Still, she recalled Mikail describing the Ancient as a visionary, and hesitantly asked, “Did you know Stephan would find a cure?”
At that, Arias stated with a confident smile, “I knew it was a strong possibility.”
Some of Kivsey's indignation faded at his claim. She didn't like the thought that Arias had risked Stephan's life on a hunch, but couldn't ignore the halos of light in his eyes signifying some type of divine influence, meaning there was a chance the gods themselves had directed Arias to do such a thing.
Or perhaps he'd had his own vision, who could say?
Regardless, Kivsey decided not to question his methods without a full understanding of the story.
But Stephan wasn't at all placated.
“A strong possibility?” he demanded.
Without responding, Arias looked at the Dok'aal Warlords and announced, “I think it's time we departed. I've news to pass onto the Chancellor, and considering the nature of that news, I'd rather not delay.”
Realizing Arias was about to vanish, Kivsey quickly called, “No, wait!”
But it was too late.
As abruptly as he'd teleported there from the Chancellor's office, his body turned to smoke, encompassing the Warlords with him.
And once it vanished, they too had disappeared.
Kivsey stared at the spot where the group just stood, her chest tightening in realizing there was no way to send a message to Mikail now, even to offer a simple thank you.
“Damn it!” she cussed, exhaling a frustrated breath.
“What's wrong?” Maddox inquired. “Did you forget something?”
“No, I just didn't get the chance to say goodbye to Mikail before I left, and I was hoping to pass a message to him.”
“Mikail? You mean the Warlord who saved you from the ogres?”
Nodding, she turned to face the bridge with a loud sigh. “Yeah, but we're over a day's walk to Satorala, and I have no idea how to reach it from here.”
With each word spoken, her mood declined, the idea that she'd never see Mikail again breaking her heart. It wasn't quite the reaction she would've expected, either—just how much had she come to care for the Warlord already?
Still, she tried to remind herself of the problems standing between them, deciding it may be for the best to leave before he had a chance to talk her out of it—or even worse, volunteer to come along. Terra wasn't an ideal realm for a Dok'aal, and besides, Satorala was going to need his help with the coming changes.
“Don't worry, Kivsey,” Maddox started, “the portal sphere is fixed now, so you can find a guide who knows the city's location and come back sometime.”
Her heart thumped at the suggestion, though she didn't get her hopes up. There was no way of telling how long it would take to acquire the information Arias requested, and by then, she could return only to learn that Mikail hadn't dreamed of her, and was living happily with his new mate.
The thought drove the wind from her lungs as if she'd been jabbed in the gut, and all that prevented her from marching back to Satorala then and there was her lack of knowledge over the right direction to take.
But she had a favor to repay anyway, forcing one foot in front of the other to cross the bridge into The Nexus, her only comfort being the knowledge that with the sphere repaired, there was still a chance.
Perhaps this wasn't the end after all.
CHAPTER TWENTY ONE
♦
“Mikail.”
“Hmm?”
His languid response came as the mattress dipped to his left, followed by a comfortable warmth covering his lap.
Realizing Kivsey was straddling him, he groaned when she whispered, “Wake up. We don't have much time.”
Mindlessly, he reached down to slip his hands up her bare thighs. “Time for what, love?”
She snickered, opening his pants. “Does this answer your question?”
A loud groan escaped Mikail's throat when her soft hand grasped his cock in a tight fist, giving it a deliciously slow stroke.
“You're so damn hard,” she murmured, thumbing a bit of moisture at the tip.
His heart raced as a result, hips thrusting up for more of her sweet touch, craving it like nothing before. At the same time, his hands wandered to her hips, groaning when she leaned over him and pressed a kiss to the center of his chest.
Her aroused scent was so thick he instinctively lifted his hips between her legs, eyes opening just as her naked body pressed fully into his.
Staring down, he watched as she turned her head and dragged her wet tongue across his left nipple, then offered a smile, ginger eyes alight with erotic intent behind her glasses.
And why the hell were those spectacles so sexy?
Whatever the reason, he could barely focus when her body shifted over his, whispering, “Actually, you're hard all over. I'd say it feels good, but … ”
Latching his arms around her, he insisted, “But what?”
“But I need a stronger word.”
Grinning, he leaned up to capture her mouth in a hard kiss—and gods, the way she moaned and rubbed against him was nothing short of perfect. Her breasts drug across his chest, the heat between her legs across his aching shaft, and apparently, she couldn't suck his tongue hard enough.
His fingers splayed through her hair to hold her locked in that kiss while the other hand shamelessly clutched her firm ass in a greedy hold.
But the moment their lips finally parted, reality set in when she whispered words that reminded him of her temporary stay.
“We need to hurry, Mikail. I don't have a lot of time, remember?”
Though true, he grumbled, unwilling to hurry this along. All he could think about was savoring every single moment with his mate, memorizing every inch of her body, and keeping her in bed until she couldn't imagine leaving him behind.
So why did it feel as if she were already slipping away?
Kissing her way up to his pointed ear, she murmured against it, “It's time for me to go.”
