Chapter 24

I rolled over on my stomach and played with one of the lavender blooms a few inches from my face. After several failed attempts at using my new bracelet, we’d decided to call it a day. I’d come back to the palace, to sit and clean any debris from my arrows. Instead I found myself laying here thinking of, well, the overwhelming number of things I’d learned and experienced in the last few days.

Picking up another arrow, I checked the nock for any damage. One chip out of it would change the course it flew.

“You look deep in thought.”

I looked to see Alona walking toward me. “So many thoughts, but none at the same time.”

“Ah,” she sat down a few feet away from me, “I understand those moments.” She looked at the arrows laying around me. “How did your training session go?”

I sat up and looked at the bracelet on my wrist. “Not great. The dose was wrong, I almost knocked myself unconscious the first time.”

She gave me an understanding smile. “I guess it’s one of those things that will take time to find the right dose?”

I nodded. “It’s very weak now.” I picked up the arrows and started putting them back in the case. “Elder Udela said she did knock herself out at first.” Kneeling, I picked up my bow. “I’m to try and keep it off as much as possible, except at times like Crissy standing beside me, so my body can adjust.” I gave her a worried look. “I’m afraid to do that around too many people.”

Alona nodded. “I can relate to that.” She held up her arm, where she still had the inhibitor on. “I’m cheating right now. With Chase off with the men to get Nelson, I didn’t want to distract him if I had a moment.”

I frowned. “I don’t understand how that works.”

She got up and brushed off her skirt. “It’s hard to explain.” She motioned to my bow. “Bring that, Chase told me to show you something when you were done.”

Picking up my gear, I followed her through a large wooden gate. 

“This is the outer courtyard - or something like that. Maybe lower court.” Alona grinned. “I'm not sure, I haven't mastered palace lingo yet.” She stopped and looked at me, “at one point in my life I was hiding in back alleys, how could I ever know I'd be part of a royal family?” She chuckled softly, then continued.

I realized then that it was true, what the women had told me. They were just as much an outcast in our society as I was. The path we walked was well formed, but unmanicured. It hadn't been used in a long time. I should really ask more about the history here, why a palace sat here empty. The only problem was when I asked questions it led to more things that I wasn't sure I wanted to know about.

Alona stopped and motioned with her hands in front of her.

I looked to see targets set up on the other side of a the high walled in area. There were three targets, set up at different distances. I smiled. “Chase did this?”

Alona smirked and shook her head. “Rafael did this.”

I looked at the targets again. “Why would he do that? He keeps saying one thing, then doing something completely different.”

Alona started walking toward the targets. “That seems to be a male thing, I believe.” She motioned to the targets. “Is this close enough?”

I nodded. “Yes. It’s perfect.” I was bubbling over with joy inside and had to keep my head down so I didn’t do something lame like literally jump for joy-. I set the case down and opened it. Pulling out an arrow, a field tipped one, I took my bow off my shoulder. I flipped the sight and nocked the arrow. “Elder Arian is making me stun arrows.” I pointed the arrow at the ground in front of us. “So I don't have to injure, just incapacitate. She said something about grab tips too.” I grinned, feeling like an excited child. “I’ve always wanted to try those, but they were out of my price range.” Exhaling I tried to regain some calm. “We went over how to weight the shafts—” I glanced at the ground for a second, “I felt smart talking to her.”

Alona raised her eyebrows. “They're very good at customizing weaponry and listening to input.”

I nodded and raised the bow. “I'm all for not shooting anyone.” I drew back on the string and lined it up, raising it slightly, I released it. 

Alona clapped softly when it hit the center of the furthest target. “I could never do that.”

Lowering the bow, I looked at her. “Would you like to try?”

Her eyes went wide. “Yes, I would.”

“Left or right-handed?” She’d need to use one of my gloves. 

She shrugged. “I'm adept with both.”

I took off my right glove. “My bow is set up for the right.”

She put the glove on. 

