Rise of the Faire-Amanti (The Ascendant Series Book 3)

  “I know he loves me,” she said. “He really was fated for me.”

  Her mother gave her a smile as she turned and began putting breakfast meat onto the plates sitting on the counter. “I’m grateful you two have each other.”

  Kyr made a face as the pan got closer to her. “None of that for me, thanks.”

  Ullah’s eyebrow lifted. “You used to love this.”

  “I don’t think I’m in the mood for it right now.”

  “All right.” Ullah turned and set the pan aside. As she poured scrambled eggs into a new pan, she said, “I didn’t get a chance to ask you yesterday. How have you been feeling?”

  “I’m fine. If you’re worried about what happened earlier, the biscuit made my stomach settle. I feel great.”

  “Mmhmm. Ty mentioned that you’ve been sleeping more lately.”

  Kyr blushed, feeling as though she was under close scrutiny. “Well, we’ve been expending a lot of energy. Getting through the protections wasn’t exactly easy, Mom.”

  “I know, honey.” She used a flat tool to stir the eggs in the hot pan as they cooked. “I’m just checking on you. We also didn’t really touch on just how involved you are with Ty now.”

  “What do you mean? He’s my amanti.”

  “You haven’t undergone the Proce-Amanti though,” Ullah pointed out. “I was just wondering if you’d decided to wait to have sex until after the ceremony.”

  Kyr’s mouth opened and closed. She had honestly assumed her mother knew she and Ty were romantically involved. Had she actually expected them to wait until a female Mynder performed the Proce-Amanti ritual before having sex?

  “Um, no,” she mumbled, drinking the last of her water. “We didn’t wait.”

  “I see.” Ullah turned with the eggs and scooped some onto the first plate. “You do realize that you haven’t received your birth control treatment since returning to Alametria, don’t you?”

  “Uh…”

  “That was more than fifty nightfalls ago,” Ullah said in a gentle voice. “Kyr, I believe you’re pregnant. If I were you, I would stop in the Rowe megai to confirm it.”

  Before Kyr even processed that shock, the front door opened with such force that it bounced on its hinges. Ty stood in the doorway. His gaze fell on hers. She immediately knew that he had “heard” every word of the conversation.

  Her heart flipped in her chest as she wondered how he’d react. Dear Yen-Ki…they were going to be parents.

  Ty took five strides into the room and lifted her from the chair, crushing her against his chest in a fierce hug. A sense of euphoria flowed from him into her. Her disbelief couldn’t stand in the face of such undiluted joy.

  For that moment, she allowed herself to bask in their mutual happiness. There would be plenty of time to face reality and the knowledge that they now had more to fight for than ever…and something even more precious to possibly lose.

  Chapter 16

  Before they headed out, Ty and Kyr sat together in the family room and tried once again to connect with Sem. They had both tried periodically since their first attempt in the Wrym megai, but hadn’t succeeded so far. With each failed attempt, the likelihood that Sem was alive grew dimmer in their hearts. Neither of them openly admitted that, though.

  After failing again, they connected to Gren. Intense exhaustion accompanied his thoughts loud and clear.

  The guards at the mine have caught on to the fact that we’re sneaking people out, he conveyed. Things have gotten ugly a few times. The guards have started sending out hunting parties for escapees.

  Where are you keeping everyone you manage to get out? Ty asked.

  At an old Peace Keeper bunker. There’s no way it will stay secret for long, though. Too many of the escapees want to be truly free. They keep trying to get out and hack it on their own. They’re clueless imbeciles who have no idea what it’s like outside the mine. The Marauders would eat them alive. They’d be back inside the mine within a day.

  Kyr shook her head in response. How are the supplies holding up?

  Not well. We’re running low on a lot of things. It’s going to be a challenge to house, feed, and protect everyone as the numbers grow.

