I withdrew my hands, realizing the moment I did that Kamini no longer held them to the tree. I grinned and opened my eyes, my heart pounding with excitement in anticipation of telling her what I’d seen. Luna and her human lover had another, older child together. At least, that’s what I’d understood from the visions. That would explain why Kamini didn’t possess the ancestral powers for her generation. Was her older sibling female and still out there somewhere, an unknown solution to the Phaetyn’s troubles? My mind moved frantically, putting the pieces together. Luna had mated with Kaelan long ago but over time saw that he and Alani were in love. She’d eventually broken their binding and then fell in love with a human and had two children with him, giving the youngest to Alani and Kaelan, perhaps to babysit, or maybe Luna didn’t trust them with the eldest daughter. The emperor had then slaughtered Luna’s human lover and captured her. Alani became queen after this, and Kaelan king once more, while Luna was pouring her ancestral powers into my mother’s womb, into me.
All of the pieces finally fit together. I opened my mouth to tell Kamini when a rustling in the forest made me freeze.
“Ryn? Dyter?” Kamoi called, just before stepping out of the trees with several guards.
Relief washed over Kamoi’s features as his gaze flitted over Kamini and then met mine. “I’ve been so worried.”
“I’m glad you’re okay,” I said. He’d taken on his father for me. I couldn’t imagine how that was going to haunt him in time.
Kamini’s gaze shifted from her brother to me, and she pursed her lips.
Kamoi crossed the dirt patch leading up to the large elm and scooped me into his arms. “Curse the night, what happened?” He breathed into my hair, the thudding of his heart tangible where our chests touched. He continued to hold me close as he said, “One minute my father is throwing fruit at you, and then chaos ensues. How did you get away?”
I drew back, tapping him on the chest at the same time. He set me down, a sad smile resting on his lips.
Drak. How was I supposed to tell him I’d killed his parents? “Uh, I . . . uh,”
He shook his head, jaw clenched. “I know what happened in the clearing. I watched it.”
“I’m sorry,” I said, and in my mind I added, your parents died. Because I wasn’t sorry I’d killed them. Not sorry at all.
The guards continued to hover inside the tree line, their attention focused on the prince and Kamini.
Kamoi shook his head again. “I’m not. I mean . . .” He swallowed before continuing, “I’m sorry they’re dead, but they were terrible leaders for our people as I’m sure you saw. That might be wrong of me to say—”
His eyes grew dark and hard for an instant before he glanced up at me with a softened gaze, and my heart squeezed at the conflict that must be rampant inside him. “What will happen to the Phaetyn now?” I asked. “The golden barrier is down.”
Kamoi’s gaze went from me to Dyter and then back to me. “You are the only Phaetyn with ancestral powers.” Kamoi glanced at Kamini before turning back to me. “Will you lead our people, Ryn?”
25
I closed my eyes to control the overwhelming urge to burst out into bitter laughter. Would I rule these people who had made me feel uneasy and unwelcome from day one? Would I help the people who had drained an unconscious Drae of blood just to properly kill each other? “No,” I said. “There are so many reasons, but the short answer is no.”
“Please,” Kamoi said, reaching for my hands. He entwined his fingers with mine and held them to his chest. “Please come back. We can figure this out; together we can rebuild a better Zivost.”
I extracted my hands. “I can’t, Kamoi. I’m not Phaetyn, not really. I can’t ignore the problems of this world to solve your people’s problems. I need to leave. I need to help Tyrrik get better, and we need to go to Gemond to talk with their king. We have a war to wage.”
Dyter glanced at me, and I nodded at him. I’d made my choice. I was part of this world whether I liked it or not. I couldn’t stand by while the emperor drove this realm and its people into the ground.
Kamoi nodded. “I understand. You are needed elsewhere now, but when you are done, I hope you’ll come back.”
I shook my head, repeating, “I’m not Phaetyn.”
He smiled, his gaze taking me in. “You are Phaetyn in every way that matters. You’ve captured my heart. Just promise me you’ll come back and we can try.”
I’d captured his heart? When? I took a deep breath and told him the truth. “I’m sorry, Kamoi. If I promised you anything, it would be a lie. There is no we, and there won’t be a we. My heart is Drae; it beats as a Drae. To tell you anything else would be misleading.”
The Phaetyn prince studied my face. “I understand. You can’t reason with the heart. But there may come a time when you feel differently. I’ll not lose hope. Not yet.”
“So you’ll let us go?” I asked.
Kamoi frowned. “Of course I’ll let you go. I was trying to find you to help make sure you got out safely.”
“I’m sorry,” I said, bowing my head. I didn’t know who to trust anymore. I was relying on the judgment of freakin’ trees.
“Don’t apologize,” he said. “I’m surprised you’ll even talk with me after I brought you here. If anyone should be apologizing, it should be me.”
“You defended me in the end, Kamoi.” I smiled at him, a tightness clamping my heart at the thought of what he’d lost tonight. “Thank you for saving my life.”
“Thank you, Highness,” Dyter said. “Perhaps you could convey my message to whomever rises to power?”
The Phaetyn prince turned to Kamini who stood quietly watching the scene. “If we’re lucky, the Phaetyn will recognize Kamini as our queen.” He put his hand on his sister. “She’s the highest-ranking female below Ryn.”
I looked back and forth between the two of them and met Kamini’s gaze. “Your mother was Luna, not Alani.” I glanced at Kamoi, and even though I knew the answer, I asked, “You know she’s Luna’s daughter?”
“Yes,” he said simply. “But she doesn’t have ancestral powers.” He faced his cousin and said, “I didn’t realize you knew, Kami.”
“I’ve known for a long time. It’s not hard to piece together when your supposed parents hate the sight of you. Kaelan tended to divulge too much when his ire was raised.” Tears gathered in Kamini’s eyes.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, Kami, but I didn’t want you to have to shoulder a weight you were never meant to carry.” Kamoi hung his head.
She bit her lip while he spoke and then said, “That wasn’t your decision to make.”
He winced, and I felt a zing of pride for the Phaetyn girl.
“You’re right,” he said, bowing his head. “I apologize.” He dropped to a knee before the young Kamini and said, “I will pledge my allegiance to you, Kami, and serve however you deem best. I only want what is best for our people.”
I flicked a glance at Dyter and hesitated, thinking back to what the tree had shown me. I may not see Kamoi or Kamini for a long time, or ever again. Where I was going, I couldn’t be sure I’d even survive. This information shouldn’t go with me to the grave. Despite the terror I’d experienced in this forest, I knew there was good in Phaetynville worth saving. The Phaetyn deserved to have a queen with ancestral powers if she was still alive. “What if there was another child? What if Luna had a child before Kamini? Another daughter?”
Dyter looked at me as if I’d lost my mind, but Kamoi and Kamini only raised their brows in an expression that proved they were related. It also reinforced the fact they’d both made the same connection long ago.
Kamini’s eyes widened with excitement. “Did the trees show you an elder child?” When I nodded, her eyes lit. “Are you sure?” she asked, before whispering to herself, “I have a sister.”