by Rosalie Redd
“Tanen, as much as I understand your need to honor the dead, and believe me, I do, we must concentrate on the living. We’ll postpone the ceremony until Anlon is found. The babe is our number one priority.” Kaelyn pointed toward the warriors. “Get some rest, we leave at nightfall to resume the search.”
The need to right his wrong burned inside Gaetan. “I’m coming, too.”
“Stay here, Gaetan. We need you in the infirmary in case…” Kaelyn sighed. “I know you want to help, but your skills are better served here. Gaetan, you did nothing wrong.”
Craya! Yes he had. He’d wiped out the entire royal family because of his mistake. His grip tightened around his staff to the point the wood creaked.
Sharp glances and a few terse grumbles emitted from the warriors as they headed for the exit.
Tanen turned his head, refusing to meet Gaetan’s gaze.
Demir shrugged and motioned for Aramie to precede him.
Saar shook his head, his scar tight against his skin.
Heat raced up Gaetan’s back and over his shoulders, burning his ears.
They all blamed him. He absorbed the guilt, let it fester in his soul, the pain building to an unbearable level. After exiting the room as fast as his leg would allow he leaned against the wall, his breath heaving from his lungs.
I must do something. He pounded his fist against his thigh. The edge of his palm smacked into the round, hard stone hidden in his pocket. The blue sunstone…
He retrieved the cursed gem from its hiding spot and studied it in the light. Shades of blue reflected off the walls with an eerie glow. Noeh had entrusted him with its care. In this, he would not fail. A passage from an old scripture dashed through his mind.
“Tenida raised the blue crystal into the night air. Its brilliance outshone the moon. The stone had healed Grian, the greatest of warriors, the one who’d sacrificed himself for another. Standing at the base of a large waterfall, the old haelen threw the crystal into the pool to hide it from the enemy. A brilliant flash of light erupted from the water, turning the color to a deep blue and stopping the waterfall’s flow. The healer spoke, his voice booming through the trees. “The stone shall rest here until needed once again.”
Gaetan’s mission was to find Anlon, but if he got the chance, he’d throw that cursed stone back where it came from—Blue Pool. At sundown, he’d leave with the others, with or without their permission, but first, he had a promise to fulfill. Nicole…
At the thought of the young human female, turned Dren, a rush of adrenaline flushed through him. He was responsible for her, and he wouldn’t shirk his duty. After what he’d done to Ginnia, his sister had given him plenty of practice with accountability. The marking for responsibility etched on his hand burned hot and fevered. As he peered at it, the line faded, along with his hope.
Kaelyn focused on Gaetan as the male shuffled past the two carved statues that graced the entrance to the throne room. His features were drawn, tension lines rimming his eyes. An ache built in the back of her throat. Although she hadn’t known him long, she’d grown to care for the Keep’s healer.
“You’re deep in thought, little bear. What’s on your mind?” Saar wrapped his arm around her waist and drew her to him. The comforting gesture eased the tension in her muscles. She snuggled against him, leaning her head on his shoulder.
“I’m worried about Gaetan.” She pulled away enough to peer at Saar. “You know him better than I. Does he seem all right?”
A soft sigh eased from him. “This can’t be easy for Gaetan. Noeh was like a son to him.”
Kaelyn trailed a finger over his chin, along the edge of his scar. “…and Anlon. I know Gaetan adored the little tyke. He seems to blame himself.”
Saar blinked. “I agree. It wouldn’t surprise me if he misunderstood others’ concern for him and interpreted it as condemnation. Anlon crawling through the portal could’ve happened to any of us. From what Noeh said, the newb got into everything.”
“We’ll keep an eye on him. I don’t want Gaetan to suffer needlessly.”
Saar kissed her forehead, his lips warm and soft. “Neither do I. Gaetan takes care of everyone else, but never himself. If anyone deserves a break, it’s him.”
The weight of being the queen bore into her. She was responsible for everyone now. “Still, I worry about him after what happened. I hope he doesn’t do something to endanger himself.”
