CHAPTER 10
K aelyn woke with a start. Pin prickles crept down her arm. How long had she slept? Her pulse sped. Locked in her cell carved into the Keep’s bedrock, she had no way to know. It could be night or day. She rose from the lumpy bed and paced the small space between the bars of her cell and the wall.
This far underground, the scent of wet stone and dampness permeated everything, soaking into her skin, chilling her. Through force of habit, she brought her bound hands to her chest, searching for the comfort of her whistle. Her fingers grazed against bare skin.
She inhaled.
Searing rage burned through her veins, bubbling to the surface in a scream so loud the sound reverberated off the walls. Out of frustration, she tried to morph into her bear. The bindings around her wrists sparked with an eerie iridescence.
She remained in human form.
A tendril of fear weaseled into her chest, sprouting roots, growing like a weed. She fought against the rope with all her might, letting the frustration fuel her efforts. Again and again, she tugged, pulled, and fought, until her energy waned.
Even with her inner bear’s strength and toughness, she failed.
She wrapped her fingers around the bars. The cool metal was a welcome reprieve on her hot and sweaty palms. There was no way she could stay here. Who knew what they would do to her.
Another round of panic released a fresh supply of adrenaline into her bloodstream. She tightened her grip on the bars and yanked. Her muscles shook, straining with the effort. The bars were as immovable as the male she’d met…Saar.
A bead of perspiration dripped from her brow and landed at her feet. The drop darkened the stone floor, wiping away some of the dirt and grime that had collected over the ages.
She pushed away from her unrelenting cage and sat on the edge of the worn and tired cot. Across the corridor, a tall female stared at her with sullen, forlorn eyes. Bits of her brown hair stuck out from her head at odd angles, and she crouched behind the bed, as if scared of the creature in the next cell—her.
“You can’t get out, not that way.” The female’s voice was sweet, child-like. She had a much nicer bed, one with a soft, thick comforter, a small table and chair, and several old tomes scattered about the room.
Kaelyn stepped to the bars, curiosity getting the better of her. “Why not?”
“The Keep won’t let you.” The female’s gaze darted to the ceiling before returning to meet Kaelyn’s. “Don’t worry. You won’t be here long.” The innocent look on the female’s face broke down Kaelyn’s resolve.
“I’m sorry if I scared you. My name is Kaelyn. What’s yours?”
The female studied Kaelyn for a moment then emerged from behind the bed. She twirled a strand of hair between her fingers. “Ginnia.”
The female had an air of innocence, and Kaelyn couldn’t help but smile at her. “It’s nice to meet you, Ginnia.”
Ginnia gripped one of the bars and placed her forehead against the iron gate. “You shouldn’t try to shift in the Keep. It’s forbidden. Some of the Panthera do it, but they shouldn’t.”
“What?” Kaelyn blinked. “Why is it forbidden to shift?”
“Don’t you know?” Ginnia scrunched her nose. “Be…cause…” her word came out in a sing-song tone, “the Stiyaha’s beastie takes over, and they can’t change back. Too many died trying. Noeh said no more shifting.”
Kaelyn’s thoughts returned to the battle with Saar. He hadn’t shifted, not once. When he’d thrown her mace at her feet, she hadn’t understood why, but this made more sense…and explained his words. Now, we’re even.
“Noeh, he’s your king, isn’t he?” Kaelyn already knew that answer. He was the one Mauree was so desperate to kill, but she wanted to see Ginnia’s reaction.
Ginnia’s eyes softened. “I love Noeh. He was so sad when he put me here, but he had no choice. He is king after all, and I was bad.”
Kaelyn flinched. So caught up in herself, she hadn’t bothered to find out why Ginnia was locked up in a cell. “I can’t imagine you did anything so wrong to lock you up. Why are you here?”
The unusual female kicked at a few small pebbles surrounding the bars that disappeared beneath the stone floor. “I let meanie Maureenie out of your cell.”
Kaelyn inhaled. Her heart pounded double time. “You mean…Mauree?”
Staring at the ground, Ginnia only nodded.
That was unexpected. Kaelyn cleared her throat and spoke softly. “Why was she in a cell?”
Ginnia’s focus returned to Kaelyn, her eyes flicking back and forth. “She tried to kill Queen Melissa when she was pregnant with Anlon.” Her eyes brightened. “I love Anlon. I can’t wait for him to get older so we can play together.”
Kaelyn’s scalp crawled. Mauree had tried to kill a pregnant female. Bile rose in her throat. If Kaelyn ever got the chance, she’d find a way to kill that bitch.
Ginnia leaned against the bars. “I don’t want to talk about meanie Maureenie anymore.”
