by Rosalie Redd
“You have some of his blood. Focus on it. Follow your instincts, your heart.” A warm smile broke across her face, and she ran to the bars once again. “Say, you want to play a game?”
“Oh, Ginnia. I don’t have time for—”
Ginnia pouted, her bottom lip quivering. “But you have to play. It’s the only way to get you out of the Keep so you can find my brother.”
Nikki wrung her fingers over her bracelet and stepped closer. “You can help me get out of the Keep? Show me how to find Gaetan?”
Ginnia nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips. “I already told you how to find Gaetan, silly.”
A little root of hope sprouted in Nikki’s chest. “What do I need to do?”
The little seer pointed to Gaetan’s staff, her fingers curling. “Gimme.”
Nikki gripped the worn wood and placed the staff against the bars.
Ginnia’s eyes gleamed. She wrapped her fingers around Gaetan’s cane and touched the sunstone embedded in the handle to the lock. A bright flash of light emitted from the gem.
Nikki cried out and covered her eyes.
Thunk. Something heavy and metal hit the stone floor.
The brightness from the sunstone receded.
Nikki opened her eyes. The open padlock lay on the ground next to Gaetan’s staff.
Ginnia pushed against the bars. A loud squeak echoed down the hall.
She gripped Nikki’s hand. A soothing warmth spread up Nikki’s arm, calming her. “Come. Let’s go.”
“Where are we going?” Nikki picked up Gaetan’s cane.
Ginnia giggled. “To visit Rin.”
As Nikki crossed the threshold into the Portal Navigation Center, memories flooded her mind. The Gossum attack, Gaetan cradling her in his arms, the jump through the portal. Her heart skipped a beat.
Gaetan had saved her life. Even though she had this overwhelming desire to be with him, his addiction to his medication scared her. With the single band around his throat, she wasn’t sure if their relationship could survive, but she’d do everything in her power to help him. She owed him that much, at least.
Ginnia crossed her arms and huffed. “Rin’s not here.”
Indeed, the Portal Navigation Center was empty except for the giant central stone, a desk along the side of one wall, and a couple of wooden stools. A small stream encircled the stone and disappeared down a small hole nearby.
Ginnia darted to a dark place in the room and disappeared.
Nikki inhaled and ran after her. “Ginnia?”
The little seer emerged from behind a rock outcropping. An assortment of wheeled beds, wheelchairs, and other medical transportation equipment lined the walls. “I thought Rin played hide and seek with me, but he’s not here.”
“Where do you think he is?”
Ginnia placed her finger against her mouth and stared at the ceiling. “He only leaves here at night if all the warriors are away, but he won’t be gone long. That’s okay. I can do this on my own.”
Nikki furrowed her brow. She didn’t want the other female to do anything dangerous and injure herself. “Do what?”
“Start the portal, silly. That’s the game, but you have to help me.”
Restlessness darted along Nikki’s nerves. “Help you? What can I do?”
Ginnia skipped to the large portal stone and peered at the collection of sunstones lining the top. She scrunched her nose then smiled. “I’ll use my powers. You use yours. Together, we’ll open the portal. Wanna play?”
Nikki narrowed her eyes at the seer. “I don’t know if I can control my powers. What do I—”
Ginnia placed her hands on her hips. “I swirl my hands over the stones on the porte stanen. You swirl the mist, you know, the water, like you did in the bathtub.”
A chill scurried over Nikki’s back. “How do you know about that?”
A chagrinned look crossed Ginnia’s features. “Don’t worry. I closed my eyes when you got in and out of the tub. Let’s start.”
Ginnia spun her hands over the stones, faster and faster. A soft glow emitted from the gems lining the outermost ring. “Hurry, get into place by the platform.”
Nikki sprinted across the room and stood on the platform’s bottom step. Mist formed over the large flat stone. She swirled her hands, trying to imitate Ginnia’s movements. Nothing happened. Panic welled inside. “It’s not working.”
