Chapter 12

Again, I was in a room with the entire royal family. This time there were several people in black robes and several large men standing around the room like statues. I glanced behind me to see Derian was there, looking like he was made of stone.

“They’re our guards.” Bethany leaned over and said quietly. She pointed to one on the other side of the room. “That’s Mac, he’s mine.” Her expression grew serious. “I don’t know what’s happened, but they’re not usually in the meetings with us.”

“So that’s bad?” I studied the men. If anyone was insane enough to go against one of them, then they deserved the trouncing they’d get.

“Yeah. It can’t be good.” She sighed and sat back. “I feel like we’re going to be under house arrest, again.”

Autumn snorted and sat down on the other side of me. “Like that ever works out for them.”

Bethany laughed quietly. “They can try.”

“All the elders are here.” Autumn stated.

Daxx leaned forward on the table so we could see her around Autumn. “I’m hoping that’s good for us.” She shrugged, “maybe some news to share.”

Ira came in the room and stopped inside the door.

Chairs scraped as people shifted to different seats as the others sat down.

“Here we go.” Bethany said quietly.

I turned to ask Autumn something only to see Quinton had sat down beside me. Even sitting he was a large man.

Ira stepped aside. “Prince Bastian of Solrelm.”

The dark-eyed prince stepped in the room and then stopped. “Gangs all here.” He said quietly and then walked to an empty chair, “let’s not get hung up on formal greetings,” he sat down.

“We thought it best to include the elders in this.” Victor said in a proper tone.

“That works for me.” Bastian said in a low tone, then looked at the elder with a long white braid. “Did all you know that my people can, in fact, have offspring with people from other realms?” He leaned forward in his seat.

I glanced around the table to see surprised and shocked looks.

“Ah, there we have it. This lie—” he waved his hand around, “this deceit has been going on so long even your oldest didn’t know.” He turned to Troy.

“We’re not Alterealm’s oldest.” Elder Nodin stated.

Bastian gave him a bored look. “Close enough. It’s been going on for more than ten centuries at least.”

“Twenty-six centuries.” The woman with the braid said with a look of consternation. “Explain this.” She looked back at him.

“It’s simple, Elder…”

“Varus.” She supplied for him.

“Varus,” Bastian continued, “I have very recently discovered that an Alterealm resident had a child with one of my own people.”

Elder Nodin leaned forward. “You have proof of this?”

Bastian made a strange noise then pointed to me. “She’s right there.”

I wanted to slide off my chair and sit under the table as all eyes turned to me.

“Miss Hayden, is this true?” Elder Landry sat up straighter.

I cleared my throat. “I have no proof, other than what my mother told me.” I glanced at Quinton to see he wasn’t happy Bastian had singled me out either, “when-when my father’s people found out about him and my mother, they took him.” I looked at Bastian, “they didn’t know my mother was carrying me at the time.”

Bastian tapped his hand on the table. “I have the proof.” He waved his hand around, “which I’m still working on.” He looked right at me, “Aldis Hayden, a Solrelm resident mysteriously went missing a little over one hundred and fifty years ago.” He tapped the table a few more times, “I’m still narrowing down where he was taken, but,” he glanced around the table, “the mere fact that Reagan has Alterealm and Solrelm DNA and the last name Hayden sounds all the right alarms for me.”

There were several murmurs and conversations in the room. I wasn’t able to focus on more than the fact that I had my father’s last name. My mother hadn’t made it up at all.

“I would like to be kept up-to-date on your progress with that.” I told Bastian.

He nodded. “Not to worry, I have made it my new mission to find out what happened to your dear old dad.” His look hardened, “and then have a very boisterous conversation with my own parents.”

Victor cleared his throat loudly. “Were you able to find out if there are more of yours helping Willis Hubert?”

“Solrelm residents are helping Hubert?” A woman with white spiked hair asked.

“I’m afraid so, Elder Drusla.” Arius informed her.

“That explains how they’re finding humans with Alterealm DNA.” Another of the female elders said.

“Yes, Elder Arian, that’s how they’ve been doing it.” Kara told her.

“Ten more.” Bastian said abruptly. “That’s how many more traitors from my realm are helping that insane lunatic.” He leaned forward on the table and clasped his hands. “Which is why I am requesting to join you in your hunt.” He glanced at me, “so I can ferret out any among those you find.”

“Should we get him to check the cells?” Leone turned to Arius. “Does that show up on the scan?”

Arius took a deep breath and then exhaled. “I don’t recall when we’ve ever had one from Solrelm scanned until a few days ago.” He frowned, “but there was very little difference in the scan results to know for sure.” He glanced at Michael, “the scans are designed to detect humans, not others.”

