“The phoenix killed our parents, and countless others,” he said. “If your goal is to earn respect by your claim, it didn’t work.”
The man calling himself Phoenix looked a little green. “I’m telling you the truth,” he whispered. “It’s your choice if you believe it or not.”
“Well, I don’t,” Karein said, “and I’ve grown tired of your nonsense.”
Hareem could tell Karein was moments away from summoning the guards and ordering the imprisonment of the two men. He probably would have done exactly that, had Rachen not said, “You had mates. You were married to Sareltae Myrthylar, and you were desperately in love. Hareem had a werewolf mate. His name was Taryn.”
Whatever words Karein wanted to say froze on his lips. For his part, Hareem felt like he couldn’t breathe. A werewolf mate. Taryn. It couldn’t be. Could it?
There were very few things that Hareem had hidden from his brother and emperor. Perhaps the most important one was his tendency to ignore reports of werewolf sightings. Only when they reached the emperor’s ears did he investigate it, and he always did it himself, not allowing his sister to get involved in any way. If he’d turned a blind eye to the occasional werewolf track, no one but him knew about it. Even during this expedition, he’d acted the same way. He had felt the werewolves nearby and pretended to have a thorough investigation, but he hadn’t actually allowed his people to find the hiding pack.
He had never managed to figure out why he did this. To a certain extent, it could have been because, at this point, werewolves had long ago stopped being a danger for Ornoz. Hunting them was useless. At the same time, a part of him had wanted to follow each and every one of the trails he’d found in the hopes of finally getting to the bottom of it. But Hareem was never truly alone, and if he attempted to look into it, he was bound to lead the rest of his people to his target.
And so, he had been stuck asking himself the same questions, over and over, questioning his own reasons and wondering if he was losing his mind when he dreamt of a faceless man who could melt the ice in his heart.
It occurred to Hareem that whoever these two men were they knew all of their weak points. He supposed he should have seen it earlier, when they’d first mentioned Kaelezrin. The wild story aside, they were clearly dangerous and a threat that needed to be eliminated. Never mind that Hareem’s heart told him there might be some truth the two men’s claim. He had to think clearly, and to do some damage control, before this information leaked and gave their enemies yet another weapon.
Obviously, Karein was thinking something along that line, too. “Hareem, I want you to take our guests to their cell personally. I don’t want them to speak to anyone. If they even make the attempt, move them to the lower dungeons. I’m giving you free rein to take any measures you deem necessary after that point.”
“Understood, Your Imperial Majesty,” Hareem said, saluting.
“Karein, we’re not trying to deceive you,” Phoenix said. “Why would we?”
“I don’t know,” Karein answered, “but I’d advise you to tread lightly. I’m moments away from doing something I know I will regret later, but in light of your earlier injury—which was, at the time, unwarranted—I will allow you more comfort than you deserve. Don’t abuse my goodwill, or you will regret it.”
Without further ado, Karein stalked out of his quarters. He must have notified his guards of what he’d ordered, because over ten draechen entered the room, ready to escort Rachen and Phoenix.
The two men didn’t protest. They were silent as Hareem once more led them to the same cell where they’d been earlier. The scent of blood and charred fleshed still lingered in the air, and Hareem saw Rachen’s hold on Phoenix tighten. He wondered if Karein had decided to leave them here not as a kindness, but as a reminder of what would happen if they continued to piss him off.
In truth, even this reaction was sedate, given everything the two men had done. But this wasn’t over just yet. Karein would get them to reveal their sources, their purposes, and their real identities. Hareem just had to be a little patient and trust that he was doing the right thing.
For whatever reason, though, he found himself waving the guards off and shutting himself in with the two men. “Why did you say that?” he asked. “Why would you invent something so preposterous?”
“We’re telling the truth,” Rachen said. “Taryn Lovington is your mate. You even had a child together.”
