Chapter 17

“For the last time, back away,” Nora huffed.

“But—”

“Kellan, your hovering is beyond irritating. I’m fine.”

As they walked to the Council’s meeting room, Kellan kept an arm around Nora’s waist, and a hand grasped tightly on her left wrist, as if waiting for her to topple over.

She did not like being treated as though she was fragile. She was growing tired of his over-protectiveness. Again.

Kellan had first forbidden Nora from attending the Council’s meeting. Then he gave in and insisted on carrying her. Nora refused to bend to his will on both counts. So, now, she was enduring this treatment, as if she was an invalid.

It was becoming a habit, one she intended he not be allowed to continue. Granted, she had been attacked twice now, so she did understand his concern. But she was fine.

The same could not be said for poor Isla.

Only hours ago, Kellan had ended Bogdan’s life. He rushed Nora to their chambers and insisted Agatha check every part of Nora’s body. Agatha had assured him that Nora was well, but he could not be convinced of it.

Kellan had seen the yellow in her eyes, had heard her agony from the pain the demon was inflicting on her mind. Then she’d collapsed onto the floor after Bogdan was dead.

The demon had harmed his mate. Both Kellan and his wolf felt the immense weight of guilt. They’d allowed Nora in the room. Kellan would rip out Bogdan’s heart again if it was possible.

“You fainted. You are not fine, Nora.”

Nora rolled her eyes and Kellan tensed. She would have laughed if she thought it wouldn’t hurt his feelings. She knew he was acting this way because he saw her drop to the floor.

“I did no such thing. I was fighting his hold on my mind. He was trying to put me under compulsion, but he was too weak to succeed in doing so. When you killed him, the hold was instantly gone, and I got dizzy.”

It was the truth. Had the room not spun, she wouldn’t have fallen. She felt fine, otherwise.

Kellan’s worried eyes implored Nora to let him care for her. He had known better than to let her near Bogdan. His instincts had been right. He should never have let her into that cell.

Now everything in him was screaming to lock her in the royal wing and never let her out. Kellan knew he was somewhat irrational, but wolves were driven by instinct, not reason.

“I know you are not keen on obeying,” he began, seeing the flash of anger cross her face. “So, I am asking you to not mention the words on the demon’s chest to the Council.”

“Why not?”

“I will explain after this briefing. I promise.”

Nora accepted his promise and decided she would speak as little as possible. Her father had taught her to listen and take in her surroundings. She must never be perceived as weak. And weakness is often revealed when speaking out of heightened emotions.

When they entered the room, everyone was already seated. Rhona came to Nora and made a fuss over her. Nora did not want the attention and tried to assure Rhona she was well.

Kellan escorted Nora to her chair and took the seat next to her. Then he grabbed the side of Nora’s chair and brought it up against his. Nora gave him a disbelieving look and Kellan shrugged.

He would not apologize for needing her as close as possible. She was lucky he hadn’t put her in his lap. In fact, he still might.

Kellan cleared his throat, effectively calling the room’s attention. He gave a shortened version of why there was a demon corpse in the dungeon. He told them the prisoner had given up his name and little else.

Kellan also told the group that Bogdan had tried to put Nora under compulsion, so Kellan had removed his heart. The Council appeared to agree this was the correct way to handle a direct attack on the Queen.

Nora looked around the table, noticing how grim the faces were. She may have thought Kellan was overbearing, but he was right to believe there was reason to worry. Things like this simply didn’t happen in Imperium.

“And Isla?” someone asked.

Kellan shook his head sadly. “She has not regained consciousness. Agatha is digging through old books and texts. We don’t know enough about compulsion, or what happens when the perpetrator dies. She has written to Theron, hoping he has some insight to the demon’s powers.”

“As we will not hear from Foley for at least another day,” Niles said, “we should adjourn until tomorrow. I will send word tonight to the temple and ask that they make haste. Perhaps Edward should come here?”

Kellan considered that for a moment. He should probably have a face-to-face with Edward, but he wasn’t sure about having both of Nora’s sisters here. If the family was the target, it would be easier to get to them all if they were in the same place.

