Broken (22 page)

She shrugged.

“Arela, tell me.”

She over exaggerated a sigh. “Mother needs me to help take care of the other children. I hoped you might want to go with me.” She flashed her big brown eyes. They reminded Kira of a puppy begging for a treat.

“I’ll tell you what. I need to take a bath and get dressed. When I’m finished I will have Ussay bring me to see you. Does that sound all right?”

Arela suddenly became animated, jumping up and down, and clapping her hands. “Oh, yes. I cannot wait to tell the other children.” Then she skipped into her dressing chambers.

Kira took a deep breath and let it out slow. She was about to face the firing squad and deserved it. Maybe if she fell to her knees and begged Ussay’s forgiveness she might speak to her again.

“We need to have Mara’s seamstress make you a few new dresses. You have become horribly thin.” Ussay pulled the laces tight in the back of Kira’s dress, but left plenty of room to breathe. Thank goodness they didn’t have corsets in this world.

“Don’t worry. I’m sure I’ll put the weight back on.”

Ussay had been very generous with her forgiveness, especially since Kira helped clean up the water mess. She wasn’t, however, happy about Cade getting hurt. Again. Even though Ussay managed to hold her tongue, her short answers and occasional silent treatment made it obvious that the idea of Cade being hurt saving Kira upset her.

“So, what’s the story between you and Cade?”

“Story? What do you mean?”

“You like Cade. Does he like you?”

“No, he does not like me.” Ussay finished with the dress and switched her focus to Kira’s hair. “Would you like it in a braid today?”

“No, it’s fine down. You’re avoiding my question.”

Ussay blushed. “There is nothing between us.”

Kira sighed. “I thought you were to be betrothed. Did you change your mind?”

Ussay’s head shot up. “No. I am not good enough for him.” She lowered her eyes again. “I thought he had feelings for me . . . and then . . . he has no need for me. It is that simple.”

“Well, maybe we should plan an outing and invite Cade to come with us. Maybe if you two spent some time together, he’d change his mind. That is, when he’s feeling better.”

Ussay didn’t say anything at first, her fingers busy detangling Kira’s hair. “Do you think he would come?” she finally asked.

“Of course. After all, I need protection and you must stay with me at all times.”

She giggled and then curtsied. “As you wish, my lady.”

Kira stood and twirled around. “Well, how do I look?” But before she could answer, the door flew open and Arela ran in.

“Lady Kira,” she cried, trying to catch her breath. “Mother received word. Octavion and Luka are arriving in the courtyard.” Then she disappeared.

Kira looked at where the little girl’s mist quickly faded away. She couldn’t move. Every emotion she’d hidden for the past few days came flooding back at once. She didn’t know if she should laugh or cry, but she was pretty sure by the look on Ussay’s face, regardless of what emotion she decided to show, it would be expressed as they ran for the stairs. Ussay grabbed Kira’s hand and pulled her out the door. At the top of the stairs, she let go and continued her descent alone, leaving Kira to pause about half way down. She watched expectantly as Luka walked through the door, his mother and father trailing close behind him.

Her heart leapt into her throat, waiting for Octavion to follow. They all fussed over a wound on Luka’s arm even though he insisted he was fine. When Luka looked up and their eyes met, he took in a deep breath and pushed the others aside.

“Kira,” he said, but there was something different in his voice. Regret? No, not regret. Pain. Sorrow.

Octavion
. Kira put her hand over her mouth to keep from screaming. “No,” she whispered, as she collapsed onto the stairs and buried her face in her hands. “Al, he’s dead. He’s really dead.” The pressure living in her chest for days now caused her heart to race and she couldn’t breathe.

“Kira.” The voice unfamiliar, yet strong and kind.

She looked up to find Nestor and Luka on either side of her, concern in their eyes. All those days of not being able to cry and now she couldn’t stop. “I told him not to go. I pleaded with him.”

“Shh, Kira. He is not dead. Calm down and I will explain,” Luka said.

She tried to slow her breathing. “Then where is he?”

Luka took her hand. “He is fine. After we opened the doorway to our world, I stepped through. But Octavion thought he saw Shandira so he grabbed the journey stone and closed the portal.”

“You left him alone? You have to go back, she’ll kill him.”

“It will be all right, Kira. He told me he is finished fighting. Cael and Zerek are dead and so are her scouts. She is on her own now. We could have tracked her, but he wanted to come back to make sure you were all right.” He looked at his father and then back to Kira. “He had a horrible nightmare last night—woke screaming your name. He saw you take your own life. We would have come back then, but it is too dangerous to travel through the portal in darkness.”

Kira grabbed the front of his shirt. “You can’t just leave him there alone.”

“He will not fight her. I know him. He will leap from one place to another until he is certain she has not followed. Then he will open the doorway and step through.”

She tried to calm her racing heart by taking in a deep breath. “How long?”

“There is no way to tell and we cannot risk asking him. She will hear his thoughts. It could be soon or . . . a day or more. He will not take the chance of Shandira entering our world. It is better to keep her there.”

Goose bumps rose on her arms as Kira thought of Shandira being turned loose on Ophira. Everything they’d gone through, including Lydia’s death, would be in vain.

“When you saw me downstairs . . .” she swallowed hard. “Why did you look at me with so much sadness, like . . . he was dead? I don’t think I read your expression wrong.”

He smiled. “Because I thought
you
were dead, not Octavion. When I saw you, my heart slammed against my chest and I thought it might stop.” He put his hand on the side of her face. “My cousin will be very happy when he returns.”

She nodded. “He won’t be the only one.”

Luka opened his arms for comfort and she leaned into them. His warmth felt good against her face, but her arms longed for another.

