Iron Crowned Chapter 25

Ow.I squeezed my eyes shut as another wave of nausea rol lead through me. Control, control. A hardly a(prenominal) deep breaths later, I opened my eyes and met Dorians view.Unexpected, he said in that dry way of his. And unwelcome.I sat at the base of his throne in the banquet hall, which was packed. It must pack been mealtime, just now no one was paying attention to the food. They were all on their feet, staring at the evening entertainment that had literally dropped into their midst. I peered around, wondering how Id been drawn to this spot and then found it the Slinky Id left here as my anchor. It had in one case had its declare piffling direction, simply now sat on a table beside Dorians throne, one he kept teensy-weensy treasures and knickknacks on to amuse him when holding court. Odd placement.There was no time to cerebrate that, though. I turned to Jasmine who looked as disoriented and sick as I felt scarcely didnt attend to have suffered any permanent damage. Her body and soul were intact, which was what counted. I looked back at Dorian and well-tried to stand up, but my legs gave way beneath me. I started to fall and clutched his robe instinctively. Jasmine, with surprising speed, moved in to catch my arm and steady me.Hospitality, I gasped out. enthrall.Dorians unwelcome comment had been a reminder that I currently didnt have hospitality and that I was technically trespassing and fully vulnerable to attack within his walls. Yet, the item that I hadnt already been removed was a good sign, and though his way more or slight remained unchanged, there was a spark of curiosity in his eyes. He couldnt ignore me on my knees, begging him for protection. not yet. No emergence how angry he was at me, this kind of novelty was too irresistible for his nature.He started to speak, undoubtedly ready with some witty quip, but was interrupted when Jasmine clutched at him and added her pleas to mine. Please. Give us your protection. festinateDorian frowned, no longer able to hide his curiosity and surprise. The daughters of Storm tabby, begging me for help subsequently one do it quite clear she didnt ever want to see me one time more. Do tell me wherefore I shouldnt have you formulaten out or imprisoned. He paused thoughtfully. Or ransomed back to your own people. Quite a profit there, I imagine.Dorian I began.Suddenly, there was a commotion at the halls entrance. A cluster of Dorians guards appeared with Kiyo between them. I wasnt surprised hed showed up so quickly. My mark would have led him compensate to me, and while he couldnt jump directly into Dorians castle, hed likely crossed over right in front of the gates.Sire, said one of the guards. He seeks entrance Kiyo wore that fierce, raging expression, and no one in that room could have any doubt that he was there ready for battle. Dorians guards certainly had picked up on it, and they disagreeable ranks as he strode forward. I had a feeling Kiyo wanted to figh t right through them, but reason and self-control held him at bay for now.Meanwhile, at the sight of him, I managed to make my legs work again and scrambled to my feet. Jasmine grasped my hand, helping me rise, and as one, we backed up slightly so that we stood in line with Dorian. The military personnel reeled a little, but I refused to show my weakness. I would not faint.Get rid of him, I said, severe not to sound hysterical. Deny him hospitality and throw him out.Shes an outcast here, growled Kiyo, fists clenched. And this has nothing to do with you. Send her away. tenseness and silence filled the space between all of us, and all eyes swiveled to Dorian. Neither Kiyo nor I nor Jasmine, for that matter had hospitality and protection within Dorians household at the moment. We had no guarantees of safety. Hell, if Kiyo decided to attack me right now, no one had to intervene. We would be a great dinner show. I wondered how good a defense Jasmine and I could put up, if it would b e enough to give us a chance to escape to my own reason if Dorian wouldnt help us.I could guess Dorians thoughts or rather, his confusion. That Kiyo would be on the verge of killing me made no sense. Asking why would go against Dorians natural, all-knowing faade. Plus, Kiyo and I werent his favorite people right now. vainglorious in to either of us meant a concession Dorian didnt want to make.Hail to youAn unexpected, raspy vocalize made me jump, and even Dorian flinched a little. From the crowd, Masthera had emerged, her white h line of credit streaming behind her and eyes as wide as ever. She came forward with purpose and to my total astonishment fell onto her knees before me. She stared up at me, and I expected that usual scattered and crazy look. Instead, I saw awe and rapture. Worship, even.Hail to you, queen regnant of Rowan and Thorn. Hail to you, bringer of life, bringer of life. I see it I see the life growing within you, the buzz off who testament fulfill the pro phecyShe reached a skeletal hand toward my stomach, and I jerked away from her grasp. Dont touch me I exclaimed.I see it, she cried. You shine, Queen of Rowan and Thorn. You carry the heir. You shine with it.Dorian exclaimed Kiyo, drawing our attention back. His expression had grown dark at Mastheras words. Full disclosure was the last thing he wanted. Give her to me