by Octavia Kore
“Explain, priest,” the elder female demanded. She leaned heavily on her walking stick.
Clara looked up at Zaheer to see his reaction, but he was watching the male’s hands as he reached inside the sack that hung at his hips, pulling out a bound book.
“Everything the Alpha told you can be found within the pages of this journal,” he said, extending his arm and handing the book to the elder.
“How convenient.” Naaveo smiled humorlessly, eyeing the newcomer. “You just so happened to be coming into the tribe with proof at the exact time as this disgraced alpha is attempting to garner support for his lies?” It was clear she believed that the entire thing had been planned.
“I was asked to come here and present this evidence to the tribe on behalf of your daughter, who you turned over to Pumo. We met many rotations ago when she came into the Room of History where I am assigned. That’s how I know about these journals and that Pumo does not want them to get out.” He glanced toward Clara and Zaheer sheepishly. “I was supposed to meet you at the outpost, but you made plans to come here and I’ve been waiting for the right moment to approach you.”
“How is it you heard us speaking at the outpost?” Zaheer asked. “There was no one there. We would have felt it.”
“Most of the priests have the ability to cloak themselves, to go unnoticed by spreading our own webs onto the ground where we step.”
Clara thought back to the first time they’d encountered the seer. The female had been tossing pieces of her web along the ground, and it made her wonder if she possessed the same abilities. Zaheer hadn’t been aware of her presence until they were nearly on top of her.
“Is this why I cannot feel Ivnalth?”
The male nodded. “After what happened with Tratek, Pumo made sure anyone working with his captives knew to shield themselves.” The muscles in his jaw tightened as he looked at Zaheer. “I’m afraid of what more they’ll do to Ivnalth.”
“Why do you care? You’re one of them.” Zaheer growled.
“I care about all of our people, including the guardians.” He looked at the book in the elder’s hands and shook his head. “I’ve read what’s in those journals, and it pains me to think that I’ve been a part of something so awful. None of it should have ever happened and it certainly shouldn’t be allowed to continue. No more pups should be pulled away from their families.”
“And how do we assure that none of that ever happens again? How do we protect the pups who have already been identified by the High Priest and who are to be presented in the temple soon?” Elkois asked, looking at Zaheer. Did he regret all of those lost years the same way Nizla did?
“I’m not sure what should be done about Pumo and those who believe in what he’s doing, but I can tell you where the outsiders’ weapons are that were used to defeat the guardians one of the last times there was a culling of the pack.”
“How do we know that any of you are actually speaking the truth?” Ivnalth’s mother asked.
“So far, this text supports everything that’s been said,” the elder said sadly. Her lips were pressed into a thin line, and she shook her head. “There has been so much wrong done for so many generations.”
“What about my daughter? How can we be sure she sent this priest to bring help? What if this is a trap?” Naaveo’s eyes darted between the elder and her brother.
“I can find out.”
Clara felt all eyes turn on her, and she swallowed back the uncertainty and fear that twisted her belly.
“How?” Nizla asked.
“I have the ability to see by touch, to extract memories and people’s intentions. If the priest is lying, then I’ll be able to tell.”
The priest nodded enthusiastically, stepping toward them. “I’d be willing to—”
Against her side, Zaheer’s chest vibrated and the priest hesitated. Clara recognized the feel of the warning growl. “You may approach her once you’ve been bound, but not before then.”
“Of course.”
Zaheer set her down on one of the toppled stones and planted a kiss on top of her head before he turned back to bind both sets of the other male’s hands.
At the front of the crowd, Ivnalth’s mother crossed her upper set of arms over her chest. “If we are questioning one of our priests then what makes you think we are going to trust the word of an outsider?”
“I could show you what I’m seeing within his mind. Would you be happy with that?” Clara asked. Naaveo’s lips thinned and all eight eyes narrowed on her, but the female nodded.
