Looking at them, Rachen realized one very simple thing. They were telling the truth, or at least the truth as they knew it. If Rachen believed that, he also had to acknowledge the fact that his Alwyn could indeed be a phoenix.
However, unlike them, Rachen realized all too well that Alwyn was no longer what these people described, if he had ever been so. Ferradul didn’t realize it, but his spell had done more than create an illusion. It had given the phoenix a consciousness and awoken its soul, the soul Rachen was in love with.
Oblivious to Rachen’s thoughts, Ulysses continued, “And now, I understand that the Chest is lost. I have no idea where we could even start.”
Rachen couldn’t help it. He smiled. “Good. Thank you for everything you’ve told me. I have all the information I need now, and I can return to Draechenburg, to my Alwyn.”
“You can’t possibly believe that the creature is your mate, not after everything we’ve said,” Portia exclaimed.
Rachen laughed. “Do you truly think yourself so convincing that you’d determine to change my mind on something so important? You must be insane.”
“Prince Rachen, reconsider,” Ferradul said. “You have no idea what you’re doing.”
“Oh, I know exactly what I’m doing. Now, get out of my way.”
They let him pass, obviously realizing that there was nothing they could do to stop him. Rachen left the room, already making plans regarding how he could get back home as quickly as possible. He headed toward his rooms, intent on gathering his belongings, but as he walked, he bypassed the Sutharlainn siblings and their father. Iasan, Cormac, and Deirdre were talking in low voices with Pádraig. They went silent when they saw Rachen approach and politely bowed.
Rachen hadn’t gotten the chance to hear what they were saying, which he oddly regretted. For that reason, he stopped walking and said, “I’m leaving for Draechenburg. Would you like me to give Caelyn any message?”
“Actually, Highness, we really want to see him,” Iasan answered. “Would it be possible for us to join you in your trip?”
Rachen opened his mouth to say yes, but something stopped him. “I’m afraid that Draechenburg is still in lockdown right now,” he replied. “I’d have to discuss it with my brothers, and right now, I don’t have the time to wait for their response.”
“Oh.” Cormac’s face fell. “We understand, of course.”
Rachen felt a little bad about his refusal, so he added, “As soon as I get to Draechenburg, I’ll notify the Imperial Consuls and we will send a summons from you.”
“We would appreciate that,”Iasan said. “We truly want to see him as soon as possible.”
Caelyn’s only sister, Deidre, retrieved a letter from her pocket. “We’d be very thankful if you could deliver this to him.”
Rachen just took the envelope without a word. He mentally filed the Sutharlainn as a matter to be studied at the later date. It seemed apparent that in some respects, they had expected him to say no. They puzzled him so much, but he truly lacked the time and interest to focus on them. “I will,” he promised. “Farewell. Thank you for your hospitality.”
Pádraig looked like he wanted to say something else, but Rachen had lost patience with the sprites and their secrets. With one last nod, he continued on his way. His mate was waiting, and Rachen had to reach him before it was too late.
Chapter Eight
“I don’t understand this,” Raleigh Connors exclaimed. “How could his wound not heal?”
Kael gave the benandanti a disgruntled look. “If we’d known, we wouldn’t have asked you.”
Talrasar patted his arm in an obvious attempt to soothe him. For once, it didn’t really work. If anything, it made Kael even more anxious. He was beginning to get that feeling, so familiar to him, the one he remembered from the battle of Eternelle.
It made no sense that he would remember that now. Alwyn Cyraltin hadn’t actually attacked them, so by rights, as long as Talrasar stayed away from him, he should be safe. However, the fact that Alwyn had managed to hurt Karein without even trying was more than worrisome. So far, he seemed capable of neutralizing both draechen abilities and fae magic. What else could he do? Who was he really?
In a desperate attempt to find out more about Alwyn, he and Talrasar had gone to their resident researchers, the benandanti. “Perhaps if we took a blood sample, we could give you a real response,” Elizabeth Connors suggested.
That was actually a good idea. Kael didn’t know why they hadn’t thought of it earlier. “Maybe we did realize it,” Talrasar said through their bond. “We just didn’t want to acknowledge it.”