“I would like to take a look at all your prisoners.” Bastian announced. “Especially any that were ill after being put there.” He shrugged, “as you know we don’t transport well to your realm.” He frowned, “which is odd, we have no problems going to the human side or a few other realms…”

“We’ll arrange it after this meeting.” Victor interrupted.

Bastian gave him a nod.

“What do you mean you want to join the hunt?” Michael asked him. “I didn’t think you were a warrior.”

Bastian laughed, “not to the extent you are, but I can defend myself.” He glanced to Troy, “my task would be to see if there are any among or nearby that are mine.”

Elder Varus looked at me. “Can you see this as well?”

I looked from her to Bastian, “I don’t think so. I see traces around others sometimes.”

“Traces?” Bastian leaned forward, “traces of their DNA?” He looked at Crissy, “or auras like the little seer?”

I sat back and clasped my hands in my lap. “I don’t think they’re auras, but could be.” I tried to think of a way to explain it. “The people that took the family in the garage, the trace around them was dark, near black.” I glanced at Quinton, “when the prince was injured, his was bright red,” I shrugged, “a trace.”

“That’s not their DNA, but it’s useful in other ways I suppose.” Bastian looked like he was disappointed. “Did you mother have that skill?”

I shook my head. “Not that I’m aware of.” I looked at Victor, “we could ask her family.”

Victor nodded but made no comment.

“It’s not really an aura either.” Crissy said. “What I see tells me what’s in a person’s heart.” She nodded.

“We can’t guarantee you can tag along to every incursion, Bastian, but anything planned in advance we’ll be sure to include you.” Michael looked to Troy who nodded. Turning back to him, he leaned back and crossed his arms. “How did you find out there are more of yours involved?”

Bastian grinned, “Have you met my brother, Trendan?” He motioned to himself, “I’m the nice one out of the three of us.” He chuckled, “he sang like a songbird as soon as my brother walked in.”

Arius chuckled. “Sounds like you have a lot in common, brother.” He turned to Victor.

“You instill more fear than I do among the criminals, brother.” Victor said in a monotone way.

“Speaking of fear.” Bastian glanced around, “I have to be going. I’m on duty for the next few days.” He stood up.

“It was nice to see you again, Prince Bastian.” Elder Varus inclined her head to him.

“Might be seeing a whole lot more of me before we end this insane plot.” He bowed his head to Troy, then nodded to Chase and walked out with Ira.

When the door closed, Elder Varus looked at Troy. “This has been very informative.”

A few of the other elders nodded their agreement.

“There’s more.” Chase said with a serious look.

“More?” The Elder that was father to Nathas frowned and leaned forward.

“We found more symbols at the market and Romulus has just confirmed that a mage’s magic was used.” Chase turned to Quinton, “that’s how they vanished in that shed.”

“Was it a mage’s portal or are they using porters?” Quinton leaned on the table.

“He’s about eighty-nine percent certain it was a mage’s portal.” Chase shrugged. “Which I’m told is only something powerful mages can maintain, especially when large numbers go through it.”

“Hopefully they landed in the snow.” Kara looked unhappy.

“Arwan.” Elder Varus said in a low tone. “It could be only Arwan doing something like that from a distance.”

“That’s what we thought too.” Michael chimed in.

“I keep seeing something like fog.” Crissy stood up and paced away from the table, “is there magic fog?” She spun around and looked at me, “and Reagan is connected to it.”

All eyes were on me again. I shook my head to let them know I had no idea.

“Can we ask Clairee and Romulus about that?” Alona turned and looked at Bethany, “about the fog or something like it?”

Bethany nodded slowly, “yeah, I’ll call her when we’re done here.”

“I thought the magic smoke was just for magicians on stage.” Daxx said.

“Well, unfortunately, we’re all learning new things here lately.” Leone said in a serious tone.

“I’d like to be kept apprised of new developments.” The Elder with the curly hair said.

“Of course, Elder Arian.” Rafael said.

“I think we’ll be having more of these update meetings in the future, or at least until Arwan and Willis Hubert are in one of our cells.” An Elder with black hair and dark eyes said.

“I agree, Elder Marinus.” Victor said, then stood up. “You will have to excuse us, we’re to meet the woman Kara met at the asylum.”

“The one with Alterealm blood?” Elder Varus asked.

“Yes.” Victor motioned to Kara. “We had Kara set it up and want to get there with time to spare, so we can get a watch set up.”

“We won’t keep you any longer.” Elder Varus stood up. She gave me a brief smile. “Welcome home, Miss Hayden.”

