Central

  What they would all do once Amber’s pregnancy became impossible to hide was still up for debate. The elders hadn’t decided if they would all be safer at the Estilorian stronghold or somewhere more removed, such as Gabriel and Amber’s home. There was the matter of Amber’s health and the safe delivery of the baby to consider outside of any possible problems arising among the many Estilorians at the stronghold when the news got out. It was a quandary.

  She finished rinsing her teeth and then left the bathroom. The ball of light that had been in the room with her followed her into the bedroom. She was surprised to see James standing in the middle of the room rather than already lying on his mattress.

  Smiling in puzzlement, she asked, “What’s up?”

  “Put on your robe,” he instructed her. “We’re going to see Aurora.”

  Blinking at his serious tone, she instinctively tried to send a thought to her feline friend. He held up a finger and wagged it back and forth, further astonishing her.

  “None of that,” he said.

  Only because she saw him fighting a smile did she do as he told her. She tried not to worry. Aurora wasn’t due to deliver her cubs for at least a few more weeks, and she had some very talented Lekwuesti tending to her now that her condition was known. Still, there was truly no reason for James to be bringing her out to the cat at this time of the night.

  The halls were vacant, a blessing. She wasn’t comfortable being out in public with her hair undone and dressed in just her pajamas and robe.

  When they reached Aurora’s accommodations, she hurried into the forested area, seeking her friend. James followed, allowing her to take the lead.

  Aurora?

  We are over here.

  We? She hurried into a small clearing and then drew to an abrupt halt. Sitting together in the middle of the clearing, side-by-side, was Aurora and a black panther.

  She froze, confused and worried the black panther would react like any other wild animal and attack. But he remained sitting beside Aurora, looking at Olivia with a patience and wisdom in his yellow gaze that made her understand that he was no longer quite wild.

  Using her power, she reached out to the black panther’s mind. And she realized she could read his every thought.

  “James,” she breathed, reaching out for him and grabbing his arm. “I can hear him. I even think he would respond to my commands. I don’t know why or how, because I haven’t had any success like that with other animals on this plane before right now. But it’s true.”

  She turned and caught his smiling gaze. “You did this. You arranged for him to be brought to Aurora. He’s telling me how thankful he is.”

  He shrugged. “I knew it would make Aurora happy. And you, of course.”

  Of course. There was absolutely no way to thank him for his gift, and she knew he didn’t want or need thanks. He had done it because he knew it would please her.

  As his words and the realization of what he had done flooded her, she lifted her hands to touch his face and spoke right from her heart.

  “I love you so much, James.”

  He jerked away from her. Surprised by the response, she almost laughed. But then she saw the horror dawning on his face. He staggered back, pressing himself against a tree trunk.

  James, the Gloresti who went through doors for her, was so appalled by her declaration that she thought he might be sick. Shock and humiliation kept her rooted to the spot.

  “I can’t—I don’t—”

  He couldn’t even finish a sentence, she had so horrified him. It didn’t matter. She didn’t need him to. His reaction certainly filled in the blanks very effectively.

  I can’t and I don’t…love you.

  “I see,” she managed through numb lips. She stepped back, struggling to maintain her composure. “Well, thank you for this wonderful gift.”

  She turned and left, not caring if he followed. Clinging to the numbness like a shield, she kept her thoughts carefully contained. In truth, she wasn’t sure how she managed to make her way back to her room. She vaguely realized that James had, indeed, followed her, despite how she had upset him. He entered her room first, and the moment he allowed her in, she walked straight into the bathroom and closed and locked the door.

  Then, even though she knew he was aware she had already showered, she turned the water on as high as it would go. And with the noise to mask her sobs, she sank to the floor and allowed her heart to break into pieces.

  PART III:

  Acceptance

  Excerpts from the Great Foretelling:

  “Not only will she and her sisters teach us, but they will unite us.”

  “He will only learn the true depths of human emotion when he has experienced what it is to lose everything that matters.”

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Grolkinei sat with his commanders in a large, subterranean location that he called his War Room. It was miles away from his home, though the two locations were connected by an intricate series of tunnels. Only his commanders knew the very secret location.

  Tonight was Kanika’s first visit to the War Room. She was here years earlier than she would have been otherwise, all because she had proven so exceptional with her gift. Thanks to her, they now had a great deal more information about Saraqael’s daughters and even the rest of Estilorian society than they ever had before.

  None of them could figure out why she was able to so successfully pull thoughts, however rarely, from within the Estilorian stronghold when no other Mercesti in all of history had been able to do so. Grolkinei thought it might be a result of her heightened mental powers. Another theory was that her abilities had been enhanced because the actions that had converted her to Mercesti had been against the half-human. The elders hadn’t implemented their mental protections with humans in mind, after all.

  The War Room had been very carefully sculpted. An enormous stone table the height of Grolkinei’s waist filled the center of the vast chamber. On the surface of the table had been etched a detailed and exact map of the entire Estilorian plane. Surrounding the table were stools, also carved out of the stone. In fact, all of the furniture in the room, from a smaller table with chairs for dining, a tall series of storage niches against one wall and nearly twenty cots crafted in a bunk bed style, had been created from the stone.

