Wings of Nestor (Solus Series Book Three)

by Devri Walls

  “I apologize for his temper,” Lomay said.

  Alcander turned, marching back in. “I do not need you or anyone else apologizing for me. We have been trying to save lives, to save the goodness throughout the land. And Nestor made sure our only hope would be locked up in a place where we would never, ever go. He left us helpless! My temper is completely justified.”

  “Alcander, be practical. We did not know what we needed until five minutes ago when Kiora finally came out with the information we never had. Who did you think would have found that talisman first—us or the Shadow?

  “You don’t know that.”

  “I do. Nestor’s visions were powerfully accurate. He put that talisman in the one place it needed to be.”

  Alcander clenched and unclenched his fists, his mouth pinched with disapproval. Turning on his heel, he left the room.

  Kiora fought the urge to chase after him. She could feel how much he was hurting.

  “Well, well,” Lomay said, stretching back in his chair. “Your role has changed quite dramatically, hasn’t it, Emane?”

  “There is so much to do,” Emane said. “I need to write down what we will require. I will need numbers, how many soldiers…and maps,” he added. “Where the battle will be staged. Yes.” Emane nodded more to himself than the two still at the table. Pushing back his chair, he left the room, muttering to himself about weapons and training.

  “Is he correct?” Lomay asked as he watched Emane go. “You know the location of the talisman?”

  “I think so, yes.”

  “I will leave you to retrieve it.” Lomay rubbed his chin again and Kiora found herself wondering how his skin was not red under the assault it was receiving. “You should probably go sooner rather than later. Emane and Alcander have an enormous job ahead of them, and not a moment can be wasted. Who would you like to accompany you back to Meros? Arturo or Drustan?”

  “Uhh,” Kiora stumbled. “Drustan.”

  “Still do not trust me with him?”

  “What? No! I don’t trust him with them.” Kiora jerked her head toward the door.

  Lomay smiled. “I see. When would you like to leave?”

  Kiora’s bones and muscles ached from the ride to and from Toopai, not to mention the fact that she had nearly been killed by volcano fumes and could still feel a thick heaviness in her chest. She should have Emane fix that before she left. “Tomorrow. I can leave in the morning.”

  ***

  AS SHE WALKED PAST Emane’s room, Kiora noticed the door was cracked open. Peeking around it, she saw Emane sitting on his bed, a large piece of paper spread out in front of him.

  She poked her head in. “Emane?”

  “Just writing down what we will need,” he said, not moving his eyes from his work.

  “How are you?”

  Emane stopped, looking up at her. Her heart constricted a bit. He was so handsome. His blue eyes, his blond hair that always fell forward. He placed a hand on his leg and gave her a half smile. “I feel like, at last the world makes just a little bit of sense.”

  “I wish I wasn’t going to miss your first few training sessions.”

  Emane blanched. “What are you talking about?”

  “I have to go back, Emane. We need the talisman.” Kiora held up her finger to cut off his objections. “You have to stay here.” She pointed to his scribbled notes. “There is much for you to do, and your calling is finally clear. You can’t leave now.”

  Emane came around the bed, taking her hands in his. Looking down, he said, “You are still getting stronger. Can you feel it?”

  She looked at his fingers, alarmed. His knuckles were white. “Am I hurting you?” Kiora asked, her voice rising. “I thought I was holding it in.” She tried to jerk her hands back, but he held tightly.

  “I am sure you are.” Emane dropped his eyes. “Trust me, I know when it slips. That is what I mean—you are still getting stronger.”

  She tried again to jerk her hands free. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

  Letting go, Emane gently ran his fingers over her cheek. “I don’t think that can be helped,” he murmured, tilting his head to the side. “Not anymore.”

  “Emane,” she whispered, her voice hitching.

  “Are you leaving in the morning?”

  “I am.”

  Emane carefully tucked a stray hair behind her ear, his eyes meeting Kiora’s with hunger before carefully placing his lips over hers.

