“Right,” he said. “Why are you asking me this?”
Kira straightened her back and braced herself for what she needed to do next. Then she looked at the King. “If you don’t tell him, I will.” She made sure her tone was firm so he’d understand exactly what she meant.
The king stood, his face contorted with rage. “How dare you address me in that tone? You will leave now,” he roared. He crossed the floor, stopping within arm’s reach of Kira.
Octavion jumped in front of him, the muscles in his back swelling as he moved. “You will not touch her, Father.”
“You dare let this woman speak to me in such a manner?”
“She has done nothing.”
“Tell him,” Kira said.
Octavion spun around to face Kira, his countenance almost as angry as his father’s. “Tell me what?”
“He lied to you. Serena didn’t die, and he erased her memory.”
The words slipped off her tongue in a whisper. The blood drained from Octavion’s face. He stepped back and shook his head.
“That is not true.”
The king glared at Kira. She was never more grateful in her life for not being able to read minds. She didn’t want to know what he planned to do with her, but beheading topped the list.
Octavion turned slowly on his heals. His jaw tightened as his father’s eyes shifted from Kira to meet his glare.
“Is this true?” Octavion growled.
“I have done nothing wrong.”
“That is not what I asked. Is what she said true? Is Serena alive?”
The king threw back his shoulders and raised his chin. “Yes.”
Octavion’s shoulders dropped. “How could you, Father? What possible reason could you have to deceive me like that? You have no idea the guilt that has plagued me all these years. I blamed myself for her death. I bound her to my sister.” He let out a roar that made the walls tremble.
“He did it because you loved her,” Kira said. It was only a guess, but she’d had time to think about the king’s motives and it made sense.
They both looked at her with fire in their eyes. Their expressions said it all-how dare she speak and interrupt their little battle? But she didn’t care. She’d already stuck her neck out, she may as well continue. “It really wasn’t that hard to figure out. He knew if she was alive, you would never leave her behind.” She leaned against the edge of the bed and tried not to think about the way he still felt about her-what this all meant for them. “You wouldn’t take your sister to another planet, to safety, if you knew the love of your life. .” Her voice caught as she spoke the words.
Octavion’s expression softened. “You are the love of my life, Kira. This changes nothing.” His eyes were calmer, but still laced with ribbons of gold.
“This changes everything,” she said. “If Serena is still alive, then maybe you can take this thing off and make me one that works. I could heal Lydia and put Altaria’s spirit back.”
Octavion took her hand and gently brushed his fingers along the Crystor. His brow furrowed in confusion. A long moment of silence passed before he let her hand fall and took a step back. But he still didn’t say anything. He pinched the bridge of his nose.
“What’s wrong?” Kira asked.
“The charm I put on the Crystor will not allow it to be removed-not even by me.”
“Then how did you get it off Serena’s wrist?”
“I was not the one who removed it,” he said. He looked up at Kira, then turned his focus on his father. “He was.”
King Belesgar stood a few feet away, his demeanor unchanged. He made no attempt to explain or deny his son’s accusation.
“Father? What did you do to Serena?”
“What is done, is done and there is no reason to discuss it,” the king said.
“He erased her memory. I know that for sure,” Kira blurted.
“Silence!” King Belesgar yelled.
“Father! What did you do? Did you hurt her? Did you. . cut her hand off?”
Kira gasped. “You wouldn’t.” But then she thought about where she was and how primitive and brutal this world could be. He would do it if it meant saving his daughter.
“No!” Belesgar roared, his fists clenched at his sides. “You think me a monster. I would never do such a thing. She was innocent in all this. You are to blame for including her in our fight.”
Octavion took a step forward. “Then explain it. The only one who could break a charm by a hybrid Jayde is a Master Jayde and I doubt Panthera owed you a favor of such magnitude.”
The king gave no answer.
“Father!”
Kira touched Octavion’s arm in an attempt to calm him, but he shrugged her away. This had gotten way out of control and was no longer about healing Lydia and returning her kindred spirit. Kira feared their argument would turn into a physical fight and she wanted no part of it.
“I will not discuss this in front of her,” the king finally said. “Remove her from my chambers.”
Kira opened her mouth to protest, but Octavion beat her to it.
“I will not,” he said. “Her very presence may cause Lydia’s spirit to seek Altaria’s and I will not risk missing an opportunity to save my sister’s life.”
Belesgar glared at Kira, then turned back to his son. “Then we shall take this elsewhere.”
“Agreed.” Octavion turned his attention to Kira. “Will you be all right if I leave you alone for a while? This will not take long.”
Kira nodded.
An instant later they were both gone.
Chapter Twenty Five
Octavion and his father stood in the chapel directly adjacent to his sleeping chambers. The thick walls and lack of doors or windows would keep them from being disturbed and prevent anyone from overhearing their heated discussion. The only room designed for Royals only, it had no door, the only way in or out was by traveling through their minds. It served as a safe room as well as a place for the king to have complete privacy and peace.
This was not one of those times.
Belesgar slammed his hand down on the stone alter. “How dare you speak to me like that in front of a commoner.”
“Kira is not a commoner. We are bound. She is as much a Royal as I am.”
“Until the Elders of Lor witness this union, it will not be recognized by the gods or your king.” Belesgar threw his arms out to his sides. “A king that demands your respect.”
“How can I respect a man who lies to his own son? I want to know everything. What did you do to Serena? How did you remove the Crystor from her wrist without killing her and Lydia?” Octavion stepped closer to see his father’s face more clearly. With no windows in the room, they both relied on their feline ability to see in the dark. “And who erased her memory? I want the truth.”
“The truth? How can I trust you with Xantara’s secrets when you break a simple oath and tell Kira your sister is alive?”
Octavion clenched his fists. “That is different and you know it. Kira and Lydia are bound by magic and share a deep friendship. They should never have been separated in the first place.”
Belesgar laughed. “Magic? You know nothing of magic.”
“And you do?”
“I know enough to recognize a weak charm when I see it.”
Octavion took a step back, folding his arms. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“That you knew nothing about being a Jayde when you cast that charm-a young boy playing with things only a seasoned Jayde should try.”
“And you would know this how?” None of this made sense and he needed answers.
Belesgar turned away from his son and paced the small room like a caged tiger.
“Father!”
The king spun around with fire in his eyes. With one sweep of his hand, the woven carpet Octavion stood on lifted from the ground and sailed across the room, throwing him against the wall.
Octavion’s feet went out from under him and he landed on his back. Every muscle in his body complained and he felt the stitches Gregor put in earlier rip open. He slammed his fist on the floor and cursed.