Deviation: Altera Realm Trilogy Book 2

by Jennifer Collins

  “Of me?” Cass scoffed.

  “His face lit up when he talked about you, his little princess. And then you started growing up, and your silly girl stages made him laugh, and your adolescence made him want to quit. But through it all, he loved you so much. He wanted to help give you a Realm to be proud of, and he saw Gabriel as a way to do that.”

  “And he died for it,” Cass said, wiping some falling tears.

  Becca sat back and nodded.

  “Sorry. I just blamed myself for so long. He encouraged me to do magic, and he died because of it.”

  “He died for Altera, for peace.”

  Cass sniffled and cleared her throat. “I miss him.”

  “Me too.”

  She looked back to the crib in front of her and pictured Raine playing with Nyoka. It would have been a nice sight to see. Her smile fell the second Ny’s gentle gurgling stopped. It was her constant reminder that her son was in front of her, and now it was gone. She flew up and out of her seat at the same moment Becca did. Ny constantly made noises, so not hearing them concerned both of them. But what Cass saw in the crib was even more disconcerting. She should have been prepared for this, but looking down at the little cub in front of her was almost overwhelming. Nyoka looked up at her with his big brown eyes and let out a high-pitched wail. She reached down and ran her fingers along the light-tan fur now covering his whole little body. A moment later his pink tongue licked her hand before smacking his head into it. “What is he?” she asked, tears filling her eyes.

  “He’s a lion,” Becca said, disbelief filling her voice.

  “Why do you sound so surprised?” Cass asked. “We’ve been waiting for him to shift since he was born.”

  She nodded. “I know. It’s just…lions are royalty.”

  Cass looked down at him again. “Wes is a prince.”

  “Gabe had me read up on Shifters when he dropped you off. Said it might come in handy. Lions were mentioned. There’s only one born every other generation—a direct line of succession. Wes’s father, King Lional, is a lion.”

  “So?”

  “Cass, this means Nyoka is the next Shifter king. It’s his destiny.”

  She looked at Becca for a moment before looking back down at her little lion. This was huge and a bit scary. “Can they tell when he’s…Do they know about him?”

  Becca nodded. “The current king starts to lose his teeth. He will be succeeded when they’re all gone.”

  Cass frowned. The only way she saw of keeping Nyoka was if neither her nor Wes’s families knew of him. This worried her. “Can they track him?”

  “I don’t think so.”

  “But we can do a spell to hide him anyway, right?” She looked at Becca with pleading eyes.

  “Of course. I’ll get started,” she said, hurrying out of the room.

  Cass looked back down at her little boy. She had hopes of keeping him out of everyone’s sights until peace was reached in the Realm. But that was looking less likely. Moreover she had no idea how to care for a lion; she barely knew how to care for a child. She wrung her hands as Nyoka jumped in circles, chasing his short tail. All her certainty started to fall away, and worry invaded her mind. She needed help, and all she wanted was Wes. She was pretty sure she wasn’t going to get either.

  When he closed his eyes, he could see her. But when he opened them, he was still in the stone cell his father had thrown him into the second he’d stepped back into Shifter territory. Wes shouldn’t have expected anything else. His people had been paranoid for centuries, and they weren’t going to look around his stint in Magic User custody, a fact he openly told them, even for him. His father knew Wes had been taken prisoner in the Village, and Shifter law demanded that the captive be put into holding until it was determined what he gave up in order to be let out alive. Being set free from prison in the Village wasn’t something that happened very often—he might actually have been the first—but the law was upheld, and every day a new soldier came in and interrogated him. Wes looked down at the burns on his arms. A few were starting to fade, but some were still red and black. Those were from the day before. Who would have thought the interrogation techniques in the Village were more humane than those of his people?

  He hadn’t told them anything they wanted to know. Information about security at the Village and locations of royal families—that was all they wanted to know. Each interrogator laughed when he told them the truth about how Syney wanted to end the war and said they needed to work together in order to end the war peacefully. That wasn’t what they wanted to hear, but that was all he was giving.

