Magic

"What was that about?" Kaemon asked with narrowed eyes immediately they were alone.

Kaemon was the Paladin to King Kael, he was an examplary and skilled warrior second only to Kael and his cousin blah. Kaemon had grown up with Kael so he knew how averse he was to women and was very shocked about what he had just witnessed. He was looking at his friend as if trying to check if he had been possessed or if he had been replaced by the use of some magiks.

He could count on the fingers of one hand the number of times that Kael had laughed throughout his life and today out of the blues he was laughing and at that woman's rudeness. While the human princess was pretty, in his opinion she did not look great enough to elicit such laughter.

"Are you really serious about marrying her?" He asked, his usually jovial face serious.

"Why not? She is a very beautiful woman." Nougera who had been looking between both men asked.

"Even a horse looks beautiful to you on a good day, you whore." Kaemon frowned while Nougera made faces at him.

"In answer to your question. Yes, I will marry her tonight." Kael said and Kaemon's jaw dropped.

"I fear wasps will inhabit your mouth if you remain that way my friend." Nougera said dryly, amused at his friend's reaction to Kael's shocking news.

"But—"

"Not everyone wants to remain a monk like you while waiting for their fated one." Nougera teased and Kaemon glared at him.

"That could make you vulnerable, her father must have a motive." Kaemon protested.

They were both powerful men who had sworn their allegiance to Kael, they would never let anything happen. And if that woman indeed had ulterior motives and tried to make the wrong move then she would regret coming into this kingdom in the first place.

"You think me incapable of protecting myself from one human female because I have lost the use of my legs?" Kael raised an eyebrow.

Kaemon and Nougera blanched at his words, embarrassed that he felt insulted by their words even though they had not meant it that way. Kael had been a fierce warrior, great at leading his people in wars and conquering enemies but after his injury which had left him stuck to a chair, he had to turn to his brains to help him deal with the treachery of running a country where enemies were lurking in every corner.

"Enough about the wife, what news have we gotten?" Kael asked, steering the conversation into more serious waters.

What he had not said to his friends was that there was something strange about the girl. He had felt it immediately she came into his presence, an attraction that was unusual and unwelcome. He had been determined to send her away when she arrogantly rejected him and he had changed his mind.

His wolf had immediately become antsy immediately she came into view, so much that he wondered if he had found his mate but that was not so. She was not his mate but his wolf was sure excited by her.

It excited him to see her so disappointed at his reply, he felt like a cat playing with a mouse and despite his mind warning him against her, he could not help being amused and looking forward to their next encounter.

"I learned that a band of Taroubs visited the Silver Moon coven." Nougera said, disrupting Kael's thoughts.

He raised an eyebrow at the new information. The Taroubs were a band of nomads who lived in the desert, they were often used as mercenaries because of their ruthlessness in battle. What would they be doing with vampires? What was that devious Aeris planning?

"Do you know what the meeting was about?" He asked.

"Unfortunately no, all I know is that the Taroubs stayed in the coven for two days and departed at the break of dawn." Nourega explained.

*

Naiari followed Lady Kassandra out of the throne room down the passage way and up two flights of stairs until she slowed down when they approached a door, the guards stationed in front of it threw the doors opened and she entered with Naiari following behind then it was shut.

Naiari took two steps in and stopped as she took her first look of the room, it was magnificent. A far cry from any of the rooms she had ever entered in her father's palace, not even Queen Elara's room looked that nice.

In the middle of the room on an elevated platform was a massive four poster bed that had gauzy curtains that lightly billowed in the air and at the foot of the bed was the fur of some beast. The bed was carved magnificently and inlaid with gold and without touching it, Naiari could tell that the bed was soft.

There was a wide seat with velvet cushions and tables with bowls of fruit. At the corners of the room were candles on top ornately carved candle stands. Naiari had never seen such luxury and she was in awe.

"I see you enjoy your room, I prepared it for your coming and don't worry, you don't have to share it with Kael." The woman who had been studying Naiari's reaction said.

Naiari started and blushed as she realized that she had been gawking stupidly at the room, she composed herself and smiled softly.

"It is to my liking, you are an excellent decorator."

She was happy to hear that she would not be sharing a room with the king.

"Indeed." Lady Kassandra said as she stared at Naiari with a penetrating look that made her turn and pretend to examine the art on the wall.

Suddenly she started to walk towards Naiari and as she came closer she muttered, "Hmmm." As if she had just discovered something interesting.

She slowly walked around Naiari while examining her and Naiari forced herself to remain calm and not fidget.

She came to a stop behind of Naiari, smirked smugly and said, "Magic…"