“Good thinking,” Enya said, and turned back to the royals, translating.
Katianna was so busy practicing her tourism smile that she didn't realize until after they were settled just what had happened. Werewolves were real, dragons, lion shifters, and who knew what else? Everything she had been told was fake was a lie. She was starting to question her own reality. Was Santa Clause real as well?
But then, it seemed questioning things was what people did around here, given how Cole had been so harsh to her at breakfast.
She was grateful that Spencer found her shortly after the incident. She had perched on a windowsill, fiddling with her phone and staring out into the majestic countryside.
“My love,” he said. “I'm sorry. I didn't realize that they had gotten you involved. They shouldn't have done that.”
“It's fine,” she replied, reaching her arms up for a hug. “How are you?”
“I'm fine,” he said. “I was sorting through a few things for Nicholas, and I got carried away. But you are all right?”
“I'm fine,” she said with a smile. “It's not my hotel, so I don't have to worry about a lost reservation. But it does seem odd. They say they are here, invited by a posthumous letter from the old king.”
“And did it say why?” Spencer asked. “That's not like King Richard. He was not that organized.”
“I didn't know him,” Katianna said “But I was thinking, what if it's just meant to look like an old letter? And he's back?”
“They killed him,” Spencer replied, flatly.
“You buried me,” she said. “And yet here I am. What's the difference?”
Spencer leaned back against the windowsill, his chest sinking as he thought about that. She was right.
If King Richard was back, it meant this planet was going to go to war in a way no one had expected.
“Thank you,” Cole said to her that night at dinner. He said it in passing, but his voice was kind. “For fixing that, this afternoon. One would almost think you belong here.”
“Maybe I do,” she said, and he smiled.
“Maybe you do,” he said. “Or maybe you've done it before.”
She winked at him, and he chuckled. All was forgiven, at least for now. Dinner was full of the nobles that had arrived by the late king's letter, and while everyone was on edge, they were also reveling in each other 's company. And for the first time in Katianna 's life, surrounded by lions and witches, dragons and wolves, she felt like she belonged as well.
Chapter 9
The headaches started on her third visit to Umora. She had been with Spencer for nearly nine months, and she was glad for an escape to the dragon planet when her school holidays came up. Exams had been stressful, and her parents had basically put her on the front desk every moment she wasn't in class. They also were suspicious of Spencer's extended stays, despite his charm. They knew she was with him, and they chose to just shake their heads quietly. Romance with guests was a faux pas, even if they respected their daughter's choices as an adult. Still, she was grateful for the break from her hotel world, even if it meant packing a suitcase full of Tylenol.
“I'm just going to sit in the library for a while,” she told Spencer when they got there. “It's dark and quiet there, and it helps.”
“I need to be in the throne room,” he said worriedly. “But maybe I can–”
“No, you have work to do,” she said to him, giving his hand a squeeze. “I'll still be there when you get back. Don't worry.”
“You summon me if you need anything at all, all right?” he made her promise. “Someone can get me in an instant.”
“I'll be fine,” she assured him. “It's just a headache. Too little sleep.”
“We will make sure you turn in early tonight then,” he said, kissing her head. “If I see any of the princesses, I will send them to you.”
“I would love to see them, regardless of my head,” she said, splitting off from him in the hallway.
Entering the library, she just wanted to sit by the fire and read a book. It was usually empty during the day, with everyone scrambling around for work, so she was surprised to find Cole going through the shelves, looking confused.
“Hey,” she said, and he looked up.
“My favorite hotelier,” he said with a smile. Since the first visit, they seemed to be on better terms. She quite liked him, texting when they were away, and speaking with him and Enya frequently.
The truth was, although she didn't have too much in common with Enya, she felt it was proper to speak to his wife more than him. She didn't want Enya to think that she liked Cole a little too much.
“What are you looking for?” she asked, settling down in a chair. It was so different from the first time they met. Before, they couldn't speak without snapping at each other.
“When you are royal, everything is documented,” he said. “People take pictures, they make paintings, they write about every appearance that you ever made.”
“Sure,” she responded.
“So I'm looking for photos of my father, records of if he has ever been to certain places, even briefly.”
“Shouldn't all that be digitized?” she asked as he opened and closed books.
“Not all of it,” he gave her a smile. “Umora is a funny place. We're lightyears ahead of Earth in one way, and behind in others. Most of the royal records are still here.”
“Why are you even looking?” she asked, confused.
“Because there have been more reports of his appearances. There have been photographs coming from unknown settings, letters, but something about them doesn't fit.”
“Is this about the letter from the first time?” she asked. “Didn't they say it was arranged before he died?”
“My father was not that organized,” Cole snorted. “Not organized enough to send letters arranging regular meetings between rulers at regular intervals ten years in the future.”
“So, you think he's back.”
“Except,” Cole answered, “I saw him die.”
“Well,” she drew up her feet, “Spencer saw me die.”
