Enticed by the Alien Warrior (Warriors of Agron #8) - Hope Hart Page 0,47
a large territory beyond my own kingdom. Thanks to my pact with Rakiz’s tribe across the water and my ongoing alliances with those from this side of the water, I have grown my power to more than even my father could have dreamed.
Yet I feel hollow, dissatisfaction plaguing me with every step. I won’t be seated near our guests for this banquet, and I find myself mourning the fact I won’t get to see the expression on Vivian’s face each time she tastes something new.
Focus on your kingdom. Soon she will leave Agron.
And I will be left here. Alone.
Chapter Fourteen
Vivian
“Do we have to go to this thing?” I mutter as Cauri arranges my hair into an updo that seems to need a thousand different tiny pins.
“Of course.” She sniffs. “As the king’s guests, it’s your duty to attend.”
I sigh. After my conversation with Sarissa, I have a feeling she’s not going to make it tonight. Now that she knows Hesa—her maid—is working with Arix’s enemies, she has banned her from her rooms after declaring she can get ready alone, much to Cauri’s horror.
I’ve watched Cauri carefully since we learned Hesa was to be our contact to get messages to Varge. Cauri hasn’t done anything to make me think she could be a traitor, and the way she adores the king makes it unlikely she’s dirty.
But I’m being careful anyway.
Cauri leans down and opens a drawer, pulling out a long, glimmering necklace. The jewels perfectly match my eyes, and I gasp as she fastens it around my neck, handing me matching earrings to fasten myself.
“The king asked you to wear these,” she says.
I run one finger over the cool stones at my ears, my heart pitter-pattering at the thought.
I turn my head at a knock on the door, ignoring Cauri’s scowl.
“Come in.”
Sarissa pokes her head in the door. Like me, she’s dressed only in a robe. Unlike me, her hair is out and falling down her shoulders, her face still completely free of any cosmetics.
“You’re not getting ready?”
“I’m not going.”
Cauri looks like she might have an aneurysm at this news, and I sigh.
“Can you give us a moment? Please?”
She sends Sarissa a dark look, muttering about selfish human females as she stalks out the door.
“What’s going on?” I murmur, and Sarissa sits on the edge of my bed.
“I have a migraine.”
“You don’t get migraines.”
“I know, but that’s my cover story. I’ve been thinking about this situation, and I don’t trust Varge. Unless he’s an idiot, he won’t be pinning all his hopes and dreams on us betraying Arix. I’m sure he and his merry band of traitors will have a backup plan. And if they do, they don’t need us, which means we have targets on our backs.”
My mouth goes dry, but I agree with her reasoning. “So what are we going to do?”
“You need to talk to Arix tonight and tell him everything. I’m going to find Korzyn before dinner and do the same. Then I’m going to start putting our plan into motion.”
My stomach turns to lead.
Maybe Arix will understand. Maybe he won’t want to kick me out of his kingdom for conspiring against him.
I almost snort. Arix is as likely to bend as a steel beam, and just as likely to forgive.
I return my attention to Sarissa. “Are we going to have enough time?”
“We have to. I have enough contacts to get my messages out. But you need to be careful. Arix might lose his shit when you tell him everything.”
My hands shake at the thought, but I bury them under my robe. “I’ll be okay. Promise me you’ll be careful too.”
“I promise.”
“Ahem.” Cauri knocks on the door, and Sarissa sends me a look but pads out of my room, nodding at Cauri. Cauri frowns after her, and I sigh.
It’s never good news for my scalp when Cauri is in a bad mood.
Arix
I place my crown on my head, staring into the mirror. My father was my age when he died, and I look almost identical to him.
Except for my eyes. I have my mother’s eyes.
Although I never saw my mother’s eyes look as cold as mine. Hers were always lit with joy or glowing with love. Two things I know little about.
My crown is one I don’t wear often. The red jewels contrast sharply with the black metal. The jewels were mined by one of my ancestors, and the crown’s daintier twin sits alone in the vault that holds my mother’s jewelry.