Page 10 of Legacy of the Heirs
“I knew she was with you, and I assumed thecommanderof an entire realm could keep his Queen safe.” Vlad made to step around Kazaar, who quickly raised a hand to his chest to stop him. Vlad did not push again. He glanced at Kazaar’s hand before meeting his eyes. Something changed in Vlad’s expression before he stepped back.
“If you want to help her, head to the courtyard and await Helena, Vigor, and Talia’s arrival,” Kazaar said calmly, eager to once again be alone with his queen. Vlad raised his eyebrows but remained rooted in place.
“Not until I know what happened.”
Kazaar sighed. “We do not know for certain. She expended a lot of power, and now she won’t wake. Nyzaia and Tajana are looking into it, but that is why we need Vigor,” Kazaar said. A battle played behind Vlad’s eyes as he surveyed his queen with a frown. He glanced between her and Kazaar, attempting to piece together what had transpired. “I do not want to command you, Vlad,” Kazaar added.
Vlad pursed his lips at the cold reminder of his station. While Vlad’s sole responsibility was the queen, Kazaar acted for the entire realm, and this was a concern far greater than just their queen’s safety.
“You send for me the second she wakes,” Vlad relented. Kazaar nodded in confirmation before Vlad turned to leave without another word.
Kazaar was quick to return to his spot at Elisara’s side. Pulling rank was a last resort. While plenty of stories circulated about Kazaar and his teachings under Razik’s command, he was making a difference with Vala’s guards and soldiers. They did not view him the way the stories painted him to be, and it was all because of her. When Elisara scolded him about implementing Keres’ methods in Vala, he took a step back to consider their differences before changing his practices and commanding his soldiers how he alwayswished. What would Razik say if he saw how soft Kazaar had become under the influence of a woman?
Leaning over Elisara, he brushed her hair aside and took in the details of her face. He planted a soft kiss on her forehead before leaning his own against hers.
“Please, Elisara,” Kazaar murmured. “I never wished for this to happen.” Darkness flashed in his mind—an image of them on the Isle. He lifted a hand to cup her cheek, his forehead still against hers. While the image was a memory of the two of them on the Isle before their powers met, the surroundings were different. Shadows replaced the onyx and marble, and the surrounding walls were non-existent, fallen to reveal only the starry night encompassing all. Wisps of darkness became tendrils with a mind of their own, twisting until forming a blanket of shadows that Kazaar could not control. He pulled back to peer longingly at the closed eyes before him, begging them to open.
His darkness had truly invaded her.
Chapter Seven
Nyzaia
Upon opening the door of her chambers, Nyzaia stumbled and collided with Tajana, who reached out to keep her from tripping over the skirts of her lehenga.
“When you guard a room, I don’t expect you to be standing quite so close to the door,” grumbled Nyzaia, straightening.
“I told her it was too close,” Farid said. He stood on the opposite side of the door, his back pressed against the wall. Tajana glared at him.
“Seeing as there is an unconscious queen in the room upstairs, and we have no idea what happened”—Tajana stroked Nyzaia’s arm— “I thought it important to stay close while you sleep, in case anything went wrong.” Nyzaia refrained from repeating their argument the night prior when Nyzaia had left Kazaar’s rooms. Tajana had insisted on spending the night with her, as she did on most occasions when she was off duty, but Nyzaia wished to be alone, desperate for some time to think. Tajana had not taken it well.
“I feel like you’re pushing me away.”
Nyzaia ignored the pang of guilt and focused on the task ahead. She had already wasted time after sleeping longer than intended.
“You cannot honestly believe Kazaar did something to Elisara.” Tajana kept pace on her left, and Farid positioned himself to her right, constantly scanning their surroundings.
“I don’t want to believe he would, but…” Tajana hesitated, glancing cautiously at Farid, who remained expressionless.
“Farid is a member of the Queen’s Guard as much as you or theothers, Tajana. You can speak in front of him.” Nyzaia continued toward her father’s office, shivering again at the coldness haunting the corridor as she approached the dark doors. Nyzaia understood Tajana’s apprehension; after all, Farid was simply a guard who won his position; he was not a part of the syndicate or even a Red Stone, yet they could not keep everything from him if he was to remain a part of her closest guards. Tajana would have to adjust to his presence like Jabir, Issam, and Rafik had.
“Anything?” Tajana emphasised. Nyzaia considered the implications. Something terrible had happened to one of Novisia’s rulers; perhaps divulging her knowledge to her closest companions could be beneficial and keep them on alert. Farid had proved himself loyal so far.
“Anything,” Nyzaia decided, opening the doors to her father’s office. Tajana huffed and halted behind Nyzaia, who stopped in her tracks, her eyes immediately falling on the open door at the other end of the room. It had never been there before. Tajana made to walk toward it with Farid on her heels.
“No,” Nyzaia commanded. Farid stopped instantly, but Tajana hesitated. While Nyzaia was clueless about what lay within that room, Kazaar was a brother to her. She needed to protect him, too, regardless of what he had hidden. Farid backed away, resting a hand on the pommel of his sword while his eyes roamed over the clear view of the Vala mountains in the distance. Tajana stepped forward.
“You don’t know what could be in there, love,” she said. Nyzaia blinked, and flames crawled up her arms.
“I am sure I can handle it.”
Farid failed to hide his smirk as Nyzaia strode into the room and pulled the door behind her, leaving it slightly ajar. She slipped and gripped the wall for purchase, shivering as her body adjusted to the plummeting temperature; it was colder here than in the office itself.Why did her father have a hidden room? And what within it caused trouble betweenKazaar and Elisara?
Finding her footing, Nyzaia carefully stepped forward and slowly turned to take in the glistening room of ice. Elisara’s power had escalated, but why? With a wave of her hand, Nyzaia’s flames made quick work of melting the ice-encased room, yet she cursed when glancing down at the pool of water surrounding her feet. A piece of parchment lay within it, the ink darkening. She grabbed it, squinting at the blurred lines. Only one was clear.
“The Gods may whisper and help them on,” Nyzaia read aloud. The prophecy.Why would my father have the prophecy?
Nyzaia knelt, the hem of her skirts darkening in the water as she examined the statues on the table. Were they the Gods? Waves rushed at the feet of one, while flames, vines, and mountains marked the others. Her eye paused at the base of the pair in the centre, embracing in a way that spoke of desperation. A sun and a moon. Nyzaia’s mind returned to the raised moon faintly etched on Elisara’s collarbone. Was whatever happened in this room linked to those on the table before her?
