by Averi Hope
Raiden started up the steps, and she came behind him. The platform in the center of the space seemed to loom up at them. And the golden statues of a dozen other Khars from as far back as anyone could remember lined the entire back wall. Around the golden statues, the walls had been carved with the stories of Khars’ lives, and their deaths.
When they reached the platform, Saura held her breath. She had expected it, and yet, the sight of Raiden’s father forever preserved in gold shocked her. Unlike the other Khars, who looked as old as their hundreds upon hundreds of years, Raiden’s father looked strangely young and healthy.
“Damn it!” Raiden shouted, slamming his fist into the table next to his father’s statue-like body.
She reached for his shoulder, hesitating an inch from touching him. “It’s okay.”
“No.” He hung his head over his father. “No, it’s not.”
Curling her hand, she held it against her chest. Waiting. Knowing what he needed.
He spun on her. “My father was the best Khar our people ever saw, and a terrible father. He was mean. Nasty. He didn’t give a damn about me. Nothing I did was ever good enough. But now, now I can’t say any of those things to him. I can’t even be angry. Because he’s dead…and I’ll never…never see him…”
His eyes closed, and suddenly she couldn’t hold herself back anymore. She pulled him into her arms, holding his stiff body.
This time his voice was quieter. “Back on Falaytious, sometimes we would fish together. Whenever he caught me staring up at the sky, he’d say, ‘stop thinking about the day that this will all end, and start enjoying being here now.’ I didn’t really understand. Not until we left.”
She stroked his hair, waiting.
“He tried to teach me everything he knew, even though I fought him every step of the way, always wanting to do things my own way. I hated what I saw in his eyes, even though he never spoke the words. He knew I lashed out because I was angry with him for not being able to save my mother and little brother. Once, late one evening, he said I couldn’t hate him forever. I knew he was right. But I still couldn’t forgive him.”
“It’s not too late,” she said, softly. “The gods say our Khars live on forever in their blood, listening and giving guidance when needed. Speak to him.”
Raiden nodded, and pulled away from her. When he turned back around, he reached out and gently touched his father’s golden cheek. “You were a good father. I love you. And I shall make you proud.”
Tears spilled from her eyes, and she tried to hold back the sounds of her sadness. She couldn’t imagine what he was going through. Even though she’d spent the past few years in the Garden of Virtue, she’d always carried the strength and pride her father had cultivated inside her. Often her father disagreed with her, but he never withheld his love or respect. If she lost him, she’d be destroyed, but there would be nothing left unsaid.
Guilt and grief. Apart they are terrible, together they can be soul-destroying.
He stepped away and walked to the bathing pool. She watched as he undressed and stepped into the steaming waters. The mist rose around him like a cloud. He went beneath the waterfall and touched the ancient, massive lever in the center of the waterfall’s flowing waters. Black liquid wove in with the pale waters, and suddenly, the water exploded in flames.
She watched, heart leaping in her chest. Waiting.
At last, he stepped from the pool of fire. Flames danced along his scarlet flesh, making him look just like the legends.
This is how an heir, a son, becomes the Khar.
Becomes a god.
He left a trail of blackened footsteps as he walked toward her, then held out his hand. In his palm, four stones rested. She gasped. Fire. Water. Land. And Wind. All four elements had come to him. It’s impossible. But it wasn’t. The red stone was the largest, followed by the pale brown stone, then the deep blue one, and finally the white one.
“Raiden,” she whispered.
His eyes were wide. “This can’t be.”
But the truth stared them in the eye. Raiden would be the first Khar in more than ten generations to receive a blessing from all four of the gods. Most received one or two. His father had been given three.
She shivered, wrapping her arms around herself. Then, knelt and bowed her head. “My Khar.”
For a long time he didn’t speak, but then his voice came out as a whisper. “It’s your turn.”
“My turn?” she asked, looking up and frowning. “But—?”
“You will step into the waters on the other side and freeze them. When the lava bubbles up beneath you, you will use your magic to create the stone for your own crown.”
She shook her head. “The lava will burn me.”
One of his brows rose, the fire around him finally dying down. “Not if you are meant to be my Khara. And you are.”
Nodding, she rose on legs that trembled. I must have faith. Like the Kharas before me.
But what if you get less stones than Raiden? A panicky thought whispered in the back of her mind. She took a deep breath. Don’t think about that. You are your mate’s equal and the Gods will see that.
Undoing the tie at her waist, she let the gown tumble from her body. Beneath, she wore nothing. Stepping into the waters, she held back her gasp at their heat. They smelled strange. Ancient and powerful. She didn’t know how their ancestors had created this room, not just so it looked like the original Temple of the Gods back on their planet, but so that it functioned in the same way. She was amazed by it.
I just hope I didn’t spend so much of my powers last night that I fail from sheer exhaustion. She pushed the thought away as she sank below the waters and called her magic. The water froze around her, spreading out in a wave. It was much stronger and faster than she expected, and, for an instant, panic welled inside her. I’m encased in ice!
