Broken (41 page)

“Enter,” Cade’s warm voice resonated.

Kira entered the room and closed the door behind her. Cade sat by the window reading a book. He seemed content enough. Perhaps this would be easier than she thought.

“Hi there,” Kira said.

“Kira, I was thinking about you this morning. I want to thank you for setting me straight with Ussay.” He still had his head half buried in the book. When he looked up he instantly reacted to the change in her eyes and physical appearance. “What have you done?”

Kira grabbed his hand and knelt in front of him. “Please don’t send your thoughts to Octavion until I have a chance to explain.”

“How can you ask this of me? I am supposed to be watching you.” His eyes shot down to her hands as he pulled back the sleeve of her dress to expose the Crystor and the absence of scars. “Oh, Kira. Octavion will have my head for this. He forbade you to heal because of the pain it causes you.” When his eyes found hers again, tiny threads of gold invaded them.

“Please. Let me explain.”

“This better be good.” He took back his hands and folded his arms across his chest. “Speak,” he commanded.

“I’m sorry. It was an accident actually. I was bored so I went to his lair. I was rummaging through some books and when I pulled one off the shelf, my healing pack fell out.” It wasn’t really a lie. She just wanted to leave Ussay out of it.

“Everything spilled out onto the floor—including Lydia’s ruby. I wasn’t even thinking when I picked it up. It must have something to do with our connection, because as soon as I did, the Crystor started glowing and came to life. It feels so good, Cade.” Okay, so she gave him the short version, but she was out of time.

“And it did
this
to you? Are all your scars gone, even your back?”

Kira smiled. “Everything. And I’m stronger too.”

He seemed satisfied with her explanation, but still leery about keeping her secret. He sat for a moment, looking her over, taking in the obvious changes. “Why did you come here, Kira? Why do you want me to keep this from my cousin? He’ll know the truth the moment he sees you.”

Kira thought fast. “It’s not that I don’t want him to know. Honestly, I think he’ll be thrilled to see the Crystor working again. I just want to be the one to tell him. I don’t want you interrupting their meeting with King Tyrious and if he is angry, I want his rage focused on me, not someone else. This is
my
fault.”

“Then I will keep it, but only until he returns. If the sun rises before you summon the nerve to approach him, I will show him everything, even your flimsy excuse and story. Now you tell me the truth. What really happened?”

“Do you want more excuses or do you want to walk?”

He let the book slip from his hand. It made a loud crack as it hit the floor. “Pardon?” he asked.

“You heard me. You know as soon as he gets back he will forbid me to heal. He’s afraid I will be hurt or killed. But I’m much stronger here and I felt nothing when I healed my broken finger.” She held it up and flexed it, making a fist. “I can heal you, Cade.”

“But it will cause me pain. I saw how Luka transformed when you healed his shoulder. There is no one here to prevent me from taking your life, Kira.”

“I have an idea about that. Hop up on the bed and I’ll explain.”

He disappeared from the chair, landing in the exact same position a second later in the middle of the bed. “Are you sure this will work?”

“Positive, now roll over on your side.” With his eyes facing away from her, she reached under her skirt and pulled the bottle of V’Larian out of her pack. When she did, the heart pendent fell out of her dress pocket, hit the floor and bounced. She quickly picked it up with the tip of her finger and thumb and stuffed it into her pack. She’d almost forgotten about it. It wouldn’t due to leave it behind, robbing her of her only way to contact Shandira. She breathed a sigh of relief.

Kira went around to the other side of the bed and held up the bottle for Cade to see. “This won’t do anything for the pain, but you won’t be able to move. Is it okay if I use it on you?”

“Yes, but if you are hurt during the process I will not be able to help you.”

“Always the hero, aren’t you?”

He smirked. “Not today.”

Kira poured a small amount of the powder into the palm of her hand, held it up in front of his face and blew. He took in a deep breath, but before the effects took hold, he grabbed her arm.

“You will stop if you are in too much pain?”

“I promise.”

His arm relaxed, as the rest of his body gave into the drug. He closed his eyes.

Kira knew her time was limited, so she climbed on the bed beside him and slipped her hand under the back of his shirt. She ran her fingers across his bare skin until she felt a deep jagged scar the length of a knife blade. She concentrated on the injury. The Crystor burned only slightly, but the pain that raced up her arm and into her chest was like someone pushing acid through her veins. She had to put her other hand on his arm for support to keep from falling off the bed. The healing lasted far longer than she’d anticipated.

Cade began to stir, the muscles in his arms and back swelled and the bridge across his nose widened slightly. When his eyes flew open and she saw the advanced stage of his transformation, Kira put more of her energy into his back to hurry the process. He reacted by tensing his body which shoved her right off the bed. She landed square on her feet and didn’t stumble. A first for her.

Cade grabbed the wooden slat that ran across the bottom of his headboard, breaking it clean in two. He took one look at Kira, sprang to his feet and jumped across the bed to the other side, then backed against the wall. His breathing became deep and labored as he fought the urge to kill.

“Cade, dear,” Kira teased, in spite of the imminent danger. “You’re standing.”

He looked at his feet then raised his head to find her eyes. “Kira.” He said through clenched teeth.

“I know. Just do me a favor and don’t leave this room, at least not until I have a chance to tell Octavion. Can you do that?”

His eyes began to calm. He pushed away from the wall to test his legs. “Yes.” Then he walked the few steps to the bed and braced himself on what was left of the head board. “Thank you.”

“Promise you’ll be good to Ussay and we’re even.”

He smiled. “Deal.”

