by Lynette Noni
“Yes, Sire,” the female guard said, lowering her sword and ducking her head respectfully.
“Kyia,” the crowned Meyarin said to their escort, “it seems I’ve come outside for a refreshing walk only to discover humans on my doorstep. I trust you have a good reason for bringing mortals into my city?”
“Yes, my king,” Kyia said. “I need to speak with you, in private.”
Alex was surprised by the lack of deference their escort showed to the ruler of Meya, but he didn’t seem to mind. All he did was tilt his head thoughtfully and say, “You and your companions may join me in my receiving room.”
The king stepped back inside and Kyia looked at Alex and her friends pointedly before following him.
“At least we know he’s not dead,” Jordan said. “That’s good news.”
Jordan was right—that was good news. Aven had tried to murder his father and he’d supposedly succeeded in stabbing him with a dagger, so it was a relief to learn that the leader of Meya was still alive and ruling.
Alex waited for her friends to walk through the entrance and followed after them, but as she moved past the two guards, the male Meyarin stiffened. She turned her head to look at him in question just as he reached out and grabbed her shoulder, spinning her around to face him.
“What are you?” he demanded.
She froze to the spot. “I—um… What?”
“What are you?” he repeated, shaking her roughly.
Alex winced from his strong grip, but forced herself to respond. “What do you mean? I’m human. Mortal.” She only just managed to stop herself from adding a ‘duh’ at the end of her sentence.
“You smell like one of the Garseth,” he said, his dark eyes narrowed and staring into her own.
“I don’t know what that means,” Alex told him, and his fingers tensed even more.
“Zain, release her!” Kyia ordered, storming back through the entrance.
“Garseth rai tealon fera de leas,” the male—Zain—said angrily.
“Caen de taris en loga,” Kyia replied, her tone firm.
Zain nodded tersely and released Alex. She automatically reached up to rub her shoulder.
The male Meyarin noticed her movement and his eyes softened slightly. “I apologise, little human. You caught me off-guard.”
“Aren’t guards supposed to always be on guard?” Alex muttered under her breath.
Zain’s lip twitch reminded her yet again about the quality of Meyarin hearing. Oops.
“Come, mortal,” Kyia interrupted before Alex could say or do anything else. “The king awaits.”
If Alex hadn’t been so worried about being pulled back and manhandled again, she would have paused upon stepping into the massive entrance room. Instead, she looked around with wide eyes and tried not to trip over her own feet as she hurried after Kyia.
All Alex could think as she took in the elegant Myrox and gold decor was that D.C.’s palace in Tryllin had nothing, nothing, on the Casa de Meya.
Kyia led the way along an elaborately decorated hallway that seemed to stretch for miles, but thankfully they didn’t have to walk too far before she stopped at an intricately sculpted doorway. The door was open and led to a room where Alex’s friends were seated in comfortable-looking chairs.
“They wouldn’t let us wait for you,” D.C. said quietly when Alex sat beside her. “What happened back there?”
“Just a misunderstanding,” Alex whispered back. At least, she hoped that was true.
“A word, if you please, Kyia,” the Meyarin king said, waving their escort into a side room.
Once Kyia had closed the door between them, Alex’s friends turned to her.
“Do you think we should try and sneak out?” Jordan asked.
“What? Why?” Alex asked.
“We were found trespassing upon a sacred site,” he reminded her. “You heard what Kyia said. We could be facing a death sentence. That’s not my idea of a good time.”
“No one said this journey would be easy, Jordan,” Alex returned softly. “You know we can’t leave yet.”
“Why not?” Bear asked, shifting around with agitation.
“For one thing, just because the door is closed doesn’t mean they can’t hear us,” Alex said. “And for another, I’m here for a reason, remember? I have a message to deliver. I have to stay no matter what. But if you want to attempt an escape, I’ll try to cover for you.”
She wasn’t sure how she would do that exactly, but Jordan’s gift could potentially shield the three of them and help get them out without discovery.
“No way,” D.C. said. “We’re staying together.”