  The touch of his lips set her insides on fire. Kiora wanted to give in to him and let the hunger inside take over. Instead, every muscle in her body constricted, trying to keep the magic tightly reined in. Her eyes squeezed shut. She couldn’t do this. Love or not, any romantic actions between them left her physically unable to touch him.

  Emane’s shoulders dropped. Pulling back, he kissed the tip of her nose. “I had better get to work.”

  Kiora bit her lip. Her body was burning with a need to be held and touched—she knew he felt it too. But her magic stood in the way. Turning stiffly, she closed the door behind her until it caught with a click.

  Her chest jerked with a silent sob she refused to let Emane hear and she clamped her hands over her mouth. Putting one hand behind her, Kiora eased herself against the door, pulling in great, gulping breaths. It seemed so horribly unfair. Fighting the urge to punch something, Kiora shoved off and headed down the hall to her room.

  But she stopped at her door, her eyes traveling down the hall. She looked back over her shoulder to Emane’s room, heart aching, before she took a step farther down the hall, and then another.

  What am I doing? she screamed inside her own head. But her feet continued to move closer and closer to Alcander’s door. Soon, she was staring at her hand on the knob, unable to make herself let go. Suddenly the door jerked out from her hand and Kiora jumped back.

  Standing on the other side was a weary-looking Alcander. His hair hung in front of his hunched shoulders, his eyes tired. “Are you going to stand there all night?”

  “I—” Kiora stopped. She didn’t know what to say, but she hadn’t really come down here to talk. She rushed forward, grabbing his shoulders as she pushed her lips against his.

  For a brief moment, he froze in surprise. Then his arms wrapped around her, pulling her tight to him. She moaned against his mouth, her body going fluid in his arms. Reaching up, she ran her fingers through his hair. It was smooth and silky under her touch. Alcander pulled her in tighter as if something were trying to steal her away. Harder and harder he kissed her. She returned each one, not having to hold her magic in, not worried about hurting him. His magic flowed between them, making her head spin and flames pinwheel throughout her body. She hardly even noticed him pulling her back into his room and kicking the door shut behind them. Turning, he pressed her against the door, his hands running over her face and sides.

  Cupping her face in his hands, he kissed her, slower now—sweeter. She felt his teeth gently pull at her bottom lip, turning her knees to jelly before he sighed and placed his forehead on hers. Kiora ran her fingers up and down the back of his neck.

  Putting her hands on his chest, Kiora gently pushed Alcander back. “What’s wrong? When you opened the door, you looked like the world was resting on your shoulders.” She was overly familiar with that feeling; it was easy to recognize.

  Alcander turned away from her and sat on the edge of the bed. “This is very strange for me, Kiora.”

  She frowned. “Kissing me?”

  He gave a short laugh. “Kissing you is anything but strange.”

  His gaze turned Kiora’s insides back to liquid.

  “Taveans are very private people. We guard our thoughts and our feelings.” He shook his head. “But from the moment I met you, I have wanted to share things with you. And now, with the bond and the mind connection, I feel this need to talk to you. It is just strange.”

  “Why is that bad?” Kiora asked, making her way over to the bed. Sitting down next to him, she hesitantly placed
her hand on his knee.

  His mouth quirked up. “You feel so good.”

  She blushed, but did not move her hand. Her mind was screaming at her somewhere back in the recesses that Emane would be devastated, but she didn’t know what to do. She loved Emane—she would give her life for him. But she also loved Alcander. And this love she could touch and feel without fear.

  “I am furious with Nestor, that he let Jasmine kill him and allowed this to happen.” Alcander spoke dryly, lacking the actual vocal anger that should have accompanied that sentence. Instead, he just sounded tired.

  “Is that all?”

  His mouth twisted. “It’s a good thing I can tell you’re not rummaging through my head because otherwise, I would have been sure of it.”

  “You’re scared,” Kiora said.

  He didn’t move, or smile. Just sat and stared. Her eyes drank in his features. His bone structure was so delicate, his eyes so clear. Kiora could still feel those lips on hers, and her fingers itched to reach out and touch them.

