Ring of Mal [18+] ? D.A.R.K Knights Book 2

Anastasia's POV

My Crows and I walk up a large staircase to reach the Stable Rise at dusk – I thought it would have an equestrian theme, but it's something else.

The staircase of three hundred steps leads to a natural hollow in one of the Ancient Giants, and this is where the restaurant is.

We sit behind a large panel of glass covering the hollow, showing us the landscape spread out below.

We face spoils before us. Amber glasses are filled to the brim with the Mal's best wine, while hot food is laid out as a feast.

I sit opposite Mirat on a long winding table, with Damion sitting with Rurx and Axe sitting with Krystoph on both sides.

We're all dressed up; I spent the day finding my Crows some suitable suits. Jamal and Philis helped. My Crows all went with light grey. Mirat is forever the warrior first, dressed in basic clothes, a white shirt he wore during the day and his long brown britches and a fresh pair of boots. I purchased an ice blue dress, to remember the times I used to see into the ice. My black and white hair was styled back behind my ears and I wore a greyish blue lipstick.

My Crows look like my bodyguards and knights while Mirat and I look like the bosses.

It's kind of funny.

We've all eaten first, too hungry to speak. When our plates are cleared and I've drank wine laced with blood, I clean the corner of my mouth with a napkin and sigh first to start the important conversation.

Mirat had been eerily quiet, and so I figured he chose to listen tonight – to really figure out what the hell we really wanted.

"I never thought I'd eat in a giant tree, where we can see all the way to the horizon," I sit back and lay my hands on the table, gripping the wood as I start to speak of an alliance, "...my father marches toward us..." I say it with genuine annoyance, not expecting to feel teary eyed now – but I guess the betrayal was going to knock the breath out of me eventually, "I assume that's one reason we ate up so high, we can see them creeping closer."

"It is what Kings do... we fight to be King," Mirat responds like he doesn't care, "Strange the Cren, your father's greatest weapon, was sent to me in advance... care to speak your minds?" Mirat had been speaking to me but now he glares at each Crow, clearly peeved they've been so quiet.

He did say in the letter, that I was to advise them to speak freely.

I wanted to lead this, but now Mirat has engaged them aggressively and so they have to respond.

Damion glares his way, but Rurx is closer to Mirat, so he tilts his head toward him and addresses him first, "You are mistaken. We are Ana's greatest weapon, we have no loyalty to anyone but to who holds the Ring. Hers is stored in the Eye with the Cren."

"So your King made a fatal error, in sending you to me?" Mirat glances at me, grinding his jaw, "...it's hard to believe now... that you weren't sent here for any other reason but to distract me with your haunting eyes."

Damion snaps, "You were a fool – you pretty cunt. About time you caught up with the princess – she's been leading you on!"

"You admit you've been playing games," Mirat smirks, unfazed by Damion's temper and harsh tone, as he now glares at me, "Do you admit it... Ana?"

"I did indeed fool you," when I say it bluntly, Mirat stops smiling, his lips smack shut. Although his eyes are wider than ever, surprised by me. He certainly did not expect me to accept responsibility, but to deflect my truth. Now I just lay it out further, while he's stunned and Damion is smirking like an obnoxious idiot; albeit a handsome idiot, "I faked my acceptance over your proposal this morning. I had every aim of dethroning you. It made me nervous... I always think you're a step ahead of me, Mirat," I say this part quietly and with natural submission to his intellect, "I bet you want to know why I'd admit to any of this – even the admission of wanting to kill you," Mirat inclines his head, but keeps himself closed off, on the precipice of ordering all of us be thrown in the dungeons, if not thrown off this giant tree, "I changed my mind, Mirat. With my father's advance. Now I truly do want to ally myself with you. For that I propose a Three-Way Solution –" Mirat puts up his hand, flat out to halt me.