“But—” Alex started but Jordan interrupted her.
“Dix is right. We’re not leaving unless we all go. If you say we stay, then we stay.”
Bear nodded his agreement and they fell into an uneasy silence. After what felt like hours, but was only about three minutes, Kyia and the king opened the door and stepped back into the room. Neither of them sat down; Kyia started pacing and the king stared intently at Alex and her friends. When his eyes came to rest on Alex, she felt herself trembling under the weight of his lingering gaze. The tension built and she gripped the sides of her chair, waiting to hear what he had to say.
Finally he broke off his stare and nodded to Kyia, who stopped pacing and moved to stand beside him.
“Welcome to Meya, young mortals,” the king said, his voice surprisingly warm. “I’m King Astophe and you’ve already met Kyia, one of my most trusted warriors.”
The king paused and he appeared to be waiting for something, but for what, Alex was unsure. Diplomatic relations weren’t exactly her strong point.
“Follow my lead,” D.C. whispered, motioning them all to their feet. Once they were standing, D.C. bowed low, prompting the others to do the same
“We thank you for your hospitality, King Astophe,” D.C. said regally, rising again. “My name is Princess Delucia Cavelle and these are my friends, Jordan Sparker, Barnold Ronnigan and Alexandra Jennings. We’re honoured to visit your majestic city, and we’re further privileged that you grace us with your presence.”
“You speak well, young princess,” King Astophe said. “But the honour and privilege you describe haven’t come with permission. Kyia tells me she found you at Raelia—a most sacred site. Even more troubling, she tells me that one of your companions has trespassed upon the clearing before this day.” He glanced at Alex and she felt a flutter of apprehension. “Perhaps you would be so kind as to explain yourselves?”
“Certainly, Your Majesty,” D.C. agreed, her voice dripping with honey. Alex had no idea what her friend was about to say, but she had a feeling that whatever it was, it would only cause more damage. “We’ve been sent as a delegation from—”
“Wait, Dix,” Alex cut in.
“Alex…” D.C. whispered, her tone begging Alex to not interrupt.
“It’s my fault we’re here,” Alex told her as quietly as she could—not that it would matter given their super-hearing company. “I’m not going to let you guys take the fall.”
D.C. looked like she wanted to argue, but then her body relaxed and she nodded.
Alex sent her a small smile and turned to the king, meeting his eyes directly. “I brought them here. I brought us all to Raelia. If anyone should be punished, it’s me. But please believe me when I say I had no idea it was a sacred site. And before you chop off my head or hang me or whatever, I have something urgent to tell you. It’s about your son—”
The door burst open, causing Alex to jump and spin around. At the entrance to the room stood the male guard, Zain. His nostrils were flared and his furious eyes were targeted on Alex.
“Sire, forgive my intrusion,” Zain clipped, not taking his enraged gaze from Alex. “But I have reason to suspect this human is in alliance with the Garseth.”
“Zain, you said you wouldn’t speak of this again,” Kyia interrupted, her tone annoyed.
“I said I wouldn’t speak
of it without just cause,” Zain argued, and he hauled someone around the corner and into the room with him. It was another Meyarin, but despite his enchantingly dark features, he was dressed in dirty, ripped clothes and looked like he hadn’t showered in some time. He also happened to have his hands and feet chained together with Moxyreel, the impenetrable wire made out of Myrox that could only be damaged by Myrox.
“What’s he doing here?” Kyia demanded.
“I dragged this traitor up from the dungeons,” Zain said. “He’s my evidence against her.”
Zain’s finger pointed straight at Alex and she felt her stomach drop. What was going on?
“She’s human, Zain,” Kyia said, exasperated.
“Is she? Do you really believe that, Kyia? Can’t you see what I see and smell what I smell?” Zain turned his gaze away from Alex to look at the female Meyarin. “She’s different, that much is unmistakable.”
At his words and the attention they brought her, Alex had to fight off a bout of nervous laughter.
“She is different,” Kyia quietly agreed. “But how and why, I’m not sure.”