continue out of thisI again looked pleadingly at Dorian. Hes going to try to kill me, I said. If you throw me out, he and Maiwenn will come after me. Please give us your hospitality.Dorian like virtually everyone in the hall had been left dumbstruck by Mastheras proclamation. Dorian forcibly schooled his face back to neutrality, but the gaze he turned on me was so heavy and penetrating that I was virtually knocked to my knees again.Is it true? he asked in a low voice that probably only Jasmine heard. Are you pregnant?There was no point in lying or pretending. I gave a swift nod.His next question nearly broke my hea rt. He tried so hard to keep his voice level and strong, but I heard the break in it, the longing and desperation. Is it is there any chance is it He couldnt finish but didnt need to. He wanted to know if he was the father. A million thoughts raced through my head. Would things have been diverse if wed actually had intercourse the last time we were together? Would I have gotten pregnant with his child, instead of Kiyos? mayhap. Maybe not. Sex didnt always lead to pregnancy, especially with the gentry. I could still have ended up with Kiyos babies or been left with a talk show?Cworthy paternity dispute. If Dorian had been the one to get me pregnant, my future would have been signed and sealed. He would have moved heaven and earth to keep me safe. As it was, I probably could have lied now. The gentry had no paternity tests. That would have simplified things but I couldnt do it.No, I said softly.Dorians features stilled, and a surprising wave of regret and sorrow filled me in res olution to the cavalcade of emotions that had to be going through him as well. He had no reason to help me, not after what he saw as my betrayal. And certainly not with me carrying another mans children.Please, said Jasmine. Her blue-gray eyes were large and desperate. Id never seen her so humble and meek. And Id certainly never expected to see it on my behalf. Please help us. Please give us your hospitality. Your Majesty.My eyes were still locked with Dorians, my heart still breaking over the hurt Id caused him. get through to the side, I heard Kiyo warn Dorian again, This is between Eugenie and me. Give her to me, and this ends. If you dont, Maiwenn and God knows who else will get involved.Im sorry, I said to Dorian, my voice precisely audible. Im so sorry.Please, Jasmine repeated, nearly on the verge of tears now. Hospitality.The whole origination hinged on Dorian. No one breathed. Then, abruptly, he turned away from me.Granted, he said crisply. The daughters of Storm King are under my protection. Remove the kitsune, and do not allow him entrance again.The guards were in motion around before Dorian finished speaking. More had slipped into the room in the last minute or so, and it was a good thing too. Kiyo fought against all of them as they laid hands on him and began dragging him backward. They made little progress, so great were his struggles He was strong, so insanely strong, and it scared me to think what would have happened if Id been left to him in my weakened state.Dorian roared Kiyo, still fighting against the guards grip. Dont do this Youll regret itDorian had returned to his normal laconic persona. You will address me as King Dorian or Your Majesty, he replied. And you will not disobey my orders within my home.The al-Qaida trembled, and I heard a gasp from those gathered. Uneasily, I remembered an idle comment Dorian had once made, slightly how he could bring the castle down around us if he wanted to. The walls stayed intact, however, but a large section of the stone floor ripped up, eliciting more cries of fear. Before my eyes, the slab of stone morphed and stretched, then flew through the air toward Kiyo. It wrapped itself around his torso, enclosing his arms in a sort of magical strait-jacket. Kiyo, unsurprisingly, stopped struggling, but his shouts didnt cease.Eugenie You dont know what youre doing This isnt over EugenieGet him out, said Dorian coldly. Now. If he resists again or changes form, kill him.The guards hurry to obey while Kiyo continued yelling his outrage at me, Dorian, and the world. I hoped they moved fast because Dorian had had a point. If Kiyo transformed into a fox, hed slip out of his stone prison. Of course, hed have to transform into a small fox, which would do little harm, but still. It would be a lot better for all of us once Kiyo was outside the walls.The guards must have succeeded because no more commotion followed. Jasmine turned to Dorian.You should have killed him anyway, she said flatly . Her stock response.The ghost of a smile flickered across Dorians lips, though his eyes were still hard. Youre nearly as fair as your sister, he observed. No matter how displeased I am at the two of you right now, I admit, things will certainly be entertaining with you around. And they will become very entertaining soon. That was order at me. If you think you brought a war down before, you havent seen anything yet, my dear. Youve caused me quite a bit of trouble.I barely heard him. The adrenaline was fast fading from my body, and all the pain from fighting with Kiyo and then doing the forced innovation began returning. I felt sick, and my surroundings were spinning once again.Sorry, I managed to say to Dorian, just before collapsing.