Protected by Emeralds (A Dance with Destiny Book 5) Read online

  She was now frozen in place, trembling.

  “Ha, Sakura! I knew it was you. Your curls gave you away.”

  His pace suddenly quickened, and then the stranger snatched her up in his arms.

  “Sakura, Kagi Naga. When I woke to find you gone, I never dreamed I would see you again. And here, of all places. You are my little cherry blossom.”

  Chapter 7

  Suou

  (SOO-ow)

  Vittorio’s sword was already drawn when Daichi’s feet landed hard upon the stones. Cherry blossoms swirled up as a pink tornado.

  “You shall both hold!” Uriel’s voice boomed around them.

  Tenshi landed quietly, stepping past his ethereal brethren and on toward his tiny mother.

  “Musashi?” he whispered, stunned.

  Jenevier’s terrified gaze found her son’s. His burned with fury. Visible power—a pulsing blue wave—exploded from his every pore, knocking Daichi and Vittorio backward. The cherry trees were almost cleaned of their lovely blossoms. Sakura fluttered about them, hindering all vision… as a delicate pink blizzard.

  Suou, Jenevier still in his arms, turned toward the unseen heavenly beings and marveled at the raining petals.

  “Look at that, Naga. They come to you as if by magic,” he said through his smile. “The trees agree. You are a Sakura, not a Naga.”

  “Put me down.” She struggled in his massive arms. “You know not what you do.”

  He suddenly seemed to realize how inappropriate his actions had been. He quickly lowered her to her feet, apologizing.

  “Forgive me. I lost myself. I have acted disrespectfully toward you yet again. I am so terribly sorry.” He bowed low to her. “It seems I lose control when I am near you… I just never thought I would be so blessed as to lay eyes upon you, ever again.” He raised his head slightly. “In truth, I thought you were a ghost, a dream perhaps.” He blushed.

  “Gratitude for your kindness concerning me, Musashi. And I am truly thankful you tended my wounds and stayed by my side when I was all alone.”

  She was backing away from him as she spoke, drawing ever nearer to her enraged son.

  Tenshi, it’s all right now. Listen to me. This man is not the monster he appears to be.

  Are you certain, Mama?

  Yes, my son. He shares the man’s face only. His heart is innocent. Trust me in this.

  The pulsing sapphire glow slowly disappeared from around her angelic son.

  “What the hell was that, Tenshi?” Daichi asked.

  The normally timid blue Angel shrugged his shoulders. “Mama was in trouble,” was all he offered by way of explanation.

  Uriel stared hard at the younger Angel, a flicker of fear crossing his face.

  Did you see that? Uriel thought.

  The other Archs responded.

  Not only did we see it, we felt it as well, Raphael said.

  The familiar looking man laughed. “Musashi? You called me that before. My name is Suou. Remember? Or are we each fated to rename the other?” He advanced with her retreat, smiling all the while. “Do I remind you of a Musashi the way you remind me of a cherry blossom, little Sakura?” He reached for one of her curls.

  “Your Highness!”

  The excited voice came from behind her. Suou glanced up over her head.

  “We were wondering where Your Highness had gotten off to. Your guests are waiting.”

  “Very well, Izaru. Tell them I will return momentarily.” He looked back down at her. “I was simply greeting an unexpected, yet incredibly special guest.”

  The one called Izaru approached her, a stern look on his face. “And just who might you be?”

  “Me?” Jenevier stepped back, bumping into the invisible form of her beloved son.

  Suou cleared his throat. “Don’t act so cold, Izaru. This woman is special to me, extremely so. I invited her here, personally.” He reached his long elegant fingers out toward her.

  She tried to retreat, yet Tenshi’s massive form was unmovable. He protectively placed his hands on her shoulders and growled.

  “Come, Sakura,” Suou said, smiling brightly. “You are to be my date for this evening’s celebrations. How lucky am I, hmm?”

  “My name is Kagi Naga. And I am afraid your request is simply out of the question, Your Highness.” She curtsied politely. “I must be leaving now. Oh, and once again, Musas… umm… Suou, sincerest gratitude for your undeserved kindness. Know that I will be forever grateful.”

