Emperor's Consort [Chronicles of the Shifter Directive 5] (Siren Publishing Epic Romance, ManLove)

by Scarlet Hyacinth

  As they stepped inside, the first thing that Camden noticed was that Lord Alwyn Cyraltin lay curled on the couch, looking very pale and tired. Instantly, Camden grew alarmed. He’d grown to like Alwyn during his stay in Draechenburg, perhaps because, in spite of the less than ideal circumstances, Alwyn had managed to somehow bypass the automatic distrust draechen had begun to feel toward Elusians through his affection toward Rachen. The most remarkable thing was that Camden didn’t think Alwyn had even made a conscious decision in that regard. He was just a naturally warm and caring person, perhaps more than he himself realized.

  “Is everything all right?” he asked Rachen.

  “Yes and no,” Rachen answered. “We’ve brought someone to speak to you.”

  Camden just arched a brow. The soldier hadn’t mentioned anyone else. This was getting stranger and stranger by the second.

  He opened his mouth to ask what in the world was going on, but never got the chance. Out of thin air, Talbot appeared, right in front of him.

  For a few moments, Camden just stared at Talbot. Surely, this had to be some sort of weird dream caused by the guilt Camden still felt over Talbot’s death. There was simply no other explanation for it. Camden knew for a fact that Talbot’s body had been taken to Greece and buried in his family’s crypt.

  And then, Talbot said, “Hello, Camden,” and Camden couldn’t help it. All of a sudden, he couldn’t breathe anymore, and he swooned in his mate’s arms.

  He thought he might have blacked out, because when he came to, he was on the couch, next to Alwyn. Sage was pressing a wet cloth to his forehead, and their mate bond practically vibrated with panic.

  Camden shot Sage a sheepish smile. He was a little ashamed that he’d fainted like that. He never used to panic so easily. Of course, it wasn’t every day that his dead first love appeared in front of him. That had really happened, right? He hadn’t been dreaming. Or had he?

  “I’m sorry about that,” a familiar voice said. “I didn’t mean to take you by surprise.”

  No, not a dream. Camden looked at Talbot, taking in the sight of the other naga. He seriously didn’t know what to believe. As a paranormal creature, he realized there were more things on this planet than anyone would ever know, but seeing something like this in a person he still considered close was a little mind-bending.

  As Camden mused over this, Sage was shuddering with anger, his magic making the air cold all around them. “What the fuck? Do you really think an apology can fix everything? Do you—”

  Camden just took Sage’s hand and squeezed it, stopping his mate’s rant. Rachen, Alwyn and Talbot couldn’t have known that he was pregnant. Camden and Sage had only just found out. Besides, the last thing Talbot needed right now was to be received with hostility.

  There were a million questions Camden wanted to ask. In the end, he settled for just one. “What happened, Talbot?”

  The other naga released a heavy sigh. “Well, you must have already figured out that I was possessed by the Ancient Horror. The thing is, Camden, this creature doesn’t target just anyone. It uses your weaknesses against you, forces its way inside you through your darkest desires. I was so angry that I’d lost you… The Ancient Horror used that fury against me, and once I became useless, well…you know.”

  Camden winced. Unfortunately, he did know. “But…you’re back now?”

  Talbot shook his head. “I’m just a ghost, and the only reason you can see me is through Lord Cyraltin’s efforts. He gave me a measure of substance so that I could come back and at least clear my name.”

  “So you know where the Ancient Horror is, then?” Sage asked. “You know how to stop it?”

  “I am aware of the creature’s location, yes, but you won’t like it. As for how to destroy it… It needs to be trapped into one vessel, one host who can keep it inside. Someone strong enough for it. And then…that person needs to die.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  When Taryn opened his eyes, the first thing that occurred to him was that he felt…empty. He didn’t immediately realize what jarred him, but then, he realized something dreadful. He couldn’t sense his baby anymore. He reached for his belly and found it flat.

  Shooting out of the bed, Taryn screamed. He now recalled the pain he’d gone through after the draechen attack, all radiating from his abdomen. Had he lost his child? Gods, he couldn’t remember.