“You’re trying too hard, silly. You have to play with it. Like this.” Ginnia launched her hands in the air then brought them back down, her fingers skating over the stones as if they were a baby grand’s keyboard. “Have fun!”
Nikki swooshed her hands through the air. Nothing happened, but she focused her attention on the mist and pretended she was a great musician, playing Mozart for a grand audience. Her chest expanded, and she let her emotions flow. The vapor coalesced into a ball, swirling faster and faster. “It’s working!”
“We’re…almost…there!” Ginnia squeaked.
“Where am I going?”
“I thought we talked about this.” Ginnia pursed her lips. “To save Gaetan, silly. Oh, and tell him I don’t blame him, never did.”
“What?” Distracted by the seer’s comment, Nikki lost her focus. The swirling mist slowed.
“Don’t stop!” Ginnia’s wail echoed around the room.
Nikki concentrated on the mist again, pulling water from the stream that ran along the edge of the porte stanen. As the mist solidified, a grove of trees came into view. A cool breeze carried the scent of fresh rain and cedar.
The red sunstone in the central portal brightened.
Ginnia jumped up and down. “Go, go!”
Nikki took a deep breath, grabbed Gaetan’s staff, and sprinted through the opening. The last thing she heard was Ginnia’s voice. “Don’t let Gaetan lose the blue sunstone…”
CHAPTER 18
A lora slapped her palm against the table. The wood shook from the force, rattling the vase of Coletta flowers against the polished grain. A single petal slipped from one of the flowers and landed gracefully on the table top. The delicate frond was a symbol of what could happen if she gave in to Zedron’s demands—her life would slip away.
Perhaps the war over Earth wasn’t worth the price.
Anlon’s giggles filled the room, along with Carine’s soft, encouraging murmurs. Her new friend gripped Anlon’s small hand, helping him toddle past the couch and into an open area of the room. His smile lit up his features, triumph gleaming in his eyes.
Alora’s jaw tightened. No, she couldn’t give up on Earth. Anlon’s fate, as well as all her characters on the planet, including the humans, depended on her to win the war. Otherwise, the humans would be enslaved and her characters would be marked as failures.
“He’s learning so fast.” Carine’s smile faded as she met Alora’s gaze. “What is it?”
Alora strode to her visus bacin and leaned over the still water. Her reflection stared back at her, and she couldn’t stand to look at the lines etched around her eyes, so she turned around. With a loud exhale, she leaned against the hard rim. “This war needs to end, soon. I miss Veromé.”
Anlon squealed. He raised his hands and smiled.
In mid-air, his red sunstone floated toward the character board. With a hard smack, the gem hit the display. The screen lit up.
“Anlon, no, honey, don’t do that.” Carine ran to the little boy and scooped him into her arms.
A loud, protesting wail rose from him.
The sunstone dropped to the ground with a loud thunk.
Alora rushed to her character board. The last thing she needed was a broken screen. She studied the display. Smooth and unblemished, the surface was as perfect as always. Red and green dots, representative of the characters in the game, congregated on the board. A quick shiver of relief traced down her arms.
“Anlon, stop.” Carine tried to contain the babe, but he stretched his arms and legs as he squirmed and slipped from her grasp.
He toddl
ed to the couch and raised his hands. The sunstone rose in the air and smacked against the character board once again. This time, the display darkened, all the characters disappearing from view.
“No, oh, no!” Panic welled in Alora’s chest. “I need to see the character board!”
The board flickered, once, twice, three times. Words appeared on the screen. Alora inhaled.
“What does it say?” Carine whispered.
Alora took a deep breath. “Congratulations! If you can read this, you have unlocked a hidden level within the character board. As your reward, you may return one player from the deceased to the active section of play. Good luck!”
The words disappeared from view, and the display returned to its normal state, the red and green dots filling the screen.
Alora turned her attention to Anlon. He crawled to the sunstone and retrieved it from behind the couch. “I always knew you would be important in the game, but I had no idea you would help me in this way.”
