Chapter 5

“I wish I could wear something more formal.”

Bastian glanced over his shoulder at Liri. “You’re not going to a ball.” He caught the smirk on Tor’s face. “It’s easier to sneak you somewhere if you’re not dressed up.” He stopped and assessed her. Dark jeans, a hoodie, and a black jacket. It was fine until he reached her miles of wavy red hair. “Tuck your hair in and put the hood up.” She did quickly. “Better.” He started walking again. Trendan had assured him they would get through the transport without issue. Bastian didn’t know how he was doing it, but the fact that he was going against protocol and all the rules gave him hope that he wasn’t a lost cause.

Both of his brothers had spent decades serving in the guard, he blamed their rigidity and solid morals on that. Bastian hadn’t been sent to do such a doldrum thing. He wasn’t sure if it was because he was the youngest of their parent’s beloved children or that they knew rules and he didn’t mesh seamlessly.

Ulric stood outside the door of the porter room waiting for them. He gave him a nod and held the door open when they reached it. Trendan was on the other side of the door. He had a big grin on his face, which was unnerving and almost made Bastian pause. His brother didn’t do bubbly or even mildly giddy. Ever. Trendan motioned to the platform. He took Liri’s elbow and quickly hurried her to it.

Trendan glanced at the technician behind the screen. “Remember we weren’t here.” He beamed another smile. “Can’t have the surprise for my mother, our glorious Queen ruined, can we?”

The technician nodded and looked at the panel. “Ready?” Tor and Bastian both nodded, Liri just looked shell shocked. “In three, two…”

In all the times Bastian had done this, he never got to hear the ‘one’. Instead of the last number, his stomach would bottom out, his ears would ring and then he would find himself standing with weak knees in a sealed chamber with clear walls.

“Oh, my stars.” Liri hissed out a breath.

Tor moved over to her and took her arm. “Come to the bench.” He guided her over to one. “Lie down until your muscles accept the change.”

She didn’t speak or even acknowledge what he’d said, just lay on the cushions with her hand over her stomach and her eyes closed.

Assured she was going to survive it without throwing up, Bastian turned to where he knew someone would be standing on the other side. Prince Michael stood there. He inclined his head to him. “Thanks for doing this.”

He looked from Liri to him. “The request was a bit surprising.”

Bastian shrugged. “There are good reasons for it.” He glanced at his cousin, then grinned. “When Aliria is more herself, you will understand.”

“As long as there are no repercussions.” He crossed his arms over his chest and stood there with a sober expression on his face.

The look made Bastian pause and think of the consequences of what he’d done—that was something he didn’t do often. “Not to worry, prince, it will be my hand that gets slapped, not yours.”

“Or cut off,” Tor added with a smirk.

“They’ll sing songs about the one-handed prince of Solrelm.” King Chase came into view on the other side.

Bastian grinned. “I’ll be famous.”

“How can you joke right now?” Liri’s voice was barely more than a whisper.

“I did warn you the port wasn’t fun.”

“Silly me, I just figured you were embellishing the description as you do with everything else.” She turned her head and looked at him. She was white as a ghost. Were ghosts white? He wasn’t sure if the expression has any merit.

“You thought I was lying?” He quirked an eyebrow at her.

“No, cousin, not lying, just exaggerating.” Her smile was faint but still visible.

“Oh, I think we’re going to get along very well,” Chase said with a chuckle.

Bastian leaned against the wall. “Don’t encourage her, she’s far more dramatic than I have ever been.”

Both Liri and Tor made a sound of amusement simultaneously. He waved his hand at them as if he were brushing them off.

The Huntress Daxx and Princess Autumn walked into the room. “Only three? I thought there would be another guard at least.” Daxx looked from Tor back to him.

He smirked. “My cousin’s guard is watching over her suite.”

“Her suite?” Autumn raised an eyebrow.

Liri opened her eyes and looked at the Huntress and Prince Michael’s mate, “So they don’t paint it pink.”

