Broken (28 page)

wing, last door on the right. I will be waiting for you. It has been

quite an eventful night in the castle.

Octavion

One last thing, please leave your finger bandaged. I am still not

convinced it is not broken.

Mara’s room? That could only mean one thing—Xantara had a new Royal living in the palace.

She scanned over the list of “loving” instructions and seriously contemplated skipping to number six before doing anything else, but because her stomach ached from not eating for several hours and her hair felt matted to the back of her head, she reconsidered.

“Okay, Kira. Let’s see how well you can follow instructions.” She slipped off the edge of the bed and went to stand in front of the full length mirror. Nothing new, just a frumpy little red head dressed in an oversized, extremely old fashioned, nightgown.

She ran her fingers through her hair, trying to catch a glimpse of something different, but still nothing. She traced the scar on her cheek. It was only a thin pink line now, nothing new there.

Then she stepped closer and watched as her eyes filled with tears—salty little drops of happiness in emerald green eyes that held a shimmer. They weren’t glowing, like when she and Octavion shared their blood, but the color had returned and they’d found their spark.

All this time she’d thought Zerek’s blood caused her eyes to lose their color, but that wasn’t it at all. Somehow, releasing Altaria’s spirit had freed her from the remaining darkness that lingered inside her.

Kira let out a hoot and danced a little jig around the room, not caring at all what she must look like. Her body and spirit were finally her own and she felt on top of the world.

She was suddenly more anxious to complete her list and be among the living. She’d spent too much time hiding behind these walls. She scanned the list for her next task.

Eat.

Wash her face.

She skipped to the dressing table, shoved a slice of cheese in her mouth and splashed water on her face. With her face still dripping wet, she shoved three pieces of Koostai in her mouth, grabbed a towel and dried both the water and the juice from the fruit off her face.

One more thing before she could leave. She ran to her dressing chambers to search for her prize, stopping suddenly when it came into view. Lying on the large ottoman was an emerald green gown. It wasn’t as fancy as a ball gown, but much nicer than the everyday dresses she’d been wearing. White ruffles skirted the bottom and the front laced up with white satin ribbons. The sleeves were made of a billowy white fabric, long enough to cling to her arms all the way to her wrists.

Next to the dress lay another note. No envelope this time, only a folded piece of parchment. She opened it and read aloud.

I know you prefer wearing a braid, but thought these would be easier to manage with your bandaged hand. Hurry, my love. Your kiss awaits you.

My love.
When had he started calling her that? It made her insides melt and she felt giddy all over.

She tossed the note on the ottoman and picked up a white satin bag lying next to the dress. She loosened the string and poured the contents into her hand—two intricately detailed silver hair combs, each one tastefully embedded with diamonds and emeralds.

She couldn’t believe the handiwork that had gone into making each piece. She realized, even though this world seemed primitive in many ways, the people were extremely advanced in developing their personal talents and gifts.

After putting on the dress, fumbling hopelessly with lacing the front and tying the little bow, she brushed out her flyaway hair and carefully placed the combs by sweeping up her hair on both sides. She’d never worn her hair like that and she rather liked it. It made her look and feel very pretty.

She took one last look in the mirror, decided to forget the shoes and set out to find Mara’s room. It took her a moment to realize she was already in the south wing and Mara’s room was only a few feet down the hall. Octavion made it sound like she’d need a detailed map to locate it.
Men!

Kira heard voices coming from the other side of the partially opened door. She gripped the handle, but stopped when she heard Luka’s words.

“You are a natural, Octavion. You are definitely father material.”

Kira’s joyous mood gave way to sorrow. She couldn’t move. She just stood there hoping nobody heard her gasp, but when the door moved, she knew she’d been heard.

Smile, Kira. You can do this. Everyone will be watching you.

Luka stepped out into the hall—she read pity in his eyes and she hated it. She wanted to smack it right off his face, but instead she pretended his words didn’t matter.

“Kira, please forgive me. If I knew you were . . .”

“No, you’re right. He’ll make a wonderful father.” She brushed him aside and went into the room—with a faux smile painted on her face.

The room fell quiet, all eyes aimed at Kira. Mara lay on the bed with her back propped up with several pillows—Arela snuggled at her side. Nestor stood next to her, while Cade sat on the window seat beside him. As she stepped closer, Ussay walked out of what Kira assumed to be the dressing chambers carrying clean linens.

And then she saw Octavion.

Kira paused. She wanted this moment frozen in time, record it in her heart forever. He stood near the window cradling a tiny bundle—his face all aglow as if
he
were the proud papa. Luka had been right—this man was meant to be a father. She saw it in his eyes and the loving way he held the child close to his heart. The thought of him being denied that privilege pained her heart. He raised his eyes to meet hers and smiled.

“Good morning beautiful. I trust you found everything to your liking?” he asked.

Kira tried to calm her racing heart. She didn’t want him to see how she really felt, that seeing him like this broke her heart in two. “I loved it, thank you.”

“Would you like to meet the new addition to our family?” Mara asked.

Kira nodded, a lump forming in her throat. “Is it a boy as you predicted?”

Mara smiled and glanced over at Nestor. “Yes, I have given my husband another son.”

Nestor leaned over Arela and gave Mara a kiss. “A very large son,” he added.

“Would you like to hold him?” Octavion asked.

Luka cleared his throat. He’d been standing behind Kira but now took a position at her side. He gently placed his hand on her shoulder. “Cousin, perhaps you should explain about Royal infants. She may not react as you hoped.”

Octavion winked at her, flashing his dimples. “You do not know her as I do. She will revel in his beauty.”

Kira gave him a sideways glance. “Let me guess. Royal babies look like tadpoles?”

