Ussay’s face lit up and she flashed a big smile. “You, my lady, will sleep in the castle tonight.”
“What? But I thought it wasn’t safe. Don’t we have stay here the night before and the night after a new moon?”
Ussay walked over to the window, pulled off the curtain, then opened the door. Parked outside the cottage was a small ornate carriage pulled by two black horses. In the distance Kira heard the deep clang of a bell.
“Octavion sent word. He went out before nightfall and hunted with Luka. When darkness came, he had already satisfied his hunger so the pull of the moons did not affect him as badly.” Ussay closed the door and walked back to sit next to Kira. “He had a good night.”
Kira sighed. “And he’s all right?”
Ussay nodded, her eyes sparkling with the glow from the fire. “I have instructed the coachman to wait. I would like to eat and wash before we return. I cannot offer a bath, but I can get water from the well to rid us of the dust from our walk yesterday.”
“Awesome.”
Chapter Thirteen
Kira managed to make it through her sponge bath and choke down a few bites of an orange-like fruit that tasted like cherries without losing control of her emotions. She couldn’t get Lydia off her mind or out of her heart. She kept having flashes of the day in the canyon when she, Lydia and Octavion sat under a tree and ate lunch together. It was the first time she’d seen Lydia change into Altaria, and the first time she’d gotten a glimpse of what Octavion could become when angered.
It seemed like a lifetime ago.
“Are you ready?” Ussay asked.
“Yeah.” Kira tucked away her memories for another day.
Another time.
As the carriage approached the castle, Kira’s appreciation for its beauty increased. The smooth white stone sparkled in the late morning sun. Several arched windows with colorful pieces of stained glass, interspersed with clear panes, decorated the lowest level. She couldn’t discern a pattern in the glass-each one shone with its own unique brilliance. Clear glass graced the arched windows of the upper levels, many opened wide to catch the cool morning air.
As they crossed the bridge and entered the courtyard, several of the servants exited a small doorway to the right, pointing and whispering-clearly to get their first view of the girl from another world. The carriage rounded the large fountain in the center and pulled to a stop in front of a huge wooden door. Kira’s heart raced with anticipation. When she heard the latch on the castle door turn, she braced herself. She wasn’t sure how to react to seeing him. Her heart sank when Luka came through the door, not Octavion. She fought back her tears of disappointment.
“Good morning ladies,” he said. “May I help you from the carriage?” He stepped closer and offered his hand. A sudden suspicion filled her and she couldn’t bring herself to accept his offer.
Ussay, however, accepted his hand freely. “How kind of you, sire.”
Luka gently guided Ussay to the ground and steadied her until she’d gained her balance. Then he turned to Kira and offered his hand again.
“Shall I fetch my armor, my lady?” he said with a smirk.
Kira laughed. She couldn’t help herself. With only a few words, he’d found a way to break through her fear. “You might need it to protect your pride. Taken down by the same girl twice-not exactly something a true warrior wants remembered.”
“Aaah.” He put his other hand over his heart as if wounded.
“A little to the left, Luka. I shot you in the shoulder, remember.” Ussay stood by the door with her mouth hanging open. Kira sensed she would have questions for her later. Kira took Luka’s hand and allowed him to help her from the carriage.
“Much nicer than the other night when you threw me on the ground,” she teased.
His brow furrowed. “I am sorry, Kira. I did the best I could do with your foot bleeding.”
“I guess I should have trusted you. I was so scared. I didn’t understand what was happening. Next time I’ll be more prepared.” She looked around the courtyard and then back to the door.
“He is not here,” Luka said. “We did not know when you would arrive so he offered to take Cade hunting. I have sent him a message. They will return shortly.”
“Cade?” The injury to his back had been so severe she honestly didn’t think he’d survived. “Is he. . okay?”
He looked away for a moment. “He is well enough.”
Kira’s heart sank. “But not well enough to hunt alone.”
When his eyes met hers again she saw pain and sorrow in them. “No. He has not regained the strength of his legs. There is feeling in them, but he is not able to walk on his own.”
“And the wound?”
“It is healing nicely. It held some infection, as did yours, but he will mend.”
“I’m so sorry, Luka. It’s my fault. I should have stayed down. I should have let Octavion take me away.” The image in her head of Cade as he was before, so full of life and eager to hunt the Darkords, made her regret all her decisions she’d made that day. If only she’d listened to Octavion. Her selfish stupidity had cost Cade everything.
“Kira, stop.” He clamped his hands around her arms and focused on her eyes. “You did not do this. You saved his life. He told me what happened in the canyon. If you hesitated, even for an instant, he would be dead. Cade is young. Every day he gets stronger. He will get through this.”
He dropped his hands and used a section of his sleeve to wipe a tear from her cheek. Then he smiled again. “Now, would you like to meet my mother?” He put out his elbow to escort her into the castle.
She slipped her hand over his arm. “I’d love to.”
The interior of the castle was even more magnificent than the outside. The sun coming through the stained glass windows cast a kaleidoscope of color across the entire stone floor. In front of her, a grand staircase rose up to a balcony that spanned the entire width of the massive entry. A room opened to her left; overstuffed chairs and sofas, all in a soft red fabric, accented with several square pillows in royal blue and gold, looked warm and inviting. Vases of fresh cut flowers sat on tables that flanked the sofas, filling the air with an intoxicating fragrance.
To her right, small high back, dark wooden chairs framed a wide open space. She recognized it from sharing Lydia’s memories-the grand hall where she’d danced with Bastian. Lydia’s mother died that night. So had Serena-or so she’d been told.
At the far end of the room stood a small platform that held two larger chairs made of an intricately carved wood with cushions covered in gold fabric, their backs stretching almost to the ceiling. Thrones.
“She is in the garden,” Luka said as he led her through a large set of glass doors.
“Kira, dear.” A sweet voice echoed off the castle walls.
Kira turned toward it and saw a woman sitting near a small fountain in an overstuffed chair. At first she carried a little extra weight around her belly, but then realized she was pregnant-very pregnant. The woman stood, pressing one hand on the small of her back for extra support. Luka quickly dropped Kira’s arm and went to her waddling figure.
“Mother, you must not get up. You need to stay off your feet. You heard what the midwife said.” He took her arm and turned her back toward the fountain.
“Nonsense, I must meet our guest,” she protested.
Kira followed Luka and, once he had his mother settled, introduced herself. “You must be Mara,” she said, extending her hand. “My name is Kira. I need to thank you for bringing Octavion’s letter yesterday.”
Mara’s eyes widened slightly as she shook her head. Kira had obviously said too much.
“Mother? You went to the village yesterday? Must I have Father lock you in your room?”
“Oh, Luka,” she said with a wave of her hand. “Do not be so dramatic. I was there and back in an instant. No harm done.” She pushed him aside. “Now go tell Ussay we need a cup of her tea and perhaps a bite to eat. Are you hungry, dear?” She still had a death grip on Kira’s hand from their introduction.