It wasn’t the first time she’d gone through someone’s memories, and it likely wouldn’t be the last, but Clara felt anxiety skitter across her skin as she waited for Zaheer to finish. This time, she was going to try something she’d only done once before inside the Grutex lab when they’d tested her abilities. Transferring what she saw within the priest’s mind to someone else would be exhausting, especially since she was already the source of energy for the open mental link they were using to communicate, but if doing this gained them support, then Clara was willing to do whatever they needed.
She hopped off of the stone when Zaheer steered the priest in her direction, feeling the cool blades of grass beneath her feet.
“Are you sure this is a good idea?” her mate asked.
“No, but I’m willing to try if it means we can help Ivnalth and show the people that we are not the threat. If we can convince your aunt, then I think we stand a good chance of getting the others.”
“Don’t push yourself too hard.”
“Yes, Alpha.” She grinned, reaching up to pat the tuft around his neck. “I appreciate your concern. I’ll be careful.” Naaveo stepped up to Clara’s side and opened her mouth as if she were going to say something out loud before snapping it shut. Clara lowered herself to the ground, and the other two followed. “Before we start,” Clara said, looking at Naaveo. “I just want to say that your daughter is fierce and loyal, and she deserved better than what you did to her.” Naaveo’s nostrils flared and the already thin set of her mouth somehow thinned even further, but she remained silent.
Pressing one hand against the side of the priest’s head, Clara pressed her other to the side of Naaveo’s and closed her eyes. She drew in a deep breath and opened herself. There was no malice directed at her from the priest, only a sense of urgency and uncertainty.
“What’s your name, priest?”
“Ttetza,” he replied.
“Okay, Ttetza, what I’d like you to do is simply recall the moments with Ivnalth and show me anything that you think might be important.”
The initial flow of memories always reminded her of a dam breaking. Images flowed through her, crashing and careening as she carefully sorted them. The High Priest she’d seen hurting Tratek, Pumo, was standing in the center of a large room where packed bookshelves lined the walls. Krunkeeli, all of them wearing the same colorful beads as Ttetza, were gathered around him as he spoke.
“It is unfortunately a decision I have to make,” he was saying. “The pack’s behavior is erratic and dangerous, and it has forced my hand. We must purge them and begin anew.”
The images shifted quickly, showing Pumo questioning Tratek about the journals and his subsequent brutal beating after. He showed her images of sleepless nights of him pouring over the texts he’d found detailing the hidden history of the guardians, of Maylu kneeling down in front of them as a dark figure wove his memories. Clara felt Naaveo tense as the next image appeared. Ivnalth was knelt on the ground in the same strange building where they’d taken Maylu. She was bloodied and dirty, her arms bound behind her back and the side of her face swollen. Ttetza knelt at her side with water and a rag, cleaning her wounds.
“You have to go, Ttetza,” she said through clenched teeth. “You have to warn Zaheer that Pumo knows everything.”
“I can’t leave you here,” Ttetza told her, wincing when she hissed. He stroked his hand over her hair, and Ivnalth’s eyes closed.
“You can and will leave me. I am one of many, and if you don’t warn Zaheer, Pumo won’t just kill me, he’ll kill every single guardian in the tribe and start over. They’re pups, Ttetza. He’ll take them away from their families just like they did to us and Pumo will mold them until they are nothing more than a means to an end.” The priest frowned as he helped her lie on her side. Dull fuchsia eyes gazed up at him as her head lulled. “Promise me you’ll do this. Please, Ttetza.”
“Tell me where to find him…”
The images were ripped away from her, and when Clara opened her eyes, she was staring up at Zaheer, his scowling face framed by the open sky. “Clara! Can you hear me, Aanih? I could feel you fading. You pushed yourself too far.”
Sweat beaded her brow, and she swiped at her forehead and mouth as she struggled to sit up. Ttetza was staring at her, his chest heaving as if he’d been running and to the side, clinging to Elkois, was Naaveo. Her body shook with what Clara assumed were sobs.
