CHAPTER 37
A lone in her bedroom, Mauree stared at her reflection in the mirror. Red and swollen, her eyelid stretched over her empty eye socket. Along her cheek, a long gash marred her skin. The scratch would heal, but there was no way her eye would grow back.
She picked up one of the many bottles of perfume gracing the dresser top and heaved the vial at her grotesque image. The mirror shattered, bits of glass cascading over the dresser’s surface and onto the floor. Like run away marbles, shards skittered over the polished wooden floor.
She turned her back on the vision and gripped the dresser’s edge. Her fingers tightened on the wood until it creaked under the pressure.
Vengeance seeped into her cold and bitter heart, hardening the organ into something unrecognizable. “Kaelyn, Saar, Noeh…you will all pay.”
There was a soft knock on the door.
Irritation flared her anger. “What?”
Eldon stood at the doorway, his hands crossed in front of him. “What are your orders?”
She pushed away from the dresser and approached him.
He took a step back.
“Look at me,” she demanded.
He shuffled his feet then straightened his back and looked into her eye. “Yes, my lady?”
She studied him, her one eye tracking over his body. With a quick smile, she reached for him, wanting to trail a finger down his face, but her depth perception was off. Instead, her hand landed on his shoulder.
Heat flushed through her body, racing up her throat and into her cheeks. “How many troops did we lose?”
“Not as many as I would’ve expected. Altogether, five Gossum and one Ursus.” His attention never wavered. Good thing. If he’d dropped his gaze, she would’ve gutted him with her knife.
“At least that’s something.” She huffed and walked back into her room. The first rays of the dawn rose into the sky, glinting off the few shards of glass that remained of the mirror.
Without stopping, she strode to the sliding glass door and opened it. The morning breeze cooled her heated skin, and she closed her eye, enjoying the brief reprieve.
Eldon approached her from behind, but didn’t invade her space. Neither spoke for a few moments.
“How long do you think we have until they arrive?” Her words came out harsh.
“A night at most. Do you want to move on, search for another place or stay here, dig in, and fight?”
Good question. The muscles in her arms and legs ached, and a migraine pounded behind her eye. I’m so tired of running. “We stay. Let them come.”
“Then I will lead your army.” His voice was low, determined.
She turned to face him.
He raised an eyebrow. “Is that not what you want, what you need?”
“I need…” She clamped her teeth to the point of pain. From the beginning, she’d longed to exact revenge on Noeh. She cleared her throat. “…to defeat Noeh and win this war.”
His features hardened, resolve forming behind his dark eyes. “When that happens, I’ll be right by your side.”
She nodded. “Yes, you shall.”
Veromé’s molecules recombined, coalescing into his physical form. Alora inhaled, and Veromé’s salty and fresh scent wafted into her senses. Before she could greet him, his arms wrapped around her waist, and he drew her against him. Her hands landed on his chest, and she ran her fingers over the firm muscles in his broad shoulders.
“Hello, my love.” His voice reverberated deep in his chest. The vibration travelled all the way to her toes.
She peered at him through her lashes.
He smiled, creases forming around his beautiful blue eyes. A streak of gold flashed through his irises, teasing her into wanting something they couldn’t have—more time together.
“Veromé, I’ve missed you, as always.” She kissed him, enjoying how the small hairs of his goatee teased her chin.
He planted kisses along her neck until he reached her ear. His breath tickled her skin, sending a shiver all the way down her spine.
He pulled back to look at her, cupping her cheeks in his palms. “Tell me, my love. What did you do with Zedron’s disc?”
A knot formed in her stomach. She withdrew from his embrace and strode to her visus bacin. The smooth, still water was calm, so unlike the nerves spiraling inside her.
Over Veromé’s shoulder, through the carved opening in the Rolmdew tree, dawn’s rays painted the clouds a vibrant red. There was no point in putting off the inevitable. He’d find out one way or another, probably sooner rather than later.
She wheeled to face him, her bottom pressed against the counter for support. “This won’t make you happy, but I bargained with Zedron.”
“You did what?” He pinched the bridge of his nose and exhaled. “Tell me the rest.”
“I saw Kaelyn in my visus bacin. She loves Saar. If she can cross over to our side, maybe the others can as well. I went to Zedron—”
“Do not tell me you gave him that disc.” The sharp, bitter tone of his voice made her flinch.
She thrust out her chin. “So what if I did?”
“Alora, that was a stupid mistake. Don’t your realize—”
Her face heated. “Don’t you call me stupid.”
He huffed. “I’m sorry, my love, but I fear you don’t realize how devious he is. He’ll use that against you. You should’ve gone to the council.”
She scoffed. “How could he possibly use this against me?”
“The council may see your unwillingness to bring charges against Zedron as manipulation. Along with the fact you bargained with him?” His tone lowered. “That could be construed as coercion which could lead to another sanction.”
Fear slid over her nerves, toying with her. No wonder Zedron had given in to her demand so easily. She picked up the vase of Coletta flowers from the table and launched them at the wall. The vase shattered, bits of glass scattering across the floor.
“Alora, calm down.” Veromé enfolded her in his embrace.
A thought struck her. She pulled back, trying to force the anger racing through her veins to slow. “Wouldn’t Zedron be sanctioned for cheating by preventing Ram from returning to the character board?”
His features softened, but the worry in his eyes persisted. “Most likely, but it would only be his first offense, whereas, yours would be…”
“My third. I’d lose the war,” she whispered.
Would he turn her in? If he wanted to, without a doubt.
An uncontrollable shiver wracked her body.
The stairs leading to the second floor creaked. Carine peered down at them from the top step. “I don’t mean to interrupt, but…”
Veromé stilled. “Carine? What are you doing here?”
The Arotaar female proceeded down the stairs.
Alora left Veromé’s side and draped her arm around Carine’s shoulder. “She’s staying with us. I bargained for her as well.”
Veromé let loose an exasperated breath. “Alora, you shouldn’t have done that. Zedron has something up his sleeve, I’m sure of it and—”
The first rays of the morning sun appeared, sending Alora to her dark place. Her resolve hardened. Zedron had upped the stakes in their war. If he wanted a fight, he’d get one.