Page 3 of Captive of the Stolen Empire

They’d pay. If it took my very life, I’d tear the empire apart one stone at a time.

I craned my head up at Lucien. He stared not at Mother, a ruler on her knees, but at me.

Chapter2

Lucien

Honor and duty. They were the foundation of my life, yet they could be cruel mistresses. They were for the armies of Sorrena today. How many died for their ruler’s foolishness?

Weariness pressed on my shoulders. Drying sweat and grime clung to me under my armor—it chafed against my senses as much as my skin. Death walked with me long before my first battle. I’d been born with the blessing of the God of Darkness after all, but this one bothered me. So much bloodshed could have been avoided if Lady Astraea had only bent the knee and sworn fealty earlier. Or better yet, if they hadn’t blocked the trade routes, perhaps our emperor would have spared them. They weren’t a threat to us, not a military one. Their arrogance cost many lives—theirs and ours.

At least we finally had another city-state brought in line and added to the empire. One step closer to my emperor’s goal of lasting peace and prosperity for the entire region. Perhaps then death wouldn’t be such a constant companion.

My attention shifted to Lady Astraea’s daughter, Ilya. A proud spark of defiance flickered in her strong-willed gaze. I could almost admire it. She showed more strength than many of the men on the battlefield. Her look alone would have flayed a lesser man. Yet she’d be trouble, a nuisance that would live under our roof in Zhine and likely try to murder each of us in our sleep.

The young woman notched her chin higher despite the unmistakable wetness on her cheeks that wasn’t from the rain. “She’s just a child. Don’t tear her away from her home, from her fa—”

Her mother latched onto her arm. Ilya grimaced and went silent. I stiffened and fought the urge to step back. Her words had struck a blow worse than any I’d received from their men on the battlefield.

Old memories, ones I’d long ago tried to repress, crept to the surface. A cabin in the resting season. Death. Starvation. My skin prickled as a chill slid down my spine. The deep sorrow of loss still haunted my nightmares.

My emperor had found me there long before he rose to power after his brother’s illness and ultimate demise. I was the first of his adopted children, his captains. He gave me life, purpose. All that I’d become was thanks to him. For that, if nothing else, I served him with every waking breath. I stood a little straighter, forcing away the reckless thoughts. I couldn’t afford a distraction. Not now. Not here.

“A feisty one.” Orson stepped forward. His words anchored me back to the moment. Like me in height and bulk, his armor still bore our enemy’s blood that he’d refused to wipe away. He thought it made him more intimidating, like the red paint he applied to the teeth of his bear helm, but it was sloppy, disrespectful. Our emperor didn’t raise us that way.

“Maybe she already needs a reminder of who she swore fealty to.” Kasida’s tone spoke of a threat rather than a question. Her feline helm cocked my way, sharing the sharp glint in her eyes.

They were still jumpy from the battle, bloodlust unquenched despite the terror we wrought. I gripped the pommel of the dagger sheathed at my side. This could get out of hand, and though I’d grown numb to death, any more of it today would complicate this surrender.

Ilya’s lips thinned. She held my gaze as I turned back to her, not bothering with the other captains. Wise, she knew where power resided, but her look said much more than that. I rolled my neck to ease the sudden tension there. By The Four, she would be a thorn in my side.

“Rise.” I gestured to the women on the ground. Rain pinged onto my armor, the storm at my back just as furious as the women in front of me.

Orson returned to his place behind me with a huff of frustration.

Lady Astraea finally released her daughter. The imprint of her tight grip faded from Ilya’s arm as she rose. Wet, purple fabric clung to her legs from the water, accenting a form that would be pleasing if she weren’t our captive. A gust of wind tousled her hair, rich as good soil.

“I’ll offer you a deal.”

“Lucien, we—”

My teeth ground together as I waved Orson silent. He tested my authority more and more lately. We had orders to bring our emperor a guest from Sorrena to reside with him in Zhine—whomever the ruler valued most. Any fool could see that was Ilya. She’d come with us. On that, I wouldn’t budge. But he didn’t specifically demandtwofrom Sorrena. He’d taken Lord Merrin’s twins after his oldest had been put to the sword following a failed uprising. I’d planned to bring him two from here as well. Assurance, in case of a similar incident. The foresight would please him, but plans could change.

“I want your vow of obedience, here and now, to our emperor and to me, and I will let the little one stay.” I gestured to the young girl still trapped within her father’s arms, barely visible beyond the advisors clustered around them.

Ilya’s lips parted. Her eyes widened before blinking rapidly.

“You already have my pledge, the pledge of all of Sorrena to serve the emperor.”

“Ouremperor.”

She swallowed. “Our emperor.”

“By your oath of fealty, you and your mother have spared your people—for now,” I said. “This additional pledge is to me. No trouble. No stepping out of line. One offense against our emperor or his rule, and your sister will join us in Zhine.” By The Four, I didn’t need one more thing to worry about in this sprawling empire. If leaving the younger one behind could ensure her sister’s willful allegiance, then so be it. But if Ilya caused as much trouble as I feared, I’d bring the young one too to keep her in line and as an extra guard against misbehavior from their mother. Lady Astraea Valerious might hide her emotions well, but I had no doubt she harbored just as much fire and resentment as her oldest daughter.

Lady Astraea glanced from her daughter to me and back again, her expectation clear.

“I agree.” Ilya gave a jerking nod, but I didn’t miss the way her fists tightened at her sides. Lightning flashed and thunder boomed as if The Four themselves bound her vow.

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