She took a while to respond, but eventually caved. “Yes.”
Now that the truth was staring her in the face, Kiera was not sure she could handle it. Her hand flew up to cover her forehead “How is it that I was never told? Were you ordered not to tell me?”
Reena pursed her lips. “Not in so many words, no.”
“So… the last eight Chosen?”
“Eight years in a row,” she admitted with much hesitation.
“So Avalyn? Carol? Fiona? Lima too?” Reena nodded after each name was called. “Are you telling me they are not in the Chamber of the Sacred, serving in the Regent’s sequestered coven?”
“Well, yes. And no. The Chosen are on the other side, Kiera. He conjures them.”
A wave of nausea overcame her. The room felt like it was spinning, and her breathing quickened. Suddenly, her reality was unraveling with each new revelation. Some of the concepts she believed to be true at their most fundamental levels…were false?
“All the Chosen?” Kiera asked again, hoping for a different answer.
Her best friend shook her head slowly, placing an arm on her shoulder. “Yes, love. All of them…and their familiars.”
“Every witch who performed the shifter transformation spell…died?”
“Not every witch. The Regent is still alive…although that is semantics of sorts. He can’t really be called a Chosen, since he coined the term. Really, if we’re being precise, you are the tenth witch to perform the transformation spell. Minassus was first, and he has been selecting one Chosen per year, so you are the ninth Chosen, and so the eight Chosen witches before you…yes, they’re all dead. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
“You are rambling, Reena. So he is the only one who survived? How on God’s green earth was I not told a thing about this before!”
“You were not supposed to find out. Minassus does not want the Chosen witches to know.”
“You could have told me.”
“It was not my place, dear.”
“Not your place?” Kiera shouted. “You are my best friend!”
“And I also answer to the Regent, albeit with some belligerence. Look at you. You’re shaking. We should get you inside.”
“No! Oh my God. Xander was right. Coco lied to me. The Regent did too, and everyone in this fortress.” She jumped off the stool and stumbled toward the outer door. “I have to get out of here. I need…some air. If anyone asks for me, cover for me, okay? I want…I must get some answers.”
6
Kiera
Kiera could tell from the length of the shadow cast by the sun that more than four hours had passed. It was probably close to five in the evening now. And darkness was coming. She was still wandering the streets, and for reasons she did not know, she stopped outside the Great Hall. She had no idea how she had made it here. No guards had followed her. No one had asked her if she was lost. At least, she did not think anyone had. Perhaps it was because at some point, she had lifted the hood of her cloak over her head, covering her red hair and the top of her face.
The time had passed in a blur, but now her awareness was returning. With the sun low in the sky, the warmth was quickly dissipating.
Only one thought played on her mind.
How on earth could she possibly cast the spell now?
Kiera walked around to the back of the Great Hall, still unsure of what to do next. Taking the cobblestone path, she walked toward the homes belonging to the craftsmen who helped the fortress witches. She ambled along aimlessly, and did not stop when the cobblestone path ended. It was as far as the fortress witches normally traveled, but tonight, that rule did not dissuade her from continuing on. She only noticed her heart was racing when she was about a hundred yards from the gates of the shifter camp.
She let out a frustrated breath. That thumping inside her chest was a farce. She had been so ridiculously obedient, never taking the chance to go this far away from the fortress since the Regent took her in nine years ago. Which meant she had never seen the shifter camp, and barely knew the village, let alone the rest of the Sector. What else had she closed herself off from, just because the Regent commanded it? It dawned on her that she could return to the fortress and demand more answers. Perhaps Coco had returned too. That was where she would start.
Kiera quickened her steps and headed for the cobblestone road again. Just as she saw the first craftsman’s house on the path, she noticed someone approaching in horseback in the distance.
She swallowed hard.
There he was.
Xander.
He was on a white horse, trotting smartly toward her from the eastern section of the village. He looked more attractive than a few hours ago. If only she could keep her distance.
Or not.
Perhaps Kiera was here because he had opened her eyes, had told her a sobering truth, and would give her more answers.
Or maybe she just had to see him again.
She did not have to remove the hood of her cloak for him to recognize her. He stopped his horse a few feet away, climbing down to get closer.
“Are you lost?” he asked, his deep voice rumbling and already doing unspeakable things to her body. Her mouth went dry. She struggled to come up with words. After a while, she settled for shaking her head. “Are you waiting for the guards to retrieve you?”
Another head-nod was all she could manage.
“It will be dark soon. I can get you home if you wish.”
“No!” She blurted out the word without intending to sound so fearful. But the truth was she was terrified. “You were right…that I am gullible…and about the Chosen witches.”
He lowered his head. “I am sorry you had to find out this way.”
“I have been deceived for nine years of my life… by the Regent, and even by my own familiar. We were supposed to have had a bond.” She took a breath. If she said another word, she was certain she would start bawling. “I’m not ready to return to the fortress.”
“So where will you go?” Xander asked.
She had no answer for that either.
