Broken

beside her. The color had returned to his face, but his expression was still the same.

“I am sorry. I did not realize she would be there. I. .” He didn’t finish, just turned and sat next to her with his back against the wall. He drew one knee up and draped his arm over it.

“You still love her.”

He shook his head. “I knew that is what you thought and I have no words to convince you otherwise.”

“Because it’s true,” Kira said. “If you knew she was still alive, you never would have brought me here.”

Octavion sighed deeply. “The love I once felt for her is different from what I feel for you. It was a boyhood crush, nothing more. But when I saw her. .” He picked a pebble from the ground and flipped it against a tree, then turned to face Kira. “It was like seeing a ghost. I could not take my eyes off her. . not because I felt love, but because I could not trust my own eyes. When I saw her face, it was as if I had stepped from reality. I thought I was dreaming, but then. . I felt light headed. After you ran off, I had to sit for a moment to gain my balance. I am so sorry, Kira. I knew what you thought. I knew I hurt you. But I no longer love her.”

His words bounced around in her head and she didn’t know what to believe. “If you still love her, I can go home. I don’t want to stand in the way of you being happy.”

“Oh, Kira. I love you. The only feelings I have for Serena are from guilt. I feel bad that she has suffered at the hands of my father. Nothing more.”

Kira stared into his eyes for the longest time, trying to see truth in his words, but nothing came. She would have to trust him and hope he didn’t lay awake at night thinking of Serena instead of her-pray he saw Kira’s face in his dreams and not Serena’s.

Kira dried her tears and stood, using the wall for support. When she bent to brush the dirt from her dress, he also stood. He took her in his arms and buried his face in her hair. But when he took in a breath-taking in her scent as he always did-he stiffened and pushed her away, holding her at arm’s length. Threads of yellow swam in his eyes.

“Where is he?”

“Who?”

“Do not lie to me, Kira. I can smell him on you.” He dropped his hands, walked a few feet away and stopped. For several moments he remained eerily quiet. So quiet, she knew he shared his thoughts with Nigel-assuming Nigel still had the ability to do that. With each second that passed, his expression became more and more stressed and angry as he paced back and forth. He slammed his fist into the cottage wall and turned to face her.

“You will not see him again, understood?”

Kira propped her fists on her hips. “It’s not like I planned it. I ran into him when I came back here to get away from you and your girlfriend. If anyone has a reason to be jealous, it’s me.” She spun around and walked away.

Octavion quickly caught up to her. “I am not jealous. A Darkord only has half a soul and even under the best circumstances, they can turn on you.” He took her arm and turned her to face him. Some of the anger had left him, but he was nowhere near calm. “I am worried for your safety. That is all.”

Kira put a hand on his chest and pushed him away. “Nigel saved my life. He brought me food and water when everyone else left me for dead. He even turned against his own brother. If it weren’t for him, Cael would have raped and killed me. You should thank him and invite him to dinner at the castle, not exile him like he were some kind of monster.”

She threw her hands up in the air and started walking again. She’d only taken a few steps when she spun around to finish making her point. “At least he doesn’t look at me like I’m his next meal.”

The minute the words left her mouth, she regretted speaking them. She knew how much Octavion struggled with his cravings-how much he fought the curse. It wasn’t his fault he was a hybrid and he’d done everything in his power to keep her and the other villagers safe from his heritage.

She watched as he stepped back and slumped against the cottage wall. He didn’t say anything. He didn’t have to. She knew she’d cut him to the core and she couldn’t take the words back.

Kira ran back and threw herself in his arms. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to say that, it just popped out.” When she didn’t feel Octavion’s arms around her, she pushed away and looked up into his eyes. She’d crushed him, she could see it plainly.

“I’m sorry,” she repeated.

“Would you like me to send for the carriage?” he asked without looking at her.

“No, I want you to take me. Unless you’d rather I walk alone.”

His eyes finally met hers. “I love you, Kira. I would take my own life before I would let anyone hurt you-even me.”

“I know that. I was stupid. I didn’t mean it. I just got mad because you hate Nigel and if it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t even be here.”

He threaded his fingers through her hair. “I will try to understand how you feel, but he is a Darkord and every fiber of my being tells me not to trust him. I was taught to never trust them and going against that grinds against my back bone.” He pulled her close and wrapped his arms around her. “Can we compromise? If you see him again, tell me. And I will try not to kill him.” A smile spread across his face.

“I think I can live with that.” She buried her head against his chest. “Now take me home. I want to see how Al is doing.”

“How was shopping?” Altaria asked. She sat in the overstuffed chair near the fireplace, her face aglow.

“It was okay.” Kira quickly changed the subject, not wanting Altaria to know the details of her afternoon. “You look fantastic. How are you feeling?”

Altaria gave Kira a suspicious glare, but chose to ignore Kira’s evasion. “Better. Amazing how a little fresh protein can put color in your cheeks.”

“I’ll have to take your word on that one. I like my meat well done.” Kira stepped closer and sat on the little rug laying in front of the fireplace. Octavion had given her the little piece of leather he’d purchased, or rather stolen, with instructions for Altaria to make a bracelet for Kira. He said it would give Altaria something to do.

“Perhaps I could take some beads and make you a necklace to match,” Altaria suggested.

“Actually, I wonder if you could make something else. A bracelet for me would be nice, but I want you to make an arm band for Octavion. I saw him looking at some in the village. Do you think he would wear it?”

Her crooked grin lit up her face. “He would love it. Did you have a design in mind?”

“Not really. The one he looked at had a silver medallion on it, but he wouldn’t let me get it for him.”

Altaria examined the piece of leather, laid it across her lap and then measured it with her fingers. “I will need two more pieces about the same length as this one and the medallion you can get from the silversmith.”

“You mean Kueelok?”

“Yes.” She laughed. “He is a peculiar man, but has a kind heart. Did he have a stone for you?”

“Oh, Al. I can’t wait to show it to you. It’s perfect.”

Altaria touched Kira’s shoulder. “It will be nice to share our thoughts again.”

Kira hadn’t thought of that. “It works with all Royals?”

“It depends on its strength, but our minds will recognize each other so it will be easier for us.”

“Awesome.”

It was already pretty late, so when the king appeared with a cup of hot tea for Altaria, Kira asked him to take her outside the chained door. She preferred not to bother Octavion. She made an excuse about being exhausted from her big day in the village and wanting to sleep. Unfortunately, her mind had other ideas.

Kira had barely snuggled under the covers and blown out the candle when the same horrifying scene of Arela and Shandira played out in her head. Before it had been a nightmare while she slept, but this time the impression felt stronger and more urgent. She threw back the covers and ran into Arela’s room, only to find her sleeping soundly.

Determined not to leave her unattended and vulnerable, Kira grabbed the blankets from her bed and curled up on one of the window seats in Arela’s room. She dozed for most of the night, jerking awake whenever the little girl stirred or Kira heard the smallest of sounds. But when she felt the unmistakable presence of Nestor’s spirit entering the room, Kira lay still. She’d only seen the man a couple of times, but decided she liked him. He seemed to emanate that unique fatherly characteristic lacking in Kira’s life, which made her feel at peace when she was