  Wes leaned his head against the wall and closed his eyes again. They would come soon. It was always the same time and the same results, yet they still came, day after day. He opened his eyes as heavy footsteps echoed down the hall. Wes wondered what kind of torture they were planning for him tonight, not that it mattered much. The heavy wooden door opened as he stood and gave a good stretch. His cocky smile fell the moment his father stepped into the cell, slamming the door behind him. This was more than unusual. Lional hadn’t seen him since Wes had taken up residence in the cramped cell. Lional was a large, imposing man with broad shoulders and a thick mane of dirty blond hair.

  “Father,” Wes said, trying to suppress his anger. This was his first sign that he might actually get out of here—no use ruining it with snarkiness.

  Lional huffed and looked away, disgust filling his face.

  Wes frowned and waited. There was obviously a reason for Lional being here.

  He finally looked back at his son. “You got close to the Chosen One.”

  “Not really,” Wes said slowly. “Tried to kill her, and then we talked.”

  “Talked.”

  “Yes.”

  He huffed again. “Is she pretty?”

  Wes gave him a look. “I didn’t really notice.”

  Lional stepped away and looked toward the far wall for a while before turning back. “My officers keep telling me you’re spouting notions of peace.”

  “I am. We can do it, Father.”

  “By killing her.”

  “No, by coming together and working out our differences. She’s not what we expected. She has no animosity toward us. She didn’t even grow up in the Realm.” Wes took a breath. “She wants to end the war peacefully.”

  Lional shook his head. “And you devised this plan, didn’t you? I have to say, it’s a good plan.”

  “What plan? You threw me in this cell before I could do anything.”

  Lional stepped to within feet of him. “I hate this war. It’s taken my land and my family. I never gave you credit for much, did I? But you’re smart. You knew exactly what to do.”

  “What exactly was that?” Wes asked, curious. His father seemed to be talking in circles.

  “Wasn’t sure it would work? Well, it did.” Lional pulled something small and white out of his pocket and handed it to his son.

  Wes looked down, only taking a moment to realize what it was. A tooth. A large, sharp, white tooth. A smile slowly snaked its way across his lips. Cass and his baby. That thought alone would get him through anything.

  “I hope she likes being underground. It will probably be disconcerting at first, but it’s a step in the right direction. Is she queen yet? That will help.”

  Wes looked up at his father and shook his head. “It’s not Syney. I guess I’m not as smart as you’d like.”

  Anger flashed across Lional’s eyes. “Who exactly bore my grandson then?”

  “Her name is Cass.”

  “A whore from the neutral territories?” he roared.

  Wes played with the tooth. “Princess Cassandrianna of House Crystallianna.”

  Lional’s body eased.

  “Not the Chosen One, but close enough?” Wes asked, handing the tooth back.

  He took it and stared at his son for a while. “Does Queen Syney really want peace?”

  Wes nodded. “I didn’t believe it either. But Syney and Cass
and even the damn head guard—they aren’t like the rest.”

  “But are they enough?”

  He shrugged. “We won’t know until we try.”

  “Can they heal the land?”

  “If there’s a way, Cass will find it. She’s already been looking.”

  Lional stepped back again. “We have a lot to discuss with the council of elders.”

  “We?” Wes asked.

  “Yes. Come on.”

  Wes smiled and followed his father out of the cell. “We need to start with the wolves on our borders.”

  “I agree, but if they cross, they’ll get a fight.”

  “We can’t.”

  Lional stopped and looked at his son. “We must. For our people.”

  “Is there any other way?”

  “It takes a lot to sway the council. You have a lot of work ahead of you.”

  Wes nodded. He was ready for it, all of it. Nothing mattered more to him now than finding a way to get out of his lands. He needed to get to Cass and his child, but there was no way to do that other than brokering peace.