  You need to find the Tinkers I told you about, Ty told him. Scarlyt will know where they live. Let Aryn know what’s going on and tell him what you need. You can tell him I sent you. I know he can get you supplies from the Harvesters. Promise him payment from the palace once everything is settled. He has my word on it.

  All right, Gren agreed with a mental shrug. No harm trying. I don’t suppose you’ve heard from Sem?

  Ty’s jaw clenched and released. No.

  I haven’t either. I’m sorry.

  None of them had anything more to say, so they closed the connection after planning to connect again soon. Seeing Kyr’s misty eyes and feeling her fear and anguish, Ty pulled her against him. He kissed the top of her head and sent her comforting thoughts. He knew her reaction was heightened by her changing hormones.

  The hormones explained a lot, actually. His shock over Ullah’s announcement had been short-lived. The fact was that Lore had already planted the idea of Kyr’s pregnancy in his mind, so this really just cemented it.

  Kyr was still absorbing the news, but he knew she believed it. They both did, as firmly as they believed in their love for each other. There wasn’t any need to have a scan done by the Rowe’s equipment. She was carrying their child.

  We have to get moving, he thought after another minute.

  She nodded and started to rise from the couch, but he got up first and helped her. He saw the look she gave him and knew she thought that he was going to use the pregnancy to revert back to what she saw as his overprotective ways.

  It was nice that they knew each other so well.

  I’m not going to break just because I’m pregnant, she chided.

  Not on my watch, he agreed.

  She rolled her eyes, but smiled as he took her hand and led her back to the cooking area where her parents were putting away the breakfast dishes. A basket sat on the counter beside their two satchels and the canister of the Gift. Ty read from Ullah’s thoughts that she had packed them enough food for a few days.

  “Guess it’s time,” Ullah said with a smile that belied her sorrow. “I’m so glad you stopped by.”

  Kyr held it together during the goodbyes with her parents, but Ty knew it was a hard thing for her. Between her unexpressed fear and sadness and the added melancholy from her parents, he had to dampen his connection to them in order to stay focused.

  Eventually, they were on their way with Wyk’s assurance that he and Ullah would be leaving soon. They would use their best judgment in trying to prepare people for a possible battle, and they would stay on the move to avoid Vycor’s forces.

  It was the best they could do. Ty just had to pray it was enough.

  * * *

  The ride to the Luja megai was woefully boring. There was one primary roadway used for travel through the Owar homeland that passed by many clusters of homes. Wyk had given Ty a tip about a less-used route, though, that meandered through uninhabited areas. Ty had chosen the second route in hopes of avoiding any confrontations with Mynders. That meant he had to deal with uninspiring views of barren fields, a few crumbling houses, and sparse clusters of trees.

  It was with little surprise that Ty felt Kyr drop into sleep midway through the day. She had spent the beginning of the trip shedding the tears she hadn’t wanted her parents to see. That emotional purging combined with the pregnancy wore her down. She had battled with exhaustion for nearly an hour before succumbing.

  He knew she didn’t want him to think of her as weak, which was why she had tried not to nap. She had only to look closely at his thoughts to know that she had nothing to fear, though. Weak was the last word that came to mind when he thought of her. He was well aware that she was tired because her body was adjusting to carrying their baby.

  Emotion clutched his chest as that thought ran th
rough his mind. It wasn’t the first time the vehement feeling had gripped him, and he knew it wouldn’t be the last.

  His thoughts turned back to when he was a young man undergoing the training of the Dem-Shyr. It had been a difficult time for him. He had been apart from his family for the first time. He hadn’t been prepared for the intensity of the training he would have to undergo. And nearly every day, Guardian Shaya made sure he knew his place in her home and her life. His future was with Kyr, she reminded him time and again.

  But she hadn’t meant it in terms of love. Shaya had expected Ty to remain by Kyr’s side as the Dem-Shyr, and that was it.

