Octavion and Luka spent most of the day waiting to see King Tyrious, only to find he’d had a change of heart. He sent word through an advisor that only the death of the red haired foreigner would satisfy his craving for revenge. It didn’t matter that his son joined forces with Shandira and entered Kira’s world with evil intentions, or that his only heir tried to kill Cade, a Morganstar Royal. His singular focus was avenging his son. He had five armed guards and three Royals escort Octavion and Luka to the main gate with instructions to never set foot in Kazedon again.
Luka suggested they hunt before returning to Xantara in hopes of satisfying some of Octavion’s rage, but Octavion refused. He knew Kira would worry about the outcome of the meeting-and knowing the Kazedon Royals still sought her death made the urgency of their return critical. She would not be out of his sight again, even if that meant spending every night camped out on her balcony.
As the Royal guards threw the bolts to the castle gate, a familiar voice enter Octavion’s thoughts. The urgency of her tone seized his heart.
Octavion! Come quickly, Altaria shouted in his mind.
“We must go. Something is wrong with Altaria,” he told Luka. They both appeared in the king’s chambers, only to find it empty.
Altaria, where are you?
On the main floor, in the sitting room. Be quick, something has happened.
Before she’d finished her thought, he appeared at her side. Luka entered seconds later to find Octavion kneeling in front of his sister.
“What happened? Are you all right?” Octavion asked.
Altaria’s fingers pressed against her forehead. “They cannot find her, Octavion. I heard her thoughts in my head and now they cannot find her. She will not answer me.”
Mara sat next to her, one arm around Arela, Ethan cradled in the other. The only women in the castle Altaria could share thoughts with sat next to her.
“Altaria, who are you talking about? Who is missing?” Octavion asked impatiently.
“Kira, you idiot. Who do you think?” She slammed her fist into the couch cushion. She pressed her fingers back to her forehead in concentration.
Octavion turned to Mara in disbelief. “What happened?”
Mara shook her head. “I do not know. The men are searching the castle, but have yet to find any sign of Kira. No one has seen her since this morning.”
Altaria’s head shot up. “That is not true. Cade saw her before sunset. She said she was going to her room to rest.”
Octavion took his sister by the arms and made her look at him. “What exactly did Kira say? What were her exact thoughts?”
She pushed his arms away. “She said. . ‘Altaria, I’m in trouble. They’ve found me.’ That’s it. She sounded terrified.”
The Kazedonian Royals had made quick work of obeying their king. And the meeting had obviously been a ploy to lure Octavion and Luka away from Kira to make her an easy prey. The very thought of Kira fighting them alone made his world crash down around him. He felt the muscles in his back swell. “Luka, go to the tower and sound the alarm. I want everyone looking for her. See if anyone saw her in the village today.”
“I’ll be right back,” Luka said, then disappeared. Seconds later the bells on the tower rang out in warning.
Octavion told his sister to keep trying to reach Kira, then stood and headed for the stairs. When he heard Cade’s voice behind him, he turned and reentered the room. Cade stood in front of his mother, questioning her about the alarm.
Stood!
Octavion blinked hard to make sure he hadn’t imagined it. “Cade. Explain your sudden recovery.”
Cade turned to face him. “I am sorry, Octavion. She made me promise not to tell you.”
Octavion didn’t bother taking the steps between them, but appeared an instant later in front of his cousin and grabbed him by the front of his shirt. “Tell me what?” he roared.
“Octavion!” Mara blurted, but he cut her off with a glare.
Cade spoke in a rush. “She came to my room and said she found Lydia’s ruby in your lair, that it somehow brought the Crystor to life.”
“And you let her heal you? You were willing to trade your legs for her life? She could have died.” Octavion tossed him aside. Cade hit one of the side tables and knocked the vase of flowers onto the floor. Mara opened her mouth to protest, but then stopped when she saw the rage in Octavion’s eyes.
“Where’s Ussay?” Octavion asked. “She will know where Kira is.”
“Most of the staff had the day off,” Mara said. “Ussay did not come to the castle today.”
“Cade, get her. Bring her here now.” Cade disappeared as voices rang out from the courtyard. Octavion started for the door, only to be met by Luka, who closed the door behind him-six guards by his side.
“Search the grounds, leave no stone unturned,” Luka barked.
“Has anyone seen her?” Octavion asked.
“Nothing yet, but most of the staff are arriving to help. Several headed out to look near the lake and go north toward Kazedon. They will check with the field workers to see if they have seen her or any strange Royals on one of the roads leading out of the village.”
Cade appeared with Ussay by his side. Her eyes were wide and Octavion could see the fear in them. “She knows nothing, Octavion. She has not seen her.”
Octavion looked into her eyes and saw her deceit. His gaze shifted to her right hand where she wore no bandage and no sign of her sacrifice for Ethan. He grabbed it and pulled it into Cade’s view. “Then how do you explain this?”