“I can tell you,” came the bold voice of the chained Meyarin. His greasy hair fell over his face in waves, and Alex had to suppress a shudder when his cunning eyes bore into her own. “We’re very… close, you see. But you’ve already figured that out, haven’t you?”
“I told you!” Zain said. “She’s one of the Garseth.”
“I am not!” Alex said hotly. “I don’t even know what a Garseth is!”
“Come now, kitten,” the prisoner purred. “I’ve missed you these past years. My life has been so empty without you.”
Alex gaped at the Meyarin, and because all eyes were fixed on her, no one noticed his self-satisfied smirk and his strangely warm wink.
“He’s lying!” Alex cried. “I’ve never seen this man— Meyarin—whatever—before in my life.”
“What reason does Niyx have to lie?” Zain demanded. “He’s already imprisoned for his treachery. Lying would only bring him more suffering, whereas the truth could afford him some comfort to his station.”
“That doesn’t make sense!” Alex cried. “What if he’s lying because he thinks doing so will grant him special favour? It’s his word against mine!”
Seeing the unmoved faces around her, Alex took a deep breath and gathered her thoughts. She looked around the room and felt her friends’ concern, Zain’s alertness, Kyia’s uncertainty, the prisoner’s—Niyx’s—amusement, and finally, the king’s calculating gaze. The ruler of Meya raised his eyebrows, expecting an explanation.
“You asked what reason Niyx has to lie, but what about me?” Alex said, keeping her tone as calm as possible. “Why would I want to deceive you?”
Zain laughed without humour. “You expect us to interpret the thoughts of the Garseth? Impossible. I wouldn’t wish such dark wonderings upon any being, Meyarin or otherwise.”
“If you want me to keep up with this discussion, you’re going to have to tell me what a Garseth is,” she said.
“Alex, ‘Garseth’ is the Meyarin word for ‘rebel’,” D.C. whispered fearfully. “They think you’re one of Aven’s Rebels.”
remark ed.
Eleven
Alex felt the blood drain from her face. She barely noticed the Meyarins’ infuriated reactions to D.C. mentioning their banished prince. If they thought Alex was teaming up with Aven, then she was so dead, no matter what explanation she gave as to why they’d been found at Raelia.
“There’s no way you can think I—”
“Your blood is tainted, just like all Garseth,” Zain interrupted. “There’s no denying it.”
Alex shook her head in bewilderment. But then her eyes widened in realisation and she raised her hand, staring at the silvery scar across her palm.
Her fear and confusion dissolved into anger. “Oh, I’m going to kill him. I don’t care if he’s immortal and I can barely keep up in Combat—he’s dead. Stupid Meyarins ruining my life. Is it too much to ask to just be normal for a change?” She practically yelled the last part of her rant, staring up at the ceiling as if hoping for some kind of divine intervention. When none came, she sighed and lowered her gaze. “I think I can explain. But you need to promise to hear me out.”
“We don’t need to promise you anything, Garseth,” Zain said, stepping forward threateningly.
Alex returned the glare he sent her. “Then I guess you don’t want to hear about how Aven Dalmarta tried to use an ancient blood-bonding ritual to Claim me so I would open a doorway through the Library and grant him entrance into Meya?”
The silence that came with her exclamation was thick with tension.
Finally, the king spoke. “Zain, please escort Niyx back to his cell and return here immediately.”
The guard left quickly, his eyes still wide with surprise.
Silence descended upon them and Alex decided to throw diplomacy out the window by trudging over to slump down into her chair, knowing she would have to wait for Zain to come back before she began her story.
It took barely any time at all for the guard to return, and again he brought someone with him—another male Meyarin, but he clearly wasn’t a prisoner. The newcomer was tall and well built, with glossy black hair and warm golden eyes.
“Explain yourself, little human,” the king ordered once the door was closed. His gaze was much cooler now than it had been earlier.
“First off, my name isn’t ‘little human’,” she said irritably. “It’s Alex.”
D.C. winced at her disrespect, but the new Meyarin who had entered with the guard chuckled quietly, and the king seemed to thaw a little with her words.
