Beloved (43 page)

Tyrius sank onto his throne—his sudden silence seemingly more reverence than fear. He waved a hand in the air. “Leave us.” His raspy voice screeched out like static on a radio.

At first Kira thought he was ordering the man out of his chambers, but then the Kazedonian Royals started disappearing. When all but a handful—the ones surrounding the king—had left, Nestor and Mara gave the same order to their men. Blayde and Brenna stayed, as did those who’d come from Lairdor. Even though the odds were now in her favor, she knew at any moment Tyrius could summon the Royals back and the battle would start all over again.

Altaria was the only one who moved. She slowly joined Kira who was still only a few feet from King Tyrius, the fallen guards at her feet.
We need to move back. Let them have their space.
She took Kira by the arm and pulled her closer to where Luka and Cade stood.

“Who is that?” Kira whispered.

Luka was still partially transformed, his chocolate eyes showing more yellow than brown. “Ramla, the king of Panthera.” He took a deep breath, and his beast receded further.

The three men in black were now behind Ramla as he slowly walked to the front of the room. He wore black trousers and a moss green tunic. His hair, dark brown with a little gray at the temples, was cut so that it barely touched his shoulders. He wore sandals on his feet and a thick black belt around his waist.

As the king passed, the two guards Kira disabled were roused from their trance and scurried to the side of the room, stumbling back to their knees several times before they slipped behind a thick curtain. The other guards parted to let Ramla pass, bowing in his presence.

Finally stopping at the base of the dais, Ramla smiled up at him as if they were old friends. “I am quite disappointed Tyrius. You have invited friends from every kingdom except Panthera to join your party. Have I done something to offend you?”

Tyrius swallowed and nearly choked on his saliva. “You have been misinformed. This is no party and these intruders were not invited.”

Ramla turned his head and looked directly at Kira. His brow furrowed. “And what business do you have in Kazedon?”

Altaria still had a heavy grip on Kira’s arm so she brushed it away and moved closer to Ramla. “I came to get my husband back. Tyrius blames me for the death of his son, even though he was in
my
world trying to kill
my
friends. If I hadn’t killed him, Cade would have died at his hand.” Kira pointed to Cade.

“It is true,” Nestor said. “She has saved both my son’s lives, more than once.”

“And who might your husband be, child?”

Kira suddenly felt very small, but she refused to cower like a mouse, so she stood tall, raising her eyes to meet Ramla’s with confidence. “Octavion, son of Belesgar and prince of Xantara.”

“Ah, I see.” Ramla turned his attention back to Tyrius. “Have you indeed captured the young prince?”

Tyrius growled under his breath. “I have and I intend to keep him until the debt for my son’s life is paid. His gifts have proven to be quite the addition to my collection.”

Then he winked at Kira.

The next thing Kira remembered Blayde and Luka were pulling her hands from around Tyrius’ neck and Altaria screamed for her to stop. Somehow Kira had managed to get past his guards and up the stairs, but she had no idea how. She also dropped the knife in her hand along the way, which in hindsight was a stupid move. She could have slit his throat, ending this nightmare in a split second. Instead she’d been pulled away before she could do any damage to the monster. Good thing, because the instant she touched him she could feel him sucking her powers out of her like a sponge soaks up water.

“Let go of me!” She considered giving Luka and Blayde a shock, but she didn’t want to hurt them. Besides, her contact with Tyrius had left her feeling drained. If he could do that to her in two or three seconds, she could only imagine what damage he could do to his captors. What he could have done to Octavion.

“Not until you calm down,” Luka tightened his grip.

“Let her go.” Blayde released her, then moved so that he was between her and Tyrius. “Are you all right?”

“No.” She pried Luka’s fingers from around her arm. “I’m not all right. We came here to get Octavion and I’m not leaving without him.” She pushed Blayde aside so she could see Tyrius, but kept her distance. “I want to see him now.”

“As do I,” Ramla added. “Immediately.”

Tyrius was still rubbing his neck where Kira had choked him. He motioned to the guards with his free hand and two of them disappeared. “I am curious, Ramla. Why the interest in Octavion?”

“He is my property. I have merely come to collect him.”

“Your property? He is the prince of Xantara. How could he be your property?” Kira’s hands were so tightly clenched into fists that her nails bit into her palms. “He’s no one’s property.”

“Ah, but he is,” Ramla said. “He came to me some time ago and made a request. I am a fair man, but do nothing without requiring a price is paid. The young prince offered his allegiance and I accepted. I was kind enough to give him time to say his goodbyes, but I must insist he make good on his payment. Now.”

“You’re lying!” Kira screamed. “Octavion would never give up his crown, not even for me. I wouldn’t let him.”

“But he did. You see, he brought you to me because you were dying and asked my healers to save your life. He did not even hesitate when I told him my price.”

Kira felt all the blood rush to her feet. “That’s not true.” She wasn’t sure if she’d actually said the words or just thought them.

“Kira,” Altaria rested her hand on Kira’s shoulder. “He is telling the truth.”

Kira’s focus shifted from Ramla to Altaria and then to the others, their faces revealing the secret they’d all kept from her. “You knew? All of you?”

“Yes,” Altaria and Mara said in unison. The others just nodded. All except her Lairdor family.

Kira shrugged out from under Altaria’s hand and turned to face her. “How long have you known?”

“A while.”

“And you didn’t tell me? How could you keep something like this from me?”

“Because he asked me to. He wanted these last days with you to be happy, to leave you with good memories.”

Kira swept her hand toward King Tyrius. “Well, that didn’t exactly work out, did it?” She didn’t wait for Altaria to respond. The sound of heavy footsteps and chains dragging on the stone floor drew everyone’s attention away from the heated conversation and to the door to the right of the king.

