Chapter Fourteen
Keltor wanted nothing more than to grin as he guided Azalyn down the secret corridors connecting his living quarters to his father’s.
Not only had Azalyn shared her body with him, but he’d also finally realized it was time for him to make the future monarchy his own. And with a little good fortune, he might be able to add a family to that list.
Because now that he’d held Azalyn in his arms again, Keltor would do whatever it took to make her his queen.
He finally stopped in front of a door with both a retina scan and a handprint lock. Keltor leaned forward as he placed a hand on the identification plate. Once the double scan was complete, he glanced to Azalyn. “Let’s break it to him gently.”
Understanding his meaning, she released his hand. It took everything he had not to take it again.
Azalyn Sulani tested his self-control more than anything else ever had.
And that was a glorious thing because it allowed him to briefly put aside his duty and simply enjoy being alive.
With the door open, Keltor moved into his father’s outer receiving room. Since his father hadn’t been strong enough to move from his bed in over a week, Keltor went to the door at the rear of the area and pressed his finger to the scanner. The second door opened to reveal the wrinkled face and tattooed forehead of the Barren nurse that had been his father’s main caretaker, named Jevla.
Jevla met his gaze. “I’m sorry, your highness, but the doctor will arrive any moment to begin his daily examination of his majesty.”
King Kastor’s weak voice came from behind the nurse. “Let him in, Jevla. The doctor can wait.”
The nurse stepped aside. Even though Keltor visited his father every day, the pale face and fragile frame of his father lying in bed still made his heart twist. Despite a lifetime of arguments and battles of power, Kastor was still his father and one of the few remaining links to his deceased mother.
His father’s gaze moved to over his shoulder. “Azalyn Sulani. I was wondering how long it would take you to find me.”
Azalyn moved to Keltor’s side and bowed her head. “Your majesty.”
Keltor spoke up. “Jevla, you’re temporarily relieved of duty. I’ll let you know when we leave.” The nurse curtsied and left the room. Keltor looked back to his father. “I think Azalyn has earned the right to be forthright with you, Father. I hope you agree.”
After coughing a few times, his father replied, “I’m not sure why you bother to ask me that question. I signed the abdication papers. They’re on my side table, awaiting your signature. Once you do, you’ll officially be king.”
Keltor glanced at the synthetic paper document on the table and frowned. “You know I can’t sign them yet. One of the requirements is that I find a bride before taking the throne.”
Kastor gestured weakly toward Azalyn. “And haven’t you?”
Growling, Keltor took a step forward. “Don’t force her into a decision, Father. You’ve done that once before, and I won’t allow it to happen again.”
“I have eyes and ears throughout the palace. I know you intend to take her.”
“I suspected your loyal councilors would spy on me. Even after all this time, you still don’t trust me.”
“It’s not a matter of trust, Keltor. My time is short, and I need information faster than you share it.”
Keltor took another step toward his father’s bed, but Azalyn placed a hand on his arm and cleared her throat. “If I may speak for myself?” she drawled.
His female’s voice cut through his anger, and he met her gaze. “Maybe we should go and come back later, Aza.”
“No. Because both of you are overlooking the one detail that could easily create a compromise.” He grunted, but Azalyn continued before he could speak. “If the requirement about a bride is taken from the agreement, everything can go smoothly. After all, you have an heir, and no one needs the coronation ceremony to happen anytime soon, which would be the best time to present a bride. It’ll give us enough time to see through our plans.”
Kastor’s voice filled the space. “She is correct. If you would merely take the time to read the document, you will see that finding a bride is no longer a requirement.”
He looked to his father and blinked at the smile on the old male’s face. “You find this amusing? This is my life we’re talking about.”
“I’m an old, dying man. If I can’t provoke my own son for amusement while I still can, then I may as well pass today.”
“Who are you and what have you done to my father?”
“Keltor, come closer.”
He hesitated, but as his father motioned his bony hand for him to follow the order, Keltor felt compelled to obey. Once he reached his father’s bedside, Kastor spoke again. “Look at me. I have weeks left, at most. I want to ensure you are set up and that I can finally meet my only grandchild since Kason’s child will be born after I’m gone. Sign the document and make your own plans for the future. But let me see Kelzal. He is proof that part of me will live on. If I have to make it my last order as king, I will do so. However, I hope you will grant it to me simply because I’m your father.”
~~~
Azalyn may have her own familial problems, but it was clear that Keltor and Kastor had a long history and plenty of animosity toward one another.
By all rights, she should hate the old king for what he’d forced her to do with her children. And yet, as he lay wasting away in a bed and asking to see his grandchild, her heart softened. She couldn’t muster up her old hatred for a clearly dying man.
On top of that, she wanted to tell Kastor that he had two grandchildren. But there was no way she’d risk exposing that secret without conferring with Keltor, first.
Even though she could jump in and say she’d bring Kelzal around, she waited for Keltor to speak. If he was the male she believed him to be, she had nothing to worry about. He would do the honorable thing and bring Kelzal to see his grandfather.
Silence ticked by and Azalyn plucked the material of her skirt. When Keltor finally sighed, she knew he’d given in. “If what you say is true, about the changes to the abdication papers, I will see about bringing Kelzal to you. However, the boy will have the freedom to leave when he wishes.”
“That is agreeable,” Kastor replied. “Scan the document and sign it. While you do so, I will talk with Azalyn.”
Keltor threw her a questioning glance, but she smiled to say she’d be fine.
Making her way to the king’s bedside at the same time Keltor retrieved the document from the side table, she said, “If I may be blunt, your majesty—if you threaten my son in any way, I don’t care if you’re dying, I’ll come here and scold you like you’ve never been scolded before. And since you are bedridden, you have nowhere to run.”
