Beloved (28 page)

He looked down the path that led to the clearing. “Do you truly trust them—these new friends of yours?”

“With my life,” she said without hesitation. “They’ve taken me in and treated me like one of their own. They are my family now. Every one of them. That’s why it’s so hard to leave. They’re looking for a new location and they won’t be able to tell me where they are.”

He ran his fingers through his hair and turned back to face her. “Is that because they are outlaws?”

“No. The only crimes they are guilty of are trespassing and gleaning food from the farmers so they can survive, something you did on earth, if you remember. No kingdom will allow them to live or hunt within their borders, so how else are they supposed to survive?”

A smile spread across his face, this time reaching his eyes and setting them alight. “Then perhaps a little good news is in order.”

She looked at him suspiciously. “What good news?”

“Do you remember Pride Meadow? We went there with Ussay and Cade after the Kapri ceremony.”

“Yeah, I remember.” She also killed Shandira there, something she’d tried very hard to forget.

“It was a wedding gift from my father to my mother. She loved the flowers that grew there and enjoyed painting them. Father says she often spent more time there than in the castle.”

“I can see why. It’s beautiful.”

“I’m glad you like it, because it is yours now.”

“What? Why would your father give it to
me
?”

“It was not his to give. When my mother died it went to me and Shandira, but since she had no heirs, her share reverts to me.” He took her hand and gave it a squeeze. “It is yours if you want it, as a wedding gift.”

Completely confused as to how her owning a piece of property had anything to do with keeping her safe or trusting her new friends, she put all that aside and focused on the one thing she did understand—
wedding gift
. Even though she knew they were blood bound, there was still one thing he hadn’t done. “There’s just one problem.”

His brow furrowed. “What might that be?”

“I haven’t been asked by anyone, yet.” She let the corners of her mouth twitch into a slight smile.

His eyes lit up as he flashed his dimples. “Perhaps you should add mind reading to your list of skills.” He stood, pulling her up with him. “But not here.”

His movements were so fast and surprising, that Kira squealed when he scooped her up off the ground. An instant later they stood in Pride Meadow, the stream rushing by on one side, the lush green meadow dotted with wildflowers on the other. He set her on her feet, but not before pressing a kiss to her lips, warming her to the core.

He reached for the hand that still clasped the stone he’d given her, peeled back her fingers and lifted the necklace from her palm. “May I?” He held it by the two ends.

“Yes.” She gathered her hair so it was off her neck and spun around so he could fasten it.

He lifted it over her head, resting the stone just above her collarbone. The cold chain warmed, his touch so hot, she thought he might burn her. He blew on the clasp, his breath rushing across the back of her neck and making her shiver. He released it to rest gently against her skin.

“There. Now you will not lose it.” He turned her to face him.

Kira twisted the chain so she could see the clasp, but it was gone. The two ends had been fused together just like the Crystor. “How did you do that?”

He winked. “I have skills too.”

She rubbed the stone between her finger and thumb. “Will this only work with you?”

“It did in the beginning, but then when you disappeared, I swore if I ever found you I would make it stronger. You should be able to communicate with most Royals, but you will have to be careful with Lydia. Where you already have a connection with her, it may cause her pain.”

“What about you being able to find me the other day? I thought you couldn’t go anywhere you hadn’t already seen.”

“You are right. It acts as a beacon, but for me alone. I came to the place where Altaria was hurt then worked my way toward you. I stood at the base of that tree for what seemed like forever until I realized you were in the tree. Once I saw you, I leapt there out of pure impatience.”

“And today by the creek?”

“Same thing, only it didn’t take me as long.”

“I see.” She released the stone and dropped her hands to her sides. An awkward moment of silence passed between them as he fumbled for something in his pocket. Her heart raced and for the first time, she felt her eyes burn cold because of something joyous and wonderful. That part of Octavion’s blood that flowed through her veins warmed from love and anticipation, not from anger or fear. The rush that surged through her body nearly took her breath away. She sucked in a gulp of air and held it there in case it was her last.

Octavion dropped to one knee in front of her and she thought her chest would explode. She exhaled, giving her heart more freedom to beat. Tears burned her eyes, but she pushed them back. She wanted this memory to be clear, not seen through blurry eyes. He gently took her left hand in his then looked up into her eyes.

“Kira, my love.”

“Yes,” she blurted.

He laughed. “Perhaps you should let me ask before you answer.”

Her face warmed with embarrassment. “Sorry. Go on.”

He cleared his throat and began again. “Kira, my love. I have known you my whole life. Even before Lydia befriended you, I dreamed of a girl with emerald eyes and waves of fire for hair. It is why I fell so quickly for you. You had already found a place in my heart. I only need to know if I have found a place in yours. Do you love me, Kira? With all your heart?”

Fighting the tears was impossible now. They came freely, washing all her fears and doubts away. This was the man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. “Yes.”

His dimples burrowed deeper into his cheeks. “Good. Then will you allow me to be your husband? To give all I am, and all I have, for your happiness? To love you with all my heart whether we are together or apart?”

“Yes, of course.” She wanted to leap into his arms, but the serious expression that crossed his face, made her hesitate for just a moment.

