Free Beautiful Salvation by Jennifer Blackstream Page B

well?”
     
    A line appeared between Saamal’s brows. “Possessed?”
     
    Aiyana gestured to her body. “That’s what happened to me. The Black God possessed me, wanted to use me to bring more bloodshed.” The sounds of her nightmares echoed in her ears and Aiyana shoved them away, clearing her throat to try and block out the sounds. “Do you have nightmares too?”
     
    The line between Saamal’s brows deepened. “I don’t understand. Why do you think you were possessed? Why do you think the Black God wants more bloodshed? What nightmares?”
     
    Aiyana stepped back, eyes narrowing in suspicion at Saamal. “Are you a stranger to this kingdom?”
     
    “No.” Saamal tried to step closer to her again, but paused when she held up a hand. “Aiyana, why are you afraid of me? Why are you afraid of the Black God?”
     
    “Because we worship the White God. We celebrate life, justice, and mercy. The Black God celebrates war, judgment, and bloody sacrifice. The Black God possessed me when I was only a baby, putting his darkness inside me so that I would become an instrument of his violent blood lust.” Frustration burned inside her and she blinked rapidly to keep the tears at bay. “I have fought my entire life against that darkness.”
     
    Saamal blinked, his lips parted. Slowly, the lines in his face tightened, his lips pressing together in a thin line. Claws clicked together as he fisted his hands at his sides, muscles rippling as they tensed. His eyes grew misty, swirling and moving until they became drowning pits that were dizzying to look at. A roiling energy stirred to life around Saamal and the night seemed to absorb the light, the forest growing darker around them, the wind stirring and tossing Aiyana’s hair about her face. She raked it into one hand, holding her hair out of her eyes as she took a few steps away from Saamal.
     
    “The White God does not rule this kingdom,” Saamal growled. “His time has not yet come. The Black God still rules here.”
     
    “You were not possessed against your will.” Aiyana stepped back again. “You became his host willingly. You wanted to serve the Black God.”
     
    “Please do not be so frightened.”
     
    Saamal stepped closer again, his hand held up, palms out. His eyes drifted closed and he breathed in again, seeming to savor some scent that she could not detect. Aiyana sniffed the air, trying to determine what had caught Saamal’s attention. He opened his eyes, a hazy, almost drugged appearance in the once again golden orbs.
     
    “You are beautiful, Aiyana, and I can sense your strength. I don’t know who told you such frightening tales to make you fear the power inside you, but when I look at you, I do not see a threat to your people. I see a woman who will be a strong queen someday, someone who has the power to protect her people against any force that may threaten them.” He took a step and this time, Aiyana didn’t step back. He raised a hand and stroked the back of his fingers against her cheek.
     
    Aiyana caught herself leaning into his touch, soothed by it and his words in some strange and wholly foreign way. She wanted to fold herself into his arms, wanted to bask in the peace of being with someone who knew what she was and wasn’t afraid, someone who saw her darkness as a strength. His words touched a need inside her, a need to be a good queen, a protector of her people instead of the danger her mother believed so strongly that she was.
     
    “I have waited a long time to meet you.”
     
    His voice was gentle, soothing, the caress of a rose petal against her skin. He leaned down and Aiyana’s pulse pounded in her ears. He was going to kiss her. A fine trembling seized her body and she stumbled back.
     
    “I have to go.” Her words came out muffled, hindered by the confusion he’d managed to inspire in her, the tangle he’d made of her thoughts. Her head spun and she wavered as she stepped back, trying to put distance between her