Semua Bab A Queen Among Tempests: Bab 101 - Bab 104

After putting Xiema to sleep, I quietly step out of her room. As I carefully close the door behind me, I catch the wonderful aroma of morning glory. I glance down in awe at the trail of Heavenly Blue morning glories scattered across the hallway floor. Their azure-blue trumpet-shaped petals are open, showcasing their white and yellow throats as their fragrance perfumes the air and brings a smile to my face.Inquisitively, I follow the trail down the hall and around the corner until I’m standing in front of Azadou’s bedroom. With my curiosity growing, I gently rap my knuckles against the door. I sense Azadou inside and can hear his heart rate increase, growing louder as he walks towards the door. When the door opens, my mouth begins to salivate as his intoxicating scent hits me with the force of a cyclone. I almost start drooling when I take in the sight of his defined, bronzed, muscular physique standing in front of me. It takes all of my willpower to draw my eyes up and away from his

Eighteen years laterThe trees and plants of the forest hide my position, where I watch and listen from a distance to the bustling sounds of Longsang. Pain lances my heart, and anger holds my body in a vice as I observe the nagata going about their day, smiling and laughing, completely unincumbered. The sounds of their joy pierce my soul, taunting me as the haunting words of my father’s rejection echo through my mind.“You are nothing but an abomination. Your mother should have disposed of you when she had the chance.”Even now, I hear those words as if they were spoken just moments ago. He didn’t look at me and see a daughter, he saw a plight on his bloodline; a stain against his name. He thought I was weak…but he couldn’t have been more wrong. He robbed me of a family and sense of community just as much as my mother did. I was a child born of two species yet welcomed by none.For years I tried to find acceptance among the nagata who escaped Longsang during its seclusion, but just li