Getting another arrow, I handed her my bow. “Practice pulling it back a few times.”

“Hey.”

We turned to see Autumn coming toward us.

She motioned to the targets. “Nice set up.”

I nodded. “I'm happy to see it. Gives me something to do instead of thinking.”

Autumn grinned. “Yeah, I get that. I use the same method, only I kick a pole instead.”

I winced. “Up close fighting I can't do.”

Alona huffed out a breath. “This is quite a bit harder than I'd imagined.”

I turned back to her. “You’d need a slightly longer bow, because of your height.” I shrugged. “I have the tension set high on mine too.

She nodded. “Kudos to you, for making it look so easy.”

I grinned. Holding out the arrow, she took it. I moved over and stood beside her, pointing to where she needed to put the arrow.

“Rafael gave the nod for you to train some of the guards that aren’t skilled at hand-to-hand combat.” Autumn said with a grin.

I gave her a surprised look. “I didn’t know it was up to him.”

Autumn laughed, “he is Captain of the guard.”

Nodding to Alona when she lifted the bow, I kept my attention on what she was doing. What Rafael had said about losing his position popped into my head. “So the jobs, they’re real, not honorary?”

“Very real.” Autumn said. “They earned them; they weren’t given them.”

“Oh.” I moved closer to correct Alona’s stance. “Turn more.” I told her. “So, if they earned them, I guess they work hard to keep them?” Alona looked like she was focusing intensely. “Now draw it back tight. Look right there.” I pointed to the site, “then move it up a slight bit and release. Exhale as you do. Keep your eye where you want to hit, not on your hand.” I said quietly.

Alona released the string. “Oh.” She exclaimed when the arrow hit the top of the base holding the closest target. “Well it wasn’t where I was looking, but I still came close.” She grinned, then raised the empty bow again.

I moved to adjust the way her hips were facing. “You want to line up your hip and shoulder.”

“So not my thing.” Autumn said. “Yeah, the guys stay on top of their game all the time to keep those positions.” She shrugged and crossed her arms. “They don’t want to rule from a golden throne.”

…I don’t know what’s the matter with me…

I glanced to the grass, trying not to see whose thoughts I picked up. They speech echo sounded like Alona.

“I don’t think this is my thing.” Alona said in an abrupt way.

…I haven’t felt the urge to bite someone in thirty years…

Alona held the bow out to me. “I must go. I will see you both shortly when the men return.” She handed me my glove, gave us a plastic smile and quickly walked back toward the path.

Autumn watched her walk away, then motioned to the bow. “Can you hit the furthest one from here?”

I smiled and leaned down to get an arrow. I’d have to find out more with the fangs and feeding. Under any other circumstances I’d freak out if someone was thinking about biting me, but Alona seemed more distressed about it then I was. Rolling my shoulders, I shrugged off the thought and nocked the arrow. “Pick a ring.”

Autumn turned toward the target. “Second from the center.”

I exhaled and turned to it. Bringing it into the sight, inhaling I drew back, then exhaled and released.

“Yes. Nice.” She said as the arrow hit the ring she’d selected.

I smiled. I’d never had someone admire my skill with a bow.

Frowning, Autumn pulled her phone out of her pocket. “Guys are back.” A hard look appeared on her face. “They got Nelson.”

Autumn didn’t give me time to pause after porting us outside the cells, she whipped the door open and was almost at a run by the time we reached the area everyone else was waiting. Michael grabbed her by the shoulders before she got three steps into the space.

I paused and glanced at the bracelet on my wrist. Was I ready to try and cope with this many people? I shrugged. Most of them hid all their thoughts, so this would be a good time to practice ‘tolerance’ as Izzy called it.

Michael gave Autumn a steady look. “I know you want to have a moment with him, but we need him breathing and coherent.” He continued to hold her shoulders and look down at her.

…I can’t even trust myself to be near him after what he did to her…

With an abrupt nod, she leaned her forehead against his chest. “I’m good.”

