I debated leaving him to continue sleeping, but the previous empty water skin in my hand was enough of a reminder that he’d had nothing of sustenance since our arrival at the heart of Zivost. I rested my hand on his chest, shaking him gently at first, and then not so gently when that didn’t work.
He caught my hand with his, but as soon as he opened his eyes, his fierce expression melted into a look of drowsy peace.
“You need some nectar,” I said in a voice still rough from sleep.
He rose to his elbows and allowed me to tip the flagon to his lips. He drank and drank and drank, and as he continued to guzzle, my eyes widened, even though I accommodated his thirst by tipping the water skin up.
Once he'd drained the contents, he reclined and muttered, “Thank you.”
His gratitude clenched my heart, and I cleared my throat, pushing back the emotions lodged there. With a nonchalant shrug, I said, “No problem.”
Apparently gratitude from others wasn't so easy to take either. Belatedly, I realized I was still touching his chest, and I blushed as a small smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
“How long have we been here?”
“A day,” I said. “And one night.”
“A whole day and night?” He frowned.
“Yes, is that not normal?”
He blinked, his eyelids heavy. “Never been this injured. Unsure.”
I nodded. “Tyrrik, the Phaetyn have . . . problems.” I thought of how I could sum up what I had learned thus far, but before I could say anything else, Tyrrik squeezed my hand.
“Be careful, Khosana,” he whispered. “Remember what you learned in Irdelron’s castle. Everyone has an agenda.”
His words slapped me, and I pulled my hand back. “Okay.”
The grip of his hand loosened as sleep claimed him.
I returned to the washroom and filled the water skin again. After making nectar and leaving it next to Lord Tyrrik, I took note of my weary body and decided finding sustenance would be wise.
I exited the room, meeting the hardened gazes of the two soldiers in the hall with a glare of my own. “Listen, I don't really care what Kamoi said to you. I don't care if his threats are meaningful to you or not. I’m telling you, if anything happens to the man in there, you will wish Kamoi had gotten to you first. Because you, and everyone you ever thought you might have the possibility of caring about, will be destroyed. I’m Drae, and I will chew on your family and spit them out.”
The two Phaetyn blanched, and the one on the right swallowed repeatedly, his Adam's apple bobbing in his neck.
"Are we clear?" I asked.
Both guards nodded, but that wasn't enough. I didn’t want them to simply humor me; they needed to know to cross me on this was a life and death decision. My heightened emotions, worry over Tyrrik’s state as well as the obvious hostility we’d walked into, allowed my Drae to peek out. My eyes shifted Drae, and scales climbed up my neck and down my exposed arms. In a voice more Drae than human, I growled, “Are we clear?”
The female Phaetyn inclined her head.
They straightened and chorused, “Yes, Your Majesty.”
What the hay?
I heard the tread of footsteps and glanced down the hall, spotting Kamoi's friendly smile and glowing eyes as he neared.
“Ryn, come,” he said, waving me toward him. “Have you eaten?” When I shook my head, he passed me a plate containing slices of yellow fruit. “Here, it’s mango, a sweet fruit.” He watched as I bit into a slice and then asked, “Will you allow me the pleasure of showing you Zivost?”
Perfect. I actually did want to explore and get a better sense of what I’d dropped into. I swallowed my mouthful and said, “Yes.” Picking up another slice of the yellow fruit, I added, “This is delicious.”
“I’m glad you think so.”
I grabbed the remaining slices off the plate and handed it to one of the guards.
Kamoi led me out of the quartz house. There were more guards outside the house than when we arrived yesterday. Several were constructing a railing around the queen’s ash tree while more set up long tables around it.
“They are getting ready for a welcome party,” he said in his lilting voice.
I smiled because I knew it was expected, but I wasn’t sure I wanted a party. I wasn’t sure I didn’t either. Not that it mattered what I wanted. As soon as we stepped off the elevated porch, I halted as every thought but one fled my mind. “Just a sec.” I bent over to pull off my soft boots with my free hand. As my bare feet touched the ground, I sighed. “I knew this would be amazing. It's almost like the energy radiates from the soil?”
Kamoi smiled. “It actually does.”
He closed the small gap between us and took my free hand in his. I shivered at the contact. The Phaetyn mojo we had going on was pretty strong; deniable but strong. Before I could withdraw my hand, he tucked it into the crook of his arm and, with a slight tug, indicated we go.
Al’righty then.
I let him lead me through the forest, chewing on the fruit slices. Kamoi explained how the different affinities to plants and animals manifested during childhood and how some developed more powers as they aged. He spoke of the lineage of royalty and the expanded powers those Phaetyn were blessed with. He told me of the peace they had enjoyed for centuries until the Drae and Kings began murdering his people for their healing blood.
“I can’t imagine how that felt,” I said softly. “For the people you’d fed for eons to turn on you.”
His face darkened, and he stared into the trees for a long moment before giving me a small smile. “Our lives are not all bad, you know. Did you know that each Phaetyn has a tree? The soul of the tree and the soul of the Phaetyn are one.”
“So do I have a tree?” Would I be able to see some things of my life? Would I be able to see my mother as clearly as I had Queen Luna or Queen Alani?
“I don't know, Kealani,” he said and then amended with a blush, “Ryn. I meant Ryn.”
I was grateful he at least made an effort to respect my wishes. There was something about seeing a handsome man blush that had my stomach flipping.
“We know you have significant power. But I’m afraid your power may not be enough to win the Phaetyn’s loyalty.”
I blinked as his words registered. Was I trying to win the Phaetyn’s loyalty? I mean, the more the merrier as far as fighting the emperor was concerned. Their healing power would certainly come in useful. Regardless of fighting a war, they should’ve been helping the other kingdoms with growing food so people could eat. Tyrrik’s warning bounced around in my head, planting seeds of distrust. The prince had his own agenda. Tyrrik was right; everyone did. What was Kamoi’s? There was one way to find out. “Hey, can I see your tree?”
The prince tripped, stumbling forward, and I released his arm.
Two guards stepped out from behind the trees, and the closest cleared her throat.