He scratched his head, then pulled the horse’s reins to bring him closer. “You may as well get on.” He held out his hands a few inches from her waist. “I will not hurt you.” Taking a step toward her, he lifted her up in his arms, turned, and placed her to sit sidesaddle on his mare. “You should know I am taking a big risk, but if you want the truth, you will get my honest answers to any question you ask.”
She agreed, but was not so sure it was wise to let him take her wherever it was he was going.
He looked up at her face, and as if reading her mind, he added, “I am a man of my word. You can trust me.”
Starting the mare in a slow amble, Xander held the reins and walked at its, looking up at her from time to time. After some time, they were close to the gates of the shifter camp.
Xander reached up and gently pulled her hood lower down her head. “Do not respond if anyone tries to speak with you,” he instructed her.
She searched his eyes, confused. “Are you not the alpha of your soldiers?”
“I am, but you should know how Minassus operates. All it would take is one talkative soldier or trainee to say more than he needs to, and Minassus will know. And it is not that I fear the man. I’m more concerned about what he may do to you.”
“I understand.”
With a nod, he passed through the gates with an emotionless expression on his face, as though he had every right to bring her here. He gestured at the sentry, and acknowledges the soldiers who greeted him as they passed. No one gave Kiera a second look. Xander walked the length of the camp with her until they were almost at the back of the compound, stopping the mare at a hitching post close to a row of tiny log cabins. He helped Kiera down, tied up the animal, and pointed to the structure she guessed was his, no larger than any of the others she had seen on the way.
“I live alone,” he informed her, opening the door a few inches. “Go in. Have a seat while I get my
horse settled for the night. I will be back soon.”
She watched him guide the mare away, disappearing around a corner a few yards away. Turning back to Xander’s home, she headed inside. Kiera was barely over the threshold when she heard a sound coming from inside the cabin. She snapped her head around the room, but it was too dark. No candles were lit yet.
“Who’s there?” she asked, although she was not sure she really wanted to know.
Slowly, her eyes adjusted to the darkness, but not before the sound of two large, heavy footsteps approached her. The first thing she saw was a broad, solid, naked chest, and had to look up, way up to the smiling man it was attached to.
“Good night, miss,” he said, and for a second, Kiera hoped he was dressed from the waist down.
She let her eyes drift down from the stranger’s short, black hair past his chest and ripped abs, and breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of dark pants. He was a giant, a strapping ox of a man, all muscle, and took up Kiera’s entire field of vision with his size.
“Good evening,” she eventually replied, stepping back into the doorway, hoping he had not seen her face in the darkness, although at this distance, she was not sure. “May I ask why you are here? Commander Oslo assured me he lived alone.”
“I was waiting for the Commander.”
“In the dark?”
“It was not dark when I first arrived, miss. And I can see well enough.” He stepped to his right, Kiera’s left, and a moment later, struck a match and lit a candle. “There. This should help you. I understand now that Commander Oslo is going to be …too busy to speak to me at this time. Not to worry. I will take my leave now… if you would allow me to pass.”
“Of course,” she answered, stepping aside to make room for the enormous man.
He stepped through the doorway, lowering his head to fit through, on account of the fact that he was at least five or six inches taller than the height of the door. “Enjoy your evening, miss,” he told her, not looking back as he pulled the door closed behind him.
While she waited for Xander to arrive, she took the opportunity to check out his place. It was neat, clean and cozy. The stone fireplace was straight ahead. On her left was a small eating area with a wooden counter for preparing food. A pitcher of water sat on the countertop, with a cup beside it. A small table with two chairs was at the corner, and beside it, a shelving unit that held a few plates, cups, glasses, and beer mugs on the top level. The other shelves were filled with jars and bags of grain, herbs and spices, and other food supplies. On her right, directly beside the door was a small, narrow table with a washbasin filled with clean water on top. A closed, two-door mahogany garment wardrobe was beside it. A long, wide bed was up against the side wall, with a mahogany headboard that matched the wardrobe just below a small window. The foot of the bed had a wooden bench the same width as the bed, and three feet away from that was the fireplace.
Kiera took a seat at the kitchen table, and wished she had taken the time to have lunch before storming out of the fortress earlier. She had not had a thing to eat or drink since morning.
Xander came inside just then. “I am sorry about the unexpected guest. I did not know Liam was here.”
“No problem. He left as soon as I got in.”
He nodded from his spot at the center of the room. “Yes. He is a trusted friend, so you do not need to worry about…anything.”
“All right.”
“Are you hungry?” he asked, stepping around to the other side of the table. “Thirsty?”
“Yes,” she admitted, looking up at his face now that he was closer. “Both, but I’d love some water, please.”
He filled the cup with water from the pitcher beside it. Passing her the cup, he took a seat in the chair.
“Thank you.” Now that the water was in front of her, Kiera could not ignore her thirst. She lifted the cup to her lips, holding it with both hands to gulp it down.
Xander raised his eyebrows and smiled. “Okay, so you are very thirsty.” He turned his chair slightly, reaching his arm backward for the pitcher. “Here you go. When was the last time you had something to eat or drink?”