Giving her a look, he nodded, then dropped a kiss on the top of her head.

Autumn spun to Troy. “Did you look?”

Troy shook his head. “Not yet. We’re waiting on some screening first to see if he’s magically spelled.”

Autumn crossed her arms over her chest and turned to glare at the man standing in the middle of the cell.

“Where’s Alona?” Daxx asked.

Chase heaved a deep sigh. “She’s feeling off,” he waved his hand around, “possibly from wearing the inhibitor. The doctor is running some tests.”

“Oh. I hope she’s okay.” Bethany said.

Was that why she’d wanted to bite me? Backlash from suppressing her empathy? I hoped that’s what it was, because I wasn’t volunteering to sate her craving if it wasn’t. I turned to study Nelson. He was as large as the men hovering behind me. His shoulder length black hair was slicked back to lay flat on his head. If Victor’s cold appearance could be called scary, then this man was terrifying. He stood there, looking bored. As I watched him, his eyes slowly went white.

“Did you know?” Troy said in a quiet voice behind me.

I turned to see Victor looking at Nelson and shaking his head. “No. There was no record of his feeding class.”

Not understanding I glanced to see the men giving each other looks.

“Arius,” Chase said in a low tone.

Arius nodded. “On it. I’ll go get the cuff.”

I turned to Daxx, she looked slowly from her mate to me. I raised my eyebrows in silent question.

“He feeds from a distance, doesn’t have to be touching anyone.” She told me with a serious look on her face.

…because he wasn’t a scary enough bastard already…

My eyes went wide. “Is that worse than green eyed feeders?” I needed to talk to Crissy about the differences, if anyone could break it down methodically it would be her. Well, between the distractions she injected into every sentence at least.

“It’s not worse, but it’s not good either.” Quinton explained. “They get amped up when they feed.”

…too bad we can’t knock him out and let Troy look…

My lips formed an o, but I didn’t voice the holy frack my mind was shouting. “So-so a cuff will stop him from feeding or?” I felt the like only one here that didn’t understand anything.

“I don’t understand it either.” Bethany said.

Paisley turned to watch Arius walk back in carrying a black cuff like the red inhibitor I’d wore. “Black?”

He nodded. “He won’t be able to feed while we’re in there.”

She bit her lip. “I didn’t know there was something to stop that.”

Arius gave her a gentle look. “They can’t wear it long, but it will help us not hype him up while we’re in there.”

Hugging her waist, she nodded. “Do you need my help getting it on him?”

Arius glanced at Nelson for a moment. “We may.” He turned to Leone. “Get the science team here to test for magic, call Clairee too.”

Leone nodded and pulled out his phone as he walked away.

“We’re going to have to do this all at once.” Victor said walking closer to the wall and giving Nelson a slow appraisal. “He’s strong and disciplined.” He turned to Troy, “it would be like capturing me I believe.”

Troy raised an eyebrow, “I pity any that ever tries.” Turning he looked around. “Where is Crissy?”

Victor looked back to the man behind glass. “She is observing from the office.” I looked up to see his expression darken. “After the incident at the palace, I don’t want her near Nelson. He wanted her taken out, so we know they have insight into her tipping us off in past situations.”

“They’ll have to go through me to get to her.” Autumn said with a cold resolve.

“Elder Arian and Clairee are on the way.” Leone came back. He waved his phone around. “And a few more elders are on route.”

“They’ve been trying to get Nelson for a few millennia,” Rafael said quietly, “this is a big win for us.”

Michael nodded. “Now we just have to get the details out of him.” He looked around Quinton to Troy. “Any ideas how we’re doing that yet?”

Troy rubbed his hand against his jaw. “I’m trying to puzzle out the best way.” He glanced to Bethany, “we could have him mesmerized.”

Leone looked at his mate then back to Troy. “I don’t know if Beth messing in his head is a good idea. He’s got to be well versed in magic.”

