Broken Aro (The Broken Ones) (31 page)

They all sat in silence for a while, digesting what
the Dragos had said. Again and again the image of Prince kept coming into her
mind. She sighed and sat up straighter. "Elves are supposed to be strong
and beautiful and have magic," she said. "That was a statement,"
she added quickly before Damon could even open his mouth.

He did however, nod.

"So why doesn't he look well? Why haven't we ever
seen him use any magic?"

"That is two, but I will answer, seeing as the
answer will cover both questions."

She forced a small smile.

"Prince has been gone from Elven lands for a very
long time, decades actually. Normally this would not be an issue. Elves take
precautions when leaving the lands they are tied to. And yes, they are
magically bound to their land. The problem arose when the slavers took from
Prince the amulet that kept him connected to his land. Without it, he had no
access to its power. Faint though it would be after being gone so long, and him
being so far from it. I imagine what remained of the power within him he used
to heal from various injuries the slavers did to him."

"He hasn't used magic because he had none to use,"
Bo stated flatly.

Damon nodded at him and then looked at her. "Quite
simply, Prince has been slowly dying."

The words ripped through her, tearing through her
heart. She stared at Damon in shock and horror. Prince was dying? How could he
be dying? She shook her head, not seeing how the Dragos could be right. He had
to be lying.

"I am not lying," Damon said irritably. "Of
all the races who live and are magic, the Elves are the only ones that have
tied themselves to a particular piece of land. They gain great benefits from
this, but also there are consequences."

She closed her eyes, wishing she could ask more
questions. Was Prince going to get worse? How long did he have? Would he get
better if he made it home?

"Yes, not long, and probably." Damon said
flatly.

Her head jerked up as the others looked at him in
confusion. He had answered her unspoken questions.
Thank you.

I will not make a habit of this.
His voice spoke in her mind.
However I have
treated you ill today. I have now made amends. Yes?

She discovered she could actually agree and silently
let him know before turning to the others and sharing the unspoken questions he
had answered.

Damon turned to Bo and Kei. "Next question."

Bo sighed and looked over at her, clearly at loss. He
thought a moment before slapping his thighs and sitting up straighter. "So
then. Since you seem to know what goes on in everyone's head, including
Prince's, why has he stayed with us? We have not only been traveling slowly,
but stopped for the entire winter. It doesn't make any sense if what you said
is true, about his needing to get back home."

Damon's iridescent eyes swirled. "Do you truly
wish to know? He will not thank me for answering or you for asking."

Bo looked around at them all, and everyone nodded.
Yes, they all had been wondering why Prince stayed with them.

"Very well. It is for the same reason you have
all asked only questions about him, the one who you believed had lied and
betrayed you, when I offered to answer any question at all."

They all stared at him and then looked around at each
other. A blush came to her cheeks that the obvious reason had never crossed her
mind.

"We're friends," she said quietly. "Family."

Damon smiled slightly and nodded once.

"Well now I feel stupid," Bo said.

Damon looked to Kei. "Last question."

"What was the prophecy about me?" Kei asked,
his eyes faintly glowing.

"Very good," Damon answered, clearly
surprised. "I see you are learning, young one. This is good. Prince is not
what you should be concerned about. Your future is." He paused a moment,
looking at everyone, as if making sure he had their attention. "Your son
will make the Queen and he will remain by her side bound to her by three."

Kei frowned, his eyes starting to glow. He shook his
head. "I don't understand."

Damon smiled. "You will."

"Wait," Aro interrupted. "How do you
know that's even about Kei?"

Damon glanced over at her. "Because his mother
was the recorder for the Queen's Seer. For centuries she took note of every
prophecy the seer spoke and recorded them, and deciphered them. Dalsia was also
the seer's only child. Kei was her only son."

Aro frowned, trying to make sense of it all. "But
it doesn't say I'm this queen. Even the prophecy you said is about me doesn't
specifically say that. It doesn't make any sense."

"You will understand, in time."

Or you've got it wrong.
She forced a sweet smile when Damon stiffened for a
moment, however he didn't otherwise react.

He rose gracefully.

"I shall be watching, to see how your story
continues to unfold."

She rose as well, though no one else did. "You're
a lot of trouble," she told him. "But thanks."

He smirked and his eyes sparkled with mischief. "You
are most welcome, little queen-to-be." He gave her a short bow and faded
into the shadows.

She grimaced after him. "I wish he'd stop with
that nonsense." She turned back to the men. "So..."

Bo sighed. "That was…interesting."

"Everyone agree he's talking nonsense about the
prophecies?" Everyone grinned and nodded at that, except for Kei, who
looked off to side, still lost in thought. She changed the subject quickly. "About
Prince, it doesn't really matter, does it?"

"No," Cain answered, a wry smile coming to
his lips. "It doesn't."

"The Dragos was right," Bo continued. "We're
friends."

"Family," she added with a little smile.

Kei frowned, paying attention again, and his eyes
changed from golden to orange. "Prince and I have never gotten along.
Mostly because I knew his secret, and he demanded I never share it. I am sorry
for that." He lowered his head.

"We understand," Bo said.

Kei shook his head. "There are so many things I
do not know. About my people, and our customs and laws. Especially concerning
the Elves. It is frustrating." He grimaced. "For all I know he was
aware of that and used it to his advantage."

"I wouldn't put it past him," Cain said
quietly with a small smile.