“No, it's not,” he argued. “I'm keeping you right here.”
Tightening his hold to anchor her against him, he turned his head to seal that promise with another kiss.
But she wasn't there.
Instead, he opened his eyes to find himself mere inches from making out with a pillow.
Immediately, Mikail released it and sat up, reality crashing down like a boulder. Not only had he just been given another dream, it'd changed.
Kivsey was the one.
His heart sped its pace as he immediately glanced over to find her and relate this revelation, then make good on his intentions to kiss her.
But just as in his dream, she wasn't there.
“Kivsey?”
No response.
During the ensuing silence, his heart dropped into the pit of his stomach. In his dream, she'd insisted that it was time for her to leave, paralleling the waking world too much for comfort.
The notion drove Mikail down the stairs to see where she might've gone, but the human was nowhere to be found. Only the boxes of clothing still sitting on the table in his living room remained, as did her chart of letters.
Despair clawed his insides even as he refused to believe she was gone. She wouldn't have left without telling him … would she? Maybe she's only visiting the square.
The possibility was feasible no matter how much it felt like wishful thinking, and he departed his home to check as soon as he was dressed.
At that time of morning, the square should've been mildly populated, leaving it easy to search. But strangely, the closer he got to his destination, the louder the chattering became, until he emerged in an area filled with people.
Such a sight wasn't out of place in the evenings, but during the day? What is everyone doing here?
He gazed over the crowd, realizing it grew more dense at the Council Chamber doors. Furthermore, a number of people could be heard speculating over what the incoming announcement was about, and the talk ne
arly made him forget the reason he'd come to the square at all.
But his discovery over his mate's identity was too profound to let go. So he kept his eyes open for any sign of Kivsey on the way into the Chamber Hall where even more people were waiting.
Most looked excited as well, and he almost stopped a passing guard to ask what was going on when Nevan's aunt, Asasha, called his name.
“Mikail, you're here!”
The turn of phrase seemed strange, but he didn't question it, asking the moment she was within earshot, “Do you have any idea what's going on?”
Nodding, she replied, “There's big news coming out of Perosia. The Chancellor's about to make a formal announcement as soon as the other council members arrive, and word has it Arias delivered the news himself.”.
Hearing this, Mikail stared at his friend blankly, wondering if they should dare hope the prophecy had finally come true and the Steward of Perosia was no more.
But he couldn't quite focus on it, not without knowing where Kivsey was.
“What's wrong?” Asasha asked, proving she'd noticed his look of dismay.
“It's Kivsey. I can't find her anywhere, and last night, my dreams revealed her as my mate.”
Instantly, Asasha's eyes widened—having a mate of her own, she knew how important locating the human would be to him, and was quick to qualify, “I haven't seen her, but I'll help you look.”
“Thank you,” Mikail returned, relating his intentions of going to the Chancellor's office to inform Gallos of her disappearance.
The two parted ways, and he immediately traversed the stairs, thankful to find the corridor leading to the office much less crowded than the Chamber Hall.
Stopping at the door to knock, he entered the moment Gallos offered an invitation, but hesitated to speak when he found the Chancellor holding his crying mate and their teenage daughter.
The entire family looked overwhelmed, though Gallos silently smiled and waved a hand for him to come in. Such behavior suggested Mikail's suspicions over the impending announcement was indeed accurate, and the family's tears were borne of joy, not sorrow.
But he didn't want to make assumptions, and shut the door while asking, “What's happened? I heard Arias brought news from Perosia.”
Happily, the Chancellor confirmed, “Yes, and the prophecy is fulfilled, Mikail. Rothario is no more! The enchantress killed him yesterday.”
The words almost seemed to echo, and Mikail wasn't certain he'd heard correctly. Despite his suspicions, he hadn't prepared for Gallos to give a confirmation, grabbing the arm of a nearby chair for support before he doubled over.
It seemed this was a momentous morning indeed. Not only had his dreams revealed the identity of his destined mate, but also, after centuries of waiting, the prophecy had finally come true. It was almost too much to wrap his head around, and Gallos laughed along with his daughter in spying Mikail's reaction.
“Isn't it wonderful! We're rid of that tyrant at last, and Arias says the chances of Lia taking the Perosian throne are good.”
Wonderful? That was one word for it. Lia, the demoness who'd lived in Satorala for centuries, would most certainly free the Dok'aal living in Perosia, reuniting families and friends alike.
Yet he was confused by the prospect, inquiring once he'd found his way into the seat, “Why Lia? What claim does she have to the throne?”
Proving Gallos was aware of Mikail's ignorance, he explained, “Lia originally came to Satorala to hide from Rothario because she's actually the youngest child of the former Imperial Family. Her true name is Princess Dalia Persias, and only the Council was informed of her identity to protect her.”
Though his explanation made sense, Mikail certainly hadn't expected to hear it. He also felt incapable of processing the information without time to sort through it all.
But for as keen as he was to witness the coming changes, he still couldn't get his mind off of a particular bespectacled human.
