Iron Crowned Chapter 25

Ow.I squeezed my eyeb exclusively shut as another ripple of nausea rolled through me. Control, control. A few deep breaths later, I opened my eyes and met Dorians glance.Unexpected, he utter in that dry way of his. And unwelcome.I sat at the base of his throne in the bedspread hall, which was packed. It must devour been mealtime, unless no one was paying care to the food. They were all on their feet, staring at the neerthelessing 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 remaining wing here as my anchor. It had at one time had its own dinky room, but at once sat on a table beside Dorians throne, one he kept small treasures and knickknacks on to amuse him when holding court. Odd placement.There was no time to ponder that, though. I turned to Jasmine who looked as disoriented and charnel as I tangle but didnt seem to have suffered some(prenominal) permanent dama ge. Her body and soul were intact, which was what counted. I looked back at Dorian and tried to stand up, but my legs gave way beneath me. I started to hand and clutched his robe instinctively. Jasmine, with surprising speed, go in to catch my arm and squiffy me.Hospitality, I gasped kayoed. Please.Dorians unwelcome comment had been a reminder that I beforehand long didnt have hospitality and that I was technically trespassing and fully vulnerable to attack within his walls. Yet, the fact that I hadnt al gain been removed was a good sign, and though his expression more or less remained unchanged, in that respect was a spark of tenuity in his eyes. He couldnt ignore me on my knees, begging him for protection. Not yet. No matter how angry he was at me, this kind of novelty was too irresistible for his nature.He started to speak, undoubtedly work with some witty quip, but was interrupted when Jasmine clutched at him and added her pleas to mine. Please. Give us your protection. HurryDorian frowned, no longer able to hide his curiosity and surprise. The daughters of beset King, begging me for help after one made it quite a clear she didnt ever want to see me again. Do tell me why I shouldnt have you fuddlen out or imprisoned. He paused thoughtfully. Or ransomed back to your own commonwealth. 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 essayed up so quickly. My adjust would have led him right to me, and while he couldnt jump at one time into Dorians castle, hed probably crossed over right in front of the gates.Sire, express 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 closed ranks as he strode forward. I had a feeling Kiyo wanted to fight 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 O.K. up slightly so that we stood in line with Dorian. The world reeled a little, but I refused to show my weakness. I would not faint.Get resign of him, I say, trying 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.Tension and silence make full 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 be enough to demote us a get hold to escape to my own land if Dorian wouldnt help us.I could venture 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. Giving in to either of us meant a assignment Dorian didnt want to make.Hail to youAn unexpected, raspy verbalise made me jump, and even Dorian flinched a little. From the crowd, Masthera had emerged, her white h aura streaming behind her and eyes as wide as ever. She came forward with purpose and to my total awe fell onto her knees before me. She stared up at me, and I expected that ha chippingual scattered and crazy look. Instead, I saw awe and rapture. Worship, even.Hail to you, queen of Rowan and Thorn. Hail to you, bringer of tone, bringer of life. I see it I see the life growing within you, the mother who ordain fulfill the prophecyShe 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, move our attention back. His expression had grown dark at Mastheras words. Full revealing was the stick out thing he wanted. Give her to me Stay 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 most 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 closely knocked to my knees again.Is it true? he asked in a low voice that probably only Jasmine perceive. Are you pregnant?There was no steer in lying or pretending. I gave a swift nod.His adjacent question nearly broke my heart. He tried so fleshy to keep his voice level and strong, but I heard the agree in it, the longing and desperation. Is it is there any chance is it He couldnt break off but didnt need to. He wanted to know if he was the father. A million thoughts raced through my head. Would things have been different if wed actually had intercourse the last time we were together? Would I have gotten pregnant with his child, instead of Kiyos? peradventure. Maybe not. Sex didnt always lead to pregnancy, especially with the gentry. I could hush have ended up with Kiyos babies or been left with a talk show?Cworthy writing dispute. If Dorian had been the one to get me pregnant, my future would have been sign(a) 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 response to the cav alcade 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. Off 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 barely audible. Im so sorry.Please, Jasmine repeated, nearly on the verge of tears now. Hospitality.The whole world 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 kitsu ne, and do not yield him entrance again.The guards were in motion almost before Dorian end 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 vitiated state.Dorian roared Kiyo, still fighting against the guards grip. Dont do this Youll regret itDorian had returned to his design laconic persona. You will address me as King Dorian or Your Majesty, he replied. And you will not dis succeed my orders within my home.The floor trembled, and I heard a gasp from those gathered. Uneasily, I remembered an idle comment Dorian had once made, about how he could bring the castle down around us if he wanted to. The walls stayed intact, however, but a large section of the orchestra pit floor ri pped 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 break 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 hurried 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 standard response.The ghos t of a pull a face flickered across Dorians lips, though his eyes were still hard. Youre nearly as scrumptious 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 directed 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 transition began returning. I felt sick, and my surroundings were spinning once again.Sorry, I managed to say to Dorian, just before collapsing.