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"He cannot be destroyed!" Trajan roars aht Hand, Nataša Nataša is the only one here who knows the truth about Aramei’s Blood Bond to Viktor

"It is not a proposal," Trajan goes on, standing tall and dictatorially at the head of the enor, places his rugged hands upon the stone table; the sleeves of his dark robe drapes just above his scarred knuckles

"Why do you protect Viktor? Why must he be left alive?"

Trajan’s iron hand co it in half Pieces of rock cruap between the halves of the table All of the Elders straighten their backs and raise their chins a few inches--but never higher than Trajan’s--to show absolute respect

"If Viktor dies," Trajan says in a searing, growling whisper, "you all die"

Golubac Fortress – Serbia – Summer 1780

The fortress is overrun Trajan suspects that someone from the inside has let theates just before dawn

The plotting against Trajan and his blaspheun to unfold

"Stay with her!" Trajan orders Nataša "Once you get her outside the forest, rabs Ara out for hirasp Tears barrel from her eyes "My love! Please! You cannot stay behind! Please, come with me!" She screams so stridently that her voice beco her from Nataša’s hands Pain and desperation is seared into his features His dark, rugged facial hair streaked with blood froo, the one that tried to get into the roo her head in both of his enormous hands "I will find you! I will come for you!"

And Nataša rips Aramei from Trajan’s arms and carries her down the top tower and into the bowels of the fortress by aria - Western Stara Planina – Winter 1782

The conspirators have all finally been captured Six weeks after the attack on the fortress and the battle on, Trajan ordered the seizure of any and all ere behind the plot to dethrone him and kill Aramei If they only knew that si, would have also achieved their great plot against Trajan and Aramei as well

Now they sit in prison; nine different prisons spread throughout Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania and even as far south as Greece Nine of the conspirators were Elders; each of them had served under Trajan’s father

"Execute them all," Trajan orders Nataša as she stands before his throne "It is your commission to carry this out"

"Yes, Milord" She bows very low and holds it there for several synant with her and Trajan’s second child

"And see to it that their heads are sent back here"

Bulgaria - Western Stara Planina – Fall 1792

It has been thirty years since the day Viktor bonded Araed a day Trajan’s blood has kept her alive and youthful and strong for so long The empire of the Black Beasts is more powerful than it has ever been with Trajan at its head But it is also more tumultuous and uncertain than ever in its history Trajan rules with an iron fist He takes no prisoners anymore, and passes execution without a trial no matter the severity of their crimes

Fear is what ives birth to conspirators But Trajan is becon Blinded by his life with Ara else around hi to him

"Why can I not bare your children?"

Araainst his chest

"You will one day, , Milord" She lifts her head and takes his bearded chin into her fingers and brushes her soft lips against his rugged ones "It is all that I want: to give you a child If I can conceive, I can feel whole"

Trajan’s head ers from his face with the side of his hand

"You do not feel whole?"

Ara the true nature of his question

He lifts her chin in his fingers, gently forcing her gaze "Never be ashamed to speak your mind to me, Aramei You are the only soul in this world who can defy me and not die for it--now tell racefully underneath her lashes, giving her that natural coy, childlike appearance she is known for

"No wo a child," she says softly "It is nothing more than what nature asks of me"

Trajan can’t look at her now I see it in his eyes, the reason for that i himself to tell her that because of the Blood Bond, she is barren The only life her body can sustain is her own and not even blood as powerful as the Sovereign’s is strong enough to allow her body to carry another life inside of it

He almost smiles, but only allows her to see it in his eyes as he looks back down at her eager face

"You will bearher forehead "It is only but a hts up her face