First markings

They escorted her to another room, covered in colorful satin sheets, and reminded her of a palace in India. It was comparatively small to the king’s courtroom and less open. It was still elegant and had a lavender smell lingering in the air.

Dayton and Stasia took their places on opposite ends of the room. They stood in a different stance than the one they had taken in the king’s court. They stood with one arm behind their backs and the other over their chests, their hands balled into fists.

“Same as before, kneeling, head down, not speaking.” He said as he guided her to kneel on a purple pillow. He stood behind her as her eyes gazed at the room. The soft tinkling sound of water was the only noise as it flowed down the rock wall into a basin overflowing into a small pond.

The rock wall was dark purple, like she had never seen before. It was vibrant and calm at the same time.

She stayed kneeling in silence, feeling awkward, until she heard the door swing open and the shuffling of many footsteps. She didn’t dare to sneak a peek.

King Sala spoke first in a tone that echoed through the room, but she understood none of it. Then an older gentleman shuffled around her, chanting.

His chanting was almost calming, with the flow of the water dancing down into the pond.

Eventually, she heard Kai’s name. He moved from behind her to kneel in front of her. He took his hand and guided her chin so her eyes were on him.

Juniper was faintly aware of the older gentlemen’s footsteps shuffling away from them. There was a grunt and stone singing as it gently scraped stone. The older man slowly dragged his feet back and kneeled with the basin in his arms.

The water was a light purple, tinted from the deep purple rock it cascaded off.

Kai spoke in the same tongue, splashing his hands into a basin of purple water that the older gentleman held. He used his wet hands to wipe across her forehead, over her cheeks, cupping the side of her neck, and dragging his hand down and across her chest to just above her breasts. His touch was soft and moved slowly in a teasing manner. He then pulled her cloak down and wetted her shoulders.

Juniper’s eyes locked on Kai’s. She watched the flames in his irises dance, speaking about unspoken desire. Her breaths went rigid. Her only thoughts were how the ritual seemed too intimate for a crowd. She wanted to talk or move, anything to break her trance, but her body didn’t dare to react against Kai’s compelling touch.

Then his hands went back to the side of her neck. He let out a heavy, almost lustful breath, and Juniper did the same, feeling it deep in her chest. Then he closed his eyes. The chant deepened, and voices followed along.

A flame abruptly lit from his hands and trailed her wet skin as if it was gas. It burned, and she couldn’t hold back the scream that burst from her lips. The flame went as fast as it came, but the pain surged through her like it was in her blood. Tears covered her cheeks, and her muscles twitched from the torture.

There was a pained expression on Kai’s face as he tried to pet her anguish away.

King Sala spoke, and Kai nodded to him before lifting her up and hurriedly taking her out of the room. He twisted through hall after hall until he returned to his room, laid her on the couch, and wiped her tears away. “It’s all done.”

Her body was still convulsing, and she felt weak, but she forced herself to speak, anyway. “What the hell was that?” She asked, but he didn’t respond. Instead, he pleaded with his eyes.

He then grabbed something from the side table. “Here, eat this. It will help with the pain.” He placed it in her hand, and she stared at him with distrust.

“Will it? You didn’t bother to mention that I would be in pain for the ritual.”

He glared back at her. Clearly not liking her lack of blind faith in him. Dark patches under his eyes were barely visible, but contrasted with the veins that popped out as he clenched his jaw.

“Fine, don’t take it and be in pain. I’ll allow you to make that decision today.” He emphasized “allow” and caused Juniper to sit right up, sending an ache in her muscles. Now, who is the asshole? It might not be Dayton, after all.

She narrowed her eyes. “What do you mean by allow?” she was prepared to rip him a new one.

Their eyes locked as their anger radiated off each other. There was a moment of silently daring each other to say something else. Juniper used the pain she felt as leverage to keep a bold stand.

Kai bit back the words he wanted to say and let out a long, exaggerated breath. “Look, the ceremony wasn’t planned. I had planned to give you a few days to explain everything and allow you to adapt to your new home. That being said, you still did amazing, and most importantly, my father has taken a liking to you. So please don’t be in any more pain. Eat the fruit.”

Her anger slowly disappeared. She looked at him questioningly, unsure of what would happen. She thought about the elixir and how that made her feel amazing. The pain had been so horrific then, much worse than it is now, yet it was gone the moment the elixir had touched her lips.

“Will it feel like the stuff you gave me last night?” She watched him shift from foot to foot, feeling uncomfortable with her question. Like it was a sin for her to have enjoyed it.

“No,” was all he said as he lifted her hand to her mouth, urging her to take it. The fruit looked like dry citrus but tasted like a kiwi soaked in something. Liquor? She sucked on the sweet fruit and was dozing off within seconds.