Kael released a mental sigh. “I don’t know how we’re going to face Rachen when he comes back and tell him what his mate is capable of.”
“Technically speaking, he didn’t actually do much since Rachen left,” Talrasar tried to argue.
“Love, the scratches didn’t vanish when Sari healed them. The wounds barely stopped bleeding. I can’t even imagine what kind of damage he could do if he really tried.”
That was the real problem. If he was telling the truth, Alwyn didn’t even know how he was doing these things. However, from what Kael could tell, his powers were only growing with every second that passed. It was only a matter of time before they became impossible to control.
Their mental conversation was interrupted by Raleigh. “You mentioned he had talons or claws,” he said. “Then he must be a shifter of sorts. Have you tried contacting the other castes?”
“Hareem and Karein are making arrangements for that as we speak,” Kael answered. “It’s not exactly easy. We were already planning to initiate communication with them, but we’re on a deadline now, and they’re not as open to negotiation as we’d like.”
Not that Kael could blame them, after being under draechen domination for centuries. Nevertheless, under the circumstances, it was very problematic. They needed information, and they needed it yesterday.
“I see,” James Connors said. “Well, bring the young man in and let us get a look at him. Perhaps we can give you at least some clue as to handle this.”
“Thank you,” Kael replied. “Perhaps it would be better if you joined me in visiting him. I’m not looking forward to dragging him all over the palace.”
“Of course,” James replied. “Just let me gather some things and we’ll be all set.”
As the benandanti put together a med kit for the purpose of taking a blood sample, Kael directed his attention toward Talrasar. “I’m going to take you back to our room, okay? I don’t want you getting anywhere near Alwyn.”
Talrasar grimaced but didn’t protest. The situation was very unfortunate, and both of them hated it, especially since they’d gotten to like Alwyn. However, they couldn’t risk any harm coming to their child.
The benandanti moved quickly, and soon, he’d finished his preparations. At the last moment, Raleigh decided to come along, although his father didn’t look very happy about it. “It’s not safe,” he pointed out.
Raleigh just shrugged and ignored him. Kael had no patience to wait for any conversation between them. He just gestured the two benandanti to follow.
Together, the group left the lab where the Connors regularly went through with their research. At first, they dropped by the imperial wing to leave Talrasar in their quarters. Talrasar and Kael shared a brief kiss, and then the fae retreated into their room. He hated leaving Kael alone to handle this. Kael could feel it. Both of them were used to fighting side by side. However, they didn’t any have other options.
Now accompanied only by the Connors, Kael guided them to Alwyn’s room. It was guarded by soldiers who had received specific instructions regarding what they could and could not do. To be more specific, they simply were not allowed to see Alwyn at all. If they heard anything, they were to notify either Karein or Kael, and if the two of them weren’t available, Lieutenant Zager. Of course, since Alwyn had injured Karein, Sage was around three quarters of the time.
He was h
ere today, speaking with the guards at the entrance. He obviously sensed Kael approaching, because he turned away from his underlings.
“Your Grace, a word with you?”
“Of course, Lieutenant Zager. What can I do for you?”
Sage pulled him aside into a nearby room. Once they were in private, the ice dragon explained, “Camden has sent a message to his family. It seems the naga have some information on a creature that was powerful enough to injure a dragon. As I understand it, there’s very little information on it, and most of what is known is considered legend.”
“What creature?” Kael asked, both dreading the response and eager to learn it.
“It is called the phoenix. Humans speak of it as a great fire bird, long living and with the ability to be reborn out of its own ashes. It’s unknown if this is true. However, the naga claim that there was indeed a phoenix once, and that it destroyed a great deal of shifters before it finally disappeared.”
Kael groaned. “I don’t know if I’m happy we finally learned something or dreading what it means.”
“I’m still hoping it’s all a big confusion,” the other draechen confessed. “I simply can’t imagine a mystical ancient being suddenly emerging in Draechenburg, brought in by the sprites.”
