CHAPTER 2
G aetan leaned over his cane, forcing the staff to bear his weight. His knee buckled beneath him, and he braced himself against the rough stone wall. The hard volcanic rock bit into the skin on his palm, scraping deep into the flesh. Tangy and bitter, the scent of blood wafted through the Portal Navigation Center.
He welcomed the pain. After what he’d done, he deserved far worse.
Rin, the Portal Navigator, placed his hand on Gaetan’s back. His red hair jutted from his head in tufts, a sharp contrast to the worry lines rimming his eyes. “What did ya tell Noeh and Melissa?”
Gaetan focused on the little Jixie’s wild hair. The sudden urge to laugh bubbled up his throat, and he clamped his jaw tight. There was nothing funny about their situation. Prince Anlon—Noeh and Melissa’s son—had disappeared through the portal only a few minutes ago. To where, they didn’t know.
Self-loathing coiled in Gaetan’s gut, twisting his insides into a ball. This was his fault. The royal couple had placed Anlon in his care.
All four of Gaetan’s markings, the ones that signified his personal values—responsibility, benevolence, empathy, and patience—burned hot on the back of his hand then faded from a dusky charcoal to a light gray. He wasn’t surprised. Guilt, bitter and dark, ate at his soul.
A bout of pain travelled up his leg, the agony so great white spots formed in his vision. He slipped his fingers into the satchel tied at his belt and withdrew a pill. Round and white, the medicine was as much a curse as a blessing. He popped the pill into his mouth and dry swallowed. “I sent a cryptic note through the sunstones. Indicated we needed to see them right away. I expect they will arrive any—”
The pounding of heavy feet accompanied by the swish of soft-soled shoes echoed from the corridor. A moment later, Noeh entered the chamber. He wore a thin shirt, a pair of dark pants with his dagger attached at the belt, and a pair of boots.
Melissa, wearing a loose blouse and slacks, drew to his side.
Noeh’s attention passed from Gaetan to Rin and back again. “What was so urgent you needed—”
“Where’s Anlon?” Melissa’s voice wavered.
Heat raced up Gaetan’s back and burned his ears. His throat tightened, but he forced himself to answer. “That’s why I called you here.” His gaze flicked to Noeh. “I don’t know how to tell you this, my king, but Anlon, he’s gone.”
“What?” Noeh’s stern voice boomed around the room.
Melissa gasped.
Pulling on his empathy and natural ability to calm others, Gaetan gripped Melissa’s hand. “I’m so sorry, my queen. Anlon was so fast, I couldn’t stop him—”
Noeh gripped Gaetan’s shoulder and spun him around so they were face to face. In the heat of the melee, Gaetan had forgotten Noeh was deaf.
“Where’s my son?” Flashes of gold flicked through Noeh’s eyes. His nostrils flared, the beast dangerously close to the surface.
Rin stepped forward and pointed to the platform. “Anlon disappeared through the portal.”
Melissa cried out and bolted for the large stone platform. Noeh wrapped her in his arms, stopping her. She struggled against him, squirming in his embrace. After a long moment, she glared at Gaetan. Tears rimmed her eyes.
A low growl rumbled in Noeh’s chest. “How did this happen?”
Gaetan lowered himself to one knee, bowing in front of his king. His bad joint protested, but nothing could match the ache in his heart. He’d hurt the one male that meant more to him than anyone, the male he’d raised like his own son after the death of Noeh’s father. There were no words to describe the anguish in his soul. “I set Anlon down to talk to Rin. The babe, he levitated a sunstone through the portal and pursued it. This is my fault. If I—”
“We tried ta stop him, but the newb, he was too fast.” Rin strode up to Noeh and bent down on one knee. “Yer Majesty, we had no idea—”
“What were his coordinates?” Noeh released Melissa and brushed past Gaetan without a glance. “Show me my son’s location.”
Gaetan rose, using his cane for support.
Noeh refused to look at him. The king couldn’t have injured Gaetan more if he’d taken his dagger and stabbed him in the chest. Deep inside, Gaetan’s beast howled.
Rin held out his hands in supplication. “I…I can’t tell ya. I don’t know where he went.”
“What? How can you not know?” Noeh’s voice ricocheted around the chamber.
Rin slowly rose to his feet. “I’m sorry, Yer Majesty. There was no signature mark among the Porte Stanen’s red sunstones.”
