Beloved (23 page)

Don’t you dare!

Tell her!

A few moments passed.
Umm, she said to kill him. And I should add she didn’t seem the least bit upset when I told her.

She is lying.

She’s changed, Octavion. I’d believe her.

He let out a deep throaty growl, then turned the boy loose, cringing when he pulled out the blade. “Can you at least give her something for me?”

The boy leaned against the crate and used the blood-tipped knife to pick at his fingernails. “The moons are new, I will drop these supplies and leave without speaking to anyone. Unless your gift is a kiss. I suppose I could stay around long enough to deliver that.” His smirk was back.

Octavion’s shoulders began to swell and he felt his claws digging into his clenched fists. “Never mind. I will deliver it in person.”

The boy laughed. “Good luck with that.” He wiped the knife on his pants and slid it into its sheath. “Your sister’s leg is healed and doing well, by the way. I am sure Kira will be able to keep her safe from the Darkords that live freely among us.” Then he vanished along with the crate.

Octavion let his beast take over and appeared a moment later in the B’Kari forest where he’d last seen Kira. He had no clue how far she may be, but he let out a ferocious roar he hoped she would hear.
Tell Kira if she will not come to me, I will come to her. I will not wait long.

She heard you and so did everyone else. You need to go now.

I am not leaving!

A few seconds passed before Altaria appeared wearing a frumpy, tattered dress that hung on her like a sack.

“Are you stupid? All you are doing is making her mad.” Her face shifted into Lydia’s and he knew he was in for more trouble than he bargained for. She slammed a fist into his chest. “Look at you! You’re in no shape to see her, and she knows that. You’re putting her and all her friends in danger by being here. If you don’t stop, they’ll pick up the entire camp and leave. You’ll never see her again. Is that what you want?”

“Of course not.”

“Then give her some space. Wait until the moon phase is over and things return to normal in Lairdor, then—”

“Normal? Nothing about Lairdor is normal.” She didn’t have to say anymore. Lairdor’s reputation spoke for itself. He took his sister by the arms. “Take me there, now.”

She shrugged out of his grip and pushed him away. “No. It will only make things worse. She wants me to go, but I’m not. I’ll stay here until I can convince her to see you. Until then you have to stop being such a jerk.”

He let the air out of his lungs in a huff and released some of the tension from his body. “I had her in my arms, Lydia. She stood right here and I let her go.”

Lydia moved closer and pressed her palm over his heart. “I know. But you need to be grateful she is alive and let her deal with all this in her own way. She’s not the girl we once knew. She’s . . . well . . . I’m not sure how to explain it, but one thing’s for sure. She doesn’t put up with crap from anyone, not even me.”

Octavion smiled at that. “Did you get in trouble already?”

Lydia sighed. “You have no idea. I said one word about Lairdor being a bad place and she about bit my head off. If there’s one thing I’ve learned today, it’s that she loves the people here and they love her back. That bond is not going to be easy to break.”

That wasn’t what Octavion wanted to hear. He had dreamed their reunion would be joyous—that Kira would run into his arms and never want to leave. He’d obviously been wrong. Was he being selfish, wanting her to return to Xantara? His days there were limited and other than Lydia, what did she have to keep her there?

“All right. I will go. For now.” He slid his hand into his pocket and pulled out a small black pouch with a gold drawstring holding it shut at one end. “Can you give her this? It might help.” He dropped it into her open hand.

“Of course.” She gasped, her attention shifting from the pouch to a smudge of blood on his hand and then to his blood-soaked pant leg. “What happened?”

“I told you blood was drawn.”

“Blayde did that?” She bent at the waist to get a better look. “Is it deep?”

Blayde.
So the boy with the attitude had a name after all. Why hadn’t he remembered it? “No, but you should keep an eye out for him. If he is like the others in Lairdor, you cannot trust him.”

She straightened, her face uncertain. “Kira seems close to him. She won’t be happy about this.”

“I am actually counting on that. Maybe she will see what he is capable of and change her mind.”

“Don’t play games, Octavion. She’ll see right through them.” Her focus seemed to be on something else for a moment, as if sharing her thoughts—hopefully with Kira. “I need to go.”

“All right. Be safe.”

Altaria’s face appeared. “We will.” Then she disappeared.

As much as he wanted to grill her for more information, it would have to wait. He needed to feed.

Kira stood by the crate Blayde delivered and watched as Lessa and the other women went through its contents. Shrieks of joy filled the clearing as they opened each item. It helped take the edge off the roar they’d heard earlier. She knew it was Octavion, but didn’t say anything. Everyone else thought it may be Blayde, but Kira knew better. She could actually smell his scent, which did little to help her decision making process. She ached to be with him, to kiss his lips and run her hand across his warm skin.

She shook her head, trying to focus on the women. Octavion had definitely outdone himself. It was obvious he’d had the kitchen staff prepare food fit for a king, including four large fully cooked roasts of some sort. She could only imagine how long it had been since the commoners in her new family had enjoyed protein.

Cyna actually danced a little jig when she opened a small bundle that included herbs and spices. Lessa was equally joyous when she got to the bottom of the crate and discovered an entire bolt of dark blue fabric and a spool of ribbon to match.

