The Queen's Consorts (10 page)

She fingered the knot that held the flowing skirt together at her hip. “I move wrong and some onlooker will see all of me.”

“Your body is divine.” Gefin gave Sari a smile. “You’re Rayian. Seeing all of you
is
considered a great honor.”

“Good to know,” Sari said with wide eyes, finding the Rayian’s mentalities oddly similar to those she had learned at the Order of the Seven Swords.

Gods knew
,
she’d spent a good part of the day being groomed in ways that were unusual even for a former love slave. It seemed Rayians had an aversion to body hair, and the attendants had used creams on Sari’s skin that removed all of it—from
everywhere.

No wonder Calder and Taryen had so little of it.

She turned back to the mirror, eyeing the color Gefin had added to her cheeks and lips. Her eyes were darkened also, bringing out the green. The attendants also spent over an hour on the intricately drawn flowers and vines that now decorated both sides of Sari’s face, starting from the corners of her eyes and fanning out to her temples. She had to admit the end result was lovely.

When Gefin and Madrid finished braiding the flowers into Sari’s hair and started smoothing out her skirt, fiddling with the train fanning out from the knot at her back, she knew her time was up. She was going to have to face the assembly. Without Calder and Taryen around for the past day, the harsh similarities to her old life left her feeling vulnerable and exposed, but there was nothing to be done with it. She kept reminding herself if she wanted to make a difference, she’d have to find a way to be comfortable. Luckily Sari had always been gifted with the ability to face adversity courageously and overcome her fear in the name of survival.

“Rayians do this every night?” Sari asked in awe when she considered how much time they had wasted getting ready.

“Every night,” Gefin confirmed as she fingered the knot at Sari’s back. “Do you know how to release it?”

“Yes. I’m familiar with these knots.” Sari shifted uncomfortably. “But I doubt I’ll have a need to slip out of my clothing quickly.”

“You’re the talk of the Sacred City. There will be many lifemates looking to serve you for the evening.”

“Lucky me.”
Sari turned away from the mirror, feeling like she was looking at a stranger. “I suppose I’m ready to go.”

“Allow me a few moments to change.” Madrid stepped away from Sari, her gaze lowered. “And I’ll be ready to attend you.”

Sari nodded, feeling her heart beating wildly out of control.

“You’ll find a pair of lifemates to bond with. I know it.” Aria smiled at Sari, excitement glowing in her eyes from her spot on the floor as she continued to watch the efforts to prepare Sari for this nightly ritual. Aria lowered her voice, sounding guilty as she said, “And you do look like a queen.”

“Young one,” Gefin chastised. “Blasphemy is punishable by pain.”

“Over my dead body,” Sari snapped. “No one hurts her.”

“Of course, my lady.”
Gefin lowered her gaze as a blush spread over the back of her neck. “I was trying to protect the young one by teaching her our rules.”

“These apartments are a sacred place.” Sari gave Aria an encouraging smile. “We follow the rules outside these rooms, but here we speak freely. All of us.”

“Yes, my lady,” Gefin agreed, sounding unconvinced. “It’s a wise rule. Thank you.”

Madrid returned, wearing a simple black gown. Her hair was pulled back into a bun, her gaze lowered obediently. “I’m ready to attend you at the assembly, my lady.”

“Then our time is now,” Sari said, knowing if she stopped to think about it, she’d lose her nerve. “Wish us luck.”

“Good luck!” Aria said enthusiastically. “May the lifemates you find be strong, handsome, and
kindhearted.
”

“You with the lifemates.”
Sari laughed. “This is a political expedition.”

“Love is the one true cause,” Aria claimed in a tone that made Sari believe she’d heard it somewhere else but obviously believed the fanciful promise. “There is no greater quest.”

“If you say so,” Sari said in disbelief, turning to leave with Madrid at her heels. “Behave for Gefin, young Aria.”

* * * *

“Remember, males bow to you,” Madrid coached in a hushed whisper at Sari’s shoulder as they waited in line to be announced at the assembly. “You are female, divine; they bow to your beauty as a sister to our great mother, Queen Darisa.”

Sari gave a slight nod, finding this part very different from the Order, the demand that others serve her. She needed the reminder because the sea of bared flesh, both male and female, had her fighting the instinct to fall to her knees, asking how she could be of service.