Cade knocked Octavion’s hand loose and stepped between them. “You will not touch her.”
“She knows where Kira is.” Octavion shoved him out of the way and stepped closer to Ussay. Mara sprang to her feet. Luka had to hold her back to keep her out of Octavion’s way.
“If you know something, you need to tell him,” Cade said to Ussay.
“All right.” She took a few hesitant steps toward Octavion. “It is your fault,” she blurted.
“What? How dare you blame me for this? I was not here.” He reached for her, but stopped in front of her face and made a fist instead. He was so close to hitting her, it scared him. He turned away.
“She saw you,” Ussay whispered.
Octavion turned back to see her face again. “Explain yourself.”
She looked back over her shoulder at the others, then turned toward Octavion again. “She came to my cottage this morning. She said she was bored and wanted to tour the marketplace. We had such a grand time. She picked something out for you and we got our hair braided and-”
“Ussay!” he interrupted. “When did she see me?”
“With Serena. She saw you with Serena.” She stepped closer and slapped him on the chest.
He pushed her away and growled. “It is not what you think.”
“I saw you, too, Octavion. You held hands with her. You kissed her and touched her face. How do you explain that away?”
“Not that it is any of your business, but I tried to pay for Kira’s shawl. She refused, so I took her hand, placed the coin in it and held it there. I kissed her hand, as do most gentlemen. And as for the face, she had something in her hair so I brushed it away.” He took a step back and put his hands on his hips. “Who are you to question my love for Kira?”
She wiped the tears from her face and straightened. “You did not have to stand there and hear Kira’s heart break in two.”
Octavion tried to ignore her words, but they pierced him to the core. Kira’s impression of what she saw was the reason she disappeared. He had to find her.
“Where is she, Ussay? You know-I can see it in your eyes.”
She shook her head. “I do not know. She ran back to the castle and I followed her, but then. .” She paused.
“Tell me,” he roared.
Before she could answer, Nestor appeared with King Belesgar.
“Octavion,” Nestor called. “I have found something.” He stepped closer, holding a handful of what appeared to be splintered wood. “I found it in her chambers. It was on the floor near her bed.”
Octavion examined it carefully. It appeared to be a small box, now shattered into several pieces. There was a small piece of blood stained fabric with two canine teeth from a tiger. “Toran,” he whispered.
Cade stepped closer and picked up the teeth. He held them to his face and took in a breath. “Octavion, these cannot be Toran’s, the blood is fresh.
Octavion’s mind wandered back to the meadow where two playful white tiger cubs romped in the tall grass. His heart sank at the thought of their mother being killed. “Was there anything else?”
Ussay stepped forward. “Yes.”
Cade looked at her like she’d confessed to murder. “You have seen this before?”
She nodded without looking at him.
“Start talking, Ussay.” Cade folded his arms and motioned with his head toward Octavion.
“There was a heart shaped medallion on a silver chain-tiger’s eye I think.” She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small piece of crinkled parchment. She held it for Octavion to take. “And this. I did not understand the words, but Kira did.”
Octavion grabbed it from her and quickly smoothed it open. When he saw the handwriting, fear struck him like a bolt of lightning. “Shandira is here.”
“Ussay, is there anything else you are not telling me?”
“She was stronger, Octavion. That bracelet did things to her. I saw it happen with my own eyes. I am sorry. I should have sent for you, but she said Shandira would kill Arela and she was. .”
Octavion held up his hand, cutting her off. “I will find her.” Then he turned his attention to his father and Nestor. “Take the women and children to my father’s chambers immediately and lock down the castle.”
“Father,” Cade said. “Will you take Ussay, as well?”
Nestor agreed, then helped Belesgar gather the girls and disappeared.
Octavion returned his attention to the paper. He was used to deciphering Shandira’s dark verse, she’d been writing it for years. He read the words again, certain he knew exactly where Kira had gone. “She is in Pride Meadow.”
Both Cade and Luka clamped their hands on Octavion’s shoulders and an instant later they stood near the stream where he’d watched Kira play with the cubs. Though completely dark, the silver light from the waxing moons showed them all they needed to see.
With his first breath, Octavion picked up the scent of Kira’s blood beyond the trees. He saw himself perched atop a fallen pine and an instant later he was there. He spotted one of Shandira’s blades lying in the dirt, but nothing else at first. He jumped to the ground and searched-from the amount of blood on the blade, and no other signs of it, he guessed Kira hadn’t been hurt badly.
“Octavion,” Luka yelled. “We have found her.”
Luka stood near the log that spanned the stream-Octavion joined him in an instant. Cade knelt in the grass blocking Octavion’s view of her face, but her lifeless legs and blood-soaked torso were in full view. Octavion grabbed Luka’s shoulder for support.
