Viktor glared at his oldest. He was going to shred him into pieces and then some more. "We will meet tomorrow at this time!"
Lazarus bowed to him. "I will wait for you, King Viktor." He didn't say "father" because it was the king who had accepted his challenge and not his father.
The king glowered at the remaining people who were on his side in a menacing way. He got down from the dais and stormed back to the palace. In less than an hour, he had lost all his allies in his sons and the only son who believed in him, Anton, wasn't present. Well, it was high time he showed his real power to his son.
Lazarus let out a ragged breath when his father had gone. He noticed that all the courtiers too silently left the field. He was sure that none of them wanted to take sides, but given a chance they would take his father's side. And the reason was that they believed that the necklace he was wearing would save him.
Emma rushed to him and hugged him tightly. "What have you done?" she said, almost crying. Magnus, Jasper, Yul and Titus came to his side and watched the two of them with worry. Bernice dismounted Nephie and hurried to them.
"Emma," Lazarus said. He tipped her head up by lifting her chin with his fingers. "It is all going to be fine. Trust me."
"How?" She shuddered as tears stung her eyes. She couldn't even think of Lazarus dying. "You should come to Yizinia with me."
He chuckled. "Come, all of us should get in. I want to thank King Titus for his generous offer." Then he looked at Bernice and bowed to her. "It's a pleasure to meet you. Your resemblance to Emma is uncanny."
Bernice's lips curled up. She gazed into his deep red eyes. "I am honored to have you as my daughter's mate. When I had left Emma in Wilyra, I was sure that her future would be the same as other common girls, but I didn't know that she would be your mate and that her future would be with you."
"Isn't that what God decided?" King Titus remarked. "You left Emma here so that she could be found by Lazarus. That's how the Lore works. Because I can't think of a reason for you to rebel against your parents and run away from Yizinia only to marry Drogo. It was only because you had to give birth to Lazarus's mate."
She let out a soft laugh. "Yes, Lore has its way of weaving it all in the most complicated manner."
"You all must be tired!" Yul chipped in. "Should I take them to my house?" he asked Lazarus.
"Yes, you should take them to your house," Lazarus said. "The guards at the palace must be already instructed by my father on what to do when they see any of the dragon riders."
"What about Emma?" Jasper asked, his face full of concern.
For the first time Jasper showed his concern and it was for Emma, not his brother. Lazarus really liked it. "She will stay with Olya in Magnus's apartments. Don't worry."
"If you like, she can stay in my quarters as well," Jasper offered.
"No Jasper. Magnus's quarters are more protected. His quarters face the woods where the dragons will hover all the time."
Jasper nodded. "Okay! If it is fine with you, we need to meet in your quarters in order to form a strategy." He shifted on his feet anxiously.
"We will," Lazarus assured him. "Let us all meet at Yul's house in an hour. I don't want to call them to the palace."
"What about the rest of the dragon riders?" Titus asked as he looked at his precious riders. "They are very special to me."
"They will be safer in my house, King Titus," Yul replied. "Please leave the arrangements to me. I assure you that they won't be harmed."
Titus smiled and liked the way Yul assured him. "That's good!" he said, clasping his hands. "Let's go!"
Lazarus took Emma with him to the palace along with Magnus. They went straight to Magnus's quarters.
"Emma!" Olya chirped and rushed to her to hug her. "Gods! You were away for so long. I missed you!"
"Olya…" Emma hugged her tightly. "I missed you too." Olya was the only friend she had in this palace.
Lazarus traced Emma to his quarters. "Lord Lorza!"
He picked her up and captured her lips as he took her to the bed. "I missed you so much," he said, crawling over her. "I need you badly, Emma!" In the next few moments, their clothes were in a heap on the floor as Lazarus mounted her. He pounded in her like there was no tomorrow. "Mine. Mine. Mine!" She curled her legs around his waist, urging him to get deep in her. He couldn't hold longer and came inside her with a roar. He slumped on her, pressing her body on the mattress with his weight.
She stroked his silky hair and back. "Lord Lorza, why did you challenge the king? It is too risky."
He chuckled and got up on his elbows. He pulled out of her and wiped them clean with a cloth. "Are you forgetting the vow that he made to the Lore to my mother?"
Emma went blank for a moment. "Ohhhh!" Her mouth formed a big O. "You mean the king has forgotten?" Suddenly, half of her worries vanished.
"Either that or I am thinking that he is going to circumvent," Lazarus replied, getting out of the bed.
She sighed. "Why can't he just step down?"
"Don't worry, love. Let's take a bath. Everyone must be waiting for the meeting."
When they reached Yul's house, except Magnus, everyone was there, even Jasper.
"I want to call Anton," Jasper immediately said. "We have to tell him about father. Anton is being played by him!"
Lazarus smiled at his younger brother. He placed his hands on both his shoulders. "Sit down Jasper. And no, we won't call Anton. There is no time left."
"Then what are we going to do?" he breathed.
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