As the sounds got louder, Kira’s heart grew heavier. She’d seen Octavion in chains before, but nothing could have prepared her for this. Her heart broke to see the man she loved, the fiercely proud prince, reduced to a hollow shell. Three large men dragged him forward, his outstretched arms were chained to a long wooden post that ran behind his neck and heavy chains dangled from the contraption. He’d been stripped of everything but his pants which hung from his hips in filthy shreds. Bruises and cuts riddled his entire body. Blood and sweat matted his hair to his drooping head, and he didn’t bother to try to get his feet under him. As far as Kira could tell, there was no life left in him.

“Blessed Zi’ah,” Nestor blurted. If it wasn’t for his quick thinking and support, Mara’s knees would have buckled from under her. Instead she collapsed into her husband’s arms and wept.

Luka and Cade ran to Octavion’s side, pushing the other men away and taking the brunt of his weight until they could slowly lower him to his knees. He toppled to one side, but the end of the pole hit the ground, stopping his fall.

Kira didn’t move. She couldn’t breathe. She was pretty sure her heart was no longer beating. How could it? It had shattered into too many pieces.

Altaria wrapped an arm around Kira’s shoulder. “Are you all right?”

But her touch only made Kira angry. “Don’t touch me.” She shoved Altaria aside, ran to Octavion and fell to her knees in front of him. Careful not to cause him any pain, she gently raised his head so she could see his eyes. At first they were closed, but then they slowly opened to thin slits. Instead of the deep blue eyes that held so much love and emotion, all she saw now was gray emptiness. His blank stare saw nothing. Even her voice could coax no sign of recognition from her husband.

She stood and faced Tyrius. “Get him out of these chains!”

Tyrius laughed. “I guess I should have prepared the ladies before bringing him out. Who knew their stomachs would be so weak?”

“You think this is funny?” Ramla roared.

Two of the men in black disappeared from behind Ramla and reappeared—one on each side of Tyrius. They held no weapons, but the air around them bent and swirled until bands of air had wrapped around Tyrius like a boa constrictor, slowly tightening its hold. His face turned red and the crown on his head rolled off and bounced down the steps, coming to rest at Ramla’s feet. He kicked it away before motioning for his men to ease up on their magic.

“What you have done here is unforgivable. Regardless of the reason behind it, you have no right to treat another being in this manner. I have seen the people in your village and the filth they wallow in. I have heard the cries of mothers who have lost their children to starvation. My heart aches for them. I have stood by and done nothing for far too long. What you have done to this innocent man is the last straw.”

The two men moved away from Tyrius as Ramla appeared directly in front of him and reached out his hand. He raised it a few inches above Tyrius’ face, making the menacing king’s head lull back and a swirling mist rise out of his gaping mouth. The mist grew and grew until it formed a gray cloud near the ceiling, then divided into several streams of light, some jutting out the doors and windows. A small one hit Kira in the gut and she knew instantly what he was doing. The gifts Tyrius had taken from so many were being returned. She could feel the warmth of her restored powers fill every pore of her body.

Kira spun around as a larger stream of light hit Octavion with so much force it blew him onto his back and knocked Luka and Cade onto the floor behind him. Octavion groaned and pulled against the chains.

The remaining man in black, the one who’d first appeared at the door, went to Octavion’s side. Without touching him, he flicked his wrist and the chains and pole fell away.

Cade and Luka helped Octavion to sit up while Kira fell into his arms. He didn’t move at first, only leaned into her as though bracing himself from falling forward. Then she felt a quivering hand on her back.

“Kira.”

“I’m here. I’m right here.” She looked up into his weary, blood shot eyes and saw blue. Beautiful blue. “You’re back.”

His eyes shifted to scan the room, resting on Ramla. “Is he here for me?”

“Yes. You should have told me.”

His eyes closed for a moment, then looked back at her. “I am sorry. I had to save you. I could not watch you die.”

“I know. It’s okay. I’ll go with you. It doesn’t matter where we live as long as we’re together.” Kira stroked a cut on his arm, her mere touch healing all his wounds.

“I am afraid that cannot happen,” Ramla said. Kira hadn’t noticed, but he’d moved to stand behind her.

She twisted her body so that she could look up into his face. “But you have to let me go. We’re bound.”

“The price was for Octavion’s allegiance alone. I have no need for you.”

Kira grabbed the fabric of his pants. She wasn’t above begging. “Please. We’ve both been through so much. You can’t separate us. Not now.”

“King Ramla,” Nestor said. “There must be something we can do—something else you could trade for Octavion.”

“I appreciate the offer, but the price was set and he agreed to it. I do not go back on my word and I expect others to follow through with theirs.” Ramla nodded at the man who had released Octavion from the chains. “It is time.”

“No!” Kira tried to hold on to Octavion, but Luka and Cade peeled her away and let Octavion be ripped from her arms and taken away in a swirling mist. An instant later, Ramla and his men were gone.

For a brief moment she contemplated killing Tyrius, but at a glance she could see that Ramla had already done the task. Instead, she focused on the double doors at the back of the room and strutted herself right out of the castle and into the stable to get her horse. Anyone who tried to get in her way, including Altaria, got a strong dose of her vengeance. She’d been betrayed by the ones she trusted and she never wanted to see them again.

When she got to Fire Canyon, she found Blayde waiting for her. He mounted Althros behind her and took them to Lairdor. It was her home now and she’d do everything she could to provide them a safe haven away from the likes of Xantara. As far as she was concerned, she wanted nothing to do with anyone who lived there.