  They only used this room when they were preparing to welcome new Mercesti to their ranks. Thanks in large part to Kanika’s abilities, they felt confident that they would soon be doing just that.

  “So,” Kanika said from her position around the huge center table, “you have been luring Estilorians from the other classes away from the Estilorian stronghold by creating difficulties around the plane to draw them out?”

  They had spent the beginning of this session educating her on the scope of their plans. In the past few weeks, she had developed more of an interest in understanding the ways of her new class.

  “Yes,” Grolkinei responded patiently. He gave her an indulgent look. “We are constantly scouring the plane to root out locations of Corgloresti forms that have transitioned, as that provokes the largest scale response. Once they are away from the stronghold, we are able to more easily influence them to turn against one another.”

  “That means you are filling your ranks with mostly Waresti,” she guessed. “They are the ones who respond to incidents away from the stronghold.”

  “Also correct. The Waresti, as it happens, have a tendency to react more aggressively than other classes when given the right amount of provocation.” Here, Grolkinei turned his approving gaze to Layla. “And Layla is quite exceptional at supplying that provocation through their subconscious thoughts and dreams. She has even managed on occasion to influence some of the weaker minds existing beyond the elders’ protections.”

  The blonde Mercesti lifted her chin. “Of course.” She looked at Kanika. “And we also get the occasional Estilorian who strays on her own.”

  Rather than rise to the bait, Kanika kept her gaze on Grolkin
ei’s, ignoring Layla completely. “I imagine the Waresti make good converts. They are already trained to be warriors.”

  “Indeed. Ryce and Angius were both Waresti.”

  Kanika flicked a quick glance at each of those commanders. Then she looked toward Cesaro, the slightest and most intelligent of the commanders. She knew he was prized because of his ability to strategize as well as ferret out information among the non-Mercesti Estilorians. And he used every means necessary to do it.

  “What was I, you are wondering?” he asked her in his smooth voice. Receiving her curious raised eyebrow, he responded, “I have always been Mercesti.”

  Grolkinei nodded. “Cesaro is the only commander left of my original council. The centuries have admittedly not been as easy for us as they have for the rest of the Estilorians.”

  “Because you lack the protection of all of the elders that the others have,” Kanika stated.

  That earned her frowns from the entire table. “We do not need to hide behind some elder’s power,” Angius snapped. “They are the cowards who will not face us.”

  Looking thoughtful, she returned, “But would we survive it if they did all emerge from that protection to face us head-on, as you propose?” Glancing around the table at each of them, she added, “Will they not significantly outnumber us?”

  Now, Grolkinei smiled. It didn’t reach his eyes. “That is what they think.”

  Obviously sensing she shouldn’t press for more details after only just joining the council, she simply nodded.

  “Very well,” he said briskly. “Let us move on to reviewing what we have learned.” He sipped from his glass as he collected his thoughts. Then he began, “As we already knew, Saraqael’s eldest daughter, Amber, is avowed to Gabriel. He calls her his wife, making us believe that he retains his knowledge from the human plane. This particular daughter has gold and blue-gray markings and has been training as a warrior.”

  He caught Kanika’s gaze. “Kanika has sensed that she above both of her sisters will prove the most resistant to thought invasion.”

  She nodded. “I conducted mental probes of each of the daughters at the Becoming ceremony. Hers were the only thoughts I could not read.”

  There were nods around the table.

  “Next eldest is called Olivia. She is protected by a young Gloresti named James, as well as by her white panther, Aurora. Her markings are light green. She is being trained in the way of a ranger with a focus on archery. She has not shown much aptitude for other types of weapons or combat in general.”

  “How perceptible are her thoughts?” Cesaro asked.

  “Moderate,” Kanika said. “Probably more so if I had direct access to her. I could not conduct a thorough scan with Malukali so near her.”

  Again, they all nodded.

  Grolkinei continued, “The youngest daughter is called Skye. Her guardian is another young Gloresti named Caleb. Her markings are light blue. She has been training in throwing weapons. Her skills in hand-to-hand defense are better than Olivia’s but not nearly as strong as Amber’s. It is her pure spirit that allows her to generate holy light. It also leaves her the most susceptible to thought intrusion.”

  Layla and Kanika both nodded. “But we will probably need direct contact with her to have any influence,” Layla clarified. “Not easy with her abilities.”

  “Very true,” Grolkinei allowed. “Which is why we have recently determined that our best option for a quick and successful plan to span the planes lies with the second daughter, Olivia.”

  Ryce nodded. “She presents the least threat, especially if we can get her away from her animal as well as her Gloresti.”

  “Agreed,” Angius said. “She should be easy enough to overpower. If we can capture her, Kanika can mine her thoughts for all of the information we will need.”

  “To that end,” Grolkinei said with another smile, this one lighting his eyes, “Kanika has detected a weakening mind among those surrounding the daughters. It is this mind that has provided most of the information we have obtained this past week. She believes this Estilorian is teetering on the brink of conversion.”