Hareem’s stomach roiled with distress and loss. This had been a mistake. He never should have prodded into it further. “Male werewolves can’t conceive,” he answered between gritted teeth. “Now, you will follow His Imperial Majesty’s orders and shut your mouths until he makes a decision in your case.”
The two men didn’t answer, which was perhaps fortunate. In the past few minutes, everything they had said seemed designed to be a weapon against Hareem. Hareem didn’t wait for them to react, and abandoned the cell, his head still spinning.
He wanted to speak to his brother again, to ask him what he thought of all of this. Alas, Karein wasn’t in the palace anymore. Apparently, he’d gone flying and had asked not to be disturbed. Hareem couldn’t presume to intrude on his privacy. Even if they were siblings, Karein was first and foremost his emperor, and Hareem could never forget that.
The last blow came when Hareem ran into a ragged-looking draechen. “Your Highness,” the other man said. “Terrible news. We’ve received word from Florenz. The Myrthylar have captured Princess Akarawem.”
For a few moments, Hareem just stared at the messenger, not comprehending. When the news finally processed, he inquired, “How did it happen? Is she alive?”
“As far as we know, yes,” came the reply. “There have been no communications or demands from her captors. And from what we are told, the fae seemed to have allied themselves with feline shifters. They brought guns with bullets that can pierce dragon scales.”
The situation was worse that Hareem had thought. It was all the more worrisome because fae shouldn’t have had that kind of technology. Draechen were the dominant force in world-wide industry, and other species were generally kept from having access to the industry of technology.
The other draechen looked at him, as if craving reassurance, but Hareem didn’t have time for that. With a simple nod, he pushed past the messenger and headed toward the cliffside. This time around, Hareem would just have to risk Karein’s displeasure. If his twin had fallen into the fae’s clutches, the Myrthylar clearly had more power than they’d all thought. Given what the so-called Phoenix and his mate claimed, one had to wonder exactly what angle the Ivenians were working. Whatever plans they had, though, it couldn’t be good for Ornoz. Now more than ever, Hareem had to remember his duty—even if his heart screamed the one name that had become imprinted in his memory and refused to disappear. Taryn.
Chapter Six
Eanera walked quickly through the corridors of the underground compound. Sari followed his mother, more uncertain than ever, and barely daring to hope. She hadn’t said anything more beyond those cryptic words on the boat. In fact, she’d barely addressed him at all, until they’d reached the mainland and made their way to the main headquarters of the fae.
Well, Sari and Eanera had come here at least, because Philip, Raleigh and the naga weren’t allowed anywhere near the place. It was very difficult to maintain the secrecy of the compound in a world so thoroughly dominated by Ornoz. Every passing day increased the risk of discovery. They lived with the fear that any moment now, an earth dragon would stumble upon their last stronghold and reveal it to the emperor. So far, it hadn’t happened, mostly because earth dragons were pretty rare. And because their compound had endured for so long, they had strong security measurements in place. Princess Akarawem wouldn’t even be brought here, since just her presence was a risk they couldn’t afford. Eanera had already made arrangements for the draechen female to be taken to a special facility guarded by both shifters and fae. Presumably, Philip, Raleigh, and the others we
re heading that way even now, and they would rendezvous with Sari’s father once they reached their destination. According to Sari’s mother and much to Sari’s relief, Selbrian had safely left Florenz and was now heading their way.
It was strange, but the details of Akarawem’s capture seemed so irrelevant now. As they passed the countless guards who watched the hallways, Sari wondered exactly where they were headed. He felt a little light-headed, like every inch of him was alive with an odd, unfamiliar awareness. No one else seemed to experience it, so he guessed he must be imagining it. And yet, he couldn’t help but believe that something momentous was about to happen.
Unfortunately for Sari, he and his mother were forced to stop their quest when they ran into their king. The Ivenian sovereign, King Amarion, seemed to be coming from the exact direction Sari and Eanera had been going, but that was probably just a coincidence. The compound was a maze of twists and turns, built mathematically, so that one could virtually reach any point in it from all other locations within it. The exits were just as carefully crafted, as they were quite numerous, but well hidden and undetectable from the outside.