  Strong arms wrapped around him, and a voice whispered soft endearments in his ear. “Hush now, sweeting. You’re fine. We’re fine.”

  Hareem? How had he gotten here? Where was here anyway? Taryn couldn’t remember being anywhere else except in his pack’s sanctuary in the caves.

  That thought quickly faded away as irrelevant. He tore himself out of his mate’s embrace, unwilling to accept the comfort if…Gods, if something had happened to his baby. He took hold of Hareem’s shoulders and squeezed them so hard his claws dug into Hareem’s flesh.

  “Hareem… Our son?”

  “He’s all right,” Hareem replied softly. He brushed his fingers over Taryn’s cheek, making him realize that he was crying. “Let me get him for you, okay?”

  Taryn nodded and slowly released his mate. Hareem got up and pressed a featherlight kiss to Taryn’s temple. The gesture was so heart-breakingly gentle that Taryn might have thought his lover was preparing him for the shock of having lost his son. However, just as that fear flashed through him, he felt a stirring in his heart, one that couldn’t be denied. A light that glowed next to his mate bond with Hareem finally showed him the truth.

  A gasp escaped Taryn’s lips, and he shot to his feet. Just as he did so, Hareem moved away from the bed and retrieved a small infant from a crib Taryn hadn’t originally seen. The child released a soft coo, and Taryn stared in frozen awe as Hareem held him close.

  His mate crossed the distance between them and slowly handed the boy to Taryn. “This is our son,” he said. “Look, sweeting. Look how beautiful he is. Just like you.”

  Taryn took the child from his mate, cradling him to his chest. He’d already loved his son, from the very first moment he’d felt the beginning of life inside him. He had known his boy would be special, and he could see it clearly now, in the baby’s different-colored eyes. As their gazes met, though, Taryn’s instincts started to scream at him.

  “Something’s wrong,” he said, glancing at his mate. “What’s the matter with him?”

  Hareem released a heavy sigh. “It was a difficult birth. Both of you nearly died, although I’m told that your pack helped with everything they could. I managed to arrive a few hours later, and I brought Prince Talrasar with me, but he could only provide limited assistance. We managed to get you here, to Rose Noire, where you both received the best treatment possible. According to the priestesses, you’ll heal perfectly, but our son came to the world prematurely. They’re not sure yet.”

  Taryn’s breath caught. This was his fault, his fault for not being able to protect their child, for using magic he had never even been aware of before, for clinging to his pride, thinking he was doing the right thing and leaving Hareem’s side. He’d failed his son, and now an innocent life was paying the price.

  Hareem guided him to sit down and cupped his cheek. “You know things are rarely so black and white, sweeting. We both looked for the best solution, and at the time, that seemed it. No one could have predicted that Elina would manage to find you.”

  Elina. Taryn’s rival and Hareem’s supposed future fiancée. Anger coursed through Taryn just at the thought of what she’d done. He wanted to rip her to little pieces and make a handbag out of her hide.

  “Oh, you’ll get your revenge, and so will I, sweeting,” Hareem said darkly. “You can count on that. But meanwhile, you need to rest and recuperate.” Through their bond, he added, “Rose Noire isn’t entirely safe. It just occurred to me that the Ancient Horror could even be here. After all, if someone could have found out where you were just like that, it’s the High Priestess.”

  Taryn’s eyes w
idened. “You can’t possibly think she would… Isn’t she in a coma?”

  “Exactly,” Hareem answered.

  It made sense, although Taryn couldn’t help but wonder how no one had realized it until now. Surely, Sari or Selbrian would have been able to tell if a possessed person was hanging around. Either way, it seemed obvious that they couldn’t stay here.

  But where would he go now? What had even happened to his pack? And what about Hareem? Surely, he couldn’t abandon Draechenburg, just like that.

  Hareem’s expression darkened as that thought passed through Taryn’s mind. “I’m not leaving you again. Wherever we go, we’ll do so together. The three of us.”

  Taryn couldn’t argue with that. It was what he wanted, too, what he’d always wanted. He ached for his son, but he had to believe that together, they’d surpass this.