  “Are Taveans not allowed to be scared?” she asked.

  ‘No.”

  “Not ever?”

  “That is what we tell each other.”

  “But what are you telling me?”

  At that, Alcander leaned forward, his face impossibly close. Very gently Kiora reached up and traced his cheekbones. Alcander’s eyes fluttered shut beneath her touch.

  “Magic is what I am,” he said so quietly that Kiora had to strain to hear him despite the closeness. “I cannot imagine fighting without it.”

  “Magic is not what you are,” Kiora whispered back. “It is a part of you, but it is not your heart. It’s not your soul, or your mind. Those things do not change, no matter how much magic you have.”

  “What good are any of those without magic?”

  “Alcander, look at me.”

  His eyes flicked open, looking at her through hooded lids.

  “If it comes down to it, you will learn to fight as a Witow. Your mind, your heart, and your soul will direct you. It will be uncomfortable—you will not like it. But believe it or not, we now have the advantage.”

  His eyebrows knit together. “How can we possibly have an advantage?”

  “Don’t you see?” Kiora’s excitement was growing as she finally pieced it all together. “If I find the talisman, we might be able to get the Lights, which means we could avoid a war completely. And if we can’t get the Lights, we have the only Witow who knows how to fight as Witows fight. We will be prepared for the loss of magic. The Shadow’s armies will be completely unprepared. They will be without weapons, without training, and without magic. This is exactly what we needed to balance how outnumbered we are. We finally have the advantage.”

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Lomay’s Visions

  THE NEXT MORNING DAWNED bright and cold. Kiora lay in her bed, not wanting to step out into the frigid air. Poking her head up just enough to start a fire in the fireplace, she lay back, waiting for the room to heat.

  She had left Alcander last night with another kiss. Just thinking about it sent her stomach flipping in a delicious sort of way. But once Kiora had returned to her room, her mind began wrestling with itself. The situation with Emane was becoming more impossible by the day, and every touch, every kiss from Alcander just made it all the more difficult.

  Drustan knocked at the door.

  “Come in,” she called. Pushing up, Kiora pulled the blankets around her as he strode in. “Good morning.”

  “Lomay said you would like me to accompany you back to Meros instead of Arturo. Why? I was under the impression I would need to train with Emane so we could fight together.”

  “I don’t know that he will have time. Emane needs to train everyone now.” It was the truth, kind of. She was just omitting the actual reason she wanted Drustan to come. Leaving him here with Emane and Alcander would be disastrous.

  “Oh?”

  Kiora frowned at him. “Did you talk to anyone yesterday? Or did you just sleep all day?”

  “I don’t think a single one of you has any idea what you have asked of my body. Since we have arrived here, I have pushed my body to its limits and I am tired. I rest to ensure I am ready when you snap your little fingers.” He tossed his dark hair off his shoulder.

  “You know I am very grateful for your help.”

  Drustan nodded, appearing mollified.

  “I will explain more on the way, but for now Alcander and Emane will work together while we head back to Meros.”

  “Very well then, what are we flying as?”

  “Something fast and comfortable.”

  “Your wish is my command, my lady,” he said, throwing in a snap of his fingers for good measure. “Are you coming to breakfast?”

  “Yes, if I can make myself get out of this bed.” She poked her arm out of the covers to test the temperature.

  “You should have lit that fire last night,” Drustan observed. “It is freezing in here,” he added, shutting the door behind him.

  “Of course I should have.” She gasped when she put her feet on the cold floor. Scampering over to get her clothes, she pulled on a clean pair of pants and a light green tunic. She brushed her hair out, letting it fall over her shoulders.

  She was the last one to arrive for breakfast. When she entered the room, Emane and Alcander’s eyes both followed her—Emane’s with a desperate weariness, Alcander’s still burning with the fire they held last night as he kissed her.

  She avoided them both, looking instead at breakfast. “It’s not fish.”

  Lomay looked pleased with himself. “I did a little magic while you were gone and managed to procure a few items that will go unnoticed.”