He didn't say anything to that. She knew the topic of whether or not she was Spencer's first love was still up in the air, at least on Umora. Cole opened and closed another book or two before he turned to her.
“There's something I want to show you,” he said after a while. “This can wait.”
“What could you possibly want to show me that is more important than your father returning?” she smiled.
“Come with me,” he said, beckoning her. “Don't worry about my crazy father for a moment.”
She laughed at that and pushed herself up. It took a moment for her head to stop pounding, which it often did when it was like this. She winced, and Cole put out his hand.
“I'm all right,” she said. “It's just–”
“I know you're all right,” he said, “but there's no reason to suffer stubbornly.”
He took her hand before she had a chance to react and pushed magic into her. It was something that Spencer did on occasion. She knew it was temporary, but it was a better pain relief than Tylenol and Advil.
She was grateful for Cole's persistence and took a deep breath.
“Thank you,” she said. He met her eyes, looking down at his hands and then back at her. The moment lasted a bit too long before he beckoned her into the hallway.
“I'm surprised your boyfriend didn't do that,” Cole said, as they walked down the hallway.
“Sometimes, I feel like I've built up a tolerance to him,” she said. “His magic isn't always effective. Is that possible?”
“Maybe,” Cole seemed half distracted as he walked. “Or whatever is going on with your head is getting worse. I can't cure Enya, and it's harder to push magic when it's on Earth. He could have run out at the time or not been strong enough to push it properly. But most supernatural beings respond quite well to magic.”
“Maybe I'm j
ust tired,” she said, with a shrug, missing his meaning. “What are you showing me?”
“Just something you left here last time,” Cole said, as he took her down a flight of stairs. He pushed open a door, and she gasped.
Inside was a room packed to the rafters with treasure. There were gold, jewels, tiaras, and swords. This was clearly their treasury room. What baffled her the most was how there was no guards at the door.
“It's spelled,” Cole said. “Only those of the throne's bloodline can get in here. If one of us breaks in and steals things, that's on us. But otherwise, no one else can so much as set foot in here without one of us.”
“This is so much,” she spun around, looking at the hordes of treasure. “You really are a prince.”
“In case you doubted the palace setting,” he said, as he went to a chest. He opened it, and she watched as he pulled out a small, white box. Turning back to her, he placed it in her hands.
“What's this?” she asked. He smiled, crossing his arms.
“If I told you, that would be cheating,” he replied. “Go ahead. Open it.”
Katianna cracked open the box with curiosity to find a plain gold band staring back at her. There was nothing special about it that she could see. It wasn't extravagant or particularly large. It had no jewels, no markings. It looked as if it were bought at any generic jewelry shop on Earth.
That thought hit her like a smack on the face.
“Is this mine?” she looked up to Cole. “This is a wedding ring. Is this my wedding ring?”
“What do you think?” he asked, leaning against a pillar.
“Why would I leave it here?” she asked. “Was it an accident?”
His yellow eyes flashed as he shifted positions. He looked so handsome standing there, watching her.
For one moment, Katianna saw what she thought was the past. Cole, standing in the hallway, his arms open as she flew to him.
She took off the wedding ring, pushed it to him, and shook her head.
“Did you give me this?” she asked, her voice a whisper.
“Did I?” he asked, his voice also low. “Or did someone else?”
“Did Spencer…” she put a hand to her mouth. “Did we…?”
“You always said your connection to Spencer was the reason you believed him,” Cole replied, standing up straighter now. “What about your connection to me?”
“I…” she trembled under the weight of the memory.
“Do you feel nothing, Katianna?” he asked.
“I came to love you,” she said. It slipped out of her mouth before she realized what she was saying.
They stood in silence for a long moment. Her hand closed over the ring box, her knuckles white.
“Did he know?”
“He ran away with you right afterward,” Cole answered. “So, I have no idea what you told him. I am discreet in my affairs, but he's always been on guard about me.”
“What happened?” she demanded “Cole, what happened in that lifetime? Ah!” Her headache came back with a vengeance, and she bent over, trying not to hit the floor.
He didn't offer magic this time, flexing his hand as if the magic was flowing without consent.
“You died,” he said simply. “The rest doesn't matter.”
The silence this time was much longer. He waited until she straightened up again. She pushed the ring toward him.
“I don't want this,” she said. “I don't want to know.”
“You don't have to have it,” he replied. “But if your argument is based on the feelings you have inside, you should focus on more than Spencer's eyes,” he said. “Come on, I'll take you to your room.”
“I think I can go by myself,” she said, trying not to cry. “Please don't tell him.”
Cole shrugged. “The past is the past, Katianna. Nothing can change it.”
She said nothing to that, turning on her heel.
She barely got into her room before the hot tears spilled down her face. She pressed her hands against her face, trying not to completely dissolve.
What had she done? What was happening?
If Cole was lying, she couldn't find the reason behind it. And he was right about her feelings. Despite the fact that she had once found every word that came out of his mouth annoying, she couldn't deny what she was starting to feel for him.
