Chapter Seven
Azalyn barely paid attention to her surroundings as she walked toward her new living quarters. What she’d planned to be a private cleansing session of her thoughts—to mourn the truth and path of her life—had turned into in a fun session of teasing and joking around with Keltor.
Even though they were both older and slightly more mature, the minutes spent in the water maze room had reminded her of old times.
It also reminded her of why she’d fallen for Keltor as a teenager.
Beneath his royal facade was a warm, teasing male who loved nothing more than to hold his treasured female close. His cold, distant nature was by design, to fulfill the expectations held by Keldera about their one-day king. To spend most of his time behind the royal mask had to eat at him.
She wondered how any of Keltor’s humor had remained intact.
Not that she could afford to care about such things. Yes, she’d enjoyed listening to Keltor’s heartbeat as he held her in his arms. But the time inside the water maze room had been a fantasy. One that could never exist in public.
Lightly slapping her cheeks, Azalyn willed her mind to forget about Keltor and his warm, muscled chest. Kelzal was her life now, and she needed to remember that.
She finally reached the tall, wide door to her new quarters and pressed her hand to the scanning plate. A handprint scanner was more secure than a mere finger one. She’d have to thank Keltor later for his thoughtfulness.
The door slid open, and she waltzed into a small room, only to find another scanner. She repeated the process two more times before she finally made it to the entryway. The sight of the high ceiling, complete with view screens around the perimeter showing birds in flight, garnered her full attention.
Ever since she’d been a girl, Azalyn had loved to listen and watch the birds. Keltor must’ve remembered that.
Rather than dwell on that thought, she studied the movements of the birds as they pumped their wings. She itched to find a sketchpad and drawing utensil to capture their motion. Azalyn hadn’t drawn anything since being kidnapped from the Kelderan colony ship a few weeks ago, and she was eager to do so again. Sure, she’d had a lot of free time during her medical confinement, but she’d lacked inspiration. Between the garden and the view screens, she now had it in spades.
But Kelzal was waiting for her, so Azalyn forced her gaze from the view screens and headed up the staircase. Kelzal’s section, including his research lab, were on the second and third floors.
The upstairs corridor consisted of plain, pale blue composite material. What the walls lacked in decorations made up for it with small alcoves of electronic devices and components. She could just imagine Kelzal picking one up and working on it for a few minutes before switching it out with another one. She was going to have to make an effort to better understand his world. Azalyn lacked his knack for technology. Or, rather, the patience required. She’d much rather use the time to outline a new painting.
Reaching the door at the end of the hall, she pressed her finger to the scanner. After a few seconds, the doors opened.
Kelzal stood on the far side, next to a long table filled with hundreds of tiny things she couldn’t identify. A large computer workspace was on his other side.
Since Kelzal rarely remembered to acknowledge anyone’s presence when engrossed in his work, Azalyn walked up to him and said, “Hi, Kelzal. Any progress?”
He never looked away from the tiny processing board in front of him. “Wait forty-five seconds.”
While tempted to count out loud to see if he was as accurate as usual, Azalyn restrained herself. The sooner he could pause in his work, the sooner she could ferret out the news he’d spoken about earlier.
Kelzal finally met her gaze. “I’m at a good stopping place. I’m hungry, so let’s go to the kitchen, and I can share my news.”
He didn’t wait for confirmation. Azalyn merely followed him down the stairs and through a few doorways to the kitchen and eating area. Judging by the cooking surface and refrigeration unit, the place was designed for homemade cooking instead of just replicator fair. Azalyn had never had time to learn how to cook before because of her acquisitions position with the Sulani merchants. Maybe she could fill up her days that way.
Kelzal ordered a meal from the replicator. Once it was done, he moved to the table, sat down, and said, “Let me start by saying our section of the palace is secure. No known listening devices will penetrate my defenses.”
Her son’s news must be sensitive indeed. “What do you need to tell me?”
“I contacted Toralyn successfully.”
At the mention of her daughter, Azalyn leaned forward. “And?”
He took a bite before replying, “I didn’t tell her about you. But she’s safe and busy working at one of the Sulani merchant shops.”
Not for the first time, Azalyn wondered if she’d ever ran into her daughter by mistake at one of the Sulani shops. “Is that all she talked about?”
He shrugged. “The only other important piece of information she shared was her thoughts about joining the next group of colonists to Jasvar, if given the chance. The pressure to find a lord is growing stronger and she doesn’t want to procreate yet.”
