Broken

considered this as well.”

“You are bound? You should have told me this, Octavion.” Mara let out an exaggerated sigh, much like I’d seen her daughter do a dozen times. “Then I will have to consider another,” she said, as if she were merely picking out a pair of shoes.

She barked an order at Ussay, telling her how she wanted the new Royal dressed and bathed-like a commoner wouldn’t know how to dress a baby.

Kira took it as an opportunity to excuse herself-as did everyone else.

Chapter Twenty Eight

As soon as Kira exited Mara’s room, Octavion grabbed her by the arm and spun her around, gently pressing her back against the stone wall. He placed his hands on the wall, one on either side of her head and leaned close enough to make her heart flutter. His eyes were warm, yet seductive.

Kira let out a little squeal. “Octavion, what are you doing?” she whispered.

“You forgot the most important part of your instructions,” he teased.

“Oh? What did I miss?”

The corners of his mouth turned up exposing his dimples. “I promised to kiss you.”

Kira smirked at him. “I didn’t forget. You did.”

“Not possible. I would never forget something so important.”

He closed his eyes and leaned in for a kiss, but before he could deliver on his promise she slid down the wall and snuck out from between his arms.

She couldn’t help herself. She felt as giddy as a young school girl. She took off running toward the staircase, but only got a few steps when he appeared in front of her, lifted her so her bare feet were off the floor and pressed his lips to hers. When his eyes finally met hers he sported a mischievous grin.

“You are a tease.”

Kira laughed. “Well, don’t make me wait so long next time.”

He gently lowered her to the ground, then leaned down and whispered in her ear. “Are you ready to see your friend?”

“Try stopping me.”

Kira turned her back to him, grabbed his arms and wrapped them around her waist. “Let’s go.”

An instant later, they appeared inside the king’s sleeping chambers. His father stood at one of the windows looking out over the garden, his back toward them.

“Father,” Octavion said.

King Belesgar slowly turned. The dark circles under his eyes told Kira he hadn’t slept. He glanced over at Altaria, who lay curled up on her side. The position was all too familiar to Kira. Something was wrong.

“She will not eat,” the king said. “And she cried for most of the night.” He walked toward them, stopping in front of Kira. His once regal demeanor-demanding her respect-had succumbed to that of a worried father. She felt bad for him. After believing his daughter would eventually die, he’d finally been given hope she would recover. Now, with her refusal to eat and obvious depression, that same hope had faded.

Kira tried to curtsy, but before her knees could bend, he took her hand. “I owe you more than I will ever be able to repay. I hesitate to ask more of you, especially after the way I treated you, but I fear she needs a friend more than a father.”

“Of course,” Kira said. “I’ll do what I can.”

When Octavion and his father left to give the girls privacy, Kira became even more aware of the dreary atmosphere in the room. The only light came from three small candles burning near the bed. She went to one of the windows, opened the drapes so the natural sunlight filled the room and threw open the window. A burst of fresh air swirled around the room, immediately lifting the gloomy atmosphere.

Altaria’s eyes followed Kira’s every move, but showed no emotion. Had it only a few days since she’d been in a similar state of mind? It seemed so long ago.

Kira neared the side of the bed. As she took Altaria’s hand, Al closed her swollen, blood-shot eyes, but not before a lone tear to escaped. Kira used the cuff of her sleeve to wipe it away.

“Hey,” Kira whispered. “I thought you’d be happy to be rid of me.”

Altaria’s tough exterior and kick-butt attitude had been replaced with the fragile shell of a broken woman. There were so many times Kira wanted her to soften so they could be friends, but now she would give anything for the old Altaria to jump up and fire off an insult.

Kira helped her to sit up, then fluffed a pillow behind her back. Her body was weak from inactivity and malnutrition, but with her stronger spirit in charge, her chance of a fast recovery seemed more promising.

“Your father says you’re not eating. What’s up with that? I thought you wanted to get better.” Kira picked up a piece of bread from the tray next to the bed and offered it to her. Instead of eating it, she plucked it from Kira’s fingers and started fidgeting with it.

“Altaria, you need to eat.” Kira tried another piece, but she put her hand up to block her.

“I am sorry. . for what I did to you,” Altaria said. “For attacking you in the canyon like I did.”

“Oh, Al. Is that what’s bothering you? You don’t need to be sorry. I’m just glad you’re all right.”

Altaria had completely mutilated the small piece of bread, spreading crumbs all over her lap and the bed linens. Another tear streamed down her cheek. “It was not Lydia who forced my spirit into you. I knew what she wanted to do and I could have stopped it, but. . I was selfish.”

“What do you mean?”

Her bottom lip began to quiver. At first she spoke slowly, but once the words began to flow, they spilled out like a flood. “I did not want to die. I was. . afraid. I thought if she transfered my spirit into you, I could be your kindred spirit, as with Lydia. I thought because I had more strength physically that I could be in control-that your spirit would step aside and let me. .” She paused for a moment then looked away.

“I thought I could take over,” she finally confessed.

“Oh.” Kira didn’t know what to say. It hadn’t even crossed her mind that what happened was malicious in any way-that Altaria may have done it for any other reason than to save her life and Lydia’s.

“I left my kindred spirit, Kira. I abandoned her. She was all alone and must have been so afraid. And now. .she. .”

“What? Altaria, where’s Lydia?”

Altaria took in a staggered breath. “I cannot find her.”

“What do you mean you can’t find her?”

“I sense her presence, but she is so weak and will not communicate with me. We have not bonded as before. It is as if I am the one alone now. It is a horrible feeling. How angry she must be with me. How could I do something like that? What if she never forgives me? What if. .”

“Wait.” Kira fought for understanding as Altaria’s words sparked a million questions. “You said you can’t find her, but then you said you can sense her presence. Which is it?”

Altaria sighed. “I am not certain. I do feel she is here, but there are no shared feelings, no shared memories or emotions. I try to communicate, but she gives no response. I even tried to lessen my will so she could be in control. It is as if she were dead inside me. How can that be?”

The thought made Kira sick to her stomach. How could a spirit die and a body still live on? But then, how could one body have two spirits, or survive if one decided to leave it? Obviously, understanding would not come easily.

“Al, maybe she’s just tired. Did you think of that? What if she is so worn out from keeping this body alive by herself, that she’s resting? Maybe she is letting you take over so she can get her spiritual strength back.” Kira brushed the crumbs off the bed covers and took Altaria’s hands. “I really don’t think she’s angry with you. She told me this was her idea and insisted on not taking your spirit back until we were safe. Let her rest, okay? Keep talking to her. Tell her you love her and you miss her. She’ll find you. She isn’t a quitter, you know that.”

“I hope you are right, Kira.”