  As if hearing his thoughts, the baby extended his small hands toward Taryn and released a small coo. Taryn couldn’t help it. He smiled. “We should name him.”

  “Galynek,” Hareem said quickly. Obviously, he’d given it some thought while Taryn had been out of it.

  Taryn snorted. “You draechen and your strange names. I like it, though. We can call him Galyn.”

  Their gazes met, and in that moment, Taryn could easily see himself shouting his son’s name, perhaps reprimanding him for something. Hareem would laugh as Galyn would try to trick Taryn out of being angry. Eventually, of course, Taryn would yield to Galyn’s pleas, because he loved his son too much to stay mad at him.

  A knock sounded at the door, and the vision—or whatever it had been—faded. Galyn started to sniffle, apparently not happy with the interruption. Taryn rocked his son, shushing him. “Did he eat?” he asked Hareem.

  “Yes, and we have more formula we can heat up if we need it. I don’t think he’s hungry, though.”

  Taryn didn’t either. In fact, he had a feeling that his son’s anxiousness was, much like his own, connected to the new arrival. Hareem smiled tightly at him. “It’s probably nothing. I think it’s just Karein.”

  With that, Hareem went to get the door. Indeed, Karein and Sari were at the other side. “Oh, I’m so glad to see you’re better,” Sari exclaimed. “We were very worried about you.”

  It was strange that the couple had made them feel anxious, since, now, Galyn settled down and stopped crying. Similarly, Taryn’s nervousness disappeared, at least in regard to their visitors.

  “Thank you,” he said. He glanced at Sari’s swollen belly and distantly wondered when the fae would give birth. Taryn had gotten pregnant before him, but not by much. “When are you due?” he asked.

  “Oh, we’re not very sure,” Sari replied as he and his mate entered the room. After a brief pause, he added, “You never know with these things. Karein tells me that draechen pregnancies last for quite a while and werewolf ones are shorter, but a friend of mine who is mated to a wolf still hasn’t delivered his baby.”

  A friend of his. Caelyn Sutharlainn. Taryn had forgotten that Graham and Caelyn also had a little one on the way. The knowledge pleased him, because Graham deserved to be happy.

  “I’m sure they’ll be fine,” he answered.

  Galyn chose this moment to start cooing again. Sari wiggled his fingers at him, making Galyn giggle gleefully. “We named him Galynek,” Hareem told Sari and Karein. “Galyn for short.”

  “That’s a lovely name.” As the young fae passed his hand over Galyn’s forehead, the blue gem in the center of Sari’s forehead started to glow.

  For a few seconds, he didn’t say anything. Instead, he just looked at Galyn, his silver eyes shining with kindness and affection. When he glanced at Taryn again, he smiled. “I know you’re worried about him, but he is a strong boy. He’ll be all right.”

  “Do you really think that,” Taryn asked, “or are you just giving a white lie to comfort me?”

  Sari shook his head. “I wouldn’t do that. I wouldn’t give you false hopes. If I did, it would only hurt more later on.”

  Hope bubbled inside Taryn and he managed to smile back. “Thank you. That helps more than you know.”

  Sari beamed. “I’m glad.”

  “So when are you two headed out to Draechenburg?” Karein inquired, changing the hopeful tone of the conversation.

  Taryn grimaced, while Hareem hesitated. Truly, right now, he didn’t seem very sure they’d be going to Draechenburg at all, which was probably the reason why Karein had approached the matter in the first place.

  “Taryn and I have been thinking,” Hareem finally said, “and we think—”

  Before he could finish the phrase, a priestess burst into the room, not even bothering to knock at the door. She was very pale, her eyes swimming in tears. “Your Highness,” she gasped out, clutching Sari’s hand, “it’s Her Holiness. The High Priestess is dying.”

  * * * *

  When Sari ran into his mother’s quarters, he had no idea what he was expecting. He had never imagined this situation as possible. The sight that greeted his eyes was even more terrible than his worst nightmares.

