She sat on the fallen log, Shandira’s last words echoing through her mind.
In her heart she knew Shandira’s words were true, but she couldn’t help thinking she was wrong. She had to be. After all, Shandira didn’t know about the meeting with King Tyrious. If Octavion was able to convince him that Kira’s death would not heal his heart, then everyone would be safe. She needed to have faith it would all work out.
Althros grazed a few feet away, struggling to chew with the metal bit grinding between his teeth. When she stood, his head shot up, flipping the reins in the air.
“You ready to go home, boy?”
He responded by coming closer and nudging her with his head. She had to smile. Octavion had just lost himself a good horse.
She gathered the reins, used the fallen log so she could better reach his back and hefted herself up onto his back. He stood completely still, letting her adjust to the saddle and find the stirrups.
“Thanks, buddy,” she said, stroking his mane. Then nudged his side with her heels.
At first, the setting sun spilled over the forest through tiny spaces between the leaves and branches, giving her enough light to find her way through the trees that separated the meadow from the road that led to the castle. Soon the shadow of the mountain blocked the sun and Kira found herself making her way through a long dark tunnel filled with strange animal sounds and eerie noises. The hair pricked the back of her neck as she rode deeper and deeper into the trees.
A twig snapped ahead and a flock of tiny birds scattered into the air. Althros threw his head to the side in protest, but kept going. She pulled her bow from around her shoulder and loaded it with an arrow. She held it firmly in one hand as she held the reins in the other.
Kira’s senses came alive with the sounds and smells of the forest. When something moved in the shadows, she took in a deep breath. She could smell them now, but she had no time to react. Two Royals leapt into the air, landing a few feet in front of her. She drew back her bow and took aim, her increased heart rate making her eyes burn cold. She’d forgotten about how the Crystor and Octavion’s blood had given her the ability to see in the dark, so was surprised when her night vision sprang to life. It was as if millions of tiny fireflies lit her way.
Althros came to a halt and clawed at the dirt with his hooves. Nostrils flaring, he lurched forward, warning the attackers to get out of his way. Kira tightened her legs around his belly to keep from falling off.
“Well, well. What do we have here?” She recognized them as the same men who’d attacked her before- Draego and his brother. Draego sported a long thin scar on his cheek where she’d scratched him. Their presence brought her future into focus. Octavion had failed.
“It appears we get a late snack,” the brother said. “The king will be pleased with our flawless hunting skills.”
Kira leaned into her bow, making sure she had a good strong aim at the brother’s heart. “I don’t suppose you boys would consider postponing our little play date?”
In the time it took them to take in one quick breath, they transformed into ferocious beasts. “Not even in your wildest dreams,” Draego said.
Chapter Thirty Seven
Octavion and Luka spent most of the day waiting to see King Tyrious, only to find he’d had a change of heart. He sent word through an advisor that only the death of the red haired foreigner would satisfy his craving for revenge. It didn’t matter that his son joined forces with Shandira and entered Kira’s world with evil intentions, or that his only heir tried to kill Cade, a Morganstar Royal. His singular focus was avenging his son. He had five armed guards and three Royals escort Octavion and Luka to the main gate with instructions to never set foot in Kazedon again.
Luka suggested they hunt before returning to Xantara in hopes of satisfying some of Octavion’s rage, but Octavion refused. He knew Kira would worry about the outcome of the meeting-and knowing the Kazedon Royals still sought her death made the urgency of their return critical. She would not be out of his sight again, even if that meant spending every night camped out on her balcony.
As the Royal guards threw the bolts to the castle gate, a familiar voice enter Octavion’s thoughts. The urgency of her tone seized his heart.
“We must go. Something is wrong with Altaria,” he told Luka. They both appeared in the king’s chambers, only to find it empty.
Before she’d finished her thought, he appeared at her side. Luka entered seconds later to find Octavion kneeling in front of his sister.
“What happened? Are you all right?” Octavion asked.
Altaria’s fingers pressed against her forehead. “They cannot find her, Octavion. I heard her thoughts in my head and now they cannot find her. She will not answer me.”
Mara sat next to her, one arm around Arela, Ethan cradled in the other. The only women in the castle Altaria could share thoughts with sat next to her.
“Altaria, who are you talking about? Who is missing?” Octavion asked impatiently.
“Kira, you idiot. Who do you think?” She slammed her fist into the couch cushion. She pressed her fingers back to her forehead in concentration.
Octavion turned to Mara in disbelief. “What happened?”
Mara shook her head. “I do not know. The men are searching the castle, but have yet to find any sign of Kira. No one has seen her since this morning.”
Altaria’s head shot up. “That is not true. Cade saw her before sunset. She said she was going to her room to rest.”
Octavion took his sister by the arms and made her look at him. “What exactly did Kira say? What were her exact thoughts?”
She pushed his arms away. “She said. . ‘
The Kazedonian Royals had made quick work of obeying their king. And the meeting had obviously been a ploy to lure Octavion and Luka away from Kira to make her an easy prey. The very thought of Kira fighting them alone made his world crash down around him. He felt the muscles in his back swell. “Luka, go to the tower and sound the alarm. I want everyone looking for her. See if anyone saw her in the village today.”
“I’ll be right back,” Luka said, then disappeared. Seconds later the bells on the tower rang out in warning.
Octavion told his sister to keep trying to reach Kira, then stood and headed for the stairs. When he heard Cade’s voice behind him, he turned and reentered the room. Cade stood in front of his mother, questioning her about the alarm.
Octavion blinked hard to make sure he hadn’t imagined it. “Cade. Explain your sudden recovery.”
Cade turned to face him. “I am sorry, Octavion. She made me promise not to tell you.”
Octavion didn’t bother taking the steps between them, but appeared an instant later in front of his cousin and grabbed him by the front of his shirt. “Tell me what?” he roared.
“Octavion!” Mara blurted, but he cut her off with a glare.
Cade spoke in a rush. “She came to my room and said she found Lydia’s ruby in your lair, that it somehow brought the Crystor to life.”
“And you let her heal you? You were willing to trade your legs for her life? She could have died.” Octavion tossed him aside. Cade hit one of the side tables and knocked the vase of flowers onto the floor. Mara opened her mouth to protest, but then stopped when she saw the rage in Octavion’s eyes.