She scooped him into her arms and hugged him. He squirmed, his arms and legs flailing like an octopus. Alora set him on the wooden floor. As if with a purpose, he crawled to the couch and drew himself to a standing position. His pure smile beamed from ear to ear.
Carine cleared her throat. “I’m not sure I understand. You get to bring back one of your characters?”
Alora’s chest swelled. “Sure seems that way. This could be a game-changer for me.” She tapped her finger against her mouth. “Who should I choose? There are so many fine warriors and kings that have come and gone during this war.”
Anlon cooed and slapped his hands against the couch. The innocence in his eyes broke through Alora’s glee, dampening it. Anlon had lost both his father and mother.
“I should bring back Noeh. He would help win this war…”
Carine’s brow furrowed.
“You don’t like that idea?”
Carine licked her lips and glanced between Anlon and Alora. “I’m sorry, but in my humble opinion, a babe needs his mother.”
“Melissa…” Alora whispered.
A soft cry filled the air. Anlon wobbled on his feet, then plopped to the ground. A mixture of pride and frustration crossed his features.
Alora’s mind raced through the possibilities—Noeh or Melissa. Before she could decide, a soft hum resonated in the air. Light shimmered as particles of energy coalesced in the middle of the room.
Alora glanced through the window. Clouds in shades of orange and pink dotted the Lemurian sky. Morning had come so quickly.
The molecules fused together and Veromé appeared. His shoulder-length brown hair needed a trim, along with his goatee, but that made him all the more manly and handsome in her eyes.
Alora ran to her mate, eager to touch him, hold him.
He wrapped his arms around her, tugging her close. “My love.”
Burying her nose against his neck, his cool, fresh scent washed over her. “Veromé, so much has happened. I have to tell you about—”
Waahhh…
Veromé flinched, his arms tightening around her waist. “What is—”
Alora pulled back to look at him. “That’s Anlon. Noeh and Melissa’s son.”
Carine picked up the babe, and he rested his head against her chest. “The little guy needs a nap. I’ll take him upstairs and leave you two alone for a few minutes.”
“Thank you, Carine.” Alora toyed with a lock of Veromé’s hair, enjoying how the silky strands tickled her finger.
Carine’s soft, retreating footfalls were the only sounds in the quiet room.
Veromé cleared his throat. “You ready to tell me about this?”
Alora drew away from him, her anxiety fueling her anger. “You assume I’ve done something, don’t you?”
He crossed his arms, and the muscles in his biceps bulged. “It bothers me that I’m unable to help you in this war other than to provide support. I love you dearly, but I don’t trust Zedron in this game.”
Irritation flared along her nerves. He’d reminded her of Zedron’s requirements. How could she tell her mate of her decision? She couldn’t, so she concentrated on the child. “Anlon fell through a portal. Carine found him and rescued him from a rhondo beast. We brought the babe here. What was I to do?”
He blinked. “A rhondo beast?”
She nodded, biting back the tears that welled behind her eyes. Her frustration, anger, and fear boiled over, and one slipped over her lash. Time was not her ally.
Veromé opened his arms. “Forgive me, my love. Come here.”
She melded into him, thankful for his acceptance and his loving care. “I don’t want to lose you.”
He stroked his fingers through her hair, petting her. “Sh…sh…I’m not going anywhere.”
…But I am… As much as she loved her mate, she couldn’t let Zedron win and enslave the Earthlings. She’d go to her nemesis come nightfall.
“Kiss me,” she said, tears streaking down her cheeks.
Veromé cradled her head in his palm and pressed his lips to hers. She gripped the edge of his shirt, her fingers curling around the material. The familiar tug started in her gut, and she disappeared to her dark place.
CHAPTER 19
G aetan ran, faster than he ever dreamed possible. Muscles in his leg stretched and flexed, propelling him forward. He leapt over a tree snag. The roots protruded into the air like fingers trying to stop him, but the beast ruled, elated to be free.
Landing on the soft ferns, one whipped against his arm, spraying droplets of water across his cheek. He crouched for a moment to listen, assess, learn. The forest was eerily silent. No creature dared make a sound in his presence. A low growl burned at the back of his throat.
