Soldier Mine by Amber Kell Page A

room.
    “Focus, Kres,” Vohne admonished. “What’s your mother’s message, my lady?”
    “I’m supposed to stab your mate.” She announced the words like she should be given a medal for not following her mother’s directive.
    Vohne shoved Kres behind him. “And why didn’t you?”
    Niafe laughed. “Two reasons. First, I’ve read the old texts and I don’t follow her beliefs. And second, your mate’s knife looks bigger than mine.”
     

Chapter Eight
    They pulled Niafe into an empty room to minimise the number of people who could listen in. The guards blocked the door after a moment of argument. Neither of them trusted Niafe alone with the king and his mate, but Vohne insisted.
    Unable to override the orders of their king, the soldiers reluctantly waited outside.
    “You’re very brave to meet me alone,” Niafe said.
    Vohne shrugged. “As you stated, my mate has a very large knife. You make the wrong move, and he’ll gut you.”
    Niafe paled, giving Kres a nervous look. Vohne felt a momentary pang of guilt for making it appear as though his mate was seconds from snapping, but the look Kres gave Niafe had him holding back a laugh. His lover was extremely protective.
    “Don’t worry. As long as you don’t make any sudden movements, you’re safe enough,” Kres assured her.
    “Why don’t we sit down?” Vohne motioned towards the table and chairs. They’d wandered into one of the meeting rooms the scholars generally used for studies. From the cobwebs decorating the ceiling, he had a feeling it had been a while since anyone had concentrated on learning. Vohne made a mental note to get the scholars back on track. A society that didn’t focus on learning would falter. He wondered how much knowledge had been lost in the purge. Shaking his head, he focused on the task at hand. There would be time later to concentrate on the future of Thresl civilisation.
    Once Vohne and Kres were settled with Niafe sitting across from them, closer to Vohne than Kres, she began her story.
    “Ever since I was little, my mother has been telling me about how she should be the one ruling the kingdom. I used to dream of growing up and becoming queen.” Niafe said wistfully.
    Kres growled in a manner worthy of a Thresl.
    Vohne hid his smile.
    She held up a hand in a defensive gesture. “I don’t dream of that anymore. I did until I grew old enough to understand my mother is insane. She did something. I don’t know what, but she did something to stop the two of you from meeting and triggering the change. There’s a man she goes to, a magic user. I think he cast a spell to prevent your last bonding. After all, if you never met your mate, you couldn’t change into the king.”
    “Where is he now?” Vohne asked. He didn’t need her to explain to him how he changed. He knew the rules. Vohne had transformed more than any other Thresl in history.
    “He died many years ago, which is why I think you were able to come back. His spell blocking your destiny wore off,” Niafe explained.
    “We need to talk to your mother and find out what he did in case he did the same thing to other Thresls,” Kres said, his face set in hard lines.
    Vohne didn’t like it either, but he didn’t want to rush into anything. “We need to think smart. If we rush Lady Nelb, she’ll do something even more drastic.”
    “She already has.” Niafe’s voice was rushed as if she wanted to get all the words out like ripping off the bandage. “Mother has recruited some soldiers. She plans to take over the castle in three days.”
    “Why in three days?” Kres asked.
    Niafe turned her brilliant eyes to Kres. “Because that’s when your marriage ceremony is planned.”
    Vohne flinched at the glare from his mate’s eyes.
    “And when were you going to share that happy news?” Kres asked.
    Vohne wouldn’t have been surprised if icicles formed in the air from the chill in his mate’s voice. “Could you give us a moment?” he asked Niafe.
    She gave