Both women on the other side of the wall cringed.

Daxx turned back to me. “Troy is coming over to help you in the morning.”

Bastian nodded. “Yes.” Michael scowled; obviously he wasn’t happy with that plan. “We have a few heads that need looking into.”

“Kara said she was going over too.” Autumn glanced at her mate. “Must be some good intel in their heads.”

“The lawless ones you’ve been hunting?” Michael wondered.

Bastian nodded, trying not to look annoyed by still being in the chamber when he had proven more than once, he didn’t need to stay in it because he’d built a resistance to the climate change or whatever it was. It may have taken several hundred years, but he’d done it. “Yes. We need to know if they’re connected to the crazy one’s plot and...” He glanced at Liri, who had her eyes closed and was likely napping through the heavy-body feeling that went with being in this realm. He turned back to Autumn. “They were after the girl, the one with the bus.”

Autumn’s eyebrows went up. “You found her?”

“I did. I saved her from being flattened into the street, but the lawless ones were after her…”

“So, it may not have been the bus you were saving her from?” Chase leaned against the barrier between us.

Bastian blew out a breath. “There’s more. She’s...” He made a face, trying to find the words to explain it. “Her soul is very important to me. I’d lost track of them for the last several lifetimes and need to find her again.”

“Souls just recycle?” Autumn asked.

“Many, many times. I’d love to explain it to you sometime, but the usual response is ew.”

Chase chuckled.

“So, what, my soul has been around a few times?” Autumn shrugged.

He looked at her, really looked at her, even without the trace of her practically immortal mate, hers was strong—without a single weak spot. “Yes, and I’m fairly certain it’s been in a warrior’s body every time.”

Autumn looked at Michael and smiled, then nodded. “That’s cool. It might explain why fighting comes easy to me.”

Michael kissed the top of her head, “That is because of your spirit, little warrior, it’s unbreakable.”

She grinned. “No sex talk right now. I’m trying to talk to the prince.”

Chase cringed. “A few of us could go over and help you find her.”

Bastian glanced at Tor; he didn’t look excited by that. “Right now?”

Chase nodded. “If it gets me out of listening to sex talk, yes. My beloved is resting, and I’m in need of entertainment.”

Bastian didn’t understand how the kings in this realm were always on the move and right in the action all the time. His father sat behind a desk—well, he didn’t know if that was all he did. Bastian didn’t hang around in Solrelm much. “I’m game for some hide and seek.”

Chase’s smile widened.

“You can’t…”

Chase waved off Michael. “I’ll take Quinton and Raf with me.” He rubbed his temples. “Big brother is annoyed, so I can only surmise Rae is healing, again.”

“Kara’s archery class would go better if her Captain wasn’t hovering.” Daxx rolled her eyes.

“Ah, there we have it. A small search party at your disposal.” Chase looked entirely too enthused to go help with this.

Bastian looked at Liri; she’d be here at least an hour. Turning to Tor, he shook his head.

“I’m here for a while yet, my body doesn’t accept this realm like yours.” He gave the king a careful look.

Chase scoffed, “Relax, your prince will be safe with us.”

“I’m going to check out Kara’s class but call if you need a hand.” Autumn leaned her head against Michael’s shoulder for a second and walked out.

Bastian looked at the chamber door, waiting for one of them to release him. “We could look in the area I saw her.” He would search the whole city if he had to. Taking off his link bracelet, he held it out to Tor.

Tor looked at it and then gave him one of his looks that said, ‘I don’t agree with this and will kick your ass if anything happens to you.’

“I won’t be gone long.” Bastian gave him a solemn look.

“Keep your phone on.” Tor motioned to Liri. “You should be present when we’re out of here.”

Bastian shrugged. “Absolutely.” He watched him walk over and sit on one of the benches, he looked relieved to sit down, making him wonder if he only remained standing this whole time because he had. Turning back to Chase, he beamed a smile at him. “Open sesame?”