrian glanced in our direction when we rounded a corner. The soldiers he’d been conversing with when they spotted our demeanor, but the Draekin remained unfazed. He just sighed and dismissed the others. “Take this somewhere private?”

“You have the right of it, yes.” Nalithor gave Eyrian a smile. “Djialkan and Alala will join us shortly. If my ‘queen’ here is correct, her Guardians will be most interested in knowing.”

“I don’t like the sound of that at all.” Eyrian narrowed his eyes.

“Well, nothing unpleasant for you.” I laughed. “Unpleasant for someone else? Quite possibly. Let’s go find somewhere away from potentially prying eyes and ears.”

They followed me through the castle and into the room that Nalithor appeared to have been using as his office. Once we entered, my nylziis barricaded the room with his magic and then crossed his arms. He looked more impatient than I felt.

“Well?” Eyrian shot me a knowing look.

“What did Sihix tell you about my brother?” I demanded.

“Uh…” The Draekin’s complexion paled and he gulped. “Are you sure you two really want to—”

“Answer her.” Nalithor’s chilling gaze made Eyrian sigh.

“Darius…was involved in getting Arianna and himself taken from Dauthrmir,” Eyrian replied, his expression strained. I felt my blood run cold and sank into deep thought while I listened. “Sihix didn’t tell me how much agency Darius had at such a young age. At the very least, he was used as a pawn to manipulate the Angels into splitting into separate factions—and the faction that is against Gabriel worked directly with the Elders and the X’shmirans.

“Sihix knows you two would likely kill Darius if you learned in the heat of the moment. What made you ask—”

“Do we have time to fill him in?” I shifted to look at my fuming fiancé.

“We will have to keep it brief.” Nalithor clenched his fists and closed his eyes for a moment, calming the rising elements around him. When he focused his gaze on Eyrian, the Draekin winced. “You will keep this information from Ijelle and Satrr for now. Once we are finished explaining ourselves, you will join us for our tasks throughout the city.”

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