  He turned his gaze to his right. “Layla, my sweet. I believe that with just a touch of your special talent, this Estilorian will take that final step. And if you are feeling particularly devious, you could even implant the right suggestion to send Saraqael’s middle daughter right to us.”

  Returning his smile, she bowed her head. “As you wish, my lord. I am confident it will not present much of a challenge.”

  Olivia sat in her room eating breakfast. As he did every morning, James was meeting with Caleb and Gabriel in Caleb’s room to discuss the day’s plan. Amber was still sleeping and Skye was in the shower.

  Brenna was in Olivia’s room with her, changing her bedding. The Lekwuesti female had been the one to primarily work with Olivia these past two weeks. Similarly, Brenna’s friends Tabitha and Pavati continued to assist Amber and Skye with their needs. Olivia had grown incredibly fond of all of them.

  After a few moments of working in silence, Brenna left the used bedding in a pile on the floor and took a seat at Olivia’s small dining table. “Will you tell me what troubles you?” she asked gently.

  Looking up from her almost untouched food, Olivia blinked. “What do you mean?”

  Giving her a knowing look, Brenna said in the same soft voice, “You have not been the same all week as you were when you first arrived here. You hardly eat, your bedding is more rumpled, telling me you are not sleeping well, and you rarely smile. What has happened?”

  Olivia wanted to lie to the Lekwuesti, just as she had been lying to everyone. She wanted to say that she was fine, just tired. She truly wanted to pretend that there wasn’t a constant ache in her chest. She wanted to brush off her crushing heartache as just one more of life’s lessons and move on. Surely she was strong enough to do that.

  But Brenna’s kind expression and genuine concern made her realize how very much she needed to tell someone who wasn’t connected to James that things really weren’t all right. That she had spent every night of the past week crying in the shower and trying to pretend that he wasn’t in the room just feet away as she tried to sleep. That she couldn’t stand the pained and pitying looks he gave her when he thought she wasn’t looking. That pretending to be okay with just being the girl he was sworn to protect was no longer enough.

  So she did, speaking quietly since the doors between the rooms were open. When she started crying, so did Brenna. The Lekwuesti took her hands in a sincere expression of compassion. And then she used her power to create a small pile of handkerchiefs.

  That made Olivia emit a watery laugh. “Thanks.”

  Using one of the cloths to wipe her lavender eyes, Brenna said, “Do not get too grateful. They are as much for me as you.”

  Olivia’s laugh was stronger this time.

  “I am sorry that you are in such pain, my friend,” Brenna said, her gaze somber. “I am certain there is a solution to this somewhere. I am quite happy to help you look for it.”

  Overcome, Olivia fought back more tears. “Brenna, you are unbelievably sweet. I don’t know how to thank you for all you do for me…for your friendship.”

  Brenna blushed. Then she gave Olivia a long look. “Would you allow me to be your paired Lekwuesti?”

  “What do you mean?” Olivia asked. Then her eyes widened. “You mean, so that you can assist me no matter where I am?”

  The Lekwuesti nodded, her face growing pinker.

  “Oh, Brenna, I would love that! What do we need to do?”

  “Thank you, Olivia,” Brenna said, her eyes alight with excitement. “This will be such an honor for me.” She held out her hands, palms up. “It is a rather simple exchange of vows. You must put your hands on top of mine and accept that our minds will always be partly connected. Only as applies to your hospitality needs,” she clarified.

  Without hesitation, Olivia reached out and placed her hands palms down on top of Brenna’s. br />
  “I, Brenna, vow to serve you, Olivia, using my Lekwuesti abilities to see to your comfort and care. I open my mind to yours that you may connect with me whenever needed. In turn, you agree to not abuse this connection and will limit your requests to one per day when we are not together. This connection is binding unless broken by either of us for valid reason.” She looked right into Olivia’s eyes. “Do you accept?”

  Deeply touched, she said, “I accept with gratitude.”

  There was a wash of lavender light. Olivia felt her head spin, then resettle. “Whoa.”

  “I second that,” Brenna said, bringing a hand to her head. Then they exchanged wide grins.

  From Amber’s room, Tabitha watched the exchange through the small crack in the door where it met the hinges. As Amber was still sleeping—and holy light, she slept a lot—the Lekwuesti was in no danger of being admonished for her eavesdropping.

  Shock rolled through her as she witnessed the exchange of vows. Brenna would surely be censured by their commander for doing such a bold thing. Of course, commander Caoilinn hadn’t been seen since Saraqael’s daughters arrived a week ago. Rumors abounded as to what had happened to her. Tabitha personally thought her commander had surely been sent off on a special mission. Nothing else would have pulled such a model Lekwuesti away like this.

  Still, archigos Sebastian would most certainly not sit idly by while Brenna—certainly no more powerful than her by holy light—exchanged the sacred Lekwuesti vow with one of Saraqael’s daughters.

  What had come over her? Tabitha wondered, much as she had over the course of the past two weeks. Brenna had always been so calm and complacent, content to let Tabitha and Pavati guide her. She would never have overstepped herself to exchange vows with one of the sisters who were surely destined to be paired with beings much older and more powerful than they were. For Brenna to undertake something like this seemed inconceivable.