“You have no escorts. When they announce you, it’ll draw the attention of many unbonded males,” Madrid went on as they took another step closer to the massive doorway. “But you are free to reject their advances. It’s expected. Be particular. It asserts your confidence and power.”

Sari shifted uncomfortably as she stood in the long line of Rayians waiting to enter the banquet hall. She could feel the eyes on her. Everywhere she turned, she found beautifully dressed Rayians leaning in to each other to whisper as they watched her. She was truly alone in the crowd. Political alliances and the good of the people be damned, nothing seemed worth this level of scrutiny.

Instead of focusing on being the center of attention, she eyed the others, seeing males bare-chested, wearing only loose-fitting pants in a variety of colors, all decorated with veins of gold needlepoint. The women on the other hand were all dressed differently. Every outfit was unique to the female wearing it. Their choices in clothing ranged from revealing to completely indecent. Some even chose to leave their breasts bare, using only their hair for cover.

Absorbed in the unusual atmosphere, Sari jumped when someone touched her elbow.
She turned around to find Captain Macro and a male she had never met standing next to her.

“I apologize for startling you.” Captain Macro
bowed,
his eyes downcast. “I would like to offer myself and my lifemate, Haven, as escorts for the assembly. We have no designs, simply a gesture of loyalty and protection. Being alone is never fun.”

Sari looked from Macro to Haven, who bowed when she turned to him. Though he was a huge male, all broad shoulders and strong muscles, Haven radiated the same kindness Macro did. They were an oddly matched pair of males. Usually one lifemate was smaller, more subservient to the other, but much like Calder and Taryen, these two were both large males, obviously equal in strength and ability.

“Yes.” Sari reached out to touch Macro’s elbow, hating him bowing to her. “I would appreciate your company.”

“I’m pleased to serve you, my lady.” Macro gave her a smile as he straightened up and turned to Haven. “May I present my lifemate, Haven. He is my second in command in the queen’s royal guard.”

Sari smiled at Haven, with his blond hair streaked black at the temples like Calder,
whereas
Macro’s coloring was similar to hers. “Do you enjoy working with your lifemate?”

“Of course,
Your—
um, my lady.” Haven seemed nervous as his eyes remained downcast. “My job is nothing but a joy.”

Sari laughed. “I think working with one you live with would be trying to a relationship.”

“We trained together to be of service to the queen since we were twelve cycles,” Macro explained, giving Haven a smile. “He’s more than used to me.”

Sari moved closer to Macro, finding his presence comforting. “Thank you for escorting me. Being prey to hundreds of lonely males was not my idea of a joyous evening. With you two by my side, surely the predators will be kept at bay.”

“If there are males stalking you, Macro and I will eliminate them for you, my lady,” Haven offered, sounding suddenly vicious as his light eyes narrowed. “None of our brothers should be harassing our great—”

Haven was cut off when Macro stomped on his foot. Looking undisturbed by his misstep, Macro simply turned back to Sari, running a hand through his brown hair with a sidelong look at Haven. “Forgive my lifemate. He is more soldier than social creature.”

“It’s fine.” Sari gave a tentative smile to Haven, who had lowered his gaze once more. “I appreciate the protection from male attention.”

“How are Calder and Taryen?” Macro asked unexpectedly, sounding oddly hopeful. “Did you enjoy their company?”

“They’re very kind.” Sari felt her cheeks heat. She took a deep breath, trying to hide her body’s response to hearing their names spoken. She hadn’t stopped thinking about them since yesterday. “They helped heal me and then arranged to have apartments set up for me. The accommodations are wonderful.”

“I see,” Macro said
,
his eyes on her, making her feel as if he knew more than he let on. “You know they are in need of friends.”

“We’re powerless to protect them,” Haven added, looking passionate once more. “We’ve been desperate to keep them safe for you, but our hands are tied and—”

Macro stomped on Haven’s foot again, this time being vicious about it as he said between gritted teeth, “We protect them for the queen, Haven. Not the sisters who use their skills while she is away.” A female behind them gasped, and Macro turned, arching a bold eyebrow at her. “Can I help you?”

She huffed in response, leaning forward to poke a fingernail into Macro’s bare chest. “Learn your place, brother.”

