Chapter 17

He stood inside the door at the Alterealm Royal’s practice room. Bastian wasn’t sure what they practiced, but it was very violent if the wall of weapons were an indication. He’d have to bring Trendan here, and let him see that these weren’t peaceful people at all.

He looked at King Troy, who stood beside him with his arms crossed over his huge chest. “Thanks for the help today.”

Troy barely acknowledged him as he watched Liri and Daxx on the mats. “It seems any answers we find lately benefit both our worlds.”

“Speaking of answers...” He paused and watched Liri flip around and then nod to Daxx. "My aunt, her mother, would faint at our feet if she saw her right now.”

“She’s very good. Obviously, she managed to sneak in a lot of training without being caught.”

Bastian shrugged. “It was a group effort.”

“I imagine it was.” Troy glanced at him. “Answers?”

“Right.” His focus was all over the place. He’d hoped to see Beth and ask if she’d heard from Nova, but she wasn’t there. “The bad mage. He’s still alive?”

“Arwan? Yes.” Troy rubbed his hand over his jaw. “We’re not sure how, but he hasn’t aged much since we took him into custody.”

“How is that possible? Wouldn’t cutting off his magic ties to your wasteland reverse his aging?”

“In theory, but it hasn’t much at all.” Troy motioned to Quinton to come over. “We don’t know why he’s not aging; we have many factions working on it.”

Bastian nodded. “I may need someone to test an area in my realm. Could he still be tethered to a location? Being as he’s in your magic-proof cells.”

“No. That’s why it’s such a puzzle.”

Quinton came over, still holding a very large wooden sword.

“Can you take Bastian to the women’s office? He’s going to want to hear what Raegan has to say.”

Quinton nodded. “I’ll be right back.” He walked toward the weapon wall.

An anxious feeling filled Bastian. “Liri has to go back with me today.”

“I’ll bring her to the office when she’s done here.” As Quinton was walking back toward them, he motioned to the doors.

Bastian waited for him in the hallway.

“You got the dad?” Quinton asked without pausing in step.

“We did. He’s been completely brainwashed. Says he’s never been anywhere but our realm.”

Quinton glanced at him briefly. “Does Princess Aireese think she can reverse it or undo it, whatever hocus pocus is needed?”

Bastian smirked. Clearly, the large prince had no warm thoughts for magical abilities. “She believes she can.” He didn’t say it out loud, but if she succeeded, Bastian planned to kidnap Quinton’s mate’s father and see if his memories could be restored.

“Good. When she finds out who is responsible, let me know. I plan to beat them into a bloody pulp.”

Bastian smiled. “Just as long as I can spectate that glorious event.” He slowed as they reached a corner to see if the prince kept going or was turning down another hallway. “What is it your mate needs to share with me?”

The prince took a sharp turn. “She’s been seeing her family and some of her mother’s friends the last few weeks.”

“That sounds emotional.”

Quinton scoffed. “Yeah. Something about what they’ve told her doesn’t add up and she’s hoping you can shed some light for her.”

Bastian couldn’t hide his surprise. “Intriguing.”

“Something about past lives?” Quinton paused and looked at him. “She’s worried it’s going to happen to her now.”

Bastian stopped with him outside a door that had a sign that read, girl cave. “Past lives? That does sound like it’s in my knowledge base.”

Quinton’s expression didn’t change, if anything it looked more solemn than it usually did.

Bastian motioned to the door. “Lead the way.”

***

Bastian sat on the arm of the loveseat. This was unlike any office he’d ever seen. Desks, sofas, a wine fridge, and a target for knife flinging were a few of the things in the room. He perused the rest of the room while he considered what Raegan had just shared. To him, she was the lovely miracle princess that with her very existence had blown the lid off a very well-kept jar of lies and secrets from his realm. He wanted nothing more than to give her answers. Reassure her, but was stumped. He looked over at his cousin, whose expression said she had no idea either. “I wasn’t aware the souls of your kind had rebirths.”

Troy squeezed the bridge of his nose. “Souls, from any realm, are not something I know about.”

“The man who isn’t one, but all would know.” Crissy jumped up from where she’d been sitting on the floor.

Bastian loved when she blurted out random things. “The man who isn’t one?” He raised a brow and looked back to the king.

“Crissy believes the keeper in the library and archives is a combination of many elders when they pass on.”

“Really?” Bastian turned back to her. “Why do you think this?”

Crissy’s expression became animated, reminding Bastian of how young she was. “They never leave the library, and their aura is blinding.” She glanced at Quinton briefly. “And they’re not solid.”

While he digested that tidbit, he looked back to Raegan. “Your mother never explained this to you?”

Raegan shook her head. “No. She’d appear to be far away in thought often, or would discuss things from long ago. I just thought she was telling me fables that had been told to her. Her brother says she was always like that, even when younger.”

Bastian blew out a breath. “I need to know if Alterealm souls can be reborn, or if this is a one-off.” He looked at Liri. “But either way, I don’t think it’s a coincidence that a resident of Solrelm was able to have a child with someone that remembers the past lives of the soul inside them.”

