Page 114 of Ecliptic

“This is most inappropriate,” Rayal shouted with an authority that reminded me of Nepta. I prayed the desert elves realized she was the true ruler of their city—their queen who’d been unjustly pushed to the sidelines. If they couldn’t see, I would just have to remind them.

Aedris’ grip on my knee tightened before reason suddenly flashed through his eyes. He released me with a shrug and straightened his sash around his shoulder.

“I’m told you brought down an entire cavern. I see the wildness in your eyes. If I agree to help you, you would need to pledge your body to me,” he stated matter-of-factly, his hand gesturing from my feet to the top of my head. “You are a weapon—a dangerous one at that. And as the greatest sovereign of Luneth, it is only fitting that the greatest weapon should be under my command. You in exchange for my troops.”

My heart plunged into my stomach like a boulder, and my face paled at his proposal.

“Absolutely not,” Rowen roared behind me.

I couldn’t turn around to look at him. I knew his face would crumble my resolve, and we were out of options. “What are the terms of this pledge?” I asked, not stepping down or backing up a single step.

“Keira, don’t,” Dyani snapped. “Do not entertain this.”

Aedris bent down and plucked the small pink succulent from the revived plant. “Your body would be pledged to me intimes of war as well as in times of peace,” he said, looking up from the cactus flower. “And love.”

I nearly gagged at the insinuation but quickly swallowed my emotions as the negotiation for my body began.

“You’re right,” I said, though the lie tasted like dirt. “It does make sense for the greatest city to possess the strongest weapon. I never thought about it that way.”

The king’s shocked expression quickly morphed into triumph. “I’m happy to hear that you are seeing reason.”

“I could hand myself over,” I said, speaking as if I were still in control despite my vulnerable position. “But what would be the fun in that? It seems like you like a little challenge. Let’s discuss a plan for a worldwide solution.” I leaned closer to him, though my body was repulsed. “I’m sure we could come to an agreement,” I countered, trying to tamp down the rapid heaving of my chest. I kept my face a stoic mask, one I’d learned from Nepta.

“No,” was his casual reply.

So much for negotiations. It appeared he wasn’t willing to budge. And as much as we needed his armies, the price wouldn’t—couldn’t—be my body.

“Then it’s a no for me as well. Which is a shame. I looked forward to working with the mightiest ruler of Luneth,” I replied, remembering Rayal said her uncle loved a challenge so long as he was winning. “Thank you for your hospitality. We will be leaving now.”

“It appears we are at an impasse,” he said, grabbing my wrist and turning me back towards him. “Although,” he mused, and my pulse ratcheted up once again, “you did mention a challenge.” His eyes glinted, tracing up and down my body. “If you win, my help is granted in whatever way you need.”

He knew we were desperate for his help, and the mischievous glint in his eye told me he was enjoying this.

“And if I lose?”

“You will be mine in whatever way I see fit,” he said, his unnaturally bright eyes roving down my body with lust. “And maybe you could convince me to send troops.”

“What is the trial?” I asked.

“You will have to agree before I disclose such information.”

It was a risk worth taking, though I knew the emerald eyes watching from the crowd would disagree. I could feel Rowen’s emotions through our bond, begging me to refuse. “Decide quickly. The sun is already beginning to set.”

“If I win, your army will fight by my side. If I lose,” I said, stepping closer to him and trailing my hands along his muscled arms. I blinked up at him through my lashes. “My body shall belong to the true and mighty ruler of Hara’dune. Those are the terms. Do you accept?”

“I accept,” Aedris grinned, and the air crackled with the energy of our deal.

My fate was sealed.

He placed his hand on the small of my back and directed me toward the giant sculpture of rings. “This is an armillary sphere, an instrument used to track the movement of the heavens. It can map the past, present, and some believe the future. The central globe represents Luneth, while the neat and tidy rings depict the entirety of the cosmos. The trial is to activate the four celestial runes and make it to the center globe before nightfall catches your heels.”

Oh. That didn’t seem so hard. The armillary sphere was massive, but it looked like a pretty straight shot to the center. But that couldn’t be all, could it? If I appeared too confident, Aedris might rescind on our deal.

I ignored the pull of Rowen’s presence—a presence so strong, it had pulled me across galaxies. Across worlds.

If I thought about our soul flame bond right now, it would knock me off my game. “I should also mention, no one has beenable to activate it for some time. Though that should be no problem for you and your abilities.”

“Let’s just go,” I ground out, softening my knees into a runner’s stance.

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