Broken (19 page)

Gregor stepped closer. “S’Kiff?”

“Yes,” Octavion said. “The tip is still in her arm. Can you take it out—gently?”

“Of course. I will need someone to hold her arm.”

“Ussay can help, but I need to ask her something first.” He turned back to Kira. “I will not be far. You will be all right, Kira. I promise. As bad as it gets, this will not take your life. Do you understand?”

Kira nodded. “I know. What I don’t get is why she doesn’t just kill me.”

“Who?”

She cringed from another surge of pain. “Shandira.”

Octavion clenched his fists and stood. “Shandira did this? You saw her?”

“No. I mean yes, she sent them. No, I didn’t see her.”

He swore. “This ends now.” He turned and left the room, grabbing Ussay’s wrist on the way out and pulling her down the hall to a bench. He motioned for her to sit. “What happened? What were you doing up there and how were you involved? Who did this?”

“You think I had something to do with this?” Ussay asked.

“I do not know what to think.”

Ussay crossed her arms. “I would never hurt Kira. Never.”

Octavion pointed to the closed door leading to Kira’s room. “Then explain this to me. How did you get involved? You were supposed to be at the festival.”

“Maybe you should ask Cade. I went to sit with him and he told me to leave.”

“Why would he do that?”

She ran her hands through her tangled hair. “I do not know. We have been seeing each other since our youth. He said he wanted to ask my uncle for my hand, but he wanted to wait until the festival so he would be in a good mood. When I saw him there, I thought perhaps he had already done it, but when I sat down, he said he changed his mind. All the time he spent in bed made him think about his future and . . .” She buried her head in her hands and mumbled, “He does not want me.”

Octavion let out a deep sigh and crouched in front of her. He gently pulled her hands away from her face and lifted her chin until their eyes met. “He has a crippling injury, Ussay. That takes a lot out of a man. Perhaps he feels he can no longer provide for you, that you would be better off with someone else.”

“So he said that to
save
me? So I would not be burdened with him?”

“Perhaps.” Octavion used a section of his sleeve to wipe some of the dirt from her face. “Now, why were you in the Aubelet?”

“I went there to be alone. I go there sometimes to pray and think. But when I got to the door I heard voices. They were talking about Kira, so I stayed and listened. They said Shandira’s name. I got scared and turned to leave, but they heard me. They said they could use me as bait. Then Kira came to the cemetery. The girl took my dress and pretended to be me so Kira would come to my aid. I did everything I could to stop them but . . . but they were stronger than me.”

Ussay’s shoulders slumped forward and she tried to cover her face with her hands, but Octavion held them fast between his. “I tried to scream. I tried to warn her. I should have fought harder to—”

“No,” Octavion cut in. “They would have killed you.”

“I would rather die than see her suffer like this—to know she will never have children.”

Octavion stood and took a step back. The muscles in his shoulders ached to transform, to take his rage out on something or someone. Anyone. “Send for me if she asks.”

He didn’t wait for an answer, merely appeared a moment later in his lair. All the days he’d spent waiting for Kira to wake from her nightmares he imagined his revenge. Over and over he plotted and planned how he would escape to her world and rip the hearts from the monsters that hurt her. Always afraid to leave her alone, he’d held back. And then she woke. She healed quickly and the thought of leaving her fled from his mind, especially since he did not know when the king of Panthera would claim him. But he would wait no longer.

With his focus and determination on dispensing his vengeance, he transformed himself into the mighty warrior his enemies feared. The leather and steel he strapped to his body were mere weapons. The real force to be reckoned with was the beast within him. He would unleash the curse that flowed through his veins and he wouldn’t hold back. It wouldn’t be easy to leave Kira, but with the task set before him, he could not delay and he would not fail.

As Octavion neared her room, he saw Luka standing at the top of the stairs, his demeanor much like his own. He, too, had suited for war.

“I will do this alone, cousin,” Octavion said.

“I did not come to get your permission,” Luka said. “I took the Darkords into her world and created this mess. I should be the one to help you take them out.”

“Is it not enough that Cade has suffered? I will not look into your mother’s eyes again and see the pain of a fallen son. You will
not
go.”

“I will either be at your side or on your heels. The choice is yours.” He folded his arms across his chest. “You know I am a good tracker and I am familiar with their scent. You would be a fool not to take my offer.”

They stood face to face, neither one willing to give in to the other. Octavion pushed the air out of his lungs and stepped back. “You may track them, but first kill is mine.”

Luka put his hand on Octavion’s shoulder. “Agreed.”

The wait was agonizing. Night fell over the kingdom long before Gregor and Mara came out of Kira’s room. When Octavion saw the expressions on their faces, the heart he’d tried so desperately to hold together shattered into a million pieces.

“Perhaps we should sit,” Gregor said.

“I want to see her,” Octavion insisted.

Mara put her hand on her back for support and waddled over to stand between Luka and Octavion. “We need to talk first, dear. There are some things you need to know.”

Luka took his mother by the arm and appeared an instant later at the base of the stairs. They walked through the doorway to the grand hall. Gregor preferred to walk, so Octavion followed him to where the others waited and took a seat.

Gregor spoke first. “I believe she is through the worst of it. I have given her one of your mixtures for the pain. It should also help her rest.”

“And her ability to have children?” Octavion cringed as the words left his mouth.

Mara sat in a chair next to him. She touched his hand with a mother’s tenderness. “I can sense everything within a woman’s womb, but only darkness rests in hers. I also sense her body is slightly different than ours, so . . . time will tell. I am sorry I cannot tell you more.”

Octavion turned to face her. “Then you do not know for sure?”

