Chapter Seventeen—Aural Tether

When his magic originally began to recede, Darius’ initial panic was strong. But then after a time the magical recession had stopped, leaving him with the vast majority of his abilities intact.

To his belief, it was due to Jessamine’s bond with another. She could not fully bond with the man called Shiro—not while her bond to Darius was intact. Which meant, he would come for Darius, eventually.

And so the sultan had bided his time.

Until now.

While in his harem chambers, satiating his vigorous needs, Darius felt a tremble in his aura connection with Jessamine. He wasn’t sure what it meant.

“Get off me!” he yelled, his concubine of that evening yelping with fear as he grabbed her by the hips and threw her off of him.

Of course, his bed, a round disc mattress atop a wooden dais with pillars and sheer curtains, was quite soft, and so the girl wasn’t wounded. He would take pleasure with her again soon, but now he had no more desire for sexual intercourse.

Sitting up and swinging his legs over the side, a flash of lighting splintered through the sky, followed by a moody rumble off in the mountains.

“What is happening?”

“My lord?”

It was Arisa. She was the only other person in the chamber.

“Leave me.”

She put her warm hand atop his shoulder. Did she think she was giving him some kind of solace? Comfort? Pity?

“I said leave me!”

She jumped off of the bed and scampered out of the chamber, the door slamming behind her. The sudden sharp noise made Darius snarl.

He would slap her naked body and make her cry for that.

Later of course.

For now, he needed some fresh air. He got up, taking stock of his magical aura. He felt fine, but utterly drained, as if Jessamine had expended a great deal of magic—more than he had ever seen her use during their time together.

He walked outside, the way to the terrace completely open. There were no doors up here. Darius enjoyed the freedom. With the overhanging veranda, he didn’t get wet from the rains, but some cold water splashed against his skin,

It felt good.

Should I go back to those sorcerers?

The sultan did not want to. Last time they had poisoned him, forced him into a vision, and though he had found it extremely useful, he realized only after leaving, that there were two pin pricks in his neck.

The memory of the white lizard with snake-like fangs biting him came to mind. He had had nightmares of that horrid monstrosity for nearly a week after the event, screaming nightmares, waking moments between dream and reality.

Perhaps that had been a residual affect left over from the poison? He had been sick for many days afterward.

No, he wouldn’t go back to the sorcerers.

Darius didn’t need them to answer this question. He felt Jessamine’s aura as she drew on their linked tether. She was close.

So, so very close.

Without knowing where Jessamine and her thief Shiro had been before, Darius was confident that he would come to him, to challenge him—to kill him for possession of Jessamine’s favor.

Now he was here.

Darius could take action!

Suddenly he turned around, passed through his sleeping chambers in a rush, barely dressing on his way out. When his guards saw him hurrying through the halls they had accompanied him, asking what was wrong.

He didn’t answered them.

By the time he reached his vizier’s quarters there were a dozen guards at his back. He had only put on an overcoat and a pair of purple silk pantaloons. His chest was still slick with sweat as he pounded on Hahkari’s doors.

He answered, his eyes wide.

“My lord Darius, what is the matter?”

“I want every road leading out of Darshuun blocked. Now!”

The sleep still wasn’t out of his eyes. “What?”

“Godsdamn you! Rally the garrisons or I’ll have your head on a spike!”

“Arr—ah, yes my lord!”

Darius retreated back to his chambers with orders not to be disturbed under any circumstances.

Surely if I can feel her within the city, I can locate her within a dagger’s throw.

Stalking to his open veranda, the sheer white curtains blew about in the wind. He sat on the tiled floor, crossing his legs.

Darius closed his eyes and began to attenuate—to search for Jessamine’s location.