Since most Kelderan females had their first child by age twenty-five and Toralyn was twenty-two, society and her parents would expect her to make a serious effort to marry. “She has a few years. If Keltor has any say in the matter, there will be several more waves of colonists to Jasvar. And maybe if I can get Keltor to commit to some conditions regarding his offspring, then she won’t have to leave at all.”
“The prince avoided you for a week. Somehow, I think negotiations aren’t going well.”
She decided not to reveal her recent encounter with Keltor just yet. Considering it might’ve been a fluke, she didn’t want to give Kelzal false hope.
Kelzal continued eating his food, so Azalyn prodded. “And what about your meetings with him? Maybe with his help you can put forth some conditions and change the laws.”
“I’m not good at bargaining or persuading someone of something. It’s why I hire people to do it for my company. Besides, he and I have nothing in common.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Maybe you would find something in common if you’d stop avoiding him and canceling nearly all your scheduled meals together.”
He shook his head. “I have no desire to do so. The male I knew as my father is dead, and I don’t need a new one. Besides, I have a new plan.”
She tried not to think about how Kelzal could say the same about his adopted mother. “Which is?”
Kelzal met her eyes. “If I help him find a bride and procreate again, then I can give up my place in the succession.”
A surge of jealousy coursed through her body, but Azalyn put it aside. Keltor wasn’t hers. “And how, exactly, do you plan to do that? Forgive me for being blunt, but you aren’t very good at reading social cues and emotions. Finding a bride requires doing both of them.”
“Emotions mean nothing in this instance. The prince merely needs a potential destined bride. Then he can easily procreate.”
Azalyn frowned. “What are you talking about?”
Her son took another bite of food before replying, “The royal family suffers a genetic defect that makes it difficult for them to reproduce. Over the years, due to a slew of scientific experiments that enhanced their baser urges and instincts, there is an inner force that all royals have with regards to compatible mates. It makes it easier to keep the line alive and healthy.”
Scrunching her nose, Azalyn asked, “Wait, what? How do you know this?”
“The one good thing about being confined to the palace and Keltor recognizing me as his son is that I’ve been given access to some confidential records. I have no desire to be king, but I was curious about my genetics. Potential destined brides was just one item I discovered.”
“So this means I was…”
“You were one of his potential destined brides. Keltor’s genetically altered biology means it’s easy for you to conceive his offspring. If you didn’t detest him so much, I would suggest you pair with him. You may be forty, but you have a few childbearing years left. However, from what I can deduce, you have no desire to do that. So I’ve begun a search on my own. Another son for Keltor equates my freedom.”
Kelzal fell silent, meaning he had nothing else to add. Which was good, as Azalyn needed time to process his findings.
Keltor had never told her about destined brides, let alone how it meant she could conceive so easily. No doubt it was why she’d become pregnant with twins after one encounter.
If she hadn’t experienced Keltor’s tenderness earlier in the day, she might think he’d planned to get her pregnant so that she’d have to marry him. The younger version of Keltor had probably thought a pregnancy would’ve swayed his father, even though present-day Keltor had revealed earlier that it wouldn’t have made a difference.
She sometimes wondered how anyone survived the naivety of youth.
But such deviousness warred with what she knew about Keltor. She had a hard time believing he’d use trickery to claim a bride.
However, being a potential destined bride had bigger implications. It meant Keltor was one of the few males who could probably still give her a child.
No. Azalyn wasn’t about to use him for her own wants. But Keltor most definitely owed her a conversation and an explanation about why he’d kept such a big secret from her, especially when she offered her body to him all those years ago.
Moving to the computer terminal in the kitchen, she typed out a meeting request. Azalyn had many questions that only Keltor could answer. She only hoped she could keep her wits about her when she saw him. Unlike the future king, Azalyn wasn’t as skilled in hiding her emotions or temper, especially when it came to a certain male.
~~~
A green light blinked at the corner of Keltor’s private comm unit, denoting a waiting call. Sitting taller in his chair, he said, “Computer, receive transmission.”
The dark blue hair and golden-skinned face of his younger brother appeared on the screen. All of Kason’s markings were a dark blue, denoting calmness, which was expected of a former general in the Kelderan Army.
Because Keltor outranked him, Kason waited for him to speak first.
So he did. “Kason, it seems the transmission towers project was completed successfully.”
“There is only one tower completed for long-range use,” his brother replied. “The others are still under construction as we find ways to use Jasvarian resources in place of Kelderan ones. However, the long-range tower is functioning, as you can see. But that’s not why I wanted to talk with you. Is the line secure on your end?”
Keltor resisted leaning forward. “Yes. Is something wrong? Did Kalahn run off again?”
“No, our sister is behaving for the moment. We’ve found an antimonarchy sympathizer amongst the colonists.”