I smiled back. “Thank you for allowing me here.”

The elders exited the room without further delay.

Most around the table stood up.

Victor came over to me. “I contacted your family, there are many living relatives excited to meet you.” He cleared his throat, “however we cannot permit a visit as of yet.” He looked to Quinton where he stood beside me, “at least not until we speak with Gudrun.”

I nodded. “Okay. Thank you.” I watched Victor walk away and then just continued to sit there. I had my father’s last name and other relatives. My entire life, save thirty years, I’d felt like an orphan and suddenly I wasn’t.

“Are you okay?” Quinton leaned down beside me.

“I’m—” I huffed out a short breath. “shell-shocked, I believe.” I turned my head and looked at his deep brown eyes, “I have family, all of a sudden.” I inhaled slowly and tried not to become emotional. “My mother was Keiragan Dalston and my father was, or could still be Aldis Hayden.” I swallowed the lump in my throat and gave him a wide-eyed look. “Isn’t that something I should have known before I was over a century old?”

Quinton gave me an understanding look. “Yes, it is.” He picked up my gloved hand from my lap and squeezed it in his. “Many of our protocols are to blame for so many being stuck on that side, yet if you hadn’t been, we wouldn’t have answers we need now.” He glanced at his phone, then straightened, still holding my hand. “Come on. I was going to check in on Gudrun before we went over for the meeting, you can come with me.”

My look must have reflected my surprise.

“I don’t know if he’s well enough to speak, but you can still come if you want.” He held my look.

I nodded. “I’d like that.”

“We’ll meet you over there.” Quinton said gruffly. “I’m taking Reagan to see Gudrun.”

Victor raised his eyebrows, but made no comment.

“Don’t be late.” Michael told him.

“We won’t.” He glanced at me, then winked.

~

The next moment we were standing in the medical building.

He released my hand and started walking, I almost had to jog to keep up with him. We entered a hallway with several doors. Quinton stopped. “I’ll be right back; I just want to check on his status before we go in.”

I nodded and stood on that spot. I watched him walk down the hall and go into a room. I breathed in deep and out slowly, to stay calm. I was meeting a member of my family. My mother’s brother. She had never spoke of him. I frowned, as I did the math quickly. He would have already been missing before she went over to that side. I put my hand over my mouth and continued to stand there. In all the years I’d missed her and wished she were still here, none of them could compare with my wish right now. If she could have known her brother was found… Quinton came out and motioned for me to come with him.

I hurried down the hall to a door he stood by.

“He’s in and out, but recovering.” He paused with his hand on the door, “which the doctor says is nothing short of a miracle.”

I grinned, “I understand, my mother hung on for years beyond when she should have.” I blinked so no tears would form in my eyes.

I froze inside the doorway and looked at the man in the bed. He was thin, but still a large man. His hands were bound with little room for movement.

“Prince,” his voice was hoarse, “forgive me if I don’t bow.”

Quinton shook his head. “It’s not a problem, Gud.”

The way Quinton said it sounded more like good, showing me that they had known each other well before my uncle had disappeared.

“Kerry?”

I jolted and looked back to the man looking at me.

“This is your sister’s daughter, Reagan.” Quinton explained.

I stepped to the end of the bed.

“Her daughter.” He licked dry lips. “I have a niece.” He looked at me with tired eyes. “You look just like her.” He turned his head slowly and looked at Quinton. “My parents?”

Quinton put his hand on Gudrun’s arm. “We lost your father during the influenza about a hundred years ago, but your mother, aunts and uncles are all fine.”

Gudrun closed his eyes for a moment, then he looked back at me. “And Kerry?”

I shook my head. “I lost her over a century ago.”

He didn’t speak for more than a minute. Turning he gave Quinton an exasperated look. “The nurse told me how long I was gone.”

“Too long.” Quinton crossed his arms over his chest and looked down at him. “How did you end up over there?”

Gudrun closed his eyes. “I was on a routine patrol,” he shook his head slowly, “next thing I know I’m in a room with no windows.”

“Were you moved to that place then?” Quinton’s expression was filled with anger, but his tone hid it well.

My uncle shook his head slowly. “No. I don’t think I ever left the building again, until you found me.” He smirked. “I thought I’d gone and died finally when I saw you.” His eyes drooped shut a few times as he fought to keep looking at his prince.

“You rest.” Quinton’s tone was more commanding. “We’ll talk to you soon.”

“Yes.” Gudrun cleared his throat, then looked at me. “Lovely to meet you, niece.”

I smiled and gave him a nod, my throat too choked with emotion to speak.