  She sat in the chair the two boys had left for her, right between them. She kept her elbows inside the arms of the chair. Piling her plate with some flat bread crusted with sugar, she threw a small pile of blueberries on top and drizzled the whole thing with cream. Taking a big bite, she grinned. “Delicious.”

  Emane leaned back, his food already finished. “It’s a vast improvement to the fish.”

  Drustan took a bite. “That’s fine,” he said around a mouthful of food, pointing his fork at Emane. “Next time you need a fisherman, you can ask someone else. I, for one, am tired of working for ingrates.”

  Alcander laughed, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms. “The Shifter is so sensitive.”

  Drustan tilted his head with a devious smile. “And the Tavean laughs. I wonder what caused that change?”

  Emane’s eyes darkened and Kiora almost threw her fork at Drustan. To keep the utensil in her hand, she shoveled in another bite, grateful she had decided to take Drustan to Meros. The last thing she needed was Drustan goading Emane and Alcander.

  “Kiora,” Lomay said, “now that you have had a night to think about things, what would you like us to do while you are gone?”

  “I want Emane in charge. He can tell you what we need in the forms of weapons and training. We need to see how many people we have, where they are, and what plans we can come up with. Once I have the talisman, we will have a better idea of the final parts of the plan.” She glanced at Alcander, who looked at her with knowing eyes. “But we need all the time we can get to train everyone.”

  “Excellent plan. Couldn’t have said it better myself,” Lomay agreed.

  Kiora grimaced, shoving another bite into her mouth. She was letting Lomay think she was following the path of his visions. But she didn’t want to broach the subject of going after the Lights until she knew if it was even possible to take that path. She was certain Lomay would share Drustan’s opinion on the matter and it was no use arguing until she had the means to make a case. At least, that was what she told herself to ignore the half truths that were quickly becoming part of her daily interactions.

  “What do you plan to do with the talisman?” Lomay asked.

  “Let’s make sure it is where I think it is first.”

  “Very we
ll,” Lomay agreed. “Arturo has agreed to stay close in case we need his assistance, but I am worried we may be too far away for you to call him from Meros. But your mind connection to Alcander will work regardless of the distance, so you may deliver a message to him if you need.”

  Kiora sat straight up. “What? Alcander, you said you couldn’t call.”

  “I said we usually couldn’t.” Alcander’s jaw was stiff, his lips barely moving. “You have opened a situation that works.”

  Alcander? Kiora thought.

  He squirmed in his chair, grasping at the arms. “Please. Don’t,” he groaned.

  Kiora could feel his presence in her mind tighten and contract under her attempt. Her mouth opened in a question, but Alcander pushed his chair back and nearly flew out of the room. Stunned, Kiora looked back to the others. Drustan was suddenly very interested in his breakfast, Emane was clearly irritated that calling was not unique to him, and Lomay looked steadily at her.

  “Oh,” Kiora said, throwing her fork on the table. She ran through the mansion, following Alcander outside. Pushing the door open, she was met with the sound of crashing waves and fierce sea wind, the wet cold sliding into her bones. Alcander stood at the edge of the cliff overlooking the ocean.

  “You can’t just run away, you know!” she shouted to his back, feeling a little foolish at that statement.

  “I have never run away,” he yelled back to her. “Ever. Until I met you! And you have turned me so far upside down and inside out, I don’t know what else to do.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me I could call you until now?” Kiora demanded, pushing her hair angrily out of her face as she walked next to him.

  He gripped his head. “You don’t understand.”

  “Then explain it to me.”

  Alcander whirled on her. “Our minds—they are different from yours. It’s why we guard them so carefully. You—you can talk to me and let me hear only your words. It’s not like that with me.”

  “You acted like I was hurting you, and all I did was say your name.”

  “Having your voice, your head, inside me—I feel like I am naked, completely exposed. It is the most uncomfortable, horrible…” He stopped, his chest rising and falling. “You don’t understand. This is something that most Taveans will never experience because they would never do what I did for you.”