TYR

“Lady Zuri... What a pleasant surprise.” My deep timbre echoed through the hall. “I never thought I’d see the day you’d kneel before me.”

Zuri. Magnika’s defiant princess.

I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees as I studied her. She was dishevelled, her dark hair cascading in wild waves over her shoulders; her honey-brown eyes burned with determination. Despite her creased gown and evident weariness, there was a stubborn pride in her stance.

What was she doing here? I was suddenly reminded of the maddening memory of my men falling like stones, their bodies thudding against the ground like sacks of potatoes. I'd seen Zuri helping the kids get to safety, while the soldiers pushed us back.

As I studied the male beside her, I was forced to wonder what they had been caught doing around my premises. Maybe stealing something. No, Zuri was royalty. She'd never do that. And why were they dressed like peasants? Was this a ploy?

She didn’t flinch. Her chin lifted slightly, and her gaze held mine. Intriguing.

“I didn’t come here to kneel.”

I smirked and leaned back against the throne. Her audacity was almost amusing. “What, then, brings you into the jaws of the wolf you pushed out of your kingdom years ago?”

"Defeated," she corrected, her eyes locking onto mine despite the darkness. As I swallowed the heat that burned my palms, her gaze darted to the guards flanking her, then back to me. “I request a private audience.”

The hall fell silent. The audacity of her demand hung in the air, drawing the wary glances of my men. I studied her for a moment longer, noting the stubbornness etched in her features.

A smirk tugged at my lips. “Very well.” I gestured for my men to leave.

The guards hesitated but quickly bowed and filed out of the hall. I caught the wary look the man beside her—her supposed manservant—gave me, as he was dragged out.

"Leave me the fuck alone!" he thundered at the guard, striking out with his cuffed fists so hard that the chains snapped. He was onto the closest guard in a second, delivering a strong whack to his face. As the men charged for him, he turned to me and bared his fangs.

Zuri was enjoying the show, just as I was.

"I will stay," he hissed.

“You’ll wait outside,” I ordered.

"Hey, Denny," Zuri called for him and nodded softly. Only then did the man pull back. He glared at me but nodded then stepped out with the others. The heavy doors closed with a resounding thud, leaving Zuri and me alone.

"Are the people of Magnika always this feisty?"

She sighed softly and looked at the locked doors again, completely ignoring my tease.

I rose slowly from my throne, towering over her as I walked down. “Speak,” I commanded.

She stood straight. Her movements were deliberate and bold, as if daring me to challenge her resolve. “I’m here to propose an alliance between Magnika and Bjord. A union that will strengthen both our kingdoms.”

My brow arched. “An alliance?" I scoffed, "With Magnika? You overestimate the value of your broken kingdom.”

Her jaw tightened, but she pressed on. “I don't know what you think may have happened. Magnika may be fractured, but it is not weak. With your help, I can reclaim the throne and restore it to its former glory. Together, our kingdoms will be unstoppable.”

I was right. Something was wrong with the kingdom. From the look of things, the throne was probably sabotaged.

“And what,” I said, descending the steps of my throne to stand before her, “do I gain from this alliance?”

Her honey-brown eyes flickered with defiance, but she answered without hesitation. “A loyal ally. Magnika’s resources. Our mutual support in war and peace.” She paused, and I saw a flicker of hesitation before she added, “And… me.”

Before I could question her meaning, she reached for the sash of her gown and let it fall to the floor.

I froze.

Her bare skin glowed in the flickering light, and she stood before me without a hint of shame. Her dark hair cascaded down her back, framing the curve of her body like a crown. She tilted her head, her gaze locking with mine as her hand skimmed over her collarbone, then lower, drawing attention to the soft lines of her figure.

My gaze swept over her form. Every inch of her was a weapon she wielded with precision. The flickering light danced across her skin, highlighting the soft curves that betrayed none of the steel within her.

She was beautiful, undeniably so. But it wasn’t just her body that held my attention. No, it was the fire in her eyes, the unwavering defiance that made her seem untouchable despite the vulnerability of her state.

She wasn’t here to plead or grovel. She was here to fight, to barter herself as a commodity, not with desperation, but with purpose.

My chest tightened as the wolf within me growled, clawing at its cage. It wanted to claim her, to seize the boldness she offered. I clenched my fists to force control over the primal instinct threatening to surface.

Zuri wasn’t offering submission. Her stance, her gaze, everything about her screamed strength. She was presenting herself not as a prize to be won, but as an equal in a game only the ruthless could play.

It was maddening. Infuriating. And against all reason, utterly captivating.

“I will be yours,” she said in a soft voice that went straight to my groin. “In every way you desire.”

My breath caught for the briefest of moments.

Zuri moved closer and brushed her fingertips along the fabric of my tunic. “Think of the power we could wield together,” she said in a seductive whisper.

I stepped back. My fingers twitched as I fought the stiffness tightening my muscles. The part of me that was a man wanted to reach for her, to claim what was being offered. But the part of me that was king warned of the danger in her boldness.

“You play a dangerous game, Zuri,” I said.

"I know what I am walking into, King Tyr."

I forced my eyes from her breasts and from that fountain of graciousness between her thighs. At first, I blamed my shameless arousal on my absurd sexual neglect. I'd barely given in to the kingdom's ladies all week. Maybe I needed a relief, or maybe I needed... this relief.

"I agree to your terms, Lady Zuri, but on one condition."