Kaelyn flipped her braid over her shoulder and concentrated on Ginnia. “Okay, no problem. Tell me. What do you know about Saar?” Something fluttered in Kaelyn’s chest, and she mentally kicked herself for asking the question, but she had to know more about him, about this male that had brought her here.
“Saar is Noeh’s best friend. He has an important job. He leads the warriors in battles. I like Saar. You do, too, I can tell.”
Kaelyn backed away from the bars, putting distance between her and this strange female. “No. I don’t.”
She couldn’t deny how he made her feel alive when she was with him, but she couldn’t allow herself the luxury of developing feelings for a male she would one day kill.
Kaelyn paced in the small cell, her boots clinking against the stone floor.
“He will be your mate.” Ginnia giggled, a soft child-like laugh. “You don’t believe me, but you will.”
Kaelyn swallowed then choked on her own saliva. Coughs wracked her body, over and over again until her eyes watered. She placed her fist over her mouth and patted her chest with her other hand. “That will never happen.”
Over the years, a couple of males had shown interest in her, and she’d become intimate with one, but their relationship was short-lived. Afraid of losing them just like her brother, she wouldn’t allow anyone to get that close again.
Ginnia’s eyes flared, gold mixing with the blue. Her features softened. “We should be quiet now. He’s almost here.”
In the distance, the heavy gait of booted feet echoed down the corridor.
A shiver ran down Kaelyn’s back, a mixture of anxiety, anticipation, and…desire.
The scent of pepper and lime washed over Kaelyn long before she spotted him. His familiar essence played havoc with her nerves, teasing her, luring her to press closer to the bars. Visible beyond the rods were only a few feet of carved stone wall.
Saar’s footsteps increased in volume as he drew closer.
Her heart beat raced.
At last, he came into view. He wore a pair of charcoal slacks, black boots, and a dark shirt, the material snug over his muscular, well-defined chest. The gruesome scar across his face stretched tight across his cheek, dimpling the skin. He carried a tray in his hands, packed with an assortment of fruit, pastries, and two glasses filled to the brim with orange juice.
His focused attention was on the meal, his mouth pursed, as if working hard not to spill the liquid. He stopped and peered at Ginnia. “Good evening, Muzzie.”
Ginnia pressed her cheek against the bars. She smiled, a grin forming on the side of her mouth not flattened against the steel frame. “Is some of that for me?”
The lines around his eyes softened. “Of course.”
He glanced at Kaelyn. Gold flecks swirled in the depths of his blue eyes.
Her breath caught in her throat.
His gaze roamed her face as he assessed her.
She narrowed her eyes.
His lip twitched, and an amused smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, stretching the jagged scar that ran through both top and bottom lips.
After setting the tray on the stone floor, he picked up an orange juice and a muffin. Ginnia stuck her hands through the bars. She curled her fingers with impatience. “Me! Me! Me!”
“All right, Muzzie. Here you go.” He chuckled and handed her the food.
She accepted what he offered and sat on her bed to eat.
Saar turned, holding up a muffin. Berries stained the dough in deep shades of purple and blue. Tiny bits of sprinkled sugar glittered on top.
Kaelyn’s mouth watered for the wonderful sweet bread.
“Are you hungry?” His voice was low, steady.
The fruit’s tart scent mixed with the warm baked goods. Kaelyn’s stomach rumbled.
He chuckled, and the sound travelled through the space between them, cascading over her, tickling her ears.
She ground her teeth and tugged at the ropes once again.
“Taste it, Kaelyn, it’s good!” Ginnia popped a bite into her mouth.
“I see you’ve met Ginnia, our seer.” He held the muffin and the last orange juice just out of reach.
Her attention drew from the food to his eyes. Despite his scar, he was handsome with high cheekbones, a strong nose, and arresting blue eyes, ones that pulled her in against her will.
“I’ve met Ginnia.” She had to force her tongue to form the words.
Ginnia popped the last of the muffin into her mouth, a satisfied grin on her face.
“You can take the muffin. It’s fine, I assure you. If you were slated for death, you’d know.” A hint of amusement flickered in his eyes. Saar held out the pastry, encouraging her to take it.
She slid her fingers between the bars as far as they would go and snatched the muffin from him. For the briefest moment, his fingers caressed hers. The warmth in his touch prickled her skin, and a shiver of delight raced down her back.
He held up the juice. “This, too.” His gaze never leaving hers, he bent over and placed the glass on the stone floor within easy reach.
She took a bite of the muffin. The sweet taste ignited her salivary glands, making her jaw ache. Careful not to drop it, she placed the muffin on the bed. Kneeling on one knee, she drew the glass through the bars. With eagerness, she brought the lip of the mug to her mouth. Cool, sweet liquid slid down her throat. She almost choked and coughed against the back of her hand. “Why did you bring me this?”
