To Seduce An Assassin (The Omaja Series Book 2)(77)

She slipped a hand around his neck and pulled him down, stretching up to kiss his lips. “That wasn’t your fate, Yavi. You deserve love and happiness.”

He chuckled. “I don’t know if I deserve it or not. But I know I love you. And whatever happens, if we have to flee Nandala and live in a cottage somewhere in the forests of Villeleia, I hope you will still love me and stay by my side.”

She blinked up at him. That almost sounded like a marriage proposal, but she wasn’t sure if he meant it as such.

“Would you, Graciella? Would you still love me if I were poor and humble?”

“I fell in love with you long before you were emperor. I don’t care about your title, or lack of one.”

He kissed her, his mouth warm as he savored her lips for a long moment.

She smiled when he pulled back. “And as far as wealth, you’re already the poorest emperor I have ever heard of.”

“That’s true. My own sister-in-law has to slave in my kitchen.”

“I’m a farm girl. I’m not accustomed to wealth. I hope you never get too rich to let me work in the kitchen if I want to.”

He kissed her lips again, then murmured against them, “We’ll see about that.” He suddenly stiffened and broke off the kiss, pulling her with him behind a tree. He hugged her back against his chest and peered out toward the road.

“What is it?” she whispered.

He placed his hand gently over her mouth. “Shh. Someone’s coming.”





Fifteen


Graciella heard nothing, but stood frozen and holding her breath, waiting. Finally, she heard something too—the sound of hoof beats coming up the road.

Yavi strained to see through the branches of the trees. “It’s my brother.”

Graciella followed him out into the moonlight on the side of the road, and Yajna and Jiandra slowed their horses to a halt. They dismounted, and Yavi motioned them to lead their horses through the trees to where Sikar was grazing on frozen reeds by the creek.

While the horses drank, Jiandra grasped Graciella’s hands. “How are you, my dear?”

“Fine, sister.”

“She’s exhausted,” Yavi said, sliding an arm around her shoulders. “But we can’t rest long until we reach the monastery.”

Graciella leaned against him for warmth. “How much farther is it?”

“Three or four more hours,” he answered. “It will be dawn by the time we arrive.”

Yajna placed a hand on Jiandra’s belly and kissed her cheek. “How are you holding up with the long ride, Lahdli?”

“Tired, but not too tired to make the rest of the journey.”

Yavi spoke up. “We’ll be well-rewarded when we get there. The monastery has hot mineral pools carved into the side of the mountain near the bunkhouses. The warriors soak their tired muscles there after a long day of training.”

“We used them during our mystic training for the Black Armies,” Yajna added. “We’ll ask if we can have use of them when we arrive.”

Graciella perked up. “I’ve never soaked in a hot spring.”

“I haven’t been in one either since I left Villeleia,” Jiandra said. “The one in the crystal caves on the border with Nandala is the only one I’ve ever visited.”

Graciella frowned. “When were you at the crystal caves?”

“When I went looking for Solange’s assassin.” Jiandra grinned up at Yajna. “Someone told me that was his hideout.”

He grimaced. “Don’t remind me.”

“I’m sorry, sweet husband.” Jiandra tiptoed up and kissed his cheek. “Don’t worry—he turned out to be the good guy.”

Yavi glanced over his shoulder. “When the horses have rested a few more minutes, we should get moving again. We’ll take it at a little slower pace so we don’t tire them out before we arrive.”

“Agreed,” Yajna said.

§

Graciella awoke with a start when she felt Yavi move to dismount. He reached up to lift her off Sikar’s back and set her on her unsteady feet.

She held onto his forearms for support, peering sleepily at the stone pillars of the monastery in the early light of the dawn. Relief washed over her. “We’re here.”

Yajna and Jiandra dismounted behind her, and two monks hurried down the stone steps to greet them. They bowed to the twins and took their horses’ reins. Yavi said something to the monks in Nandalan, then grasped Graciella’s hand to lead her up the stairs. They passed through the courtyard and entered the main sanctuary, where a small group of monks knelt to say their morning prayers in time to the soft, intermittent chiming of bells.

A monk rose to greet them, bowing. Yavi spoke to him in Nandalan, and he nodded, motioning them to follow him through an archway to the right.

Graciella walked along beside Yavi, grateful for his warm hand holding hers for support. They descended a staircase that led to a beautiful enclosed garden surrounded by stone walls that were covered with ivy and other types of vines. There were stepping stones leading through the vegetation to an archway in a wall, and when they ducked through it Graciella saw three luminous pools carved into the multi-layered rock of the mountain, separated by dividing walls for privacy. Vegetation grew all around each pool and lush vines covered the stones surrounding the area.