The breeze picked up, rippling the fur on his arms. He flared his nostrils and sniffed the air. The scents of the forest filled his senses—pine, damp foliage, the droppings of a nearby fox. No scent of his enemy or his kind. He’d evaded his pursuers, and tension in his shoulders eased.
Small feet scurried over the bark. He turned his head toward the sound. In the moon’s soft glow, a mouse quivered on an adjacent branch. It stared at Gaetan, fear reflected in the tiny creature’s dark round eyes.
Gaetan chuffed. The creature had nothing to fear from him. A desire to touch the small rodent flitted over his mind. He extended his index finger toward the animal.
The mouse fled, its feet scuttling over the fallen log’s deteriorating bark.
A sadness he didn’t understand built inside. Low and forlorn, a moan eased from his mouth. He shoved away from the snag and continued on. Something tickled the back of his mind, his destination or his goal perhaps.
Anl… Nico… but he couldn’t quite grasp the images. His goal faded from his consciousness. Grief. Anguish. Guilt so heavy, each step was an act of stubborn will.
The moon slid across the sky and, still, he wandered. Exhaustion took hold of his muscles long before his mind. The beast needed to sleep.
He placed his hand against a cedar. The bark’s sweet scent filled his lungs. Not far away, rushing water echoed between the trees. His pulse sped, but he knew not why.
With an urgency he didn’t understand, he bolted toward the sound. Tree branches snapped in his wake. Moist from the recent rain, soft loam squished beneath his feet.
He came to a small bluff. In the chasm below, a great waterfall roared into the most magnificent blue pool he’d ever seen. A wistful tightness formed around his chest.
Blue Pool…
He didn’t know what the words meant, but they continued to echo in his head.
Blue Pool…
Blue Pool…
Blue Pool…
I found it.
He growled. In the back of his mind, something pushed against his subconscious, as if trying to take control. He lashed out, his large hands fighting an invisible enemy. His fingers snagged on a large tree branch. A loud crack rent the air.
The bough careened over the cliff and landed in the pool below. T
he sheer force from the waterfall smashed the limb against the rocks. Bits and pieces floated downstream.
“Gaetan.” A soft, feminine voice slid by on the breeze.
He stilled. He flared his nostrils and inhaled. The scent of sweet, ripe melons trickled into his senses, familiar and enticing. With a quick turn, he searched the forest.
There was nothing, no one.
A low moan, filled with frustration, ripped from him.
“Gaetan, I’m here to help you.” The female’s voice came again, this time from his right. He turned in time to see her supple, curvy figure emerge from behind a tree. She held a long staff.
A mixture of desire, fear, and longing warred within, confusing him. He took a step back, toward the cliff’s edge.
She approached him, this beautiful, thoughtful female with her light hair and compassionate eyes. He had the sudden desire to touch her, but the memory of the fleeing mouse whipped through his mind. A low, keening wail filled the air and it took him a moment to understand the ragged cry came from him.
She placed the cane against a cedar, held out her palms, and edged toward him. “Gaetan. It’s Nikki…er…Nicole.”
Nicole… A loud ping resounded in his ears. His legs shook.
“I know you won’t hurt me. I’m your mate. Let me help you.” Close enough to touch him, she reached forward and placed her hand on his forearm.
Her electric touch sent a shockwave of desire through him. Operating under pure instinct, the beast wrapped his arm around her waist and tugged her close.
“Mmmmmine,” he snarled, unable to soften his tone.
Wrapped in Gaetan’s arms, Nikki’s cheek pressed against his chest. Smothered by all his fur, she struggled to breathe. He rubbed his palm over her backside, and despite the utter strength he emitted, his touch was gentle.
She squirmed against him. He growled, the sound low, predatory, and filled with sexual need. Her nipples peaked in response, hardening against his chest.
His erection grew hard and firm, pressing along her abdomen and between her breasts. She inhaled at his sheer size. Holy hell, in his beast form he was more than she could handle. “Gaetan, let me go.”
