Chapter 49
Nova felt like a toddler in a room full of adults. All of these men were giants. She still wasn’t sure why they were meeting in a dining room but was glad for its size or she may have panicked with huge bodies in a smaller space. She stood along the wall watching them interact.
The kings were really twins, large, blond, Greek god-like twins. Chase was clearly the more jovial one of the two. He wore his hair loose and had a goatee, whereas Troy was clean-shaven and bound his hair behind his head. The brother’s similarities didn’t stop there, Arius and Emil could have been twins, the difference between them was the long hair on Arius and short on Emil. It was beyond her grasp just yet that there were a hundred or in some cases hundreds of years of an age difference. She watched Michael as he spoke with, she thought, Emil’s son, it was difficult to remember because he looked quite like Michael. He nodded to the prince and left with quick steps.
A woman with long red hair came through the door. She paused for a moment and then zeroed in on Nova. She didn’t recognize her as one of the princesses. As soon as she was close enough, Nova saw her dark eyes and knew she had to be from Solrelm.
She paused with a few feet between them, her forehead creasing as she stared at Nova’s pendant.
Nova touched it. “Sorry, I guess it affects everyone from your realm.”
The woman quirked one eyebrow. “You know I’m from Solrelm?”
Nova nodded, then pointed to her own eyes.
She smiled. “Of course. I’m Liri, Bastian’s cousin.”
“You’re in Alterealm? I thought women were kept in Solrelm under watch?” It wasn’t how Bastian had worded it, but from his accounts of the population there, she just put the pieces together on her own.
“You’re not wrong.” She smiled. “Bas asked me to keep you company until he’s out of the chamber.”
“The chamber?”
Liri nodded, flipping her long hair back. “Acclimation chamber.” She frowned. “My kind doesn’t transport to Alterealm well. I have no idea why.”
“Is he all right?” She was cross with him but didn’t wish bad things for him.
Liri smirked. “He’s a bit annoyed, they’re making him wait, but other than that, he’s Bastian.” She shrugged.
“Why are you in Alterealm?”
“I’m helping look for women who were left behind by the men that were taken back to Solrelm.”
Nova’s heart sped up. “Have you found any?”
Liri blew out a breath. “We think we may know of a few, but it’s really complicated searching for people based on fatherless births.”
Nova cringed, that wouldn’t be a very good way to narrow anything down. “Are there records, in Solrelm of those that went over more often than others? Wouldn’t that help the search?”
“The records have been altered.”
“Oh.” She frowned. “So, how do you know where to start?”
Liri turned and looked at Crissy, who was perched on a chair and seemed oblivious to all the conversations around her. “Crissy.” Liri glanced back at her. “She found Emil after three hundred years, so mostly we’re following her instincts in this.”
“Crissy knows a lot.”
“She does.”
Chase turned around and came toward them, an amused expression on his face. There were more differences between the kings, in the personality field. Troy always looked so stoic with a contemplative expression on his face, whereas Chase looked entertained.
He smiled at her, “I’m told your prince is getting impatient, so he’s going to meet us at the cells.”
“The cells?” What reason would there be for her to go to the cells?
He nodded, “I’ve managed to persuade certain parties,” he turned his head and made a point of looking at Michael, “that these dark-souled hoodlums might think of something important if they were to see you. Here. In Alterealm.”
Nova couldn’t keep the surprise from her expression. “Safely using me as bait.”
He smiled. “Exactly that.” Her expression sobered. “To which Bastian has very venomously demanded he is present.”
Arius and Paisley came over, “ready?” He looked at his brother.
Chase nodded and motioned to the door. “Lead the way, brother.”
“Oh, I want to see this.” Liri followed them out the door.
Nova looked down at her bag.
“Might as well leave it here for now.” Chase winked at her. “I’m sure there will be a rousting discussion with your prince after this about whether you are to remain here or go back over.”
Nova nodded. “It might involve duct tape, so I can speak without his opinion.”
Chase chuckled. “I’ll request some be brought to the cells.”
Alona came over and put her arm through his. “You’ll stay out of it.”
He leaned down and kissed the top of her head. “Absolutely, beloved, I know not to interfere in couple business.”
Quinton snorted as he walked by them. “Might be better if we duct tape your mouth.” He glanced at him as he reached the door. “Then pull it off, fast.”
Chase physically jolted and put his hand on his goatee. “I think not. It’s taken decades to keep this precisely trimmed.” He scowled. “There’s nothing worse than an uneven beard.”
Alona laughed. “Have no fear, I’ll protect your flirty beard, my king.”
Chase nodded. “I knew you would.”