“Please tell us your story, Alex,” King Astophe asked, much more politely.
She took a deep breath and began. “I first met Aven about nine months ago…”
Alex told them about all of her dealings with the disowned prince, including how and why he’d attempted to Claim her, and how her willpower gift allowed her to break through his control. She didn’t bother mentioning that she’d been stabbed in the back by the ice-coloured dagger, thinking it was irrelevant, but she did detail her most recent encounters with him, including his newest threats. She also told them about the other gifted humans he appeared to be collecting, and how they seemed to have adopted some of his Meyarin characteristics, like longer lifespans. She ended with how she’d agreed to be a messenger to inform the Meyarins about their Rebel Prince, since she was Chosen by the Library and could therefore open a doorway to their city.
“… And that’s why we’re here. The Library opened up at Raelia, so, like we said, we weren’t deliberately trespassing. It would be great if you decided not to, you know, kill us.”
Alex cringed at her lame ending and trailed off into silence.
After a few tense seconds, the Meyarins began speaking to each other in their native language, and she glanced at her friends.
“I’ll bet you’re regretting not sneaking out now,” Jordan whispered.
“Maybe a little,” Alex admitted. But she knew she’d done the right thing. The Meyarins now knew about Aven, and that was what mattered most.
When the talking around them ceased, the newest, unknown Meyarin walked over to Alex and knelt in front of her.
“May I please see your hand, Alex?”
Alex wasn’t sure if it was because he’d asked so nicely, or because of his mesmerising eyes and kind face, but she didn’t hesitate to open her scarred hand for him to inspect. He gently held her palm up to the light and inspected the silver line where Aven’s dagger had sliced her skin.
“It healed straight away?” he asked, the curiosity plain on his face.
“Only after…” Alex paused and swallowed. She found it difficult to recount that particular memory as it had been so disturbing at the time and had become even more distressing later when she realised what had happened. “Only after he joined our bloodied hands together.”
The image of th
eir combined red and silver blood trickling down her arm was something she would never forget.
The Meyarin nodded in understanding and released her hand. He moved to stand beside Kyia and turned to speak to the king and Zain. “Alex smells like one of the Garseth because Aven’s blood runs in her veins. I don’t believe she’s otherwise associated with him.”
Alex furrowed her brow. “No, that’s not right.”
The Meyarin looked at her, surprised. “Are you saying you are one of Aven’s Rebels?”
“What? No!” Alex shook her head adamantly. “I’m saying you’re wrong about Aven’s blood being in my veins. That’s just… not right. Fletcher—Akarnae’s doctor—he said I’m all me and there’s nothing to worry about.”
“You might not be Claimed anymore,” the Meyarin told her, “but Aven mixed his blood with yours using an extremely dark ritual. Bonded or not, a trace of his Meyarin heritage lingers within you.”
Alex felt the room spin and she was glad she was sitting down or else she might have fainted. Or thrown up. The latter remained a strong possibility.
“This is not my life,” she whispered, rubbing her fingers across her face.
D.C. reached out and pressed a reassuring hand against “Hey, you’ve got to admit, it’s pretty cool,” Jordan said. “Not everyone can claim to be part Meyarin.”
“Mate, I don’t think you’re helping,” Bear said, seeing Alex’s rapidly paling face.
“I still say we need to verify the truth of her words,” Zain said to the other Meyarins. “We can all see the mark of the bonding; how can we be sure she’s no longer Claimed by the Rebel Prince? What if she’s under his control right now and this is all an act? If she truly isn’t Garseth, then that will easily become evident. But if she is, then that too will be revealed.”
“What’s he talking about?” Alex asked her friends, but none of them seemed to know.
“Sire, I wish for your permission to verify her claim,” Zain said, speaking directly to the king.
King Astophe looked from Zain to Alex and then to the unnamed Meyarin, who shrugged at the king’s unasked question.
“You have my permission,” the king said, looking back at the guard. “But Zain, remember that she is human, regardless of all else.”