Chapter 4

I opened my eyes to see we were standing in a completely different room. I let go of Daxx and looked around. I wanted to jump up and down but managed to suppress it. Barely. “That was a ride.” I couldn’t help grin. I’d ported!

“Uh,” Bethany looked over her shoulder at me. “Figures you’d think that.” She looked up at a tall redheaded man, “am I the only one that will never get used to it?”

He gave her an understanding smile, “it just takes some longer, love.”

“Maybe it’s your magic stuff making it harder for you.” The blonde woman that had drop-kicked that Nathas man came in. She stopped in front of me and looked me up and down. “Nice use of the surujin.”

I smiled at her. “Nice kick you dropped that guy with.”

Her smile left. “Yeah, well, dear old dad deserved that.”

I had no words to offer her. He was her father?

“He deserves a lot more than that, Autumn.” The woman with the short black hair came through the doorway. “If I have my way, I’m going to stop time around him for the rest of his life.”

King Chase walked in. “When did Sarg become so dark?”

A man with long black hair and grey eyes walked in behind her. “Don’t even go there, Chase or I might have to deck you.”

Emil came in. “I see I’ve missed more mayhem.”

Chase looked at him. “I thought you went to help Rena?”

Emil shook his head, a hard look on his face. “She kicked me out.” He turned to look at Autumn. “How long does her—emotional flux last?”

Autumn shrugged. “Like I’d know.” She went and sat down.

“When my sister was carrying our kings, she actually stabbed your father with a salad fork in the middle of dinner.” A petite redheaded woman came in carrying a tray of sandwiches.

Emil sat down beside Autumn. “Let’s hope this isn’t a sign she’s carrying twins.”

Autumn’s head snapped around to the man with the black hair and scar on his face. “There could be two.” She said softly.

He closed his eyes for a second, then opened them and gave Emil a hard look.

“She has an ultrasound scheduled next week after she’s over here.” The woman that had been swinging the nun-chucks said as she walked in gracefully.

Autumn nodded. “Two, three, whatever, as long as everyone is healthy, right?” She turned back to Emil.

“Yes.” His look softened. “That’s the main thing.”

I turned and looked around. Then stopped and gaped at the smooth, carved thrones sitting at the end of the room. I walked over slowly, in awe. “OMG.” I whispered under my breath. I was really in Alterealm.

“Are you okay?” A short woman with sandy blonde hair stepped up beside me.

I nodded slowly. “I can’t believe I’m here.”

She bobbed her head. “I’m glad you are.” She looked at my hair, “and that your hair turns grey.” She leaned closer and looked at my eyes, “and that your eyes go black.” She nodded, “you are very important.” Giving me another smile, she turned and walked away.

“What Crissy means is, she’s being seeing someone with grey hair for a few weeks and couldn’t figure out the connection.” Kara said with a knowing look. “Would you like anything to …”

“I don’t know why I had to sit in the acclimation chambers.” The man with the dark eyes said in an annoyed tone as he came into the room with King Troy. “It’s not like I’ve never been to this realm.”

“We prefer to take caution with a man from a royal family.” Troy told him, “There was nothing you could do until the Doctor finished.”

I studied him. His eyes were dark as coal. He was one of those my mother had warned me to avoid. So Solrelm was not part of Alterealm.

The prince from Solrelm waved his hand around. “How is the woman?”

I realized he didn’t recognize me. My hair was brown again. I continued to stand beside the thrones, unmoving. I studied the two kings. Would they protect me if this prince of my father’s people wanted to take me?

“She fares well.” King Chase said, without looking at me.

“The resident we’re holding in the cells from your realm, is not a happy man.” A tall redheaded man came in through a different doorway. His expression and posture said not to mess with him. Usually someone like him would have black all around them, but oddly he didn’t.

“Ah, yes.” The Prince crossed his arms over his chest. “He’ll be accompanying me back home.”

“I’d like to know a few things before he goes.” Rafael came through behind the scary man.

“Like?” The prince asked.

“If there are more of yours helping Willis Hubert.” The man with the scar on his face crossed his arms and leaned back against the wall. “It would explain how they’re able to find so many with Alterealm blood in their veins.”

The prince frowned. “It would. We can see even the slightest trace from generations ago.” He gave the other man an abrupt nod. “Rest assured we’ll get all information for you.”

Seeing a person’s bloodline? “You can see things like that?” I blurted out before my mouth remembered I was trying to be unseen.

“There you are.” The prince came rushing over to me. “Your hair…” He looked at me with great scrutiny. “I didn’t even notice you hiding beside the thrones.”

“Bastian…” Troy came over.

Bastian waved his hand at him. “I’m not going to steal her away—I just need to know how it is she exists.”