“Stranger things have happened,” Kael said. It was true. He, Talrasar, and Rachen had come back to life, for fuck’s sake, as had the Ancient Horror. It wasn’t a stretch to think that they’d end up forced to face this mysterious creature in the guise of Alwyn Cyraltin.
“How are we supposed to know for certain?” Sage inquired.
“The benandanti and I will attempt a blood test. If it works, it might tell us something about the nature of Alwyn’s body.”
Sage nodded, although he didn’t look very convinced. Obviously, he had more faith in naga legends than in benandanti technology. Perhaps his mate had convinced him of the reliability of the story. For his part, Kael wasn’t inclined to make any accusations based on this tale. Granted, it was more information than they’d had until this point, but not enough.
They left the room together and went to meet the benandanti again. The two men were waiting patiently in front of Alwyn’s room. They didn’t look like they had heard the conversation between Kael and Sage, but Kael had never fully understood the exact extent to which the benandanti had shifter abilities and magical powers.
Fortunately, the walls of the rooms were thick enough so as to be able to keep their discreet conversation a secret. Kael knocked at the door of Alwyn’s room, hoping that this test would convince them that the legend Sage had told him was just that, a legend. “Come in,” Alwyn’s voice beckoned them from inside.
Kael and the benandanti didn’t delay in taking Alwyn’s offer. Together, they entered the room. They didn’t immediately see Alwyn, but Kael’s senses quickly detected him. He was leaning against the window leading out into the blocked-off balcony. It seemed obvious that he wanted to be outside, and the imprisonment was getting to him.
In that moment, Alwyn really reminded Kael of a bird trapped in a cage. It was entirely possible that the comparison had come to mind merely because of the story Sage had told him, but it still made Kael uncomfortable.
“Greetings, Lord Cyraltin,” he said politely. “With your permission, we’ve been thinking of attempting a blood test in the hope of coming up with an answer to all of our questions.”
Alwyn looked toward him, his expression completely neutral. “Of course,” he replied. “I’m at your disposal.”
He walked to the benandanti’s side, his gaze going from Kael to his two companions. He watched the Connors with sharp eyes, reminding Kael of a predator eyeing prey.
Kael shook himself, cursing Sage for telling him about the legend of the phoenix before this meeting. Perhaps if he hadn’t, Kael wouldn’t be judging Alwyn on things that could be easily interpreted as mere apprehension.
For their part, the benandanti didn’t look taken aback by Alwyn’s less than thrilled expression. James directed Alwyn to sit down on the couch while his son opened the med kit. Alwyn pulled up his sleeve, exposing his flesh. Quickly and efficiently, Raleigh sanitized a spot on the inside of Alwyn’s elbow and readied his syringe.
Naturally, it wasn’t any type of syringe the humans used. The benandanti had special needles which they used for drawing blood from shifters and magical creatures. The needle went in easily into Alwyn’s skin. Kael released a breath he hadn’t known he’d been holding. Surely, this was a positive thing. A creature like Sage had described would likely have a very different reaction to being blood tested.
As it turned out, Kael was right about that. Suddenly, Raleigh hissed and pulled his hand back, dropping the syringe. Kael watched in horror as the item fell to the floor and erupted into flames.
Alwyn clutched his arm, even if Kael was fairly sure he didn’t have to. “What in the world is happening to me?” he asked.
This time, Kael actually had an answer, but he wasn’t sure he wanted to provide it. Fortunately, he was saved from doing so when Sage entered the room. Judging by the lieutenant’s expression, the ice dragon had heard or at least figured out what had happened in the room. However, when he spoke, he didn’t make any comment on it. Instead, he said, “We’ve just received news that Prince Rachen will be arriving soon.”
Alwyn perked up, obviously eager to see Rachen, but in mere seconds, he deflated. In fact, Kael could have sworn he heard the man release a small sob. “You have to keep him away from me,” he said, clutching Kael’s arm.
When had he moved from the couch? Kael hadn’t even seen him approach. That, in itself, was a little mind-bending. “I’m not sure I can do that,” he said, trying to keep his dismay from showing.