“Breathe, cousin. It is not Kira,” Luka said.
Octavion took the scent into his lungs and immediately recognized it. Shandira. “Is she dead?”
“Yes,” Cade said. He stood and handed Octavion a bloody piece of fabric. “This is the only thing that has Kira’s blood on it. It appears to be the sleeve from a woman’s shirt. It is not Shandira’s so it must be hers.” He pointed to the end nearest where the shoulder would be. There was a small cut and the strong smell of Kira’s blood. Even though it was soaked with Shandira’s blood, it still made Octavion’s throat burn.
Octavion glanced down at his sister’s body. He’d spent all these years hating her, but the sight of his own flesh and blood lying dead before him took a toll on his emotions. He knelt on one knee to get a better view.
He looked at the position of her body and the lack of blood on her skin. That, and the sleeve of Kira’s shirt, was evidence enough to know that she’d been treated with respect, even after her death. That Kira would take the time to lovingly tend to her appearance so her family wouldn’t have to see her in such a way, made him love her even more. He took solace in knowing her last moments were spent with Kira.
As he stood, the wind shifted slightly. A sudden burst of air hit his senses, burning his eyes and throat. The muscles in his back swelled to their full capacity and he turned to Luka and Cade to find them reacting in the same way. Blood-two scents were unfamiliar, but the other belonged unmistakably to Kira.
In full transformation, the gifts of each Royal were enhanced. With the swiftness and agility to run at speeds far beyond any animal it took only seconds to come on the scene. In the center of the road lay the lifeless body of a Royal, an arrow piercing his chest. Several feet away, the unfamiliar footprints of a man mingled with a fresh puddle of Kira’s blood-streaks and smaller drops led off into the forest. They followed them into the trees until they came to a small clearing. There was blood everywhere, but no bodies.
“Kira!” Octavion called. His voice echoed through the trees, but no answer came.
“Luka, circle around the perimeter,” Octavion ordered. “See if you can pick up her tracks leaving the clearing.”
Cade was already mapping her every move. His natural instinct to track sent him darting from one side of the clearing to the other. Octavion circled around in the opposite direction he’d sent Luka, only to meet up with him-neither having found any sign of her.
They tried to stay out of Cade’s way; their interference would spoil the trail and muddle his senses. From where he watched, Octavion could see bits and pieces of evidence that gave him little hope. White pieces of shredded fabric similar to her sleeve were scattered about and covered in blood. A dagger lay in the dirt on one side of the clearing near a pine tree, also stained with her blood. Even in the dark he recognized the hair stuck in the bark of a tree to be Kira’s. His mind played out the scene in his head-at some point during the scuffle, her attacker had slammed her head against that tree.
Octavion called out her name again, but the only response was his own voice reverberating in the distance. Where was she? “Cade,” he said in desperation.
Cade held his hand up to signal for silence.
Octavion, have you found her? King Belesgar’s voice startled him.
No, father. We have sign she is injured. Cade is reading the field now. Is all well there?
But you have found no body? His thoughts seemed disheartened.
Father, what is it? Have you news?
The silence spoke clearly to Octavion’s fears. He turned to question Luka, to see if he’d received similar enquiries from Nestor, but the furrow in his brow answered before Octavion could utter the words. He grabbed Luka’s arm to get his attention, but he averted his eyes.
“Luka, what have they found?”
Another moment passed as Octavion watched the expression on Luka’s face turn from shock to horror. When Luka finally turned toward him, Octavion could see it in his eyes. Kira was dead.
Octavion released his grip and stepped back. “Where is she?”
“I do not know.” Luka paused for a moment, looking at Cade, who now stood in the middle of the clearing, his attention on them. “A rumor has come from the village. It seems King Tyrious is bragging about avenging his son’s death.” He put his hand on Octavion’s shoulder, but he jerked away.
“Where is she?” Octavion demanded.
Luka shook his head. “They did not say. But. . they claim to have proof of death.”
Octavion could feel himself losing control. Where first he needed to find her, now he craved revenge. Luka grabbed his arm on one side and Cade appeared at the other, holding him against a tree.
“They are wrong, Octavion. The signs tell a different story.” Cade’s eyes held truth in them, but did little to dilute the fury building in Octavion’s heart. “Let me explain before you wage war on Kazedon. If I am wrong, I will fight by your side.”
“As will I,” Luka said. “Now breathe, you need to have your wits about you. We must know the facts of this before we give up all hope.”
“Show me,” Octavion ordered.
Cade walked them through his version of what happened. After being pulled from Althros, Kira had been dragged from the road, and thrown to the ground, but the Royal had not killed her there.
“Althros?” Octavion asked. “How can you be sure?”