  She turned to leave, but he grabbed her arm. The cherry blossoms swirled around them, carried by an unexplainable breeze, thick with Vittorio’s delicious scent.

  “Sire, what are you doing?” Izaru demanded. “Who is this woman and why is the Crown Prince grabbing at her?”

  The other man was becoming angrier by the moment, focusing his cold glare on Jenevier.

  “This is all terribly unseemly, Your Highness,” he said. “Come with me this instant and let this Fire Dragon return from whence she came.”

  Daichi’s growls mixed with Tenshi’s and rumbled threateningly through the trees, shaking the limbs. She was amazed the humans were deaf to it.

  “That mortal is not to be touched, the one called Suou,” Uriel said. “No matter what happens, you are forbidden from laying hands upon him. Do you understand me? No… matter… what.”

  Jenevier cut her eyes toward the Arch. “Oh, just shut it, Uriel. We heard you the first time. I… under… stand.” She rolled her eyes as she mocked his ominous tone.

  Turning back to her human company, she realized they were both staring at her—Izaru with disgust, and Prince Suou with an almost uncontrollable smile. She blushed.

  “She is amazing. Is she not, Izaru?” He took her trembling hand and tucked it in the crook of his arm.

  The other man didn’t even try to hide his extreme distaste for her. “If you say so, Your Highness.”

  “You will be the rarest gem among them,” Suou said. “Never have I seen a dress as lovely on a maid. Most go for bright flashy colors trimmed about with gold, or some such finery. Yours… well, it suits you perfectly, little Naga—shiny black with tiny cherry blossoms sprinkled about. It was made especially for you, was it not? I can tell by the way it fits, it was sewn with you in mind.” He continued without waiting for her reply. “It came not from this land, sweet Sakura. This I know. It is too rare a garment to be from around here. You must share with me its story. I feel honored that you wore it just for me, especially on such an occasion.” He chuckled. “We will be the talk of the town, you and I. Come. Let us make our grand entrance and listen to the hens cluck.”

  “No!” She tore her captive hand free.

  Both men gaped at her in amazement.

  “I said I had to be going. Did you not hear me, Your Highness? Or do you simply not care?”

  Izaru approached her. “Who are you to be speaking thusly to the Prince?” He raised his hand. “You need to be taught some manners.”

  Jenevier assumed a defensive stance, bracing for the impact. It didn’t come. Then she noticed Suou’s large hand wrapped around the other man’s wrist.

  “If I ever even hear a faint whispering on the wind that you laid a single finger upon this woman, Izaru, you will live to regret it. This I swear,” Suou warned.

  “No, he will not.” Jenevier’s pink glare bore through her would-be attacker. “If he ever lays a hand on me, he will not live at all.”

  Izaru’s eyes widened while Prince Suou only laughed, loudly.

  The Crown Prince slapped the shorter man on the back. “She is perfect. I love her already. The very spark of life this stuffy old place needs.”

  “If you say so, Sire,” Izaru half hissed.

  “Your most noble admiration is truly appreciated, Milord.” She bowed in her Dragon manner. “But as I was saying before, I simply cannot stay. Someone exceedingly special is waiting for me. He will be terribly worried if I am delayed any longer. Gratitude for the royal invitation, Your Highness. Yet I
must regretfully decline. Good day to you, gentlemen.”

  She turned to walk away but wasn’t certain which way to go. Vittorio had covered her eyes when they’d entered. She quickly glanced toward her Guardian friend. He was pointing in almost the opposite direction from the one she was now facing. She rolled her eyes.

  When Jenevier spun around, heading the way Vittorio had heralded her, she nearly bumped into Suou.

  “Who is it?” he asked, his face so close she could smell his sweet breath.

  “Pardon me?”

  “Who is this someone exceedingly special that will be worried if you do not show up soon?”

  “Oh.” She placed her hand to her chest, rattled by his question, unable to think up a proper lie. “My fiancé, Vittorio. This is the day he asked for my hand.” She smiled. “I happily accepted his proposal. Now I must go to him or he will think I do not truly love him.”

  With no lie available, Jenevier spoke the truth… and several things happened simultaneously, none of them good.