Kei caught her watching him and the light in his eyes
dropped back down to golden before fading away altogether. "He has
protected Aro. Taken care of her. For that alone..." His voice trailed off
and he looked away, refusing to finish his thought.

"So we are agreed?" Everyone nodded. She
turned back to Kei. "Do you know where he is?"

Kei grimaced. "He left the city, heading south.
We can catch up with him tomorrow."

"Good. That is what we'll do," she decided,
planting her hands on her hips and daring the men to argue.

Bo laughed. "We had better get some sleep."

Chapter 24

Family is Family

She ran, her feet thumping rhythmically along the dirt
road. Each step sent a jab of pain through her head and she cursed Damon under
her breath. Despite the pain, she kept her pace steady.

They had headed out early, moving quickly through the
morning and keeping a watch out for Prince. She had begun to worry they would
never find him. The rolling rocky landscape kept him hidden from view until
nearly noon. She'd spotted him then, a slowly moving figure walking along a
hill far in front of them. She'd run ahead, leaving the others amused behind
her.

She ran up another low hill and paused at the top to
catch her breath. Seeing him in the dip below brought a smile to her face and
she started off again. She slowed as she neared him, thumbs worrying the
leather of the straps over her shoulders. What should she say? She had no idea.
Of course, she didn't know if he was still angry or not.

All through the night and morning she had thought
about Prince, about what she would say, what she wouldn't. Various scenarios
played out in her mind. The headache and broken walls in her head didn't make
thinking easier. The only thing she knew was she had to get him back. It didn't
matter what she had to do or promise.

Dropping her pace to a walk as she neared him, she let
out a sigh of relief when he turned and stopped when he saw her. He hadn't
ignored her.

He stepped off the road and removed his pack.

As she narrowed the distance between them he stared
off to the side, not looking at her. Not a good sign, but she worried more
about how worn out he seemed. He looked tired, more than tired, exhausted.
That's right, he was dying. She forced such thoughts aside. He wouldn't die,
she wouldn't let him.

From somewhere he had gotten a floppy hat that covered
his ears. He looked ridiculous. She smothered a laugh. It was easy to do. She
didn't know if he was going to tell her leave him alone or not.

Her breath caught as she drew closer. She didn't want
him gone from her life. Not yet. She slipped her pack off her shoulders,
letting it drop to the ground, as she impulsively darted forward and flung
herself into his arms.

She didn't know if he had expected it, or just had
really quick reflexes, yet he caught her, swinging her slightly as she clung to
him and buried her face against his chest.

Still, he held her tentatively until she thought
strongly at him,
I'm sorry!

His arms tightened around her and he lowered his face
to her hair, letting out a deep sigh.

I hope that is a happy sigh, and not one of annoyance,
she thought carefully in her head.

He let out a deep laugh, the sound of it surprising her
enough she raised her head.

His lips were pulled back in a large smile, eyes
twinkling in happiness.

She pulled back a little and swatted his arm. "Stupid
prince!"

He laughed again and shook his head, a smile still
playing on his lips. "Troublesome child."

"I'm not a child," she snapped in mock fury.

He laughed again. She couldn't remember the last time
he had laughed so much. She liked to think maybe it was because she had come
after him.

He still had an arm around her and she leaned back
against him, wrapping her arms around him again and squeezing tight. "Don't
leave again," she whispered.

He actually kissed the top of her head. "I won't."

She looked up. "You're back then?"

He hesitated. "The others..."

She smiled. "You're family, silly. Just stop
keeping so many secrets. We can't handle the shock!"

He smiled at her jesting tone. "I assure you that
was the big one."

"Good. I don't like secrets." She worried
her lip. "You should apologize, for not telling us. It will make things
better." He frowned and she continued quickly, "Not that you have to
mean it, but you should try."

He shook his head as a smile again crossed his face. "Very
well."

She beamed up at him and hugged him tightly again
before running to retrieve her pack. Taking his hand she tugged him further off
the road. "They aren't too far behind. We can wait."

He nodded and followed suit as she sat in a patch of
grass.

He glanced over at her after a few moments of silence.
"How are you doing?"

She shrugged and fiddled with a few blades of grass. "My
head still hurts a bit." When he didn't say anything further she looked
over at him. He frowned as he stared off into the distance. "What?"

He shook his head slightly. "I cannot protect you
from him."

She smiled a little and shrugged again. "No one
can." She made a face. "I don't know why he's doing this to me."

Prince sighed. "He believes in that prophecy."

She snorted. "It's nonsense right? It hardly
makes any sense. He probably has it all wrong."

Prince nodded. "So it goes with such things."

"Have you heard this prophecy he mentioned?"

He shook his head. "I've heard of it, but not the
exact words."

She glanced over at him. "Do you think..." She
paused. "He's not right is he? I'm not going to be queen of...of the Fey."
She blushed as she stuttered over the words. "I mean, I'm human. It
doesn't make any sense."

"Personally, I don't think so. You are human. I
cannot see the Fey following you."

Her relief at his words made her almost giddy and she
smiled.

"However," he continued. "I do believe
it is you the prophecy mentioned. I would say it is possible you will somehow help
the Fey become what they once were. The prophecy does not say you will become
the queen." He shrugged as she stared at him. "You are very young,
Aro. You have many years ahead of you to do great things. I do truly believe
you capable of that."