CHAPTER 12
Saar stood outside the throne room’s double doors. Noeh had sent a clear message along the sunstones, interrupting Saar’s interrogation of the prisoner. “Return to the throne room immediately.”
His pulse sped, and his thoughts returned to Kaelyn. The look of fiery determination in her eyes, the set line of her jaw, and her full, taunting lips haunted him still. He ground his teeth, the muscles in his jaw compressing to the point of pain.
Taking a deep breath, the Keep’s age-old scent of stone and earth penetrated into his senses.
Calmer now, he shook his head and rapped his knuckles against the ancient wood. The twin doors opened without a sound, but the breeze they created caressed his cheek, teasing his scar, reminding him once again how he’d earned the jagged mark.
Jax, Noeh’s personal attendant, motioned Saar forward. The tiny male’s red hair bobbed around his head as he moved. “Oh, Saar, Noeh’s expecting you. Indeed, he is. Come in, come in.”
“Thank you, Jax.” Saar patted the little Jixie on the shoulder and stepped into the king’s throne room.
Saar scanned the area. Noeh wasn’t alone. Queen Melissa, Prince Anlon, and Gaetan were also in attendance, along with a handful of Saar’s warriors. At his entrance, they all glanced his way.
Noeh rose from his chair. His blue eyes studied Saar before scrutinizing the soldiers. “That will be all. You’re dismissed.”
One by one, the warriors bowed low to their king before heading toward the exit. As the males passed Saar, each greeted him with a quick nod. Although they respected him, they kept their distance. His tough stance in war crept into his personal life. It wasn’t only the females that avoided him.
The last to leave, Quentin gave Saar a wide berth. His attention flicked from Saar’s silver emblem on his shirt to his eyes. “Commander.”
Saar met the warrior’s gaze. “Keep them in line, Quentin.”
“Yes, Commander. Of course.” His eyes beamed, as if he was eager to please.
Saar shrugged. Kill the enemy. Prove yourself in battle. That was all he cared about.
Jax closed the doors with a soft whoosh, exiting the room along with the warriors.
Noeh focused his attention on Saar. “What have you learned from the prisoner?”
The muscles in Saar’s shoulders tensed.
Melissa clasped Noeh’s fingers between hers. Her long red hair complemented the green in her knowing eyes. “You promised that would wait. Gaetan has news we all need to hear.”
Gaetan cleared his throat. Seated in one of the chairs in front of Noeh’s massive desk, he rubbed his knee. “Shall we wait for Demir?”
Noeh paced between the royal chair and his old wooden desk. He ran his hand through his hair. “No. The Panthera aren’t available. He, Aramie, and some of his Pride are investigating a disturbance on the periphery of our territory, near a human town called .”
Anlon, the royal prince, tugged on the cuff of Gaetan’s pants. Soft, golden ringlets curled around the toddler’s ears. Gaetan picked him up and straddled the youngster’s legs over his good knee. The child wrapped his fingers around the old Haelen’s cane and studied the sunstone on the end with rapt attention. Gaetan was Anlon’s guardian, as he had been with Noeh.
Noeh’s attention focused on the old Haelen. “Tell us, my friend, what did you discover in Sheri’s and Melissa’s blood?”
A jolt of adrenaline pulsed through Saar’s veins. Melissa and Sheri were the only two females in recent history that had survived the transition from human to Dren.
Gaetan bounced Anlon on his knee. The child’s soft giggle filled the chamber. From across the room, a small ball floated through the air toward the young prince. When it was close enough, he wrapped his pudgy fingers around the toy. He’d inherited the levitation gift from his mother as all Dren received a special power. His skills continued to improve.
“You’ve got the touch, Gaetan. He always responds to you.” Melissa smiled.
Gaetan bowed his head in deference to Melissa’s soft, encouraging comment then glanced between Noeh and Saar. Lines formed around his eyes. “Sheri and I did several tests, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary until…”
Anlon squirmed in Gaetan’s grasp and the old healer put him on the ground. The young child headed toward his mother.
“…we noticed something unusual. Seems they both have an extra enzyme in their blood. It’s Lemurian based, but not Stiyaha.”
Noeh exhaled. “What does that signify?”
Gaetan rubbed his knee. “I wish there was more to tell.”
“That’s it?” Melissa tugged Anlon tight against her chest. Her furrowed brow spoke volumes.
Saar wanted to rush into the infirmary and start performing his own tests, just to wipe that sad look from his queen’s face, but he was a warrior, not a healer. He rapped his boot against the stone floor.
Gaetan gripped his cane, the dark lines of his marking visible beneath his cuff and trailing over the back of his hand. “We’ll keep searching. Don’t worry, I have faith we’ll find—”
Blinding light lit up the walls.
A rush of air whipped through the room. Papers on Noeh’s desk soared airborne, scattering about the chamber.
In the midst of the chaos, a solitary figure formed—Alora. She wore a shimmery white dress that changed color from red to green to gold when she moved. Her long blonde hair hung loose around her shoulders.
Saar bent to one knee and bowed his head in front of his goddess. His pulse raced with fear. Trouble came when the gods walked among mortals.
“Rise, my warriors.” Alora’s melodic voice filtered into Saar’s soul, and he rose on command.
Alora focused on Anlon. A smile graced her beautiful features.
Saar had only seen his goddess once in his life, when she’d come to visit the Keep not long ago, telling Noeh he must bond with a female. Saar’s chest constricted. Alora could easily demand the same of him. No…please, no.
She didn’t look at him, instead her attention turned to Noeh.
The muscles in Saar’s shoulders eased, at least for the moment.
“What do we owe the honor of your visit?” Noeh bowed his head, but his gaze never left Alora.
Her brows wrinkled, a pained expression crossing her features. “I bring news. None of it good.”
Noeh pursed his lips. “Tell me.”
She grazed her fingers over Noeh’s cheek. “At least my decision to make you king was the right one.”
Saar’s pulse quickened. A nervous energy snaked into his legs, and he clamped down the urge to fidget. He wouldn’t show unease in front of his goddess or his king.
Alora glanced to the others in the room then focused on Saar. The muscles in his chest squeezed so hard he couldn’t breathe.
Her attention flicked to Noeh. “You surround yourself with those loyal to you. That is good. I fear you will need their help now more than ever.” She raised her chin and took a large breath. “Other warriors were on their way here to help you in this war, but due to some unforeseen circumstances, your reinforcements now work for the enemy.”
“Ursus,” Saar blurted before he could stop himself.
Alora turned to face him. Her eyes flashed with silver. “Correct.”
Noeh took a step forward, his face reddened. “Why?”
“I had to give them to Zedron, in reparation for…,” Alora waved her hand in the air in a nonchalant gesture, but her jaw was tight, “…something I did. It was either the Ursus or the Stiyaha. Be thankful I didn’t choose your kind.”
Noeh wiped his hand over his face. “So, you’re telling us not only did we lose an ally, we gained an enemy because you made a mistake? Beautiful.”
Alora stared at him, and a strong gust of wind whipped through the room.
The sudden urge to put himself between his king and his angry goddess made Saar flinch.
Alora exhaled. “Noeh, I love you like a son. If you were anyone else…”
Noeh bowed his head. “Forgive me, Alora.”
“Just know that the Ursus will kill you given the chance. Don’t trust them.” With that, she disappeared as quickly as she’d arrived. The breeze she left in her wake tussled Noeh’s blond hair. His jaw stretched taut, and he glared at Saar. “Interrogate the prisoner once more then kill her, tonight.”