Beloved (26 page)

“She’s Octavion’s sister and he’s the prince. I guess I thought you’d figure it out.”

Altaria took a step forward. “He’s lying. My father would never do that.”

“It is true whether you choose to believe it or not. He even refused to grant us audience so we could plead with him. For a kingdom so weak in Royals, we had much to offer. We were willing to swear our allegiance and protect his people in return for access to a very small parcel of land and permission to hunt within his borders.”

“When? When did you ask him?” Altaria asked. “I would have known if something like this happened. Father always consulted his family before making decisions that would influence the entire kingdom or put us in danger.”

Blayde’s brow furrowed in frustration. “I do not know exactly. Three, maybe four years ago.”

Altaria shook her head. “You are an idiot. My father was in mourning. He had just lost his wife and forced Octavion and I to find refuge in Kira’s world. The entire kingdom was at risk because my older sister, Shandira swore to kill them all to get to me. Of course he didn’t trust you. He didn’t trust anyone, not even his own people. With Lairdor’s reputation, he probably thought you worked for Shandira and were trying to find a way past what few forces he had left to protect his kingdom.”

Blayde’s tough exterior melted away. He dropped his arms at his sides. “I am sorry. I had no idea. No one told us.”

Kira breathed a sigh of relief. “Okay, now that you two have blown off a little steam, maybe you should go home, Al.” She turned to face Blayde. “And you should take me back to the clearing so I can figure out what to do next.” She grabbed his arm, expecting him to disappear. But he didn’t. He just stood there, staring at Altaria for the longest time, while she stared back. Neither moved for several seconds, their expressions completely unreadable.

“Ahem, excuse me. Sharing thoughts so I can’t listen is rude.”

Altaria blushed, something Kira had never seen her do before. “I will speak to you later.” Then she was gone.

“What was that all about?” Kira asked.

“Nothing. I was only apologizing for my harsh words.” He shook his head. “She is . . . perplexing.”

Kira snorted. “So you’ve said.”
Perplexing, huh?
“If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were actually warming up to Altaria.”

“Ha! Like that would ever happen.”

The castle was eerily quiet as Octavion made his way from his sleeping chambers to the sitting room on the main floor. He paused at the base of the staircase, gripping the newel post for strength. He’d spent the better part of the morning in prayer, begging his gods for a resolution that would end with him and Kira spending the rest of their lives happily in each other’s arms. His gut wrenched from the overwhelming confirmation he’d received in his heart—his time was limited. They’d come for him soon. He knew that now.

With the staff still seeking safety in their homes from the Royal’s cravings, he decided it was time to tell his family about the impending removal of his crown and the price he’d paid for Kira’s life. He’d put it off long enough.

He let go of the post and moved toward the sitting room, running full force into Altaria as she appeared in front of him, nearly knocking him over.

“Oh, sorry,” she said, as she stumbled back. “I thought the entry would be empty.”

Octavion grabbed her arm to steady her. “Where have you been?”

She pushed his hand away and shifted to Lydia, rolling her eyes in the process. “Where do you think? To see Kira. You and I need to talk.”

“Is she in danger?”

“No, but—”

“Then it will have to wait.” He motioned toward the room where everyone waited. “I have called a meeting. There are some things we need to talk about.”

She looked up at him, concern darkening her eyes. “That doesn’t sound good.”

“It isn’t.”

He followed her into the sitting room where she took a seat next to Mara. Nestor stood behind her while Arela snuggled up to her mother’s other side with a blanket covering her legs. Luka and Cade sat across from them, Luka rubbing his hands on his pants over and over. According to him, they still tingled from Kira’s debilitating touch.

King Belesgar paced back and forth in front of the fireplace until Octavion entered the room. He gave his son a quick nod of acknowledgement and support.
Let me speak first, son
.

Of course.

Belesgar cleared his throat and everyone stopped whispering and turned their attention on him instead of Octavion. He puffed out his chest. “I have received word from King Tyrius. He has refused our offer of a treaty.”

Octavion’s heart sank. Getting Tyrius to agree not to hunt Kira was his last hope of keeping her safe after he was gone. Now she’d be forever watching her back and he wouldn’t be there to protect her. He pulled a chair toward him and sat, leaning his elbows on his knees. Regardless of this news, he had to hold it together long enough to tell them the real reason he’d called this meeting. Now more than ever, he needed them to unite and protect Kira at all costs.

“So now what?” Lydia asked. “Does she still have a price on her head?”

Octavion straightened. When Kira was suspected dead, the price was obviously lifted. But nothing had been said about reinstating it when Draego revealed he’d lied about taking her life. “Father?”

His father’s eyes met his and he knew the answer before he spoke. “He has doubled it, but he wants her alive. So that is something, at least.”

Lydia jumped to her feet. “Oh, sure. It’s much better to be kidnapped and tortured than killed. We have to do something. If we don’t, she’ll choose to follow Lairdor and we’ll never see her again.”

“What do you mean?” Octavion asked.

“They’re leaving. They have to find someplace else because we know their location. Blayde said she had to choose one or the other, that she couldn’t come here and know where they’ve gone. Kira calls them her family and seems to be close to them, so she’s really struggling with this.” She plopped back down next to Mara. “They are angry with Xantara.” She looked up at her father. “At you for refusing to help them.”

