Change of Darkness (The Change Series Book 3) by Jacinta Jade (best new books to read txt) 📕

The others must have heard the same notes of warning in Chezran’s voice as she did, given that she could feel all of them go still, breath baited.

Atalia, especially, seemed a little excited at the challenge that her lord had thrown out.

But despite his words, Siraay thought she could detect another question in Chezran’s eyes. So she decided to play his dangerous game.

‘No,’ she said firmly, her voice leaving no shred of doubt. She felt the collective breath of the group seize even further, even though not one face moved.

She narrowed her eyes at Chezran, ignoring everyone else in the room, as she glared at him, making her feelings known.

He had enough control over himself not to react, but she knew her response had surprised him.

‘No?’ he repeated softly.

Siraay left her glare in place. ‘No.’ She raised her chin. ‘I do not follow. I fight, and I will die, if necessary, for what I believe in.’ Her whole being seemed to reverberate with the rebellious words and the risky line she was walking by saying them. ‘I will show these Resistance captives why the Mother brought them to us. Why our cause is the only one for them, and why they, too, must devote themselves, hearts and minds, to it.’ She moved ever so slightly, her body leaning forwards just enough so that Chezran would notice that she had closed the gap between them. ‘I do not follow—but I will lead. I will help you lead your army to victory.’

It could have been just her and Chezran alone in that room, so intense was the look exchanged between them, a living thing with its own energy.

After a moment, Chezran relaxed back a little into his seat. ‘And so you shall.’

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

AS CHEZRAN SAW out the last members of his inner circle from the council room, he turned to face Siraay, his eyes locking on to hers.

She, in turn, remained standing by one end of the V-shaped divan, having hung back while the others departed. She held her silence, knowing that he would speak first if she waited long enough—just another round in the dangerous game she was playing with him. Because he was dangerous. Even though she didn’t know much about him, this she knew instinctively.

But then you didn’t need to know every little thing about a species to identify a predator when you saw one.

They stood there, two opponents facing off across an empty space.

Chezran’s head tilted slightly as he considered her. ‘You surprised me before.’ Despite its softness, his voice was matter-of-fact, carrying clearly across the room to her from his position closer to the double doors that led into the dining hall. ‘But if your intention was to win over most of my inner circle, consider it done.’

He finished speaking, and for a moment, Siraay let the silence own the space between them once more before she gestured with her hand, dismissing the assumption in Chezran’s words, his eyes following the slight movement carefully.

‘I did not have any such an intention, but if it is done, then all the better, if we are truly in agreement about my purpose here.’

Chezran’s eyes bored into hers. ‘And I’m guessing you want to know now my full intention in pursuing this war?’ he asked lazily.

Yet Siraay detected the hidden undercurrent of seriousness in his words. ‘Have no doubt about my commitment, Lord Chezran.’ She spoke his title and name slowly, drawing out the sounds so she could be sure of his complete attention. ‘You set my mind free so I could be all that I am, not the mindless sky-eyed follower I was.’ This time her gesture added emphasis to her words, sweeping low to indicate what she thought of her previous self. ‘To me, this is a battle for power—both sides fighting to win the right to determine the future of our people.’

She let her lips curl into a smile that she hoped showed her to be every bit the predator he was.

‘I would rather be in a position of … influence,’ she said, letting her lips curl further, ‘than be a mere follower.’

Now she let the smile drop abruptly, and this time, it was she who tilted her head ever so slightly, one predator sizing up another. ‘But yes, before I help you win this war, I want to know … why?’

Chezran had been listening quietly as she spoke, his eyes never leaving her face, his body motionless and poised.

When he finally shifted, his feet moving him gracefully forwards a few slow, measured steps, it was almost a shock, such had been the previous stillness in the room.

‘As you have stated, there are followers … and there are leaders.’

Chezran’s eyes had not left Siraay’s face, but there was a new intensity in his gaze that she was trying to decipher.

‘My father’s father was Lord Grenlan,’ he stated.

Lord Grenlan … or Grenlan the Grievous, as Kaslonian history had recorded him. A master strategist, Grenlan had commanded his army to mercilessly cut down the peace-keeping fighters who had fought to defend the cities against him. Once a member of the Ruling Council, Grenlan had abruptly resigned his position one day, disappearing into the wild, no whisper to those who had known him of coming back.

Until he had returned cycles later as the leader of Xarcon City—with an army behind him.

Siraay eyed Chezran more carefully. The strong jaw, the dark hair and eyes … all traits that hinted at his lineage, if her memories of her old self’s days studying Kaslonian history were correct.

Chezran continued speaking, amused as he watched the recognition appear in her eyes. ‘Although Lord Grenlan fought well, Xarcon was defeated. But our cause did not die, and Grenlan’s son, my father, spent his life rebuilding the Xarcon army.’ Chezran strolled a little closer still before pausing some body lengths away. ‘And he also spent his life training me so that I might one day seize the victory that