…I don’t want her anywhere near him. In any way…

Troy nodded. “He’s very disciplined, so I have doubts that even Arius’ skill would work.”

Arius nodded. “I’d have to have a specific objective as well, suggesting he tell us all he knows would be hours of endless rambling.” He turned to look back at the man in question. “Similar to how Eunice was able to fill her mind with garbage when Troy was trying to look.”

“We distract him then.” Autumn said. “It worked on his sister.”

I still didn’t know if it was my place to speak up, but as keeping quiet had always been an issue for me, I motioned to the man behind the glass. “Maybe his sister and Leila could be the distraction.” I shrugged when everyone turned to look at me. “Someone talk to him about them and Izzy and I can listen while,” I motioned my hand up and down Troy, “you do whatever it is you do.”

“It could work.” Chase turned to Victor. “Who do we get to distract him?”

Victor was quiet for a moment. “It can’t be one of us brothers, he’ll be defensive as soon as he sees us.”

“I’ll do it.” Autumn nodded. She shook her head to Michaels sceptical look. “I took down his sister, I talked to his mate.”

…back me up, Kara…

I glanced at her quickly. “Autumn did very well with Leila.” I said nodding. “I think she can be removed enough to not let anything he,” I motioned to Nelson, “might try distract her.”

Autumn gave me a quick nod, then turned to Michael. “Have the video of Eunice and one of Leila ready in case talking doesn’t work.”

Michael held her look for a second, then inclined his head. “I’ll go get a tablet.” He turned to Rafael, “can we move Leila somewhere with a camera?”

Rafael straightened away from the wall. “I’ll call Ira.” He looked at me for a moment, then walked out of the group, down the hall.

Walking past him, coming toward us were four Elders. Cyril, Izzy and Elders Marinus and Segos. A shiver went down my spine as I noted how menacing the two men were.

Izzy gave me a quick smile. “I’ve been looking forward to this for a few hundred years.” She turned to look at Nelson. “We had to keep Enota under wraps so she couldn’t come here and settle a score with Mister Bosworth.”

I gave Chase a quick look.

…Elder Drusla…

…she went toe to toe with Nelson and had to retire from battle afterward due to injuries…

“One can’t blame her,” Elder Segos stated, “retribution festers into revenge after this long.”

Izzy nodded. “I agree, Wulf, but we need him alive, so she’ll just have to fester a bit longer.”

Elder Segos nodded, but didn’t say anything else.

“Do you have a plan, my kings?” Elder Marinus turned to Troy, then Chase and inclined his head.

“Of sorts.” Chase said with a smirk. “We’re waiting on the tests for magic, then we’re going to inhibit his feeding.” Elder Marinus nodded, clearly not surprised by how Nelson fed. “Then Dynamo,” he motioned to Autumn, “is going to chat with him to distract him while Troy takes a look.”

“We could listen as well.” Izzy looked to me.

I nodded. “That’s the plan.” I glanced down the hall, wondering if I could find my way out of the cells. Being surrounded by this many people was starting to make the walls close in. “I’ll be back when I’m needed.” I started walking in the direction we’d come in. Glancing over my shoulder, I was surprised no one was following me. Turning back to figure out how to get out of here, I walked right into Rafael.

He grasped my shoulders to steady me. “What’s wrong?”

I stepped back. “I just need a few minutes not surrounded by people.” I glanced up to see his blue eyes filled with concern. “I’m not used to being around,” I lifted my hand, then dropped it, “anyone.”

He nodded and motioned down the hallway. “You can go out into the hall.”

I nodded and went in that direction.

Rafael walked at my pace alongside me. “Is your bracelet working?”

I lifted my arm and looked at it. “It’s off right now.” I glanced to see his expression become more guarded. “The dose or whatever was too strong at first, so I’m supposed to work on building resistance and only use it when it’s overwhelming.” We walked through the double metal doors into the hall. “Thank you for the target area.” I blurted out.