“I will write the correspondence, Niles,” he said. He didn’t want to communicate his concerns with the others and raise unnecessary alarm. Or, worse, alert a traitor to any plan they may formulate.

“We will speak again tomorrow. Goodnight,” Kellan nodded, releasing the group.

Having been dismissed, the councilmen began rising from their chairs and exiting.

“Mother? Niles? Would you mind staying for a bit?” Kellan requested.

Rhona and Niles made eye contact, communicating silently. They both walked to the end of the table where Nora and Kellan were seated so they could speak privately. Even though everyone else had left, they wouldn’t risk being overheard.

Once Kellan was sure the Council was out of earshot, he told Rhona and Niles the rest of the story.

“You’re sure that’s what it said?” Niles asked.

“There was no mistaking it. Nora noticed it first. She read it easily.”

Rhona gulped and Niles bowed his head. Nora tried to be patient, letting them process and keeping quiet. Their bleak reactions made her throat tight, and she wished someone would get along with an explanation.

Rhona blew out a sigh, cradling her forehead. “Did he say anything else?”

“He said, ‘You can do nothing. The prophecy is already in motion. Only we can stop it. Heed the threat from the West.’”

Rhona’s hands covered her mouth, as if she couldn’t believe it. Niles pulled at his beard and Kellan squeezed his hands into fists. Nora could no longer take it.

“What does ‘Sephtis Kenelm’ mean? And what, in the Goddess’s name, does it have to do the West?”

The other three looked at one another, as if deciding who was going to divulge the secret. It was Rhona who spoke first.

“Well, the meaning of Kenelm is the defender of the family. Sephtis means eternal death. But together, they roughly translate to defending in death, or to the death.”

“Defending what?” Nora asked.

“Imperium.”

“From what? I—I do not understand.”

Niles put his hand on Nora’s and patted. “You are too young to understand. And probably most Gwydions have no recollection of the group. Your lifespans are shorter than ours. You see, the Sephtis Kenelm are a secret society, started a millennium ago.”

He turned to Kellan. “And we thought they were all dead.”

“Apparently, we thought wrong,” Rhona stood and went to the window.

Nora looked to Kellan, waiting for further explanation.

“Nora, I—I don’t know where to start. I do not know why your father did not want to educate you in this. I suppose he was trying to shelter you, to protect you. I know Edward endeavored to give you as good of a life as he could, but leaving you in the dark on so many things … well, let’s just say I do not agree with his decision to do so.”

“What does my father have to do with this?” Nora demanded.

“Maybe we should wait for your father to come here?” Kellan suggested. He did not want to be the bearer of this news.

“No. If you have information, give it now.” Nora’s imagination was working hard against her. She could not wait whatever amount of time it would take her father to arrive.

“If information is what you desire, my love, then you shall have it.”

Rhona moved back to her seat and kept her eyes on the table, listening as Kellan gave a short history lesson on Sephtis Kenelm. Niles continued with his stooped posture. It was the pose of a defeated male.

These wolves, these brave and proud custodians of Burghard, would not look Nora in the eye—and she was the most vulnerable one in the room. Her mouth felt like she’d been sucking on cotton.

“Long before the four kingdoms of Imperium had established borders and firm control over their territories, Imperium was rather barbaric. You can imagine the toll constant warring and killing over limited land would have on each of the peoples, especially the Gwydions.”

Nora nodded, but she did not like the reminder of how fragile the other factions considered elementals to be. No one wanted to be viewed in such a manner, even if it was true.

“Over time, things got out of hand. No one felt safe, and misery ruled. It was the one thing all four factions had in common. A group of warlords met in secret: one elemental, one wolf, one vampire, and one demon. They were fed up with the ferocity they faced each day simply trying to exist. Their people were often starving, driven to violence just to stay alive. No one wanted to live in such a state of uncertainty anymore. They wanted peace. And they would kill to have it.”

That didn’t make much sense to Nora. Using violence to achieve peace seemed illogical. But desperate people could be driven to do desperate things, she supposed.

“So, they formed a brotherhood,” Kellan continued. “Each took an oath to do whatever was in their power to ensure peace across all of Imperium, to make sure each faction could thrive without threat. They wanted a balance of power.”