  At her spoken confession, Daichi attacked Vittorio, or vise-versa. She didn’t actually see who struck the first blow. While Uriel was trying his best to separate them, Suou grabbed her arm, pulling her to him. This action caused Tenshi’s joyous smile at her glorious news to turn into a lethal snarl.

  While Uriel then tried to restrain Tenshi, Daichi and Vittorio drew their blades.

  “Enough!” the Arch bellowed.

  Everyone froze just in time to hear Suou’s low words, meant for Jenevier’s ears alone.

  “Then… you leave me no choice, Milady. I cannot possibly let you go. I am not willing to part with you, especially now that I know where you are running off to. My heart aches from the deep cut your betrothal admission left upon it. You have knocked the wind out of my sails, tiny Angel. But I vow to keep you with me, even if it requires restraints.” He raised his voice a bit louder, intending his words for Izaru as well. “So, dearest Naga, if you did not come here as my honored date and by my personal invitation, then you must be trespassing upon palace grounds… illegally.”

  Izaru, and two other men she hadn’t yet noticed, slowly stepped toward them.

  Jenevier yanked her arm free. “I will have you know, Prince Suou, I am Kagi Naga, Empress of—”

  “Naga, no!” Uriel shouted, immediately ceasing her words in her throat. “You cannot make ripples such as those. Not here. Do as he says.”

  She cut her eyes toward him, glaring at the Arch.

  “Empress?” Suou chuckled softly. “Yes, one day perhaps. At least… that is my fondest dream. But let’s start with the party first. Shall we?”

  He tucked her tiny hand back in the bend of his arm and led her toward a grand palace she hadn’t even noticed.

  Suou’s strides were so long, Jenevier almost had to run to keep up. She glanced back at the now helpless men in her life, one last time.

  The demanding Prince gave her arm a quick tug while she tried to match his ardent pace.

  “Musashi.” She kept her voice low, for his ears alone. “I do not know what it is you are playing at. But if you refuse to cease with this ridiculous game of yours, I will be forced to—”

  “Forced to what, Milady?” he interrupted. “Forced to smile? Forced to enjoy yourself? Forced to eat fine food and dance within the royal palace? On the arm of the Crown Prince, no less.” He winked down at her, playfully. “You are all dressed up, and I refuse to believe it is not for me. Your rare beauty is not a thing to be wasted, Sakura. I want everyone within this kingdom to be as blessed as I was only a few short days ago… with the glory that is your smile.”

  She stomped her foot as she yanked hard on his arm, forcing his long legs to a halt.

  The Prince held up his hand, ceasing their attending company from coming any closer. He bent down, a lot, putting them nearly on eye level.

  “Is there something you wish to say, Milady?”

  She took note of his superior smirk before she continued. “Yes there is, as a matter of fact.”

  “Then please, by all means, speak your mind and ease your heart. This is a day of great celebration, tiny Sakura. I wish you to enjoy it to the fullest.”

  She leveled a hard stare at this infuriating man. ‘Tis true, his eyes were not the same vivid lavender color, no. But other than that, this was the very man she hated with a venom she had not known she was capable of producing.

  “Musashi… if you do not cease this farce, if you refuse to peacefully remove yourself from my presence, you will force my hand.”

  “And just what will your hand be forced to do?” He cocked one eyebrow, mockingly.

  Prince Suou heard the low growl rumbling in her throat before she actually spoke.

  “I will crush your bones within you,” she hissed. “I will remove your flesh and spill your entrails upon the ground.” She leaned in even closer. “I will rend you, Emperor. Then, I will wholly devour you.”

  His eyes widened for a single heartbeat. She saw the flash of fear before they narrowed into a hard glare.

  “Then I am terribly glad I’m not this Musashi fellow. Seems he would have a rough go of it with you, Milady. Oh, and I am not the Emperor… not yet. Now, come.” He smiled regally before taking her hand once more. “Let Prince Suou escort you to our waiting party.”

  The giant gilded doors swung wide at their approach. Servants bowed low as the couple passed. Jenevier took note of Izaru as he purposefully filed in beside the maids, looking down his sharp nose at them.

  “How is your back, Milady?”

  She jumped a little when the Prince whispered down at her.