Mara looked at Gregor who shook his head. “I wish I could tell you different, son. With the pain she has endured, I believe there to be damage.”

Octavion looked away to hide the tears welling in his eyes. “But you are not certain.”

Mara’s gentle squeeze of Octavion’s hand brought his emotions to the surface. “You should never give up hope, dear. She is from another world. Her resistance may be stronger.”

“Does she know . . . everything?”

“Yes,” Mara took her hand back and placed it on top of her round belly. “It was difficult to console her . . . in my current condition. I do not believe she is well with it, which is why we wanted to speak with you.”

Octavion glanced at Gregor and then back to Mara. They both avoided his eyes. “What are you saying?”

Gregor cleared his throat. “It is not the physical recovery we are concerned about. It is her will to live. She has asked to be left alone and has refused to take nourishment—even water.”

Mara continued. “Ussay tried to take her hair out of the braid and Kira pushed her away. She turned her back to us and curled into a ball. Even her tears have stopped. She simply stares at nothing as if in a trance—not responding to any of us.” Mara put her hand on Octavion’s. “I believe she fears your heartache.”

“She thinks I will want someone else, that I will no longer love her.”

“That may be the reason she asked not to see you,” Mara said.

“Is that everything?” Octavion asked.

“I have said my piece,” Gregor said. “I would like to stay in the castle tonight in case I am needed.” He stood and stepped to the arched doorway, then paused. “I expect you both to return without injuries.” Then he left the room.

Mara let out a long drawn-out sigh. “I take it by your attire you two are leaving?”

“Yes.” Luka got up from the chair and knelt near his mother. “We will be careful. I do not want you to worry.”

She put her hand on the side of his face. “I am your mother. I will always worry.”

As Octavion listened to their exchange, his mind filled with regret. It was the loving exchange of a mother and son, something he’d never experienced in his lifetime and something Kira may never know. The reality of it struck his heart and he had to excuse himself from the room. He traveled to his chambers where he lost complete control of his emotions. He knew something of what Kira felt. The emptiness within her would never be filled no matter how much those who loved her tried.

His father remarried and gave Octavion a substitute mother that loved him as her own, but his heart still held empty space. It wouldn’t matter how comforting his words, Kira also had a place that would remain void and cause her pain for the rest of her life.

Octavion
, Luka’s thoughts interrupted.
Have you reconsidered?

No, I must see Kira and then we will leave.
Octavion wiped tears from his face and tried to compose himself. This would not be easy. He would have to choose his words carefully and not say anything that would leave her twisting his words to feed her sadness.

As he entered the room, he saw her lying in the middle of the bed with her knees pulled up, hugging a pillow. Her back was to Ussay who sat on the edge of the bed, fresh tears in her eyes. At least she’d managed to change her clothes and clean up a little.

He motioned for her to come to him. As she slowly stood and approached him, he noticed a large bruise beginning to darken on her neck. His revenge would be for her as well.

Kira moaned. “Please leave,” she whispered.

Ussay shook her head. “She will not let me help her.”

Octavion brushed a strand of hair back from Ussay’s face and kissed her cheek. “You have done all you can. Let me have a moment with her.”

Ussay nodded.

He watched as she left the room and pulled the door shut. The room felt eerily quiet. The knot that had formed in his throat hours before threatened to strangle his words, but he pressed forward. When he neared the bed, his stomach tightened and he wanted to run. What could he possibly say to ease her pain? He closed his eyes and took in a deep breath.

“Please. Leave,” she whispered again. Her monotone voice was cold and lacked emotion.

He sat on the bed. “Why are you pushing me away?” When she didn’t answer he put his arm on her shoulder, but she shrugged out from under it and scooted further away.

“Kira, please turn over. I want to see you.”

“I . . . can’t.”

“Then I will come around to the other side of the bed.”

She reached behind her and grabbed his arm. “No,” she said. “Just leave me alone. I can’t . . . look at you.” She released him, pulled the pillow closer and began to cry. “Go . . . away.”

“Kira, I’m not leaving until I see you. I have to know you are all right.” He put his hand back on her shoulder and this time she didn’t move away. “Please.”

“I will never be . . . all right. I . . . want . . . to go home.”

Her words cut deep. He didn’t want to lose her, but if taking her home meant she’d be safe, he’d do it. It wasn’t like he’d be around to protect her after Ramla came for him anyway. What kind of a life could she have here alone?

“You are too fragile to travel right now. As soon as I am sure it is safe in your world, I will take you wherever you want.” He ran his hand down her trembling arm and found her hand buried in the pillow. “I will not be gone long.”

As her hand brushed against the leather cuff on his wrist, she turned quickly toward him and grabbed a handful of his vest in her fingers. “Why are you wearing this? You’re dressed to fight.” She shook her head. “You are not going back there. I won’t let you.”

“Kira, calm down, I will be fine.”

“No!” she screamed. “They will kill you! You don’t know what they’re capable of. They have no mercy.”

“Kira, you will hurt yourself, please.”

“I won’t let you go.” Her fingers fumbled with the front of his vest, trying to remove it. Without success, she moved on to the leather cuffs at his wrists and then to the swords strapped to his back. He couldn’t get her to stop flailing her arms at him so he grabbed her and pulled her close.

“Shh, you need to stop this.”

“Promise me . . . promise you won’t go,” she managed between sobs. “I can’t lose you, too.”

He buried his face in her hair and took in the scent of her. How could she ask this of him? How could he
not
go? He relaxed his hold on her and gently took her face in his hands. Her dark eyes were filled with so much pain and fear that it nearly broke him in two.