“No, I don’t think I will,” Macro countered. “There is no law in place that forbids speaking my mind.”

“There should be,” she said, looking furious.

“Give the council time.” Haven didn’t bother to lower his voice. “They’ll silence all those still loyal to our great mother, Queen Darisa.”

“Be careful who you align yourself with, new one.” The woman narrowed her eyes at Sari in warning. “These two are known for causing dissension.”

Sari nodded, giving the woman a smile, willing the tension to ease out of her shoulders as she turned back to Macro. “Now we know why you two are alone.
Seems your opinions make you unsavory candidates for bonding.”

Macro smiled. “We are loyal to our queen. If that makes us savory, then so be it.”

“Royalists.”
The woman behind them sniffed, turning away to speak to a pair of men she waited with.

Desperate to change the subject and keep attention away from the very free-spoken Macro and his lifemate, Sari pointed to Macro’s temple, finding his tan skin painted with vines and thorns.
“Why the decoration?”
She looked to Haven, whose face was also painted. The thorns were well suited to soldiers. It made them look wild and untamed. “All the females have it, but you’re the first males I’ve seen wearing them.”

Macro shrugged. “We were feeling festive.”

“Well, it’s very becoming,” Sari offered, giving them both a smile. “I feel lucky to have two such strapping males as escorts.”

Sari knew others perceived their exchange as flirting, but she could tell neither Macro nor Haven were interested in her sexually. They felt like big brothers, guards who offered her protection from curious stares. She was infinitely thankful they had found her in line as they slowly made their way closer to being announced to the assembly.

Sari pulled herself from her thoughts to turn back to Macro. “With my injuries and then moving into the new apartments, I’ve been so busy since yesterday I forgot to ask. I misplaced my grandmother’s pendant after my accident. I was hoping you picked it up.”

Macro stiffened and glanced behind him. He turned back to Sari, looking hesitant before he lowered his voice. “I apologize, my lady. I thought you knew I had your necklace in my possession. It’s being studied to help determine your family line.”

“Is that possible?” Sari asked in surprise.

“I noticed it was made from Tourillan gold, a sacred metal reserved for our people,” he offered, his voice still low, making it obvious he was uncomfortable. “It’s a Rayian pendant. I gave it to our genealogy experts to help determine its origins.”

Sari was stunned at the notion of a real family. She found the idea exciting enough to forget her nervousness over the assembly. “Have you found anything?”

“Yes, have you?” a woman in front of them asked, making her eavesdropping noticeable as she turned to them. “That’s important information.”

Macro met the woman’s eyes and then seemed to consider Sari before he offered, “No information worth sharing at this moment.”

“The council needs to be informed.” She narrowed dark eyes at Macro. “The rumors claim she had nothing on her to indicate her origins.”

Macro snorted. “Well, Fayen, perhaps you ought to stop listening to rumors.”

“You don’t know your place,” Fayen snapped, jamming a fan into Macro’s bare chest. “You must shame your mother, not being more like Garid.”

“Garid?”
Sari asked curiously.

“My eldest living birth brother,” Macro offered, seeming undisturbed by the comparison. “He’s bonded to Laysa.”

“Who’s Laysa?”

“She’s head of the sister council who guard Auroria,” Fayen explained, tossing her hair, showing off breasts covered only with a thin piece of green gauze wrapped around her middle. She turned to Sari, studying her with a critical eye. “You’re young and pretty. You can find more suitable lifemates for an evening’s pleasure. These two are royalists.”

Sari hoped Macro wasn’t insulted when she asked Fayen, “I’m new to this culture. Why is being a royalist considered an insult?”

Fayen put an arm around Sari, looking pleased to take her under wing as she whispered, “They’re Rayians who’ve sworn loyalty to the queen. They oppose the rule of the council.”

“Ah.” Sari turned around to eye Macro, who seemed unapologetic about the label. “That must be very
lonely
for them.”

“No sister would touch them,” Fayen assured her. “If you’re looking for escorts, I have six unbonded birth brothers, four of whom have fetching lifemates.”

“I’m committed for the evening, and Macro did save my life.” Sari tried not to wince at the thought of meeting Fayen’s brothers. “But I appreciate the offer.”