Sworn

Prologue

Aeltrean Realm

CastleDunaar, fortress and primary dwelling place of Emperor Kaiel and EmpressZsa’neel, sat majestically overlooking the white-capped waters of the MadinianSea. Cut high into the cliffs of Mount Huel, the structure was as massive as itwas impenetrable. To look at it, one would never know of the empress’s lovelygardens that bloomed within the castle walls.

Inspite of its outward appearance, Dunaar and its surrounding lands had become known as a place of contentment and refuge for those who sought peace. The blood clan that resided within, as well as those living in the lowlands, were enjoying a time of prosperity they were loath to jeopardize with petty feuding.

On this day though, as in the last several, a pall had settled over the inhabitants. No sound came from within the kitchens. There was no clang ofpots. No bustle of bodies moving to and fro, arms laden with food stuffs to prepare for the sizable household. No boisterous laughter of warriors. Nor tittering whispers of maids divulging the previous night’s liaisons filled the halls. There was only a pure and dreaded silence. For within the castle walls lurkeda terrible secret, one from which the empress would almost certainly pay the ultimate price. To compound it, the uncertain fate of her unborn babe, who would one day be king, lay heavy on the hearts of all.

Somewhere above, a door creaked open and the footfall of slippers across stone flooring sounded out like a death knell in the tomb silent space.

“Your Highness?”

Kaiel,Emperor of Aeltrean, lifted his leonine head from his clasped hands and stood.His eyes were desolate. His cheeks wet with tears. Sharp, near-crippling pains plagued his body from an unknown ailment that had begun days earlier. He paidnone of it any heed now.

“How fares my lady?”

Thebirthing mistress’s downcast eyes would not meet his. The woman opened her mouth to speak yet uttered no sound. She paused, buried her hands in her skirts and tried again. “Her Highness awakened…”

Kaiel pushed past the woman into the room from which he’d been bodily removed the previous night as his wife lay crying out in agony. Drawing near the sleeping platform, he took in his Zsa’neel’s lovely ashen features. The long blacklashes fanning her cheeks in sleep highlighted skin darkened beneath the eyes by rings of exhaustion. She was so fragile, so weak. Yet she lived. Thatis all that mattered.

Kaielgathered one of Zsa’neel’s hands in both of his, hoping to lend her his strength. The temperature in the room dipped, and he felt a presence behind him. “Eileo.”

“My liege, I would have a word, if you please,” the ethereal said, the disembodied voice heavy laden with sorrow.

“It can wait.”

“Sire.I must insist. “You need know what has transpired—”

“Thereyou are.” Zsa’neel, Empress of Aeltrean opened her amber eyes.

“Milady.”Eileo drifted to the opposite side of the bed. “We feared you’d traveled Beyond.”

Thewords were spoken so softly that only Kaiel seemed to have heard. Yet he pinnedthe being with a thunderous glare, and Eileo lowered his eyes. Obviously horrified that he’d put voice to everyone’s fears, he faded into the shadows,lips moving in a silent plea for forgiveness. It was the only thing that would spare him an eternity in the wretched soul caves.

“Husband…”

Kaiel knelt beside the sleeping platform. “Yes, love. Always I am here.”

Zsa’neel’sthick lashes lifted and lowered as if it were an effort. Her fingers moved inhis. Her gaze fixed on him. “The babe?”

Kaiel didn’t need to look to Eileo for the answer. There’d been no wailing cry of a newborn. No jubilant proclamation to one and all, announcing the birth of the future king. Still, the loss wrenched his heart in sorrow. He betrayed none ofhis emotions to the woman watching him so closely. “Wife…”

Zsa’neel’sface contorted for only a moment. She swallowed. “Don’t…” Labored breaths wheezed from her lungs. Inhaling carefully she said, “There’s no time. Treach…”

Kaielbrushed the backs of his battle-roughened fingers across her sallow cheek.“Rest now. Later we will talk.”

“No,husband.” She exhaled hard, dragged in a breath. Her grip on his tightened yet when she spoke, her voice was reed thin. “My time…is done.”

Kaiel felt the blood still in his veins, the certainty in her words chilling him.

It wasn’t possible. Their time together was to be long, spanning time, and if the scrolls were to be believed, even death would not long part them. Wanting todeny it, to reassure her and dismiss her fears, he pressed a kiss to her lipsonly to recoil at the faint but unmistakable odor of Cadalin, a deadly poison made from the crushed seeds of the Amarynian plant. There was no known cure for Cadalin poisoning.

Griefand despair crushed together inside him. “Who has done this?”

Looking past his shoulder, the empress’s eyes flew wide. A warning.

Too late!

Aviolent pain tore into Kaiel’s back, jerking his body into rigid agony.Zsa’neel’s frail chest bowed up, heaved. Her anguished cry filled his ears. He struggled to breathe. Couldn’t. His chin dropped forward and a ribbon of crimson fell from between his lips onto the blade of the sword protruding from his chest.

Theun known assassin drew near. His breath a low, fetid whisper. “No child of Earthen blood will ever rule over Aeltrean, Your Highness. Your child lies dead asyour Earthen whore soon will, as you will be and your law with you.”

“My law…” Kaiel rasped, “…lives…within me.”

“No more!”

The blade was wrenched from Kaiel’s body, sending a thick jet of crimson shooting from the mortal wound. He fell forward across Zsa’neel’s prone form. With effort, he locked eyes with her, her features swimming before his gaze. Blood trickled from a corner of her parted lips, for his wounds were hers as well. He wiped at it with one unsteady finger, dragged himself closer. With his strength rapidly failing, he gathered her close. “Live again, wife. I will find you.”

The command went no further than his mind, yet his empress’s dimming eyes cleared,the intensity in them commanding him to swear it.

“I swear this…unto you.” He rasped in a breath. “By my law I will find you.”

It was all Zsa’neel seemed to need. On a slow exhale, her features settled into aserene mask of death.

Drawinga sword from beneath the platform, Kaiel climbed to his feet with a bellow ofrage and anguish. Undefeated, even in the face of certain death, the Emperor of Aeltrean charged their murderer.


ChapterOne

Middle America, present day

Friday morning marked the end of a long, exhausting week at McClain & Walrick Realty. Since the passing of company founder and family patriarch DavidMcClaine, the workload had doubled. In spite of it, two of his adult granddaughters, Emily McClaine and Helena Walrick, made it a habit of calling it a day at noon. Today had been no exception. Once they were gone, the remainder of the staff trickled out until only Asia McClaine, the youngest of the McClaine women, remained.

Chances were she wouldn’t see the inside of her penthouse apartment until well after nightfall. It wouldn’t have been so bad if Grandfather Dave was there to stay late with her. He’d lean against her desk, deep-set brown eyes sparkling with mischief as he tried to tempt her into leaving her paperwork for Monday’s pile.