  That had seemed okay at first. For years, he accepted that he was fated to be with Kyr throughout her life solely to keep her safe. He knew he would watch her interact with other males and pair with one of them as the Faire-Amanti. He would remain her protector while she mated with her amanti and bore his children, never having that life for himself.

  Back then, he told himself that it was good enough just to have the power and esteem that came from being the Dem-Shyr. Now, he could acknowledge that had been far from the truth. He had endured many painful nights wishing for a simpler life like the one his parents had. Although he hadn’t realized it then, what he had been craving was a love like theirs and a family of his own.

  Neither he nor Shaya had ever expected him to fall in love with Kyr. He smiled now as he thought about what an insolent little brat she had been. Still, he’d seen the core of her character and knew it had the potential to blossom. She proved that in spades once she started her off-planet lessons.

  As he watched her grow into an amazingly bright and caring young woman, he allowed his thoughts to delve into foolish and dangerous areas. Only in his deepest, innermost dreams did he ever envision a life with her that differed from the one Shaya insisted was fated for him. Even now that he had Kyr’s heart, he could hardly believe he had gotten this lucky.

  Of course, their love had come with a high price, he mused as he maneuvered the transport around another bend in the road. The strong possibility of a deadly battle loomed. Vycor and Shaya were set on destroying them. Not only were his and Kyr’s futures at stake, but the futures of all Alametrians.

  In other words, now that he held everything he had ever dreamed, he faced the possibility of it all slipping through his fingers.

  He could admit to being tempted by the cowardly thought of finding the closest intergalactic vessel and taking Kyr and their unborn child as far away from all of this as possible. The idea of settling on a remote planet somewhere and enjoying a quiet and peaceful life with the woman he loved held quite the allure after everything they’d already suffered. But he knew he couldn’t turn away from their people.

  That’s right, Kyr thought, touching his arm and making him realize she was awake. Our people. We’re partners in this, and we will see things through...even if some peace and quiet sounds divine right now.

  He exchanged a smile with her. Her love for him cycled through him. She assured him without words that she understood how he felt.

  Our child will be raised by parents who stood up for what was right and did what needed to be done, she vowed.

  Reaching up with one hand, he took hers and clasped it. I love you so much, Kyr.

  I know.

  I’m sorry for being an idiot.

  Well, that covers all manner of sins. But I accept. I know you won’t keep things from me anymore.

  If I do, will you punish me in bed again?

  That made her laugh. Something tells me that wasn’t such a terrible punishment.

  Oh, I don’t know…

  Their humor faded as they both spotted possible trouble ahead. They could barely make out the individual outlines of about ten different people. Behind the people rose enormous trees.

  Ty checked the transport’s gauges and determined that they were nearly at the border between the Owar and Luja megais. Had Vycor set up a perimeter there? If so, the Mynders would surely be more prepared for possible influencing after what he and Kyr had done at the other border.

  I think we should turn around, Ty thought, returning both hands to the steering mechanism. Better secure yourself in a seat.

  Before she could move to do as he instructed, a voice entered their minds. You have nothing to fear, it assured them. You’ve been expected.

  Ty caught Kyr’s gaze and saw the surprise there. They both knew that voice.

  It was her best friend, Avana.

  Chapter 17

  Hearing Avana’s voice made Kyr’s heart rejoice. She had been worried about her friend ever since she left the palace to search for Ty. Knowing that Avana was alive and well made Kyr almost limp with relief.

  Somehow it didn’t surprise her that Avana seemed to know exactly who they were. As a Divyner, she had mental abilities beyond the scope of most Alametrians’ understanding. It made Avana both brilliant and…unusual.

  Kyr remembered the first time she met Avana when she was beginning her Earth lesson. It was the day they moved into their freshman dorm room together. Avana had used an entire moving crew, who offloaded a truck full of stuff that had taken up most of the cramped space they shared. Despite Kyr’s attempt to argue for a fair share of the room, Avana had charmed her into accepting things as they were. Kyr had known then that she would have her hands full, and Avana had lived up to that promise.

