Chapter Three
The Throne of Rothgar
Ella followed Prince Darilth, trying to keep up with his long strides as they made their way across the long hallway toward the throne room. Her heart raced as they entered the throne room.
The heavy wooden doors opened automatically to reveal a large hall lined with huge stone columns on both sides. Arched windows with glass and wrought iron carvings revealed a white world outside. The planet was mostly covered in ice.
Darilth bowed before the King, his father Lord Rezelith, the Elder of the Drakonaar. Ella stood behind him. The King of Rothgar sat haughtily on a throne that was made of dark stone. His demeanor was harsh and cold, just like the walls that surrounded him. His guards stood in a row on either side. A young man dressed in dark pants and a dark cloak similar to Darilth’s own stood beside the king, a beautiful but drained looking woman at his side.
“Father, I have found the woman destined to be my bride. Let me introduce her to you,” he said formally as he stepped aside. “This is Ella, my true mate.”
He held Ella’s arm and nudged her forward. She bowed hesitantly.
“So, you bring a human to my castle, son. I thought you could do better than that. You disappoint me, as always,” Rezelith said, giving the trembling woman before him a disgusted look. “She’s not like the other humans that I have seen.”
“Yes, Father. She is different. She has a genetic condition that makes her appear different from her own kind,” Darilth said.
“Darilth, you need a woman who can give you an heir. This woman can’t. Look at her, she’s weak and won’t do you any good. I’d rather have her work as a slave here than see her as your bride.”
“But Father, she is my true mate! I know it. The Draco’s Eye responded to her. I can...” Darilth began, trying to persuade his father.
But the King held up his hand to silence his son.
“That’s enough! Keep her as your slave or kill her, whichever pleases you. You are still in exile and will come back only when you have found a suitable woman. I will not see you marry a weak human female,” he said with finality in his tone as he glared down at his son.
Prince Darilth knew his father was being unreasonable. They had waited for a true mate who would awaken the ancient magic of the stone for centuries, and now, when he had finally found her, his father refused to accept her.
Darilth’s jaw clenched, his hands closing into fists and knuckles turning white. This was not fair. How could his father not see it? He glanced at Ella. She was trembling – from fear or cold, he couldn’t tell. Tears streaked down her face as she silently cried and her breathing became staggered. His chest constricted once again. He hadn’t brought her here to be humiliated like this. He knew his father wouldn’t like her much, but he didn’t know that he would force her into slavery.
“Father, please reconsider. This doesn’t make sense. She’s my mate,” Darilth pledged one last time. He gazed into the old man’s eyes, but all he could see was icy cold bitterness. He had changed, thought Darilth. His heart had died with his mother’s passing.
Rezelith gave his son a weary look. “Darilth, I have made my decision.”
Prince Darilth silently gazed into his father’s eyes and saw no kindness there, not even for his own son. Then he caught Keralth gazing at Ella, a smirk pasted on his face as he eyed her. Darilth wanted to smack the bastard hard in the face.
“Look at Keralth here. He found his mate a long time ago – and a good one too. He’s smart. Too bad she couldn’t awaken the stone, but at least she’s a warrior, strong and trained in battle. Quite different from the weak human you brought here. You could learn a thing or two from him,” the King drawled as Keralth smiled smugly. “You are dismissed,” he said with a wave of his hand.
Darilth bowed and, without another word, he took Ella’s arm and escorted her outside. Tears streamed down her face. Her stomach knotted at the thought of being a slave. The Drakonaar seemed very hostile and would probably kill her if they had the chance.
“Darilth, please, you can’t do this to me,” she cried quietly. She saw his jaw clench as his grip tightened on her arm. He almost dragged her back to his chambers and closed the door behind him. He loosened his grip and turned her in his arms, gazing deep into her pale blue eyes.
“You need to calm down, Ella,” he said in his low, deep voice that she found so alluring. “Listen, I didn’t expect that it would come to this. I need to think.” He held her firmly but gently until her breathing calmed. He then helped her sit upon the chaise lounge, strode over to the table, and poured dark purple wine into two glasses.
“Drink this. You’ll feel better,” he said as he handed her a glass.
Her hands quivered as she took the glass from him. The exotic wine slid silkily down her throat and warmed her up instantly. “Thank you,” she said ever so softly.
He raked a hand through his long, silver-white hair and took a swig, draining his glass. He walked back to the table and poured himself another glass.
“You knew the King wouldn’t approve, didn’t you?” she asked him as he stood with his back to her, brooding. “Yet you still brought me here,” she said.
“I thought he would accept you after he saw that you awakened the Draco’s Eye,” he said quietly.
“He’s right. You should marry a woman worthy of you – a warrior princess, not a weak human like me,” she said as fresh tears sprang to her eyes. “But please, I don’t want to be a slave. Please set me free...” She looked up at him and a strange light lit up her beautiful eyes as if an idea had suddenly struck her. “Take me with you wherever you go. I’ll work for you as a free woman!”
“There is no such thing as a ‘free woman’ in my world, Ella. Here women are either warriors married to men or slaves who work as concubines,” he said dryly, his back still to her.
“I’d rather die than become your slave!” she replied heatedly, breathing hard. Her conscience was appalled at the idea of living her life as a concubine. “Kill me before I have to face any more humiliation.”
He turned and she saw his deep sapphire eyes raw with emotion as his intense gaze penetrated her soul. “For you I can make an exception. I will set you free and send you home if you want.”
“I... I don’t have a home... or a family,” she said quietly. “I don’t want to go back to the convent. My life there was no better than that of a slave.”
“I’ll have to leave Iovis by tomorrow night. I’m still in exile.” He gazed at her for a long time. Then he set his glass down and sat down beside her. “Would you prefer to be my wife, Ella?”
It was a simple question and, yet, Ella gasped. She was taken aback by his bluntness. He patiently waited for her answer, longing in his eyes. She took a deep breath. “Even if I said yes, the King wouldn’t let us...”
“I’m asking you, Ella,” he said in that low deep voice of his as he held her gaze.
“Yes, if you can love me,” she said in her soft voice.
He took her in his arms and held her. Cupping her chin, he gazed deep into her blue eyes, his piercing gaze growing darker. The next moment, his lips were on hers, reclaiming her mouth with a fervent longing that made her blood burn with desire. Her answer was that passionate kiss.
“I don’t care what the King says or thinks. I will make you my Queen, Ella.” He pulled away from her and she gasped for breath. How could his father not see that she was his true mate?
Well, if he can’t see that she is the one, you can’t do anything about it, Mekarth said dryly.
“Come with me now,” Darilth said. He gave her a cloak with a hood and helped her put it on.
“Where are we going?” she asked him.
“You’ll soon find out,” he said as he put on his own dark cloak and hood and strapped on his sword, the Lazarus. Its blade was forged from a steel native to Iovis and it was sharp enough to split a feather in two. The Lazarus, which meant ‘protector of the King,’ could only be wielded by the heir to the throne.
He held her hand firmly while he led her toward the basement tunnels. The tunnels were lit with blue light. At their end were metal doors that slid open, revealing some sort of car behind them. He strapped her in a seat and sat down beside her. The car could move in all directions: left, right, up, and down. They started moving through the complex system of tunnels.
“Umm... Can I ask where we are going?”
“We are getting married,” he responded, tilting his head amusedly.
“What? Now?” she asked, surprised.
“Yes, now. We’ll be at the Rothgar temple in a few minutes,” he said.
“But what if the King finds out?” she whispered, wide-eyed.
“Trust me, he won’t,” Darilth said with a smile on his face.