Chapter 47: Finding The Goddess

Emperor Namon's POV

"How would you know where she is if you did not take her there?" I question.

At least I know that Taya is not far. The idiotic soldier just offered to take me to her. Which means she must be close.

"Uh . . . no! I swear, My Lord, I did not take her," he stutters. "I am only guessing where Lord Harom might have taken her."

What a stupid lie. A child of him and Viyara would be a moron.

"Torture both of them until he reveals where my mate is," I order.

"She is in an empty storeroom inside the palace!" the soldier screams even before anyone touches him.

"Kill both!" I order.

The soldiers gladly bind both with more silver chains in readiness for the cruel execution I ordered. I turn away to go find Taya.

Their screams escort me back into the main palace. I meet my mother just as she is rushing out with a worried face.

"Where is Taya?" she questions.

"Somewhere in here. Take the baby back to my chambers. I will be bringing her mother soon," I order.

She takes my daughter and I make my way down the hallway that leads to the only empty storeroom in the palace.

I hope to find her alright even if the god of Unmaking was seeking to destroy her just like he did to her father. She is my salvation, yet I once again failed to protect her and our baby.

I am not just worried about the fate of my Empire which is all that I have ever valued. I am for the first time worried about losing someone. About not finding her safe or not getting her forgiveness. I am starting to think like humans and I hate it.

I am an Emperor who should only care about his repute, wealth and power. I brought Taya here to serve me and my empire, not the other way around. Yet I cannot shake off the fear that she will never love me truly again.

I never planned to give her a choice to stay in my palace. It's my decision to make. Yet I suddenly care about her willingness to stay.

Taya's POV

I am still thirsty and hungry. I imagine that my baby is feeling much worse. I have heard no one else passing down the corridor outside since Viyara's mate left.Harom did choose the perfect place to hide me. An abandoned storeroom in a rarely visited section of the palace.

I hear sounds of new footsteps and immediately do my best to make sounds despite the cloth over my mouth.

It cannot be Viyara's mate again. He said I had enough food for today. It could be another one of Harom's puppets though. I see no loss in trying my luck.

The person easily breaks the door from it's hinges rather than unlocking it. I am luckily far inside the room as it falls freely to the floor. It would have smacked me on the head if I had been an inch closer.

Black leather boots decorated with chains of gold are the first thing I notice as my visitor makes his way in. I know it's Emperor Namon even before looking up at his face.

How did he find me? Did Viyara fail in her simple task of impersonating me? Or is this Harom in disguise?

He approaches with slow steps, his eyes studying me. He halts in front of me, bends and kisses my forehead, his hands cupping my face.

"I am so sorry, dear. I should have protected you better," he says.

That doesn't sound like something Lord Namon would say.

He doesn't apologize. He believes that he should be forgiven without asking.

His hand pulls down the cloth covering my mouth. "I am so glad you're okay. You have my word that this will never happen again," he says.

I do not believe him. He made promises on the first night we met and broke them all the next morning.

"Can you at least release me from the chains, My Lord?" I ask.

He steps back and squats. Did he hear a word I said?

"Was it Harom who took you from my chambers?" he asks.

I would not want him to know that I tried to escape and chose to trust a fake letter. He would blame me for what happened and probably have me locked in his chambers until his interest in me fades away.

"Yes," I lie.

"I would have found you sooner had he not given Viyara your appearance to fool me," he says. "She is dead. I ordered her and her mate to be cut into pieces."

That is a relief. But why couldn't he just take their heads?

"Where is my baby?" I ask.

"Our baby is okay. She can wait for us to talk," he says.

What's there to talk about? How he plans to lock me up more securely?

"Did Harom say anything to you? Like why he needed Viyara to replace you?" he asks.

"He wanted her to take Tiran's tests so she can fail," I answer.

He nods slowly. "He failed. But we must make sure that he will not try again. We must notify your grandfather of your existence," he says.

That would mean that I start being tested. I do not feel ready for more challenges than I have experienced. But it's definitely the only way I can stop Harom from another attempt at ruining my chance of getting the crown of gods.

If I acquire the crown, it might have the powers to find and save my father. I want to believe that he can still be saved as long as the goddess of beauty did not kill him.

"I will hunt down Harom as long as he is in my Empire. You will be safe within the walls of this palace from now. I will stick by your side to ensure it," he promises.

I would rather he said that he would grant me more freedom. At least that would be a little true.

"Can I go see my baby?" I ask.

He rises against gets closer. His hands hold my face again and he leans in. "You should be happy. You will have a better life than any other woman," he says.

He connects his lips with mine and kisses me.