his breeches when she wasn’t looking and before she could speak, he
was over the side, gliding to the floor.
29
Michelle M Pillow
“Oh,” she sighed, shaking horribly. She was all too aware of the water
wall arching overhead. They might not have heard her below, but they
could see. She took a deep breath and then another. It would seem time
had not changed much. Rurik could still thoroughly disarm her.
“Ari?” her father called. “Do you seek assistance?”
“Nae,” she yelled back. Tugging at the annoying coils fitted to her
arms, she took them off. “I’m coming.”
XW
“Ari, I know it’s strange to be mated to the commander, but the
Chalice’s magic has ultimate authority over our laws,” the king said. Ari
couldn’t look at her father’s eyes as she sat on a low, armless couch.
They were in her father’s chambers, near the library. Her father’s
belongings were being moved to a private room on the other end of the
royal courtyard. By nightfall, this section of the palace would belong to
her, as the new queen.
How could he agree to this? To Rurik? Ari shook her head in denial.
“But he’s a warrior, a pure shifter.”
“Yea,” the king agreed, nodding. “And pure bloods did rule the land at
one time.”
“And look where that brought us!” she argued. “We almost lost the
planet to a bunch of overgrown, warmongering slugs.”
“Gryger looked at the laws. There were none made saying pure bloods
couldn’t rule. It was just agreed that they shouldn’t for a time and left at
that. No one ever thought to look, because for the last several centuries
the question never came up. However, he did come across a prophecy
stating that one day, after the sins of the past could be forgotten, a pure
blood would take the throne, combining the planet’s strengths. Perhaps
the time has come for them to reclaim part of the throne. Commander
30
Talons: Seize the Hunter
Rurik will make you a fine mate, and you will still have ultimate power
over the planet.”
“We both know Falconian prophecy is just a way for old men to
ramble about what could happen and look smart.” Ari shook her head.
“Four thousand years ago they said a fiery ship would fall from the sky
and alien men would steal away the daughters of noblemen.”
“It could happen,” the king protested.
“And yet it hasn’t and we still have the law banning noblewomen from
walking alone at night because of such nonsense.”
“Ari,” her father sighed heavily. “You must resign yourself to your
fate. You chose to walk the path of the Chalice. You did not have to
drink. If you would have poured the liquid on the floor, you would’ve
remained unmated for the rest of your days. You knew the risk and you
accepted it.”
“Right,” she drawled. “I’m sure everyone would have loved that. There
goes our family line, right onto the floor with the magic.”
“It was your choice, whatever reasons you used to make it.”
Ari frowned.
“Now, why don’t you get dressed.” Her father motioned toward the
long tunic she wore. It was plain and white and not at all fitting for a
princess about to become queen. “The hall is probably far into their cups
and I’d like to pass this crown to you so that I may join them.”
XW
Ari paced her chambers, doing her best not to look at the high bed. It
did no good, for she couldn’t stop her gaze from following the water wall
up toward the ceiling, to where the site of her most unmentionable
shame was reflected back to her.
Holy Comet, she’d wanted him. She still wanted him.
31
Michelle M Pillow
“Ari?” Vara spoke softly, her purple gaze shining with concern. Her
friend held her coronation gown. It was much more concealing than the
mating dress with the metal band.
“I was thinking about him, that’s why the Chalice chose him,” Ari
said. “I’m being punished because I wanted revenge.”
“It doesn’t work like that and you know it.” Vara laid the dark-red
dress down on a low couch and joined Ari by the water wall. “The Chalice
doesn’t make mistakes.”
“It did this time,” Ari exclaimed.
“I’ll admit it’s strange.” Vara sighed. “You should’ve seen the crowd
when you two disappeared. First you, then suddenly those two women
who were on…” Vara’s eyes rounded in horror and she covered her
mouth.
“On Rurik’s lap,” Ari finished dryly.