“Me? I have never been approached by—”

“Did you say Lairdor?” Nestor asked, interrupting Belesgar.

Lydia looked over her shoulder at him. “Yeah. Why?”

He sighed. “This would be my fault. I apologize, Sire. They came when things were in turmoil, mere hours after Estaria was killed and we knew not who to trust. I told them it would not be wise to be anywhere near Xantara—that they could be killed. They must have taken that to mean we would kill them if they trespassed.”

Belesgar crossed the room and clamped a hand over Nestor’s shoulder. “It is all right. I was in no shape to make that decision and would have turned them away as you did.”

“Father?” Lydia stood again and turned so she faced her father. “If you would allow them to live within our boarders, it would help Kira. That way she wouldn’t have to choose. Plus, there are more than a dozen Royals living among them. I’m sure they would help protect Xantara, which means more protection for Kira
and
me.”

Belesgar began pacing again, rubbing the stubble on his chin. “The problem is where they would live. As much as I would like to think my people would accept them, a great deal of trust will have to be earned before that can happen.”

Octavion’s head reeled with the lack of possibilities. As far as space, Xantara was second in size compared to the other kingdoms—Panthera being the largest. But most of Xantara was rugged mountain range, cliffs and the massive lake that spanned west almost as far as the eye could see. The only place with trees for protection, flat land for crops or building structures and flowing fresh water was Pride Meadow. That large parcel of land had been a wedding gift to his mother. She loved the wildflowers that grew there and he was pretty sure his father wanted to keep it pristine in her memory. But he had to ask.

“What about Pride Meadow?”

His father stopped mid-step and turned to face his son. “You know what that land means to me—what it meant to your mother.”

“I do.”

“Then how can you ask this?”

“Because years ago you told Shandira and I that because the land belong to our mother it would be split between her two children. Shandira died on that land and is not here to claim it. With everything she put Kira through, I believe she has earned my sister’s share. And as for my share, I would give it to my bride on our wedding day, and since I am bound to Kira, it would be hers to do with as she sees fit. I am pretty sure we all know what that would be.”

A few seconds passed before the king answered. “You forget one thing, son. You will not be here to take responsibility for this decision. It will fall on us if something goes wrong—if the people of Lairdor live up to the reputation others have given them.”

Lydia scooted to the edge of her seat. “What do you mean he won’t be here?”

Her words only solidified Octavion’s suspicions. Altaria hadn’t told her about him trading his crown to save Kira’s life. This was going to be more difficult than he feared. “It is why I called this meeting.” He stood, scooting the chair back to its original place. He was pretty sure his cousins would understand, and Mara and Nestor would support his decision, but Lydia would be furious.

“What’s going on?” Lydia asked.

Octavion took a deep breath and tried to calm his racing heart. “I have been keeping something from everyone. I am afraid it will not sit well with most of you, but my reason behind it left me no choice. It’s important for you to know that, even with everything that has happened, I would still make this choice today.”

“Is he in trouble, mother?” Arela asked.

Mara wrapped an arm around her daughter. “No, dear.” She looked to Octavion for confirmation. “Should she be here?”

“Yes. She may have a lot of questions, but I want her to hear this from me.” He flashed a grin at his cousin and she smiled back.

“Go on,” King Belesgar said, waving a hand in the air. “We need to be done with this so there are no more secrets between us.”

Secrets
? Octavion almost laughed. His father had no right to speak of keeping secrets from family. Octavion was the only one he’d told he was a Jayde and that was only after questioning him about the Crystor. But then, he was king and didn’t have to answer to anyone but the gods of Lor.

Luka had remained quiet until then. He leaned forward, now rubbing his fingertips on the edge of the table in front of him. “Does this have anything to do with you taking Kira to Panthera?”

“Panthera?” Lydia blurted.

“Yes,” Octavion said. “I would have thought Altaria shared that with you. She was there . . . inside Kira. She saw everything—experienced everything Kira did.”

Lydia slowly scooted back and slumped into the cushion. “No, I guess she chose not to tell me that part.”

“Stop interrupting him,” Case said. “Let him explain, then we can discuss it.”

“Thank you, cousin.” Octavion looked to his father for help, but he remained silent. “I am not sure where to start. As you all know, Kira was near death when she arrived. She’d been beaten and tortured within a thread’s width of her life. At some point during her captivity, she’d been poisoned and we suspected she’d bitten Zerek or Nigel, both Darkords.”

Lydia gasped, but didn’t interrupt him again.

“I tried everything within my power to heal her, but nothing helped. Her wounds were infected and fever set in. I knew it was only a matter of time before she died and I was desperate to save her. We . . .” He glanced at his sister. “All three of us had been through so much. I could not lose her, not only because I loved her, but because she was Lydia’s only hope of healing. I thought if Kira was well, perhaps she could return Lydia to herself. Their connection had been so strong in Kira’s world. It made sense.

“Anyway, while speaking with father, the idea came to me that maybe King Ramla could heal her. So with Father’s permission, I took Kira there and asked for his help. He agreed, but only at a price.”

Octavion could feel his emotions boiling within him. He knew how hard this must be for his father—for a son to deny his heritage and denounce his crown. It was personal—an attack on his integrity as a king. Yet he stood strong, supporting his decision like a good father should. Octavion respected him for that—no, more. He loved him for it.