Page 8 of Risen
I didn’t feel ready to face his family and clan’s judgement.But then… I probably never would feel ready for that.
A soft knock at the door preceded Cicely’s warm presence.I leaned into his warm hug, as if I hadn’t just spent the afternoon sleeping by his side.I chuckled softly when he spoke in my mind.You smell like vampire and snake.Now I’ll have to thoroughly scent mark you later so I don’t feel left out.
Sadavir moved, and it took me a moment to realize he had ruffled Cicely’s hair.Releasing me, Cicely whined mentally.Damn it.I just got it to lay down.
I knew the way Cicely’s golden curls always wanted to riot all over his head.He had probably spent the entire time we were with Josh trying to tame his hair.And I knew Sadavir well enough to know he wasn’t just messing with the faun.I think my naga had a raging crush on the faun.This was his way of silently saying Cicely looked better with his wild curls and natural allure.
Sadavir took my arm and drew me over to the other side of the room, distracting me from the momentary levity.“Let’s get you ready for dinner with the naga court.”
Chapter 4
Ruya
Thenagaenclavewasimpossibly quiet.A kind of deep, far-reaching quiet that could only come from tons of earth pressing in from all sides, and old magic humming softly beneath the stone under our feet.As we walked through the corridors, our footfalls were muffled by plush carpets.In my blurry light-and-shadow vision, the walls pulsed faintly with bioluminescent light—like they were breathing.
I should have been nervous.And I was.But I also found myself drawing some kind of strength from the place around me.I felt… solid.Anchored in something ancient.The deep resonance of the earth.
I was part witch—and as such, I drew power from mother earth as surely as any naga.I straightened my spine, lifted my chin, and reminded myself who I was.Sadavir chuckled softly and squeezed my hand, seeing and sensing my shift in mood.
The naga elders and royal family had arranged this dinner, which I knew in any other court would be a formal gesture meant to hide veiled layers of social nuance, power plays, and manipulation.It was the kind of gathering court rulers in the syndicate designed to test someone’s intelligence, their poise, their power—to determine their usefulness, their malleability, or their threat level.
I had dabbed rose oil perfume on my wrists and throat.I wore a silk wrap that Sadavir had gotten for me from somewhere.Cicely told me the fabric was woven with silver threads that shimmered like moonlight.Sadavir had helped me braid my hair into coils in a traditional naga style.I knew I looked the part of a prince’s consort.But more importantly—I was determined to project that Ifeltthe part.I wanted to actively claim my spot at Sadavir’s side—more omega instincts, or perhaps my confidence had simply grown that much through all I’d experienced.
Then there was the more practical side of all this.We needed the naga’s acceptance and support.They had agreed to shelter us for now.But if we could impress them and win them over while we were here… well, with more support, there’d hopefully be more hope of us walking away from this war with the syndicate alive.
As I entered the dining room on Sadavir’s arm, Cicely paced behind us, whispering descriptions into my mind, painting a picture of the room.The palace’s dining room was as beautifully crafted and decorated as the rest of the place, according to the faun.Five naga elders were seated in a half-circle around a large crescent-shaped table carved from some kind of polished black stone and decorated with elaborate, yet earthy, table settings and centerpieces made from the lilies that grew throughout the palace.Two spots had been left open for me and Sadavir, and he held out a chair for me, gently guiding me into my seat.
There was a shuffling and flurry of movement as Sadavir requested another seat and place setting for his beta, and Cicely was given a place at the table.Cicely’s voice in my head was amused as he described the surprise and knowing looks that request received.But there was also an undercurrent of smug pleasure there.He was happy about being the first member of Sadavir’s court, aside from Josh and me.
Sadavir went around the table, introducing us to each of the six naga elders.I bowed my head slightly as each elder was introduced, and silently prayed no one expected me to remember them all by name.
Then came Sadavir’s family, who sat along the inner curve of the crescent table.Cicely described a stout senior naga who regarded us all with a mixture of wariness and curiosity, and an older naga woman who seemed barely able to contain her joy at Sadavir’s return—and the addition of an omega mate.Sadavir’s mother and father, Aradhya and Gurveer, the king and queen of the naga enclave.
His younger brother, Arif, also joined us, leaving a place for Arif’s fiancé.Then two teenaged sisters trailed in, bubbling with laughter and hushed chatter.Everyone seemed welcoming, but guarded.They were glad to have their prince returned to them, but rightfully suspicious of the circumstances and the strangers he brought with him.
“I hope you won’t mind,” Sadavir’s mother, said happily as we all settled in.“I’ve arranged for a pouring ritual before we break bread.”She paused, then let out a little huff.“Arif, your fiancé is late, as usual.I hope he’ll forgive me for not waiting on him.”Her tone of voice indicated that Aradhya wasn’t too fond of Arif’s poor fiancé.I idly wondered what the drama was there, but dismissed it from my mind.
I tried not to let my complete lack of knowledge show as everyone prepared for the pouring ritual—whatever that was.Sadavir patted my thigh under the table and signed to Cicely, who translated for me.The ritual is customary when welcoming new members into a naga family.They are honoring us, letting everyone know that Sadavir is accepted back into the fold, and that you and I are considered family as well.It sounds like it’s simply a tradition, nothing involving magic.He paused.My own take on the situation, if you care for it?
I nodded imperceptibly and he continued.Stating we are one of them also allows them to make a claim on us.It might be a political move or, just a way of hedging their bets.This way they can accuse anyone who comes for us of attacking their clan and family.That would ostensibly be good for us—a show of support.But it might also be a way to control Sadavir.Or a way to indicate that we are expected to be under their control.They might expect us to follow their orders like any other younger members of the family—defer to the king and queen, fight for them or serve some other purpose, that sort of thing.
I let that all soak in for a moment.It was possible Cicely was just being paranoid, and this really was just a gesture of welcome and goodwill.He had spent a long time under O’Dell’s thumb, and the fae king would never doanythingjust out of kindness.That didn’t mean the naga were the same.But I had learned to be cautious, too.It never hurt to look at things from all possible perspectives.
Regardless of their intentions, it would cause issues to object now.And Sadavir didn’t seem concerned.In fact, when I felt along our bond all I sensed was glowing happiness and pride.So, I placed my palms on my knees and waited for the pouring ritual to begin.
We passed a lightweight, hammered copper pot clockwise around the table.Cicely and Sadavir guided me, and I mimicked the elder’s slow, reverent movements as I bowed and poured a bit of the liquid from the pot into a small wooden cup that was provided with my place setting.There were no spells or mystic words.Just the heat of the pot, and the rich, earthy scent of an herb I didn’t know, as Sadavir’s father spoke and we all drank our tea.“We welcome you with warmth into our nest, my son’s precious mates.May you live each day with the fierce heart of the naga people.”
It was… unexpectedly touching.I sipped my tea with a soft smile, soaking in the feeling of being surrounded by a court and a family that was so unlike those I’d experienced while visiting—or being held captive by—the syndicate.
But the congenial mood in the room shifted as another naga arrived.Arif’s missing fiancé, I assumed.
“Dimitri,” Sadavir hissed under his breath.“Thisis your fiancé, Arif?”My naga’s blunted words seethed with anger.
That name sounded familiar to me… and it set off alarm bells in my mind for some reason.It took me several moments to recall where I’d heard it before, spoken in that exact tone of bitter rage.Josh had mentioned the man a time or two...
“Sadavir,” their father said, a note of warning lacing his voice.“Clearly you’ve spent too long among the vampires.Put your fangs away.This is not the time or the place to act like a jilted child.”
Sadavir’s loud snort said just what he thought of his father’s assessment of the situation.