“You were the one who turned her in,” Zaheer spat. “What were you expecting them to do with her?”
Naaveo’s lips trembled as she turned toward her nephew. “I didn’t expect them to hurt her, Zaheer. I swear, I only thought she’d be reprimanded. How could they do this?”
Clara’s body trembled from exhaustion. Sharing her gift was taxing, but it had been worth it. She pressed her face into Zaheer’s chest as he gathered her to him, breathing in the earthy, piney scent she loved so much. “What do we do now?”
“We need to meet with the rest of the pack first and formulate a plan. We can’t let this continue. You will take us to Ivnalth,” Zaheer told Ttetza, reaching out to sever the threads that bound his hands. “We need any useful information you have.”
“I’m coming with you,” Elkois said, pulling his sobbing sister to her feet. There was a chorus of agreement from many of the Krunkeeli in the crowd. “I think that I can speak for many of us who sacrificed our pups in the name of the goddess when I say we wish to make this right. Even if that means going against Pumo and his supporters.”
Clara stared up at her mate as he watched his people step forward, offering their support. He was still angry and hurt, and she understood that, but there was something else within him that allowed Zaheer to set those emotions aside. Just like Clara, he wanted this over and done with, wanted the priest dethroned so that they could start their new lives.
Zaheer inclined his head as Clara wrapped her arms around his neck. “We are grateful for your support.”
Chapter 26
Zaheer
Heading to meet with the pack instead of going after Ivnalth tore at Zaheer’s heart, but he knew that rushing in without a solid plan of action could not only get his cousin killed, but other members of his pack as well. Every minill it took them to catch everyone up and to discuss what they should be doing seemed like another he could have spent rescuing Ivnalth from Pumo, but as Alpha it was his job to make sure they could do this safely with minimal damage.
It had been a long time since the entire pack had come together like this, and it bolstered his guardian’s spirit to see them here. The youngest among them, two males of only ten rotations who had been added shortly after Zaheer took over as Alpha, sat with Layla and his mother. Nizla, like Layla, had insisted on coming to the sparring circle where they were meeting, and although his father glowered as he stood guard behind the females, Zaheer was thankful for his mother’s presence.
Sometimes they went rotations without a Krunkeeli being born who possessed the potential link, but according to his father, a handful of pups were due to make their trip to the temple for their ceremony soon.
Not if we can stop Pumo, his guardian snarled.
The oldest member of his pack, Trogh, inclined his head as he approached them. The male had been second to the alpha who’d created Zaheer, and his knowledge and guidance over the rotations since he’d taken over had been invaluable. As the oldest member of the pack, the male was tasked with most of the training and upbringing of the pups. He, along with the younger members, lived at the pack house near the priests.
“Trogh,” Zaheer greeted him. “It’s good to see you.”
“You as well, Alpha.” His gaze strayed toward the pups pressed against Nizla’s sides. “When this is over, you’ll make sure they go back to their families, won’t you?”
“If it’s what they wish, we won’t keep them.”
“Good. I want to make sure there will be someone to look after them in case I don’t come back.” Trogh shook his head when Zaheer opened his mouth as if he knew what his alpha was going to say. “I won’t stay behind. Me and my guardian are prepared to end this today. If we don’t come back, I’d like to know that my life wasn’t wasted on Pumo’s quest for power.”
“I think we’ve come up with a pretty decent plan,” Clara’s voice whispered in his mind.
He looked across the circle, finding his female bent over a makeshift table, Maylu, Ttetza, and Arzil all watching her intently. Other members of his pack, Baeum, Loro, and Bonok, stood off to the side, all wearing matching frowns.
“Why do I have a feeling that I’m going to disagree with this plan?” Zaheer asked.
Clara’s eye jumped to his face. “Don’t judge it before you’ve even heard it.”
“Fine. Let’s have it then.”