CHAPTER 10
A lora floundered with the key, her fingers fumbling in the dark. With Anlon cradled in her arms, she couldn’t see around his head to the door’s latch even with the porch light blazing. She let loose an exaggerated breath and turned to Carine. “Here, will you hold him?”
“Of course.” Carine held out her arms, and Alora transferred the little bundle of energy to her friend.
Anlon cooed, his adorable smile pulling at his lips. He pointed to the tall branches rising from the Rolmdew tree. “Tee.” He giggled and the gentle sound skipped along the breeze.
Alora shoved the key into the lock and twisted the knob. With a firm push, she rushed into her home. The lights flicked on at the movement, illuminating her living quarters in a soft glow. Her attention tore to her visus bacin, and the hair at her nape rose. Nothing’s wrong, all is fine.
Somehow, she didn’t believe the mantra she’d told herself all the way home. After finding Anlon, her fear that something bad had happened on Earth had only intensified. She rushed to the edge of her scrying bowl and swirled her hands over the water. Nothing happened. Using more force than she’d intended, she pounded her fist against the stone rim, bruising her flesh.
“Can I get you a glass of water?” Carine set Anlon on the floor, and he crawled to the table, hauling himself to his feet. A look of triumph lit his eyes.
The little tyke was adorable, no question about it, but seeing him brought back her fear. Why was he here?
“Water will help, you know, calm you down.” Carine’s encouraging voice filtered through the room.
Alora leaned over the bowl, her hands still shaking. “Thank you.”
Carine retrieved a glass from the cupboard and poured water from the chilled pitcher. She approached, an encouraging smile on her face. “Here.”
Alora took the proffered glass and sipped the cool liquid before setting it aside. “I must see what’s happened on Earth. What if…” Her throat tightened, and she couldn’t complete her sentence.
“Your love for your characters will be your downfall.” Like a dark cloud, Zedron’s words sped across Alora’s mind. Odd how the characters on Earth treated her with such reverence and respect, like a goddess, when she could be killed or die just like anyone else, but that’s what had endeared them to her.
Closing her eyes, she drew in a long breath then let it out with a slow exhale, willing her heartbeat to slow. Concentrating on her characters and her love for them, her rhythmic breaths helped calm her nerves. “Let’s do this.”
Alora held her hands over the still water. With slow, deliberate movements, she swirled her hands, again and again, moving faster with each revolution. The water rippled. Small waves dashed against the bowl’s edge. Water sloshed over the rim and onto the wooden floor. Still, she continued.
The rushing water grew louder, more intense, and drowned out Anlon’s soft coos.
“Show me,” Alora commanded.
The water stilled. In the center of the bowl, a vision appeared.
Alora sensed Carine approach from behind, but her friend kept her distance.
The image solidified. Cave walls, the Keep’s porte stanen with its central portal stone, and the stone platform came into view in the Portal Navigation Center. Rin and Gaetan appeared to be in a conversation. Anlon crawled toward the portal, following a red sunstone floating through the air.
Alora drew her gaze away from her visus bacin and focused on Anlon. Even as he tottered across the table, he clutched the red sunstone in his palm. She returned her attention to the vision.
T
he sunstone levitated over the portal and a blinding red light lit up the scene. Gaetan and Rin shouted and rushed toward Anlon, but they were too late. He crawled up the steps and into the portal.
Alora sighed. “I guess that explains how he arrived here.”
Carine placed her hand on Alora’s shoulder. “Do you suppose…”
The water in the bowl swirled, the image blurring for a moment before a new one appeared. A forest at night. The scent of pine and dampness carried into the room.
Noeh battled several Gossum. A loud bellow burst from his lips, and he transformed into his beast. Alora flinched, her breath catching when Mauree came into view, drawing a dagger from a pouch at her thigh. Before Alora could blink, the traitorous female launched the blade. It twirled end over end and embedded itself in Noeh’s throat.
Alora gasped. Her chest tightened, pain rippling through her as if the dagger had penetrated her skin.
Gossum attacked, tearing into her king. Noeh stiffened then slid to the ground and turned to sand.