“One more thing.” He kissed her hand and stood, looking down at her with deep intensity. “Will you promise to stay? No matter what happens, will you stay here in Xantara with your friends and family?”

Kira searched his eyes for some kind of hidden meaning, but only found love shining there. “Yes,” she finally said. “I’ll stay.”

“Good.” His smile was back as he produced a ring that brought more tears. In the center was an oval white stone—a moonstone—that glowed in the sunlight. On both sides were the chips left over when Kweelock made her pendant. They weren’t cut into any shape, but polished in their natural state, twisting and turning around the moonstone as if they’d grown there. Threads of silver intertwined around and between them to hold them to the silver ring.

He slipped it onto her middle finger. “Giving a ring is not part of our custom, but I knew it was important to you.”

“It’s beautiful. I love it.”

Octavion leaned his forehead on hers. “You are everything to me. My life. My whole world.” One hand cradled the back of her head while the other found the small of her back as he pulled her closer. One by one, he kissed her tears away. Under each feathery touch of his lips, her skin tingled alive. He paused for a moment to look at her and it surprised her to see no sign of his beast—his eyes the deepest blue.

“This doesn’t bother you?”

He shook his head and continued with his kisses, this time nibbling on her earlobe before whispering. “I am changing. I can feel it inside, especially when I am with you. I thought maybe I was imagining it, but—”

“I feel it too.” It was something she couldn’t find words for. Like the way her fingers tingled and her eyes burned cold. She’d never felt those things unless she was angry or needed to fight. It was as if everything bad—her fears and emotions—were turning inward and morphing into something good, making her a better person, giving her hope and happiness she’d never imagined.

He pressed his lips to hers, but the kiss was short lived.

Well, did you say yes
?

Kira pulled away.

“What is wrong?” he asked.

“Lydia.”

Octavion growled. “I was blocking her thoughts for that very reason.”

“Which is probably why she’s in
my
head.”

Maybe
, she teased Lydia.

Altaria’s spirit was like a gust of warm air swirling around them an instant before she appeared. “Congratulations.” She gave Kira a quick hug, then Lydia appeared, fully animated. She punched Octavion in the arm. “Way to go, brother. About time.”

Kira held out her hand so Lydia could see the ring, even though she was sure Octavion had already showed it to her. It wouldn’t surprise her if Lydia had something to do with the setting and the way it was made.

Lydia gasped, then looked up at Octavion. “I thought you were going to wait until the ceremony?”

“Ceremony?” Kira didn’t like the sound of that. She already knew they were blood bound so thought she’d dodged the whole wedding thing completely. “Why do we need that if we’re already bound?”

Octavion’s brow furrowed. “Lydia! You told her?”

She propped her fists on her hips. “Yeah, I did. She had a right to know.”

He turned to Kira, concern in his eyes. “Is that why—”

“No!” Kira cut him off. “I’d already decided to come back and to be honest, it was a huge relief to know. All this time I worried about something coming between us, that you’d find someone else you love more—someone from your world. But now, I know you love me. You never would have made the choice to be bound to me if you didn’t.” She stepped closer and rested a hand on his chest. “I want to be here with you. I want to stay . . . forever.”

His lips were a breath away from kissing her when he stopped and let another growl escape.

Lydia giggled. “Sorry.” She’d obviously been in his head again, this time saying something about their almost kiss.

The corners of his mouth twitched and she could tell he was trying not to smile. “Perhaps I should get you back. Do you think your friends would allow me to speak to them?”

“Umm.”

“It is important.”

“Okay.”
This should be fun,
she thought to Lydia
.

No kidding
.

Lydia insisted on coming along, so when they landed by the creek and the panicked voices echoing through the trees told Kira something was horribly wrong, Octavion’s over protectiveness kicked into over drive.

He put himself between the girls and the noise. “What is wrong? Why are they yelling?”

Kira listened closely. Blayde wasn’t the only one whistling a warning call and she could hear people in the trees, their branches creaking and swaying as they moved from one tree to another.

“I don’t know. Stay here.” Kira took off on a dead run down the path.

“Kira stop!” Octavion appeared in front of her and took her by the arms. “You cannot run into danger like that before knowing what you are up against.”

“Let go of me!” She pushed him away. “This is my family and I’m going—I can help.”

He reached for her again, but she gave him a tiny zap of her powers so he’d know she meant business. “Don’t ever do that again. I’m not the same weak mouse you knew before. I can take care of myself.”

She took a few steps, grabbed a vine and swung up into the trees. She couldn’t travel as fast that way, but it would be harder for Octavion to stop her and easier for her to keep hidden once she got to the clearing.

Behind her she could hear Octavion arguing with Lydia, with much the same result. She refused to stay put while Octavion ran to Kira’s rescue. Both their hurried footsteps could be heard, each one bringing them closer to whatever had Lairdor in an uproar.

Kira neared the clearing, avoiding the section of trees where they’d had their pods—too many broken branches and twigs in her way to get through. Blayde was yelling something about Zin turning on Lairdor and Lessa hearing someone scream. Kira’s heart sank. She climbed to a lower branch so she could get a look at who was there and to be sure she wouldn’t be walking into a hornet’s nest.