“Perhaps I should hope he stays on the other side. I could grow accustomed to this.”

Nestor growled.

Kira pulled away and slapped Luka on the arm—his wounded arm.

“Aaah. Again with the abuse. Perhaps I should seriously consider the armor.”

Nestor smiled, but remained silent.

“And maybe I should tell Octavion you’re hitting on me.” She braced herself on Luka’s shoulder and stood, trying her wobbly legs. They would do. “Will you need stitches in that arm?”

“Yes,” Nestor said.

“No,” Luka argued. “I will not have . . .”

Nestor’s glare cut him off.

“Yes, father.”

Kira chuckled as she walked past them and went back to her room. Once she was sure everyone had cleared out of the entry she went to the courtyard to wait. She sat near the fountain until the sun rose directly above the castle. Both Ussay and Arela tried several times to distract her, but she graciously refused, promising Arela she’d spend time with her and the other children later. When Ussay brought an afternoon meal, she accepted it. She’d eaten very little over the past few days and her stomach punished her with its churning.

Ussay peeled something that looked like a banana, except for the bright yellow fruit inside. “You are getting too much sun. Perhaps we should wait in the garden. There is plenty of shade there.”

“Maybe when we’re finished eating.” Kira watched as she finished removing the peel. “What is that?”

Ussay smiled, but didn’t answer. “Would you like some?” She broke off a small piece and handed it to her.

Kira eagerly took a bite. It tasted like strawberries covered in whipped cream. “Why haven’t you given me this before?” She reached for another piece so Ussay gave her the whole fruit. She took a huge bite and scarfed it down.

“I did. You refused it.”

Kira stopped eating long enough to dispute her claim. “I would have remembered tasting this. What is it called?”

She picked another one from her basket, peeled it quickly and took a big bite. “Koostai,” she mumbled.

“Koostai? You’re lying. That stuff you tried to feed me that smelled like dirty socks?”

Ussay nodded and then took another bite.

“But it was gray.”

“It turns that color when it is cooked and mashed. It also smells bad, but it retains its sweet flavor.” She seemed pleased with herself.

“Well, you can feed me this anytime you want.” They both laughed.

When they’d finished with their meal, Kira helped Ussay clean up and found a shady place in the garden. She welcomed the flower’s fragrance, a drastic change to the stables on the other side of the courtyard. She’d only been there a few minutes when Luka came through the glass doors sporting a white linen bandage on his arm.

“Shall I try to get sympathy from the ladies?” he teased.

“Maybe you should try picking one and being faithful.” She’d been joking, but judging by the look on his face, she’d struck a cord.

“My heart has already chosen.” He sat next to her on the stone bench. “It is not easy when circumstances prevent a union.”

Kira sighed. “I’m sorry, Luka. I shouldn’t have said anything.”

“Not to worry, Kira.” He gently laid his hand on hers. “It is a rare gift to have someone who feels as you do toward Octavion. True love does not come easy in our world.”

Luka tensed, dropping her hand.

“What is it?” she asked.

He smiled. “I believe my cousin is jealous. I enjoyed our visit, even though it was cut short.” He stood and walked away.

“Wait. What are you talking about?” But he didn’t answer. He walked through the glass doors of the castle and disappeared from her view.

“Have you found another, so soon?” A deep voice came from behind her. She turned to find Octavion leaning against a tree, sporting his dimples. “Perhaps I should leave again.”

“Don’t you dare.” She jumped to her feet, took two steps and leapt into his arms. He barely had time to catch her.

As he pulled her close she felt his heart pounding inside his chest. He leaned down, buried his face in her hair and took in her scent. “I want to take you someplace. Will you go with me?”

“Anywhere,” she whispered.

He scooped her up in his arms and looked into her eyes. “May I kiss you?”

For some reason, his words pricked at her heart strings. He’d never asked permission to kiss her before she’d been attacked—before she’d become barren. Maybe things
were
different. She avoided his eyes, hiding the tears that burned them. For just an instant, she wanted to crawl back into her shell.

“Did I say something wrong?”

She looked back into his deep blue eyes. “No, these are happy tears. And yes, you can kiss me.”

Octavion’s brow furrowed as he held her gaze. “I will never leave you like that again, Kira—never.”

She closed her eyes as he pressed his lips to hers. His warm breath rushed over her like a summer breeze as he continued kissing her face and neck. She reacted by arching back slightly. His whole body tensed and he pulled away. She opened her eyes to find his face cringing with pain. He adjusted his hold on her.

“Close your eyes, Kira.” He flashed his dimples.

“Wait. Are you hurt?” But before he could answer, a flash of light almost blinded her and the garden began to spin. She closed her eyes in time to avoid the disorienting effects of the leap. When she opened them again they stood in the forest. He gently lowered her to the ground.

“No, I am not hurt.” But he cringed again when she lightly touched his left side.

“Octavion, let me see that.” She pulled his tunic up enough to expose a purple and black bruise over his ribs the exact size of a man’s boot. “Who did this?”

“Kira, it is nothing. I will be fine.”

“Are they broken?”

“No, I believe they are only bruised.” He brushed her hand away and pulled down his shirt. “Now will you let me show you why I brought you here?” He spun her around, pulled her back against his chest and wrapped his arms around her. Then he pointed.

At first she only saw trees and bushes, but then looked closer. A small stone chimney jutted out of the greenery—a billowing cloud of smoke making its way up through the trees. Beneath it she could barely make out an old weathered piece of wood—a door to a small structure completely overgrown with ivy.

“Who lives here?” she asked.

“It is mine. I used to come here as a young boy. I spent more time here than in my chambers. It suited me better than the castle. When I grew older and began to hunt, I came here when the moons were new.”