30
VALEK
“Kiki’s at the gate and she brought friends?” Valek asked the guard, just to ensure he’d heard the man right. He kept a tight grasp on his emotions. No sense worrying until he had all the facts.
“Yes, sir.”
“Who’s with her?”
“Ah...it would be best for you to see for yourself, sir.”
“All right.” Valek followed the guard back to the castle complex’s main gate. Sure enough, Kiki stood on the other side with two riders. The last two people he’d expect, but not unwelcome, either. “Let them in,” he ordered.
Kiki didn’t wait. She cleared the gate with one leap, then butted his chest with her head. He stroked her neck, but his attention focused on Devlen and then Reema, sitting in front. She wore Yelena’s cloak.
“While I’m glad to see you both, I’m curious why you’re here,” he said.
“It is a long story.” Devlen dismounted. He helped Reema from the saddle.
She gazed at the castle with rapt attention. Kiki, on the other hand, drooped with fatigue. Valek ran a hand down her legs, checking for hot spots.
“She kept a brisk pace and would not stop for long,” Devlen said.
“Let’s take care of Kiki and then we’ll talk.” Valek pulled Yelena’s saddle from her back and carried it to the stable while Kiki plodded beside him.
Devlen and Reema trailed behind, gawking at the sights. Valek clamped down on the million questions boiling up his throat. The castle’s Stable Master tsked over Kiki. He assigned her two favorite lads to attend to her. Satisfied, Valek led the others to his office.
Many of the household staff and soldiers stared at Devlen. Hard to blame them, considering his size and skin color. Unlike the pale Ixians, his bronzed skin stood out. Then add Sitian clothes, a powerful build, a scimitar hanging from his belt and a nasty-looking scar on his neck and he was the definition of intimidating. Devlen ignored the attention. He held Reema’s hand.
Valek ushered them into his office. Ari sat at his desk, but jumped to his feet as soon as he spotted Valek.
“I just finished sketching the security around that warehouse,” Ari said. Then he grinned. “Devlen! What brings you here?” He shook Devlen’s hand. “Tired of beating up those wimpy Sitians and decided to come up here for a real fight?”
“I wish. I have been too busy trying to outsmart a crafty fox who finds new and unique ways to avoid going to school every morning,” Devlen said. “Ari, meet my daughter, Reema.”
Ari crouched down to her eye level. “Nice to meet you.” He took her hand and pumped it once.
“Hello,” she said, gazing at him in awe. “Ari as in ‘Ari and Janco’?”
“Yup.”
“I’ve heard a lot about you two.”
Valek fought to keep a straight face.
Ari straightened. “Is that so? What have you been saying, Devlen?”
“Not me. Yelena. She tells Reema stories before bed. Seems the ones with you and Janco put Reema right to sleep.”
“Ouch.” But Ari laughed.
Yelena’s name cut through Valek’s amusement. “Ari, why don’t you give Reema a tour? Make sure you show her the Commander’s war room. She’ll love seeing the stained glass.”
“All right. Come on, Reema. I’ll even show you where Janco likes to hide when he doesn’t want to do paperwork.”
Reema glanced at Devlen. He nodded and she hurried after Ari, already asking questions.
As soon as the door shut, Devlen said, “Yelena’s fine—at least the last I heard.”
Relief shot through him. He gestured to a chair. “Sit down. Would you like a drink?”
“Yes.” Devlen plopped into the chair.
“Tea? Water? Or something stronger?”
“Stronger. It has been a long four days.”
Valek poured two shots of whiskey and handed one to Devlen before sitting down behind his desk. Devlen drank his in one gulp. Valek followed suit and poured them both another.
“What’s going on?” Valek asked.
Devlen tossed back the second shot. “Do you know about Ben Moon’s escape?”
“Yes. And I received Yelena’s message that he and his cohorts might be in Ixia. I dispatched agents to MD-5 but, so far, we haven’t seen any sign of them.”
“That’s because they were in Fulgor. Now the authorities believe Ben and his gang are headed west.”
“With Yelena and her colleagues chasing after?”
“No. Yelena is in the holding cells at the Fulgor security headquarters.”
Valek stilled. “For a very good reason. Right?”
“To keep her safe.”
“That’s extreme.”
Devlen sighed. “Did Yelena message you about her magic?”
A cold mist of fear settled on Valek. “No. What about her magic?”
As Devlen filled him in on Yelena’s predicament, Valek employed every ounce of self-control not to interrupt. His emotions cycled from fear and worry to fury that she hadn’t confided in him and then back through them all again at least twice more.
“...understand why Leif had her placed in protective custody?” Devlen asked.
“Yes.” Valek was halfway to the door before he realized he’d even stood up. “Come on. She won’t be locked in there for long.” And she was a sitting duck. The Mosquito would be stupid not to use that golden opportunity to make another attempt to assassinate her. Irys’s message about Yelena being vulnerable and the rumors Arbon heard made more sense now. He understood why Irys had been vague. She’d probably assumed Yelena had told Valek about losing her magic.
“Where are we going?” Devlen asked.
“To find Ari and then to Fulgor.”
“What about Reema? According to Yelena, they threatened her life, too.”
“That’s why we need Ari.”
He found them in the war room. As expected, Reema stared, mesmerized, at the tall stained-glass windows that ringed the round room.
She squealed when she spotted Devlen at the threshold. “Daddy! You have to see this! It’s fantastic!” Reema grabbed his arm and pulled him inside.
Valek gestured Ari into the hallway. He explained what was going on. “Devlen and I are going to Fulgor. You—”
“Are coming, too.” Ari crossed his massive arms.
“No. You are going to protect Reema. I don’t trust anyone else.”
“Why not leave Devlen here to babysit her?” Ari demanded.
“He’s Sitian and he’s friends with Fulgor’s security forces.”
“What about the mission to the Soul Mountains?”
Ah hell. Valek had forgotten about it. He’d have to rearrange a number of things. Plus Kiki needed time to rest. She wouldn’t let him leave without her. “I’ll rendezvous with the teams in the foothills. They’ll be on foot, while I’ll have Onyx. Can you get Devlen something to eat and find him a place to catch a few hours of sleep?”
“Yes, sir.” Ari frowned. “Where should Reema stay while she’s here?”
“With you. Don’t let her out of your sight.”
“Wonderful.” Ari’s sarcastic tone sounded just like Janco’s.
“She’ll surprise you. Reema’s a smart little scamp.” Valek paused. “She reminds me of Yelena at times. They both had difficult childhoods, yet instead of breaking them, it made them stronger. Think of this not as babysitting duty, but encouraging a future recruit.”
“Opal won’t like that.”
Valek grinned. “Opal doesn’t have to know.”
He left Ari to take care of their visitors while Valek rushed around and updated his team members on the new timeline and rendezvous point. Hopefully, he’d find Yelena, convince her to come with him and then figure out how to return her magic. The Commander would probably not be pleased with Valek’s detour, but he didn’t care. Nor did Valek plan to inform him of his change in itinerary. As long as Valek completed his mission and stopped the smugglers, the Commander would be happy.