Self-conscious now, she placed the cup on the table. “This morning…before we met at the Great Hall.”
“I did not know they starved you witches at the fortress,” Xander said, refilling her cup.
“They do not. I meant to eat, but…well, time flew by during my walk, and then I saw you.”
“It sounds like you had quite a day.” He got to his feet. “Wait here. The cook staff just served supper in the main dining hall. I will bring us some.”
Kiera got up and made herself useful after he left. She set the table with two place settings using what she could find on the kitchen shelves. The only thing she could not find was napkins, so she set the cutlery in small saucers, then filled her glass with more water and waited. Xander was back within less than ten minutes, carrying three covered wooden bowls stacked one on top of the other.
“Lucky for you, there is beef stew tonight,” he announced. Setting the top bowl between them, he lifted the flat lid and revealed several pieces of bread. He carefully placed the next bowl on her plate, then the last one on his. Xander was about to take a seat when Kiera noticed him peering down into the empty water pitcher. He returned to the door. “Go ahead and eat. I’ll get us more water.”
Kiera would have waited if she could, but God, she was starving. She wolfed down one spoonful of stew after the other, dipping the bread in the savory liquid for each bite until her bowl was empty and the bread was all gone. Still hungry, she eyes Xander’s plate, but thought against devouring his meal. She sat back in her chair then, closing her eyes as she waited for Xander to return.
7
Kiera
Kiera awoke to the sound of a crackling fire. The covers and blankets around her were perfect, not too warm and not too stuffy. The bed she stretched out on was so soft and snug, she could probably go right back to sleep. She rolled to her side, breathing in the sweet citrus and pine scent of the pillow below her head.
“Mmmm,” she moaned, nuzzling the side her face into it to get into a comfortable position. Except, how did she get home?
Her eyes snapped open.
Oh my God!
She was not in her room.
This was not the fortress.
She jack-knifed up into a sitting position, and it all came back.
Xander’s cabin.
At least he was not in the bed too. Where was he?
“You are safe,” said a voice.
“Xander?”
“Who else?” he asked, then he sat up from his spot on the bench at the foot of the bed, where he had probably been resting.
Because I am in his bed!
“How did I…” she started. Her heart was pounding again. She turned her head in every direction of the room, then looked down and lifted the covers. All she had on was her tunic and undergarments. “Where are my clothes and shoes? And how did I get from eating supper at the table to sleeping in your bed with barely any clothing?”
“Your robe and cloak are hanging in my wardrobe, and your shoes are at the door. I found you sleeping at the table when I got back from the dining hall with drinks. I did try to wake you, but you were out like a light, so I put you to bed. Relax. Everything is fine. Take a breath.”
“I will do no such thing! What time is it? I must get back to the fortress.”
Xander yawned and stretched out his arms. “It is a few minutes past seven.”
“Oh. Okay. That is not too bad. We got here around six.”
“Seven a.m., Kiera.”
“What? And you didn’t wake me?” She jumped out of the bed and rushed over to the wardrobe for the rest of her things. Nausea hit her. This was not good. The Regent had probably sent his guards to comb the village in search of her by now. The restlessness in her stomach got worse by the second. How on earth was she supposed to explain spending the night outside of the fort
ress? In a man’s quarters. No, a shifter’s. On their camp. “I must leave now. People will be looking for me.”
“That was my guess. I will get you home.”
“Do you have a way to get me inside the fortress without being seen?” she asked, throwing on her robe, and then the cloak.
“Seriously? You do realize I am a shifter, correct? We do not have access to the fortress. Why do you think our meetings are set up at the Great Hall?”
“Oh. Right. I forgot.” She lifted the hood of the cloak over her head, and picked up her shoes, taking a seat at the kitchen table to put them on. “I guess I will just have to accept the consequences for my poor judgment.”
“Can you ride a horse on your own?”
“I am a bit rusty, but yes.”
He got to his feet and stepped into his boots. “I’ll get two horses.”
“Hurry. Please.”
“You are an impatient little thing, aren’t you? I will be back shortly.”
Xander might have been intending to hurry, but to Kiera, he could not return fast enough.
He was back a few minutes later. “Ready?”
Kiera followed him out to the horses outside. She did not wait for him to help her up. This time, she went to the white mare’s side, taking the reins in her left hand. She lifted the fabrics of her cloak and robe up to her knees with the other hand, stuck her left foot into the stirrup, and climbed up onto the horse’s saddle the way a man would. There was no time for idle sidesaddle riding. She needed to get this horse in a full gallop and get back before the Regent’s guards found her anywhere near the shifter camp.
“Let’s go,” she told him, giving the reins a snap to move off.
“Your state of panic is not helping the horse,” he said when his horse got beside hers. “We should be fine until we are a few hundred yards outside the fortress. I would escort you all the way there, but it may not be wise.”
Mystic Storm: An Adult Paranormal Witch Romance: Othala Witch Collection (Sector 2) Page 6