Keltor resisted frowning. “I thought Ryven and Syzel had investigated all the colonists and rooted out the traitors.”
Ryven and Syzel were both high-ranking Kelderan warriors. They had taken over command of the Kelderan colony transport ship when the original general, Thorin Jarrell, had left to rescue his eventual bride.
Kason grunted. “They did a thorough job. However, the female we found is a good actor.”
He did frown at that. “Female? Since when do our enemies have female leaders and spies?”
“I don’t know, Keltor. It’s part of the reason I’m calling. Has father changed his strategy regarding the antimonarchy extremists and gathering information?”
“No, he still refuses to place informants among their ranks.”
Kason growled, “Then change his mind or act on your own. Because if the use of female informants and troublemakers is widespread, then you could be in more danger than you know. Especially if this problem exists within the Barren citadels.”
The Barren usually lived in isolation, away from populated areas, in complexes known as citadels.
Keltor could blame Kelderan ways on underestimating females, but that was merely an excuse. Given what his sister had done over the years, he knew firsthand that females could be as sneaky and clever as any male. “I will figure out a solution. I assume you’re investigating all Kelderan female colonists now, as a precaution?”
“It’s underway. If we find more, I’ll contact you. The interrogation notes on our current captive should appear on your screen in a few moments.”
He barely noted the confirmation of the files. “I know Kalahn will hate it, but keep her under guard and secluded for the time being. I can’t risk someone kidnapping or murdering her.”
“She’s staying with the Jasvarians, in their innermost dwelling area. Few Kelderans are allowed entry. She’ll be safe there.”
The Jasvarians were human colonists, and for the most part, they lived in carved out rooms inside the mountains. Kason’s bride, Taryn, was their leader.
Keltor replied, “Only because I know what your bride is capable of am I going to trust her to guard our sister. Still, check on Kalahn daily to ensure she hasn’t fooled her guards and escaped. Kalahn is more charming than she should be.”
“You mean more rebellious than she should be.”
“That, too. And one more thing—make sure to look after yourself, too, brother.”
“Of course.”
Silence stretched. As much as Keltor forgave his brother for chasing away Azalyn more than two decades ago—their father had been the main one responsible anyway—they had little in common. Kason had joined the Kelderan Army at sixteen, meaning he’d rarely lived in the palace after that. Keltor had spent the majority of his time with tutors and learning how to rule a planet.
And now Kason lived on an alien world. There was little hope of ever having closeness.
Just as Keltor was about to sign off, Kason spoke again. “I heard about your son and Azalyn from Thorin’s bride. Are you handling it okay?”
Careful to keep his face expressionless, he said, “My feelings aren’t important right now. I must devise a way to find and displace any female traitors on Keldera. I won’t be seeing much of Kelzal or Azalyn until after the coronation. We will mostly have separate lives.”
Kason grunted. “Tell yourself that you’re too busy if you wish. But my bride is pregnant, and I’m going to be a father myself before too long. I hope you have the same vow as me—to not act as our father did during our childhood and to treasure the gift of a child instead of using them as a mere tool.”
With that, Kason signed off and the screen went blank.
Rather than dwell on his brother’s parting words, Keltor brought up the interrogation notes for the traitorous female. She hadn’t revealed much, but she implied that she wasn’t the only female working for the greater cause.
If only Keltor had time to screen potential female candidates, train them, and place them undercover. From his years exploring the main population centers in disguise, Keltor knew where most of the antimonarchy groups met and planned their attacks. It was just a matter of placing someone he trusted inside the enemy ranks. One person wouldn’t be able to do it alone, but it would at least be a start while he put more permanent structures for intelligence gathering in place.
True, he did have one potential pool of fully trained candidates, but their skills were too valuable to waste on mere espionage. That was if his father even granted him the ability to use them in the first place.
A message flashed on his screen from Azalyn, asking for a meeting. At her name, it dawned on him that he had someone he trusted who had also spent decades living under the radar. Neither Kason nor Keltor had been able to locate her. And with some skin color covering and a makeover, no one would recognize her.
The only question was whether he risked Azalyn’s life or not.
Of course, that was a king’s way of thinking, to weigh risks and costs against results. However, Azalyn had been someone special to him, and he would never risk her life without her consent. He would talk and ask for her help. If she said no, he wouldn’t force it. And if she said yes, Keltor would show her what he knew and how to navigate the extremists’ ranks safely.
Not wanting to think of how it gave him an excuse to spend more time with her, he confirmed a meeting with her later in the day and made preparations in case she agreed to the assignment.