Tempting The Dark King [Enchanted World Series Book 2]

Chapter 16

Lyrah found her way into the weaponry store in the training grounds where several recruits were practicing long range shooting. When the young recruits saw her, the quickly bowed and scattered from her. Lyrah felt a small smile play on her face. Males were all the same in all the Realms, she thought lightly as she ran her hand over the signature Thyest Crystal blade. She was very good in swords and wondered if anyone would have liked to take her on.

“I don't think my queen is permitted to be in here.” A male voice came from the door.

Lyrah turned and noticed the Jinn she had met with Herik in Rhol's office the previous day, Seygon. His molten gold eyes watched her carefully and jet black hair was plaited in a tight braid that was wrapped around his neck. He looked like a very seasoned warrior with small silver scars here and there. “I happen to be one of the best swordswomen in the Realm of Spells.”

Seygon smiled lightly and entered the dimly lit room. “I have heard of the adventures.”

“Adventures?” Lyrah's head tilted to the side as she sized the male in front of her. “You are underestimating me. Should I give you a demonstration?”

Seygon shook his head. “You are my queen. The last thing I need is for King Rhol to behead me for getting as little as a scratch on you.”

“I'm not made of porcelain.” Lyrah pulled the heavy crystal sword and let the weight of it adjust comfortably in her hand. Seygon's eyes widened. “You better come and practice with me. Better you than one of your recruits, right?”

Without giving him time to answer, Lyrah stalked out into the training arena. She noticed that the army consisted of Jinns, Nymphs, Mage and Shifters. When they saw her stepping out with a sword in hand, they all looked like they were about to jump in and talk her out of it but then Seygon was right behind her and he held two.

This is going to be fun! Lyrah thought as she made her way to the middle of the ring. Murmurs of excitement broke among the warriors as more of them poured around to watch the battle. Lyrah was confident in her swordsmanship because it was the one thing she felt she could do right...with everything else being frowned upon by the Lord Mage.

“Last chance to walk away, my queen.” Seygon warned as he took his position opposite her,

“I don't scare easily.” Lyrah grinned at him feeling the thrill coursing through her blood, thickening it and making her charged up and ready.

“And so I have heard.” Seygon muttered with regret.

The air between them was sparking with energy and anticipation. It was so quiet that the only thing that could be heard was the wind bristling around them. Lyrah watched how Seygon took his attack stance and immediately knew where the Jinn's strength and weakness were. Though the Jinn used double swords, his strongest strike would come from his left hand so she had to be careful there. She also remembered how Zafrina attacked her using her braid, that was also something else to avoid. What else...what else...Lyrah eyed the Jinn and a grin spread on her lips.

Tattoos.

“Ready?” Seygon asked.

Lyrah lifted her sword. “Only when you are.”

Seygon struck and Lyrah was glad and she discovered that she was right about the Jinn being a leftie. The crystal swords clanged and Lyrah had to step back to support herself because the Jinn leaned in and his body weight shifted into the sword, threatening to tumble her down. Lyrah twisted her sword so that the flat part of the blade met the sharp angle of Seygon's and pulled it away while twisting away from the second blade which came stabbing towards her stomach.

Everyone muttered in amazement at her graceful movements. Seygon attacked again but Lyrah was ready for him. Every she was able to rebuff his advances and it could everyone talking. Seygon stopped attacking timidly in the middle of it and started putting a little more effort.

Lyrah giggled as she managed to pin one of Seygon's swords down and kick the other one of his hands. She tucked the arm that had the sword under hers and elbowed him on the stomach. Seygon grunted lightly but she knew it would take a lot more to bring down such a mass.

Suddenly Seygon's weight moved and in front of her, the Jinn King appeared. Lyrah's eyes widened. How the hell did he know she was there?

Rhol eyed her with dark menacing eyes then turned to his commander. “Give me your sword.”

Both Saigon and Lyrah gasped in surprise.

“My king--” Seygon started.

“Sword. Now.” Rhol growled his tattoos hissing and snapping.

Seygon handed the King his sword and Rhol turned to Lyrah. “Raise your sword, dirani peeta.”

The entire training ground went silent.

Lyrah found herself wondering what was her best choice; to drop the sword, turn and leave or raise it and let king Rhol humiliate her in front of his warriors.

“Raise your sword!”