“How did they achieve it?” Nora asked.

Kellan paused, staring at his mate a moment before continuing. What he had to tell her would hurt her.

“They killed anyone who tried to tip the scales, especially those who tried to seize power by force. Sometimes, one of members would not survive a skirmish and they would recruit another to replace him. It is believed that there are always four in the group, one from each of the kingdoms. Their identities are secret and we have never known how they go about recruiting and convincing others to join.”

A chill moved through Nora. Someone from her kingdom was a member of Sephtis Kenelm. She assumed it would have to be one of the more powerful elementals, and there weren’t many.

“For most of their existence, the group held a place of respect. They established The Four Kingdoms, drawing distinct borders, insuring each connected to the Sanctus Femina land,” Kellan continued. “Somehow, they managed to get respectable, even-tempered rulers on the thrones. Eventually, the Sephtis Kenelm were unnecessary. Aside from a few skirmishes, peace reigned for a thousand years. But even in times of peace, they were there, watching over Imperium.”

“That doesn’t sound so terrible. But, I was under the impression we were still living in a time of peace.”

“We are, Nora,” Niles said. “And you’re right, they were not something I would categorize as terrible. They did much to ensure Imperium and all its people would thrive. However, over time, the brotherhood grew into something else. We don’t know a lot of specific details about them in recent history, but we do know that they became more proactive. Doing things to prevent a shift in power rather than waiting to react to the actions of others.”

“Like what?” asked Nora.

“Like murdering any rulers they thought too powerful,” Rhona responded, a single tear trailing down her face. “Those that might have the ability to gain power. To topple another kingdom. To rule over other factions. To take Imperium for their own.”

“Rulers? You mean the kings or queens? The only sovereign to have been murdered in the past few decades was the Demon King, Brennen.”

“Two others passed, as well, Nora,” Rhona retorted.

“Yes, passed. Not murdered,” Nora insisted. She looked to her husband, wanting him to assuage her growing fear.

“Twenty years ago, my father fell ill with sleeping sickness.”

“Yes, I know. It’s an illness, Kellan. And my mother died in childbirth. Those are natural deaths.”

“No, Nora. He didn’t fall ill with sleeping sickness. It was given to him at his evening meal. We found a vile in the kitchen. Someone dumped it into a stew being served at a gathering. Many wolves were infected. It was not natural.”

Nora’s insides were churning. Kellan’s father. Murdered. How had they kept an attack like that secret? Her thoughts spun and spun. Until they landed on one disturbing idea.

It wasn’t a secret. It was common knowledge. Knowledge that was purposefully kept from her, that her own father had deliberately hid. To what end?

Nora knew what was coming; deep down, she knew. She knew what her husband was going to tell her. She shook her head, willing him not to say it.

Kellan grabbed both of Nora’s hands and held them firmly. “Nora, you’ve read some of your mother’s scrolls, yes?”

Nora’s eyes filled with tears. “Yes,” she whispered.

“Have you read them all?”

“No. My father told me many were gibberish and not worth my time.”

“Nora, your mother predicted her own death.”

Nora sobbed, then immediately tried to regain her composure. She needed to hear this.

“Did you ever suspect? Ever catch on to a hint that something was amiss with whatever story your father gave you?” Kellan asked.

“No!” she cried, fraught with emotion. “How? Did she predict how?”

Kellan nodded. “From a misguided hand, her death has been planned. Willem’s only daughter, a lamb to the slaughter. The Kenelm. The Sephtis. Beware the deceptives.”

Kellan had memorized it. Had repeated it a hundred times since the day he knew Nora was his. He knew that Edward had kept it hidden from her, but Kellan would not allow his mate to go through life in ignorance. Again, he had mistakenly thought they had time to discuss such things.

“Sh-she knew?” Nora sputtered, her fingernails digging into Kellan’s hands.

“She knew the group would take her life, but not specifically whom. Or when. That’s it.”

“Do you know what killed her, Kellan?”

