I have no memory of Hatha taking me from Nadar's chambers. She must have, because I was dressed and back in my own stone cottage. I sat beside the fire on a milking stool someone had brought in from the stables. I watched the flames dance before my eyes. I had not bathed since last night and I could still smell him on my skin. Every now and then I brought my hand to my face just to inhale his aroma.
The loss hit me like a gut punch each time I did.
"My Chosen."
I looked over my shoulder to see Roth. He was alone. We were alone. Hatha had gone to find us dinner.
When was the last time we had been alone? After the Choosing ceremony?
He came forward, laying a hand gently on my shoulder. Right over the bite mark of his son. I pulled away and he murmured an apology.
Now he had my attention.
The Dark Prince apologizing to me?
What was that about?
I swiveled in my stool to face him. He folded to the ground, sitting at my feet cross-legged, like a child awaiting a bedtime tale.
"What do you want Sire?"
He laughed. "Ever direct aren't you my Chosen? Anja would have adored you."
"Anja?"
"
Anja
. My wife. My Chosen. My heart. The Mother of my son." He looked wistful, lost in memory of his beloved.
"I cannot replace her Sire."
He reached up, taking my hand in his. "I know that Talia." It was odd to hear my name come from his mouth. Our relationship had changed, he marked the change with my name. "It was wrong for me to try. Losing her left a hole in my heart that I looked to fill with your submission."
"What of Malchard? Of Beatrix?"
"There is much that we need to bring to rights in Vandarra. I'd like you at my side as The Vessel. Together I doubt there is much we cannot achieve. As my ally. I will not force it." He laughed. "It seems redundant for me to make such a pronouncement. I know you cannot be forced. You are instead a force of will."
"I am," I said, not sure if it was a good or bad quality.
"Like Nadar."
At the mention of his son, my heart jumped. He smiled at my reaction and shook his head. "He is as stubborn as you. As willful in his ways. As vulnerable."
"Vulnerable?" I had never thought myself so.
"Your heart is fragile. You protect it with your pride. As does my son. Pride will not get you the love you seek. You must take risks to find it. You will not always succeed. You will make mistakes. I speak a truth I have lived Talia. I should not have Claimed my Anja, in tying her to my will I destroyed hers. I was frightened of the love that consumed me. I imprisoned her in that love when I should have set her free."
"Free? Let her go?"
"I do not think she would have gone. She loved me as I did her. I should have let her claim me. Given her the power she needed instead of taking it all for myself."
"Claimed you. Is that possible? Can it be so?"
He squeezed the hand he still held in his. "You are the Vessel. You can make it so."
"He does not want me."
Roth shook his head. "He does not want to take you as I did his Mother. He loves you too much for that."
Loves me
. The thought slammed through me like a shot of whiskey. I was heady with the idea.
"So I should take him?"
"If it is what you want. Make it so." He released my hand and stood, leaning over to press a kiss to my head. I watched him leave, walking away in the effortless glide of a Master.
Make it so. Was it as simple as that? My head was churning thoughts as Hatha returned with our food.
"Hatha," I said, "I need your help with Prince Nadar. I mean to Claim him and I want to know how."
She smiled in that slight Hatha way, shook her head and said, "Well, it's about time Mistress."
* * * *
Hatha ran a tight ship preparing me for the Claiming. She blustered and complained, barking out orders like a drill sergeant. Askel muttered under his breath the word tyrant, regretting it immediately after suffering the sharp clip of Hatha's hand. As I had only two handmaidens—Corina too had thankfully survived the attack of the Queen's Guard—Askel was forced into Sarran handmaiden duties. Hatha had barked at him that it was the least he could do, stifling any further protest with her black glare.
I laughed at him and he poked out his tongue, earning him another quick clip to the ear. He was painting symbols up my leg. Her blow made him smudge one. He wiped it off and with a muttered curse reapplied the black symbol.
Hatha had scrubbed and shaved me. She worked now on my hair, weaving it into a tower of glittering curls. Askel looked up from my leg and I was pleased to see the approval in his eyes.
"You look beautiful Mistress."
"And you look very good at my feet Askel."
He grinned and angled his head to kiss a bare patch of skin on my thigh.
"Enough," Hatha barked, "Back to work."
Preparing me took until night fall. Hatha opened the shutters of the back window and let the light of the full moon fall upon my skin. The power washed over me. I closed my eyes and sank into feeling.