Alora’s thoughts froze. This didn’t happen. It couldn’t be real. Yet, her visus bacin never lied.
She raised her hand to swipe away the vision, but stopped herself. Gaetan, out in the woods, held a human female in his arms. She bore the telltale sign of a Gossum bite on her shoulder. Gaetan licked the wound, sealing it with his saliva. The vision faded.
Smooth as glass, the water in her visus bacin returned to its natural state.
Alora whipped around, and her bottom pressed against the bowl’s edge. She stared at Carine. “Noeh is gone.”
Carine shook her head. “I don’t know what to say.”
Alora pushed away from her scrying bowl and paced the small space. “It means I’m at a severe disadvantage in the war. Not that I wasn’t already, but with Noeh dead…”
A lump formed in her throat. “Oh, no.” She glanced at Anlon. Before she could stop herself, she rushed to the small babe and cradled him in her arms.
“What is it?” Carine’s voice wavered.
“No, no, no.” Alora paced to her character board and swiped her hand across the cover. The screen flared to life. With practiced skill, she splayed her hands over the board, searching the green dots for one in particular. The mark she sought was nowhere on the active board. Fingers trembling, Alora pressed the section for deceased characters and scanned the most recent additions.
There, last on the list, Melissa, Anlon’s mother.
Tears blurred Alora’s vision and she swiped the board, shutting it down so she didn’t have to look at the results.
“Noeh and Melissa shared a soul. When he died, so did she, and they left Anlon an orphan.” Alora tightened her hold on the toddler, but he squirmed in her arms, demanding his freedom.
She set him on the ground, and he crawled to the table, as if eager to conquer the obstacle yet again. “I should—”
A knock on the door made her flinch. Irritation flared in her chest. She didn’t have time for a visitor.
“I’ll get that.” Carine strode across the room and opened the door.
A blast of cool night air wafted into the room, the taste of evil along with it.
“Carine.” Zedron’s low tone held a hint of menace. His attention slid past his ex-slave and focused on Alora. He winked, and the corner of his lip curled. “Hello, Alora. May I come in?”
“What do you want?” Alora spat the words at him.
“Is that any way to treat a guest?” He stepped over the threshold and into Alora’s home. His gaze drew to Anlon. His brows rose and he peered at her. “A child? What are you doing with a young male like that?”
Alora strode in front of Anlon, blocking Zedron’s view of him. “None of your business.”
He released a low, predatory laugh. “Come now. Let’s not play games, shall we? Except, of course, the one we play to control Earth’s fate. You and I both know that is Prince Anlon. Although how he arrived here is a mystery to me, but no matter.”
“What do you want?” Alora held her ground, unwilling to let him know how much he unnerved her.
Zedron glanced at Carine before his attention returned. “I’d like a little privacy with you, if you don’t mind.”
“I won’t leave you alone with him. I don’t trust him.” Carine’s words lightened Alora’s chest, but she wouldn’t put her friend in the middle. She’d already spent enough time between them.
“That’s okay, Carine. I can handle the likes of him. Please, take Anlon upstairs. He could use a bath.” Alora smiled, encouraging her friend to comply.
Carine didn’t say a word, but by the set of her jaw, she wasn’t happy with the arrangement. She nodded once then plucked Anlon from his spot on the floor and headed up the stairs.
When she was out of earshot, Alora faced her nemesis. “Spill it. Why are you here?”
He smiled, revealing his perfect white teeth and strode to her visus bacin. With deliberate intent, he ran his finger along the bowl’s rim. “I’ve had second thoughts about our arrangement. I miss my slave.”
A flash of anger rippled over Alora’s nerves. She fisted her hand, her nails digging into her palm. “We had a bargain. You agreed to it.”
He shrugged. “All right. If you’d rather I go to the council, that works for me as well. I’ll tell them you manipulated me to release Carine to you. I doubt they’d look favorably on coercion.” Using long, purposeful strides, he headed for the door.
Alora’s heart pounded at her temple. She wanted to lash out at Zedron, beat her palms against his chest, his face, anywhere she could reach. Instead, she gripped his arm. “What do you want?”