Eanera and Sari both bowed lowly. Amarion tsked at them. “Please. I’ve told you a million times to forego formality. How are you, Eanera? I thought you were meeting with the naga.”
“I was,” Sari’s mother replied, facing the king once more. “I left them with Philip Strange and his mate. Selbrian is heading to see them to further our plans. In the meantime, I wanted Sari to rest a bit.”
Amarion frowned and glanced Sari’s way. “Is everything all right?”
Eanera nodded. “He just hasn’t been feeling well, but he should be fine after he sleeps some. “
Sari knew for a fact that it wasn’t his earlier nausea that had made his mother return. However, if she’d lied to their king, she’d done so for a reason. Therefore, Sari had to play along. “Please, don’t be concerned about me, Your Majesty. It’s probably just fatigue.”
The king stepped out of their way and gestured them further. “Very well,” he replied. “Don’t let me keep you. Just take care of yourself.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Eanera answered, bowing slightly.
“You don’t have to thank me.” Amarion smiled at her, then turned toward Sari. His expression was strangely foreboding and serious when he said, “Be careful, Sari. You’re very important to us all. I wouldn’t want something to happen to you if you strained yourself too much.”
“Of course, Your Majesty,” Sari replied, a little worried. “You honor me through your words. I will do my best to recover.”
Amarion’s gaze cleared of the storm that had invaded them, his visage gentle once more. “Stop taking lessons from your parents. It’s Grandfather.”
Technically speaking, Amarion was actually Sari’s great-great-grandfather. He was the oldest fae Sari knew, and had lived through the entirety of the draechen wars. He had managed to keep what was left of the Ivenian nation intact. He’d also had to face the loss of several sons. He had survived, when other Myrthylar, including his own children, had perished, succumbing to the war. Sari knew it hadn’t been easy on Amarion, but still, he lived on, fighting to protect Ivenia.
And in spite of all of his duties as king, he’d always been nice and particularly loving toward Sari. Sari was humbled and flattered by the attention, but sometimes, he was also uncomfortable with it, because he knew he hadn’t done anything to deserve it.
Still, Amarion remained his king, so Sari indulged him. “Grandfather,” he repeated.
“Very good,” Amarion said. “Now go. Off with you. Your mother has that impatient look on her face again. I think I’ll be in great trouble if I keep you here any longer.”
Eanera let out a dismayed sound, but Amarion didn’t allow her to say anything in her defense. He just turned and left, disappearing down the corridor moments later.
There were a lot of things Sari wanted to share with his mother then, mostly rotating around Amarion and his often strange behavior. But it wouldn’t be appropriate to discuss the king in those terms, especially not in the middle of the hallway, where anyone could overhear. Eanera didn’t address it either. She just started walking again, falling silent and looking deep in thought.
Sari’s anxiousness had only increased during their conversation with Amarion, and as they continued on their way, he became even tenser. At last, Eanera entered a restricted area of the compound. She stopped in front of a door protected by a top notch system of security and inserted a password. That kind of technology was actually very rare outside this compound, and it only made Sari even more apprehensive and impatient of what was hiding behind it.
The door slid open, but Sari still couldn’t walk inside. The room beyond was also protected by a strong shield, likely one created by Eanera herself. Sari’s mother took his hand, and together, they stepped through the enchantment. Sari felt the magic sizzle over his skin, and knew that if he hadn’t been in his mother’s presence, he would have never passed it.
But the security measures didn’t stop there. They repeated the process three more times, with three doors and shields. Every time Sari passed a spell, his skin sizzled more with the power that had been used to create them.