  Gabe leaned against the high table outside the pub he was just in and watched Adam through the window of another pub that was across the street. Adam smiled and bent forward toward the barmaid, saying something quietly to her. Gabe resisted laughing and looked away. The charm wasn’t something he had taught Adam. It was one of those things he’d naturally come by, flashing his smile whenever he wanted something. There was a moment when Adam was only seven, when they were living in the Human Realm in a very colorful New York City, when he flashed that smile at their landlady and got them a month’s free rent. Gabe had felt so much pride in his son at that moment, but that was also the moment he swore he’d never tell Adam the truth. Charming and scheming wasn’t something a father should be proud of. A father should be a good example for his son. Someone he should look up to. After that, he considered giving him away to friends who had just moved to the Human Realm but ultimately didn’t, in part because of his unique parentage. Not many people could explain his Vampire side to him, so Gabe had stayed and had done what he could; granted, that wasn’t much. It didn’t matter much once Adam hit seventeen. They’d been splitting their time between a broken Altera Realm and a boozed and jazz-filled Human Realm when Adam wished Gabe well and took off on his own. They’d met up a few times each year, but Adam had never been dependent, even as a kid. Which is why he found Adam’s recent reaction so surprising. He honestly didn’t think having parents meant that much to him.

  Gabe waved down a barmaid and ordered a bottle of something strong. He knew what Adam was going to find out. It was the same thing he had found out and exactly what he had expected to find out. And there was no way he was going there without a drink, or lots of drinks. He had downed two shallow glasses as Adam walked over. “Find out anything?” Gabe asked after a swallow of the golden liquid.

  “The lovely Belinda says the inn at the end of the block is owned by two Psyche sisters, Willow and Catlynn, who’ve been known to make charms and potions to cure illnesses,” Adam said, eyeing the liquor in the center of the table. “Why are you getting drunk? We have important things to do.”

  Gabe filled two glasses and slid one over to Adam. “Drink.”

  “I’m good. Thanks.”

  “You won’t be in a second,” Gabe said with a smirk. “I got the same info here.”

  “And this is a bad thing? It’s a lead.”

  He threw back another drink. “I know who they’re talking about, and it probably is our best bet.”

  “So why aren’t we going there now?”

  “Because they’re also known to stick their noses where they don’t belong, and if we go down there with my guilt and your animosity, they’re going to charm us, which isn’t a very pleasant experience.”

  Adam looked away, a small smile crossing his lips. “I don’t know. I was charmed once. That was a good weekend.”

  Gabe rolled is eyes. “Not a pleasure charm.”

  He looked back. “So what do you want to do? Have a heart-to-heart over some drinks? It’s not going to change anything.”

  “Because you hate me so much.”

  “I don’t hate you.”

  Gabe narrowed his eyes and tilted his head to the side.

  “I’m serious. I’m done being angry as well. I feel absolutely nothing for you.”

  He poured another glass and downed it. “That’s so much better.”

  Adam rolled his eyes. “What do you want from me?”

  “Nothing,” Gabe spat.

  “Fine. I’ll go by myself.” Adam started to walk away.

  Gabe grimaced and called out for him to stop. Adam returned to the table and stared at him, waiting. Gabe bit down on his tongue until he tasted blood. He knew this was coming. It should have happened earlier, but it stung more than anything in his life. “I’m sorry,” he mumbled finally.

  Adam leaned forward and shook his head. “What?”

  Gabe cleared his throat and swallowed. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I was selfish for not telling you about me and…keeping you from Faye. I don’t have an excuse other than I didn’t want you before you were even a you.”

  Adam’s breathing picked up, but he didn’t look away, which Gabe gave him a lot of credit for. “Then why not just get rid of me once she died? Why live a lie for more than a hundred years?”

  “Because…whether or not I wanted you, I had you, and you’re mine. The only thing I have left of Faye. I just didn’t want you to be me because you’re better than that.” Gabe took another drink.

  Adam didn’t speak for a while; he just stared at him. Finally he looked away and threw back the drink Gabe had poured for him. “We should get down there.”