  “My back? Oh, it-it’s fine,” she mumbled. “Gratitude for your help.”

  His expression had changed. He was no longer jovial and teasing, no longer carefree and gay. The lines of his face had hardened, causing him to look exactly like Musashi did the very first time she had laid eyes on the now hated Emperor of Jinn.

  “Don’t tell anyone what happened,” he said quietly. “Not a soul. Understand?” He glanced down at her from the corner of his eye. “No one can know I was there. Or you, for that matter.”

  Jenevier gave a quick nod of her head but didn’t meet his sideways glance. “Tell me. Were you playing about somewhere you should not have been, Your Highness?” A wry smile turned up one corner of her mouth.

  He ignored her little jab. “Why don’t you tell me something, tiny Sakura? How is it you have healed so soon? As I tended you, I am certain I saw air bubbling up through the blood pooled upon your back. I feared your lung was punctured. I am all but certain of it. Yet here you stand—an elegant dream come true. And only a day after we were parted.”

  “I heal fast. It’s a curse.” She mumbled that last part.

  Suou flexed his bicep, tightening his grip upon her tiny hand. “No matter how magical a creature you may be, cursed or blessed, no one heals that fast.”

  “I am an Angel. Well, perhaps… at least I was, once. I suppose I still am. Just not a good Angel, mayhap. Hell, I guess I don’t really know how to describe what I now am. Perhaps you could say… I am a creature with the capacity to be more wicked than hell, and more merciful than heaven.” She huffed out a sardonic laugh.

  “Watch what you say, little sister.”

  She glanced over at an invisible Uriel leaning against the wall. She rolled her eyes at him.

  “An Angel?” Suou snickered. “So, you believe you are a Tenshi, do you? Most women may harbor such feelings toward themselves. Yet they would never be so bold as to speak them aloud.”

  “No, I am Naga. Tenshi is my son.”

  The Prince’s confident steps faltered slightly, shuffling a mere fraction off his elegant pace. But she noticed.

  “Son?” He cleared his throat uncomfortably. “You have a son? But I thought this was your wedding day or betrothal or whatever.” He cut his eyes down at her. “Are you a widow perhaps?” He chuckled softly. “Awfully young to have buried a husband, I should say.”


  “Yes, I am a widow, thrice over, Milord. And at least twice your age, I might add.”

  His steps noticeably faltered at her confession.

  “Naga, hold your tongue,” Uriel snapped. “If you think this is funny, you are wrong.”

  “Oh, shut it, Uriel,” she hissed under her breath.

  Suou reached for a nearby door, guiding her toward it. “Please, excuse us for just one moment,” he said to their following party. “The lady requests a bit more time… upon her hair,” he added quickly.

  The rattled Prince all but shoved her into the empty sitting room. The shocked servants stood frozen in the hallway, their curious stares following the couple’s abrupt leave.

  “What do you think you are doing?” She snapped out her clipped words as she tore free from his grasp.

  Suou’s eyes were as hard black coals floating upon a fair sea. His mouth drew up on one side in a half smile.

  “You are the most curious, most entertaining maiden I have ever stumbled across. But do not take me wrong. I will only abide so much insolence before—”

  “Before what?” She cut him off. “If you cannot abide me, then release me. I do not wish to be here, and you have no reason to detain me. Why do you insist on forcing me in this thing?” Her hands were balled into fists at her side. “You are apparently the Crown Prince of where-ever-the-hell I am, and you know me not. Mark my words. I am no maiden, Your Highness. Take care and do not be lax with me.”

  “Easy,” Uriel warned.

  “By all that’s holy,” she murmured as she turned to face the mighty Arch. “Uriel, go back from whence you came, Brother. I got this. Your constant interfering is driving me mad. Shut it, or go.”

  “Umm… you do remember…” The Angel pointed behind her. “…that he cannot see me, right?”

  She turned slowly, facing an extremely worried looking young man, a man who was also the mirror image of the long-dead Emperor of Jinn. Her stomach tied in knots. She felt like she was going to be sick. He came toward her then, slowly.

  Jenevier flinched when he raised his large hand, but the blow never landed. Carefully opening one eye, she saw that his worry had been replaced with alarm.