“Pumo commanded Maylu to kill me and bring my body back to him, so what I propose is that—”
“No.”
Clara’s brows knitted together. “I haven’t even told you the plan yet.”
“I’m not going to let you be used as bait,” he growled. “What are the other plans?”
His packmates averted their eyes and remained silent.
“It wouldn’t be for long, Alpha,” Maylu said. “We just need a distraction so that you and the others can get inside without Pumo being alerted.”
“There’s already been one attempt on her life, and you think I should let you walk right in with her? She’s just getting to know her guardian and can’t even shift without the command. How will she protect herself?”
“I swear to you that I will protect her with my—”
“You swore to me before,” Zaheer snapped.
“Tsa!” He met Clara’s wide eyes, and guilt swirled within his chest. “There’s no time for arguing among ourselves. This is the best plan we have to get inside without causing a scene and alerting Pumo. We need to get to Ivnalth, and we need to end this today. I trust Maylu to do what he says.”
Something unspoken passed along their bond, and he felt his body relax slightly. Zaheer was terrified to put her life in someone else’s hands, he hadn’t come up with any other plan, and the longer he took to agree to this, the more time his cousin spent being tortured.
“Fine, but you aren’t going into the lab when we retrieve the outsider weapons, are we clear?”
His mate rolled her eyes, but agreed to remain outside with Trogh.
The trip to the lab took most of the day. Zaheer and his pack were used to traveling quickly through the forest, but the Krunkeeli from the tribe, aside from the hunters, didn’t usually come this far. They needed time to rest, and Zaheer begrudgingly gave it to them. Like the seer’s hut, the strange building Ttetza brought them to was shrouded in fog. How many times had he or other members of his pack patrolled this area and never found it?
The outside of the building was covered in finely crafted metal, similar to the ships he’d found before and even to the one Clara’s people had been on. It was clear to him that this place was ancient by the growth of the vines and other vegetation surrounding it. Zaheer came to a stop in front of a well-trodden dirt path that led up to a bisected piece of black metal.
“This is so strange,” Clara murmured.
“Stay with Trogh,” he told his mate. “We shouldn’t be long.”
This wasn’t the first time Zaheer had encountered these strange barriers so he wasn’t caught off guard when they slid open at his approach. “Lead
the way,” he gestured for Ttetza to walk ahead of him.
They passed through a maze of hallways, treading as quietly as possible. “In here,” Ttetza whispered, pointing toward another strange entrance. “Scaans is on duty. He believes in every word Pumo says, and he isn’t going to help us. He was the only one I couldn’t replace in this building with someone I trust, but he isn’t the only priest we will get resistance from. Pumo has a few loyal followers still.”
“Will he be able to call out for help at this range?” Zaheer asked.
“I’m not sure. He’s younger, less experienced with communicating over distances, but we might not be able to risk it.”
The only Krunkeeli Zaheer actively wanted dead today was Pumo, but he understood that if it came down to protecting his pack and those waiting outside for him to return, Zaheer would take as many lives as he needed. The doors slid open before them and Scaans, a surprisingly young priest, spun around to face them.
“You traitor,” Scaans sneered. “What do you think you’re going to achieve by leading them here?”
“This has gone too far, Scaans. Pumo is murdering our people.”
“He is putting down beasts that can no longer be trusted!” The male reached for something on the table in front of him and pointed it in their direction. The sound it made triggered Zaheer’s memory and sent a jolt of unease down his spine. It was the same sound the weapon had made that injured Arzil the day they took Clara and Layla. He saw what that one was capable of and if Scaans wasn’t trained to use something so powerful, it became ever more dangerous. Being in possession of a weapon didn’t mean he knew how to use it properly.
On the journey to the lab, Ttetza had admitted the priests had little to no combat training. Pumo wasn’t looking to turn them into warriors. That’s why he wanted control over the guardians. Zaheer moved forward slowly as Ttetza spoke, keeping the priest’s attention on him.