So, once the office doors shut after Gallos allowed his mate and their daughter to leave with the promise of seeing them soon, Mikail finally addressed his reason for coming.
“Chancellor, before you explain more, I have to ask you something. Do you know where Kivsey is? I haven't been able to locate her.”
Returning to his desk, Gallos gave an answer that sounded much too plain for the devastation it caused.
“Yes, she left this morning. One of the Warlords returned from The Nexus to report that some of her friends had arrived, so Arias teleported her there before he—Mikail?”
The Chancellor's question came when Mikail sank forward, arms braced against his knees, weighed down by the knowledge that his mate was, in fact, gone.
“What's wrong?” Gallos asked in confusion.
“She's my mate, Chancellor,” he groaned in admission. “I dreamed of her last night, and I know in my soul she's the one.”
Somehow, Gallos didn't seem surprised to hear this, nodding as he mentioned, “That's why you forfeited the tournament last night.”
“Yes,” he growled, unable to quell his anger in pointing out, “the Council had no reason to ban her.”
“I know, and I told them the same. But most people have convinced themselves that word of your mate's affiliation with Arias is just rumor, that he'd never associate with anyone as inferior as a half elf.”
Mikail bit his tongue, ready to snap over the insinuation that Kivsey was inferior in any way. But it wouldn't have changed the story. What was done was done, and all that mattered now was finding that half elf and daring anyone to disrespect her ever again.
As if reading his thoughts, the Chancellor then asked, “Do you know how to find her?”
“No,” Mikail nearly growled, the fact grating like nothing ever before. She didn't even say goodbye … did she?
“Did Kivsey say anything? Leave a message?”
“If she did, Arias didn't tell me,” Gallos admitted. “But I'll ask the next I see him, and with everything going on, that will be soon. I also need to know if you're planning to search for her, because we need all the help we can get to ensure things go as smoothly as possible. In fact, with Lia in line for the Perosian throne, I wanted to assign a Dok'aal guard to keep her safe, and I'd hoped you'd join it.”
Under normal circumstances, Mikail would've proudly accepted that offer without hesitation, honored just to be considered for such a task. But now, all he wanted was to travel to Terra and find Kivsey so he could tell her.
So he could be with her.
“It wouldn't be a permanent assignment,” the Chancellor qualified. “Lia would only need you until a coronation can be performed. Afterward, she'd have imperial soldiers protecting her.”
“How long will it be until then?”
“It's hard to say. Her older brother, Isaac, is also in line for the throne, but he's refraining from accepting the position until his mate can offer a verdict on the matter.”
“And when will that be?”
“Arias doesn't know. Isaac's mate is the enchantress who killed Rothario, and she was injured during the fight.”
Mikail growled in frustration, finding himself torn between serving his people, and serving his interests. A deep, instinctual need was restlessly clawing him inside, but he couldn't ignore a moment every Dok'aal in Satorala had waited over five centuries to celebrate.
Gallos was right, help was needed now for the numerous changes coming, and for as much as he yearned to see Kivsey, he also wanted to fulfill his duties.
The Chancellor must've realized the situation he was in as well because he mentioned, “Kivsey isn't going anywhere, Mikail, and the Terran portal sphere was restored. So you can use it to travel there as soon as you're ready.”
Immediately, Mikail lifted his head, inquiring, “It was? Who restored it?”
“An elven wizard as I understand, and the sister sphere in Terra was relocated to the … Atlantia Spire? I can't quite recall the name, but I know it's a sanctuary where nonhumans are
free to be themselves.”
That was promising, and definitely preferable to starting a search for his mate in an abandoned mine. In fact, in thinking things over, he realized searching for Kivsey would be out of the question until he'd made preparations—such as acquiring a disguise for what he was.
So even though his heart felt as if it were tearing in half whenever he considered how long it would take to see her again, a wait was unavoidable, and he stood to formally announce his intentions.
“Chancellor, I'd like to put in a request for a leave of absence once all is said and done.”
Understandingly, Gallos agreed. “Of course. I have a mate, and I know how eager you are to find yours.”
Eager? Try fucking desperate. Mikail immediately pushed the thought aside by reminding himself that while he was serving the guard, he'd also be preparing for his search.
After all, it didn't matter how many worlds were between them. No matter where Kivsey went, one way or another, he'd find her again, and when he did, he'd never let go.
CHAPTER TWENTY TWO
♦
The Bastion Compound
Charlotte, North Carolina
Ten Days Later
“You're coming to the dinner party this weekend, right?”
Silence.
“Jennifer? Are you there?”
“Oh! Yeah, sorry, Mom. I was distracted by work.”
Muttering under her breath, Kivsey was thankful she hadn't just told a boldfaced lie—but it wasn't the full truth either. Currently, she was assisting a Bastion agent in tailing a human suspected of selling supernatural information to a tabloid to ascertain whether the data was substantial enough to warrant interference in the exchange.
Yet Kivsey found the case just as uninteresting as the prospect of attending another dinner party, all because of a man she'd parted from, but couldn't forget.
Especially during sleep.
“You're always working, Jennifer,” her mother returned with an audible sigh.
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