He wasn’t taking me. “I-I don’t know what you mean.” I looked at Troy than back to him.

Bastian got right in my face, his dark, serious eyes inches from mine. “I need to know how you came to be.”

Someone snorted. Daxx came over. “Probably the same way everyone else did. Unless you think she was hatched, and her mother was a chicken.”

Crissy came over quickly. “Creatures can be hatched that aren’t birds. Like fish…” She stopped when everyone looked at her.

“No, no, no, little one.” Bastian said in a quiet tone. “Can you not see it? This mix. How is she this mix? It’s impossible.” He grasped her shoulders and turned her to look at me. “Look. Tell me what you see.”

A low growl emanated from across the room.

Bastian dropped his hands from her and stepped back. He looked at the scary redheaded man. “Sorry, Justice, I forgot protocol and all that…” He waved his hand around. He turned back to Crissy. “What do you see?”

“Um,” Crissy looked at me, then above my head, “that she’s good. All good.” She nodded her head quickly.

“No, no, no.” Bastian hissed out a breath in exasperation.

“Bastian. Why don’t you tell us what you see and try to shed some light on what you’re talking about?” Chase said wandering over slowly, an amused look on his face.

“Yes. Fine.” Bastian gave him a hard look then turned to me. Placing his hands on his hips, he stood there continuing to stare at me. Then around me.

I felt like I wanted to be somewhere else. Every pair of eyes on the room were on me.

“She’s half Alterealm.” He finally said.

“We know that. She already told us her mother was from Alterealm.” Bethany said sitting on the corner of the platform the thrones were on.

“Right.” Bastian looked animated then looked back at me. “And-and that means her father…” He frowned, “no that’s impossible.”

“What is impossible?” Daxx threw her hands up as she stomped over.

Now I wanted to crawl under the thrones as they all stood there staring at me now.

“Her father was one of mine.” He said with disbelief in his tone. “There’s basically no human in her at all. I thought it was the lighting at the garage…”

“Wait. What? What do you mean I’m not human?” Eyes-wide I stared him down.

“On the outside, you appear to be, but not really.” Bastian said softly. “Which means I’ve been—my people have been lied to for too many millenniums to count.” He scowled.

Daxx huffed out a loud breath and went to the nearest chair and sat down. She motioned to the table. “Sit. Explain.”

Bastian put his hands on his hips and turned back to me. “I can’t sit. Now is not the time to sit. I need answers.”

He wasn’t the only one.

He pointed to me. “Your parents. You knew them?”

I shook my head slowly. “My mother only.”

He nodded, but his expression said that wasn’t all he wanted to know.

“They took my father before I was born.” I told him.

“They?” He raised both eyebrows and watched me.

“His people. That’s all I know.” I glanced away from him to see the room was filled with more people and they were all crowding closer.

“My people found out about him and your mother and took him?” Bastian clarified.

“Yes. That’s what she told me.”

He ran his hand through his messy hair and looked at the floor. “There would have to be a record then…” he mumbled quietly. With a fierce look he snapped his head back up to look at me. “When were you born?”

Clasping my gloved hands in front of me, I tried not to look as panicked as I felt. “After the war.”

“First?” King Troy asked.

“Second?” Rafael inquired.

I shook my head. “Civil.”

“You were born after the civil war?” Bethany asked. “The one that ended in eighteen sixty-five?” She was standing beside me now.

I nodded.

“Cool.” She turned to the woman with the long black hair. “She’s way older than you, Alona.”

Alona smiled, “and yet looks younger.”

King Chase turned to look at her. “There’s not a woman in any realm to rival your beauty and grace, my beloved.”

“Everyone, out of Reagan’s face. Now.”

I turned to see Quinton leaning inside the door. I didn’t even know he’d arrived.

“Quinton’s right. Everyone sit down.” The small red-headed lady came in. She was carrying a plate and glass. “Come, love. The contents of your backpack didn’t survive the fall, so I’ve made you something to eat.” She set it on the table and turned around. She tsked and looked at the men around me, “You should be ashamed of yourselves, hounding her after she gave so much to help your brother.”

The large bodies started to back away.

“That goes for you too, Prince Bastian. I know your mother quite well. She wouldn’t stand for this sort of harassment—against a woman with Solrelm blood.”

Bastian jolted like she’d smacked him. He stepped back. “You are so right, I completely lost my mind and forgot.” He looked back to me and bowed slightly motioning to the table. “Please, sit and eat.”

I moved around him to where the lady had set the plate.

“I’m Mitz, by the way, dear. If you need anything, you let me know.” She gave me a gentle smile that reminded me of my mother.

“Th-thank you.” I sat down.

“All of you sit and behave like the royalty you’re supposed to be.” She ordered before walking from the room.