But she loved Spencer, didn't she? Hadn't she always loved him – been fated to love him?
She couldn't think straight; she didn't know what was real and what was not.
The pounding in her head didn't make things any easier. She curled up on the bed, trying to block out the sunlight. Life had been so easy a year ago. She had thought this new life was what she wanted: excitement, travel, and romance. But all she wanted was to be home in the hotel, in her own bed. A year ago, her biggest problems were that she had to go to class too early. Now, she was wondering if a previous incarnation of herself had done something unforgivable. Was she being punished for the sins of the past?
She couldn't bring herself to face Spencer the rest of the day. She stayed in her room, napping and working on homework, trying not to cry. When he checked in on her, she claimed homework and skipped dinner, her chest aching.
She loved him; she knew that. But she had loved Cole, too, she realized the more she thought about it. Had Cole loved her back? What had happened before this body of hers took an old soul?
She closed her eyes as the sun set, searching her memory.
She had done something terrible once, she knew that. But she wouldn't do it again, she vowed. She loved Spencer more than anything. She wanted to be with him in this life and any other. But to do that, she needed to be far away from Cole.
Chapter 10
“What are we drinking to?” Spencer asked as they retired to the library after dinner. Most of the women had retired, and they were more relaxed after an intense day of discussions. Only Ariel remained with the men, which included the werewolf king, Evan, sitting at Alexander's side like a protective guard. “This seems a generous sample.”
“The fact that our father has yet to appear and wreck this palace again,” Nicholas said with a grin as he threw back a shot. “Nothing new, Cole?”
“I mean, it depends how you want to look at it,” Cole said. “Either the evidence is faked, he was highly organized, or he's back. Equal arguments for all, which is very dragon.”
“We can't spend the rest of our lives like this,” Peter said. “Wondering if father is returning. Wondering if he's right around the corner. I want answers, and I want them soon.”
“Aye aye,” Cole answered. “But I thought we were relaxing for another hour or two. Spencer, another drink?”
“One more,” Spencer replied, holding out his glass. “I should check on Katianna. She's been getting headaches that are debilitating.”
“Any idea what it could be?” Evan spoke up sympathetically. He wasn't quite aware of the dynamics of the situation, so he spoke out of kindness. Cole exchanged a look with Alexander, but said nothing.
“No,” Spencer said. “But I do worry. Katianna has always left me because of some issue with her head or her neck.”
“You can't think like that,” Alexander said, leaning forward. “It's like Peter said, living your life in fear will get you nowhere.”
It was only after a few more rounds of drinks that Ariel spoke up. Spencer mentioned checking on her a second time, and Ariel snapped.
“If she's in that much pain all the time, why don't you just reboot?”
“I'm sorry?” Spencer asked, unbelieving.
“You heard me,” the fiery redhead said. “Why don't you do away with this body, which is weak, and start over? You don't want her to be in pain, do you? Cole said your magic wasn't always working on her. We could try to heal her here, or you could restart.”
Spencer sputtered in shock.
“I…”
“Why?” Ariel challenged him.
“Because I'm not sure her lives are unlimited,” Spencer finally replied.
“No, you're not sure this is real,” Ariel blurted out. Alexander put a hand on her arm, but she brushed him off. “The rest of us have sat silent while you've preyed on a girl that I'm not even sure could drink at her own wedding. If you are sure this is her, you should have no issues giving her a stronger body.”
Spencer rose, his eyes on fire.
“And who are you, carapace, to speak to me that way?”
“I was your queen,” Ariel snapped. “But regardless of that, I am a carapace, you are right. Reincarnation would require magic. She has none. I've stood next to her for months, there is nothing to drain, nothing to change.”
“How dare you–”
“Because you are preying on her, manipulating her,” Ariel snapped. “Don't you think that if reincarnation was real we would find a way to help my dying husband, your prince?”
“You are the one killing your lover!” he screamed at her.
“As you kill yours, multiple times over!” she screamed back at him.
Silence befell them all at those words. Ariel was trembling, and Spencer saw as much pain in her eyes as he had carried for years.
“Gentlemen,” he put down his glass. “I take my leave of you.”
Spencer left the room before anyone could stop him. All eyes turned from his exit to Ariel, who was still standing in the middle of the room. Her fists were clenched, and her hands were white.
“Ariel,” Alexander said softly, “I am not immortal, regardless of your presence. Come.”
She closed her eyes, shaking her head. “I'm just sick of this back and forth,” she said. “How dare he prance around like there is hope?”
“I felt her today,” Cole said, and everyone's head turned toward him. “She had a headache, and I pushed magic into her.”
“And?” Evan spoke up, trying to diffuse the situation.
“I've pushed magic into Katianna before,” Cole answered. “The first time she was here. You know how magic feels when you give it to someone. This was not the same thing. It felt radically different from anyone I've ever pushed magic into, except…” he paused. “It felt like Enya. A pure human. That's the only time I've done that.”
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