As Kira left his room, she thought of Lydia and Altaria. She wanted so badly to test her powers and see if she could share her thoughts with them again, but knew it would only alert them to the return of her powers. That is if they didn’t already know. She wanted to heal them—give them back their strength and vigor—but their body had no unhealed physical wounds so Kira would be of little help. The kind of healing they needed was spiritual and only time could mend that. In so many ways, they were on their own.

Kira arrived in the courtyard to find Ussay sitting on the edge of the fountain with her arms folded and a disgusted look on her face. Ussay jumped up and started complaining about the men in the stable. She talked so fast her accent kept Kira from understanding most of her words. What she did catch was sporadic and made little sense.

“Ussay, stop.” Kira finally interrupted. “Are they saddling a horse?”

Ussay threw up her arms. “Yes, but it is not the one you requested. When I told them it was for Octavion they refused. They are arrogant fools.”

“What do you mean it isn’t the one I requested?”

“They are preparing Althros. He is a beast of a mount, Kira. Even Octavion would have difficulty controlling him, but they insist he is the horse Octavion would prefer.”

Kira couldn’t imagine Octavion having problems controlling any animal, but then she hadn’t met Althros. “I’m sure it will be fine, Ussay.”

She rolled her eyes. “He is not tame. He was given to Octavion before he left Xantara. The owner wanted to put him down because he was wild and vicious, but Octavion forbade it. He has not been ridden for years.”

Before Kira could respond, a ruckus exploded inside the stable. The sound of splintering wood and metal buckets being tossed about mingled with the vulgar curses of men.

Ussay pointed to the stable. “See?”

“I will deal with the stablemen. I want you to go home. Stay there until I send for you.” Kira needed to get her out of the situation. She was already in more trouble than she knew. Kira put her hand on Ussay’s shoulder. “Thank you.”

“You will be safe?” Ussay asked.

“I will. Now go.”

Ussay took one last look toward the stable, let out an exaggerated sigh and left the courtyard.

The sun had begun to crest the treetops on the distant mountain. She didn’t have time to mess with disobedient servants. As she neared the entrance to the stables she met a young boy who couldn’t have been much older than Arela. His eyes were wide with excitement until he caught site of her. He bowed and lowered his eyes.

“Pardon me, my lady. I seek Ussay. Have you seen her?” He straightened, but still avoided her eyes.

Kira put on her best impression of Mara’s Royal attitude and fired away. “I gave instructions for Prince Octavion’s mount to be prepared. Where is he?”
Poor boy
, she thought.

He stuttered, turned, and ran back into the stable without uttering a single discernible word. She heard raised voices, another bout of clatter, and then silence. When the boy came back through the door, two men followed him, desperately trying to control what Kira could only describe as . . .
Althros, the guardian of fire.
The Crystor translated it perfectly in her mind. His name fit him. Maybe it was the fire in his eyes or the way he fought his captors, but Kira felt an instant connection.

He was the most magnificent stallion she’d ever seen—a massive combination of pure muscle and unbridled spirit. His silken white coat glistened in the late afternoon sun as he tried to fight his way to freedom. The men were no match for him as he towered above them.

They danced around the courtyard, trying to gain some control of the beast, but when he came close to Kira, threatening her safety, she didn’t back away. She stood there, gazing into his fierce brown eyes. He forced a burst of air through his flared nostrils, then settled. His captors, however, tried to pull him away from Kira which sent Althros into another wild tangent. Rearing up on his back legs, he lifted both men into the air. They pulled tight on the reins and tried to bring him down. When his front hooves hit the ground the stones beneath them cracked.

“Release him!” Kira ordered.

Both men looked at her like she was insane and continued their vain attempt to gain control.

“Are you deaf? I said, release him.”

This time they put up their hands, letting the reins fall to the ground. They quickly stepped back from the horse, trying to stand between Kira and Althros.

“My lady, we were told the prince would be riding today. Will he be arriving soon?”

Althros threw his head from side to side, grinding his teeth on the metal bit. He flipped the leather reins in the air as if he’d whip the stable hands with them.

“I am meeting him,” she explained. “You were told to prepare a different horse. Why didn’t you follow my instructions?”

They began their flimsy rebuttal, but she cut them off.

“I don’t care what your excuse is. Do you know who I am?”

“Yes, my lady,” they said in unison.

The boy had hidden in the stable during the ruckus but now peeked through a crack in the door. His big brown eyes were wild with curiosity. Kira had to fight the urge to smile and wave at him.

“Then you know I will be your queen one day. Are you sure you want to make me angry?”

“No, my lady,” the stablemen said.

“Ussay is my personal assistant. If she gives you an order, you do exactly what she says. Am I understood?”

“Yes, my lady.”

“Now turn around.” She didn’t bother unlacing the front of her dress, just grabbed both sides and ripped it open. She slid it over her hips and let it puddle at her feet. When she stepped between the men and back into their view, they both cursed. She glared at them, silencing their tongues.

“You will tell no one. Do you understand?”

They nodded.

Kira ordered them to back away from the horse as she stepped closer. He still pranced around, nervously stomping his hooves into the stone. She put her arms out to the side with her palms up to show him she meant no harm; then slowly approached him. With every step she took toward him, he took one back, flaring his nostrils and throwing his head in the air.

“Calm down, boy. I’m not going to hurt you.” She took another step and put her hand out toward him, coaxing him to gather in her scent. He reluctantly stretched his neck and took in a few short breaths. His eyes locked on hers as she took one more step, keeping her hand outstretched between them. Only inches from touching him, she stood still, waiting for him to grant his trust, hoping he would let her advance, so it surprised her when he made the first move. The muscles in his body relaxed as he stepped closer, letting her run the tips of her fingers down the soft muzzle between his nostrils. She slowly moved her hand up the front of his head, burying it in the long wisps of hair that ran down his forehead. He took another step, leaning into her.