Lyrah's heart jumped in her chest and she quickly raised it. It lightning speed, Rhol attacked. Lyrah could barely see where he was but she was able to rebuke some of his attacks. He attacked with so much effort that sparks flew from the swords and Lyrah's arms felt as if they were about to fall off. She panicked and her heart jackhammered in her ribs but Rhol didn't falter in his assault.

Breathe, Lyrah. Use your abilities to predict your opponent's moves. She told herself and for a moment she viewed as Rhol came towards her, saw the angle at which he attacked. Because of his heavy and large body, that angle was important to produce blows that were unavoidable. At the last moment, Lyrah was able to shift away to the side and avoid it and everyone gasped in surprise but her victory was short-lived as Rhol twisted around and whacked her sword from her hands sending it flying across the ring to the other far end.

“You just died.” Rhol breathed in and stood in front of her, his eyes intense and his tattoos black with anger. “Wielding a sword is not about fun! It is not entertainment when your life is at stake!” he barked making her cringe. “You are defensive, Dirani peeta, but you never attack. Defending yourself will not keep you alive. If you can't attack your enemy, then don't pick up a sword!” Rhol threw his sword at her feet and stormed away.

Lyrah pursed her lips and looked down at the sword that was just dropped at her feet. She took in a deep breath and turned to Seygon who was as pale as her hair. Everyone was dazed, watching on her. Anger welled inside Lyrah's heart that she reached for one of the daggers displayed close by and threw it at the leaving Rhol. The dagger sailed across the room missing Rhol's ear by inches and dislodged itself on the opposite wall. Everyone's eyes widened even more.

“I'm the Mage of Life. I put every life above anything else and that is the reason why I don't attack. It's not because I can't. It's because I don't want to.” The last time she aided in killing a dragon, she went through a haze of fury and it scared her. Even the time when she attacked Zafrina, that same fury filled her and swell of the power in her was almost uncontrollable. She didn't want that part of her to come out and that was why she defended more than she attacked.

Rhol turned to her then to the dagger beside him. Something skittered in his eyes but he left before she could get a clear picture of it.

The moment Rhol left, the grounds broke into cheers and the warriors gave her a thumbs up and winks.

Seygon ran his hand in his hair and smiled sheepishly.

“You, my queen, are something else.”

“I warned you not to underestimate me.” Lyrah grinned at the commander then caught sight of Zafrina standing in the shadows watching them. Amusement danced in her eyes as she inclined her head towards her and took her leave. Lyrah smiled at the female and sighed. “I better go and see Muriel. Take care.”

Seygon and the warriors inclined their heads towards her and went back to practice.

Rhol punched the surface of his desk and his knuckles cracked and tendons ripped. In just a few seconds, blood pooled under the skin around his fingers. The pain seared some of the fury that was boiling in the pits of his stomach and sending bile up his mouth.

He had no right humiliating his mate in front of his warriors but why was she so burdensome? What did she think she would prove to take on Seygon who was the best in at least all the weapons? Was it because she was bored or maybe she had a death wish?

“You have a meeting at the city hall tomorrow with the people of Karah.” Zafrina entered Rhol's office without even knocking.

Rhol nodded. “Has Herik left?”

“He left this morning for Goran.” Zafrina answered.

Rhol sighed and settled down on his chair feeling somewhat calmed down. “What about the symbols we brought for Muriel?”

Zafrina sighed. “She's still working on them.”

Right after they had documented all the symbols found in the dead Ghouls, they burnt their bodies and brought down boulders at the mouth of the cave to make sure the Ghouls couldn't occupy it again...Rhol looked up at his second in command before muttering. “Say what you want, Zafrina.”

Zafrina settled down in front of him and narrowed her eyes. “Was embarrassing your queen in front of your warriors like that really necessary?”

Rhol's eyebrows arched up. “She almost ripped my ear off.”

“But you had no right to tear her down like that.”

“She's my mate.” Rhol snapped.

Zafrina sighed and leaned back on the chair. “It seems you have no idea what a mate means.”

“I will not let it weaken me.” Rhol gritted his teeth.

“It's not a bad thing showing affection every once in a while.”

“Affection?” Rhol turned to her. What the f**k did that word even mean. “What affection?”

Zafrina rolled her eyes. “The queen will accompany you for the meeting tomorrow.”

“No.”

“Yes. She's been cooped up in here, it's only a matter of time until she finds her way out of the premises on her own. Trust me, this will be good for her. Also, the Realm needs to know about their queen.”

Rhol snarled at Zafrina but all she did was smile lightly at him. Why did everything get so complicated in such a short period of time? Was it a good idea taking Lyrah out of the safety of the fortress to the city? “I wish I never met her.”