  His mother thrashed on the bed, seizing and foaming at the mouth. The machines that had been monitoring her life signs were screaming, and Sari could tell that heart failure was imminent. Meanwhile, several priestesses surrounded the bed, trying to reach her, but unable to. A shield surrounded Eanera, making it impossible for anyone to approach. Even Sari’s father was there, trying to push past the enchantment, but failing.

  “What in the world is going on?” Sari asked, light-headed. “What’s keeping them from her?”

  “Sari, get out of here,” Selbrian said tightly. “You don’t want to see this. You’re not in any condition for it.”

  Karein grabbed Sari’s arm and started to drag him out. “Your father is right, Sari,” he said. “This isn’t good for you, or the baby.”

  It seemed obvious that they all thought his mother was going to die. Well, Sari had no intentions to leave. He knew himself and if he exited this room, he’d just fret and worry more.

  “I’ll stay,” he said. “I can’t abandon her. Please don’t make me.”

  His voice trembled as he spoke, and Karein’s breath caught. He said nothing, but he stopped attempting to pull Sari out of the room.

  Sari slowly approached the bed, and the priestesses moved aside as he walked. “Please, Mother,” he said. “Let us help you.”

  Instead of helping, his presence seemed to make things worse. The shields expanded, pushing Sari back. “Mother,” Sari called out, “what are you doing?”

  There was no reaction other than the one Sari had been trying to stop in the first place. Sari’s eyes filled with tears. “Why? Why is this happening?”

  He touched the shield again, but this time, much to his surprise, something unexpected happened. The world went white, and out of the blue, Sari wasn’t in his mother’s quarters anymore. In fact, he seemed to have been propelled in an abyss of untainted white, where no up or down existed, only himself and… his mother. No, that wasn’t right. Karein was also there, right beside him, as always. And there was something else, a cloud of darkness marring the purity of it.

  “What is this?” Sari asked. “Where are we?”

  Eanera laughed, a breathy, kind sound which Sari had missed tremendously. “You know where you are, dear child.”

  Yes, he did, but for some reason, it seemed safer to ask that than the questions he truly wanted answering. He clutched his mate’s hand, squeezing it tightly, and Karein did what he couldn’t. “What is going on, High Priestess?” he inquired. “Why are you struggling between life and death? Clearly, you still have quite a lot of power.”

  Eanera nodded, her expression grim. “It’s because of this power that I need to do this. Come. Let me show you something.”

  The image changed, the strange void fading into Eanera’s quarters. Sari saw himself, sitting on the bed, biting his lower lip. Eanera lay against the pillows, holding his hand. “I told you I’m perfectly all righ
t,” she said. “We’ll see each other again in the morning.”

  Sari remembered that day. He had been feeling particularly tired and nauseated, while his mother had made an almost complete recovery. He’d wanted to stay with her, but he’d known that any further effort on his part would put a lot of strain on his pregnancy.

  “All right,” he said in the memory. The past-Sari hugged his mother. “I’m going. Sleep well.”

  She kissed him and watched him go, as always accompanied by Karein. As the door closed behind the two of them, the room fell silent. For a while, Eanera seemed to drift off into slumber, but then, a strange sound outside her door startled her from doze. The door opened, and Onyerre stepped inside.

  Sari let out a soft noise as he watched the scene. He should have known the damn bitch had something to do with this. She always tried to find every way to destroy Sari and Eanera.

  In the memory, Onyerre approached the bed. “What is it that you want?” Eanera asked. “How did you get past the guards?”

  Onyerre laughed. “Oh, I have my ways.”

  Suddenly, her eyes were consumed by darkness, completely black, and Sari’s heart fell. He didn’t want to continue seeing this. He didn’t want to know what his mother had done, because he already suspected the truth.

  The past-Eanera blinked, then released a heavy sigh. “I thought I sensed something within you. How could you do this, Onyerre? How could you bring that creature here, where your children are?”

  “I have no interest in Onyerre’s children, just in yours.” Onyerre smirked, and Sari knew that she wasn’t really the one speaking. “Your offspring carries something of great interest to me. But alas, until that baby is born, I can’t do what I need to. So, congratulations. You’ve earned my full attention for the next couple of months.”