Or so he thought, until they went through the final shield and Sari found himself in a small, square room, surrounded by thick metal walls. In front of him was a platform, and on it lay a box unlike any other Sari had ever seen before. It didn’t look special in any way. It wasn’t ornate, studded with gems or decorated with engravings. But the power emanating from it nearly floored Sari.
“What is this, Mother?” Sari asked, realizing that this was the source of the power that had made him feel so very strange. “What is that box?”
“This is the secret I was talking about,” Eanera answered. “I asked myself many times if I should share it with you. I wondered if I was losing my mind, if Jenarra was testing me, or if She had gifted me with something I couldn’t understand. I tried to grasp what it meant, but accepting it… Accepting the things I’ve seen… I can’t even explain it, Sari.”
“Mother, I don’t understand,” Sari replied. “You’re amazing at interpreting visions. Jenarra guides you through them. What have you seen that troubles you?”
Instead of answering, Eanera said, “I’ve watched you, Sari. I noticed you getting sick for no reason. I can tell that you dream of things that torture you, things that you don’t share with me. There are secrets buried inside you, dear child, secrets that box can unlock. I didn’t want to show you, because I don’t want them to be true. But right now, I think you deserve to know. It’s the least I can do for you.”
She suddenly seemed very old, as if a heavy burden was weighing on her shoulders. Sari wanted to help her, but he couldn’t, at least, not until he truly grasped the meaning of her words. He threw a look toward the mysterious box. What would he find inside it? What answers did the box hold for him? Could it truly show him the path to the mysterious man in his soul, his mind and his dreams? If so, why had his mother kept it from him?
There was only one way to find out. Taking a deep breath, Sari stepped toward the box. The more he approached, the stranger he felt. He was both drawn to and wary of those secrets his mother had mentioned. But he didn’t have a choice, not really. His true path began here, in this moment, and he had to embrace it.
When he at last stopped in front of the platform, he glanced back at his mother. She said nothing, and just nodded, her eyes glittering with concern and her entire body taut with tension. For some reason, the fact that she didn’t try to stop him in spite of her obvious fears encouraged Sari.
Without hesitating further, he turned away from Eanera and simply opened the box. He didn’t know what he’d expected to find inside, but it certainly wasn’t a flaming feather. Sari blinked, almost thinking like he was imagining things. But no, its power was very real, the magic sizzling over Sari’s nerve endings even stronger than before.
�
�It’s a phoenix feather,” his mother said as she joined him next to the box. “Be careful. It shouldn’t burn you, but don’t take any chances.”
Sari ignored the warning and met her gaze once more. “How can this be? The phoenix… We don’t have anything to do with that creature.”
“No, we don’t,” Eanera replied, “but we might have, at a different time.”
Sari still didn’t understand, but he gathered that any explanations his mother might offer wouldn’t even begin to answer all of Sari’s questions. He discarded all of his useless hesitations and touched the feather.
A million images flashed through his mind as his fingers came into contact with the soft surface of the feather. He had expected it to burn him, especially after what his mother had said, but it didn’t, at least not physically. With his soul, it was a different matter entirely.
At first, the slideshow of pictures made very little sense. The onslaught made Sari dizzy and he nearly fainted. Distantly, he registered his mother reaching for him, but he pulled away, keeping her from touching him.
Gritting his teeth, he embraced the strange power, and finally, the images crystallized in his mind. He saw himself in a cold throne room, facing a dark-haired man dressed in a black uniform. He heard his own voice say, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Your Highnesses.”
“The pleasure is all mine,” the stranger replied. His voice was low and husky as he spoke, but changed into a more aloof tone, when he added, “Ornoz welcomes you.”
Ornoz? The draechen? Sari had never met with the draechen in a diplomatic capacity, and he couldn’t imagine it would happen anytime soon. Was this vision referring to their future? Was the man in Sari’s dreams a dragon then?
Hyacinth, Scarlet - From the Ashes [Chronicles of the Shifter Directive 7] (Siren Publishing Epic Romance, ManLove) Page 9