“Because I have chased him down after getting out of the stables. One of his shoes has a bent nail, see?” Cade pointed to the print in the dirt. “She must have conned the stablemen into giving her a horse.”
“Althros is not a horse, he’s a beast.” The thought of Kira even getting close to the animal made his gut twist into a knot. “Continue.”
“Like I said, he did not kill her here. I have seen Royals do this when they hunt for sport and not to satisfy their cravings. He played with her, like a cat plays with a mouse.” Cade pointed to several spots where Kira had been tossed and dragged. “And then there is this. He pointed to the tree with Kira’s hair caught in the bark. “She was thrown against this tree. The Royal came at her, but then he stumbled back into the dirt. He lay flat on his back, not struggling or moving while she got up and walked to his side.”
They all walked to where Cade showed the Royal’s markings in the dirt. “And this is where it gets strange,” Cade said. “Kira takes four steps toward the trees and then-” He paused for a moment. “Octavion, I need some light. Can you still charm a stone?”
Octavion took a deep breath. “I think so. It has been a long time, but I will try.” He traveled with his mind to the edge of the forest where he’d seen a deposit of moonstone a few days before. He searched the ground for two stones and returned to where he’d left his cousins. Clenching the stones tightly in his fists, he summoned the powers of the moon through his gift as a Jayde. His hands trembled as the moon’s light gathered around him and filtered through his fingers and into the stones. He opened his palms and held the stones out for Cade to take.
“Will that do?” he asked.
“Perfect,” Cade said. “Nice to see you have not lost your touch.” He held the stones close to the ground, sweeping them from side to side to illuminate the tracks in the dirt.
Octavion didn’t watch the ground, but Cade’s face. His expression seemed to shift from that of a focused tracker to shock, then fear. When he froze, the stones illuminating a single footprint and gasped, Octavion stepped closer and crouched near him to get a better look. Luka did the same.
“What do you see?” Octavion asked.
“Brother,” Cade said. “Tell me I am wrong.”
Luka leaned close and examined the footprint, the color washing from his face. “Nigel.”
“What?” Octavion blurted. “Nigel was here?” He pressed his fingertips to his forehead and tried to summon the Darkord with his thoughts, but got no answer. “Are you sure?”
“Not for sure, but. .” He took another look at the print. “It’s this little imperfection at the heel. See how it looks like a piece is missing from the sole of his boot? Nigel’s print looks similar. I remember seeing it in the clearing the night I guarded the girls.”
“You mean the night you fell asleep and let him touch Kira.” Octavion stood and began pacing, marring the scene. He’d been right about Nigel. Kira hadn’t accidently bumped into him, he’d been stalking her, waiting for the right moment to strike.
“Octavion! You are walking all over the signs,” Cade yelled.
Octavion stopped. “Does he have her?”
Cade stood and glanced around the clearing as if going through the battle scene in his head again. “I do not know. There is only one print. And Kira’s prints stop and go nowhere.”
“What do you mean?” Octavion asked. “Did Nigel or the Royal take her at that point?”
“Not the Royal. He rolled in the other direction, stood and walked five steps before his foot prints stop. I assume he vanished at that point. His prints show no additional weight, so he left alone. There was no further confrontation. She did not die here.”
“Could Nigel have taken her?” Octavion asked.
Luka grabbed one of the moonstones from Cade and searched the scene himself. “I do not think so. He has not been a Darkord long, but could barely transport himself. He did not have the strength to take his brother to where we stepped through the portal-I had to help him. By now he could have lost his gift altogether.”
“But Kira is much smaller,” Octavion said. “Could he have taken her?”
Luka paused for a moment, as if considering Octavion’s question. “Not likely, but-I still cannot fathom Nigel being involved in this.”
“He was in the village two days ago, following Kira,” Octavion said. “That is reason enough for me.”
“Perhaps we should start with Kazedon,” Cade said. “They claim to have proof of death. We should see exactly what they have, then go from there. Maybe the Royal who escaped can give us some answers. You will know if he lies.”
“I agree,” Luka said. “I want to see their proof with my own eyes.”
Octavion thought about that for a moment. If Nigel had her, then she could still be alive-at least for the moment. He needed to believe that if he’d saved her life once, he’d not harm her now.
But if Kira was indeed dead, there was nothing they could do to help her. And if she were held captive by Kazedon, Octavion would have to plan their attack carefully so she would not be harmed. Luka was right. He had to see this proof of death first. Then he would know what must be done.
“Luka, I want you to go to my lair. Gather our weapons and ask my father to meet me in the grand hall. Cade, there are two tiger cubs wandering near where we found Shandira. They are without a mother. Find them and bring them back to the castle. Altaria will know what to do with them.”
“You are not going there alone, Octavion,” Cade said. “We are not leaving until we have your word.”
“You have it. There is another task that lies before me. I must take my sister home to her father.”