He nodded. “I thought you might need somewhere to practice,” he shrugged, “Autumn and Elder Segos convinced me our security could use the addition of archery.” Rubbing a hand over his short hair, he looked down at me. “A lot of weaknesses have been brought to light lately.”

I didn’t need to hear what he was thinking to know he thought the blame fell to him. “From what I’ve heard, everything has been tested lately.” I looked at the floor, then back up to him. “I’m still creeped out by the idea of someone we can’t see walking around.”

Rafael’s expression of self-doubt changed. “Yeah. The entire mage collective and witch’s temple are working out how to find him.”

I fidgeted with the seam in the glove on my left hand. “I’m sure they’ll figure it out.” I cringed, “I didn’t understand half of what they thought.” I shrugged, “so we’ll work on something for other areas while they do that.”

He kept looking at my hand. I wasn’t sure if it was the glove he looked at or the bracelet I wore.

My mouth hadn’t gotten the memo to check with my brain before speaking, again. “I don’t understand why you’re worried about losing your position of Captain of the guard.” I regretted it as soon as I spoke the last work.

His expression hardened.

“Do you think everything happening is some failing on your part? That’s a pile of crumbs.” I didn’t give him a chance to reply. “From what I’ve observed, your brothers all have some responsibility in protecting this realm too. No one could have foreseen all of this happening.” The last part was pure conjecture on my part. I was just filling in blanks and pieces from all I’d heard and learned since finding out there was more than one realm. I clamped my lips together, waiting for the fallout my mouth often caused.

Many emotions flashed through his eyes. He glanced at my hands again.

“I haven’t heard a thing you’re thinking, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

He looked visibly relieved. “I can’t explain why—” He frowned, “I don’t know if I want to explain it to anyone, but,” he rubbed his hand back over his hair again. “I’m the youngest of too many powerful, talented and braggart brothers.” He shook his head. “I know you can’t relate,” he blew out a breath. “I had to train harder, work endlessly and earn this position. To be seen as more than,” he made quote marks in the air, “the youngest brother.” Rafael’s gaze connected with mine. I could see painful memories. “I’ve invested a lot of blood, sweat and even tears to get this rank and hold it.”

…why do I want to explain everything to her all the time…

…that’s just what I need, a weakness…

Years of practising a blank face came in handy. I didn’t look away from him or do anything to let on I’d heard him. “Let me know if I can do anything to help,” I motioned in the air, “you work out whatever is wrong so you don’t have to worry about your position.” I shrugged, “or show any sort of weakness to your over-bearing brothers.” I wasn’t sure if what I’d said would mean anything or not. What did I know about family? Zilch. Natta. Not a thing.

Rafael smiled down at me, a real smile that made me understand that if he chose to use that sexy smile to his advantage, his target wouldn’t stand a chance. “You do get it.”

I smiled back, so my mouth wouldn’t confess I had no idea.

With an annoyed look, he glanced at his phone. “They need you back in there.”

It felt like I could feel my nerves tightening. I took a deep breath, then nodded. “Okay.”

“Hey,” he cupped the side of my face in his large hand, making sure he had my attention – as if it could be anywhere else. “Don’t do anything you’re not comfortable with.”

Standing there looking up at him giving me such a gentle look made me want things I knew I’d never be allowed to have—like someone to be close to. The fantasy lasted about three seconds. “Then I’d live in a box hidden away from the rest of the world.” I whispered, “because my life is one uncomfortable moment after another.”

His jaw clenched together briefly, his gaze moving from my eyes to my mouth. “Then we’ll have to work on that.” He leaned down and gently kissed my lips.

Before that could register, he straightened up and stepped back. “Let’s go see if we can find out where Willis Hubert and Arwan are hiding.”

I followed him blindly though the mazes as I processed everything. When he stopped, I looked up to see everyone standing there, anxious expressions on their faces.

“Everyone clear out. Kara doesn’t need to be picking up any thoughts other than Nelson’s.” Rafael said in a stern voice.