“Something stopped her heart. We assume it was something ingested. It’s the easiest way to hide poison, which seems to be their modus operandi. This leads me to assume the same person planned each attack, and others who were close to the targets carried out the acts.”

“How could my father keep this from me? How?!” she shouted.

“He wanted to protect you, Nora. To shield you from the ugly truth,” Rhona tried to reassure her daughter-in-law.

“It’s inexcusable. I … it’s …” she couldn’t finish. There were no words. Nora started to sob.

Kellan picked her up and placed her in his lap, supporting her body with both arms. He held her and rocked her and grieved with her. They had both lost a parent to the same ill cause.

“Why? She wasn’t a threat. And surely Callum was not so ambitious as to seek control of Imperium. How could they do this?” she cried.

Niles leaned forward, seeking Nora’s gaze. Once she returned it, he spoke.

“Your mother was the most powerful elemental to ever live, Nora. She had visions. Everyone knows she had visions. She predicted a child of hers would be Queen of the North. Callum arranged a marriage between Kellan and your sister. That would be two Gwydions on two thrones. They thought it would upset the balance.”

“So, they killed them,” Nora said.

“So, they killed them,” Niles repeated.

“Then why didn’t they go after Kellan? Callum was already mated.”

“Kellan didn’t eat with us that evening. Though, we believe he was the intended target. It was easiest to taint what was cooking in the kitchen, rather than one plate. But no one knew that Kellan had ridden North to check on some reports about the forest.”

“What about after it was known you were taking me as your mate? Wouldn’t that have prompted some sort of interference?”

Kellan hesitated. He did not want his wife to think him a monster. He had blood on his hands, blood she might find abhorrent.

His torso inched towards the back of his chair, fearful he’d need the distance, terrified she would demand more than a few inches.

In his hesitation to respond, Rhona spoke.

“No.”

“Why not?” Nora asked.

“Because they were already dead,” Rhona answered, looking at her son. “Kellan and Edward tracked them down. Aside from the wolf, the others had been careless in masking their scents. One led to the next and so on. Kellan was able to find them easily enough.”

“And when he found them?” Nora whispered.

“Both he and your father eliminated the threat. Every. Single. One. We assumed, since all four were … deceased, it was the end of the group.”

Nora shifted to better see her husband’s face. She found it difficult to believe her father could have been involved. She couldn’t see him harming anyone. But Kellan was a warrior. She could easily picture him on his quest for vengeance. Surprisingly, it didn’t bother her.

Nora noticed Kellan’s hands had left her body and were now firmly gripping the arms of his chair. His thighs and core were full of tension. He was braced for her reaction.

If he thought this would be what compelled her to withhold her affections, he couldn’t be further from the truth. His blue irises glinted and the wolf made himself known.

He was a protector, a fierce warrior who would do what needed to be done. The wolf would never apologize for the kills. This much, Nora knew.

She also knew her husband should never feel obliged to apologize for them either. His actions were justified. Warranted. Put her mother’s murderer in front of her, and Nora herself would strike the fiend down.

Kellan did not deserve judgement, especially not from his mate. It broke her heart to see him preparing for her to think less of him when he’d only risen higher in her regard.

Nora shifted closer and whispered, “Thank you,” against his lips. Kellan had sought revenge for both Callum and Elora. And for that, Nora was thankful.

Kellan blinked, stunned into silence. Nora wasn’t repulsed by what he had done. She didn’t think less of him for tracking and killing those men. She was grateful.

He lifted his palms to cup her face, utterly and completely lost in the moment. Kellan thought he couldn’t possibly feel more for her than he already did. He was mistaken.

Niles cleared his throat and Nora blushed, having momentarily forgotten she and Kellan weren’t alone. “We apparently missed someone. They either had more than four or, more likely, had plans in place for recruiting their successors. This will need to be rectified, Kellan.”

“Agreed. I will write to Edward tonight and have a rider deliver it immediately. But first, I think I need to get Nora to our chamber. She is exhausted.”

He was right. Nora was emotionally fatigued. So much, in fact, she offered no protest when he carried her the entire way, removed her clothing, and tucked her in as he would a child. As she drifted off to sleep, she could hear his quill scratching across parchment.