But then, from below her, a bright red-and-orange glow came. Her brows furrowed. Gods! It exploded around her. Fire. Flames. Heat brushed her, bringing panic screaming through her heart.
But it didn’t burn her.
The lava surrounded her until there was no escape. Desperation filled her. But then, through the flames she saw a pale blue speck. Reaching out, she took it in her hand. As it touched her flesh, it grew larger and larger until it was bigger than her eyes. She clutched the hot stone, before spotting two more blue specks. They flew to her open palm as she reached out, growing nearly as large as the first.
And then the lava vanished, as she swirled in the waters, then exploded out of the water, gasping for breath. Swimming to shore, she sank onto her knees. Raiden, still naked, gathered her in his arms.
“Saura?”
As her panic faded, a new emotion rose. Misery. “There were only three stones. Three.”
She felt broken. The Gods have blessed me as the new Khara, but they do not see me as my mate’s equal.
“Let me see,” he said, softly.
For a minute she didn’t want to, then she closed her eyes, and opened her hand.
He gasped. “Saura!” His voice was filled with excitement.
Her eyes snapped open and she looked at him, confused.
“Those are the largest water stones I’ve ever seen!” The smile that stretched his mouth from ear to ear was incredible.
“That’s…that’s good?”
“It isn’t just about how many stones you have. It’s about how large they are.”
“But the Kharas before had many more stones than this. One had at least a dozen of them,” she argued, softly.
“Yes, but all of them combined weren’t as large as this one,” he explained, pointing at her largest stone.
“So this really is good?” she asked, daring to hope that she might be a Khara to make her people proud.
“Very good.” He smiled and took her hand, leading her to the back wall.
Around them, the past Kharas’ gold-covered bodies seemed to stand at their sides.
On this side of the dais, sh
e could see two crystal pools.
“Put your stones in that one. And keep your hands in with them. Don’t let them go, no matter what.”
She followed his instructions and he did the same.
The crystal pools bubbled with gold. The water heated, but not uncomfortably. And then, the bubbling stopped. In the bottom of the pool, her crown waited.
“Take it out,” he whispered.
She did, almost unable to contain herself.
The delicate crown was made of gold that had veins of blue running through. It looked like branches of a tree woven together. In the center, the largest blue stone was flanked by the two smaller ones. Taking a deep breath, she set it on top of her wet hair, then turned to Raiden who already wore his crown.
His crown was solid gold, with red veins weaving through it. Four spikes, that almost looked like leaves, rose. Each one contained one of the four gems. She stared, unable to form the words to explain how regal he looked.
“How will Kaemon question us now?” he asked, softly.
She felt strength fill her belly. “He can’t.”
But then another thought came to her that made her confidence waver. “Why did Kaemon let us in here in the first place? Why didn’t he make a crown for himself before we arrived?”
He sighed, his expression growing grim. “It has been more generations than I can count since a Khar and his heir have died. The phrase blood rules the throne has always made it an easy question of who would rule next. In this situation, with a dead Khar and his heir missing, all three of my cousins were ‘next’ in line for the throne, so Kaemon could not have simply come in here on his own and tried to make a crown. He would have died a slow and excruciating death in the sacred waters. In order for him to have a chance at the throne, the entire council would have had to enter this room with him and give their support. Then, the gods would’ve determined if he was worthy, and how worthy.”
She nibbled her lip. “So, at least that’s something for us to feel relieved about, right?”
“Not exactly.” His gaze grew more troubled. “With me still being alive when he tried to take the throne, the gods might’ve found him unworthy and ended his life. But if anything happens to me now, his blood makes him potentially a legitimate candidate to take the throne.”
Her heart raced. “So—“
“If something happens to me before we make a male heir, he will have an easier chance claiming the throne than when I was gone.”
She shook her head. “That can’t be true. Can’t you just name one of your other cousins as heir?”
His gaze met hers. “After he poisoned my father and tried to kill me, I think naming either of them my heir would mean a death sentence for them.”
She clenched her hands at her sides. “So what can we do?”
He gave a humorless laugh. “Not die. Prove him a traitor. And create an heir.”
“That sounds easy,” she whispered.
Wrapping his arms around her, he pulled her close against his naked body. For a long time he held her, stroking her hair, and saying nothing.
Just his closeness, his smell, brought something roaring to life within her. She pulled back and looked him straight in the eye. “That bastard is going to pay for putting you through this.”
For killing his father.For hurting him. For making a hard time even harder.
His lips brushed her own, and he smiled. “Perhaps we should let you drive him somewhere?”
Her eyes widened in shock, and then she punched him playfully in the shoulder. “Damn ungrateful—“
He laughed, but she could see his true feelings in the darkness in the scarlet ring of his eyes. He’s angry. He wants Kaemon to pay, just as I do.
“No use putting this off any longer,” she said, brushing her hand along his cheek.
He nodded, and they pulled apart, dressing quickly.
But when she started walking toward the door, he turned back and strode to his father. “I will avenge you.” He pressed to fingers to his lips. “I promise.”