Lydia
. She must have added that to Kira’s list when she contacted Octavion.
Thank you, my friend.

For what?

You know what. Now get down here. You have no idea what this means to them—and me.

Altaria’s spirit entered the clearing a split second before she appeared, shifting instantly to Lydia. “Does this mean you’re not mad at me anymore?” Her crooked smile lit up her face.

“I wasn’t mad. I just wanted you to understand that things aren’t always what they seem.”

“I get that.” Her smiled faded. “Can you forgive me for one more thing?”

Kira crossed her arms. “Maybe.”

Lydia lifted her hand, putting it between them. She slowly opened it, revealing a small black pouch. “It’s from Octavion.”

Kira’s butterflies quickly returned. “What is it?”

“I don’t know. Open it and see.”

Kira swallowed hard as she lifted the pouch out of Lydia’s hand, holding it by the string with two fingers like she’d hold a rat by its tail.

Lydia laughed. “It’s not going to bite.”

“You never know.” She loosened the strings and gave it a shake, spilling a delicate silver chain into her palm. She gasped when a familiar blue stone followed, landing where the chain had puddled into her hand.

She dropped the bag and grabbed Lydia’s wrist, shoving the stone back into her hand. “I don’t want it.” She wiped her hands on her pants as if the stone left toxic sludge on them. “How did you get that?”

“He gave it to me . . . just now.” She cringed. “That’s why I needed forgiving.”

Kira scanned the clearing. “Where is he?”

“Relax. I talked him into leaving, at least until the moon phase is over. I told him it was too dangerous. Which reminds me. You should probably know he wasn’t lying before. Blayde really did draw blood.”

“What?” Kira grabbed her arm and pulled her away from the other women. She was pretty sure they were too engrossed in their bounty to be interested in what the two of them were discussing, but she wanted to make sure. “What happened?”

“Blayde stabbed him right in the thigh. The front of Octavion’s pant leg is soaked clear down to his knee.”

Kira leaned her back against a tree. “That doesn’t sound like him.” Maybe she should have given in and let Blayde take her to see him. “Is Octavion okay?”

Lydia shrugged. “He said he was.” She held out her hand again, the stone dangling between her fingers. “Please take it. You don’t have to wear it, just put it in your pocket incase you change your mind and want to talk to him. No pressure.”

Kira watched as a sliver of light hit the stone and illuminated the tiny threads of gold inside. Her heart clenched. She reached for the stone and, without looking at it again, slid it into her pocket. Her fingertips brushed against Lydia’s ruby and that made her smile.

“Now I have something for you.”

Lydia’s eyes widened with surprise. “Really?”

“Yeah.” She pulled out the ruby and kept it clenched tightly in her fist. “You asked me to keep it safe, so I have.” She opened her hand.

Lydia squealed. “My ruby! I thought I lost it in your world.” She grabbed it and gave it a good rub, then laughed. “Octavion won’t be happy to see this. He hates how loud my thoughts can get with it.”

Kira pushed away from the tree. “Would you mind if I took some time alone? I’m sure Lessa and Cyna would love your company, and there should be a change of clothes in that crate for you.”

“Take all the time you need.”

“Thanks.”

Kira started for the creak, but then reconsidered. If Blayde came looking for her, that would be the first place he’d go and she really needed to be alone. Instead she chose a tree at random, and climbed as high as she could and found a spot where two branches intersected, giving her enough room to sit comfortably.

This high up the branches were sparser and she could take advantage of the warm sun. She leaned back and let it splash across her face, then closed her eyes. Her mind drifted back to when she sat on the hood of Lydia’s car and did the same thing. Oh, how she wished she had her iPod. She missed the music of her world terribly. It would have helped her forget her current situation, if only for a moment.

It had been a long time since she’d allowed herself to think about her past. She’d made the decision to leave it all behind and never look back, but now she needed it. She needed to connect with the way it felt to care deeply for someone. Her heart needed to learn how to open up and love again—without all the fear.

When the memories began playing in her mind, she welcomed them. Lydia sitting on the arm of her couch, twirling her braid between her fingers. Octavion’s smile, revealing his dimples and a spark in his deep blue eyes. Their first kiss—their second and third.

One wonderful scene after another flashed across her mind. The sacrifices made. The promises spoken. The heartache of losing everything and everyone she cared about.

That memory brought her out of her reverie. She opened her eyes and looked down at the stone she hadn’t realized she’d pulled from her pocket. Maybe if he understood the reasons behind her leaving, he’d agree to let her go. He loved his people and his family. Surely he’d put them first in all this.

She took a deep breath and let the air puff out her cheeks before forcing it past her lips. She didn’t know how to even start. He’d have so many questions about things she couldn’t provide answers for. She rubbed the stone between her finger and thumb, and tried to calm her racing heart.

Hey.
It was the best she could do.

I see you received my gift.

Yeah.

Are you all right?

I was.
A lump rose in her throat. This was harder than she thought it would be.

Was?

Until I heard your voice in my head.

Oh. Maybe I should have asked if you are safe.

I am.
There was a brief pause.
You can’t come here
.

So I am told.

I mean it, Octavion. Don’t ask Al to bring you here. Promise me. I’m not the only one who is at risk here—who’s only safe if no one knows where we are.