“Well, we don't always have what we wish for. I will go and see what Muriel is up to.”

Before Zafrina left Rhol called her back. “Keep an eye on her.”

“I always have.” Zafrina assured him and went out.

Rhol turned to the large window behind him and closed his eyes for a moment. He was calm and collected that morning until he saw Lyrah on that ring. Even the tattoos that barely made their presence known due to being sate after last night's encounter with his mate reacted. Rhol was basking in this new calmness and peace but it was always short-lived.

“Affection.” Rhol sounded the word in his mouth. It sounded very foreign and odd. But what affection would his mate want from him? Just what was expected of him from his mate? And why was he thinking such ridiculous thoughts? Of course it didn't matter what she wanted because this was not a union. They were just mates, nothing more!

That cold hearted bastard! Lyrah thought as she sought out where Muriel was. She finally found her in the library with a bunch of books around her. Her beautiful face looked tired as she stuck her face nose-deep into the books. She looked deep in concentration as she picked up papers with strange markings and scanned through the pages of the books as old as time.

“You look like you are about to collapse at any time.” Lyrah sighed lightly as she made her way into the room.

Muriel looked up and sighed in relief. “Am I glad to see you! Come here for a moment.”

Lyrah nodded and approached the woman. She sat next to her and frowned down at the symbols. “What are all these?”

Muriel rubbed her forehead tiredly and pulled the brown envelop next to her. “I hope you have a stomach for this.”

Lyrah's eyebrows arched up as she accepted the envelop and shook out the contents. Her eyes widened as photographs of what looked like a mass grave of Ghouls fell out. All the Ghouls were dead, their bodies taking on an eerie blue color. Black marks were burnt on their bodies and their grisly faces were contorted in pain and fear.

“What is all this?” Lyrah breathed in hard to try and control the bile that was about to boil into her mouth.

“That's what I am trying to figure out but none of these symbols appear in any of the books. I know I have seen them somewhere but I can't recall.” Muriel looked a little frustrated as she shut her book and placed it to the side then reached for another one. “These are supposed to be records of what symbols the Mage can use for their spells. I, the Mage of Truth, was part of a team that documented stuff like this but I can't find anything--” she sucked in her breath and cringed as she touched her belly.

“Muriel, are you alright?”

Muriel closed her eyes for a moment then calmed down before she opened them and turned to Lyrah. “I guess I'm being too hard on myself. Even my son warns me now and again when I exert myself.”

“It's a son?” Lyrah exclaimed.

Muriel nodded. “And he is very strong already. He also as possessive as his father.” she chuckled lightly and patted her belly fondly. “I guess I better get some rest before carrying on with this—do you mind helping me going through the books?”

“Sure, go upstairs and get some rest and I will try to look through this.” Lyrah assured her.

Just as Muriel stood up to leave, Zax entered with a young male behind him. Lyrah was shocked when she felt the male's presence. It was as if he was a Mage but not quite.

“Dante.” Muriel looked up at him and smiled.

“Muriel.” Dante inclined his head to her. “I'm glad you have been well.”

Muriel laughed lightly. “With your uncle watching over me like a hawk, I have no choice but to remain well. How have you been?”

“Well--” Dante's eyes strayed to Lyrah's and his eyes widened. “Forgive me for my impoliteness, High Lady Lyrah.” He bowed.

“Don't mind it so much. Family comes first.”

“Allow me to introduce my nephew, Dante. He is a half Jinn, half Mage.”

That made sense, Lyrah thought. She couldn't understand his presence because he was caught in between two races and they were both quite strong and dominant. “Nice to meet you.”

“Dante has been studying the ancient spells from some great Mage at the Realm of Spells.” Zax explained. “Muriel thought it would be best if he returned to help.”

“That is great to hear.” Lyrah assured him.

Dante smiled softly and inclined his head. “I'm at your service, Lady Lyrah.”

“Dante, you could start looking through the images the King was able to retrieve from a mass Ghoul grave they came across recently. Maybe some might be familiar.” Muriel touched the young male lightly on his hand.

Dante frowned. “A mass grave?”

Muriel sighed tiredly. “Well, you have to go and personally see King Rhol for him to fill you on what has been happening. I'm a little tired so I will leave you both.”

“Rest well, Muriel.” Lyrah called out.

Muriel nodded and turned to Zax who wrapped his arms around her and disappeared behind a ball of smoke.