Somehow the room seemed to grow colder. The birds grew silent, and the air held a coppery scent that seemed to settle on her tongue.
A promise before the gods. She shivered, looking at the statues of the Khars. Their gazes held her own, making the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. Let’s hope we can keep it.
Chapter Nineteen
Raiden squeezed Saura’s hand as they came to a stop in front of their thrones. It’s time. He tried to push aside his lingering fears, but the truth was that everything had come down to this moment. I must be successful. I must be the male my people need. That my mate needs.
Saura flashed him a reassuring smile as she lowered herself into the seat at the head of the council table. Behind him, he could hear the Elders as they took their places, but his eyes remained trained on his mate. Gracefully, she smoothed the skirt of her long, golden gown, then leaned back in a way that seemed to cloak her in an air of patience.
Between her crown with the impressive water stones and the way she holds herself, she looks every inch the Khara. This is what she was born to be. His gaze swung to the throne beside her. My father’s seat.
No. My seat.
Even though I’m playing a part. Pretending to be the Khar I will never be in my heart.
Somehow, his time spent as a bartender at Rusty’s and being seen as just a normal man to the humans of Earth felt like little more than a fantasy. The happiest days of my life are gone in the blink of an eye.
But reality was sure to catch up with me eventually.
Feeling numb, he lowered himself onto the cool metal throne and waved for the council members to be seated. Ten of the twelve seats were suddenly filled, and all eyes turned to him. The air in the room felt too warm. Too heavy. Even with the many windows looking out at space, the walls seemed to be closing in on him.
I can feel some of their anger so deeply. It’s like a living thing eating away at my chest.
He’d sensed it in the Elders from the first moment they’d arrived. They had intended to have Kaemon as their Khar. My returning complicated that for them.
He understood their anger. Having Kaemon meant an end to their years of traveling in space, searching for a new homeworld. With one press of a button, the humans are dead. We all have a new home, and no one has to spend too long thinking about the consequences of what has been done.
But we can’t do it that way.
The Elders had been trying to come up with some way to justify still giving Kaemon the throne, even though it went against the most basic tenet of their law of succession. Blood rules the throne.
But how can the council go against us when the gods have given us their greatest blessings? This should prove to them it was meant to be.
When he and Saura had emerged from the Temple of the Gods with their crowns, the council had knelt as one, too overcome to speak. But now logic has come back with a vengeance. This must be handled with care or they may still turn on us.
Tension sung through the air. Crackling like lightning as Raiden stared at them, waiting.
“My Khar,” Jetri, the head of the council addressed him respectfully. “We wish to give you proper time to mourn, but we are just two weeks away from the blue planet. We had decided to dispense the Neutralizer. To prepare the planet for our arrival—“
“No,” Raiden said firmly, bringing shock to the older man’s face. “That blue planet is called Earth. Its people are called humans, and they are as advanced as we are in many ways. More so in some. They have homes, industry, and a society. Their technology, while somewhat archaic to us, utilizes coal, nuclear energies, solar, and wind.” He stared around the table. “These are not a small pack of dumb animals we can wipe out. There are billions of them. Killing them to take their planet is unethical in every sense, and I will not be the Khar to allow such a thing.”
A murmuring rose among them when he finished. Now what will they do?
At last, Jetri spok
e again. “But…surely sometimes the council and the Khar must make difficult decisions for the best interests of its people. Perhaps this is one of those times.”
“It isn’t. This cannot be what our people stand for. We are not murderers.”
Jetri stiffened, anger flashing in his milky white eyes. “We cannot do this for another thirty or forty years. The people are tired of this life…going crazy from living without real sunlight. Real trees and animals. If we bypass the blue planet, there will be anarchy.”
“I understand their need as much as anyone. But we cannot use our lack of a planet to justify the killing of billions of innocent people.”
“But we ourselves are dying!”
“No, we are not. We might be bored. We might be stir-crazy. But we are Elementas. We have to be strong for ourselves, for each other, and for our children.”
“What children? Our people aren’t breeding up here. Something about this sterile place is creating more and more infertility among our men and women.”
We aren’t? I knew our birthrates had gone down, but I didn’t realize it was quite this bad.
Raiden kept his face carefully blank. The last thing his people needed was to see his uncertainty. “That is not the fault of the people of Earth. Anyone else?”
Urjirick cleared his throat and leaned forward onto the table with his thin, veined hands. “I will say what everyone else is afraid to say. Why should we obey your command? You have never wanted to rule.”
Fury leaped inside Raiden, and he rose, angry words on the tip of his tongue. But then, the doors to the council room opened and two familiar faces entered. Turk and Jaydee.
The two young men, to Raiden’s great surprise, wore the scarlet robes of Elders. “Turk. Jaydee. You are Elders?”
Turk walked toward him, an unexpected strain pulling at the corners of his normally smiling mouth. They clasped hands like friends, like they had time and time again in the years before Raiden had gone to Earth. “A lot has changed since you have been gone, my Khar.”