  Gabe nodded and followed him down the stone road and into the inn at the end. The inn was a charming space with a long wooden bar along one wall and small tables filling the rest of the space. He knew the reputation of the sisters and even had seen their handiwork firsthand the year before. Knowing they liked to fix things with charms, he had sent Syney and Hunter to them. The sisters had done their job and charmed them out of their inhibitions, giving them three perfect weeks together without the pressures of the Village. Even though something had been lifted a moment ago between him and Adam—he could almost feel it—Gabe still hesitated at the threshold of the inn. Once they were at the bar, he pushed his nerves down, knowing Willow, the hearty redhead in front of him, could sense all his emotions. That was the number-one trait of Psyches and the reason many of them left to go to the Human Realm to become psychics. Sensing emotions came in handy when deceiving humans.

  The redhead smiled first at Adam then Gabe, a gesture that lit up her face. “Back again, I see. How are those friends of yours? Still all over each other?” She shook with a heavy laugh.

  “Not so much. But they’re both fine,” Gabe said. He felt Adam look at him but didn’t return the look.

  Willow frowned. “Shame. Seeing as they were soul mates and all. Anyway, what can I do for you two handsome gentlemen?”

  “We’re looking for a cure for Cranglian flu,” Gabe said.

  “That’s a tough one, love. Which race?”

  “Does it matter?”

  “Of course. The disease affects them differently. The cure is the same, but some races don’t have a cure.”

  Gabe nodded and looked at Adam. The younger man was staring off into space, not listening at all. “Magic User and part Shifter,” he said quietly.

  Willow nodded. “I’ll have to talk to my sister, Catlynn. She’s the expert at potions.” She reached out and laid her hand on top of Adam’s. “Oh, I’m sorry about the comment. I didn’t realize. I can see you’re both very happy. Although…I’ll talk to Cat about her as well. She might be able to help,” she said before heading toward the back room.

  Adam finally looked at Gabe. “That’s unnerving.”

  “I told you,” he said, walking over to sit at a wooden table.


  “She was…talking about Syney and Hunter,” Adam said, taking a seat across from him.

  Gabe eyed him for a moment, debating lying, but he thought better of it. He’d lied too much already. He nodded.

  “Soul mates?”

  “Don’t let it bother you. It doesn’t matter.”

  He stared at the table.

  “Syney stopped talking to Noelle,” Gabe said.

  Adam looked back up. “What?”

  “Syney. She stopped talking to her best friend for you. That means a lot in Syney’s world. You have nothing to worry about.”

  “Maybe.”

  “Definitely.” Gabe waited a moment before asking, “How have you been?”

  “Syney’s fine.”

  “I didn’t ask about Syney,” he said slowly.

  Adam stared at him for a moment. “I’ve been OK. It’s been a long couple of weeks.”

  “Do you…need to talk or something?”

  He frowned. “I’m not sure I like this.”

  Gabe shivered. “Thank God, me neither. Not that I don’t care. I’m not good at heart-to-hearts.”

  “I know.” Adam laughed. “I do actually have a question. I’ve…been feeding on Syney, and I’m starting to leave a mark.”

  Gabe nodded. “That’s common with long-term feeding. The skin is adjusting to the constant biting, making the area thinner because it keeps getting broken. You just need to pick a spot where no one but you can see.” He laughed. “Faye and I used to play a game with that.”

  “You know, your sex stories with Faye are a little less enjoyable now,” Adam said, making a disgusted face.

  “Right, sorry. You haven’t fed recently, though.”

  “How did you know?”

  “You have a cut,” Gabe said gesturing to Adam’s chin.

  “Shaving.”

  Gabe nodded. “Is something wrong with Syney?”

  Adam shook his head a little too quickly as Willow reappeared.

  “She said it’ll take about an hour to whip up a batch for the flu. But be warned, there is a side effect,” she said, sitting down with them at the table.