He shrugged. “We might be enemies, but me and my kind, we aren’t beasts.”
She placed the glass on the floor, rose to her feet, and stared at him. “Aren’t you? A beast…”
“Well, I guess we are at that.” His smile returned. He dug his hand into his pocket and retrieved an object concealed in his fist. With deliberate ease, he unfurled his fingers. “Tell me about this.”
Her hand-carved wooden whistle gleamed in his palm. She inhaled. Her hands jerked to her chest.
He tracked the movement. Amber flashed in his eyes.
She held out her palms. “Give it to me.”
“So demanding.” He tsked and leaned against the wall at the edge of her cell. Pinching the string between his fingers, he raised her whistle, tilting his head as if studying it. “From what I gather, seems whistles are a form of communication. How many different codes do you have?”
A twinge of anger rippled through her. Her whistle, along with her braiding scarf, were the only mementos she had of Noden. She kicked her glass of orange juice. The contents washed over the top of one of his boots, coating it with the sticky substance.
His jaw stiffened.
A small thrill of victory flitted through her veins. She enjoyed taunting him, getting a rise out of him, but she didn’t want to dwell on the why.
He exhaled. “The questions will only get more difficult from here. Do yourself a favor and—”
“Kaelyn, you better do what he says. Saar’s a big old cuddly bear, but don’t make him mad. He’s Noeh’s bestest warrior.”
A bear? Hardly. But she was well aware of his skill on the battlefield. Before she could stop herself, her gaze drifted south to his crotch. I wonder if his skills in the bedroom match… The wayward thought made her flinch. She wound her fingers around the cell bars, her knuckles turning white from the strain.
“You want this, don’t you?” He dangled her whistle just out of reach.
Unable to grab her precious piece, frustration turned to grief and hot painful tears formed behind her eyes. She ground her teeth and blinked them away.
“Tell me something,” he pulled a toothpick from his pocket and shoved the pointed tip between his lips, “if you fight for Zedron, why do you turn to sand?”
The small bit of muffin in her stomach hardened into a ball. She studied him for a moment. As much as she hated that they had switched sides in the war, she couldn’t betray her kind. The less she told him the better. “That’s how we’ve always departed this world.”
The corner of his mouth rose, and a delightful dimple formed on his unblemished cheek. The little hollow was in such stark relief to his battle-hardened demeanor, she had to fight the urge to touch the small divot.
“I see.” His blue eyes shimmered with determination, and he tugged the toothpick from his mouth. “Perhaps you’d rather answer a more pertinent question. Where is Mauree’s hideout?”
Although he hadn’t hurt her, she couldn’t bring herself to trust him. He’d attack the lake house in a heartbeat, putting Theron and all her kind in grave danger. She wouldn’t be responsible for any more deaths of those she loved. Pursing her lips, she pressed her forehead against the bars. “You’ll have to torture me, and even then, you won’t get that information.”
Before she could react, he slid his hand between the opening, drew his fingers around her waist and pulled her against the bars. Pressed front to front, the metal rods between them, her senses went on high alert. Her hands wrapped around the bars, her face mere inches from his, her breath bottled up inside. So close he could kiss her, his eyes flicked back and forth as he studied her.
“I’m sure I could come up with all kinds of ways to torture you.” His warm breath tickled her cheek, sending a thrill tripping down her spine.
“I’ll bet you could.” The words tumbled from her mouth without thought. Heat rushed up her throat and into her cheeks.
The yellow stones lining the corridor walls flared. Saar released her, and the sudden rush of cold air left goosebumps along her arms. She missed his warmth already. Stop it! She couldn’t be attracted to him. Compelled by Zedron to fight against him, falling in love with him would only hurt her more.
Confused and uncertain, she turned her back on him. The rustling of his clothes filtered through the bars. When he didn’t speak, she peeked over her shoulder at him.
He placed his hand against one of the stones lining the corridor. His brow furrowed in concentration, irritation flicking over his features. He glanced at Ginnia. “I’m sorry, Muzzie. I have to go.”
Ginnia shook her finger at him. “Tell Noeh he can’t ask too much of you.”
Saar’s Adam’s apple visibly moved and one eyebrow rose. “Ginnia, you know I’d do anything for Noeh.”
She smiled and sat cross-legged on her bed. “Bye, Saar.”
He turned to face Kaelyn. His gaze raked over her—possessive, hungry, determined. “I’ll come back soon, and we’ll continue our conversation. That, I promise you.”
As he walked away, his movement caused a slight breeze. Wrapped around one of the bars by its chain, her whistle fluttered in his wake.
Kaelyn gasped. He’d returned her precious whistle. A flicker of uncertainty beat against her resolve, and deep in the recesses of her heart, a part of her couldn’t wait for him to keep his promise.