The men in the room laughed, especially Cade, but Mara didn’t seem to appreciate Kira’s humor. “Our infants reflect our heritage. Their magnificence is far beyond any other creature in our world. I suspect that may be true of your world as well.”

“I’m sorry, Mara. I didn’t mean anything by it.” Kira pushed up the sleeves of her dress and held her arms out toward Octavion. “Well, just don’t stand there. Let me get a look at—does he have a name?”

“Not yet,” Octavion said.

Then he laid the baby in her arms and all the sorrow she’d been feeling disappeared. She lowered herself to sit in the chair and pulled the blanket down a little to expose more of the baby’s face.

“Wow,” was all she could manage. She scanned the faces in the room, all silently waiting for her reaction, then looked back at the baby boy that held her amazement. His eyes were the color of honey, highlighted with threads of gold that sparkled when he found her face. Of all the eyes she’d looked into, his were the most telling. They radiated peace, comfort and love.

“He’s the most beautiful baby I’ve ever seen.”

One corner of his tiny mouth turned up as if smiling at her and the entire room seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.

Octavion knelt beside her. “I think he likes you. Did you see his markings?”

“Markings?”

He gently pulled back the blanket exposing the baby’s naked flesh. Covering almost the entire infant were dark misshaped circles filled with golden brown and black.

“It is how we know the species of our heritage. His is jaguar.” Octavion wrapped the blanket around the baby and gently kissed his forehead. “Mine were different because I am a hybrid. I had the stripes of a tiger on my body, but my face and head were completely bare. They say my hair stood on end, like a lion’s mane, but I am skeptical.”

“So, where does the jaguar come from, wasn’t your mother tiger? That would make Mara tiger as well, right? She’s your mom’s sister.”

Kira listened as Octavion explained the heritage of each family member. Mara is indeed tiger, but her mother had some leopard in her line. Nestor is jaguar and Luka as well. But Cade is what they referred to as a throw-back. Even though most of his blood line is either tiger or jaguar, he’d pulled the tiny bit of leopard from his mother’s side of the family. They felt it contributed to his uncanny talent as a tracker and his ability to share memories as well as thoughts. He’s also swift and agile, like no other Royal in the room. No wonder he was so good at saving Kira’s life, even without the use of his legs.

Arela spoke proudly about being the only other tiger in the family, even though she seemed a little disappointed that the new addition wasn’t more like her. Kira suspected Arela secretly wished for a baby sister.

“The markings will fade as soon as the Khapri ceremony has been performed. He will receive his name at that time as well.” Octavion brushed a tear from Kira’s cheek. “Are you all right?” he whispered. “I was not sure how this would affect you.”

Kira looked into Octavion’s loving eyes and a genuine smile lit up her face. “I wasn’t sure either, but . . . he seems to have taken my sadness away. Maybe that will be his gift.”

“I believe you are right, I felt the same as I held him in my arms.”

For several moments it felt as if the three of them were the only ones in the room. An image popped into Kira’s mind of what life would be like if they held their own child and reveled in his heritage. But the images flashing through her mind only carved a hole in her heart. She knew she would never give Octavion the son he deserved, which made her want it even more. She pushed the images away, knowing that was one vision that would never come to fulfillment.

Ussay scurried around the room making sure everything was perfect. Her eyes kept flitting back and forth from Mara to Cade. She seemed uncomfortable, but her dedication to her job overrode her feelings. When the baby started to fuss, Ussay stepped in and offered to take him.

“Perhaps I should bathe him and put him in a warm gown. There threatens to be a chill in the air.” She tightened the blanket around the infant, lifted his tiny body from where it lay on Kira’s lap and left the room.

Kira’s arms felt empty and without the baby cradled near her heart, her sadness returned. She hugged her torso to keep from falling apart and tried to stay positive by pretending to participate in the conversation—the naming ceremony that would take place in three days.

“Have you chosen a donor for the ceremony?” Nestor asked Mara.

Mara smiled and looked at Kira. “There has only been one villager who has expressed a desire. However, I’d hoped Kira would honor us with her sacrifice.”

“Sacrifice?” Kira didn’t like the way the word rolled off her tongue. It made her feel like a lamb being led to the slaughter.

Octavion still knelt by Kira’s side. When he heard Mara’s suggestion he jumped to his feet. “I won’t allow it. It is too dangerous for her.”

“Octavion, we will take precautions as we always have,” Mara said in a condescending tone. “There would be no danger for her.”

“You would not say that if your throat caught her scent. It burns like fire and completely consumes all hope of having control. Who will protect her if you react as I do?”

“Excuse me?” Kira interrupted. “Would someone please explain to me what you’re talking about? What sacrifice? Shouldn’t this be
my
decision?”

“There’s nothing to decide,” Octavion said. “You would be in a room full of Royals, spilling your blood to satisfy a newborn’s hunger. It is the only way to curb his appetite until he is of age.” He turned back to face Mara. “And she is
not
doing it.”

“Why me?” Kira asked.

Mara completely ignored Octavion, which made him angry enough to start pacing.

“You are the logical choice, my dear. You will be family and the one who sacrifices their blood will no longer entice the infant. Your blood will never trigger his hunger. It will be easier for you to be around him when his gifts begin to surface and his desires become wild and untamed. It is merely a prick to your finger and a few drops of your blood. You will not be in any danger.”

Octavion stopped and turned to face Mara. “
One
drop nearly caused me to take her life. I will not allow this.”

“Octavion, please stop.” Kira stood and went to sit on the bed next to Mara. She put her hand on hers and tried to sound convincing. “I’d be honored to do this for you, but I’m from another world. Octavion told me once that your blood is different from mine. What if it hurts him or makes him crave more instead of less?”