Kastor smiled. “You would’ve gotten along well with my late wife. She protected the children at every turn, even from me.”
She pounced on the chance to learn more about her children’s grandmother. “Keltor showed me the water maze and her sculptures. I’m a painter myself, so I think there are many things Queen Solahn and I would’ve had in common.”
The king raised his brows. “While we can dance around what you really wish to discuss—I love nothing more than to reminiscence about my late queen before I pass—I prefer that you just say it, Azalyn. Because if you wait too long, I may be dead and then you’ll never have a chance to air your grievances. And before you say it’s all right and you don’t wish to upset a dying man, then let me speak my mind first—I wish to make amends before my passing. I wronged you greatly, and still wish to seek your forgiveness.”
She felt Keltor’s eyes on her, but this situation was something she needed to handle herself. “If you wish me to blindly forgive you, I’m afraid that won’t happen. However, I don’t hate you. Spending more than twenty years apart from Keltor, as well as giving up Kelzal, is something I will forever regret. And yet, at the same time, I wonder if Keltor and I are a better fit now than before. Kelzal was also allowed to become the male he wanted to be instead of having his future forced upon him. Some good came from the events of the past. The only thing I can’t forgive yet is you lying to Keltor about me taking a betrothed and running away. Try your hardest to spend time with your son while you still can, as well as allow him and me to forge our own path. Do that, and I will find a way to forgive you.”
The king searched her eyes, but Azalyn didn’t look away or fidget. If she couldn’t stand up to Kastor, then she wouldn’t be a worthy bride for Keltor.
After about another minute, the king nodded. “I will try, Azalyn Rippak Sulani.”
“Good.” She turned to look at Keltor. “I think I need to leave you and your father alone for a while. Come find me once you’re done. There’s much for you, Kelzal, and me to discuss.”
Not to mention Toralyn and handling the Sulanis. Kastor may have spies in the palace, but she wouldn’t spill secrets he may not know yet.
Keltor reached out and took her hand. His warm fingers squeezed hers. “I will. Just try to be a little patient.”
That was Keltor-speak for her not to tackle Toralyn by herself, let alone the Sulanis.
She nodded before moving her gaze to the king. “Your majesty, until next time.”
He smiled in farewell. “See me again and I’ll tell you a few secrets about the palace that not even Keltor knows about.”
Bowing her head, she released Keltor’s hand and headed out of the room.
While there was a lot of uncertainty about the future, she felt a little bit lighter. Seeing Kastor had cleared her head and revealed what was important to her. Not anger and retribution, but rather Keltor’s happiness as well as hers and Kelzal’s.
Now she just needed to focus on her adopted family. Maybe she’d be able to think of a weakness to use against the Sulanis that could secure the future she wanted.
~~~
As soon as the door clicked closed after Azalyn, Keltor turned his full attention to his father. “I’m not sure what to make of what I just witnessed. Compromise has never been your method before.”
“She is a worthy female, Keltor. She may have been young and naive as a youth, but she has become a mature, intelligent woman.”
“I suppose you’re going to claim credit for that as well? That by sending her away, you were forcing her to grow up?”
“Had I known she was pregnant, I would’ve handled things differently. The Sulanis managed to keep that secret well. In the present, all I can do is step back and allow you to do what you wish with her.” His father looked to the document in Keltor’s hands. “As you’ve seen, removing the bride requirement is the first step and proof that I mean what I say.”
Curse his father for speaking the truth. Keltor much preferred the arrogant, aloof version of his father since he knew how to handle him better. “I’ve studied this document for weeks, and I can attest that removing the bride requirement is the only change you made.” He placed it on the side table, picked up the slender laser pen, and burned his name into the document. He stood up. “There. I am officially king now.”
“Best wishes for your reign, King Keltor.”
As Keltor and his father stared at one another, he wished they could instantly become friendly and have an easy relationship.
But that would never happen. All he could do was take his father’s hand and kiss the back of it. “I will keep Keldera peaceful, if it’s the last thing I do. I vow it on the memory of my mother.”
His father placed his free hand on top of Keltor’s. “I know you will, Keltor.” He released his grip. “Now, go. I may have been confined to this room, but I know there are many things you must attend to. Just make sure to see me when you have the chance and do everything you can to persuade Kelzal to visit.”
“I will, but there’s one more thing I wish to discuss.”
“Oh?”
“I am king, yes, but I would much rather you convince your councilors to step down. That will provide them with an honorable exit.”
His father raised his brows. “All of them?”
“I will keep Hinvel Mayta as an advisor, but not as a councilor. I sense great change coming to Keldera and a fresh council, unburdened by how things were done in the past, will help with that transition.”
As his father studied him, Keltor kept his face calm and resisted tapping his fingers against his thigh. While he was making a request, the truth was that he was king, and it was time to see if his father would acknowledge it with actions in addition to his words.
Kastor finally nodded. “I will convene with them one last time to make the announcement, if you can hold off for a few hours with forming your new council?”
“That I can do, Father. Inform me when it’s done.” Keltor moved to the door. “I’ll return when I can. And rest assured that I will stress the urgency of Kelzal coming to visit you.”
As much as he wanted to tell his father about Toralyn, there was too much at stake to risk it.
“Thank you, Keltor.”
He took a second to memorize the moment when his father had finally accepted that Keltor could be a good leader and then went into the receiving chamber. He motioned for Jevla to attend to the king before heading out of his father’s quarters.
He was nearly back to his private quarters when his communicator beeped. Taking it out, he noticed the symbol denoting a coded message. Typing in the keyword that would unlock the encryption, the symbols became words. It was from Ervan:
She has escaped.