“What?” she squeaked.
“You’re considered to be our most significant threat right now,” Roka said. “With your access to the Library, you’re the only one of your kind who can help Aven return to our city. The council members are hesitant to trust the word of a mortal girl whose allegiances they believe could be swayed with the right incentive.”
“Aven nearly killed me,” Alex reminded him. “He also tried to kill my best friend, using me as his puppet! If he’d had his way tonight, he would have killed or Claimed a whole group of people I care about. I would never help him, no matter the incentive!”
“Perhaps not willingly,” Roka said, “but Aven is a skilled manipulator. And you’re young, even for your own kind.”
“I’m not an idiot, Roka,” Alex said, jutting her chin out. “I know the difference between good and evil.”
“Knowing is important,” the prince acknowledged. “But there’s a great difference between knowing what’s right and being able to hold onto it in the face of adversity.”
Alex massaged her temples, feeling her earlier exhaustion returning.
“Let me get this straight,” she said. “You’re telling me that the Meyarin council wants to lock me up? That’s a bit extreme, don’t you think?”
“I agree,” Roka said. “And I’ve spent many hours arguing on your behalf.”
“Why?” she asked. At his questioning look, she clarified, “Why defend me?”
He shrugged his shoulders and sent her a warm smile. “I don’t know you very well, Alex, but from what I’ve seen with my own eyes, I don’t believe you would ever willingly betray us.”
Alex felt humbled by his kind words and his unexpected offer of trust.
“Thanks, Roka. That means a lot,” she said quietly. “But did it do any good? Or should I expect some of your buddies to storm though the door any minute and bind me with Moxyreel?”
Seeing the apprehension in her expression, Roka chuckled. “No, Alex, you’re safe here. I’m at a stalemate with the council, but they’re willing to stand down for the time being. It helps that my father eventually took your side as well. As King, he holds the most sway with the council. And he seemed to appreciate your… What was the word, Zain?”
“Spunk,” Zain said with a crooked grin. “He definitely used the word ‘spunk’.”
Roka laughed. “That’s right. Apparently he was impressed when you snapped at him and told him to use your actual name instead of, uh… other titles.”
“If the king can learn from that, why can’t you, Zain?” Alex asked the guard.
“Someone has to keep you in line, little human.”
She made a face at him and turned back to Roka. “If I’m not here to be kidnapped, then why am I here?”
“I was told you crossed blades with Aven,” the prince said. “My informants weren’t able to say more than that, so I called you here to make sure you were okay and to find out what happened.”
“That’s it?” Alex asked, not sure if she was relieved or annoyed. “How is that classified as ‘urgent’?”
“I wasn’t sure when I’d next have the chance to meet with you, since I didn’t want to intrude upon your studies,” Roka said. “Education is important.”
Alex actually snorted. “So is sleep. And coincidentally, your brother said the exact same thing to me once, just with slightly more condescension.”
“As fascinating as that is,” Roka said, and she wasn’t sure if he was being sarcastic or not, “I’d rather hear about how you ended up fighting him.”
Shifting into a more comfortable position, Alex opened her mouth to begin her story, but was interrupted when a knock sounded at the door, followed by Kyia walking into the room.
“Alex, it’s good to see you again,” said the beautiful Meyarin with a smile so bright it was nearly blinding.
“Hey, Kyia,” Alex replied. “Shot anyone lately?”
Roka and Zain both laughed and Kyia’s smile widened.
“I’m waiting for your friends to come back so I can get in some target practice.”
“I’ll remember that for the next time they annoy me,” Alex said. “As long as you lend me a bow, too.”
“Deal,” Kyia agreed, taking a seat and turning to Roka. “Have I missed anything?”
“Your timing is perfect,” he said. “Alex is about to tell us what happened tonight with Aven.”
Alex looked at Roka, hoping he’d be able to read her hesitant expression.
“It’s okay,” the prince encouraged her. “Kyia and Zain know everything. You can trust them. Nothing you say will leave this room.”
That was good to know, since Alex couldn’t help but like both warriors.
“The last time we met I told you how Darrius Marselle thinks Aven has been Claiming gifted humans,” she began. “Well, apparently Darrius asked my Stealth and Subterfuge teacher to keep an eye out for anything unusual. Hunter discovered that a man named Sir Oswald Graham was planning a dinner party and he sent in a spy to…”
Alex told the Meyarins every little detail about her evening at Sir Oswald’s mansion, and when she was finished, she slumped back on her couch and rubbed her tired eyes.
“How did you feel when you fought Aven?” Roka asked.
“Terrified,” Alex admitted.
“No,” the prince said, his eyes crinkling with humour. “I meant, how did you feel physically?”
She considered for a moment and answered, “At first I thought I was doing pretty well. I tried to let go and sense my surroundings like you asked me to do when we fought blindfolded, and I eventually managed it, at least for a while. Then Aven told me he was toying with me. I thought he was just being arrogant, you know? But when he came at me again, I wasn’t able to put up any kind of fight. He was too strong and too fast for me to keep up.”
“Was he curious about how you were able to defend so well against him to start with?” Roka asked.
“He was surprised, that much was obvious,” Alex said. “But I didn’t tell him anything.”
“Good,” Roka said. “We want to avoid Aven learning that his blood empowers you for as long as we can.”
“What about the other people he’s Claimed?” Alex asked. “Wouldn’t they be able to tap into his Meyarin blood?”
“In a sense, yes,” the prince said. “But since those humans are entirely under his control, they would only be able to access his Meyarin abilities if he ordered them to do something that required the use of those abilities. You, however, have the choice as to when and how you access the skills inherent to our race. You can use his power without his command, and that makes you… special.”
“Yay, me,” Alex muttered, and the three Meyarins laughed at her less than enthusiastic response.
“Is there anything else I need to know?” Roka asked.
Alex shook her head. “I think I’ve told you everything…” She trailed off as a thought came to her. “Actually, there is something else, but I’m not sure if you’ll know anything about it. And it’s kind of… strange.”
“I’m listening,” Roka offered.
She fidgeted slightly and blurted out, “I’m being stalked by a magical blade.”
Three sets of eyes blinked at her.