Gaetan gripped his cane, and the cracked sunstone at the tip reflected the light across the stone walls. He’d come to the Portal Navigation Center to fix his sunstone, the one Ginnia had given him long ago. His sister bore the brunt of Gaetan’s biggest childhood mistake, leaving her forever stuck in her childlike world. He was bad luck, just like the cracked sunstone, and now he’d harmed or even killed the little prince. Vicious hatred of his own vile self filled his lungs with every breath he took. He deserved no mercy.
Melissa stepped forward, tears streaming down her face. “Noeh, please. We must find him. What if the Gossum…”
“Ah, craya!” Noeh ran his hand through his hair and paced the room.
A chill crested over Gaetan’s shoulders and down his back. Gossum were their enemy in this war over Earth’s water. Placed here by their goddess, Alora, the Stiyaha fought to keep Earth free and to barter with the humans for their precious resource. The Gossum, and their god Zedron, wanted to enslave the humans and take the water by force. If the Gossum, or Mauree, their leader, found Anlon…
No, that couldn’t happen. Gaetan’s mouth went dry and a shudder of dread wracked his body followed by a guilt so heavy he almost buckled under the weight.
Noeh stilled. The muscles in his shoulders visibly tensed beneath his shirt. He pointed to the porte stanen, the giant stone lined with red sunstones that ignited the portal. “Open a gateway. Send me to the last known coordinates.”
Rin’s mouth fell open. “But, Yer Majesty, what if ya run across Gossum?”
“Which is why I must leave,” Noeh’s gaze flicked to Gaetan, “to find my son.”
Noeh’s words buried into Gaetan’s soul. How far he’d fallen. So, so far.
“Yes, Yer Majesty.” Rin ran to the porte stanen as fast as his little feet would carry him. He swirled his hands over the sunstones lining the surface, faster and faster, until a thin mist gathered along the platform, forming into a ball.
Melissa clutched Noeh’s arm. They peered into each other’s eyes, but didn’t speak, at least not verbally. Ever since Noeh saved Melissa’s life, they shared a soul and could communicate telepathically. Gaetan and Saar were the only ones aware of their special bond.
Noeh tugged Melissa to him and gave her a rough, bruising kiss. She wrapped her fingers in his hair, holding on for a long moment before pulling away. “Bring our son back to me.”
Noeh glanced at Gaetan, his mouth drawn into a grim line. Anger, bitterness, and pain reflected in the depths of his blue eyes. Like a spear, his gaze tore into Gaetan, shredding him from the inside.
Gaetan held out his hand, guilt and love for Noeh pushing him forward. “I will accompany you.”
Noeh’s jaw tightened. “No. Stay here. You’ve done enough already.”
Gaetan’s cheeks heated as if Noeh had physically slapped him. The pain in his leg flared, burning all the way to his heart. The urge to slip his finger into the lining of his pants pocket and take a painkiller washed over him. Disgust burned the back of his throat. Unable to meet Noeh’s hard, disapproving stare any longer, he glanced at the stone floor.
Noeh exhaled. “Have Saar put together a search party and follow me.”
Before Gaetan could say another word, Noeh disappeared through the portal.
Melissa choked on a long sigh. Her red-rimmed eyes glimmered with unshed tears. Gaetan wanted to go to her, use his ability to provide comfort, but by the set of her jaw, she wouldn’t appreciate the effort. Not from him.
“You were my mentor, my father’s best friend, and the one Stiyaha I can count on above all others. If anything ever happens to me, I want you to raise Anlon. Raise him as you did me until he’s ready to rule. Will you do that for me, my friend?” Not long ago, Noeh had said those words, and Gaetan had pledged his commitment to his king without a second thought. Gaetan prayed this wouldn’t come back to haunt him.
“I can’t let Noeh go alone.” The decision lit a fire in his chest. The Keep and all its inhabitants couldn’t afford to lose their king. Gaetan would do whatever he could to save his friend. “Rin, reopen that portal then continue to search for Anlon.”
“I figured ya’d say that.” Rin swirled his hands over the stones once again.
A tear slid down Melissa’s cheek, but she nodded, hope reflecting in her eyes. “Please, find my son.”
The desire to please his queen, make some small amends for his deed, rocked him to his core. “I will do whatever I can. Tell Saar what happened. He’ll send others.” Gaetan hobbled up the steps and through the mist, following his king and his heart. Gods help us all.