Alwyn let out another inarticulate noise and released Kael’s arm. He turned on his heel and ran into the bedroom. Kael studied his arm and saw a bruise was forming where Alwyn had gripped him.
Talrasar reached out to him through their bond. “Are you going to tell Rachen about what Sage learned?” he inquired.
“We don’t have a choice, love,” Kael answered. “He needs to know. But maybe everything will be all right. Maybe this Alwyn was correct in saying that Rachen was mistaken when he thought the two of them were mates.”
And yet, even as he spoke, Alwyn’s words returned to his mind. You have to keep him away from me. That kind of selflessness and love couldn’t come from a mindless, soulless creature. Exactly what were they dealing with here and how were they going to stop it without making things worse?
* * * *
Alwyn felt like he was losing his mind. He dreamt of fire and destruction. He accidentally stole the powers of one of the most important magical creatures in the world, then injured his host and Ornozian Imperial Consul, Karein Tersain. He knew now that Caelyn had been right in saying he was dangerous, and he was terrified of what he would do next.
Still, when Sage brought news of Rachen’s imminent return, his first reaction was bliss and relief. At the very core of his being, Alwyn had missed Rachen so much it hurt. He realized that he should be clinging to his original resolve to keep Rachen from him, and his rational mind did remember that. And yet, what he truly wanted to do was to burst out of the room, run into the cliffside, and take off, to meet Rachen halfway, to see the dragon again.
That really made no sense to Alwyn. He couldn’t fly, so he had no way of doing that. But ever since he’d had that dream, random thoughts popped into his mind, suggesting that he might have once been able to do several things he couldn’t now.
Instead of investigating that, Alwyn retreated into his sleeping quarters. Imperial Consul Kael claimed that he couldn’t keep Rachen away from Alwyn. But what if Rachen had met the true Alwyn Cyraltin and realized the source of his true feelings? Just the idea made Alwyn so angry he could barely even breathe.
Next to him, a vase exploded. The smell of burnt material filled the room, and Alwyn realized that his steps were leaving burns in the carpet. Cursin
g, he stopped pacing and dropped to his knees. He buried his face in his palms, trying to calm down and failing.
How had he ever thought he would be able to give up Rachen? Rachen was the only thing that had remained consistently real for him, the only truth in his life that no one could question. Whatever he was, whatever powers he had, his feelings for Rachen would never change.
What did the real Alwyn have that was so special anyway? He had been more than an adequate replacement so far. Who said that he couldn’t continue to do so?
Something hot rose within him, and Alwyn whimpered as he clutched his chest. It didn’t work that way. This whole thing had started because Alwyn could no longer be…well, Alwyn. He couldn’t maintain the façade anymore. His real essence was coming out, and it had very little to do with Rachen’s true mate.
He didn’t know how long he sat there on the floor, lost in his thoughts and in his pain. At one point, he heard his visitors leave, which he surmised was a sign that Rachen would be arriving soon. Indeed, the sound of an approaching aircraft reached his ears, and before he could control himself, Alwyn shot to his feet.
He ran out of the bedroom, his steps carrying him toward the balcony. Halfway there, he remembered it had been locked and barred when Alwyn had been imprisoned here. Disappointed, he almost turned back, but then, he threw a glance toward the balcony door. At first, he thought that he’d remembered correctly and the access toward the terrace was still blocked. But then, he blinked, and his vision cleared. The door was open. How odd. Perhaps Kael had unlocked it before he’d left. Alwyn couldn’t imagine why Kael would have done that. Then again, it wasn’t like he could actually escape through the balcony if he even had any intention of going. From the terrace, it was a direct fall onto the ruthless mountains beneath. He very much doubted that even with his strange powers, he would manage to survive it.
Shrugging off the odd occurrence, Alwyn slipped outside. Just in time, too, because he could watch Rachen’s plane approach. First, its image was small, like a sparrow, but then it grew into a dove, an eagle, and then bigger and bigger. It was so easy for Alwyn to imagine himself flying next to it, next to Rachen.
Fire's Embrace [Chronicles of the Shifter Directive 6] (Siren Publishing Epic Romance, ManLove) Page 10