He peered over his shoulder at her, victory reflected in his cold blue eyes. “I’m willing to withhold this bit of information, for a price. Care to hear?”
She released her hold on him and nodded.
He turned to face her and ran his finger down the side of her face.
She jerked away, her skin crawling from his touch. “Just tell me.”
A low chuckle eased from him. “Well, I’ll give you a choice, since that’s what you gave me. I want one of three things—Carine, the babe, or…you leave Veromé and come to me.”
Alora clenched her teeth. “Not a chance.”
His smile widened. “You sacrifice yourself for your loved ones so often this should be easy for you. When you return from your dark place tomorrow night, I want your answer.”
She shook her fist at him. “This has always been about revenge, hasn’t it? You could never get over me selecting Veromé as my mate.”
He seized her arm, his grip painful and tight, and yanked her against him. His vile breath reeked of muldoberry wine. “You should be my mate, not Veromé’s.”
“I will always believe you killed my friend Mitan. You wanted me to think Veromé was responsible, but I know, I know it was you.” Spittle flew from her mouth and landed on his cheek.
Zedron’s nostrils flared. “The council ruled Mitan’s deck railing gave way, and he fell off the platform. I had nothing to do with his death.”
She jerked against him, trying to free herself, but he was too strong. “I didn’t believe you then and I don’t believe you now.”
He shoved her. She stumbled backward, and her hip rammed against her visus bacin. Pain bloomed at the spot.
Zedron’s arrogant gaze raked from her hips to her breasts before focusing on her eyes. “Did that hurt? Good. You have one day to decide.” He smirked then tramped from her home, slamming the door in his wake.
“You sick Kasard. I despise you!” Alora’s fingers trembled. She curled them into fists, but couldn’t stop the dread as it squeezed her heart.
CHAPTER 11
N ikki closed her eyes and rested her head against the edge of the bathing pool. The smooth stone surface was cool and in stark contrast to the warm water lapping at her chin. Steam rose into the air, invading her senses and calming her racing mind. She sighed and slipped further into the carved tub.
Sheri
had shown Nikki to her room then dropped her off at the bathing hall. Geez, the things Sheri had told her—a planet called Lemuria, a war over Earth’s water, their goddess Alora, Gossum, Stiyaha, Panthera, the great scourge, the list was endless. What a fantastical tale. At first Nikki hadn’t believed Sheri, hadn’t wanted to, but as Sheri continued to explain, all the details fit together.
Nikki gnawed on the inside of her lip. I can never go back to my old life.
A thickness coated the back of her throat. She opened her eyes to blink away the tears. Although she didn’t have a lot of friends, she’d miss Jasmine. Did her work buddy find a ranger to search for her? They’d never find any trace.
Sadness beat at Nikki’s spirit, but as she peered at the steaming tub, hope, small and brief, flared to life inside. Maybe she’d find a family here with a male. Then again, maybe not. She’d been alone most of her life. To think, hope, and dream this would be any different begged for trouble.
Swallowing the lump in her throat, she glanced around for a towel, suddenly eager to escape.
Tables set against the far wall contained stacks of linens and an assortment of personal cleansers, lotions, and perfumes. Preparing to get out, she placed her hand on the edge of the stone tub. The rhinestones in her bracelet shimmered in the light, reminding her of the mark on Gaetan’s arm. Soon, she’d see him. A shiver rippled over her skin, and the water in the tub bubbled, slow at first, then faster and faster.
Adrenaline spiked along Nikki’s nerves. She bolted from her seat and scrambled over the edge. Her bare feet landed on the stone tile with a loud, wet slap, and she had to grip the edge of the tub to maintain her balance. The water in the pool stilled, as if nothing unusual had occurred. My special power… She still couldn’t believe this happened, but she couldn’t deny what she’d seen.
Water dripped from her hair onto the stone floor. She carefully stepped to the towels and grabbed one. The cloth, soft and comfy, wrapped around her like a lover. She used another for her hair, wringing out as much water as she could.