  She had also dragged Kyr out of her shell, introducing her to new things and forcing her to socialize with people from all walks of life. Kyr realized now that Avana had been preparing her for her return to Alametria, where she hadn’t ever met people outside of her small portion of the palace.

  Avana had also introduced her to Sem. The three of them had become virtually inseparable.

  Sadness threatened to overwhelm her as memories ran through her mind. Ty brought the transport to a stop, so she forced her depressing thoughts to the back of her mind. She couldn’t deal with what she didn’t know. She needed to focus on Avana and why her best friend was standing at the border to greet them.

  Once Ty cut the engine, he walked with her off the vessel. Kyr blinked as she watched all of the Luja bow with the thought of, Welcome to our homeland, Ma’jah Kyr and Ra’jah Ty. We’re honored to have you here.

  Thank you, Kyr and Ty returned.

  Kyr felt Ty’s surprise that they had used his new title. She supposed at least one of them had foreseen their pairing, however, so they knew he was the Faire-Amanti. For all she knew, it had been Avana herself who made the prediction.

  As she and Ty got closer to Avana and her companions, she realized that everyone looked more subdued than their thoughts had led her to believe. No one was smiling. Avana, who was usually bedecked in bright, vibrant colors and wild accessories, was wearing a pair of dark pants and a long-sleeved shirt that blended into the tall forest behind them. Clearly, this megai wasn’t untouched by the upheaval at the palace, either.

  Kyr hurried up to her friend and embraced her in a hard hug. “It’s wonderful to see you.”

  “And you, Ma’jah,” Avana said.

  No matter how close they were, she insisted on using Kyr’s title to address her. An array of feelings bled from Avana into Kyr as they hugged. She sensed Avana’s happiness over finding out she was alive combined with worry about the future. There was something else her friend wasn’t sharing, Kyr was sure of it.

  I promise that all of your questions will be answered soon, Avana thought as she pulled away.

  “We must move from this location, Ra’jah,” said a tall male to Avana’s left. His gaze was on Ty. “Mynders have infiltrated the megai.”

  Dread struck Kyr. She caught Ty’s gaze. They were all out in the open like sitting ducks. Sure, it was in a remote part of the megai, but Vycor’s Mynders were likely on their way.

  “They’ve entered the Luja, Borll, and Rowe megais,” Avana informed them. “We had to resort to trickery to get to this part of the border undetected. But we’ll escape before
they find us. I’ve foreseen it.”

  Mild relief eased the tension in Kyr’s shoulders. Her stress level quickly escalated when the male Luja spoke again.

  “You’ll have to abandon the transport,” he said, lifting a chin in the direction of the Wrym vessel. “Ever since your passage across the Owar bridge, the palace has outlawed travel by powered vehicles. They’re claiming it’s to protect the environment. They said the Rowe discovered high levels of something-or-other in the atmosphere. Utter bullshit, of course. Begging your pardon, Ma’jah.”

  Kyr picked up Ty’s thoughts about this. Vycor knew how easy it was to smuggle people and goods across borders in a powered vehicle. He also knew that using a powered vehicle would get Ty and Kyr to the Vawn megai more quickly. He had outlawed them for those reasons, not the environment.

  Another male who looked nearly identical to the first piped up, “Besides, every Mynder on the planet is on the lookout for this thing.”

  Anxiety tightened around Kyr’s heart as she processed this new obstacle they had to overcome. She watched as Ty walked back to the transport and collected their things. By all accounts, he was taking this news in stride.

  “Sill and Deny will take the transport and dispose of it,” Avana said as the group headed into the forest. “I trust them with my life, so you have nothing to fear there.”

  Kyr had already scanned the group and knew Ty had, as well. None of them intended them harm. That only made her more uneasy for Sill and Deny, who were even then boarding the transport. She hoped they made it back safely.