Broken

knees. “I will take full blame, but you need to know it was not my decision. She chose this.”

“You are lying. We were in love.”

Belesgar sighed deeply. “Love does not come easily in this world. Few ever experience the kind of love that lasts, the love that makes us give up everything we know, everything we are.” He ran his fingers through his hair and met his son’s eyes. “She experienced great pain healing your sister that night and I wanted her to get the best of care, so insisted she stay here in the castle. When I decided to send you and Lydia away, I went to Serena and gave her a choice. She could go with you to a new world, hide away and possibly never see her family again, or I could remove all memories of you and Lydia so she could live happily with no regret.

“We spoke well into the night, weighing her options. Her main concern, her father’s health and what it would do to him if she left. She also worried if her mother would be able to support herself if he died. It was not an easy decision for her, but she chose to stay with her family.”

His father put his hand on Octavion’s shoulder. “I knew if I told you the truth you would confront her and try to change her mind. Or worse, choose not to leave, putting Lydia in more danger. I am sorry I deceived you, but I also had to think of what was best for my family. You and Lydia are all I have now.”

Octavion shrugged out from under his hand and stood. He walked a few steps away, then turned to face his father. “The Crystor. How did you get it off?”

“It fell off on its own.”

“That is not possible. I charmed it to bind Serena and Lydia until death.”

Belesgar smiled. “When you set the charm, did you ask Serena to promise anything?”

Octavion thought back to the day he’d created the Crystor. It was so long ago he couldn’t remember exactly what he’d said. “I do not remember. Why?”

“I do. I saw all Serena’s memories before I erased them from her mind. You asked her if she promised to be the Crystor’s keeper. When she agreed, the Crystor sealed itself around her wrist. She was bound by her word, not your charm. When I erased her memories, she no long remembered making the promise and so the Crystor fell off.”

Octavion went back to the bench and sat down. “Kira did not make a promise. She merely picked it up off the table and it wound around her wrist on its own. She felt pain when it took hold. Serena never did.” He turned to face his father. “You changed the charm.”

“Yes.”

“That is why it reacted so strangely with her-allowed her to do more. She could heal herself, not just Lydia, and it made her stronger. She even shared memories and emotions with Lydia. I thought it was because Kira lived in another world-but you did that.”

Belesgar nodded.

“Then you can fix it, right?”

“No. I created the charm so that the keeper has control. The metal can be mended if damaged, but the power is in Kira. It is a part of her. It is connected with her body, mind and spirit. It feeds off her strengths and weaknesses. It will never leave her, except in death.”

Octavion took a deep breath, making his ribs ache even more. “But it has left her. It does not work.”

“It merely lies dormant, my son. I suspect it will come to life when the time is right, perhaps when Altaria’s spirit is reunited with Lydia. In the meantime, we must pray to the gods that your sister recovers quickly. I do not think she will live much longer as she is. Her heart is weak.”

Octavion pinched the bridge of his nose again. He’d been avoiding his father since his visit to Panthera and not telling him the price he’d pay for Kira’s life had been nagging at him ever since. As long as he had his father’s full attention, now was as good a time as any. “There is something I need tell you.”

“About King Ramla?”

Octavion turned to face his father. “How-? I guess there are many things I still need to learn about your gifts. Do you know the price I agreed to?”

His father put a hand on his shoulder. “I suspect it is steep.”

Octavion nodded. “I am so sorry Father. The last thing I wanted was to give up my heritage, but I could not let her die.”

“You must love her very much. When do you leave?” Belesgar cleared his throat and stood, leaving his back to his son.

“Ramla said he would send for me. I thought he would have come by now, but then he said it would be in his time, so. . I have no idea.”

“His ways are a little unpredictable. We can only hope he will not summon you until you have had time to put your affairs in order. Perhaps making your union with Kira official should be a priority.”

“Perhaps.” He knew he should have told him the truth, that Kira would never accompany him to Panthera. But right now he wanted to keep that part to himself. He needed to figure out how to explain it to her first.

Chapter Twenty Six

Now more than ever, Kira wished she could share her thoughts with Lydia. She wanted to scream at her to wake up like she did in the clearing, but this time was different. She was but a whisper of herself and their connection had been broken.

For the longest time Kira watched her, taking in every inch of her face as if seeing her for the first time. She wanted to tell her everything that had happened since she arrived in this world, but she knew it would fall on deaf ears. She’d imagined, and even wished, that she’d have one more moment with her, one more chance to say goodbye and tell her what a good friend she’d been, but now-there were no words.

Kira wiped a tear from her face and took in her surroundings. The room seemed eerily quiet. There were no open windows and the long thick drapes covering them shut out every hint of sunlight. The flicker of candles placed around the room provided a warm radiant glow against the stark white walls, but did nothing to bring color to Lydia’s face. Kira touched Lydia’s cheek expecting to feel cold flesh, but instead a sharp pain shot up her arm and into her chest, deepening the pressure already there.

“Oh, Al. How am I going to do this? You have to help me.”

Kira reached out and touched Lydia’s hand, hoping Altaria would figure it out and go back to Lydia, but it only increased the pain. So much so that Kira’s knees buckled and she collapsed to the floor next to the bed. She cried out for Octavion, not knowing if he’d hear her plea or not.

Kira pressed her fingers to her chest. “Altaria, please stop!” But the pain only increased. Everything in the room swayed. She curled up on the floor and tried to stay conscious.

A few seconds later she felt Octavion’s spirit in the distance. Then the door flew open and hit the table, sending a ceramic pitcher onto the floor, shattering it. “Kira!” Octavion knelt beside her, panic in his voice.

“Tell her to stop,” she cried.

Octavion tried to pull her hands away from her chest, but she pushed him away. “Altaria, you need to stop hurting Kira. Please.”

A few seconds passed and the pain started to diminish. “It’s working. Keep talking to her.”

This time he slipped his hunting knife from its sheath and held it in front of Kira’s face. “Altaria! Stop now or I will cut Lydia’s hair. . short.” He flashed a dimple and winked.

Kira knew the message was received when the pain subsided and only a dull ache remained. Finally, she could breathe.

Octavion replaced the knife and pulled Kira into his arms. “Are you all right?”

She nodded. “She didn’t mean to hurt me. I think she’s just scared.” Kira took Octavion by the arm. “Help me up.”

“Perhaps you should sit for a moment. You are shaking.”

She put her hand on the side of his face and smiled. “I’m okay. Now help me up. I want to try something.”

Octavion slowly stood, took her hand and helped her from the ground. His eyes watched intently as Kira