Chapter 54

The palace, Havila.

"This is just ridiculous."

Jim gave up on trying to get to Lailah. He didn't know why Ja was so protective of her. The bitch who had caused all of them such great harm. He wished he could just hold her in his hand, that her blood may be dried.

"Let her be," Tzu called to him, but he shot him an odd look. He couldn't hold back the sear.

"Have you ever had a choice? You're just being turned about and tossed around as though you don't have brains. Or probably they don't work."

Tzu stood up at that. He wouldn't take such insult from his insolent younger brother.

"Now, let's trade fist. You think you're now a man and can say whatever you want?"

Tzu was walking closer to Jim with such a long face set with determination.

"Would you both quit being dickheads?" one of the chiefs called. Tzu halted at that. Jim, on the other hand, was sorely prepared for the task. He always was.

"I bet you will all do something about the bitch, or will you let her suck your cocks too?" Jim shot at the chiefs. One of the chiefs stood up in rage and called in few guards.

The guards hurried into the palace and bowed before the chain of chiefs.

"See him grievously attended to," the chief spat on the floor after the order, but another chief interfered, "Bound him only and let him enjoy this view in discomfort."

The pissed-off chief sat back and tried avoiding his gaze with the annoying lad. Jim was bounded and confined to his knees. He was bounded such that his hands and legs were tied together. And he was kneeling as though he was bowing.

"I'll lay my hands on you soon, bitch."

Jim wouldn't be quiet. All ignored him as Lailah began to walk forward. Jim wished he could break himself free, but twas merely an illusion.

Lailah started, "He speaks the truth. I should be in chains and not him."

The chiefs looked at one another at that. They hadn't thought of what to do with her yet, if there was anything they could do.

Lailah got to where Jim was tied and stood beside him, taunting him with the urge to hit her. She sure knew how to fiddle with the rage of men.

"We do not have a grudge against you. All we want to know is why you've done all this. What have we done to deserve the wrath of a Nymph, of the gods?" the chief who seemed to be indifferent said, his face smothered by the will to find an answer.

Lailah looked around for a while, then her gaze halted on Ja. She smiled at him. He didn't return it. He had no idea what she was doing. She could get both of them killed instantly.

"You're scared of binding me, isn't it?" she asked, tossing aside the question the fellow had asked. She then turned her back on them.

"Lousy bitch," Jim called at her, and she chuckled. She loved his energy. She put one of her feet on his head while he tossed his head aside, willing to wring the foot off.

"If you weren't my in-law, you'd be a carrier of odds by now," she said to Jim and began to walk up the vacant throne. She kept her voice high, "Seems as though the land is void of men with honour to reclaim the throne."

She swayed her waist as she climbed up the stairs of the throne. Her aura was heavenly bewitching. She was aware and couldn't help but fancy the tool.

"It's an honour to leave the throne vacant for few weeks after the death of the king, let alone three important men," one of the chiefs corrected. Jim couldn't help his disgust.

"Y'all fuckers even answer her thoughtless and dimwitted question. Hard to judge who's more annoying."

Lailah ignored him and turned to them as soon as she got to the throne. Her face glowing, her eyes gleaming, her cleavage calling.

"But I do have a king for you."

She sat on the throne. All the chiefs stood up immediately. There was disapproval scribbled on all their faces, but none of them had the courage to challenge her. Well, Jim would if he was not bound.

"You aren't supportive of this?"

She teased, pinning each of the chiefs with her gaze. The guards could do little. They couldn't act of their own will. They were the chiefs' puppets.

"We cast a vote for the king and test him through several channels to see if he is capable of bearing the weight of the land on his head?"

Lailah chuckled and shot, "Head? Y'all would kill him. The shoulder is better."

The chiefs looked at themselves at the lame humor. Even a Nymph could make a joke so lame?

"Ignore the joke," she added and continued, "Well, the channels shall be observed for Ja Lia. The father of my child. He won't only be my lover, but the king of Havila. Put him through the channels and watch things be."

She stood up from the throne. Jim tried to understand what she had just said. Well, he wasn't the only one who was confused. Even Ja was confused.

"LAILAH?" Ja called to her, and she smiled in return.

"He can't pass the tests. Even the former king only narrowly passed, let alone an inexperienced stranger."

Tzu shot the chief who had spoken a glare for being such a cock with his words. But Lailah didn't let it be, "Say a word against him again and be set on fire."

The chief apologized with a bow. She began to walk down the stairs.

Then suddenly, a noise began to come out of the palace, yells of protest, the chanting of Lailah's name, and demands for vengeance from the protesters.

"Choose the days for the test and coronation. I'll tell the populace about it."

She had gotten back to where Jim was kneeling. She put her foot on his head again, and the chains melted from him. He was free.

She began to walk towards the gate as Ja stopped her,

"You won't be safe out there," he cautioned, but she fell on him and kissed him passionately. Then she pulled him with her towards the gate. Ja hesitated but kowtowed.

Jim hurried to catch up with her, but Tzu restrained him with a punch in the face.

Jim refused to back down easily.