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“I know what your builders are capable of, but that’s not the point. Sanjit cannot be trusted. She must leave immediately. You may go with her if you like it that way. She can be queen of her own Isle and you, the King, if that’s what you want, but she will never make another self-serving decision here ever again. Plead your case to King Oderas, brother. Not me. I am done with her.”

“Brother, please—”

“She hired mercenaries to execute Thanu!” I interjected, pointing out into the hall where Thanu stood. “This was after she sent my horde on a bogus mission and made decisions as if she were the Queen here.”

Ghid lowered his head.

“Any deals I made with you are null and void, princess. You must go back from where you came. Seeing as how our trust here is irrevocable broken, I don’t anticipate that any further dealings with you will end favorable for either of us. It would be very wise if you packed your things and left.”

Sanjit dropped to her knees and began sobbing. “Please, you haven’t given me a chance to fully explain. I’ve always believed myself to be the rightful Queen of Dretis. Why do you think I come to you with my proposal of a blood union? I wanted your cooperation. I truly did. When you and Ghid came to the Isles to assist my uncle this past season, I saw the advantages of two full bloods coming together to strengthen the Aurrakian bloodline from whence we both came. I wanted things to work out between all of us. I could’ve demanded that I become leader of Dretis, but I saw no need for a quarrel. I wanted both your agreements. I would do anything for that now. Please let me.”

“Demand to become leader? What are you saying?” I asked.

Sanjit stood and her gaze trailed uncomfortably behind me to Ghid and then she switched her attention back to me. “Before Magdul was appointed leader by King Oderas, my mother’s people called Dretis home. Even before that, my ancestors were great human traders. It’s why so many humans are here in Dretis. My mother’s people brought them here after King Oderas agreed to grant them refuge. But they were never supposed to take over the colony. They were slaves once—these humans. All of them. And then the human ambassador, Magdul, came along and convinced the King to make him the leader after my eldest brother died before accepting the crown, overstepping both my brother and father.”

“This deal you speak of happened decades ago, princess. Much has changed since then, and the humans are no longer slaves,” I said. “Don’t think for one moment that I don’t know the history. And don’t think that I don’t know that your brother and father relinquished all rights to Dretis in favor of pursuing richer colonies. In their greed, they fell. And your uncle, as you have stated many times before, is most certainly unfit to rule over anything.”

“But King Oderas had no right to disregard my claim,” she exclaimed.

“He is King of King. He has every right.” I frowned. “You wish to be Queen?”

She stiffened and met my gaze. “It is my birthright to become Queen of a great colony.”

“Who told you this?” I demanded this.

“I know it is true. My father was King. All that remains of my bloodline is me,” she stated.

“If that were true, would Oderas not have made you Queen?”

“He told me that I ought to work it out with you two to preserve my bloodline…and the Xihran bloodline. It’s why I came to both of you offering myself to establish a blood union. You are the King with the power to make me a Queen with this union. Isn’t that so?”

Tension heightened in the room, but not of the good kind. I was stunned by the bold and impudent plans the princess seemed to have for herself in connection with Ghid and I. Ghid looked even more dumbfounded as he looked back and forth between the princess and I.

I frowned. “I’m not interested in a blood union with you, princess. I am a king, but I don’t intend to make you a queen.”

Sanjit huffed. “I know what’s stopping you or rather who’s stopping you. You seem to have a weakness for a certain human, but I predict she’s not as compatible with you as you think. She will never bear you warriors like yourself. She is too weak. Take her as queen and your bloodline will surely be tainted. Even Ghid understands the importance of breeding more builders and warriors just like you. You’ll need a full blood Aurrakian if you want to do that. I recall from our initial meeting in the Isle that you wanted your sons to be like you. Blue-haired. Thick skin as bright as the moon. Rock-solid and built like a mountain. Isn’t that what you want and need, King Khol?”

“My wants and needs not up for discussion with you. You and I…we won’t get along if you stay here. Not after what you did when Ghid and I left.” Before I could turn around she said something that halted me in my tracks.

“In your absence, I was the only one here who could make the decisions, so I made it. I am a princess. It doesn’t matter now what you think you can achieve with her. Your human pet is gone.”

“Excuse me?”

“What’s your slave’s name? Visla. She escaped. No one knows where she is.”

“What do you mean? Escaped?”

“I ordered Visla’s arrest. I thought she stole from me, but I admit now that I made a big mistake.” Sanjit covered her mouth and pretended to hide her shame. “I found the misplaced bracelet and I was going to order her release from the prison, but when I went to let her out, she was gone.” She shrugged.

“What!” Had I not been trained to be nonviolent toward women of any species, I would’ve strangled the life out of Sanjit. “Where is she?” I demanded.

“I tried to tell you,” Thanu exclaimed, as he stood by the door.

“She was here in the prison.” Sanjit looked sheepishly away. “But someone helped her get away. On the day before maybe…I don’t know. Do you know anything about that, Thanu?” She shot an accusing glare at him.

I rushed to close the distance between Sanjit and I, but Ghid stepped in front of me.

“Don’t do something you’ll regret, my brother,” he warned. “She’s already been abused by her uncle. She doesn’t need to suffer anymore.”