Liri flipped her hair back over her shoulder. “If they’re able to restore that father’s memories, we might get our answers.”

Bastian nodded. There was a lot riding on Princess Aireese reversing what was done to that man.

“I can check with the elders,” Troy said quietly. “And see what they think.”

“I’m busy for that meeting,” Quinton said quickly.

“Ditto,” Daxx piped up.

“I’d like to know what they know.” Crissy looked around at the others.

“I think what you know may surpass what they know at some point.” Beth smiled at her.

Bastian was very proud of himself at this moment. Having found out that Nova had in fact been calling and speaking to not one, but four of the Alterealm princesses—to be honest, it hurt his feelings she hadn’t called him once. It was for him to protect her, he felt that deep inside. Doing that was impossible when she kept herself hidden from him. He cleared his throat. “Going back to the topic of Nova Gaines...” He caught Beth and Raegan exchanging a look. They had a secret. Interesting. “Is she well?” He could play it cool. Had to play it cool. The other options were, a royal demand and he suspected that wouldn’t phase these women in the slightest. He could beg, but that would never happen. The last option was him throwing himself on the floor like a two-year-old and having a tantrum. Cool was the only way.

“She’s fine,” Beth answered. Crissy and Kinsley nodded in agreement. Raegan on the other hand was looking anywhere but at him. “No more incidents with the lawless finding her?”

Beth shook her head. “She’s staying in, just to be on the safe side.”

Staying in where he wondered. That was a location he would really like to know. “That’s good to hear.” He stood up and glanced at the guilty-as-sin women. “Please tell her I’d like to speak to her, spend some time with her. We really need to know why they’re after her.” And I need to feel that incredible feeling again. The one only her soul could give him.

Beth smiled. “I’ll let her know.”

“Kara and I were going to speak to your prisoners again later.”

He looked at Troy. “Yes. Good. They have to have more answers trapped inside their puny demented brains.”

Troy smirked but offered no further comment.

Looking at Liri, he watched her expression change to angst. “We have to go back. The banquets are tomorrow.”

“I know.” She slumped her shoulders in a dramatic display. “I was hoping we’d have answers and were able to call them off completely.”

Bastian smirked. “I do look forward to that day.” It was the truth, the day he stood before all and announced this discovery was going to be a day like no other in the history of his people.

“What are these banquets?” Daxx moved over to stand with her mate.

“It’s like a parade of luncheons, only the people move.” Liri glanced at him briefly. “We move from room to room, filled with newly of-age women and strong prospective male partners in hopes of finding one that sparks our interest, or our soul’s.”

“I thought females were rare in Solrelm.” Daxx was frowning now.

“They are. We are,” Liri conceded. “It’s torture. Men ogling you, bring forced to converse with forty or fifty of them over a two-day event.”

“That sounds…”

“Like the highest bidder wins.” Bastian had no problems sharing the disdain in his voice. “It is brutal.”

“You don’t participate?” Raegan inquired.

He shook his head. “I’m there in body to keep my parents off my back, but no, I only exchange some light conversation with a few and then duck out as soon as possible.”

“You could do the same.” Daxx turned to Liri.

Liri’s expression sunk even further into despair. “I wish. My parents watch me without pause the entire time."

Daxx shifted and reached behind her back, the glint of metal flashed as she held out her hand. “Stab a couple of them in the eye and they’ll leave you alone.” She shrugged. “Then you can come back over here and live without that crap.”

Troy jolted and reached around her and took the hooked blade out of her hand. “I don’t think that would work as well as you think.”

Bastian couldn’t help smiling. “It would certainly liven up the boring moments.” He blew out a breath and looked back at his cousin. “We’ll get in touch after we get this year’s ridiculous primp and preen parade over with.

Liri smiled at Daxx, then glanced around. “I will be back to help. Having freedom here was a dream come true.”

Daxx gave her mate a hard look. “You need to go help the FaTerra princess and look in that father’s head, Troy.” She gave Liri a softer look. “Or I’m going to go over to Liri’s realm and start kicking some ass.”

Troy gave her one of those sappy looks, the one that was nothing but pure adoration. “I will do everything I can, my vicious queen.”

She snorted, “Seriously, or I’ll tell Autumn and Paisley what those women in Solrelm have to go through.”

Bastian watched the large king wince. “That could be entertaining.” He looked at Princess Beth. “You’d have to come and toss fireballs at them.”

Beth smirked. “Always happy to help other women.”

“Don’t encourage them, Bastian.” Troy gave him a quick look. “You have no idea what it’s like when all nine of the women decide they are doing something.”

Bastian gave Liri a side-eye. “I have some idea.” He held out his hand and Liri took it this time. Saluting with his other, he smiled. “See you in two days, Alterealm Royals.” They walked over to the guard by the door to take them to the porting room. There was no way he was going to walk this maze of halls without guidance.